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Panoramas, summit shots, trailhead embarkations, sunsets, and battlewounds — the photographic proof is a requisite for any grandadventure. As such, I rarely under-pack in the camera department. Formore than a decade, starting with a Pentax K1000 camera and thenmoving up to a Canon digital SLR, I have hauled lenses and bulkycamera bodies to literal ends of the earth.
The latest camera in the line, Canon's Rebel T2i, is a vast upgradefrom my former photographic companions. Released this spring, thedigital single-lens-reflex (SLR) camera offers 18 megapixels ofresolution and HD-video capability.
Increased sensitivity and high ISO settings are great for low-lightphotography. The camera can shoot in full-manual mode. Or, conversely,when I want to go on autopilot, the T2i has a litany of presetfunctions and modes to help maximize a picture in almost anysituation.
At $799.99 retail for the T2i camera body, it is a relative bargain. Ican use my existing Canon lenses on the T2i, as the camera iscompatible with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses.
The video mode alone makes the T2i stand out. Its HD-video capability,at 1920 x 1080 resolution, lets you shoot film-like segments. I havehad fun shooting short videos with a 50mm lens. A wide aperture allowsfor beautiful, cinematic-like footage that has depth of field to keepthe subject matter sharp and the background pleasantly blurred.
As with any SLR camera, the T2i can be a pain to manage in theoutdoors and during activities. But the T2i is among the moremanageable SLRs on the market. It measures about 5 x 4 x 3 inches, andit weighs about 18 ounces with no lens attached. Compared to my 20Dcamera, the T2i is noticeably smaller and lighter weight.
The T2i does lack several pro-level features, including super-fastshutter speeds and the kind of frames-per-second capture as seen onCanon's higher-end models. It has no wireless flash option.
But for me, and for most intermediate to advanced photographers, theT2i has just about everything needed. The bright, three-inch-wide LCDmonitor on back gives a quick and accurate preview. A fast peek and Iknow if the T2i got me the vista, summit photo, or action shot I needto bring home and prove I was there.
–Stephen Regenold is founder and editor of .