The following is a 100% authentic, 100% honest review. I was not provided complimentary product or other compensation in any way for this review.
The increase in popularity of “pro-sumer” single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras has lead to an explosion in the market in the past five years or so. Both amateurs and pros are looking for a wide spectrum of features and control in their digital cameras. To meet this need an SLR camera will definitely serve the purpose and typically fit the budget. Such cameras come with advanced qualities that are important for experienced shooters but user-friendly enough for beginners as well. One such camera is Canon EOS Rebel T3i.
For the price point of the Canon EOS Rebel T3i, the unit is definitely a solid choice for people who are interested in mixing high-definition video with still photography. It is a good choice for any still shooters looking for a camera with better performance than a typical point-and-shoot. However, the camera is known to be better for videophiles than those who are interested in pure still shooting.
Picture Quality of the Rebel T3i
The Canon EOS Rebel T3i has a good noise profile that can be compared to that sported by the 60D model. This is to say that the T3i does not compromise on still photos in favor of videos. JPEG images the camera produces are very clean AT ISO 400 and even ISO 800. You will have to do some extra scrutiny of the images to find the beginnings of degradation detail. However, at ISO 1600, the noise on T3i photos becomes quite obvious although it is not too bad compared to the camera’s peers.
Rebel T3i Performance
The performance of the Canon EOS Rebel T3i is fast although in some cases not as fast as you would expect it to do compared to previous models. On powering it on, it focuses and takes a shot in roughly 0.3 second. In good lighting, it has a 0.3-second lag while in dim lighting, the camera lags for about 0.6 second. When shooting JPEG photos, the lag between back-to-back shots is about 0.4 second, which is a good speed for any good shooter.
When it comes to video, the Canon EOS Rebel T3i shows a little bit of moiré although not much rolling shutter. Moving edges will look quite sharp with Canon EOS Rebel T3i. At the highest performance, the camera has a bit rate that averages at about 45 Mbps. It also has some great controls for tuning such as highlight tone priority, a wind filter, 64-level sound tuners and so on.
Summary
Strengths: The Canon EOS Rebel T3i produces excellent video and image quality and proves to have great video capabilities.
Weaknesses: The controls of the camera are a bit frustrating especially when you shoot video and still photos. T3i is also not fast enough for burst shooting pets, kids and sports. You will definitely miss some important shots with this camera.
Conclusion: For the price (which is about $579), the Canon EOS Rebel T3i is a good choice of a camera for any videographer, although going for the earlier models especially the T2i would still do if you do if you don’t have the need for articulated LCD. For still shooters who want something creative, the T3i will suffice.
