We’re all looking for cheap storage, you’ve got all of your image files, possibly your video files, and of course your triplicate backup of all of those files right? Well, in that spirit, till then end of the month, there’s $40 instant savings on a 2 terabyte Western Digital My Book external hard drive. That instant savings brings the total price down to $179 and B&H Photo even throws in free shipping.

By the way, they’ve also got the 64GB Sandisk Ultra Backup USB Flash Drive marked at $139 with free shipping.

Western Digital 2TB My Book Mirror Edition External Hard Drive at B&H Photo for $179 and free shipping SanDisk Ultra Backup USB Flash Drive (64GB) at B&H Photo for $139 and free shipping Get all of your photography and computer related equipment and support this site at the same time, by making your purchase through the links above at B&H Photo Video. Your purchases there allow us to keep providing in depth coverage and reviews on your favorite cameras.

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• Canon EOS 5D Mark II Price Drop! (Plus Freebies!)

Our Canon EOS Rebel T2i (550D) In Depth Review is Now Live
We’ve just posted our in depth review of the exciting Canon EOS Rebel T2i! This is a camera that a lot of folks are excited about because it seems be both feature packed, yes still relatively affordable. Find out our thoughts in our review of the brand new Rebel, right here.Similar Posts:

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Canon EOS Rebel T2i (550D) In Depth Review

The latest in the Rebel lineup, and its new flagship, the Canon EOS Rebel T2i offers entry level shooters some degree of professional level camera features in a compact, and more importantly, affordable camera body. The gap it bridges is that mysterious realm between the Rebel lineup and the more professional/prosumer-ish EOS 7D. In that gap it floats far more to the entry level than prosumer, especially when it comes to camera look and feel and overall camera performance. But with two features the Rebel T2i reaches right up to the Canon EOS 7D, it uses a very similar sensor design with the same resolution and offers the same full fledged video features. One more notable aspect, the new Rebel is graced with Canon’s latest and greatest LCD display, a beautifully crisp and clear 1040K LCD, with a 3:2 aspect ratio no less. The question for many photographers will be, is this new Rebel just a slight upgrade from the Rebel T1i, or is it a poor man’s EOS 7D?

Availability

Canon EOS Rebel T2i (body only) at B&H Photo Canon EOS Rebel T2i with 18-55m lens at B&H Photo Get the new Canon EOS Rebel T2i and support this site at the same time, by making your purchase through the links above at B&H Photo Video. Your purchases there made this and hopefully future articles possible .

Competitors

Of course some folks might be wondering how the newest Rebel stacks up to the actual competition. I find this a bit unfair, as at the time of this writing the T2i is brand new, and some of its would be competitors have drifted down in price, so that a camera like the Nikon D90 for instance is now in the same price range, while the Nikon D5000 is priced far less. In many respects though, Canon’s latest Rebel essentially competes with other Canon DSLRs, as many consumers interested in this particular model might be considering either it, or the now more affordable, but still quite competent, EOS Rebel T1i. So we’ve gathered key specifications for both cameras, as well as the Canon EOS 7D, so that you can see how the three roughly compare to each other.

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Panasonic Unveils Lumix DMC-G2
Also for the Japanese CP+ tradeshow, Panasonic has unveiled the Lumix DMC-G2, which most prominently features a tilt and rotating touchscreen LCD. The G2 becomes the official replacement for the G1, but not the G1h which still remains in the G series lineup and is still the only G series camera capable of shooting 1080p video at the moment.

Additional Media

Press Release

Lumix DMC-G2, World’s First* Interchangeable Lens System Camera With Touch-Control Movable LCD

Panasonic LUMIX G2 Features a 3-Inch Touch-Screen, Allowing for Quick and Intuitive Setting Changes, such as Focus, with a Single Touch

Secaucus, NJ (March 7, 2010) – Panasonic today announces the LUMIX DMC-G2, the world’s first* digital interchangeable lens system camera with a movable LCD that allows for touch-control, and the successor to the award-winning and revolutionary LUMIX G1, which was the world’s first Micro Four Thirds digital camera. The intuitive touch-control shooting elevates the camera’s operability, letting the user adjust auto focus (AF) simply by touching the subject on the large 3.0-inch 460,000-dot high- resolution LCD. The LUMIX G2, also shoots 720p High Definition video using the AVCHD Lite format, and joins the LUMIX G10, also introduced today, as the latest models in the LUMIX G Micro System.

With the touch-screen operation, users can even snap a photo by touching the LUMIX G2’s screen. Additionally, the touch-screen operation excels not only for shooting but also during playback. Users can touch one thumbnail viewed among many to quickly and easily see the full size of the desired photo. Also, to view images one-by-one, photos can be dragged across the screen to browse as though flipping the pages of a book.

“With the LUMIX G2, Panasonic is pleased to continue to lead the evolution of the Micro Four Thirds platform and also be the first in the industry to offer a touch-screen interchangeable lens system camera,” said David Briganti, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “Touch-operation is a user interface with which many consumers are both familiar and expect, and we think the LUMIX G2’s touch-operation makes it easier and quicker to take photos and videos that have professional-like effects.”

Using the touch-screen operation, once a user locks onto a subject, the LUMIX G2 enables AF Tracking and will track the subject as it moves within the frame. Then, with a touch on the screen, users can select the part and the size of AF area with the 1-area AF. The Multi-area AF sets a group of AF points according to the composition. While using the manual focus, users can enlarge a subject by touching it and then choosing to enlarge it by 1x, 5x or 10x and then smoothly moving the part by dragging it on the screen. With this touch operation, menu settings can be changed quickly; cutting the time it takes to navigate using standard cursors. However, all setting changes can still be done using the control pad, if preferred.

The LUMIX G2 records 1280 x 720 HD videos in the AVCHD Lite format, which increases recording capacity and is highly compatible with audio-visual equipment. With a dedicated video record button, users can easily start recording a video. To complement its high-quality video capabilities, the LUMIX G2 features advanced audio options, as sound is recorded with Dolby Digital Creator and an optional accessory stereo microphone can be attached. A Wind Cut function further enhances the sound as it helps reduce noise caused from background wind.

The 3.0-inch touch-operation LCD has a wide-viewing angle and rotates 180° from side to side and tilts 270° up and down, providing approximately 100% of field of view. This free-angle LCD with a touch-screen operation makes it possible to both view and touch the screen from any angle. The double Live-View function offered by the high-resolution, 460,000-dot free-angle Intelligent LCD and 1,440,000-dot 1.4x (0.7x) Live View Finder allows users to see the settings’ results before pressing the shutter.

The 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor featured in the LUMIX G2 offers the best of both worlds – the outstanding image quality of a CCD sensor, and the lower power consumption of a CMOS sensor. Advanced technology enables it to read four channels of data simultaneously, helping the LUMIX G2 to deliver 60 frames-per-second Full-time Live View images, while faithfully reproducing high-resolution images with fine detail and rich gradation. Plus, with the high-speed, high-performance Venus Engine HD II, which has been re-engineered to further improve image quality.

The new high-speed, high-performance Venus Engine HD II supports the new image processing technology Intelligent Resolution, which enables the recording of beautiful photo and HD video with high quality signal processing. With Intelligent Resolution technology, three areas – outlines, detailed texture areas and soft gradation – are automatically detected. The outline parts are enhanced effectively to give edges increased clarity, while simultaneously giving a moderate accentuation to the textured areas so they look finely detailed. For the soft gradation areas, the improved noise reduction system of the Venus Engine HD II is applied to achieve a smoother effect. Apart from the uniform enhancement of sharpness, the innovative technology Intelligent Resolution precisely performs signal processing pixel by pixel in the most effective way, resulting in images that are naturally clear.

For users looking for additional creative options for both photos and videos, the LUMIX G2 delivers. While shooting HD video, users can set the camera in “P” mode – to change the aperture for professional-like movie effects where the images blur into focus. For still photos, the LUMIX G2 features the My Color mode with a total of seven preset effects – Expressive, Retro, Pure, Elegant, Monochrome, Dynamic Art, and Silhouette while also keeping the Custom mode, which lets users manually set the color, brightness and saturation levels and save their favorite settings into memory.

On the other hand, for beginner users not yet ready for manual modes – the LUMIX G2 features iA (Intelligent Auto), a popular setting in the LUMIX point-and-shoots that automatically engages features and settings for optimal image quality by detecting the shooting environment. Panasonic iA is available in both still photo and video recording settings and a new dedicated iA button, which illuminates in blue when engaged, makes it even easier to use this handy feature.

Other features of the LUMIX G2 include:

*

Dust Reduction System: If dust or other foreign matter gets inside the camera when you’re changing lenses, it could cling to the image sensor and show up as a spot in your photos. The Dust Reduction System in the G2 helps eliminate this possibility by placing a supersonic wave filter in front of the Live MOS sensor. Vibrating vertically around 50,000 times per second, the filter repels dust and other particles effectively.
*

Included Software: PHOTOfunSTUDIO 5.0 HD Edition makes it possible to sort and organize photos. Videos can be uploaded directly to YouTube using the built-in YouTube uploader – even in HD quality. It also lets you create a 360-degree rotation panorama file in .MOV files. The software is compatible with the Windows 7.

The Panasonic LUMIX G2 will come equipped as part of its kit, with the newly announced LUMIX G VARIO 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. lens. The new lens offers a versatile zoom range of 14-42mm (35mm camera equivalent: 28-84mm), making it suitable for a wide variety of scenes, everything from dynamic landscape to portrait. Additionally, the LUMIX G2 is compatible with all Micro Four Thirds System lenses, allowing users even higher levels of performance in a digital interchangeable lens camera.

The LUMIX DMC-G2 and other LUMIX G Micro System digital cameras can use any interchangeable lens that complies with the Four Thirds standard via an optional mount adaptor DMW-MA1 and with the prestigious Leica M/R Lenses via DMW-MA2M or MA3R. Other accessories include external flashes, filters, a remote shutter, HDMI mini cables and a variety of stylish straps and bags. To learn about the Panasonic LUMIX Micro Four Thirds System and all the available accessories, visit www.panasonic.com/lumix.

* As of March 7, 2010.Similar Posts:

• None Found

Panasonic Announces Lumix DMC-G10

At the Japanese CP+ tradeshow, Panasonic has unveiled a more affordable G-series camera, dubbed the G10. The G10 is billed as the “world’s lightest digital interchangeable lens camera with a viewfinder”, but more importantly should be priced low enough to pull more consumers into the G-series without making too many compromises. The G10 gives up the rotating touchscreen of the also new G2 and also does without the microphone jack found on the G2, but maintains the same sensor and should have roughly the same overall image quality. For movie enthusiasts, the G2 will be the preferred option.

Additional Media

Press Release

Panasonic Lumix G10, World’s Lightest* Digital Interchangeable Lens System Camera With A Viewfinder

Compact and easy-to-use, the LUMIX G10 shoots high-quality photos and HD video and is an approachable alternative for users new to system cameras

Secaucus, NJ (March 7, 2010) – Panasonic today introduces an addition to its Panasonic LUMIX G Series, the LUMIX DMC-G10, the world’s lightest* digital interchangeable lens camera with a viewfinder, which packs a host of advanced digital camera functions designed to be easy-to-use for users new to system cameras. The new compact and portable LUMIX G10, which can record High Definition (HD) video in addition to high-quality still images, joins the LUMIX DMC-G2, also introduced today, as part of the Panasonic LUMIX G Series.

“The LUMIX G Micro System has revolutionized the photography industry ever since the release of the Panasonic G1, the world’s first interchangeable lens system camera based on the Micro Four Thirds System standard,” said David Briganti, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “We continue to expand this award-winning LUMIX G Series, and with its easy-to-use features and compact size, we expect the G10 to attract a lot of new users who want to step-up from their point-and-shoots.”

The LUMIX G10, with its incredible compact body and portable design, uses a mirrorless structure as part the Micro Four Thirds System standard, eliminating a number of components that are found in a conventional interchangeable lens camera, including the mirror box and optical viewfinder unit. This innovative structure allows for the LUMIX G10 to be the world’s lightest system camera in a compact digital camera design that is a desired feature for new users. Adding to its lightweight body, the LUMIX G10 will come equipped as part of its kit, with the newly announced LUMIX G VARIO 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. lens. The new lens offers a versatile zoom range of 14-42mm (35mm camera equivalent: 28-84mm), making it suitable for shooting a wide-range of scenes, from dynamic landscape to portrait.

Panasonic designed the LUMIX G10 to be easy to use offers iA (Intelligent Auto) mode – with its shooting assist functions that have proven extremely popular in LUMIX compact cameras. Panasonic’s iA (Intelligent Auto), an easy shooting mode with automatic optimization according to the scene in either photo and video recording, is helpful to beginner users unfamiliar with an interchangeable lens system camera. With the new dedicated iA button, which illuminates in blue when engaged, activating this mode is even easier and can be used to shoot both photos and videos.

When shooting still photos, iA offers the following: MEGA O.I.S., which helps prevent blurring from hand-shake; Intelligent ISO Control, which reduces motion blur by adjusting the ISO sensitivity if the subject moves; Intelligent Exposure optimizes exposure for each part of an image, preventing blocked shadows and blown highlights and helping ensure that gradation and details are reproduced properly; Intelligent Scene Selector detects the most common shooting situations – Portrait, Night Portrait, Scenery, Night Scenery, Close-up and Sunset – and switches to the appropriate Scene mode automatically – no setting changes needed.

The LUMIX G10 can record 1280 x 720 HD video in Motion JPEG, QVGA, VGA and WVGA formats. Users can enjoy recording HD videos while taking advantage of the high quality lens and the flexibility to change to other lenses. Even users new to recording videos will find the LUMIX G10 makes it easy. Panasonic’s iA for video offers the following: Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S.) helps prevent handshake when using high-powered zoom; Face Detection** automatically detects a face in the frame and adjusts focus, exposure, contrast, and skin complexion; Intelligent Exposure continually checks the ambient light level and adjusts the exposure setting as conditions change to prevent blown highlights and blocked shadows; Intelligent Scene Selector automatically switches between Normal, Portrait, Close-up, Scenery, and Low Light modes according to the situation to optimize visual quality.

With AF Tracking, the LUMIX G10 can lock onto any subject and keep it in focus even if it moves – making it easy to get beautiful, clear shots of moving subjects, such as children and pets. Simply aim, lock, and shoot. The Face Recognition function remembers registered faces to give an appropriate AF/AE on the people. In playback, you can choose to display only photos that contain a specific registered face using Category Playback. The contrast AF system adopted by the LUMIX DMC-G10 is not only accurate and easy to use, but also very fast. Users can choose from a wide range of AF modes, including AF Tracking, 1-area AF, Face Detection AF/AE and 23-area AF.

The LUMIX G10’s Live View Finder, with a resolution of 202,000-dot equivalent, 1.04x (0.52x***) retains the viewability of an optical viewfinder and displays information about its settings that users can see without removing their eye from the subject. The 60 fps Live View is powered by the Live MOS sensor, which takes signals directly from the image sensor and sends them continuously to the LCD, in real time. Both the Live View Finder and LCD provide approximately 100% field of view. This allows the user, when composing a shot, to check the framing accurately from corner to corner. The 3.0-inch large 460,000-dot high-resolution LCD with wide viewing angle automatically controls the brightness according to the situation as an Intelligent LCD.

The 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor and the new Venus Engine HD II help to separate chromatic noise from luminance noise and apply the optimal noise reduction to each, so users can capture clear and beautiful images even when shooting at high ISO sensitivity levels. The high-speed, high-performance Venus Engine HD II, which has been re-engineered to incorporate the new image processing technology, Intelligent Resolution, enables the recording of beautiful photo and HD video with high quality signal processing. With Intelligent Resolution technology, three areas – outlines, detailed texture areas and soft gradation –are automatically detected. The outline parts are enhanced effectively to give edges increased clarity, while simultaneously giving a moderate accentuation to the textured areas so they look finely detailed. For the soft gradation areas, the improved noise reduction system of the Venus Engine HD II is applied to achiever a smoother effect. Apart from the uniform enhancement of sharpness, the innovative technology Intelligent Resolution precisely performs signal processing pixel by pixel in the most effective way, resulting in images that are naturally clear.

All Panasonic LUMIX G Series digital cameras are equipped with the highly-efficient Dust Reduction System. If dust or other foreign matter gets inside the LUMIX G10 while changing lenses, it could cling to the image sensor and show up as a spot in your photos. However, with the Dust Reduction System, it helps eliminate this possibility by placing a supersonic wave filter in front of the Live MOS sensor. Vibrating vertically around 50,000 times per second, the filter repels dust and other particles effectively.

Other features of the LUMIX G10 include:

*

My Color mode with a total of seven preset effects – Expressive, Retro, Pure, Elegant, Monochrome, Dynamic Art, Silhouette. Also includes Custom mode, which lets users manually set the color, brightness and saturation levels. For beginners, the LUMIX G10’s full-time Live View function lets users see how these settings will affect the images before they shoot, making it easier to capture the exact mood or atmosphere desired.
*

Scene modes total 26, including the Peripheral Defocus mode, which lets users take a photo where the foreground is in focus and background is blurred – or vice versa. This popular effect can be intimidating for a beginner, but in the Peripheral Defocus mode, by simply selecting the objects to be blurred and focused using the camera’s keypad, it is simple for photographers of any level.
*

Exposure meter can be displayed in the P/A/S/M shooting modes. The correlation between shutter speed and aperture is shown, with a color-coded warning system that alerts users when the settings are not in the proper range. For those new to system camera digital photography, this makes it easy to learn proper settings both visually and logically, enhancing their photography skills.

The Panasonic LUMIX G10 is compatible with Micro Four Thirds System lenses, allowing users even higher levels of performance in a digital interchangeable lens camera. In addition to LUMIX G lenses, the LUMIX DMC-G10 and LUMIX G Micro System can use any interchangeable lens that complies with the Four Thirds standard via an optional mount adaptor DMW-MA1 and with the prestigious Leica M/R Lenses via DMW-MA2M or MA3R.

Pricing and availability for the Panasonic LUMIX G10 will be announced 30 days prior to shipping date. It will be available in black. To learn about the Panasonic LUMIX Micro Four Thirds System and all the available accessories, visit www.panasonic.com/lumix.

* As of March 7, 2010.
** Turn Face Recognition item ON and register the person with full-face portrait on the shooting menu in advance.
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Canon’s Instant Savings Now In Effect: Good Time To Snag EOS 7D and 5D Mark II

Not to be outdone by Nikon’s instant rebates, Canon has also released a number of instant savings deals, many of them focused around the EOS 7D and EOS 5D Mark II, especially when combined with a Canon lens. These instant savings are effective the moment you purchase the camera, so there’s nothing to print out or mail in. Check out the links below at B&H Photo to explore the various savings, good till April 3.

Canon EOS 7D at B&H Photo $100 Instant Savings w/ EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens $200 off. w/ EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens $100 off. w/ EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens and EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens $200 off. w/ EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens $100 off. w/ EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens and EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens $200 off. Canon Telephoto EF 200mm f/2L IS USM Autofocus Lens at B&H Photo $500 Instant Savings w/ Purchase of Canon EOS 5D Mark II $1000 off. Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens at B&H Photo $65 Instant Savings w/ Purchase of Canon EOS 5D Mark II $130 off. Canon Zoom Super Wide Angle EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Autofocus Lens at B&H Photo $100 Instant Savings w/ Purchase of Canon EOS 5D Mark II $200 off. Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM Autofocus Lens at B&H Photo $130 Instant Savings w/ Purchase of Canon EOS 5D Mark II $260 off. Canon Fisheye EF 15mm f/2.8 Autofocus Lens at B&H Photo $45 Instant Savings w/ Purchase of Canon EOS 5D Mark II $90 off. Canon Normal EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Autofocus Lens at B&H Photo $100 Instant Savings w/ Purchase of Canon EOS 5D Mark II $200 off. Canon Telephoto EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Autofocus Lens at B&H Photo $30 Instant Savings w/ Purchase of Canon EOS 5D Mark II $60 off. Canon Telephoto EF 135mm f/2.8 Autofocus Lens Soft Focus at B&H Photo $35 Instant Savings w/ Purchase of Canon EOS 5D Mark II $70 off. Canon Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Autofocus Lens at B&H Photo $80 Instant Savings w/ Purchase of Canon EOS 5D Mark II $160 off. Canon TS-E 45mm f/2.8 Normal Tilt Shift Manual Focus Lens for EOS at B&H Photo $80 Instant Savings w/ Purchase of Canon EOS 5D Mark II $160 off. Canon Speedlite 580EX II at B&H Photo $25 Instant Savings w/ Purchase of Canon EOS 5D Mark II $50 off. Canon 430EX II Speedlite TTL Shoe-Mount Flash at B&H Photo $15 Instant Savings w/ Purchase of Canon EOS 5D Mark II $30 off. Get your Canon DSLR, lens, and other photography gear and support this site at the same time, by making your purchases through the links above at B&H Photo Video. Your purchases made there help to keep this site running .

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Instant Rebates on Nikon DSLR/Lens Combinations Now In Effect
If you were possibly entertaining the idea of purchasing a DSLR camera in the very near future, Nikon currently is offering a range of nice instant rebates on a number of DSLR/len combinations. Instant rebates mean no forms to print out, nothing to mail in…the rebate is just instantly applied at purchase.

Check out the following links at B&H Photo to find out the potential savings. Note that the better the camera/lens combo, the bigger the rebate!

Nikon D5000 at B&H Photo w/ 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX Kit $30 off. w/ Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S VR Lens $230 off. w/ Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Lens $330 off. w/ Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S ED VR II Lens $430 off. Nikon D90 at B&H Photo w/ Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto AF Zoom Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Autofocus Lens $250 off. w/ 18-200mm VR II Lens $300 off. w/ AF-S Zoom Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED Autofocus Lens (Black) $350 off. w/ AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II Lens $450 off. Nikon D300s at B&H Photo w/ Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto AF Zoom Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Autofocus Lens $200 off. w/ AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II Zoom Lens $250 off. w/ AF-S Zoom Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED Autofocus Lens (Black) $300 off. w/ Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S ED VR II Lens $400 off. Nikon D700 at B&H Photo w/ Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto AF Zoom Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Autofocus Lens $200 off. w/ AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II Zoom Lens $250 off. w/ AF-S Zoom Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED Autofocus Lens (Black) $300 off. w/ Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S ED VR II Lens $400 off. Nikon D3s at B&H Photo w/ Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto AF Zoom Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Autofocus Lens $200 off. w/ AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II Zoom Lens $250 off. w/ AF-S Zoom Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED Autofocus Lens (Black) $300 off. w/ Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S ED VR II Lens $400 off. Nikon D3x at B&H Photo w/ Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto AF Zoom Nikkor 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR Autofocus Lens $200 off. w/ AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II Zoom Lens $250 off. w/ AF-S Zoom Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED Autofocus Lens (Black) $300 off. w/ Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G AF-S ED VR II Lens $400 off. Get your Nikon DSLR and other photography gear and support this site at the same time, by making your purchases through the links above at B&H Photo Video. Your purchases made there help to keep this site running .

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Canon EOS Rebel T2i (550D) vs. EOS Rebel T1i (500D) vs. EOS 7D: ISO and Image Quality Comparison

With the introduction of the Canon EOS Rebel T2i (550D), photographers are once again faced with the tough decision of whether to buy a feature-rich camera that on the one hand is slightly better than its predecessor (Canon is still selling the T1i, but really this is the upgrade), and on the other hand seems to be quite close to its more expensive stablemate, the EOS 7D. After spending some time with the new Rebel T2i, as well as the EOS 7D and the T1i, we can say that the newest Rebel is the best one yet, and does indeed rival the 7D in image quality, while making some minor improvements over the already very good Rebel T1i. The T2i is a very capable camera for an entry-level offering (though it does seem to reach into prosumer territory) and while I don’t want to spoil our upcoming in depth review of the T2i, it unquestionably is the best DSLR $800 can buy today. That said, the T1i and the EOS 7D are also well worth your attention, so I’ve put together some specification, ISO, and image quality comparisons together for your analysis.

Availability

Canon EOS Rebel T2i (body only) at B&H Photo Canon EOS Rebel T2i with 18-55m lens at B&H Photo Canon EOS Rebel T1i (body only) at B&H Photo Canon EOS Rebel T1i with 18-55mm lens at B&H Photo Canon EOS 7D (body only) at B&H Photo Get the new Canon EOS Rebel T2i, the Rebel T1, and the EOS 7D, and support this site at the same time, by making your purchase through the links above at B&H Photo Video. Your purchases there made this and hopefully future articles possible .

Specifications Compared

The EOS Rebel T2i is essentially the successor to the Rebel T1i, and as such, many of its upgrades build on, borrow, or improve on what the T1i offered. What’s interesting is that several of the improvements reach up to the very good EOS 7D model. The T2i has a similar 18 megapixel sensor (Canon says it isn’t the same sensor), the same metering setup with a 63 zone dual layer system, and the same no compromise video functions complete with selectable frame rates, microphone input, and manual exposure control. If that didn’t sound interesting enough, Canon also has given the newest Rebel the highest resolution LCD display on any DLSR camera today, at a 3:2 aspect no less. Pretty impressive stuff for an $800 camera.

Hands On Comparison

As we’ll see in a moment, the EOS Rebel T2i offers image quality equal to that of the EOS 7D. From the exterior though, the EOS Rebel T2i is nothing like the 7D, instead it is largely the same camera as the Rebel T1i, and is clearly cheaper in build and less satisfying to handle in every respect when compared to the excellent ergonomics and pro-level build of the EOS 7D.

Much as the EOS 7D did with the 5D Mark II form factor, the slight resculpting of the Rebel T2i versus the T1i all seem aimed at improving the cameras use as an arm’s length video camera, with most of the changes influencing how the camera fits into the left hand. The grip is practically the same, but it has been adjusted on the camera’s rear just enough for a noticably better fit. It is a better camera to hold, but I still find the grip too narrow and the shutter release positioning will still require you to crimp your shutter finger more than it should.

On the T2i’s rear, the controls have been changed. Gone are the T1i’s round buttons, instead the T2i has somewhat large buttons that are shaped to fit their confines. I wouldn’t say the change is positive, as their flushness to the camera’s surface doesn’t make them any easier to press. The interface remains largely unchanged, the same info screen will be found on both Rebels, and the menu also stays the same, outside some minor reshuffling.

In use the T2i works quite like the older Rebel. The smaller viewfinders are identical in appearance, and performance numbers largely feel the same despite the T2i’s negligible frame rate improvement. Interestingly I feel like the the T1i is focusing just a tiny bit faster than the T2i. Neither come close to the EOS 7D with its 100% coverage viewfinder and 8 frame burst rates. With this new time with the EOS 7D, I’m feeling like the “Essential” rating we gave the EOS 7D in our in depth review was indeed well deserved, its overall handling is superb, and we can’t help but to be a bit disappointed that the new Rebel T2i didn’t get the EOS 7D’s clever video/live view switch/on button combo, but oh well.

ISO

You may not get a  performance improvement with the Rebel T2i, but you do clearly get an image quality improvement, in particular a nice boost in ISO quality. The overall range stays the same at ISO 12800 for both Rebels and the EOS 7D, but a look at the samples below shows that very similar things are happening with the T2i and EOS 7D with their 18 megapixel sensors featuring gapless micro lenses. Noise is well apparent by ISO 800, but usability exends right up to ISO 3200 from a print perspective, and even ISO 6400 seems pretty good, though ISO 12800 might be pushing it too far.

Below we’ve assembled crops from the EOS Rebel T2i, the EOS Rebel T1i, the EOS 7D, and for good measure, the EOS 5D Mark II. The shots were taken back to back in identical light at identical settings, meaning noise reduction was turned off in-camera, dynamic range enhancers were turned off, the same (standard) picture style is being used, and all cameras are in aperture priority, set to f/8 with 1 stop of exposure compensation. Because the Rebel 2Ti isn’t yet supported by Lightroom, I’ve run all of the files through Canon’s latest version of Digital Photo Professional, again with noise removal sliders set to zero. Click each thumbnail for a 100% crop (from left to right in each crop: Rebel T1i, Rebel T2i, EOS 7D, and EOS 5D Mark II). The originals for each camera which you can download for you own personal use can be found at the following links: Rebel T2i, Rebel T1i, EOS 7D, EOS 5D Mark II.

Crop 1

ISO 100	ISO 200
ISO 400	ISO 800
ISO 1600	ISO 3200
ISO 6400	ISO 12800

Crop 2

ISO 100	ISO 200
ISO 400	ISO 800
ISO 1600	ISO 3200
ISO 6400	ISO 12800

Image Quality

I’ve put together a few comparative sets of images to give you a sense of what the new Rebel EOS T2i can do as compared to the T1i and EOS 7D. The weather here in New England has been terrible as of late, so these are all from the studio. The cameras have been setup the same way, and of course the light setup was exactly the same. The lens used is the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS. All the images have been run through Digital Photo Professional. Click each thumbnail for a larger view or explore the original size link for the full size image. Feel free to download the samples for your own personal use only.

Set 1

Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T2i Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125) Aperture: f/7.1 Focal Length: 70 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size	Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T1i Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125) Aperture: f/7.1 Focal Length: 73 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125) Aperture: f/7.1 Focal Length: 70 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size

Set 2

Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T2i Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125) Aperture: f/7.1 Focal Length: 70 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size	Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T1i Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125) Aperture: f/7.1 Focal Length: 70 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125) Aperture: f/7.1 Focal Length: 70 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size	original size

Set 3

Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T2i Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125) Aperture: f/7.1 Focal Length: 70 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size	Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T1i Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125) Aperture: f/7.1 Focal Length: 75 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size
Camera: Canon EOS 7D Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125) Aperture: f/7.1 Focal Length: 73 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size

Conclusion

Right now we’re feeling pretty good about the latest Rebel offering. Impressive image quality, a gorgeous display and a fully featured video function certainly make this a very compelling DSLR for the money. We’ve got just a bit more testing to do, but please do stay tuned for our upcoming in depth review.

Get The Cameras

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Canon EOS Rebel T2i (body only) at B&H Photo Canon EOS Rebel T2i with 18-55m lens at B&H Photo Canon EOS Rebel T1i (body only) at B&H Photo Canon EOS Rebel T1i with 18-55mm lens at B&H Photo Canon EOS 7D (body only) at B&H Photo Get the new Canon EOS Rebel T2i, the Rebel T1, and the EOS 7D, and support this site at the same time, by making your purchase through the links above at B&H Photo Video. Your purchases there made this and hopefully future articles possible .

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Leica X1 vs. Sigma DP2: Two Photographer’s Compacts Compared

We’ve just recently wrapped up our time with the Leica X1 and while we work on our final in depth review, I thought it’d be interesting to show how the X1 compares and contrasts with one of my well known favorites, the Sigma DP2. First, a look some key specifications for these two fixed lens, big sensor compacts.

Specifications

Briefly, a quick look at several of the two cameras key stats.

Availability

Leica X1 with Leica Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens at B&H Photo Sigma DP2 Digital Camera at B&H Photo Get the Leica X1 with Leica Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. lens or the Sigma DP2 and support this site at the same time, by making your purchase through the links above at B&H Photo Video. Your purchases there help us continue to provide you with more great content.

Field Notes

Of the two cameras, clearly the Leica X1 features the more robust build. It is a very well constructed camera, and combined with its handsome looks, the Leica X1 is a camera that nearly every photographer could be inspired by. The Sigma DP2 is also a well built camera, but its overall design is less polished than the X1 and clearly aesthetically the DP2 isn’t quite the art piece that the X1 is. Still it is a sturdy camera, and the minimalist in me quite likes this little black box.

From a control point of view, both cameras offer just the basics, it’s strictly PASM shooting only with either. We’re quite familiar by now with using the DP2, and its control setup once learned is pretty straightforward to use. The X1 makes things far more elegant with its top deck controls. A combination of two dials puts the camera in program, aperture priority, shutter priority, or manual. Menu options are limited with both cameras, once gets the sense that the two cameras intend to stay out of your way, and they do it pretty effectively.

From a performance point of view, the biggest hindrance with either camera is autofocusing speeds. Of the two, the Leica X1 is generally faster, usually taking less than a second to focus, where the DP2 can take up to 1 and half seconds. The X1 is the first to fire off a shot when the camera is just turned on, and can shoot continuously a bit longer than the DP2 (6 frames vs 4) though both cameras shoot at roughly 3.3 frames per second, (followed by lengthy write times)

One other note, given their costs (especially the X1), the two cameras both feature rather paltry 230K LCD displays. The DP2’s is particularly bad, giving the photographer no real sense of what has actually been captured, especially from a color point of view. I must say that the Leica X1 does have a larger screen, and for a 230K type display, it’s as good as it can be.

In the end, both cameras perform and work about the same, though in most regards the X1 does things better and faster. Irrespective of which camera you are using, both are slower than most DSLR cameras and cameras like the Olympus E-P2 and Panasonic GF1. Even things like scrolling though captured images in playback mode can take a bit of time as opposed to the instant change you might be used to, but then again these aren’t really competing with DSLR cameras, the focus is image quality in your pocket, not speed in your pocket.

ISO

When it comes to low light performance, the competition isn’t all that close, the X1 wins hands down. While both cameras have ISO ranges extending from 100 to 3200, the X1 produces usable imagery throughout that range, far better than any camera this size. The DP2 struggles at ISO 800 and beyond, and isn’t just a noise issue, which isn’t that bad. Instead the Foveon sensor suffers from huge saturation losses and color shifts. The good news is that for black and whites, the DP2 is capable of making some fascinating imagery even at higher ISO (though the X1 certainly can as well).

The following samples were taken in the same controlled light setup, with both set to f/8 (aperture priority).  Use the source image below to orient yourself to the crop positions. You can click each thumbnail for a 100% view and the full size, unedited files are available here. You’ll note the crops for the DP2 are substantially smaller, but that’s because it’s file sizes are much smaller than the X1’s, more on that in a moment. Leica X1 crops are on the left, the Sigma DP2 on the right.

Crop 1

ISO 100	ISO 200
ISO 400	ISO 800
ISO 1600	ISO 3200

Crop 2

ISO 100	ISO 200
ISO 400	ISO 800
ISO 1600	ISO 3200

Image Quality

If you looked at the specifications, you’ll have noticed that the two cameras have similar sized sensors (sort of close anyway), but even though the DP2 claims 14 odd megapixels, it’s really in the neighborhood of 4 and half megapixels, at least when it comes to print sizes. As you can see in the image to the right, the X1 produces much bigger files than the DP2 does. We’re not making a judgement on dimensions, but it does provide the DP2 an advantage with apparent sharpness. Don’t get me wrong, both cameras properly focused can take very sharp picture out of camera, but I’ve noticed the DP2 at least looking sharper initially. In the comparisons below I’ve provide some 100% crops to give you an idea of what’s happening in these hand-held shots, but I also added an additional sample where I’ve resized the X1 crop to the same size as the DP2. As you can see both capture equal amounts of detail.

As to the character of the files, the DP2 offers a more unique look, thanks largely to its unique sensor. The DP2 can’t be relied on for accurate color, instead things to shift green or other directions, and for me personally this gives the DP2 files a dash of flavor, setting it apart from the crowd. The X1 is far more accurate, a very good “what you see is what you get” type camera, it literally is DSLR image quality in your pocket, offering no surprises other than the large beautiful files coming from such a small camera.

One little note, in the side by side testing I’ve done, you’ll see the DP2 underexposing relative to the X1 even at exactly the same settings. Possibly this a deliberate attempt by Sigma to provide highlight protection which the DP2 does do well, but in general it’s better to slightly overexpose than underexpose, as more information (detail) is preserved that way, and that’s exactly what the X1 does. Of course the solution is simple, just (exposure) compensate more than you might think with the DP2.

Use the image below to orient yourself to the crops below. Click each thumbnail for a 100% view. The actual images are to be found lower in the comparison gallery. Leica X1 crops are on the left, the Sigma DP2 on the right.

Comparisons

100% crops, Leica X1 on the left, Sigma DP2 on the right.	Leica X1 crop resized to Sigma DP2 size, Leica X1 on the left, Sigma DP2 on the right.
100% crops, Leica X1 on the left, Sigma DP2 on the right.	Leica X1 crop resized to Sigma DP2 size, Leica X1 on the left, Sigma DP2 on the right.
100% crops, Leica X1 on the left, Sigma DP2 on the right.	Leica X1 crop resized to Sigma DP2 size, Leica X1 on the left, Sigma DP2 on the right.

Comparison Gallery

I’ve provided a handful of near identical image for your analysis. Click each thumbnail for a larger view, or explore the original size link for the full size, right off the camera files. Download them for you own personal use only, if you like.

Camera: Leica Camera AG Leica X1 Exposure: 0.04 sec (1/25) Aperture: f/5.0 Focal Length: 24 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size	Camera: SIGMA DP2 Exposure: 0.1 sec (1/10) Aperture: f/5.0 Focal Length: 24.2 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size
Camera: Leica Camera AG Leica X1 Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125) Aperture: f/8.0 Focal Length: 24 mm ISO Speed: 400 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size	Camera: SIGMA DP2 Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80) Aperture: f/8.0 Focal Length: 24.2 mm ISO Speed: 400 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size
Camera: Leica Camera AG Leica X1 Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60) Aperture: f/2.8 Focal Length: 24 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: +1 EV original size	Camera: SIGMA DP2 Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100) Aperture: f/2.8 Focal Length: 24.2 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: +0.7 EV original size
Camera: Leica Camera AG Leica X1 Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30) Aperture: f/5.0 Focal Length: 24 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size	Camera: SIGMA DP2 Exposure: 0.04 sec (1/25) Aperture: f/4.5 Focal Length: 24.2 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size
Camera: Leica Camera AG Leica X1 Exposure: 0.04 sec (1/25) Aperture: f/5.0 Focal Length: 24 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size	Camera: SIGMA DP2 Exposure: 0.067 sec (1/15) Aperture: f/4.5 Focal Length: 24.2 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size
Camera: Leica Camera AG Leica X1 Exposure: 0.04 sec (1/25) Aperture: f/5.0 Focal Length: 24 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size	Camera: SIGMA DP2 Exposure: 0.067 sec (1/15) Aperture: f/4.5 Focal Length: 24.2 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size
Camera: Leica Camera AG Leica X1 Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80) Aperture: f/5.0 Focal Length: 24 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size	Camera: SIGMA DP2 Exposure: 0.025 sec (1/40) Aperture: f/4.5 Focal Length: 24.2 mm ISO Speed: 100 Exposure Bias: 0 EV original size

Leica X1 with Leica Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. Lens at B&H Photo Sigma DP2 Digital Camera at B&H Photo Get the Leica X1 with Leica Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. lens or the Sigma DP2 and support this site at the same time, by making your purchase through the links above at B&H Photo Video. Your purchases there help us continue to provide you with more great content.

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I just a got a notification alert that the spanking new Olympus E-PL1 is at this very moment, IN STOCK at B&H Photo. Currently available are the blue and champagne models, with each one including the 14-42mm lens for $599. Finally, a poor man’s micro four thirds offering!

• Olympus E-PL1 with 14-42mm lens (Blue) at B&H for $599
• Olympus E-PL1 with 14-42mm lens (Champagne) at B&H for $599

Meanwhile over at Amazon the Olympus E-PL1 remains in pre-order status for the moment.Similar Posts:

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