Canon T2i help

[iamyourfather]

Hey guys,

I'm really interested in picking up a T2i soon, I think the features are awesome for the price.

What will really seal the deal for me (read SWMBO) is the video. I know it does 1080p HD @ 30fps, and that is stinking nice. We need a camcorder for when we start a family and such, but I figure that if everything pans out, we can get a nice DSLR and camcorder in one package.

My main question is, at 1080p HD, what is the max video segment length? I don't want to be recording christmas and have to stop and wait for the video to save and start recording again every 5 minutes. Anybody know this?

 

[CMATakashi]

Though I can't give you the exact answer you are looking for, the longest clip I took on my 7D was upwards of 30+ minutes, Since the resolution of 1080p is waaaaaaaaaaay less than the advertised megapixelage, I imagine there would be no max. I must admit though, a DSLR as a video camera being a camcorder is a little silly.

In a good way.

You have this essentially professional moviemaker's tool to take home movies. It's all manual focus, which may bug you, and the quality and depth of field controls are absurd.

And then you flip a switch and you have a camera capable of shooting nearly anything you want (sports, portraits, etc) to professional quality.

Oh my how the times have changed.
So keep those things in mind; particularly the part about focusing.

PS: Not to mention where are you going to keep all that 1080P video? Blu-ray burner?

 

[iamyourfather]

Manual focus is something I actually prefer, no problem there.

Camcorders are fine for just ok home videos. I want HD for home videos, and a decent mid-grade camcorder will be comparable in price to the T2i. Why not have a great DSLR and camcorder at the same time? I assume all of the major companies will start making these features standard in the future.

Plus, ability to change lenses on a camcorder? Not very common, especially in the user-friendly camcorder. If there is one thing I like in every gadget I buy, its flexibility. The test videos are incredible, and they aren't all professionally planned shots and angles.

As for space, I think I'll be set with the 2.25 Terabytes I have running in the house!

 

[xillion]

Can't speak for the T2i but on my 5D MkII (which is also records 1080p) the hard time limit is roughly 30 min and 4GB file size.

I found the page below which states the T2i Max. clip length.

http://www.wirefresh.com/canon-eos-550d-rebel-t2i-consumer-dslr-specs-listed-and-previewed/

 

[estonmarts]

1080p go with HDTV video mode.1080 means vertical line resolution and p for progressive scan. It can create upto 1920*1080 resolution.So you can use it for your program.

 

[CMATakashi]

Manual focus is something I actually prefer, no problem there.

Plus, ability to change lenses on a camcorder? Not very common, especially in the user-friendly camcorder. If there is one thing I like in every gadget I buy, its flexibility. The test videos are incredible, and they aren't all professionally planned shots and angles.

As for space, I think I'll be set with the 2.25 Terabytes I have running in the house!

I wasn't sure how much research you had done! Sounds like you are ready to take the plunge then. As you probably already know, kit lens is acceptable, but to really get the best out of your camera get some nice lenses!

 

[iamyourfather]

I wasn't sure how much research you had done! Sounds like you are ready to take the plunge then. As you probably already know, kit lens is acceptable, but to really get the best out of your camera get some nice lenses!

That is a whole other world to me! Luckily, my brother is an up and coming photographer, so I can interrogate him!

Thanks for the help, I think I'm gonna go for it! I'll put some pics up here when I get it!

 

[malocchio]

if you are not in a rush i'm sure the new canon 60d will be out soon...a little more $$ but well worth it

 

[iamyourfather]

if you are not in a rush i'm sure the new canon 60d will be out soon...a little more $$ but well worth it

Will it be out in the next 5 days? If so, I'll go for it!

 

[iamyourfather]

Picked it up yesterday!

I've only played with it for about 10 minutes, but the picture quality is astounding, even in low light.

Don't even get me started on the video!

I'll post a couple pics in the coming days, I'm more than satisfied with it. Thanks for all the advice, each one of you!

 

[malocchio]

it's bound to be a good camera,the t1i was great,this has to be even better...are you satisfied with the optical viewfinder?

 

[iamyourfather]

the viewfinder is pretty good.

I'm definitely no pro, so I'm not that picky right now....

I've been using an older Sony A-100 that my wife broke the lcd screen on, so having liveview is awesome again!

I think sometime soon I'm gonna pick up a 50mm/1.4f lens. I've read some good things about them...

 

[CMATakashi]

Missed that update.

If you can swing it, try a 50mm f1.8 II. I broke mine, or I'd PIF it to you. The suckers are cheap and really get your feet wet with a nice wide aperture prime. I have the 50mm f1.4 and it works great, though I feel I don't use it for anything. It seems almost too wide for great bokeh and portraits and too long for candids.

I recommend you try the 50mm f1.8, and be wary that the 50mm focal length is best suited for full frame cameras as the APS-C sensors see an effective focal length of 80mm.

 

[fixcinater]

The best recommendation I can make now is for you to check out using M42-mount lenses with your camera. They are very plentiful, very cheap (unless you start looking at the exotic name brands), and easy to work with.

I started the collection with a free S-M-C Takumar 35mm f/3.5, and now have about 10 different lenses. A later model Takumar 50mm f/1.4 will set you back about the same as a Canon 50mm f/1.8, and has a much higher quality feel to it, plus the faster aperture, and better build.

Not that auto-aperture and -focus and all the rest of the reasons why people spend so much on new/modern lenses don't have merit, but I find I am just as happy bringing 3 small primes when I go out shooting, over my modern Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8.

50mm on a crop sensor is a great focal length, you just have to get used to it. Saying it's best for one or the other is misleading as you can like the slightly narrower perspective just as much as the wider if you choose to use it correctly. That's just like saying 300mm is a "better" focal length than 400mm is, it's just not valid.