Canon has once again raised the bar for entry level Digital SLRs (D-SLRs) by bringing many of the features found in its mid-range 7D model down into a new entry level Rebel--the EOS Digital Rebel T2i. In addition to the 7D's 18MP sensor (with improved low light performance up to ISO 6400 and lower noise compared to the other Rebels) it features a faster frame rate than the T1i (3.7fps) and takes the new SDXC storage cards. Video buffs will appreciate not just the 1080p HD capability but the external microphone jack for quality audio. The full feature list includes:

18.0 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor and DIGIC 4 Image Processor for high image quality and speed.

ISO 100-6400 (expandable to 12800) for shooting from bright to dim light.

Improved EOS Movie mode with manual exposure control, expanded recording, new Movie Crop recording in 640 x 480 and external microphone IN terminal for access to improved sound quality.

Enhanced iFCL 63-zone, Dual-layer metering system; and 9-point AF system utilizing a high-precision, f/2.8 cross-type center point.

Wide 3.0-inch (3:2 aspect ratio) Clear View LCD monitor (1.04 million dots) for improved viewing.

New Quick Control Screen button for easy access to frequently used settings.

Improved layout with dedicated Live View/Movie shooting button.

New compatibility with SDXC memory cards, plus new menu status indicator for Eye-Fi* support.

3.7 fps continuous shooting up to approximately 34 JPEGs or approximately 6 RAW.

Compatible with the full line of Canon EF and EF-S lenses.
The T2i is expected to be available in late March for an MSRP of $799 for the body only and $899 with a kit lens. For those looking for prosumer image quality like the 7D in a relatively inexpensive entry level package this camera is sure to be a winner. The full official spec list from Canon is:

Specifications

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Type

Type
Digital, single-lens reflex, AF/AE camera

Recording Media
SD memory card, SDHC memory card, SDXC Memory Card

Image Sensor Size
22.3mm x 14.9mm (APS-C size)

Compatible Lenses
Canon EF lenses including EF-S lenses (35mm-equivalent focal length is approx. 1.6x the lens focal length)

Lens Mount
Canon EF mount

Image Sensor

Type
High-sensitivity, high-resolution, large single-plate CMOS sensor

Pixels
Effective pixels: Approx. 18.00 Megapixels

Aspect Ratio
3:2 (Horizontal: Vertical)

Color Filter System
RGB primary color filters

Low-pass Filter
Fixed position in front of the CMOS sensor

Dust Deletion feature
(1) Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit(2) Dust Delete Data appended to the captured image(3) Manual cleaning of sensor

Recording System

Recording Format
Design rule for Camera File System 2.0 and Exif 2.21

Image Type
Still: JPEG, RAW (14-bit, Canon original), RAW+JPEGVideo: MOV (Image data: H.264, Audio: Linear PCM)

File Size
(1) Large/Fine: Approx. 6.4MB (5184 x 3456 pixels)(2) Large/Normal: Approx. 3.2MB (5184 x 3456 pixels)(3) Medium/Fine: Approx. 3.4MB (3456 x 2304 pixels)(4) Medium/Normal: Approx. 1.7MB (3456 x 2304 pixels)(5) Small/Fine: Approx. 2.2MB (2592 x 1728 pixels)(6) Small/Normal: Approx. 1.1MB (2592 x 1728 pixels)(7) RAW: Approx. 24.5MB (5184 x 3456 pixels)Exact file sizes depend on the subject, ISO speed, Picture Style, etc.

File Numbering
Continuous numbering, auto reset, manual reset

Color Space
sRGB, Adobe RGB selectable

Picture Style
Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, User Defined 1-3

Image Processing

Type
Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten Light, White Fluorescent Light, Flash, Custom

Color Temperature Compensation
White balance correction: ±9 stops in full-stop incrementsWhite balance bracketing: ±3 stops in full-stop incrementsBlue/amber direction or magenta/green direction possible

Color Temperature Information Transmission
Provided

Viewfinder

Type
Eye-level SLR (with pentamirror)

Coverage
Vertical/Horizontal approx. 95%

Magnification
Approx. 0.87x (with 50mm lens at infinity, -1 m-1 (dpt))

Eyepoint
Approx. 19mm (from eyepiece lens center)

Built-in Dioptric Adjustment
-3.0 to +1.0m-1 (diopter)

Focusing Screen
Fixed, Precision Matte

Mirror
Quick-return half mirror (transmission: reflection ratio of 40:60, no mirror cut-off with EF600mm f/4L IS USM or shorter lenses)

Viewfinder Information
AF information

Depth-of-Field Preview
Enabled with depth-of-field preview button

Autofocus

Type
TTL-CT-SIR AF-dedicated CMOS sensor

AF Points
9 AF points (center AF point is cross-type)

Focusing Modes
Auto, One-Shot AF, Predictive AI Servo AF, AI Focus AF, Manual Focusing (MF)

AF Point Selection
Automatic selection, manual selection

Selected AF Point Display
Superimposed in viewfinder and indicated on LCD monitor

AF-assist Beam
Intermittent firing of built-in flashEffective range: Approx. 4.0m/13.1 ft. at center, approx. 3.5m/11.5 ft. at periphery. When EOS-dedicated Speedlite attached, the Speedlite's AF-assist beam is emitted instead.

Exposure Control

Metering Modes
63-zone TTL full-aperture metering

• Evaluative metering (linkable to any AF point)


• Partial metering (approx. 9% of viewfinder at center)


• Spot metering (approx. 4% of viewfinder at center)


• Center-weighted average metering

Metering Range
EV 1-20 (at 73°F/23°C with EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens, ISO 100)

Exposure Control
(1) Program AE (shiftable)(2) Shutter-priority AE(3) Aperture-priority AE(4) Depth-of-field AE (A-DEP, non-shiftable)(5) Full Auto (Program AE, non-shiftable)(6) Programmed Image Control modes (6 modes)

ISO Speed (Recommended Exposure Index)
ISO 100~6400 (in 1-stop increments), H: 12800Basic Zone modes: ISO 100~3200 set automatically

Exposure Compensation
Manual: ±5 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments (can be combined with AEB)

AE Lock
(1) Auto AE lock

Shutter

Type
Vertical-travel, mechanical, focal-plane shutter with all speeds electronically controlled

Shutter Speeds
1/4000 sec. to 1/60 sec., X-sync at 1/200 sec.1/4000 sec. to 30 sec., bulb (Total shutter speed range. Available range varies by shooting mode)

Shutter Release
Soft-touch electromagnetic release

Self-timer
10-sec. or 2-sec. delay or 10-sec. delay plus continuous shooting

Remote Control
Remote Switch RS-60E3Remote Controller RC-1/RC-5/RC-6

Built-in Flash

Type
Retractable, auto pop-up flash

Flash Metering
E-TTL II autoflash

Guide Number
13/43 (ISO 100, in meters/feet)

Recycling Time
Approx. 3 sec.

Flash-ready Indicator
Flash-ready icon lights in viewfinder

Flash Coverage
Up to 17mm lens focal length (equivalent to 27mm in 135 format)

FE Lock
Provided

Flash Exposure Compensation
±2 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-stop incrementsFlash exposure compensation for built-in flash and Speedlite can be set with the camera.

Drive System

Drive Modes
Single, continuous, self-timer (10 sec. or 2 sec. delay)/remote control

Continuous Shooting Speed
Max. 3.7 shots/sec. (with One-Shot AF or AI Servo AF)

Maximum Burst
JPEG (Large/Fine): Approx. 34, RAW: Approx. 6Based on Canon's testing standards with a 2GB SD memory card, ISO 100 and Standard Picture StyleVaries depending on the subject, SD memory card brand, image-recording quality, etc.

Live View Functions

Shooting Modes
Still photo shooting and video shooting

Focusing
Autofocus (One-Shot AF): Live mode, Face Detection Live mode, Quick mode; Manual focus (5x or 10x manually)

Metering Modes
Real-time evaluative metering with image sensor

Metering Range
EV 0-20 (at 73°F/23°C with EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens, ISO 100)

Grid Display
Provided (Two grid displays)

Exposure Simulation
Provided

Silent Shooting
Not provided

Video Shooting

File Format
MOV (image data: H.264; audio: Linear PCM (with internal mic: monaural, with external mic: stereo))

File Size
Recording Size: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD): 30p (29.97) / 24p (23.976) / 25p, 1280 x 720: 60p (59.94) / 50p, 640 x 480 (SD): 60p (59.94) / 50p), Movie Crop recording in 640 x 480

Continuous Shooting Time
Approx. 12 min. (1920 x 1080), 18 min. (1280 x 720), 24 min. (640 x 480)Based on Canon's testing standards using a 4GB card

Focusing
Autofocus: Quick mode, Live mode, Face Detection Live mode; manual

Exposure Control
(1) Program AE for movie shooting* For shooting modes other than manual exposure.* Shutter speed (1/30 - 1/4000 sec., signal accumulation time), aperture, and ISO speed automatically set.(2) Manual exposure* For manual exposure.* Shutter speed (signal accumulation time), aperture, and ISO speed (auto/ manual) manually set. The shutter speed (signal accumulation time) is limited to 1/4000 sec. at the maximum and to 1/30 sec. at the minimum for 24/25/30 fps or 1/60 sec. or higher for 50/60 fps.

Exposure Compensation
Up to ±3 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments* Possible only with autoexposure.

Audio recording method
Linear PCM(1) Internal monaural microphone(2) External stereo microphone jack

Video Playback
Playback, slow motion (variable speed possible), jump to first frame, previous frame, next frame, jump to last frame, cut out first or last, frame, and audio volume (6 levels, including mute).* The audio level when the camera is connected to a TV set is adjusted with the TV set.

LCD Monitor

Type
TFT color, liquid-crystal monitor

Monitor Size
3.0 in.

Dots
Approx. 1,040,000 dots (VGA)

Coverage
Approx. 100%Viewing angle: 160°

Brightness Adjustment
7 levels provided

Interface Languages
English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Greek, Russian, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Romanian, Ukraine, Turkish, Arabic, Thai, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean and Japanese

Image Playback

Display Format
(1) Single image display- Two types of single-image full display and two types of shooting information display.(2) Index display- 4-image index and 9-index image.(3) Jump display- 10/100 images, shooting date, movies, stills

Highlight Warning
Provided (Overexposed highlights blink)

Image Protection and Erase

Protect
Erase protect (or cancel) each image individually

Erase
Single image, selected images or all images in the SD card can be erased (except protected images)

Direct Printing

Compatible Printers
PictBridge-compatible printers

Printable Images
JPEG images compliant to Design rule for Camera File System (DPOF printing possible) and RAW images captured with the EOS Rebel T2i

Easy Print feature
Provided

DPOF: Digital Print Order Format

DPOF
Version 1.1 compatible

Direct Image Transfer

Compatible Images
JPEG and RAW imagesOnly JPEG images can be transferred as wallpaper on the personal computer screen

Customization

Custom Functions
Total 12

My Menu Registration
Up to 6 menus, Custom functions and other top-tier options can be registered

Interface

USB Terminal
For personal computer communication and direct printing (USB 2.0 Hi-Speed)

Video Out Terminal
(1) Video OUT terminal: NTSC/PAL selectable(2) mini-HDMI OUT terminal

Power Source

Battery
One Battery Pack LP-E8AC power can be supplied via AC Adapter Kit ACK-E8With Battery Grip BG-E8, AA-size batteries can be used

Number of Shots
Number of shots (approx.)

Temperature
Shooting Conditions

AE 100%
AE 50%, FA 50%

At 73°F/23°C
550
470

At 32°F/0°C
440
400

Live View shooting at 73°F/23°C
200
170

Live View shooting at 32°F/0°C
180
150

Movie Shooting Time
1 hr. 40 min.
1 hr. 20 min.The above figures apply with a fully-charged Battery Pack LP-E8.The figures above are based on CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association) testing standards.

Battery Check
Auto

Power Saving
Provided. Power turns off after 30 sec., 1, 2, 4, 8, 15 min.

Date/Time Battery
Built-in secondary battery

Start-up Time
Approx. 0.1 sec.

Dimensions and Weight

Dimensions (WxHxD)
Approx. 5.1 x 3.8 x 3.0 in./128.8 x 97.5 x 75.3mm

Weight
Approx. 18.7 oz./530g (CIPA standard, includes battery and memory card.)

Operating Environment

Working Temperature Range
32-104°F/0-40°C

Working Humidity Range
85% or less