subject: Review Canon T2i 18 135mm IS Kit [print this page] I'm 15 years old and this is my first SLR camera. I was disappointed after one week when the shutter malfunctioned and I had to send it to the Canon Factory for repair, but since then, there have been no problems. The customer service rep on the phone was not very knowledgeable about the T2i, but the repair techs at the factory fixed it quickly and I had it back in less than one week. I'm having a blast taking lots of different kinds of photographs and look forward to years of fun with this camera. Really glad I saved my money and purchased it with the upgraded lens!
Too often camera reviewers insist their initial dslr purchase is a transformative event. "I couldn't believe the pictures I got from (fill in the blank)." Having used an Olympus point and shoot for years, I was seduced by those claims. My pictures were good, but imagine what they would be like if I used (fill in the blank). I wanted my pictures to look like the ones in the magazines. And, based on the reviews I read, I would get that quality if I purchased a dslr.
After exhaustive research, I finally settled on the T2i. Initially, I was hesitant about buying a Canon or Nikon, assuming that the hype about their quality was a direct result of their advertising budget. But the press for the T2i was overwhelmingly positive, and I decided all of those reviewers couldn't have been bought off.
So once the camera arrived, I took it out for a test shoot. Since I am a neophyte, I initially set the camera on automatic. The first thing I discovered was discouraging. Canon makes a big deal about the three-inch lcd and how many pixels there are so you can consult it in any kind of weather. And the display is beautiful indoors. But out in the sun... uh, uh, it is worthless. I had to duck into the shade to see anything. So if you are an advanced photographer and want to adjust your settings shot by shot, either bring an umbrella or find some shade. Otherwise you will be shooting blind.
Now, as for the quality of the pictures taken on automatic, I was stunned all right. But not in a good way. They were no better than my Olympus (the 5060 if you are wondering) and not very sharp. I know that is heresy, but that is my honest opinion.
I had previously bought Amazon's highest rated general dslr guide -- a three-book set -- and consulted it. The author advised shooting in an advanced mode and to shoot at f/8, in his words the camera's sweet spot. And I saw an immediate improvement. Not that the shots were magazine quality, but I assumed that was because of my inexperience in setting the camera properly.
But then I called Canon customer service (which, by the way, is superb) with a question and mentioned to the guy that I was underwhelmed by my pictures. And he explained that the camera could only do so much. A key to great pictures is the lens. He pointed out that while I had purchased the camera with an upgraded 18mm to 135mm lens, the quality still was not comparable to an L lens, which is Canon's professional lens.
Well, that clarified things for me. Unless I wanted to invest another thousand bucks or more on an L lens, I had no hope of consistently getting top quality shots. Presumably, I could stumble into one by accident, but that was all I could hope for.
But after lowering my expectations, I have begun to really enjoy this camera. Having tentatively moved to the advanced mode (I even adjust some other settings manually,) I have been pleased with the pictures I have been getting. And I am really glad I upgraded to the 18-135mm because it allows me the versatility I want without needing to change lenses.
Bottom line: if you have more modest expectations going in (your friends will not ooh and ahh at your pictures, and you will not see them in National Geographic) you will really enjoy this camera.
