Canon Rebel T2i / 550D demonstrates 1080p video mode, collects glowing early preview

We seriously need to open up an Austrian branch of Engadget. After treating us to a titanium iPhone, the Governator's homeland is now playing host to the first professionally shot 1080p video with the new T2i / 550D from Canon. Nino Leitner has shot a moody short film with a pre-production unit and his conclusion has been that the video you can obtain from the latest prosumer shooter is indistinguishable from the output of the mighty Canon 7D. High praise indeed, but not altogether unexpected considering the T2i sports an all-new 18 megapixel sensor (that is "very similar" to the 7D's) and has had its 1080p recording upgraded to the requisite 30fps to make it a viable shooting mode. Skip past the break to have a look at his results or visit the source for Nino's in-depth preview. Nikon, you've been put on notice.

[lyesmith Posted Feb 25th 2010 8:04AM]

7D has the same sensor and it is very good at high ISO. Almost as good as 5D Mark II. So I have high hopes for 550D.

[liquidmonkey Posted Feb 25th 2010 8:13AM]

i think 720p is enough at the moment.
please NIKON, watch your competition and match them at least!

[Scoot30 Posted Feb 25th 2010 8:16AM]

Funny how everyone focuses on 1080p, whereas the 60FPS available on 720p is far more flexible, and this video itself makes significant use of slow motion. From 60 to 24 allows a 60% slowdown for awesome effects.

In fact I had to look hard to find regular motion footage.

[jdang307 Posted Feb 25th 2010 2:21PM]

@Scoot30 Yeah, I slow down my porn too.

Longer moneyshot.

[Blakberi Posted Feb 25th 2010 8:25AM]

Is it me or was the video a little jerky at points? I hope it was just me, however my Canon T1i seems to get a little jerky in the cold. And I am in Quebec, it is always cold

[SolidSnake Posted Feb 25th 2010 10:31AM]

@Blakberi
If you read the source, he said he did all of this without a tripod. Plus, he used a huge lens to get the best quality. Thats why some shots were kind of jerky.

[neglector Posted Feb 25th 2010 8:56AM]

don't mean to belittle your Austrian scoop, but I have a T2i sitting right next to me, they have been available from Henry's in Canada since Monday. And it facking rocks hard.

[IO Posted Feb 25th 2010 9:02AM]

Color looks washed out.

[Fero Posted Feb 25th 2010 10:03AM]

@IO
i think that's more a matter of post processing

[dan Posted Feb 25th 2010 9:06AM]

Holy crap batman, that is amazing. That video is gorgeous.

Could somebody comment - is that jerking during panning an artifact of Vimeo or (heaven forbid) that is the way pans look with this camera?

[SolidSnake Posted Feb 25th 2010 10:33AM]

@dan
If you read the source, he says he did all of this without a tripod. Plus, he used a huge lens to get the best quality. Thats why some shots were kind of jerky.

[Blakberi Posted Feb 25th 2010 10:39AM]

@SolidSnake

I meant the video - not the shot. But all is well, I downloaded the source video and it plays fine. It was my ageing Macbook Pro

[Spartan2x Posted Feb 25th 2010 9:09AM]

I'm planning to sell my Xsi for the T2i.

It's NOT for a better picture. I am already very happy with the photo's I've taken with my Xsi, and I know a premium lens would be a better purchase to raise the picture quality, rather then a new body. But I want the video mode, just as my fathers new 7D has. Additionally, with his purchase of the 7D, I like how the T2i's software is very similar, along with the specs. Now We will be a little more close when discussing our photography/camera settings.

Now...T2i _ Canon 10-22mm USM Lens= Can't wait!

[chispito Posted Feb 25th 2010 3:00PM]

@Spartan2x

You might want to look into the Tokina 11-16 instead of the Canon. It's faster, and supposedly has better image quality. (I have an older 12-24mm by Tokina and like it a lot).

[volcomnick Posted Feb 25th 2010 5:40PM]

@Spartan2x

And I am waiting for this camera to drop, hoping I can get a better deal on a used XSi.

I never wanted video in my SLR... now its got me thinking...

[Venomizer Posted Feb 25th 2010 9:29AM]

Would definitely consider it in the US at $800 (£520 here in the UK), but as per usual, we get an obscenely inflated price of £800 (around $1230)

[El Barto Posted Feb 25th 2010 10:32AM]

@Venomizer
Well next time you cross the pond bring your wish list with you :]

[dougdeep Posted Feb 25th 2010 9:32AM]

Lack of horizontal pans. Think it's to avoid the rolling shutter problem that most DSLR video has?

[Twisthem488 Posted Feb 25th 2010 9:53AM]

Awesome :) I went to Florida on a whim to see the last NASA night launch, and tried to buy the T1i while I was out there. My bank wouldn't let me because it was a large purchase out of state, and thought it was fraudulent. This just means I can get the t2i instead :) looking forward to learning how to shoot with it!

[El Barto Posted Feb 25th 2010 10:34AM]

I bet I could make movies like that... if I had 4400 bucks to spend on equipment. Nice 2500 Dollar EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens you got on your 900ish camera :*P

[mlashcorp Posted Feb 25th 2010 1:08PM]

@El Barto

Based on your comment, I bet you could not.

[mikes2nd Posted Feb 25th 2010 12:34PM]

mine will be delivered on tuesday.

899$ with the lense

[techlord Posted Feb 25th 2010 1:58PM]

7D price will drop once T2i out, T2i migth had the same video function as 7D but the image department still no where as good, you still get slow 3.7fps compare to 7D 8fps and 7d has 100% view finder and top lcd screen. Canon has to release a lens that is optimized video for (continuous focus) Problem with Canon it has "0" video optimized lens that m4/3 Panasonic has with their 14-140mm.

[harhar Posted Feb 25th 2010 2:02PM]

/(Trying to justify my recent purchase) I just bought a (refurbished) XSi and wanted to knock the T2i, but it is really a pretty good deal.

As a semi-n00b photographer I didn't want to buy a brand new camera and for the price of my XSi + the kit-lens + the 50mm 1.8 + 4GB SDHD card, I'm still $150 below the cost of the T2i body alone.

However, given the T2i's stats and video capability I can definitely see it being worth a couple hundred bucks more than the XSi

For me, I'll just upgrade my "glass" slowly and then eventually buy a 5D or something.

[brothaa Posted Feb 25th 2010 3:25PM]

i just hate how all the Canon cameras record in .MOV

just wtf...

[Jack Posted Feb 25th 2010 4:59PM]

@(Unverified)

Yes, they record using H.264 compression, so .mov makes sense. Would you rather they used something that sucks instead?

[Jeff Kibuule Posted Feb 25th 2010 11:35PM]

@Jack

mp4 would work also.

[CubeGuy Posted Feb 25th 2010 9:48PM]

AUDIO INPUT!

That is all. Carry on.

[mikes2nd Posted Feb 25th 2010 9:51PM]

Quicktime is a fricking virus... invasive, virus prone, ... fricking evil.

I convert that mov asap. Ill never install quicktime on anything

[jellotime91 Posted Feb 26th 2010 4:30AM]

This cam is amazing, the price is phenomenal!! This is going to take my YouTube fetish to new heights.

[sourav Posted Feb 26th 2010 1:10PM]

I am sure Nik will come up with something big.

But, still for die hard photo enthusiasts, video on DSLR is a secondary option. Its the sensor quality + low light images that matter much more. And Nikon has been ruling that since eons.

Canon sure has a big marketing department and they know that the average consumer will be interested in things like 18MP, 1080p video etc, but for those looking for just great images, Nikon is still the best (just look at D300s).

And being a die hard Nikon fan, I am glad that Nikon has not gone after the MP race.

Now only if I had enough money to get a D3s...

[samlimster Posted Feb 26th 2010 11:55PM]

I'd love to know what stabilizing and focusing HW DLSR film makers are using. These are AWESOME still cameras, but my attempts at shooting video have less than stellar.

http://www.samandmaryphotography.com/blog/
scroll down for video.

[ninofilm Posted Mar 7th 2010 5:18PM]

I just uploaded a COLOR GRADED version of FEBRUARY, check it out:
http://ninofilm.net/blog/2010/03/07/color-graded-version-of-february/