Just the specs lined up side by side.   Detailed thoughts on each coming soon. But for now I will say that As a primarily still shooter using a camera to make money the 7D is still the DX champ.  If you are primarily a still shooter hobbyist the T2i is an excellent value but if video is more your thing the 60D with articulating LCD, Manual exposure and manual audio settings looks to be an excellent options.

Stats	550D / T2i	60D	7D
Price	• Body only: $799 | Buy at Amazon	• Body only: $1099 |	• Body only: ~$1550 | Buy at Amazon
Construction	Stainless Steel and polycarbonate resin with glass fiber	Polycarbonate resin with glass fibre on aluminum chassis	Magnesium alloy body, Weather Sealed
Sensor	• 18.7 million effective pixels • 18.0 million total pixels • 22.3 x 14.9 mm CMOS sensor • RGB Color Filter Array • Built-in low-pass filter with self cleaning unit
Processor	DIGIC 4	DIGIC 4	Dual DIGIC 4
ISO range	• Auto (100 – 6400 *) • H1 expansion (ISO 12800 equiv.) • Highlight tone priority	• Auto ISO (100-3200) • ISO 100-6400 in 0.3 or 1.0 EV increments • H (12800) expansion • Adjustable Auto ISO limit	• Auto ISO (100-3200) • ISO 100-6400 in 0.3 or 1.0 EV increments • H (12800) expansion
Movie resolution	• 1920 x 1080 (1080P, 16:9) @ 30/25/24 fps • 1280 x 720 (720P, 16:9) @ 60/50 fps • 640 x 480 (4:3) @ 60/50 fps	• 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps) • 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps) • 640 x 480 (59.94, 50 fps)	• 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps) • 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps) • 640 x 480 (59.94, 50 fps)
AF sensor	• 9-point CMOS sensor • F5.6 cross-type at center, extra sensitivity at F2.8 • AF working range: -0.5 to 18 EV (at 23°C, ISO 100)	• 9 cross-type AF points (f/2.8 at center) • Center point additionally sensitive with lenses of F2.8 or faster • AF working range: -0.5 – 18 EV (at 23°C, ISO 100)	• 19 cross-type AF points (f/2.8 at center) • Center point additionally sensitive with lenses of F2.8 or faster • AF working range: -0.5 – 18 EV (at 23°C, ISO 100)
Metering sensor	• TTL 63-zone SPC • Metering range: EV 1.0 – 20 EV	• TTL full aperture metering with 63 zone Dual Layer (iFCL) • Metering range: EV 1 – 20 EV	• TTL full aperture metering with 63 zone Dual Layer SPC • Metering range: EV 1 – 20 EV
Viewfinder	• Pentamirror • 95% frame coverage • Magnification: 0.87x (-1 diopter with 50 mm lens at infinity) • Eyepoint: 19 mm	• Eye-level pentaprism • 96% frame coverage • Magnification: 0.95x • Eyepoint: 22 mm	• Eye-level pentaprism • 100% frame coverage • Approx. 1.0x magnification • Eyepoint: 22 mm
LCD panel	• 3.0″ 3:2 TFT LCD • 1040,000 pixels	• 3.0 ” TFT LCD • 1040,000 dots (3:2) • Articulated	• 3.0 ” TFT LCD • 920,000 dots (4:3)
Continuous shooting buffer	• Continuous: 3.7 fps • Up to 34 Large/Fine JPEG / 6 RAW frames	• Approx. 5.3 fps • Up to 58 JPEGs, 16 images (RAW)	• Approx. 8 fps • Up to 126 JPEGs (with UDMA card), 15 images (RAW)
Memory format	• SD / SDHC card / SDXC card	• SD / SDHC / SDXC	• Compact Flash (I, II and UDMA)
Dimensions	129 x 98 x 75 mm (5.1 x 3.9 x 2.9 in)	145 x 106 x 79 mm (5.7 x 4.2 x 3.1 in)	148 x 111 x 74 mm (5.8 x 4.3 x 2.8 in)
Weight (inc battery)	530 g (1.17 lb)	755 g (1.6 lb)	904 g (2.0 lb)

Added Sept 3rd – Engadget has a hands-on video

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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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