This online resource is a collection of my personal insights and experiences with the Canon Rebel T2i, organized into an easy-to-understand guide full of tips, tricks and advice.
Howdy! I want to welcome you to my corner of the web where you’ll find helpful how to’s, tutorials and recommendations for the Canon T2i all written by me, Moose Winans.
This in-depth guide is primarily meant for beginners, newbies and novices. If you don’t fall into one of these categories you’re more than welcome to hangout here…just understand that I’ll be leaving out the lengthy technical explanations.
If you’re new around these parts, I encourage you to bookmark this page and come back from time to time. Happy shooting! :)
News & Notes
NEW! T2i Forum Growing Leaps and Bounds (April 6, 2012) – If you haven’t already done so, I highly recommend checking out the Canon T2i forum for beginners. Over the last few weeks, there have been wonderful discussions around a variety of topics (gear, settings, tricks, issues, etc…) surrounding the Rebel T2i. It’s a fantastic learning tool…and hey, you’ll be in good company. :)
T2i Forum Moved (March 2, 2012) – Due to the massive amount of comments I received on the T2i discussion page, I created an actual forum that can handle the number of discussions we’ve got going. All future questions and comments will need to be posted in the new forum. To visit the new Canon T2i forum, click here.
Updated Design and Layout (March 2, 2012) – Whoa! Check it out. The Canon T2i Tips pages here at Camera Tips are now sporting a new look. I’m currently working on getting the new design live throughout the site, but you T2i owners can go ahead and get settled in.
All you dude’s and dudettes who aren’t on Facebook, I highly recommend you take a few minutes and check out my official Canon T2i Tips Facebook page. It’s got tons of great tips, tricks and helpful info for the T2i, not found anywhere else on the web. FYI…you don’t need to be a facebook member to view the page.
If you’re wondering about the commenting form, I’ve it disabled for the time being. If you’d like to add a comment or ask a question, you can connect with me on: Google+, Facebook or Twitter.
I just got my T2I and still trying to figure everything out. I live in the PNW and often have very bright overcast shooting conditions. How do I on a manual setting control the amount of light coming in ?? I have tried it on Auto and its over exposed.
Robert,
The easiest way is to set a negative exposure compensation (page 87 of the Rebel T2i manual). By applying a negative exposure compensation, the T2i automatically adjusts the aperture and shutter to let less light into the camera. Give it a try…happy shooting!
- Moose
P.S. Make sure you set your ISO to Auto…if you accidentally bump the ISO up, the T2i might have a tough time applying the negative exposure compensation.
how would you focus when taking pics in total darkness with no flash , little or no light at all ? Thanks
Neil,
In extremely dark situations, it’s best to use good ole’ fashioned manual focus. Take a few test shots and review them in playback mode. Zoom all the way in to check accurate focus. You can also use the hyperfocal distance technique which puts everything in focus, all the way to infinity. You can read more about it here.
- Moose
Hey Moose,
Great Site! I have been trying to take pictures of my daughter in swim class. What would be the best setting? It is an indoor pool and my only lens right now is the 1.8 50mm.
Howdy Iris,
I would set up your T2i like this…
1. Enable shutter priority (Tv) on the mode dial
2. Select a shutter speed of 1/500
3. Ensure that Auto ISO is activated
4. Select the center focus point (Page 68)
5. Enable the AI-Servo focus mode (Page 66)
6. Enable burst mode (Page 70)
Start by half-pressing the shutter button while aiming the center focus point right at your daughter. When you get a composition that you’re happy with, fully press the shutter button and hold it down for a few seconds. The T2i will capture a burst of images in quick succession. This will allow you to get a few keepers.
AI Servo will continually adjust the focus for moving subjects. By enabling the center focus point, you’ll know exactly where the T2i is trying to lock locus. Hope that makes sense…happy shooting!
- Moose
Moose,
Do you know if Canon offers an extended warranty?
Leo,
Unfortunately they don’t…you’ll have to go through a third party service to extend the warranty.
- Moose
Moose, absolutely the best information laden website on the T2i anywhere. I don’t know how you have enough minutes in the day. It’s very much appreciated.
I have two questions:
1) Is there a reset feature to put all the settings back to the original factory settings?
2) I find then when I upload my pictures to my laptop and view them, they look huge. Also, when I attach to an email, it takes forever. Is there something I am doing wrong. I have Picasa on my computer, and am using a Sandisk Ultra SDHC 8GB memory card. How many pictures will this card hold? Sorry that’s 3 questions. LOL
Thanks again
Mamajune,
Thanks for the kind words!
1. Yes, it can be found on page 144 of the T2i manual
2. Some programs will open the images at 100% by default. You should be able to zoom out of the image inside Picasa. When you attach images to email, you should first save the image down to web, which usually involves reducing the overall size of the image…again this can be done inside Picasa when you go to export an image. Your memory card should hold around 1,100 images using the highest quality settings.
Happy shooting!
- Moose
Thanks for all the great advice.
I’ve followed all your advice for my T2i as far as upgrading the lens, adding filters, etc..
And now I’m using a shoulder strap to carry, the Sun Sniper, a great product.
And I’m wondering what would be a good choice for after market battery grip?
Since the shoulder strap attaches below to the screw in on the bottom of the camera, I want to make sure to find a good battery grip that I can trust not to break and leave my poor little T2i bouncing down the road LOL
Any suggestions?
David,
I’m also a big fan of the California Sun Sniper strap. It’s great for people who want to carry the absolute minimum. As for battery grips, you have two options…
1. You can get the Official Canon BG-E8 battery grip which will give you peace of mind and warranty protection.
2. You can save some money and get a third party BG-E8 battery grip on eBay or Amazon. If something ever happened to your T2i because of the third party battery grip, I imagine you would void your warranty. With that being said, it would be almost impossible for Canon to know that you used a third party grip and not one made by Canon.
I have buddies that use third party grips and they haven’t had any issues with them breaking off the tripod socket or causing some sort of power failure. It’s really your call. Best of luck!
- Moose
what tripod do you reccomend for stills and videos? whats the best would you reccomend and the most affordable one? what do you think of this Manfrotto 785 Modo Maxi tripod?
Nang,
The Dolica AX620 Proline Tripod is one of the “best value” tripods on the market. I recommend this tripod to family and friends as great starter photography tripod. If you’re shooting video, then you’ll need a tripod capable of panning. The Ravelli AVT video tripod with fluid drag head is a great starter tripod for those experimenting with HD video.
As for the “best” tripod overall, it really comes down to personal preference and shooting style. For my professional work, I use Gitzo tripods coupled with Really Right Stuff tripod heads.
- Moose
I plan to use my new T2i mainly for stills and weddings. What are the best lenses to get with a kit?
Cheryl,
Since you’ll be shooting weddings, I recommend reading my two posts…
1. Canon T2i low light lenses
2. How to take Great Portraits with the Canon Rebel T2i
Both posts mention some of the best “value” lenses for beginners on a budget. Best of luck!
- Moose
I am about to purchase the T2i and this will be the first camera I have with interchangeable lenses. Please explain what all the different sizes and zooms mean. For instance how far will a EFS 55-250 mm zoom & still have a good picture? I don’t know what the numbers mean. Sorry, I am a total beginner!!!
Cheryl,
When purchasing lenses you will see two sets of numbers…
55-250mm is the focal length of the lens. When attached to the T2i, the lens actually becomes a 88mm-400mm lens because of a crop factor. The smaller the number the wider the field of view and the larger the number the closer you can get to a far away subject. Generally speaking, wide-angle shots start around 10mm to 20mm and telephoto shots end up around 500m to 1000mm. So the Canon 55-250mm lens which is actually 88-400mm on the T2i, gives you a medium to telephoto focal range.
The second set of numbers is the aperture range. Lenses with lower aperture f/numbers are more expensive, because they let more light into the camera which allows you to use faster shutter speeds in low light conditions, while also giving you the ability to have a shallow depth of field. A shallow depth of field, isolates the subject while everything around it is blurred.
Hope that helps! :)
- Moose
I am a new user. I have a new T2I. I just bought a 32GB class 10 Adata card. When shooting in movie mode the elapsed time stays at 29:59 when not recording. When recording the elapsed timer goes up. How do I know how much recording time I have left if I am not taking continous footage. When shooting in the highest HD it looks like I will not get anywhere near the 250 minutes of HD at 13 Mbbs the card mfg shows. Also the 29:59 doesnt change no matter what recording size I use or size card installed. I was using a 4 GB Class 6.What am I doing wrong?
Tom,
The T2i is limited to a maximum recording time of 30 minutes per VIDEO CLIP, however, with a 32GB card you can take roughly 98 minutes of video comprised of as many clips as you’d like. If you’re recording continuously, you could take 3 clips at 30 minutes each and a 4th clip of 8 minutes.
- Moose
Hi Moose,
I was trying to take a few pictures of lightning during the night. I had it on full Auto. It would not take a picture. When I pressed the shutter button, it would just keep on trying to focus. And the flash would come on sometimes. I tried other modes like TV and adjust some settings , but no luck. I have the 18-55 lens. What am I doing wrong? Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!
Acheiva,
Lightning shots can be difficult…the first thing you’ll need to do is place your T2i on a tripod (Dolica AX620) to eliminate camera shake and subject blur. Next, enable manual mode (‘M’ on the mode dial) and then rotate the small control dial to the left to activate ‘Bulb’ mode. In this mode you can focus on the horizon and hold the shutter down until you see lightning. Once you see lightning, let go of the shutter and check the image in your LCD screen. Also, make sure you have your ISO set to 100. ISO is the digital equivalent to film speed and the lower the number the ‘cleaner’ the results. Bulb mode is best used with a wireless remote (Canon RC-6), that way you can get your hands off the camera and eliminate any chance of the camera moving which will give you the sharpest results. Best of luck!
- Moose
Moose,
Thanks for the your help. Now I just have to wait for another storm :)
Just noticed that the on/off switch isn’t working properly. The off switch doesn’t work anymore. I can take photos with the switch in the off position. Also it used to clean the sensor when it turned off, which it is not doing as well, probably because it won’t turn off.
Any ideas why this would happen?
Will,
Sounds like you have a faulty power switch…I would call Canon support in your country. Repairs should be covered under the 1 year warranty.
- Moose
Hi Moose,
I have one question regarding the T2i .When shooting a picture and slightly holding down the shutter a red dot appears in the viewfinder to the left. How do I get the red dot to be in the center (Middle).
Thanks,
Steve
Steve,
You choose the center focus point by pressing the button that looks like a ‘+’ symbol located near the on/off switch. After pressing that button, then press the SET button and that will enable the center focus point. You can read more about it on page 68 of the Rebel T2i manual.
- Moose
I purchased my T2i in July 2010, and just have to say this is an amazing camera that I would love how to use all of it’s functions. My first question is which flash should I purchase for this camera and would that enable flash fill. Also I was looking to purchase a cheaper fisheye lens,filters (opeka) and wanted to know what your thoughts were on Opeka and on SanDisk 16gb, class 6 memory card.
Thanks in advance
Rachel,
You’ve come to the right place! I would start with the Canon Speedlite 270EX or the Canon Speedlite 430EX II. If you need a portable solution, then go with the 270EX. It’s smaller and lighter than the 430EX, while still giving you the ability to bounce the flash off a ceiling for more pleasing skin tones when indoors. It’s also a great for fill light when outside in bright light when your subject has hard shadows. The 430EX is more powerful (better for group shots), can tilt and swivel (more creative light angles) and has a fast recycling time so you can take flash photos much quicker.
Opteka products are a bit of a hit and miss. The build quality is usually not that great, but at the same time you’re saving lots of money. If it was me, I would try sticking with Hoya filters and Canon or Tamron lenses.
Check out my post… “Canon Rebel T2i Memory Card Advice” …for my recommendations. Best of luck!
- Moose
Hi Moose,
Your site is awsome! How do you find time to answer all these email questons? Well, here’s another one; how can I get a copy of the great comprehensive dpreview you did on the T2i?
Thanks, Mike
Howdy Mike,
I’m a camera nut, what can I say! :)
If you’re talking about the T2i review on dpreview.com, that’s not something I did. If you’re talking about something else, let me know.
- Moose
I’ve had my T2i for most of the summer now and love it. Upgraded from S5is, but miss that extra zoom, as I only have the kit lense. Question. My T2i fell out of my vehicle the other day (stupid on me!) Everything seems to be working fine. Only damage was to the ring that you screw lense protectors and things like that onto. Is this outer ring replaceable? (the one that has the lettering on it) And since everything seems to be working OK, do i need to get it checked out? Thanks
Keith,
Sounds like you slightly damaged the outer ring element on the kit lens and not the actual camera. The T2i is a tough camera that can withstand bumps and bruises, so unless you notice any major differences auto focus speed or accuracy then you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
If you’d like to duplicate the S5IS zoom range on your T2i for a reasonable price, you should check out the Tamron AF 18-270mm lens. When mounted to the T2i, the actual focal length is around 28-432mm which is good for wide-angle and telephoto shots. There are better and more xpensive options out there, but the Tamron is a great lens and will produce fantastic images when compared to your old S5IS.
- Moose
Thank you very much for this blog..I just got mine today and just starting to explore. My very first DSLR..it will lots of learning and I am really happy to have found this site.
Thanks you again
Row,
Welcome to the T2i family! If you even have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask! :)
- Moose
Hi moose, this morning I was taking a picture of a friend standing in my front porch, the bright sunlight was behind her, I also notice there was some shadow on her skin from the house so I shot the picture in av mode with flash, trying to make the skin tone look more naturally. But it seems to work however the background got really bright in the picture. Is there anyway to fix this by making the background looking natural as the foreground? Can you teach me how to use fill flash on the t2i, is this possible with the t2i built in flash? Also sometimes when taking pictures outside in the bright sun I notice the picture turns out way too bright. This includes people faces, gardens etc…
Alex,
Canon has an excellent tutorial on fill flash with DSLR’s like the T2i (click here).
As for bright pictures in outdoor sun light, make sure you’re shooting with evaluative metering enabled with the flash turned off.
- Moose
I am an amateur sports photographer and new to t2i, also recently got the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II (a gift from hubby, who said it was my every holiday,anniv,bday gift for the next 5 years,ha ha) anyways, I am going to shoot a daytime Baseball game tomorrow using your indoor sports tips. I have been going back and forth with camera settings the last 2 months searching all over the web, but can’t get those freeze moments, I always get something blurred, or it’s grainy. Can’t get it crisp enough. And night shots are really hard. Any suggestions on settings for football and baseball? Thanks so much for this site!
Angela,
Take a look at my sports tutorial for the T2i. Once you get to that page, scroll down to the section “Tips for shooting sports with your Canon T2i”. While the tutorial was written for indoor sports, the same principles can be applied to outdoor sports. Hope that helps!
- Moose
Hi there moose, I’m having a hard time trying to take pictures of 2 people or more. The picture ending up only focusing on one person while the other is left blurred out. How can I focus on 2 people or more when taking pictures?
Nang,
It sounds like your aperture f/number is too low. While low f/numbers are great for individual portraits, they can sometimes blur subjects in a group photo due to the shallow depth of field. Try raising your aperture to f/2.8 or f/3.5. This should allow you to get the couple into focus, while still maintaining a blurry background.
- Moose
Do you have a recommendation for a tripod for the T2i? There are so many with even more heads to figure out that I need some help with this decision. If you have covered this, I apologize for not finding it on this blog.
Richard,
I’m going to be doing a tripod recommendation post for the T2i in the near future. In the meantime, here are a few to consider…
There are more expensive tripods out there, but in the beginning I would put your money towards lenses. Hope that helps!
- Moose
Thanks very much for the quick reply, Moose. I appreciate the recommendations and since I’m not in a hurry, I will await your upcoming post to see what others you may review and suggest.
Hi Moose,
I really enjoy your website. And thanks for the help you provide.
I just bumped up from the T1i to the T2i. What a great camera. The Blue Angels are in town this weekend and I got some great shots. In fact a few friends accused me of scooping them off the Internet (I’ll take that as a compliment).
I know that the advantage of a DSLR is the flexibility provided by all the different settings. But I was wondering if you might provide some base settings that you have found to be a good jumping off point for beginners.
Mike,
Welcome to the T2i family. As you might of guessed, settings can vary for each type of shooting situation. Since you mentioned air shows, let’s take a quick look at some setting for your T2i.
1. Put your T2i into Shutter priority mode (S).
2. Start with a shutter speed of 1/1000 or higher to “freeze” the fast moving planes. Some people prefer to shoot fast enough to capture the plane, but slow enough to capture propeller movement.
3. Adjust your ISO to Auto so that your T2i can get a proper exposure to match your shutter speed.
4. Select the AI-Servo focusing mode. With this focusing mode, your T2i can track the plane as it jets across the sky keeping it in focus until you’re happy with the composition.
- Moose
Moose, i noticed when taking pictures outside that parts of the highlighted shot will flash during review of the pictures…I know this is signaling blown out areas and yet…. I had already stopped down the exposure compensation … I am trying different things in aperture (Av) mode…will blown highlights be something I’ll just have to live with? I usually do spot metering in the center, and that is usually on my subjects face, they seem properly exposed but areas of grass behind them and if part of the sky gets in the picture or their arm is in the bright sun I will have flashing in the review. Does this camera always need to have exposure compensation applied to out door shots? Thanks
Nancy,
Blown highlights are a common problem when shooting outdoors in bright light. There are a few techniques to minimize the highlights and it sounds like you’re already on the right track. For the most part, I would stick with Evaluative metering unless you’re shooting a subject with a very bright background (like the sun). In this case you can stick with evaluative metering and enable the flash and use it as fill light to illuminate your subject. Spot metering will expose the subject properly, however, this will increase the blown highlights in the background of your image.
- Moose
Moose,
Just bought the T2i today. I also bought the wifi card with it and its pretty amazing…although it took me some time to figure it all out…any comments on the Eye-Fi?
Howdy Steve,
Welcome to the T2i family! Yes, the Eye-fi cards are very cool. They’re still a very new technology, and I imagine that in the future all memory cards will have wi-fi capabilities. I’ll probably do a T2i/Eye-fi tutorial sometime in the future…stay tuned!
- Moose
Where is the best place to order an extra battery? Love your website. Thanks for all the information.
Melody,
I would purchase the Canon LP-E8 battery from Amazon. I would go with the third party batteries from Opteka or Power2000. The Opteka has a slightly longer battery life than the Power2000 brand.
- Moose
Moose,
I would like to know how to put a date stamp on my camera(rebel T2i). I could not find date stamping the instructions. Can you help me out?
Erick,
Believe it or not, there’s no setting available on the T2i to add a date/time stamp to your photos. I’m not sure why they left this feature out? Your next option is to add it using the supplied ZoomBrowser software or with an image editing program like Picasa.
- Moose
Thanks Moose, sounds like a job for my son the tech-guy!
Thanks Moose…I did find the cable,since I have an HD TV will I need another type of one, or will this work as well? I think that is what I read it was for high definition that you need a separate cable. If I can use the one I have on an HD TV I will be set. The HD card you speak of for the computer is it costly? Can it be added to one’s computer? Thanks.
Nancy,
Yes, you will need a Mini HDMI to HDMI cable for viewing HD video on an HD TV, however, you can still view the videos at normal quality using the A/V cables supplied with your T2i.
As for the HD enabled video card, it depends on the type of computer you have (Mac/Windows) and the type of performance you’re after. They can usually be purchased for around $100 bucks. The installation is pretty simple. You just pop open your computer and pull out the old video card and plug in the new one. Usually you will have to install some drivers which come on an installation disk. Once you do all that you’re done. Best Buy or any computer repair shop can do this for you if it sounds too difficult.
- Moose
Moose,
I have a few questions: Will using the video function wear out the shutter (actuations) quicker than just taking photos? How are the frames recorded? I would hate to wear out my camera quicker because of video. Also, I noticed the T2i did not come with a cable for TV hook-up for watching the videos that you record, seems odd for Canon to leave that out. How difficult is it to download the videos and burn them to disc? I like the low level light capabilities of the T2i even with the kit lens, it is amazing. Thanks
Nancy,
No, you will not wear out your T2i any faster when using video. In fact, each video you record is like taking one photo. There’s a mirror that sits in front of the image sensor and every time you press the shutter button, the mirror is raised. With video, the mirror will remain raised the entire time you are recording.
I would take another look inside your box, as the Canon T2i kit comes with a audio/video cable. For the beginner, shooting and recording video to disc can be a bit difficult. The reason is because most computers don’t come equipped with an HD enabled video card. This can cause HD video to skip or not playback correctly. Also, HD videos require lots and lots of hard drive space. So if you’re editing video, you’ll need a computer that is capable of handling such file sizes.
- Moose
Moose,
I own a T2I and have just recently began using it. I am a novice photographer, but one thing I noticed is, the left to right allignment seems a little off. After I took some family portrait shots, the group seemed more to the left side than right. I also took some of a ball smack center using the center lens dot and it still seemed a bit left of center.
Is there an adjustment to calibrate it back to exact center? It just may be my anal retentiveness, but, nevertheless, it is a concern. Do you have any idea on what may be causing this. I know it could be human error, as in movement of the camera, but I believe I have done a good job of capturing the subject using the center dot as point of focus.
Thanks for any help you may be able to offer. So far, I haven’t been able to find anything in the manual reference this subject.
Jon,
Great question…the T2i viewfinder displays 95% of the scene to be captured. There’s a 5% ‘margin of error’ which can make framing critical subjects difficult. I can almost guarantee that this is what you’re experiencing. If you feel the subject in the center of your viewfinder is showing up way more than 5% to the left or right, then I would give Canon support a call.
- Moose
while shooting with the t2i all of asudden no visual info could be gotten fron view finder. I shut camer down 2 hours started up seems fin e now . What could cause this nd how do I prevent problem in future shoots
Ron,
Do you have your LCD set to automatically turn off when your eye nears the viewfinder? Or does the LCD stay on, even when looking through the viewfinder?
- Moose
Thanks Moose, i did pick up a T2i today and I am giving it a whirl. I thought better metering would mean a better outcome ….I may try the prime lenses eventually that I can afford since I like to take portraits of the grandkids. I can’t imagine ever affording L-glass and I hope Canon will give us a reasonably priced f/ 2.8 someday…I really like natural light photos of people. If you ever put out a basic tutorial that we can print, it would much be appreciated… Thanks,Nancy
Nancy,
Better metering will produce a more accurate exposure for beginners. It may not drastically “improve” the look of your photos, but it will help you in difficult lighting situations. If you’re looking to take portraits of your grandkids, let me suggest the $100 dollar Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens. This is a fantastic lens for the price and will give you super sharp portraits with beautiful blurred backgrounds. I created an article about portrait photography with the T2i, you should check it out.
- Moose
I wonder about the higher megapixels as in the T1i and T2i and the ability to use the mid-range lenses . I am new to dslr and would rather have these lenses that are more in my price range.
I hear so much that the higher megapixels can be too much for the average lenses ( too much resolution?) so you need better glass. I would forego a few pixels to get great shots with the mid-range lenses, rather than get many pixels but shots that look like I have poor quality lens on the camera. In otherwords, I would like crisp detail, when I want it from all the lens I put on the camera. Thanks.
Nancy,
I can tell you this…
Better Glass = Sharper Photos
This equation can apply to every Digital SLR…from the entry level Canon Rebel T2i, all the way up to the pro level Canon EOS-1D Mark IV. When I say “sharper”, not only do expensive lenses produce a sharper image from edge to edge, but they also come equipped with larger apertures which effectively lets in more light allowing you to shoot at higher shutter speeds, while maintaining a low ISO for the cleanest results. A cheap third party lens attached to a T2i and an EOS-1D Mark IV, will have the same effect…average edge to edge detail and slower shutter speeds, due to a smaller aperture. If I were you I would choose the camera that has the best features, rather than the number of megapixels.
- Moose
I am thinking about purchasing the T2i or maybe T1i, but wonder if the metering and dynamic range of the T2i is somewhat better than the T1i.?
In the shadows and with whiter tones can you see more gradation with the T2i? I noticed a lot of wash out/ blow out with highlights in bright/ contrasty pictures I have seen with the XSI…I am hoping either of these two cameras would do better.
Nancy,
The T1i and the XSi share the same 35 point metering system, while the T2i has a newly developed 63 point metering system. In my experience with both cameras I can tell you the T2i accurately exposes images better than the T1i (most of the time), which is great for beginners who don’t know much about controlling exposures.
- Moose
Thanks Moose! Appreciate your honesty. We’re definitely not experts, but just want some sharp, clear pictures inside with low light and from outside. This is very helpful. Now on to price and availability!!
Moose:
Considering a Canon T1i or 2i. Any reason to go to the 2? My wife and I want to be able to take some decent pictures, including inside where light (flash) tends to be a problem with point and shoot. Thanks for any advice you can give, and thanks for the blog. It sure appears to be a lifesaver!!
Mike,
Great question…in my opinion the only major difference between the two cameras is in the video department. The T2i is better equipped to take HD video and record high quality sound. So if video is the deal breaker for you, then go with the T2i. I will say that shooting video with the T2i (or any DSLR for that matter) takes lots and lots of practice. It’s not like shooting with a camcorder.
In the photography department you will see small differences like increased megapixels, higher ISO capabilities, a more advanced metering system and an LCD screen with slightly more detail. If those features aren’t that important to you then go with the T1i.
To be honest with you, if I took two photos side by side with the T2i and the T1i and printed them out at 4×6 or even 8X10 most people (including myself) couldn’t tell the difference between the two images. The difference between 15 and 18 megapixels is very small.
- Moose
Hello Moose,
Thank you for responding to my question. I’ll do some shots with those settings and let you know. I’m new to your blog, but have read a lot of questions/answers here and just started to understand that to do photography is a complete science and you can learn how to do it for whole your life. I’ve had a little point and shot camera fuji FinePix S5700 before it was stolen from my car. I liked the camera a lot, and had it everywhere with me. When I got this one for my birthday present I was surprised how good photographs came out on my first try. I did take a lot of pictures since then and a lot of them were just outstanding quality. For those that were not as good I quess the camera settings were not right. I will start using a tripod more often and see how it works.
Thank you again for your response and advise. I’ll keep in touch.
Thank you,
Conan
Hello, I got my T2i with a kit lens in April and has snaped a lot of pictures since then. It works indoors fine, but outside a lot of pictures come not sharp. When I watch an actual size of a picture there is not much of a detail there. How can I make better outside pictures? Is it because of the kit lens? What is the wide ungle lens you’d recommend for me to get good pictures of landscape?
Thank you.
Conan,
I’m surprised you’re having more trouble with outdoor photos versus indoor photos. It’s usually the other way around. I suggest you do the following…
1. Switch the T2i to Aperture Priority mode (Av).
2. For landscapes you’ll want to adjust the aperture f-number to f/8 or higher to get everything into focus. You can adjust the aperture f-number by rotating the command dial left or right.
3. Switch your ISO to 100 for the most detail.
4. When possible, use a tripod. Using a tripod will minimize any movements to the camera and reduce blurriness in your photos.
If you’re shooting landscapes at night, it’s a whole different animal…so let me know!
- Moose
Wish there was a pocket guide to everyday using of the T2i like the Rebel XT came with. A guide with what the buttons on the camera do would even be helpful. I loved the shortcut/ease of the pocket guide and it was easy to take around and find info fast! Any ideas on how to access one for this camera?
Howdy Lynne,
Not sure if this is exactly what you are looking for, but Canon has a free downloadable reference guide on their support website, or you can just click here to download it.
- Moose
Hi Moose – I just bought a T2i, my first DSLR and have been searching the web for tips and advice. After my first few minutes looking at your website and blog I know I have found what I was looking for. Looking forward to learning lots from your great website.
Howdy Roy,
Glad to have you stop by! All the T2i owners around here are very friendly, so if you ever have any questions don’t hesitate to ask.
- Moose
I just bought the T2i. I did some research online and everybody is saying that it is a great entry level DSLR camera. This is my first DSLR. I have always used a point and shoot. I currently own a Canon SD870. I have no clue what I am doing with this camera and how to make the most out of it. I REALLY WANT TO LEARN. I read about aperture settings and shutter speeds, but it’s all becoming one big mush of info. My wife and I take often take trips and I would like to take great pictures. Is there a book you recommend? or some sort of online class? I would appreciate any help you can give me.
Hey Phil,
Yeah, it can be a little overwhelming at first. I plan on doing a series of posts for new T2i users, who are making the transition from compact cameras to Digital SLR’s. I highly recommend you start with Scott Kelby’s Digital Photography Books. The greatest thing about his books is that they are broken up into short sections about how to shoot in certain situations. So if you’re going on a trip and would like to shoot landscapes, he’s got a section on that. If you’d like to take great night photos of scenic locations, he’s got a section on that. He doesn’t go into great detail about each setting, he just shows you how to setup your camera to take the best possible shot which is great for beginners. Hope that helps and welcome to the T2i community. If you ever have any questions about your T2i, don’t be afraid to ask! You can email me at moose@cameratips(dot)com
- Moose
Moose is there a setting on the camera that will automatically date stamp the pictures? I have a P&S Cannon power shot SD 1200 IS that has that option but I can’t find it on th T2I.
Jim
Hey Jim,
I don’t believe that the T2i has the Date/Time stamp feature. I just went through the entire menu and couldn’t find an option for it. I know that many people often request this feature and I’m not sure why Canon didn’t include it with the T2i. You can always add the date/time stamp in an image editing program like Picasa.
- Moose
Moose i had to change my address. Is that KEH.com
Jim
Thank you for your input and advise. I’ll look into the EF 85mm. As soon as I can dig up some cash. Yes I have access to the sidelines at the football games. I can’t wait for the T-ball to start and let you know how I do. This photography stuff can get very complicated can’t it?
Jim
Hey Jim,
You might also try looking at KEH, they sell used lenses. I’ve used them in the past and have been very happy. Yes, photography can be very complicated…I look at is as part of the challenge. When you start capturing photos that are technically challenging, like night football games, you’ll be amazed at how fast you pick up new techniques.
- Moose
Great website. Thanks for all your efforts in giving us this information on the T2i. I am anxiously awaiting purchasing one but can’t seem to find one anywhere. It seems that they’re gobbled up as fast as they’re posted. Did Canon under estimate their popularity, or is this just normal production quantities? Will we be waiting days, weeks or months for substantial availability? I know this is probably an impossible question to answer but I’m just curious as to what your “best guess” would be. Again thanks for the great blog.
Hey Jon,
Thanks for stopping by! I understand your anticipation. Last year when Canon released the T1i, there was a huge shortage…similar to the one we’re seeing with the T2i. I think companies do this to gauge the supply and demand. I just updated my Canon T2i availability post with some new information. It looks like Amazon will be releasing some T2i kits on May 9, 2010. Most online retailers should be getting a steady supply in about 2 to 3 weeks.
I just visited your site. You guys do some excellent work!
- Moose
Just purchased the T2i. This is an upgrade from the Rebel 300D that I have had for several years. My twin grandsons (5yrs old) will start T-Ball in a couple of weeks. Hope to have everything ready to go by then. I was searching for a memory card when I found your site. I take alot of pics for the local high school football program. I seem to do okay until I get to Friday Night Lights. That is where I struggle. Do you have any suggestions for lenses & settings for outside under the the lights? I’m excited about your blog.
Thank you & keep up the good work.
Jim
Jim,
You’re going to love the T2i. The 300D was definitely a classic in its own right, but the T2i is a much better camera.
You got to love those big helmets the T-Ballers wear. Sounds like you do a lot of action shooting…some during the day and some under the lights. Shooting football at night is probably one of the most technically challenging situations not only for you, but also for your camera. It’s a double edged sword because you’re shooting fast-paced action with almost no light. Obviously the end goal is to “freeze” the action and in order to do that you need to have a high enough shutter speed.
As you start creeping up into the higher shutter speeds, you’ll have to start increasing the ISO which means “image noise”. Now if you had a choice between a blurry image that was “noise free” or a sharp image that was filled with “image noise”…which would you choose. It’s always best to capture the shot, even at the expense of image quality.
In order to bring the ISO down and still shoot at those higher shutter speeds, you’ll need a lens that will let lots of light into the camera. By “lots of light” I’m referring to a lens with a low f-number, somewhere around f/1.8 to f/2.8 at full telephoto. Now if you go shopping for a telephoto lens with a low f-number, you’ll find out very quickly how expensive they can get.
If you can shoot from the sidelines, then I would highly recommend the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Medium Telephoto Lens. This lens is actually 136mm on the T2i because of the crop factor. So you’ll be shooting from the sidelines at 136mm at f/1.8 which will get you in close enough to the action as long as you’re close. If you’re at the other end of the field or up in the bleachers, you’ll definitely need a longer lens.
If you need the longer reach, you could try adding the Canon EF 2X II Telephoto Extender. This will allow you to shoot at 272mm on the T2i. This extender will raise your lowest f-number to somewhere around f/2.8, which is still excellent for a reach of 272mm.
The Canon EF 85mm would be perfect for your grandsons T-Ball games, since you can position yourself pretty close to home plate. This lens is also one of the best portrait lenses because of its excellent “bokeh”…also know as the silky smooth blurred background effect behind your subjects.
Glad to have you apart of the blog and look forward to hearing about your progress!
- Moose
can you give me some tips on how to set up my camera rebel eos 550d, especially in manual mode…whats the advantage of “p” mode to auto mode…do you have a formula on how to calculate the exact aperture, match with the shutter speed , flash exposure and ISO…..
tnx once again
Genilyn,
Great questions! I’m currently working on a post that will answer many of your questions. It will cover many of the Canon T2i shooting modes and when to use them. Stay tuned!
- Moose
Please give me some advice on what kind of flash I need to buy for my Canon 550D… is Nissin good enough for the Canon EOS 550D? Thanks for the reply.
Genilyn,
Nissin is a decent budget speedlight, and one that I have used on occasion. To be honest with you, I would save up a few extra dollars and just get the Canon Speedlite 430EX II speedlight. While the Nissin will give you good results, the Canon 430EX is so much more user friendly and consistently provides excellent results. Hope that helps in your decision.
- Moose
I recently purchased the t2i and am loving it. I was attempting to take a picture of the stars the other night and couldn’t figure out exactly what I needed to do. I eventually got it to where the exposure was set to bulb and you can hold down the button to hold open the exposure for as long as you are pressing the button. The problem with that is that the camera shakes when you hold down the button. Is there any way to set a timer with the length that you want the shutter open or is the only option to buy a remote control?
Hey Jake,
Great question…in order to capture wonderful night sky photos, there are a couple ingredients for success. You’re definitely on the right path. To answer your question, no, you can’t set the timer with a length you want the shutter to be open. I wish you could! That would be a great feature. To answer your other question, yes, you will need a remote control to capture images in ‘Bulb’ mode. The T2i accepts both the wireless RC6 and the wired RS60 E3 remotes. I highly recommend getting the wireless Canon RC6 remote. They’re basically the same price, around $25, and the wireless RC6 will allow you to be un-attached to your T2i, making it easier to take ‘Bulb’ exposure that requires the camera to be completely still. Along with the remote, you’ll also need a good, steady tripod.
As you’ve seen, when shooting in ‘Bulb’ mode, your pictures will turn out blurry if you decide to hand-hold the T2i. Even skillful surgeons couldn’t keep the T2i still for ‘Bulb’ exposures. Here’s my complete setup when shooting night sky’s…
1. Setup the tripod and attached the T2i
2. Put the T2i in ‘Bulb’ mode
3. Adjust the ISO to it’s lowest setting (ISO 100)
4. Activate the timer for a 2 seconds
5. Compose the shot and press the shutter button on the remote control
6. Walk 6ft away from the camera and tripod
7. After 2 seconds the T2i will begin capturing the photograph. At this time you should be far enough away from the tripod and camera to prevent any subtle movements
8. Begin counting in your head…1 mississippi, 2 mississippi, 3 mississippi…until you reach say 30 seconds
8. With the remote control, in order to stop the exposure, you would just press the button again…instead of holding it down like the shutter button on the T2i
9. If the image is still too dark, then take another exposure, this time increasing by another 30 seconds
10. If you get an exposure that is too bright, begin subtracting the overall time by 15 seconds so that you can get the exposure just right
11. Depending on where you’re shooting from ambient light and brightness of the stars and sky will determine your overall exposure time
It definitely requires a bit of experimentation, but with a little practice you’ll be taking some great night exposures! Thanks for stopping by the T2i blog!
Best Regards,
Moose