Canon Rebel
T1i
 vs
Canon Rebel
T2i

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3 vs Canon Rebel T3i

Canon EOS Rebel T2i

59
"Quite simply, taken as a whole, it is the best camera of its class that we've ever seen, and one of those rare cameras that won't look out of date in a couple of years' time."
dpreview.com | talking about the T2i's overall-performance
"Excellent detail and resolution"
dpreview.com | talking about the T2i's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T2i

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
True resolution
 High true resolution
17.9 MP
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
2.4"
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

54
Runner-up

Canon Rebel T1i
"The menu design is very intuitive and for everybody stepping up from a digital compact camera the Quick Control Screen will be a welcome alternative to changing settings via the hard buttons."
dpreview.com | talking about the T1i's button-layout
"Construction is good with no creaks or rattles."
dpreview.com | talking about the T1i's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T1i

Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
159 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
2.4"
Weight
 Light-weight
520 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon T1i
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 159 ms vs 252 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Canon EOS Rebel T1i Learn more about
the Canon T1i

Advantages of the Canon T2i
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 784 ISO vs 663 ISO
Help
 The T2i has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Overall image quality Better image quality 66.0 vs 63.0
Help
 Almost the same
True resolution Higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 15.1 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The T2i's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 920k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 440 shots vs 400 shots
Help
 10% more shots per battery charge
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.7 fps vs 3.4 fps
Help
 Around 10% faster continuous shooting
Canon EOS Rebel T2i Learn more about
the Canon T2i
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS Rebel T1i Canon Rebel T1i
54 vs 59
Explain scores
Canon Rebel T2i Canon EOS Rebel T2i
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS Rebel T2i.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonRebel T1i
 Canon EOS Rebel T1i vs Canon EOS Rebel T2i
CanonRebel T2i
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
30
37
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
26
39
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
28
41
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
32
35
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
25
41
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
38
35
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
36
36
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Movie format Full HD (1080p) video Help
T1i:1080p @ 20fps
T2i:1080p @ 30fps
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
T1i:920k dots
T2i:1,040k dots
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
162 lenses
Screen size Larger than average screens Help
3.0"
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
T1i:300 ms
T2i:400 ms
Size Fairly small Help
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Thickness Very thin Help
2.4"
Weight Light weight Help
T1i:520 g
T2i:530 g
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
T1i:400 shots
T2i:440 shots
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
T1i:3.4 fps
T2i:3.7 fps
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Focus points Few focus points Help
9
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
T1i:3,200 ISO
T2i:6,400 ISO
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
11.5 EV

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$624 - $800 body only

$869 - $1,100 with 18-135mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Rebel T2i
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Sensor size Has a marginally larger sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T2i
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$459 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Weight Is slightly lighter
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T2i
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T2i
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$879 - $1,304 body only

$1,139 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T2i
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$849 - $897 body only

$1,099 - $1,200 with 18-105mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D90 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the D90 vs the Rebel T2i
Nikon D5000

Nikon D5000

Entry-level DSLR

$750 - $997 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D5000 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the D5000 vs the Rebel T2i

Canon EOS Rebel T1i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS Rebel T1i.

Canon EOS Rebel T2i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS Rebel T2i.

appearance

Canon EOS Rebel T1i Canon EOS Rebel T2i
Canon EOS Rebel T1i Canon EOS Rebel T2i
Canon EOS Rebel T1i Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these cameras here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

Showing 10 comments

L. (4:39 AM, November 27, 2011)
If price is the issue look at amazon. For new T1i vs T2i there is only a 16 dollar difference and that with the lens. What's $16 when you're spending $500 and some on a camera already? As far as I'm concerned, the only thing to consider with these two cameras is features.
 
Walter (1:13 AM, March 27, 2011)
La verdad hay tres modelos populares el T1i, T2i, T3i, de la primera T1i a la T2i hay una gran diferencia en features como en el precio, por lo cual yo personalmente optaria por la T2i mirando hacia el futuro, ahora entre la T2i y la T3i la diferencia en features is minima no hubo mucho cambio ecepto que la pantalla se puede sacar y la bateria dura aproximadamente 100 fotos mas y una que otra cosa minima, pero el precio relativamente es de $100 a $150 dls mas que la T2i, por lo tanto esta utlima seria su mejor inversion, logicamente la T1i es mas barata pero considere es solo 15MP, no tiene real HD, no tiene microfono y la en la noche las fotos salen mucho mejores con al T2i, espero que medite bien y tome la desicion mejor a su conveniencia, Buena Suerte
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:23 PM, March 12, 2011)
Hi Kev, as far as we can tell the T2i definitely does not have in-body image stabilization. It is often sold with the Canon EF-S 18-55 IS lens that has image stabilization.

Some DSLRs like the Pentax K-x do have built in image stabilization, meaning that you'll get image stabilization benefits with every lens you use on that camera.
 
Kev (6:26 AM, March 12, 2011)
It may not say it but the T2i does have image stabilization.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (10:25 PM, January 13, 2011)
Hey Dan, thanks for that note from time to time that does happen, we will make sure to fix it. I am glad you liked Snapsort, you might also like our sister site http://LensHero.com
Thanks for the support.
 
Dan (10:20 PM, January 13, 2011)
First time ever being on this site but this is inaccurate. The price your back-end scraped for the T2i is not actually for the camera itself. Otherwise this is the coolest site I've seen in a long time and I can't believe it has taken me this long to find it.
 
Pegb (0:26 AM, September 12, 2010)
Hola. me gustaria Comprar Una camara canon Pero queria sable si es ¿ Una buena inversión Comprar la canon eos T1i ?
 
Avatar for Mike Mike (2:39 AM, June 08, 2010)
I agree that the t2i is the winner purely in terms of features. I guess such a word is a little subjective since the price may or may not play into it. But the "best value" is definitely the t1i for now.
 
Avatar for Alex Black Alex Black (9:50 PM, June 07, 2010)
Hi Mike, good call on the memory card differences, and on the overall comparison.

Snapsort gives its recommendation without considering price, so I think it makes sense for it to declare the T2i the winner, even if its not a large difference.

I think you're right though, the T1i definitely offers better value, and the 1080p with 30fps is overkill for most people.
 
Avatar for Mike Mike (9:28 PM, June 07, 2010)
It is somewhat inaccurate to say "they use different types of memory cards". The t2i uses SDXC, which is an upgrade of the SD card format; thus it will use any memory card the t1i uses, plus more. On the other hand, there aren't really any SD cards currently available in excess of 32gb, and SDXC only concerns cards which break this limit; so for the near future, this distinction is minimal.

The verdict that the t2i is the "winner" is questionable at this price difference: there are only subtle upgrades in most cases; the SDXC memory card capability and the 30fps full-HD video are the only really dramatic departures, and average users may have no reason to care about those when the price jump is $300. I'd say at their current prices, the t1i is actually the winner, except for users who will be using it primarily for HD video shooting.