The Revenge of No More Excuses
Monday, February 8, 2010 at 11:25AM 
Canon today announced the Rebel T2i, AKA the 550D. It’s an 18 megapixel entry-level DSLR for $800. It features all of the video modes of the Canon 7D and 1D Mark IV: 29.97, 23.976, and 25 fps at 1080p, along with 50 and 60 fps at 720p.
I haven’t seen any samples of the video yet, although I’m sure we’ll soon be buried by them. [UPDATE: Did I say soon? Here you go (also embedded below)—thanks Jay]
I’m sure we’ll also be treated to many loving comparisons of how image quality, noise, compression, etc., stand up to Canon’s other offerings.
I would not expect the Rebel to represent any progress on the HDSLR shortcomings of rolling shutter and aliasing/moiré.
Two years ago I called the Canon HV20 the no-more-excuses DV Rebel camera. It was an HD camcorder the size of a soda can that recorded 24p with limited manual control, for under $1,000. Filmmaker Ayz Waraich made a beautiful short film with it called White Red Panic.
Folks can spend a lot of energy writing about cameras and filmmaking, about how this or that forthcoming tool will be a “game changer” or revolutionize the blah blah blah. Ayz’s film reminded us (and I include myself in that “us”) that filmmaking beats bellyaching every time.
Then along came the HDSLRs, and speaking only for myself, I thought there was some important stuff to bellyache about. Some potential that could be realized if only a few niggling details were addressed. The year that followed the introduction of the 5D Mark II was equal parts frustration and reward, as Canon and others took pot-shots at the target, always missing, but sometimes in ways that produced useable cameras.
I marked the Canon 7D as the real arrival of HDSLR cinema. The price, the frame rates, and sensor size all made great sense, and video finally earned it’s own button, more or less. There are still big problems with it of course, but they can be worked around. I’d hate to be working around them with a paying client over my shoulder, but for my personal work, I don’t mind. And if I get really stuck, I do have an actual video camera lying around here somewhere.
It seemed to me that no sooner had the HV20 come out that it was rendered obsolete by subsequent models, and its priced dropped from affordable to ridiculous. We went from “no more excuses” to “seriously, what more do you want” in a matter of months.
With the Rebel, HDSLRs just hit that point. If you have any interest in what they can do, there’s now a camera that you can buy for less than the cost of a decent tripod.
In fact, depending on how it performs, the Rebel may just be the new sweet spot. In the same way that the 1D Mark IV’s $5,000 price tag accounts for a bunch of pro stills features that don’t net much for the filmmaker, the shortcomings that put the Rebel at half the 7D’s price are most likely all in the stills department as well. If video is your primry interest in a DSLR, the Rebel could well represent the most bang for the buck.
Although the MSRP for the body is $799, Amazon seems to want to cash in on early enthusiasm for this rig—their pre-order price is currently listed at $899.
UPDATE: Less than six hours later, Amazon has amended the pre-order price to $799.
I’ve created a Rebel Starter Kit page on the ProLost store for those looking to take the plunge on the cheap.
Reader Comments (117)
whoops, my bad, I was looking at the T1i.
It would be great to see either Red Giant or someone like Foundry create an anti moire plugin.
I know you cant retrieve the original information, but you could use some fancy optical flow whatever to track changes across successive frames.
Casey, that is a popular request, but the problem is widely regarded to be impossible to solve as a post process. There are some very nerdy reasons why, but suffice it to say that there are good reasons why you haven't seen an anti-moiré plug-in.
Thanks for the advice Stu.
I went down to the store today and put my name on a waiting list for the Rebel T2I. I was so excited to read your article about it. I've been wishing for the cash to buy one of the Canon cameras you've mentioned but just don't have the cash.
I just finished making my first feature length film. I did it for about $2000 and used 2 Hv20s. I think I would still be saving for a camera if I haven't read your articles on the HV20. My first movie is no masterpiece but I learned more from filming it and reading your book then a film school could ever teach me.
I can't wait till May when I can make my 2nd film, hopefully with 2 Rebel T2I's!
Thanks
Rob
FYI...
Here is the British Journal of Photography's announcement about the camera.
http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=873374
i just pre-ordered mine .. and i see there are rumors that the camera will be on sale only in April.. is it true? anyone knows on exact date?
can't wait!
oh, i see that on that article is says Feb 24.. i hope its true
Very interesting article indeed. I just wonder, like some other folks her, if it wouldn't be possible to use mobile SDD drive to record uncompressed HD, either on that camera or any other Canon?
The H264 is nice, but if you do serious post production you will probably prefer uncompressed above everything else.
Of course it's no film camera, but it could do well as additional studio camera or else.
Any recommendations on SDHC memory cards for the canon T2i? I'm confused with what "class" card I need. I read Class 6 is minimum for HD video, but still photography should be quicker?
Based on the ProLost Rebel starter kit, it looks like a Class 4 would suffice...
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Adam
Hi Adam. I feel that it's better to be safe than frugal with memory cards. I've changed the store page to feature a class 6 card.
The T2i would be my first Canon EF-mount camera. Let's a see a list of top lens picks if my interests are primarily video/filmmaking.
Stu listed these on his starter kit page. What else?
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, $110
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM, $1290
Tokina 11-16MM F/2.8 ATX 116, $725
Has anyone shot with BOTH the 550d and the 7d, and can compare first-hand their low-light capabilities? From the Japanese 550d video I've seen, this cheaper version looks damn capable.
Also, the 550d apparently saves to .MOV format. Anyone know what codec is being used? .MOV is just a wrapper, like .AVI, right?
Thanks!
Found a great thread discussing "alternative glass" (older, manual-focus, and non-Canon mount lenses) for video at cinema5D.
Another link to alternative lenses.
http://hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/category/lenses/
Hey Stu,
Hey Stu,
Now that 5D has 24 p, could you create a quick guide to the pros and cons of 5D v 7D v Rebel v good HD camcorder?
You say that Rebel is equal to 7D in video right? 5D has Full- Frame, which is better for photography? is that right? In your 7D blog, you said it was mostly superior than the 5D, except for the full frame sensor, which is superior in DOF right?
So it seems if you want solely video, you might as well just get the Rebel, because it's much cheaper than the 7D with equal video. But you would be limited with your lens.
For those that really want to get the optimal DOF and lens, then the 5D might be what you want.
Is that about right? Do you still think a DV Rebel should still get a good HD camcorder? why?
Thanks Stu, I'll post this comment on the newest blog too so people could see everyone's following replies.
Finally got my 550D and I'm pretty happy with it. Video seems to be in no points better then with other Canon cameras. That's a little sad, but I expected it. 24p is supported. But honestly I find the camera is adding to much grain. It looks like a subtle raster that influence all edges, leading to strong pixels on the edges (never try a sharpen filter). This is not the commune video effect of HD Cameras, but somehow an effect of a bad down scaling, from the full picture size. The quality might be better if scaled HD down to a small format, denoise and sharpen it, but it's far from perfect. Also It becomes hard to get sharp images with the slow AF on some lenses.
Well, it's no video camera, but useful anyhow. Hope that Canon improves the software to compensate the negative video effects.
I'm looking seriously at going for the T2i body just for video, also £50 cash back from Canon until end of May, so that makes it £600 !!
I have some Pentax lenses and Olympus Zuiko's + adaptors available to test. Anyone using alternative lenses, say on a 5D?
But this talk of moire, is the video quality on a par with 5D and 7D? If so, Pro's are happily using them so where's the big issue for so many of us more casual users?