Using the same image sensor as the larger and pricier ($1,099, body only) Canon EOS 50D, the T1i measures a smallish 3.8 by 5.1 by 2.4 inches (HWD). The camera feels sturdy; the body weighs 1.6 pounds with its lens, and 1.1 pounds without. The build and button layout is nearly identical to that of the entry-level Rebel XSi. Though the T1i's grip and button/dial layout was thoughtfully designed, I prefer the feel of the competing Nikon D5000 ($729, body only). Its buttons are larger and are mounted at a slight angle, which makes them a bit easier to manipulate. And, overall, the D5000's body has a more comfortable, ergonomic feel to it in my smallish hands.
It's simple to navigate the T1i's menu system given its button setup, which is reminiscent of those on many point-and-shoot cameras. To the right of the screen, the Select button is flanked by Up, Down, Left, and Right buttons. The prosumer 50D uses the same UI, but there's a joystick and a scroll wheel that let you whiz through menus even more quickly. Still, I had no problem maneuvering, and the menus are straightforward, clean, and easy to understand.
The show stealer, though, is the stunning (and sprawling) 3-inch LCD, packing 920,000 pixels (VGA resolution), which results in razor-sharp images, menu text, and icons. The Nikon D5000's smaller 2.7-inch screen has only 230,00 pixels, and the difference is clearly visible when you compare the two. The D5000's screen, however, is mounted on a rotating arm—I wish Canon had added this functionality. But the T1i offers Live View; a dedicated button that turns the LCD screen into a viewfinder.
The speedy T1i can power up and snap off a picture in an average of 0.68 second, while the D5000 took a comparably lengthy 1.37 seconds on average. Once it's up and running, the T1i can shoot 3.4 frames per second at its maximum 15.1MP resolution. The D5000 shoots a little faster, at 4 fps (thought its resolution is only 12.3MP). The higher-endNikon D90 and the Canon 50D offer even more speed, with 4.5 and 6.3 fps, respectively.
I use the Imatest hardware/software suite to gauge image quality objectively in our photo lab. In my testing, I found that the T1i delivers stellar images in good lighting conditions, and there was no visible noise in photos taken in low-light situations. In fact, images looked spectacular and were on a par with those of the more-expensive Canon 50D, since both cameras use the same sensor. At lower ISOs (100, 200, and 400), the T1i captured 2,102, 2,079, and 2,035 lines per picture height, respectively. These numbers are very impressive and go hand in hand with mega-sharp images. To compare, the Nikon D5000, which uses the same sensor as the D90, was close, but not quite as sharp: At ISO 200 and 400, it captured an average of 1,778 and 1,743 lines, respectively. (The D5000 does not shoot at ISO 100). In lower-light situations (ISO 1600 and 3200), the T1i averaged 1,248 and 1,165 lines and was ever-so-slightly edged out by the D5000, which averaged 1,361 and 1,352 lines.
Outside the lab, the T1i was equally impressive. I spent an afternoon shooting my newborn cousin and his parents in the hospital. Given the sensitive eyes of newborns, the pediatric area maintains lighting that's somewhat dimmer than the norm, so most of shots were taken at ISO 1600. I was able to use the fast shutter speeds and face detection to capture split-second close-up expressions. The resulting photos were beautiful, and being able to switch back and forth between still and video modes quickly and easily in a single device was a pleasure. My only gripe was the limited zoom of the included lens. The 18-to-55mm lens provides roughly 3.7X optical zoom, another lens with a larger focal range would have provided the same close-ups without my having to get so close to my subjects. For those who want a lens with a greater zoom range, Canon sells a $799.99 body-only version of the T1i, which, like all Canon D-SLRs, uses the "Canon EF" lens mount compatible with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses.
High-definition (720p30) video capture looked marvelous, but those aiming to replace a dedicated camcorder should be aware that the T1i's video mode has its quirks. On the one hand, due to the large depth of field you get with a D-SLR, you can put your subject(s) in focus while leaving your foreground and/or background in soft focus. With very little effort, video comes out looking better than your average home movie. But recording video on the T1i isn't as easy as it is on a standalone video camera, since the T1i can't lock onto subjects and track them to keep them in focus. If the subject changes its distance from the camera, the image must be refocused. At least there's a dedicated Auto Focus button (with the D5000, autofocus is disabled in video mode). Unfortunately, though, in Auto Focus mode, the T1i's lens makes a loud noise that is captured in your recordings. Also, though audio captured in video mode sounds fine, the T1i offers no input for a separate microphone, as you might find on a camcorder. To be fair, most video-capable D-SLRs have similar issues.
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