7D or T2i?

I own the 7D and while I love it, if I were purchasing right now, i'd probably go with the t2i instead since all of the video clips I have seen are pretty indistinguishable to me.

Why? Because the camera body is the first thing I'd be looking at upgrading as soon as possible when Canon releases a DSLR that doesn't suffer heavily in video mode with Aliasing, Moire and Jello.

I'd rather put more money into lens that I am going to take with me up the upgrade trail in the future. IF stills is your concern at all (and I am not seeing that) then I could see the 7D, but from a weather concern, like someone said, if your lens isn't weather proof, it kind of negates the whole point. In my opinion of course. Given the money you are saving you could buy TWO bodies for the same price.

I'll also say this, I did look at the Canon 50mm 1.8 lens, however, I was MUCH more impressed (cost being a factor) with the Sigma 30mm 1.4 lens. This coming from the fact that I too was shooting in low light mostly. Here is some test video we shot with the Sigma:

http://vimeo.com/8391499

(absolutely no grading in any of these shots)

If you can wait, I'd hold off until someone does some real comparisons with the low light capabilities of both cameras. That I have not seen. The sensors are the same size, but they are different. As far as the ISO goes, I've read reviews on the 7D not to use them all anyways (can't find the link right away), but I'd say this wouldn't be a deal breaker to me.

Plus, now you'll have a bunch of money still available to either invest in a newer body that works better which I don't think will be that far off, or, get things you forget to get :)

With using any external recorder, they will not be synced, EVERY recorder I have used suffers from drift since the timing is slightly different and there is no way to lock them since there is no timecode you can get out of or put into most devices at this level. Most of the DAW software I use allows time shifting of audio so I use that since most of the sounds I capture with the mic are voice.

I will also say this, one thing I was disappointed with the Zoom is in low level recording, if you need to get ambience for fill sound on scenes. The built in converters are noisy so when I was trying to gain up some nature sounds, lot of noise. I tried out the Sony PCM-D50 and have been VERY happy with it. I use it by itself or with a beachtek XLR to 1/8 inch adapter (juicedlink is great also). If you don't care as much about needing to get low level sounds, by all means, the H4 is great!

But in summary, yeah, I'd probably get the T2i if I was buying today.
 
well, with the Zoom H4n, I would be probably using a shotgun mic with it anyways. I don;t like the juicedlink, however, because it does not have a headphone jack.

Now, the sigma lens, I'll only be able to get if I get the T2i which is looking pretty likely. However, I do plan on getting alot of photo's in there as well (locations).

There is one more deciding factor I need. But right now it is looking like the T2i...

EDIT: the last deciding factor is about how much money I get in a cheque over the next few weeks. Over 500 and it will be the 7D, under 500, T2i
 
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Yeah, the BeachTek does have a headphone for if I use it with the 7D directly.

The 1.4 is nice for nighttime. Also, with a FaderND during the day, I can get some pretty shallow DoF with it as well.

Truthfully, audio options really annoy me at the moment for all Canon cameras.
 
So. After some thinking, I've decided to get the T2i. Is it set in stone? no. but this way, I can afford two lenses, and a Z/finder.

So, thoughts? (I'm still going to wait a couple of weeks though. I'm going to try and take up Noedig's offer to see his equipment + 7D)

I mean, the 7D is minisculey better, and it seems very easy to go through the menu's. but the T2i is so much cheaper!I have approximately two week before I make the discussion though. So no rush.
 
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Played with one just today. I have to say I'm impressed with what they did. Everything about the interface and design of the camera is more towards the consumer DLSR but I would say it has the same functionality of the 7D. Once switched into its own discrete video mode, you can get full manual controls.

The screen is really bright and sharp. I haven't sat down with any of its actual footage so can't make any comparisons of with with my 7D.

If I upgrade to a 5D Mark whatever one day, I'd sell my 7D to help pay for the 5D as well as get the T2i for a B cam.
 
Thank you all SO much for the input. The descision is not made yet (I've made WAY to many mistakes by buying things quickly to let myself make the same mistake with this much money)

So, I found out that, including tax and shipping I can get a T2i, two lenses (sigma 50mm 1.4 and a kit lens), Glidetrack shooter and a Zoom H4n for under three grand. However, if my cheque is a decent amount, I may be able to get the 7D with one lens (Again, the sigma)
 
DavidFulde said:
Okay then. so. Right now I''m looking at:

7D + 50mm f1.8 lens + 8 gig card
Zoom H4n
Glidetrack Shooter (shoulder mount/dolly)

and then in the future a Z/finder + Variable ND filter + Lens adapter for my old Pentax lenses.

So total issss 2680.62 plus tax plus S&H. It's in my prospective budget. Awesoeme.

any other suggestions you have?
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if you plan on ever using a follow focus, get a different 50mm. the 1.8 has a tiny little ring that i couldn't see ever taking a gear. i bought one and yes, it is great glass for the money but i now have to replace it in order to use a follow focus.
 
The image quality seems like it's going to be fairly indistinguishable between the two. The low light capability from the cameratown test seems pretty similar.

If you've not held a 7D, you have to try. It's a very solid camera, really built beautifully. Much more professional in hand. The extra weight makes it easier to keep stable. The t2i, if it's like the t1i, is pretty consumerish and plasticky.
 
I have held a 7D for a couple of minutes. but nothing much really. I'm going to be meeting up with Noedig most likely to get a better feel for it.
 
I'd also say, get the 30mm instead of the 50mm. The 30mm on the aps-c sensor is equivalent to the 50mm on the 5D and it's a VERY good size for shooting narrative IMO. I have a 50mm and do not use it at all.

And MAKE SURE whatever Sigma lens you get, it's the ones they make for APS-C sensors (they have gold on them NOT red).
 
I'm probably just trying to make myself feel better about owning a 7D, but...no, not probably, I am. :cheesy:

It seems almost every interview I set up, they comment on how crazy small the camera is. "You're shooting video with a little DSLR camera?" That's with a 7D! The T2i is even punier...I've thought about maybe getting the battery pack to just make the camera look a little more menacing.

I got the 7D as a stills camera too and it is sort of nice to have the frills that go with that.

And then to top it off, the T2i has options that look like my old Canon a630, a consumer point and shoot. The little action figure, portrait, landscape modes, etc...just looks like a starter camera, with kid settings.

So, ultimately though, I guess it is really all about the image being made and not what I or others think about how the body looks....
 
Ryan Farnes said:
I'm probably just trying to make myself feel better about owning a 7D, but...no, not probably, I am. :cheesy:

It seems almost every interview I set up, they comment on how crazy small the camera is. "You're shooting video with a little DSLR camera?" That's with a 7D! The T2i is even punier...I've thought about maybe getting the battery pack to just make the camera look a little more menacing.

I got the 7D as a stills camera too and it is sort of nice to have the frills that go with that.

And then to top it off, the T2i has options that look like my old Canon a630, a consumer point and shoot. The little action figure, portrait, landscape modes, etc...just looks like a starter camera, with kid settings.

So, ultimately though, I guess it is really all about the image being made and not what I or others think about how the body looks....
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Actually I agree with you. I do a lot of filming in public - on the streets of LA, and I usually get inquiries about shooting film on a DSLR - how small it is, does it really work as well as a real video camera, etc. Ultimately - we all know what our camera's are capable of, but not our potential clients. If they see a bigger camera rigged up, they'll automatically think "better". I'll probably purchase a T2I as my 2nd camera though. But with it's smaller frame, button layout - I'm sure it'll garner more "that can't be a serious video camera" to most non-camera savy people.
 
I did a shoot with a guy last week where we were interviewing doctors for an online "commercial"... anyway, on his laptop he has a video that shows both video from his 7d and video from a JVC GY HD200U. Which is like almost a $10k camera. It is a great way to show clients that the 7d is not a lacking camera.
 
Yeah, if I were purchasing today instead of 3 1/2 months ago, I would seriously consider the T2i instead of the 7D.
 
If you only have $3000 to spend here is my advice:
rebel T2i body only
2 extra batteries
4x 16gb sdxc cards (class 10)
really good card reader
tamron 17-50mm vc zoom
nikkor 24mm f2 ais (+ af confirm adapter)
nikkor 50mm f1.4 ais
nikkor 85mm f1.4 ais
good hand grip system (gini rig dsl-xxx)
77mm pola
77mm n6,n9 or if you must a vari-nd
step up rings to fit 77mm for all lenses
a good fluid tripod
a zoom h4n
a slate

re: weather sealing: buy the 200 dollar or whatever it is full coverage accidental damage warranty from Mack cameras. Drop it in a pond, get a new camera if need be.
 
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