EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

I've had this camera for about a week and I have to say I'm more than a little impressed. I bought just the body as I have several Canon lenses already. I find the camera easy to use and not uncomfortable for my type of shooting. Some have said they find the grip just a little small. I find it to be quite comfortable so far. (I played football and boxed, so my hands are somewhat stiff and a little torn up.) I like the Main Control Wheel on this camera much better than the SX10/20 series. I have an older A2E and the wheel is similar. I was very frustrated by the SX10's wheel. I've used a 35-70mm Canon lens and the 100-300mm telephoto with exceptional results. (I tried contacting Canon about 2 weeks ago about using the older EF lenses with this camera. No answer from them to-date. And yes they work perfectly.) Some people call this an introductory camera. I don't think that classification does it justice. I started many years ago with a little 35mm Pentax, moved up to a Mamiya RB67 2¼ format, then a Hasselblad. I've won some awards and shot many a cover in my day. I left photography behind for many years, job, family, etc. One of the truths I've personally learned is that almost any camera can go beyond the "beginner" title if the person behind the viewfinder is willing to put in the time. I am NOT saying that I don't appreciate the more sophisticated elements that higher price cameras afford, just that to make really good photos doesn't always take real fancy equipment. I love really good equipment, I just think that people shouldn't think the camera is the ONLY variable. Clyde Butcher roams the Everglades with his large format cameras and stick to poke alligators on the nose so he can get his shots. Ansel Adams did not know anything about digital cameras and some would say he was a fairly good photographer and he even gave us the Zone system. And Stephen Frink shot some really incredible underwater stuff with a Nikonos underwater camera, which has never been known for its exotic capabilities other than being able to go deep underwater. Point being, these guys learned about photography, lighting and composition. Do those things first. Remember, a camera is light gathering device. If you can see it through the viewfinder, then you can find a way to record it. And this camera makes it so easy. I find that the automatic mode is fine for a lot of quick shooting. But if you shoot in bright sunlight, I find that with Canon lenses, it's best to set the exposure control down by 1/3rd of a stop. But this mostly a personal choice. The camera itself is absolutely wonderful. Balanced, easy to use and fast. Read the manual. I'm not kidding. Read it with the camera in front of you. Then study and shoot. Another good piece of advice I received when I was starting out was find a picture you like and try to shoot the same shot. Things look different through a viewfinder. Once you can duplicate with some degree of accuracy shots you like, you'll find your own work getting better. Sorry if you were expecting a more traditional review, but I thought something should be said about the photographer using it. As for video, I don't use it unless some guy is yelling "Don't tase me bro!" If you want video, get a video camera. Update: Had the camera now for over a month and I'm really very happy with it. It shoots well and fast. If you buy this or the T2, spend some time using the different metering modes so you can see which is best for each situation. Learn about lighting. It's crucial to getting good shots. If you want to see some remarkable examples of lighting technique, look at the Dutch painter, Vermeer. Look here: but ignore some of the junk people have added: [...] Once you get a feel for this camera, changing metering modes and settings is really very easy. And get the best lens you can afford. Don't gow with third party lenses if you can afford Canon lenses. After awhile, you'll really be able to tell the difference.

I'm just an average guy who's trying to break into the professional world of photography... I've been eyeing the Canon 50D and was so close to buying one when I heard of the T1i. So I compared notes and found the T1i was nearly identical to the Canon 50D minus a few things I couldn't really notice (or care about) since I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable about photography. After reading what few reviews there were on the internet because this item was new, I decided to take the plunge and buy this camera and lucky me, I ordered it the day it was released to the world so it came quickly! The results? I LOVE IT! But before I say more... Now, if you're a big guy like me who has BIG HANDS, YOU WILL WANT THE BATTERY GRIP that is extra. TRUST ME... It's a no-brainer... get it because it will make the camera feel so much better and make it look even more professional! That, and the battery grip comes with 2 extra 1800mA batteries which will give you a total of 3 batteries all together. I've been playing with it for several days and still haven't made a dent in draining these batteries! How's it operate? GREAT! Let me go into more detail... It's got several settings that I will sum up for you in Regular English, not Geek speak because I wish more people would speak this way instead of beating around the bush... It's got old fashioned digital camera settings (you know the little icons of the flower or mountain, sports guy, etc) so if you know how to use these settings, you'll be able to use this quickly and comfortably. It's got a full auto mode (which I like to call "No Brainer Mode") because this feature is a no-brainer! You just shoot and let it think for you! It will do EVERYTHING for you and do an incredible job! (NICE :-D) And it's got the Advanced Modes so if you are a pro or want the controls of a professional camera (you know, to change the ISO settings or F-stops, etc) You can do that too! They really put a lot of thinking into this camera and its nice, inside and out. One of the things I've discovered that's extra credit is the software that comes with it called Digital Photo Professional. If you've read some of these reviews that talks about a picture maybe soft somewhere or the ISO noise (for whatever reason)... Digital Photo Professional has some sweet settings that will get rid of that for you and enhance your pictures to STUNNING! There's so much potential in this camera and remember, it's made by the same folks who made the 50D and all the other versions! So what if its got minor tweaks that others don't... the bottom line is that this is an incredible camera! I'm not crazy about the "Rebel" name in it because it makes it sound Amateurish... This should be called The Canon EOS AWESOME T1i because it looks, feels and is just that! Even better is the High Definition Video you can record if you want to. Sure its not equal to a dedicated HD camcorder but its nice to have if you want to record something important and look sharp too! Personally, I can't tell the difference between the 1080p and 720p so don't let these little nit-pickers bother you. Go with your gut and DO GET A GOOD LENS to compliment the one it comes with. Your next best bet is to get a 28mm to 200mm LENS so you can do those zoom and up close shots. With so many lenses, it will just open up all kinds of creative things you can do. I hope my review answered your questions! I'm glad I bought it and look forward to all the possibilities! So if you're looking to be a professional, this is a great start! If you're looking to have a nice camera that you want to enjoy as a hobby, this is also for you! As I said in the title... the best of both worlds! :-) UPDATE: While I've had it for about a month now, I'm very impressed with its performance and battery life! And to the person who commented, I'm a happy customer who's good at wording. I don't work for anyone but myself. Check my website in my profile if you want proof. I just call it as it is. :-)