Comments on the design of the Canon EOS Rebel T2i.
Lori Grunin
I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.
Although it's about 0.6-inch deeper, the T2i's body weighs the same 18.6 ounces and looks extremely similar to the T1i.
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The little things
It may seem minor, but Canon hasn't switched to the cheapie thin plastic body and lens back caps for its entry-level dSLRs the way Sony and Pentax have.
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Grip
The T2i has a very comfortable grip, textured and rubberized in all the places your fingers touch and workable for single-handed shooting.
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Controls
The T2i's control layout is almost identical to the T1i's; however, Canon has redesigned many of the buttons--they're flatter, and a tad harder to feel. Now there's a dedicated button for jumping into the Quick Control panel. Other than that, the control layout is the same as it's been for many generations, and the layout pretty much works. However, I'd really rather have the ISO button in place of the Picture Styles rather than it being on top of the camera--that's where most point-and-shoot upgraders would expect it to be, and would consolidate all the shooting controls in one spot.
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Movies
Canon did move the button that doubles as movie record and Live View enable, since the Q button took up residence in its old spot.
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Mode dial
I'll make the same complaints I brought up with the T1i: no custom settings and poor placement of the movie mode. The latter is really cumbersome, in part because the dial doesn't spin 360 degrees, so jumping between movies and still shooting modes is really annoying.