T2i Buying a T2i

M

micahPRT

New member
Hi all,

I am hoping to shoot a feature in the coming months, although my budget limits me vastly of course.

Right now I only have an HV20, I really like the camera and have become very familiar with it.

I was thinking of upgrading to a T2i for a more professional look, and the low DOF of the SLRs is a pretty big selling point for me.

Most of the film would be shot indoors, reading other threads people have said they have a low light problem with the T2i/7D.

Basically, I would like to know if the T2i would be a worthy upgrade from the HV20, or if I am planning to upgrade at all should I make the jump to a 5D or maybe something else entirely.

Any help is greatly appreciated.
 
Well, as Phil Bloom has so wisely said, you should invest in glass, not any particular camera. That said, you do need to start somewhere, and the T2 is a great place to do it. Right now, I believe it's the cheapest of the "Big 3" DSLR company line-ups. There are tons of lenses available. Tons of how-to-dos. Cuts like butter on CS5, and I believe Final Cut plays nice with the footage too.

I was "raised" on 35/16mm film - totally old skool - and I can safely say that this is my fav camera. Makes great pictures as long as you play to its strengths and away from its weaknesses, and it can hang around your neck. I love the form factor. So small you can get it into arenas as a "consumer" camera - but you can also build it up to use all the pro gear you want. You can impress people too:
http://www.vimeo.com/14670278

And it's a great low light camera - only the Mark II would be considered a full step better, due to it's full frame sensor. Get the Canon 50mm/F1.8 for a hundred bucks, and you're rocking at night for $800 brand new from B & H - you simply can not beat that price for the quality. Get a Tamron 17-45mm 2.8 zoom for $414 (with the rebate) and you're totally ready. Build your lenses up from there.

Get it.

What lenses to buy:
http://philipbloom.net/2010/08/20/which-lenses-to-buy/

Some low light footage (full moon, city street):
http://vimeo.com/16199277
http://vimeo.com/10648120

B&H T2 price ($704):
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...dd&sku=675617&is=REG&addedTroughType=6222&q=1
 
draven4 said:
Don't go for it. Go for a 60d instead. Better option.
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I agree. Although I've been shooting with a 550D since it came out and it's a fine camera, I would like to have the adjustable view screen and factory ready manual audio. Nothing wrong with a hack except that it's a hack and changes the cameras original program. That said I will most likely wait for the next 5D which I've been collecting lenses for, and keep the 550D as a b roll and pocket camera till the wheels fall off.
 
i want to get the t2i very soon, i wanted to get a 7d but its pretty pricey.

and i was lookin at the 60d too and it has faster burst fps, and less mp?


whats the difference what shouldi get?


i use my hpx mostly for everything
so i can use the t2i for b roll and a very nice
photo setup with nice lens collection

:)
 
I love my t2i, It's great to be able to throw it on the HANDY SLR,(handy 35.com). with a 7" monitor, follow focus, and whatever else I need on the rig. But then if I want to break it down to nothing but the stock cam and battery grip, it's that simple. I had the hv30, it's no where near the camera the t2i is. The t2i destroys it in low light ability, get an m42 adapter and throw on some old glass for little cash. Love the look of some of the old lenses.
 
i was lookin at the 60d too and it has faster burst fps, and less mp?
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Faster fps, but I think they are both 18MP to my knowledge.

To the OP, if you can afford the 60D, go for it. Otherwise, the T2i is a great camera with the same quality of video. The flip screen of the 60D may make you much happier (Unless you are planning on using an external monitor, but the problem of having SD output no matter with both cameras).
 
Looking at the 60d, it's about $400 more than the T2i. Would that money be better spent on some lenses? I don't think the flip out LCD is too big a deal, and I ill obviously be using an external mic for the shoot. Basically what I would want to do with the footage is import it into finalcut (@ 24p), get a 1.85:1 aspect ratio going, and color correct it.
Running into any trouble there?
 
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out of the 550D/T2i, 7D, and 5D MkII i would say 7D for video; the HD out during record is far more valuable for a real serious project than an articulated screen.
 
Speaking from personal experience I can tell you I own a 7d and love it if I could go back (if it was available back then) then I would buy a 60d. Here's the reason. The 7d and 60d from my understanding shoot exactly to the same specs. (correct me if I am wrong, I do not want to mislead). So with that said I can tell you that you can easily throw a Zacuto on the 60d and pull focus fine. And even though you don't get an full HD out for video you can still see well enough not being HD out to pull focus.

Now in addition to that the reason why I recommend the 60d is because even though you could by a 7d and have the option of HD out on an external monitor, if you're anything like me there will be times where you just won't have the time hook up a monitor due to a run and gun issue and the little flip lcd with a swivel monitor is nice. Also having the option to record audio to the camera is ideal if you had no other option. I've run into many times where I needed to grab something and wished I had it easier to record audio and to get a shot with a swivel lcd.

Now I will almost always use a second system to record audio like a zoom but the important thing to stress is to give yourself another option just in case. It's not to have that option and you might find yourself needing it. (only bad thing is no headphone jacks!!!!!!) But like I said nice to have an option to record without automatic audio gain.

It's like when people wonder if they should spend on a faster lens and some people say no, but I'll tell you having the option to open up to 1.8 can save your hide when trying to shoot when you just don't have the light.

Not saying my opinion is definitive and over Zissou's. I think he is giving great advice. I just wanted to share my P.O.V. coming from a 7d owner. I respect what he is saying though.

Would I get a T2i if I had to choose between that and the 60d, hell no. Will I buy a 60 as a second camera, yes! Will I keep my 7d, yes probably.

Also: Not to get off topic but just read Philip Bloom's review of the AF100 and watched footage and now I can see that I will still keep my 7d in addition to purchasing the AF100. They are just two different systems both with strengths. The AF100 footage looks a bit more VIDEO to me than the 7d. I understand it is actually a video camera and the way it processes moving images is a whole different ball game but it made me feel better about investing in a DSLR. After I had first heard I wondered if I wasted my money not waiting and saving up for the AF100 but now I see it's not going to replace the DSLR. Thought I'd mention.
 
micahPRT said:
Looking at the 60d, it's about $400 more than the T2i. Would that money be better spent on some lenses? I don't think the flip out LCD is too big a deal, and I ill obviously be using an external mic for the shoot. Basically what I would want to do with the footage is import it into finalcut (@ 24p), get a 1.85:1 aspect ratio going, and color correct it.
Running into any trouble there?
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If you don't feel the flip-out screen and manual audio control are going to be useful for you, then I would say to go with the T2i. Video quality will be the same, although you won't have the native ISOs like the 7D and 60D.

$400 will buy you a nice, fast prime for sure, maybe even two (Note; I'm thinking of new glass here. You would be able to get more vintage glass for that amount), or you can invest in a zoom lens until you know what focal lengths you tend to work at, and then buy primes in the same focal lengths.

Welcome to the forum! :)
 
I own a 7D, played with the 60D and my friend's T2i and I can honestly tell you to get the T2i, and use the $400 on accessories. You can get the T2i, a 50mm 1.8, a Zoom h1, and a lilliput 7" LCD monitor for what you'd spend on the 60D. Good luck
 
dgr81rtns said:
I own a 7D, played with the 60D and my friend's T2i and I can honestly tell you to get the T2i, and use the $400 on accessories. You can get the T2i, a 50mm 1.8, a Zoom h1, and a lilliput 7" LCD monitor for what you'd spend on the 60D. Good luck
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That's true, but you won't get Manual audio, better build camera, 1/3 iso increments, swivel lcd screen, ability to dial in kelvin temperature for accurate white balance, top lcd screen on camera body and several other features in the video + photography mode.

I owned a t2i for 6 months, sold it for a 60d and it is simply a better camera all around. Yes the footage on a 60d and t2i is practically identical , but it's more about the way the camera handles and feels that makes the purchase price worth it. The t2i is n excellent camera, but the 60d is simply better. The swivel lcd screen alone is worth the price of admission and a low res monitor like the 7" illliput simply can not compare. If you are buying new, get a Canon 60D.
 
So what about a refurbished 7D verses a 60D? I've found out that Canon has a loyalty program, so if you trade in an old Canon camera--working or not--you will get a rebate which will put the price of a refurbished 7D body down to the same price as a 60D body.

The need for an external audio source would still be there though, regardless of the manual audio on the 60D. I guess it is possible to sneak by with an external mic on the 60D, but risky if the audio happens to be too high or low.
 
I played around with both a little today, I have to say the 60D does feel better, but I can't really base my purchase on that. This thread has actually got me thinking on what I really want. I am a little too limited by budget right now. I have to say I would like to rent a more professional camera or buy a camcorder, but I don't think scheduling would allow for that.

I am thinking T2i to have the extra cash for some nice glass, but if I can grab a good deal on a 60D I'll go for that.

Thanks for the welcome Timbit ;)
 
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