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The Canon EOS Digital Rebel T1i (also known as the EOS 500D) is Canon’s latest “consumer” DSLR. It follows the earlier Rebels like the XSi and XTi in basic size, shape and control layout but it adds a number of features found on the EOS 50D and even one (video) which is currently only available on the EOS 5D MkII.
It’s hard to say if the T1i is meant to complement or replace one of the other Rebel DSLRs. Canon’s USA web site lists the T1i, XSi, XTi and XS as current models, so for now there are four Rebel DSLRs available.
Where to Buy
Photo.net’s partners have the camera in 2 options: the Rebel T1i body alone and in a kit with the EF-S 18-55/3.5-5.6 IS. Their prices are fair and you help to support photo.net.
If you are new to digital photography, start with the photo.net guide Building a DSLR System.
Bob Atkins
The main features of the new Rebel T1i include:
15.1MP CMOS sensor
Integrated sensor cleaning system with fluoride coating
1080p HD video at 20 frames-per-second (fps) (5D MkII has 1080p @ 30 fps) as well as 720p HD (30 fps) and 640×480 SD (30 fps)
Mono sound recording in movie mode
ISO 100 to ISO 12800 settings (in full stop steps)
Shutter speeds 1/4000 to 30s (plus B)
Flash sync speed 1/200s
95% viewfinder coverage at 0.87×. Eye point 19mm
Peripheral Illumination Correction
Auto Lighting Optimizer
Creative Auto mode
High ISO noise reduction
3.4 fps for 170 JPEG frames (or 9 RAW)
3", 920,000 dot LCD screen
Live View with phase and contrast AF modes
Face detection in Live View
9 AF zones with center cross with enhanced precision for f/2.8 and faster lenses
Digic IV image processor SD memory card compatibility
Operating Speed
Like all current Canon EOS DSLRs, the Rebel T1i seems to turn on instantly and is ready to shoot by the time you’ve moved your finder from the on/off switch to the shutter release. Other operations are fast too, no doubt helped by the new Digic IV processor used in the Rebel T1i.
The Canon EOS Rebel T1i Digital SLR specifications list continuous shooting at up to 3.4 fps for up to 170 large/fine JPEG images or up to nine RAW images in a single burst when using a class 6 or higher SD or SDHC memory card.
In actual tests with a class 6 SDHC card, the camera set to ISO 100, manual focus and manual exposure with a shutter speed of 1/500s, I measured a continuous shooting rate of 3.37 fps when capturing Large/Fine JPEGs. In RAW mode I measured 3.36 fps for 10 frames. Then the buffer filled and the frame rate dropped to 0.63 fps. When shooting RAW+Large/Fine JPEGs the continuous shooting rate was 3.2 fps for 3 frames, then dropped to 2.3 fps for the next two frames and finally to around 0.6 fps after the 6th frame when the buffer filled.
As with the EOS 50D, the use of high ISO noise reduction results in a reduction in the number of images that can be stored in the buffer, presumably due to the fact that the image processing power required for noise reduction slows down writing from the buffer to the memory card and so the buffer memory fills up faster.
Controls
The control layout of the Rebel T1i is very similar to previous models. The T1i body is virtually identical to the XSi body apart from a few holes (for the microphone and speaker).
The only obvious change is that the color of the main control dial has gone from black to silver. The main control dial has a new setting “CA”, which stands for a “creative auto” mode. This is somewhat like the full auto mode, but allows you to save some custom settings. You can save flash mode, picture style, image brightness, single shot or continuous mode, image recoding quality and bias exposure toward smaller or larger apertures. Once saved, these settings will be remembered every time you select the “CA” mode. If you don’t change the settings from default, they will be exactly the same as the normal “full auto” exposure mode.
The 13 shooting modes available are: A-DEP (auto depth of field), Manual, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Program AE, CA (creative auto), Full Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, Flash off and Movie.
Control buttons and dials on the rear of the camera are almost identical to those on the XSi (450D). The buttons and switches are in the same place but a few have different functions. The direct print button now also serves as the movie “record” button. This means that the White Balance button had to be reassigned and it’s now the upper button of the 4-way controller. There is no longer a metering mode button, metering pattern now being selected via the menu system or you can get to the same options by pressing the “set” button in the middle of the 4-way controller and selecting the metering option from the screen display.
Bob Atkins
Like the other Digital Rebels, the T1i does not have the rear “Quick Control Dial” used on more expensive EOS models and it does not have a top mounted LCD to display camera settings. The rear LCD is used to display all camera settings.
Image Resolution
The pixel count of the Rebel T1i is 15.1MP, the same as the EOS 50D and the two cameras show very similar resolution. It’s slightly higher than the resolution you get with the EOS 40D, Rebel XSi and Rebel XTi, but it’s certainly not a “night and day” difference. Unless you are making large prints, the difference in resolution may not be noticeable.
I looked at images from the EOS 40D and Rebel T1i (because they were the most similar cameras I had available at the time of this review). Going from the 40D (10.1MP) to a T1i (15.1MP) should theoretically result in linear resolution capability increase of about 22%. In practice, the difference is less than that and certainly it wouldn’t be worth upgrading from an XSi or XTi simply for the slight increase in sensor resolution.
Bob Atkins
One thing to make sure of when comparing resolution between cameras is that the images from both go though the same set of sharpening and noise reduction parameters. For example, as I received it, the Rebel T1i was set to the “neutral” picture style. This applies no sharpening to JPEGs. The “standard” picture style applies a sharpness setting of 3. The “neutral” picture style is really for those who expect to do their own image tweaking on a computer. The JPEGs from the T1i looked somewhat soft using the default setting. This is not a camera “fault”. Most digital images can benefit from sharpening, whether in-camera or during post-processing. Some cameras apply a lot, some apply a little by default. It’s up to the user to decide what looks best to them.
Shooting in RAW and then applying the same sharpness and noise reduction in the Canon supplied Digital Photo Professional (DPP) conversion software is the most reliable way of comparing images.
I looked at the resolution of EOS 40D and Rebel T1i images side by side using several lenses at several different apertures and processed the images using DPP with the same parameters. The Rebel T1i images showed slightly more detail in each case, though the difference was pretty small. Unless you were making very large prints or severely cropping the images, the difference wouldn’t be noticeable to most viewers.
At first glance, compared to my EOS 400D / XTi, it feels better in hand, layout of the buttons and material used (as it was with the XSi), fells lighter. Screen is bigger and brighter, menu is clearer. Did a quick try of video, it's sweet for creative use (web sites, presentation, short films) thought I wouldn't use it, after trying it expands creative possibilities. Light estimation and correction is far better, as speed of focusing it seems to be searching less.
Why I didn't go for the 50D? partly video, mainly price and weight, I have my camera at all times, walking, sailing, trekking ... with 3 lenses (30mm f1.4 Sigma, 70-200mm L f4 canon ,kit 18-55mm canon) and a light and compact camera is great. Until I will feel I am limited and will go for a 50D or a full frame sensor, but I still have a lot to learn before this will happen and will be worth the money. Creativity is you not the camera, even if good equipment helps; I prefer to put it in good lenses.
All the best to all at photo.net and I will now go and explore, create and learn some more.
Very good review! I've had my T1i for a month and it's my first move to a DSLR, though I've used an SLR for a long time (and still have my old Rebel X). I've had several point-n-shoots and finally took the DSLR plunge. It was hard to justify the expense, but now that I've done it I couldn't be happier with the quality of the camera and the great images, even with the kit lens. Now I'll have to start saving for some other lenses to build the kit I really want. I have a little more time to devote to the hobby I love and a new camera to expand into it as well. I'm still a BIG Canon fan and thank them for another fantastic camera. Maybe I'll get to a 5D in a few years. :-)
Nice review. I just replaced my trusty old XT by a T1i and will attempt to recoup most of the money by selling my XT plus a camcorder (seldom used), which I will not longer need.
Bob, your fluorine comment gave me a good chuckle (“I presume this is a fluoride coating, since fluorine is a corrosive gas!"), since it shows clearly that you are full of gas ;-)
You don't need to be a PhD chemist to be able to find out on Wikipedia that: "Fluorine is the chemical element with atomic number 9, represented by the symbol F". Of course elemental fluorine (F2) is a corrosive gas, but 'fluorine coating' could refer to a coating containing any fluorine compound, without the need to reveal what that compound is. It might be fluoride, it might be Teflon for all we know!
I bought T1i last June 2009 and so far already taking thousands of good pictures with it. I use Canon lens 18-200mm IS with the T1i and it seems both of them are a good match, at least for the way I want to take my pictures.
The specification summary at the end of the review says the viewfinder is a "pentaprism." I had understood that the Rebel camera used a penta-mirror rather than a pentaprism, to save weight and cost at the expense of brightness. Is this an error, or has Canon actually switched to a pentaprism in the T1i?
I converted from Nikon to Canon with the Rebel T1i, I am using it to shoot photos for a news letter and do a few Lawn mower racing events. Works very well .
, June 18, 2009; 07:17 A.M. 
