Canon EOS Rebel T1i

	Color Summary
• Good color accuracy • Decent customization of Picture Styles • Slightly sub-par long exposure performance
	Product Tour	Page 3 of 21	Noise

Color Accuracy (15.56)

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The Canon Rebel T1i was very accurate, especially with greens, oranges and flesh tones. Canon cameras in general tend to have excellent color reproduction, and the T1i is no exception, scoring above every camera in our comparison group except the Rebel XS.

To test color accuracy, we first determine which is the most accurate of the camera's color modes (in this case, Faithful), and then photograph the X-Rite ColorChecker chart under fixed 3000 lux illumination. We then run analyses on these pictures using Imatest software, which measures the recorded photo's variance from the known colors of the chart. Keep in mind that this test isn't looking at the most dynamic or exciting color, but rather which is the closest to the actual values. Click here for more on how we test color.

 

 

	Camera Color Comparisons
	Ideal	Canon Rebel T1i	Canon Rebel XS	Nikon D5000	Nikon D90	Pentax K2000
Dark Skin
Light Skin
Blue Sky
	Ideal	Canon Rebel T1i	Canon Rebel XS	Nikon D5000	Nikon D90	Pentax K2000
Foliage
Blue Flower
Bluish Green
	Ideal	Canon Rebel T1i	Canon Rebel XS	Nikon D5000	Nikon D90	Pentax K2000
Orange
Purplish Blue
Moderate Red
	Ideal	Canon Rebel T1i	Canon Rebel XS	Nikon D5000	Nikon D90	Pentax K2000
Purple
Yellow Green
Orange Yellow
	Ideal	Canon Rebel T1i	Canon Rebel XS	Nikon D5000	Nikon D90	Pentax K2000
Blue
Green
Red
	Ideal	Canon Rebel T1i	Canon Rebel XS	Nikon D5000	Nikon D90	Pentax K2000
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan

NOTE: Because of the way computer monitors reproduce colors, the images above do not exactly match the originals found on the chart or in the captured images. The chart should be used to judge the relative color shift, not the absolute captured colors.

Color Score Comparison

The T1i outperformed all the other camera in the group bar the Rebel XS (though only barely pipping the Nikons). In Faithful shooting mode, you can expect images that have color very close to what you saw through the viewfinder, with realistic hue and saturation.

 

NOTE: We updated our testing and scoring procedures in January 2009. For comparison purposes, we re-tested several cameras we'd reviewed in 2008, producing the scores shown in the chart above for the Canon Rebel XS and Nikon D90. However, the scores in the original reviews for these re-tested cameras remain unchanged, for consistency's sake.

Color Modes (4.00)

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The T1i has five "Picture Styles" (Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral and Faithful) as well as monochrome, and three user definable settings. The customized entries are controlled by taking a supplied Picture Style and altering its settings for sharpness, contrast, saturation and color tone (this last one will make skin tones more red or yellow along an axis). If the custom setting is based off monochrome, the saturation and color tone can't be altered, but instead filter effect and toning effects can be added. The filter effects mimic adding a colored filter film (yellow, orange, red or green) to black and white and toning effects add a color wash to the image (sepia, blue, purple or green).

Of the color modes, Standard was slightly oversaturated, and was quite inaccurate in reproducing pinks and red, though blues and greens came out well. Portrait was significantly oversaturated, and was far from the known values for dark greens and reds. Landscape mode exaggerated blues and reds massively, and produced noticeable changes in oranges and greens in an effort to to make exciting skies and foliage. Neutral and Faithful were both very close to the ideal color values, though neutral was slightly less accurate on pinks and reds.

 

	Color Mode Comparisons
	Ideal	Standard	Portrait	Landscape	Neutral	Faithful
Dark Skin
Light Skin
Blue Sky
	Ideal	Standard	Portrait	Landscape	Neutral	Faithful
Foliage
Blue Flower
Bluish Green
	Ideal	Standard	Portrait	Landscape	Neutral	Faithful
Orange
Purplish Blue
Moderate Red
	Ideal	Standard	Portrait	Landscape	Neutral	Faithful
Purple
Yellow Green
Orange Yellow
	Ideal	Standard	Portrait	Landscape	Neutral	Faithful
Blue
Green
Red
	Ideal	Standard	Portrait	Landscape	Neutral	Faithful
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan

NOTE: Because of the way computer monitors reproduce colors, the images above do not exactly match the originals found on the chart or in the captured images. The chart should be used to judge the relative color shift, not the absolute captured colors.

Long Exposure (10.42)

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The long exposure test looks at both color accuracy and image noise at reduced light levels. The T1i performed slightly below average in this category, only beating the Pentax K2000, which had really struggled on this test.

This test looks at color accuracy and image noise at light levels of 20 lux or below, at exposures ranging from one to 30 seconds. We also compare how these factors are influenced by long exposure noise reduction. This feature takes a second exposure after the first, but with the lens shut, then takes the noise data from the second and subtracts it from the first. In our experience, it does almost nothing. Click here for more on how we test long exposure.

Canon Rebel T1i Long Exposure Color Error

The graph above shows the color error across the shutter speeds, so a smaller line is better. The T1i struggles a little here, especially towards the 10 and 15 second margin. The noise reduction doesn't have much of an effect.

Canon Rebel T1i Long Exposure Noise

The noise levels stay a hair below one percent in this test, once again a little poorer than most other cameras in our test group, but not horrible. The noise reduction system actually boosted measured image noise at most shutter speeds, and doubles the amount of time it takes to shoot a photo. The chart below shows that the T1i scored lower than most other cameras, but by a relatively small margin.

Long Exposure Score Comparison

NOTE: We updated our testing and scoring procedures in January 2009. For comparison purposes, we re-tested several cameras we'd reviewed in 2008, producing the scores shown in the chart above for the Canon Rebel XS and Nikon D90. However, the scores in the original reviews for these re-tested cameras remain unchanged, for consistency's sake.

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