Canon Rebel T2i Digital Camera Review

Motion

The Canon Rebel T2i showed similar results to the Canon 7D in our motion test, but we found the 7D rendered motion a bit better overall. The two cameras offer the same frame rates for recording 1080p video: 24p and 30p. These options resulted in motion that looked quite smooth without too much trailing — something that couldn't be said for last year's Canon T1i (which utilized an unusual 20p frame rate for recording 1920 x 1080 video). More on how CamcorderInfo tests motion.

The T2i showed slightly more artifacting than the 7D, which was the main difference between the cameras. We also saw a bit more interference and blur on the T2i, particularly in the black and white pinwheels. In addition to the 24p and 30p modes on the T2i, the camera also can shoot 720/60p HD video (and 640 x 480 standard definition video). Since the T2i is an actual DSLR its videos are prone to having a rolling shutter effect (we also saw this on the 7D and Nikon D5000). The rolling shutter adds a significant amount of wobble to any quickly panned footage (sometimes it is called a jell-o effect).

As we noted above, the Canon 7D had a very similar motion performance to the Canon T2i. It shoots with the same frame rates and it captured a decently smooth image overall. Both cameras had minimal artifacting in our motion test, but the 7D managed to show slightly less than the T2i.

The D500 was not a strong performer in our motion test. The camera's motion video had lots of artifacting and numerous straight lines were rendered with jagged edging. The camera also had a major problem with its rolling shutter effect, which is something we also noticed on the two Canon DSLRs in this testing set. The Nikon D5000 records 720p video using a 24p frame rate.

The Samsung NX10 didn't produce loads of artifacting in our motion video, but it did show lots of trailing and blur. The camera's 720/30p recording option also didn't produce very smooth motion and we even saw signs of a rolling shutter effect — something we usually don't see from a mirrorless camera like the NX10 (the problem usually only exists on full-fledged video-capable DSLRs).

Video Sharpness

We expected some strong results in this test for the Canon Rebel T2i because it is one of the few video-capable DSLRs that can capture a Full HD 1920 x 1080 video image. The camera did not disappoint, as it managed a horizontal sharpness of 600 lw/ph and a vertical sharpness of 700 lw/ph. While these are very good scores for a video-capable DSLR, we have seen significantly higher numbers from many high-end HD camcorders (including models from Canon like the HF S21). Of course, some aspects of obtaining a sharp image depend on the quality of lens you are using, so it is probable that you could get sharper video from the T2i if you mount a better lens on the camera. More on how CamcorderInfo tests video sharpness.

Low Light Sensitivity

The Canon T2i required 11 lux of light to reach 50 IRE on our waveform monitor, which is a decent score for a camera of its class. Much like we saw with the Canon 7D, the T2i didn't have much difference between its low light sensitivity when shooting 24p or 30p video.