Canon Rebel T1i DSLR Camera Review

Introduction

The Rebel T1i is Canon's newest member of the emerging trend of video-capable DSLR cameras. With a price tag of just under $900, the T1i offers you the ability to capture full HD video with the option of using any EF or EF-S series of lenses from Canon. While the Rebel T1i does boast a full 1920 x 1080 HD resolution, the camera only captures video at the unusual speed of 20 frames per second when using this resolution. Other drawbacks include a lack of manual aperture control, which severely limits the camera's ability to adjust depth of field, and the absence of a continuous autofocus function. The camera does have some good aspects, however, including a vivid color performance, good sharpness, and a relatively simple interface.

Exclusive - Read the full review of the Canon T1i at DigitalCameraInfo.com, including complete, comprehensive video testing and analysis by CamcorderInfo.com.

Color & Noise Performance

The Canon T1i had decently accurate colors in our bright light testing and it did about as well with this test as the Nikon D5000. The big difference with the Canon, however, is its higher saturation, darker image, and more vivid colors. The T1i also had the most trouble reproducing red colors accurately, while the D5000 had more problems with greens and yellows. Click here to read our full color performance review, including color swatches and crops.

Color Accuracy Performance
Color Test Chart (above), Color Error Map (right)
The Canon T1i produced a color error of 4.11 and a saturation level of 110.3% in our bright light color testing. (The map on the right is a diagram of the color error. The length and direction of each line indicates how the camcorder processed each particular color.)

The T1i had low noise levels, which is something we've seen from all the video-capable DSLR cameras we've tested. It wasn't as noise-free as the Nikon D5000, however, but it still had far less noise than the average HD camcorder. Click here to read our full noise performance review, including crops and comparative analysis.
 

Motion & Sharpness

The Canon T1i can record full 1920 x 1080 HD video, but it does so at 20 frames per second, which is a very slow frame rate. The camera does record at 30p, but only in resolutions of 1280 x 720 or 640 x 480. The fact that the camera doesn't offer a 24p mode or a 60p mode is a big issue for users who want lots of motion options. Still, the camera showed decent motion in our tests. Click here to read our full motion performance review, including video clips.

Shooting at 1920 x 1080, the Canon T1i had very impressive video sharpness results. The camera didn't do nearly as well, obviously, when we used the 1280 x 720 resolution. The fact that the T1i can record full-HD video is impressive, however, especially when considering Nikon's two video-capable DSLRs top out at 1280 x 720. Click here to read our full sharpness performance review.

Low Light Performance

The Canon T1i did very poorly with our low light sensitivity test. The camera needed more than twice the amount of light as the Nikon D5000 to reach 50 IRE on our waveform monitor. Also strange, was the fact that the Canon T1i had the same low light sensitivity when using both its 1080/20p and 720/30p modes. Because the T1i recorded 1080p footage at such a slow frame rate (20p), we assumed the camera would put forth a stellar low light sensitivity. This assessment, however, was entirely incorrect. Click here to read our full low light sensitivity performance review.

Required Illumination *

* the lower the lux required, the better the performance

The T1i maintained its strong colors in low light, producing a vivid image with good color accuracy. The camera's picture was a bit dark, especially compared to the Nikon D5000, but its colors were very saturated. Click here to read our full low light color performance review, including comparative images and analysis.

Auto Low Light Color Performance
Color Test Chart (above), Color Error Map (right)
The Canon T1i produced a color error of 3.06 and a saturation level of 104.9% in our low light color testing. (The map on the right is a diagram of the color error. The length and direction of each line indicates how the camcorder processed each particular color.)

The T1i had low noise levels in our low light testing, but they weren't as good as the Nikon D500. The camera still had lower noise levels than the average consumer HD camcorder, but we measured noise at around 1.0% in this test. Click here to read our full low light noise performance review, including crops and comparative images.

Conclusion

On the surface, the Canon Rebel T1i ($899 MSRP) sounds like it has a lot to offer as a video-capable DSLR. Unfortunately, the camera has too many peculiarities and design flaws for it to be a serious contender amongst high-end HD camcorders. While the T1i can record full 1920 x 1080 HD video, it does so at 20 frames per second—a frame rate that is not only unusual, but is also extremely slow. To capture 30p footage, the camera must record using its 1280 x 720 HD mode, or its standard definition 640 x 480 setting. Manual controls for video are also lacking on the T1i. The camera offers no direct control over shutter speed, ISO, or aperture. The latter of these is the most surprising omission, as it means depth of field is almost impossible to control in video mode. The T1i can autofocus while video is recording, but the system is terrible and it does not work continuously (you have to press a button to focus). As far as performance goes, the T1i showed many different results than the Nikon D5000. The Canon had a far darker image, more vivid colors, and worse low light sensitivity. Of course, the T1i also had the benefit of being able to capture full HD video, while the Nikon tops out at 1280 x 720. Overall, we found the Nikon D5000 to be the better video performer—unless you are staunchly opposed to recording at the limited resolution of 1280 x 720. Both cameras have serious flaws, however, so it is probably best to wait for another video-capable DSLR comes along before you make your decision.

Exclusive - Read the full review of the Canon T1i at DigitalCameraInfo.com, including complete, comprehensive video testing and analysis by CamcorderInfo.com.