Ok so the title is a little misleading, this is more a quick summary post that gives a few choices specs on each with a sentence or two of my thoughts.  Note: I originally included the MegaPixels of each camera but really don’t want anyone focusing on that number, ALL of these cameras are capable of producing excellent images and images that can easily be printed at very large sizes.

Nikon D3100 – Recently announced – Available mid-September for $699

• ISO 100-3200 & 12800
• 1080p 24fps, 720p 30/25/24 fps, 424p 24 fps
• 11 point AF
• 3 fps
• 3″ 230k pixel LCD
• Friendly guide mode

Nikon’s brand new entry level camera offers a very friendly guide mode and continuous Auto Focus during video, the first DSLR to do so.   The LCD screen is 3″ but only 230K, significantly less than T2i and higher Canons.  Nikon’s entry level models do not have in-body focus motors and so will not focus with some of the cheaper nikon lenes.  I can’t decide if I make a bigger deal about this than necessary but it would bother me that I couldn’t AF with nikons very good but cheap 50mm and a few other lenses.  This camera is for someone just moving to the DSLR world and doesn’t have dreams of becoming a professional photographer. | Buy from Amazon

Nikon D5000 – 18 Months old – $699

• ISO 100-3200 & 6400
• 720p 24 fps
• 11 point AF
• 4 fps
• 2.7″ 230k pixel Articulated LCD

I no longer see a reason to buy this camera unless you REALLY love the articulated lens.  The D3100 is a better camera on paper and when the reviews come in I will update this post.  This isn’t to say it is a bad camera, it is fine and if you can find a used one at a good price go for it! Buy it used if you love the idea of the articulated lens and have a tight budget. | Buy from Amazon

Canon T2i/550D – 6 Months old – $899

• ISO 100-6400 & 12800
• 1080p 30/25/24 fps, 720p 60/50 fps, 640 x 480 60/50 fps (zoom/crop mode)
• 9 point AF
• 3.7 fps
• 3″ 1,040k pixel LCD

This camera blew some minds when it was announced – a DSLR capable of shooting real 1080p at variable frame rate, a 1MP LCD screen formatted to fit the images perfectly and an external audio jack – The reviews are backing up the early praise and 6 months after its release the camera can still be hard to find at list price.  The 550D/T2i is an excellent value if you are a hobbyist and don’t care about the articulated LCD, the manual audio level options for video recording, top LCD or the flash commander of the 60D. A look at the T2i, 60D and 7D specs | Buy from Amazon

Canon 60D – Announced 8/26/10 – Available late september for $1399

• ISO 100-6400 & 12800
• 1080p 30/25/24 fps, 720p 60/50 fps, 640 x 480 60/50 fps (zoom/crop mode)
• 9 point AF
• 5.3 fps
• Articulated 3″ 1,040k pixel LCD

Image quality and video quality look to be identical to the the T2i and the 7D so what does $500 more get you?  A slightly bigger body with a top LCD screen, manual audio controls that you don’t see until you move up to the 5d MII – a $2500 camera,  slightly faster still FPS/ slightly bigger buffer, and remote flash trigger built in. Early hands-on reviews are NOT praising the ergonomics of this camera and feel that canon made some deliberate sacrifices to encourage more serious shooters to move up to the 7D.  Buy the 60D if video is your thing and/or you want an excellent still shot camera but don’t need the weather sealing, more rugged body and larger still fps and buffer of the 7D.  | Preorder  from Amazon

Nikon D7000 – Not officially announced yet(9/15 expected) – Estimated $1399

Rumors say -

• ISO 100-12800 & 25,600
• 1080p 24fps, 720p 30/25/24 fps, 424p 24 fps
• 39 AF points
• 6-8 fps
• 100% viewfinder
• 3″ 920k pixel LCD

We only have rumors so far but the D7000 looks to be the likely sucessor of the D90 which was and still is an excellent camera.  Based on the specs in the D3100 the D7000 could be excellent, especially for video and high ISO.  Price will be similar to 60D.

Nikon D300s – Announced 7/09 – $1500 (body only)

• ISO 200-3200 & 6400
• 720p 24 fps
• 51 AF Points
• 7 fps
• 3″ 920k pixel LCD

The D300s is not a camera I have much experience with but on the photography side of things it is excellent – Nikon’s AF is fast and spot on, and although the high ISO maxes out at 6400 the quality of those higher ISO shots is exceptional.  On the video side only 720p at 24fps and suffers from the rolling shutter effect more so than Canon models.  Excellent handling and Nikon ergonomics. | Buy from Amazon

Canon 7D – Announced 11/2009 – $1500 (body only)

• ISO 100-6400 & 12800
• 1080p 30/25/24 fps, 720p 60/50 fps, 640 x 480 60/50 fps (zoom/crop mode)
• 19 AF points
• 8 fps
• 100% viewfinder
• 3″ 920k pixel LCD

The best DSLR under $2000 today.   Class leading high ISO performance, resolution and top notch controls. If you don’t need full frame or higher FPS than 8 this is the camera for you. Comparing the T2i and the 7D from a different perspective | Buy from Amazon

*Note – I didn’t include non video DSLRs in this post but if you are looking to learning photography and not videography there are loads of excellent cameras still on the market including the Canon XSi, Nikon D60 and others. Used or new these DSLRs still take excellent photos and allow you to learn about exposure, aperture, shutter speed, ISO and everything else that applies perfectly when you are ready to upgrade to a newer DSLR.

**Note – This guide is meant to be helpful but at the end of the day you should buy the body that works for you- the one that feels right in your hands.

If you have any questions I would be happy to answer – use the chat on the right or find me on twitter @camerarec

Buying from Amazon helps me to keep writing posts like this

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Find this post helpful? Buy the T2i or the 7D from Amazon

Why I am more certain than ever that I made the right decision in buying the 7D over the T2i

If you want to skip my mumbo jumbo about how I came to buy the 7D click here. Otherwise, read on.

With my new summer job as a wedding photographer assistant looming and a deep desire to upgrade from my trusty but very outdated Canon XT, this past April I found myself shopping for a shiny new DSLR.

Now, as much as I consider myself to be a very impulsive buyer, I do take my time to research and study my options when making a big purchase. I am, after all, a broke college student and I need to make the most of my very limited funds.

In an ideal world, I would have purchased the Canon 5DMKII, but this isn’t always an ideal world and I wanted to be realistic about what camera I could actually afford and how necessary its available features were. For one, I knew that I couldn’t afford anything above the 7D but I also felt like I needed to graduate from the Rebel line and move on to a much more serious and powerful camera. I read blog post after blog post and review after review that kept directing me towards the 550D (T2i) Reading the specs side by side for both cameras, it really did not seem like there was much of a difference. I didn’t know what I should do. What I really wanted was the 7D but at the same time I didn’t want to waste money on a camera that was “just as good” as the T2i.

In the back of my mind I wondered about the price difference. Surely Canon cannot be just trying to fool their customers out of $800. Yet all blogs I had looked at for a comparison had post after post comparing them almost equally and photo after photo proving that their low-light capacity was almost identical. One even claimed the T2i was better than the 7D at ISO 3200 and above.

After much consideration, and still very hesitant to do so, I decided to get the 7D. I figured if I expect to earn money taking photographs, then I should have more than just an entry-level camera. It is an investment, after all.

After four months of owning my 7D and having used the 550D, I can’t believe I was so close to choosing the latter. Ladies and gents, they are NOT as similar as the blogs portray them to be.

The Body

Before making your purchase, I suggest holding both cameras in your hands. Look at them, examine them. The 7D feels much stronger, rugged and durable whereas the T2i – while still a huge improvement over previous rebels – feels very light and small. Even in my tiny girl hands. Now, some people may prefer a smaller, lighter camera depending on frequency of use and needs but the bodies of these two cameras are very different, and the 7D without a doubt feels to be of much higher quality in that respect.

Controls and Ease of Use

This is another area in which the 7D is a very clear winner. I absolutely love the way the dials, displays and controls were designed on the 7D. The 7D offers users two displays to control settings (such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc…) One of the displays is located on top of the camera and users have the choice to display current settings on the main LCD display. The T2i only allows users to view their current settings through the main LCD display. Some may be OK with the main LCD as their display. I have tried it and I keep coming back to the smaller LCD at the top of my camera; I find that it helps me to be more efficient while shooting. I’ve also found that the scroll wheel on the back of the 7D is much, faster and easier to use as well as more efficient than the buttons on the T2i when browsing photos, changing shutter speed or focus points. I keep using the word “efficient” and this is because when photographing a wedding, efficiency is key in capturing moments.

Weather Seal

When I heard this at first, I laughed: “ummmm weather sealed?” That is silly and hardly worth much. I could probably take both cameras out during a misty day and they would be perfectly fine, right? sure. Now, would the T2i have survived being doused with a vase full of water? probably not. This is a true story, it happened to a friend of mine who accidentally doused his 7D with water and it survived. There is also the story of the photographer whose 7D burned up in a car accident. The camera may not have survived that but the memory card was left intact and at the end of the day equipment can be replaced but our data can’t. <a href=”http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=915740″>http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=915740</a>

Wireless Flash

To make beautiful portraits, you need beautiful light. While there are many who have mastered the use of natural light, a lot of us like to use off-camera flash for lighting our portraits. The 7D allows me to use an off camera flash without the need of cables or Pocket Wizards. Sure, it works much better indoors and it does not have the reach of a Pocket Wizard but for simple portraits of one or two people it does an excellent job and is very reliable.

Buffer and High Speed Shooting

In burst mode, my 7D takes about 30 (+/- 1) frames before there is a lag and the camera needs to buffer.

In burst mode, the T2i takes about 5 frames before there is a lag and the camera needs to buffer.

In high speed mode my 7D takes 21 frames before there is a lag (+/- 1) before there is a lag

In high speed mode the T2i takes – wait, what high-speed mode?

Battery and Charger

Some people may find this very trivial, and it may be. To me, every part of my camera – even the charger – is important. The battery is the heart of a camera, it is what gives the camera its power to function; it needs to be reliable. When I saw the battery that came with the T2i, it reminded me of the batteries that come with point and shoot cameras: Flat, rectangular and not very durable. I have gone through 8-hour days of shooting without having to replace my 7D battery, try that with the T2i.

The 7D battery is rated to up to 800 shots and the T2i is rated to 550, this is a pretty huge difference. The 7D also seems to be better at reporting the life of the battery as it is being used and charged. Let’s not forget that the battery for the 7D LP-E6 has an intelligent chip that tells it to stop charging once full, this gives the battery an overall longer life span, so you will not find yourself replacing these batteries that often. The T2i battery does not have this feature.

Conclusion

It is true that I am in a deep, loving relationship with my 7D. It cost me an arm and a leg but it was worth every penny. That being said, this camera is not for everyone and my opinions in this post are just that: opinions from an experienced user. Both of the cameras described in this article produce excellent and high-quality images. Notice that I didn’t talk about the sensor at all because that is not quite as important to me as are the rest of the features for which the 7D surpasses the T2i. Cameras do not take good pictures, people do. So depending on how serious you are about photography, make an educated decision about which of these to buy. If you are an amateur or hobbyist or have never owned a DSLR, you should get the T2i. If you are considering going pro, and are looking to upgrade, maybe you should get the 7D. The best way to find out which is right for you is to try each one out, as I said before go to a local retailer and hold both cameras in your hands. Just don’t think that these two cameras are as similar to each other as the internet says they are, they’re not.

I hope this article helped. Happy shooting!

Find this post helpful? Buy the T2i or the 7D from Amazon

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Comparing Three Popular DSLRS in the $800 – $1800 Range

Canon T2i – $899, Body only $799 | 18MP | 1080p @ 30fps | 29min 59 sec or 4GB movie clip limits |  9 point focus | 3.7 fps| 95% Pentamirror | 3″  1,040,000 pixels LCD | 18.7 ounces

My thoughts: offers all the video capabilities of the 7D at ~$800 less, SD Card memory(cheaper than the compact flash used by 7D), smaller/lighter body (some may not like the feel).  You lose the faster FPS of the 7D, the more precise AF abilities of 7D, and D90, the wireless flash control and a highly customizable control scheme.  Bottom line – this is more than enough camera for most folks. If you are primarily looking for a video camera I see little to no reason to buy the 7D over the T2i.  Put the dollars you save buying the T2i toward a nice lens. Note: as of May 04 the T2i is out of stock on Amazon and most reputable resellers so there is a bit of price gouging happening.

DPReview says: 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. (April, 2010)

Canon 7D – Body only $1599 | 18MP | 1080p @30fps | 29min 59 sec or 4GB movie clip limits |  19 point focus | 8.0 fps | 100% Pentaprism | 3″  920,000 pixels LCD | 28.9 ounces

Offers excellent ergonomics in weatherized body and control scheme that is highly customizable, external mic port for high quality sound, wireless flash control (allows remote triggering of 430ex and 580ex flashes), bright viewfinder(absolute pleasure to look through) with 100% coverage, battery life is approx 1000 shots

My thoughts: if you are making money from photography gigs, especially ones where you plan to use off camera flashes or are shooting sports and need the faster FPS you should consider  this camera, it is a stellar camera but it is hefty and solid and most folks reading this would be better off buying T2i and putting the savings toward lenses.

DPReview says: It offers excellent image quality in all shooting situations and an impressive speed of operation, combined with very good build quality and ergonomics. Both its specification and the results of our testing make it a very easy recommendation. (November, 2009)

Nikon D90 – w/ 18-105 lens $1021, Body only $749 | 12.3MP | 720 @ 24fps | 5min clip limits | 11 point focus | 4.5FPS | 96% pentaprism | 3″  920,000 pixels LCD | 21.8 ounces

My Thoughts: The D90 is an excellent photographic camera and the body only price is an amazing value. If you already have Nikon lenses it is a no brainer of an upgrade.  The build quality and ergonomics sits between the T21 and the 7D.  Where the D90 falters is video, Video is max 720 resolution, no external mic port, clips are limited to 5 minutes (which isn’t as bad as you might think) and video suffers from the jelly effect (straight lines look wavy when the camera is in motion) more than the T2i or 7D

DPReview says: After using and testing the D90 extensively, it’s hard to think of a better enthusiast-level camera. (October, 2008)

Which one should you get?

T2i unless you have specific and justifiable reasons for the 7D. D90 if you have Nikon lenses or have friends/family with nikon lenses you can borrow.

Want cheaper options? Read my Short/Sweet DSLR Guide

Need some lens recomendations? Read My Canon Lens Guide | Nikon Lens Guide [coming soon]

Feel free to leave comments or your thoughts.

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Short & sweet overview of the popular DSLRS and which might be best for you . Some of these recommendations are based on prices that fluctuate daily, check in with me @camerarec to get my absolute latest recommendations. All prices in US dollars.

The very short & sweet guide-

My Recs [Budget = Nikon D3100,  $800-$1000 = Canon T2i,  $1000-$1500 = D90,  Above $1500 = 7D] Updated August 19 2010

Slightly longer short & sweet guide-

Budget (< $700)

Best of the bunch: Nikon D3100

Cheaper but without video functions
Buy an XS/1000D – 10 MP megapixels, Live View, 3″ LCD with 230K resolution (~$450)

A benefit to buying the XS- you can autofocus with a cheap but good lens like the 50mm f/1.8 (~$90)which gives you nice lower light performance and depth of field control. If you buy the D3100 the cheapest lens that will give you the same ability/control is several hundred dollars more. It might not ever matter to you, you may be happy using the lens that camera comes with, and there are plenty of other lenses that will work with the D3100, but you should be aware. Feel free to ask me follow up questions on this, it can be confusing and intimidating trying to figure out what lens will do what for you.

Buy A D3100 14MP, 1080P video @ 24 FPS, very user friendly with guide mode and full time auto focus in video mode, Very high ISO = good low light performance (~$700)

NOTE: if you buy a D40/D60/D3000/D3100/D5000 you need to look at my list of compatible(will auto-focus) lenses Some of the cheaper lenses will not autofocus on this camera and for some that is a reason to buy the XS.

$700 – $1000

Best of the bunch: Canon’s T2i Fantastic camera, noise levels are low and the video and image quality is excellent, on par with the significantly more expensive 7D.

Canon T1i – Solid 15MP camera with decent HD Video, Hi-res LCD screen, excellent button placement and control scheme (~$720)

Canon T2i, Offers excellent HD video, 3″ 920K , 18MP ( (~$899)

Alternate choice the Nikon D5000 -Slightly Better in low-light, HD video not as smooth as T1i but does have articulating LCD screen, I just wish it was higher resolution, the LCD is a 1/3 of the resolution of the T1i. (~$650) See my note above about compatible autofocusing lenses. UPDATE 8/19/10 I see little reason to buy the D5000 over the D3100. The only advantage the D5000 has is the articulating LCD screen, but you would be sacrificing better image quality/more MP to get it and the D3100 has 1080P video @ 24fps, D5000 video tops out at 720 and does not offer the new full time autofocus in video mode of the D3100

$1000 – $1500

Best of the bunch:  If interested in Video step back to the T2i | If you plan to only shoot stills or primarily stills the D90 is still an excellent value.

Buy a D90 excellent low-light performance, HD video(limited to 5 min clips), gorgeous LCD & viewfinder along with built in wireless flash capabilities at just about $1000 – This is best camera you can buy under $1500. More about why I love the D90 The D90 body only is now $779, this is an excellent price and up until the announcement of the T2i was the best value DSLR under $1500.  Now the T2i shoots MUCH better video, Better LCD, 18MP vs 12MP in the D90.  D90 advantages are in build, viewfinder is bigger/brighter,  built-in wireless flash control and a kit lens with more range 18-105 vs 18-55 with T2i.

50D Solid 15MP gives you access to all of Canon’s lenses but no HDvideo and no built in wireless flash (~$1130) I see very little reason to buy the 50D at this point.  The T2i beats it in almost all features except build and and possibly ergonomics but that depends on how it feels to you.  60D has been announced – see how it stacks up – 60D vs T2i vs 7D

> $1500

Canon’s 7D 18MP, 100% viewfinder, Dual DIGIC 4 and new AutoFocus are great.  Stellar HDvideo. Reviews have been very positive. Not Full Frame but not everyone needs that. More here (~$1899)

Buy a D300s12MP w/ 18-200mm VR II Lens – Not full frame but excellent quality, low-light performance and video in a much more affordable package (~$2500 w/ very nice 18-200 lens) (~$1800 body only)

Alternate Buy a 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens – Gorgeous giant images and jaw dropping HD video (~$3000)

If you buy a Canon take a moment to look at my recommended lens list and if you have any questions please find me on twitter @camerarec

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