Techie
6:06 AM | Sunday | 14 March 2010

Canon USA Inc., officially announced its new EOS Rebel T2i DSLR today. It replaces the existing T1i (aka the EOS 500D in the Philippines), topping out with 18 megapixels of resolution and full 1080p HD video with adjustable frame rates. Yowza!

The T2i packs in the new Digic IV processor in a lightweight polycarbonate (read: plastic) frame. It will, presumably, perform way beyond its peers, as it borrowed a lot from the bigger and more powerful EOS 7D, such as the ISO 6400 rating and the aforementioned photo and video resolutions. The sensor, though, is still smaller than the coveted full-frame (35mm) size confined to the APS-C standard.

This new Rebel also has the first HD LCD screen on an EOS camera. The 3-inch display has a whopping 1.04 million dots of resolution, surpassing the standard 920,000, thus making image previews more accurate, at least on paper.

Nonetheless, the T2i will be a viable alternative to the 7D especially with its projected SRP of $800 (about P40,000) for the body only and $900 (about P45,000) with a standard EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS kit lens.

Following Canon's naming convention, the T2i will be called the EOS 550D when it hits the local market. Let's hope that happens soon, like right before summer – just in time for the annual Boracay bashes.

UPDATE: DPReview confirms it's the 550D

Canon EOS Rebel T2i/550D specs

• Resolution
• Stills: 18 megapixels
  
• Video: 1920x1080p at 30fps max; 24fps capable
  
• Storage: SD/SDHC/SDXC
  
• Screen
• Size: 3 inches
  
• Resolution: 1.04 million dots
  
• Image Stabilization: lens-based
  
• Face Detection: yes
  
• Live View: yes
  
• ISO Range: 100-6400
  
• Shutter Speed: 30-1/8000 sec., bulb
  
• Image Processor: Digic 4
  
• Interface
• Hot Shoe: yes
  
• USB: ver. 2.0
  
• HDMI: yes
  
• Battery
• Type: Lithium-Ion LP-E8
• Life: up to 550 shots or 1 hour and 40 minutes video (CIPA Standard)
  
• Size: 128.8 x 97.5 x 75.3mm
• Weight: 530g (body, battery, and memory card only)

Via Gizmodo