Canon EOS Rebel T1i: Canon Steps Up Its Entry-Level Line with the Canon EOS Rebel T1i (500D)

The EOS Rebel T1i is the answer of Canon for those in the market for an entry-level DSLR with good resolution and an improved AF system. The T1i (or more popularly known as the 500D) shares an almost identical body with the XSi. It comes with a plastic body that is hardly stunning, though it is still comfortable to hold and feels quite solid. At the back of the 500D is the same 3-inch, unarticulated LCD screen. The viewfinder is quite disappointing, providing only 95% coverage when compared to other DSLR in the entry-level category.

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Just like its predecessor, the 500D comes with a bevy of buttons for specific functions. These buttons directly lie beneath your right hand, and each of them has a different feel. This allows you to search for the right button without having to look. Also, none of the buttons requires you to use both hands to operate. The dial gets a new mode: a dedicated movie selection. The Live View button acts as the record stop/start when shooting in movie mode. The 500D also comes with the Creative Auto mode. The Creative Auto mode is a feature that was normally found in Canon’s higher-end models. The Creative Auto mode can function as a semi-manual mode or a toned-down Program mode, depending on how you look at it. For those who are tired of having to scroll several pages to reach a desired function, Canon also retained the My Menu – a list that you can easily personalize for the menu settings that you frequently access.

The 500D powers on and is ready to shoot within 0.2 seconds. Focusing and shooting in well-lit areas takes a quick 0.3 second. In dim areas, it would have a still respectable 0.6 seconds shot lag. The 500D can shoot 3.3 fps under continuous shooting mode. Noise level is still tolerable up to ISO 1600. If you feel that 1600 isn’t enough, the 500D can go up to ISO 12800. The 500D lacks any internal mechanical stabilization, and even the image-stabilizing lens doesn’t quite cut it. Nonetheless, images taken with the 500D are quite sharp. The shadows and the midtones in the stills look just right. Colors are vibrant, with just the right touch of brightness and saturation. The video mode supports up to 30fps in 720p. The video quality is quite solid, though pushing the 500D to shoot at the 1920x1080 mode or full HD mode would cause the video to look too erratic.

All in all, Canon has put together a nice feature set in the Canon EOS Rebel T1i to make it a compelling upgrade over the EOS Rebel XSi.