anyone here use these models for shooting their wedding events? if yes, can you please share your experience (or show samples shot with it) on what you used it for. i shoot primarily with a 7D and was thinking of getting two T2i on tripod and slider. thanks

Hi Erwin, a lot of the wedding clip samples in the forum uses T2i as it is highly recommended camera that I reckon would perform almost as well as 7D but would perform even better with the Magic Lantern. I haven't seen T3i in action but i'm sure it's about the same deal.

Hi Erwin,

anyone here use these models for shooting their wedding events? if yes, can you please share your experience (or show samples shot with it) on what you used it for. i shoot primarily with a 7D and was thinking of getting two T2i on tripod and slider. thanks

All events in 2010 were with three T2i - very positive experience. The links in my signature lead to samples.

As mentioned before, the t2i with magic lantern should be the same experience you have had with the 7d, except now you have usable audio. I use them for the ceremony for extra reach.

With all the benefits of Magic Lantern, the t2i could very well be a better (and cheaper) option than the newer model.

If you're willing to try the hack, not only do you save a few bucks on each camera body comapred to the t3i, you also get proper audio levels during recording, (not just in standby), headphone monitoring through the AV jack, zebras, histogram, peaking and other exposure/focus aids, and an automatic restart function that will start recording agian after the 4bg clip limit is reached. There is also an option to switch off the LCD screen to save power and help minimise overheating. These last two features mean that it can now be used as an unmanned b-camera as well - so you can have perfectly matching footage from multiple t2i's to work with in post, all for the cost of one HMC150.

The only real benefit of the t3i would be the rotating screen.

Despit the fact that I love the footage they produce, for the last year I have been strongly opposed to using DSLR's for weddings. Now it looks like Magic Lantern, and the t2i's recent price drop, have made this camera one of the best wedding cameras out there, even for single shooters.

AFAIK video on the T2i/T3i is identical to the 7D. The only difference is the lack of color temperature control of white balance. So use a custom white balance.

The only real benefit of the t3i would be the rotating screen.

The major benefit is the 3X-10X zoom function. Which is huge for weddings and events. So with 1.6 crop and the zoom function a 70-200 becomes a 112-3200mm. (Though apparently over 5X the image gets soft, but still up to 1600mm.) I can finally stop thinking about the massive zoom range I've missed since retiring my XH-A1.

AFAIK video on the T2i/T3i is identical to the 7D. The only difference is the lack of color temperature control of white balance. So use a custom white balance.



The major benefit is the 3X-10X zoom function. Which is huge for weddings and events. So with 1.6 crop and the zoom function a 70-200 becomes a 112-3200mm. (Though apparently over 5X the image gets soft, but still up to 1600mm.) I can finally stop thinking about the massive zoom range I've missed since retiring my XH-A1.

The rotating viewfinder is a huge improvement. The viewfinder is the main reason I use my 60D over the T2i and 7D.

I don't mean to thread jack.. but im looking at renting another camera for my next wedding. Would u rather rent the t2i or 7d.. then use the money u saved on renting the t2i for a lens? Idk.. i just feel whenever i watch something thats filmed with a 7d the whole feel just seems better than the t2i. Maybe thats just me.

That's just you :)

The rotating viewfinder is a huge improvement. The viewfinder is the main reason I use my 60D over the T2i and 7D.

Yep but the zoom is a game changer. If it's already in the 60D then it's not even new.

I don't do wedding much, but last year I did one and I used the T2i with the 24-70 lens and It was great, I had the A1 and H1 with it, but I ended up using the T2i most the time here is the highlights.
Eric & Margaret Wedding Highlights (http://www.dragonflyproduction.net/rossoni/)

I don't mean to thread jack.. but im looking at renting another camera for my next wedding. Would u rather rent the t2i or 7d.. then use the money u saved on renting the t2i for a lens? Idk.. i just feel whenever i watch something thats filmed with a 7d the whole feel just seems better than the t2i. Maybe thats just me.

That could be because so many more videos online shot with the t2i are from amatuers as opposed to professionals who are more likely to own the 7d.

That could be because so many more videos online shot with the t2i are from amatuers as opposed to professionals who are more likely to own the 7d.
Ah yes that is a very good point!

I shot this with a t2i.

jd + erin on Vimeo

On a side note: does anybody used magic lantern? I'm scarred to use it...

Jeremy, I just start using magic lantern, it's not scary at all, it has a lot of great functions that you could use I only use one function and that is focus assist, another great one is the zebra function,
so you can pick and choose which functions that works for you and save the configuration and that will stay all the time and you do not have to do anything else after that.

I have been using three T2i on weddings. It's the same thing about the limitations...

1. bad audio
2. only 12 minutes at a time. Make sure you have more than 1 cam rolling.
3. prepare for lots of SD cards
4. need fast lens
5. indoor, ISO between 400-800 only. Anything over 800 is very noisy
6. prepare for overheating (that's why you need more than 1 cam)
7. Install battery grip to double battery life. It makes the T2i won't look much like a toy
8. Get LCD loupe. Otherwise, you will get lots of out focus shots you don't even know until it's too late
9. Install the focus ring gear for better control of focusing. I don't use follow focus but the gear helps a lot

I will update the list if I think of more later =)

I've been using my T2i with the Magic Lantern firmware from a developer named Alex who has been rapidly making changes that go way beyond the "official" ML firmware, even making changes on a daily basis. The features I love are the ability for the camera to restart after the 12 minute (4GB) limit combined with turning off the LCD screen. Now it becomes a lock-down camera that can record for over 80 minutes. Yes, there is a 2-3 second gap for each 12 minute restart, but you would get this issue if you were to manually restart. The LCD off is key to not overheating, otherwise the camera overheats at around 20 minutes.

Here is the latest build:
https://groups.google.com/d/msg/ml-devel/hQ7CaLyIPOs/5yhzpBgXyBoJ

Magic Lantern the t2i suddenly makes wedding work with DSLR's, even single handed, a very realistic possibility.

Apart from now having all the great exposure/focus assist options and imporved audio capabilites, they can now be used as b-cams un-manned, though I'd do a fair bit of testing on this before i started relying on them not to overheat, even when the LCD is switched off.

Forgive my ignorance on this & the 550D / T2i, but do you need Magic Lantern installed on all the cards with the card made bootable, or does Magic Lantern actually install on the camera? If it needs to be on all the cards, does it auto boot in to Magic Lantern or do you have to do the firmware update every time to turn it on?

Testing:
I've done a fair amount of testing to determine that it won't overheat for at least 80 minutes. However, this timeframe might be shorter when the humidity rises here in New England, which seems to make overheating worse. The reality is I'm not convinced that the trigger for the overheat indicator really has much meaning as the camera seems to work fine during this warning -- we'll see. But most wedding ceremonies are 20-40 minutes long. The ones that go longer are usually the full Catholic services where we can stop the recording during the Communion. Greek Orthodox can also run longer than 60 minutes. We are replacing a Panasonic HMC-150 for the unmanned back camera, which IMO, the image sucks when compared to that of the DSLR.

Usage:
Yes, in order to use ML every card that you put into the T2i must have the autoexec.bin file on it which is loaded everytime the camera is powered on. This boot load takes a few extra seconds than without ML. If the card doesn't have this file, then the camera will operate with just the normal firmware from Canon with no side effects. The only "permanent" thing to make this happen is a bit flag setting in the Canon firmware that tells it to load the autoexec.bin file on boot. This flag setting is reversible. If you place this card into a non-ML camera, that camera will operate normally (without ML). You just have to be sure NOT to format the card or else the autoexec.bin file will be removed and you will need to copy it again. Instead, either use the camera's "Erase Images" menu operation or delete the files via computer.

Unrelated to ML:
If you want a cheap way to be able to see the LCD when shooting at ground level, and you don't have the T3i or 60D swivel screen, just get this $39 prism viewfinder from Genus: Genus LCD Viewfinder GL GVISTA B&H Photo Video

Thanks. We're currently using 60D, 7D and 5D2 and I built an IR device to start stop them automatically, but it would be nice if the camera did this automatically itself. Even with a 1 second break, it would be acceptable and probably get around the European laws for continuous record!

Testing:
We are replacing a Panasonic HMC-150 for the unmanned back camera, which IMO, the image sucks when compared to that of the DSLR.

Something I can agree with 100%. We just sold all four of our HMC151s after starting to shoot DSLRs. Depth of field for longer lenses is an issue (e.g. f2.8 @ 200mm), but for wider shots it's no big deal at all. Interestingly, we always 'man' the rear camera and it's the front camera that has to be unmanned in a church (especially a small church), since they don't like you stood in front of the B+G. In civil weddings it's different, but varies from place to place.

Oh, I understand about front cam restrictions as well. Some of the stricter Catholic priests and some Jewish Rabbis don't want anyone up front, so an unmanned cam there is great as well. I just did a Jewish ceremony where this was the case, we all were required to stay 100 feet back, so I stuck the T2i with ML midway up the right aisle on a tripod right next to the loud speaker and the Rabbi didn't even notice it. It worked for 40 minutes flawlessly. But we still want an unmanned back cam for the safety shot because we reposition the other cams all the time. So we will sell the HMC and replace it with a 2nd T2i with ML. The HMC was just that, a safety shot that we would cringe when needed in the edit. Now we will have four usable cams -- you can never have too many angles.

......Now we will have four usable cams -- you can never have too many angles.

So true. I really don't know how these guys go about shooting with a single camera, especially if (as happens so often) you aren't allowed to move at all during the ceremony.

BTW - how long do the standard Canon batteries last (in terms of video record time) ? I just ordered a 550D to play with. Can any one recommend a good third party battery?

The Canon LP-E8 is $42 USD, but Pearstone makes an equivalent for $24 USD: Pearstone LP-E8 Lithium-Ion Battery Pack LP-E8 B&H Photo Video

I just ordered one so can't say how well it works. But I did use the Pearstone LP-E6 for my Canon 5D and it seemed to work the same as the Canon brand (and it works with the camera battery level indicator). Their chargers are not good though, so stay with Canon brand chargers.

As for battery life, I have the battery grip with two LP-E8 batteries and the T2i recorded for at least 80 minutes with the LCD off, so not sure how long 1 battery will last with LCD on.

We also offer Canon compatible LP-E8 battery and LC-E8 charger. Price is very competitive

LP-E8 Canon Compatible Li-Ion Battery | L.A. Color Online (http://lacoloronline.com/product/?LPE8-LP-E8-Canon-Compatible-Li-Ion-Battery)
LC-E8 Canon Compatible Charger for LP-E8 Battery | L.A. Color Online (http://lacoloronline.com/product/?LCE8-LC-E8-Canon-Compatible-Charger-for-LP-E8-Battery)