According to the jap. Canon Site the T2i (Kiss X4) output 1080i while recording:
jap. Canon Website|EOS MOVIE (http://cweb.canon.jp/camera/eosd/eosmovie/comparison/index.html)

But in the english handbook on page 136 is the following passage:
"If connect the camera to a TV Set with a hdmi cable an shoot a movie in [1920*1080] or [1280*720], the movie being shoot will be displayed at a small size of TV."

That sounds for me that the Output drop like the 5D II to 576p / 480p while recording.


Please can any one of the owners of the new T2i check this out.
I think that is not only for me a critical function by the choise between the 7D and T2i.


Thank you
Daniel

The Canon DSLR's will output a 480 signal while recording. This is due to the EU tariff issue.

I am 99% sure the 7d still outputs 1080 via HDMI, even when recording. Initially the display is small and surround by menu items but if you hit the info button it toggles to fuill screen mode, 1080 output. At least "my" 7d is like this.

The Canon DSLR's will output a 480 signal while recording. This is due to the EU tariff issue.

This is incorrect - the 7D definitly and in think the 1D IV also output 1080i during recording.


sorry
Daniel

According to the PDF of the 550D manual the HDMI output display format can be changed to suit the TV resolution by pressing DISP.

Now what this actually means in real terms i wouldn't mind finding out!

I seem to remember that initially the buffer size on the 5D was too small for a full 1080 image anyway, it was something like 540 vertical, which would explain 1080i. But does it output a full 1080 over two fields?

cheers
paul

The Magic Lantern custom firmware enabled 1080i output on the 5D while recording. So it was not less capable than the other Canon DSLRs.

Unfortunately, Tramm claims that he's had some reliability/quality issues when doing 1080i. My guess is that with access to the source code, one could get 1080i to work without bugs through efficiency improvements. Tramm doesn't have access to the source code or all the DSP details.

I have read all the posts and need to know the same thing.

Can the T2i feed HD signal out the HDMI port to an external HD monitor while recording
HD video ?

My T2i will be here Tuesday the 2nd Mar, then I will know for sure. I need to hook it up to my SmallHD DP1. If I can't, it's going back to Amazon for a 7D.

I will test this with Matrox MXO2.

Kaku , Thanks , I look forward to your test results.

It does output at 1080 but it's windowed. Not a clean output. The signal become 1080 then it shows look around area that is vertically lessens the size then the sides are reduce to go even with the ratio. Also, if you stay in the manual mode, the zoom box stays on the screen.

When you connect HDMI, the onboard LCD gets turned off, so then you have to deal with terribly slow monitoring on the external monitor.

Also, when you turn it to the playback mode, the signal is ALMOST clean and displays the whole 1080, but the clip length remains on the output and I can't seem to find the way to turn it off.

AND, as you turn on the video REC, it turns off the HDMI output.

@Kaku Ito:

I have a few questions:

- What mean you with "terribly slow monitoring on the external monitor"?

- "It does output at 1080 but it's windowed" You can not changed this by pressing the display button?

- Absolute no signal over HDMI during recording? (according to handbook it must possible)


????


Daniel

That sounds like what it looks like when viewing video feed from a Canon XHA1 into Final Cut Pro on a Mac. Delayed video, just by a few frames, but enough to drive you crazy.

We need a test into a regular HD monitor, maybe that is different? I hope!

On the monitoring while recording part, I didn't do justice to the original question of the thread, I shifted the topic toward recording on external route, so let me fix that. It was just before I went to bed (way after the bed time) so it was too sketchy. Sorry.

I connected the TVLogic XVM-245W via HIDMI and it did output video while recording. It goes to blank a short while when you press the record button, but it comes back. And the latency in displaying was as normal latency as what you expect.

On the Windowed question, the display button will change only between three ways, this windowed style, with shutter speed/exposure/ISO, and one more with more information.

I connected the TVLogic XVM-245W via HIDMI and it did output video while recording.
That's a relief!

woooooohooooooooooo! Now I am regretting my choice to not have the camera shipped overnight! ARRRRRRRRRGH! At least it'll be here Monday!

Robert Turchick, let me know how it looks on your DP1 monitor , if you would, you get your T2i a day before me! Drats.............

will do! now I just have to save up some money for a follow focus!

Today, I bought a hoodman magnifier and worked our pretty nice. I have to think of better way to mount it though.

Tomorrow Hoodman is said to be releasing a new eyecup and magnifier for the HoodLoupe. I plan to buy it immediately. The stock HoodLoupe lets in stray light. Also, the view gets soft if your eye gets off center. The new eyecup and magnifier should make the Hoodloupe more competitive with the Z-Finder.

For mounting, RedRock Micro sells a holder for $55 that is solid:
microFinder loupe accessory kit (http://shopping.netsuite.com/s.nl/c.472981/it.A/id.1012/.f)

The only downside is that it's not quick and easy to remove it. This isn't a problem if you use a field monitor, but is a problem if you want to go from a shoulder configuration to using the LCD on some other setup. Or if you want to use the optical viewfinder like a normal camera. But if you own a field monitor, this mount is the way to go.

I purchased an LCD screen/shade from Hong Kong. (I'm not sure if this was the seller.)
LCD Pop-Up Screen Hood Shade Cover for CANON 5D Mark II - eBay (item 280461556924 end time Mar-07-10 22:59:52 PST) (http://cgi.ebay.com/LCD-Pop-Up-Screen-Hood-Shade-Cover-for-CANON-5D-Mark-II_W0QQitemZ280461556924QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDigital_Camera_Accessories?hash=item414ccfbcbc)

I applied velcro to mount it, but it's not very rugged. The velcro adhesive has started to come loose.

Jon, where did you hear about the new eyecup? I have the Hoodman with the HoodEye 3.0 and it works pretty well. For magnification I use a pair of +3.00 reading glasses.

I tried the velcro approach to attach the loupe to the LCD frame like you did but found that Loctite UltraGel super glue works much more securely.

It appears that the T2i uses the same viewfinder as the T1i, so I'm hoping I can just clip-on the Hoodman/LCD frame to my T2i when it arrives tomorrow.

Here's the info...

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-eos-5d-mk-ii-hd/473238-best-accesory-400-a-2.html

Jon, thanks for the information!

Getting back to the HDMI output, is this usable 1080 footage? I'm gathering that it is 1080-i and not 1080-p? Is there some sort of cropping going on? This camera is tempting, especially given the price point, but I shoot a lot of theater currently and the shooting time limits make it a bit iffy for me. Capturing to an external drive would be nice, though from what I understand the camera can/will overheat after a time anyway, true?

I found a 23" Philips monitor, 1920x1080p, hdmi, the whole nine, for around $230 new. Wouldn't this make a good accessory for your dSLR since those small LCDs are almost 5 times more expensive?

Surely they wouldn't be as practical as those small ones so they're not for all situations, but if you film something indoors, wouldn't this be a much better solution?

I think this or another cheap Full HD computer monitor for indoor and narrative film works great (for focus and framing) and can used as second monitor for postpro.

Have think in the same direction but for me a dp1 will be a must. ;)


Daniel

7D vs. T2i Comparison Video on Vimeo

According the latest update in the text from DSLRinformer the T2i will output 480p during recording.

Go to vimeo to read that - the info is not in the clip.


Hope that is not true.


Daniel

I can confirm that. Just hooked up my SmallHD which tells you what you're viewing. in LiveView mode, it's 1080i and once record is hit, the monitor says 480p. I still found it easier to focus on the SmallHD than the LCD on camera. bit of a disappointment but still very useable.

I found a 23" Philips monitor, 1920x1080p, hdmi, the whole nine, for around $230 new. Wouldn't this make a good accessory for your dSLR since those small LCDs are almost 5 times more expensive?
You can get a brand new Acer 23" 1080p monitor for $180 shipped from SuperBiiz.com. There's a 21.5" version (also 1080p) that's just $170 shipped. Both have HDMI inputs.

I have an Acer 23" monitor and it's great for a computer monitor and for reviewing clips from the camera. However, you can't use it as a monitor when recording on all Canon DvSLRs. It doesn't switch to 480 mode and locks up the 5D2.

Interesting. I wonder which or how many other monitors suffer from that issue.

... bit of a disappointment but still very useable.

You think also usefull for follow focus things?

PS: I think if you set the camera on pal it will output a 576p signal.


Daniel

"PS: I think if you set the camera on pal it will output a 576p signal."

i wish it could record in 720x576 (16x9).

Can you have an external monitor and the LCD-display running at the same time? One for the operator and one for the focus puller?

No. The camera's LCD display panel is automatically turned off when cabling out via A/V or HDMI. There is no way around this that I'm aware of.

I had a similar thing happen with my HMC-150, needed to output to two monitors and the HDMI and component outs cancel each other. I got around this using an HDMI splitter from Kanex for $80. You will be locked into sending the 480p to both monitors though.

You think also usefull for follow focus things?

PS: I think if you set the camera on pal it will output a 576p signal.

Yes I think it's fine for follow focus.

just tested my friends T2I - connected it to my LCD (PC) monitor via HDMI, and my monitor kept flashing black, then blue when I hit record (doesn't do this with 7D). I can only assume that it's doing this because it doesn't support the low resolution output of T2I (when recording). So under that assumption, I connected it to my SmallHD monitor - it worked, but at a very low resolution.

Much more difficult to determine focus IMO. I think most T2I users are better off pulling focus with the camera's LCD.

Here's some interesting info:

Canon T2i/550D HDMI Output Footages (http://blog.jayfriesen.com/2010/03/canon-t2i550d-hdmi-output-footages/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+JayFriesenBlog+%28Jay+Friesen%27s+Blog%29)

Compare these two images (click to embiggen). The first is the live HDMI output. Hopefully you can see how it's slightly windowed, plus there's the red recording icon. The second is the actual HDMI playback, which fills the screen as you'd expect. The overall wonkiness is due to the wide-angle lens of my little point & shoot digicam.

Still, do you guys think there's a big chance a Magic Lantern hack for the T2i will emerge soon and enables HD-output during record?

It won't be soon. Tramm is focusing 100% on the new 5D2 2.0.4 firmware. After that, I believe that the 7D would be the next most likely. I have no idea if he even has a 550D/T2i right now, though he does have a 7D.

I have an Acer 23" monitor and it's great for a computer monitor and for reviewing clips from the camera. However, you can't use it as a monitor when recording on all Canon DvSLRs. It doesn't switch to 480 mode and locks up the 5D2.

Yeah, I can confirm this. My Acer 23" does not play nice with my T2i via Mini-HDMI. When I hit record on the camera the monitor goes blank and the camera freezes up. Nothing is recorded.

First post and someone who is about to buy a 550d, this thread made me curious.

Is there any reason that you cannot capture the 1080i live view output?

edit: one more related question, is there any possible way of viewing the 550d hdmi output wirelessly? ie if its running along a cable or attached to an RC helicopter?

"Is there any reason that you cannot capture the 1080i live view output?"
if you speak about 5D or t2i, the answer is easy. There is no such output. The live output is not 1080i.
if you need to capture the video for remote monitoring, you can get the composite output and feed anything (cable, emitter) that fit your need.