OK, so another cam is in my near future. Sigh. For the life of me, I cannot find a thread that answers if these two go together, but I'm guessing this has been answered before. Any-who...can anyone enlighten me on whether or not to stay with another 60D as second cam for weddings, video bios, music videos or if the T2i will cut it. Will I be able to match in FCP 7? Do I have to down-res the 60D to match the T2i? Will the colors match, low light...is ISO the same? I've seen some reviews that say it's hard to adjust white balance on the T2i-is this true? I will need to have fast, quick access. Will the learning curve be too much to learn the T2i? I've already smashed my brain to full with learning my 60D...I ain't no spring chicken! This stuff doesn't come as quickly to me as it used to!

It would be so nice if this combo could work, as the cost of T2i+lens = 60D+no lens. But, if it means hours and hours more of me finagling in post to get them to match, and missed shots because I'm fussing with too many deep menu settings, then it may not be worth the few extra hundred buckaroos.

Thanks for any input.

The videoquality between the 60D and T2I is identical, the biggest difference is the lcd is fixed on the t2i and the location of the buttons is a bit different as well. Adjusting white balance on a t2i requires some steps, you can use the whitebalance presets if you need to set you wb quickly but I found that using a exposdisc gives me the best results (if time allows) Otherwise I just stick to the presets.

Do you have any footage of the two mixed? Or anyone else out there willing to share?

You may want to consider the T3i as well.

It is identical to the T2i but has an articulated screen just like the 60D and a usefull feature of 3X-10X digital zoom which is actually very usefull in the 3X-5X area (not so much above that though).

Both the T2i and the T3i have full stop ISO increments (100, 200, 400, and so on) and unfortunately they lack the less noisy 160, 320, 640 etc ISO settings.
Also they lack Kelvin WB. That's why they say it is hard to white balance. You can either use the presets (Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Tungsten, etc) or make a two step custom white balance where you take a picture of something that is supposed to be white and tell the camera to use that image to make a custom WB. It is the stupidest way to do a custom WB among all the digital cameras I've seen but you will have to live with that.

Of course you can use the famous Magic Lantern firmware and turn the T2i (T3i is not supported yet) into a fully featured professional video camera, solve the ISO and WB limitations and gain several other usefull features like auto rec resume, focus peaking, false colors and many many more . Check out the magic Lantern threads for more info.

However the T2i is suceptible to overheating while the T3i is expected to be equal to the 60D in that regard (i.e. will not overheat).

Image quality is absolutely identical between the 7D, 60D, T2i and T3i given you use exactly the same settings.

In a nutshell, if you have the money, go for another 60D. if money is tight and you can live with the few limitations or you are willing to install the ML firmware (no reason not to) go with the T2i. Middle of the road decision, the T3i.

I regularly mix 7d and t2i, the footage is VERY close, in fact, i tend to find that any diferences are down to different lenses.

Id bet if put the same lens on a 7d, 60d and t2i, match the setting (mafic lantern on t2i is HUGE help in this regard) that you woulndt be able to tell them apart.

All of the recent weddings on my vimeo page are 7d and t2i, i probably wouldnt be able to tell them apart if not for rememberng what each shot was from the day, looking back at the clips, 7d and t2i are virtually identical

James

Isn't Magic Lantern+t2i the same as the 60D price-wise? So, I may as well just get the 60D then, right? Not having the white balances match sounds sucky. I'm not the quickest button setter I'm discovering to deal with getting the right WB, shutter, ISO, f-stop, etc.

Was just outside practicing with my Glidecam HD-2000:
For outside shoots with the Glidecam+Tokina 11-16, is it okay to just have the ISO set to auto and then set the focus to infinity, right? Then I check out the meter and adjust shutter/f-stop to get it in the middle of the meter? Or is there a consensus that the 60D in video mode underexposes by 2 on the meter? Have others found this to be true? I've been reading by others that this is what they have found.

Canon t2i body only at BH = $699.00

Canon 60d body only at BH = $ 999.00

Canon T3i body only at BH = $ 849.00

Magic Lantern for T2i is free download.

Latest Magic Lantern has zebras and false colors to get right on exposure.

Magic Lantern is in development for 60D, and hopefully T3i.

Oh, okay...I thought I read on some site that ML was $200...well, that's good to know then. Hmm, that t2i is lookin mighty temptin. But, I wonder about the overheating issue. Some claim no issues at all, while others claim it's a real problem.

I have occasionally seen the overheat symbol. Two weeks ago I was shooting 60p for a film, and it came on. I finished the shot, and then I turned camera off for 5 minutes, while setting up next shot. Was fine and I didn't see it again that day. I shot a lot of 24p, and I am guessing I don't see it that much because of that.

Canon t2i body only at BH = $699.00


T2i @ Refurbished from Canon: $559.00

Canon Direct Store- EOS Rebel T2i Body Refurbished (http://shop.usa.canon.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_10051_10051_267071_-1)

At $559 refurbished it is hard to beat the T2i.

Actually you can get two of them for just a little more money than a single 60D.

If you are not going to shoot under the sun for over 30 mins you will probably not experience any overheating problems with it. If you do you will need a few minutes before it cools down and lets you shoot again.

Many people use the T2i for weddings and even though many of them have experience the overheating problem I've never heard of anyone saying that it really caused them trouble. If you are aware of the problem and prepared for it to happen you probably have a work around in hand.

OK, so now it's down to learning curve. My man's not too keen on my disappearing again for the next month learning yet another camera. I'm at a toss up though, because of the extended video record time on the t2i with ML. I could put the t2i up front and leave it facing the bride with my Tamron 17-50, right?

Only $549, huh? Wow.

Does the t2i take the same batteries and cards as 60D. I'm assuming it takes the lenses fine.

I'm seeing the t2i takes different batteries, and it looks like I won't be able to use the same SD cards, as the ones for the t2i will have magic lantern on them, if i'm getting this right. Oh my brain is so full! I feel like it's Thanksgiving and I ate WAY too much turkey, but it's my head that's full!

Hmm, so that ups the hidden costs of mixing the t2i with my 60D then considerably: minimum of 3 new batteries: $25 knock-off $50 Canon x 3=$75-150,
SD cards 16Gig $28 Transcend x2= $56 +Sandisk $48x1=$104
+$150
=$204-$254

Hmm, that's bringing them a bit closer now. Even though ML sounds wonderful, I'm thinkin the 60D is gonna win out since I already took that plunge for my first "DSLR" (well, EVIL, but whatever...).

Good grief! I'd better get out there and shoot some amazing stuff or I'm in for some major buyer's remorse!

I have the T2i, it will overheat even when not in the sun. It seems to overheat more in high humidity, which is all summer in the Northeast. It will vary, but can overheat within 20 minutes, sometimes 40. With Magic Lantern, the correct version will allow the LCD screen to be turned off and allow over 80 minutes without overheat. Magic Lantern is tricky to install, and there are many revisions, and the "mainstream" one doesn't have the lcd screen off feature or auto-restart. However, once you figure it out it's great software. And the SDHC card with Magic Lantern on it will work fine on the 60D without causing any problems, so you don't need separate cards for each camera. The 60D uses LP-E6 batteries, the T2i uses LP-E8. The Pearstone brand of these batteries are cheaper than Canon and work just as well.

Thanks for the info...just bought another 60D. And batteries. And cards.

Wow. OK, need to go out and get some more practice now!!!!!!! Before this high wears off and my credit card statement arrives!

Yikes!

I think I would have gone that way too, given your circumstances. And keep eyes and ears open. I predict a 60D magic lantern will be coming. There is already to pre-alpha testing going on in that arena.

...can anyone enlighten me on whether or not to stay with another 60D as second cam for weddings, video bios, music videos or if the T2i will cut it. Will I be able to match in FCP 7? Do I have to down-res the 60D to match the T2i? Will the colors match, low light...is ISO the same?...

Hi Lisa,

I shot with the T2i and 60D for a couple of months. The output was identical, but the wat they went about it was different. The buttons are in totally different places and it was confusing going back and forth between the two different cameras. I never did use ML with the T2i and I understand if you do, it does overcome many of the shortcomings of the T2i, but ML does not make the LCD swing out and it does not totally prevent the overheating. Yes I did experience overheating with the T2i on a two camera shoot. The 60D never has overheated.

Without ML, the two cameras are very different in their function and then along with different batteries and all, we sold our T2i and bought a second 60D and are very happy with that choice and now with ML in development with the 60D, things are looking really exciting.

All things considered, I am sure you will be happy with your choice of buying a second 60D instead of a T2i.

Thanks Mark. It's good to hear from someone who has tried both together and apart. Ahh, that feels a little better.

Wow, and I feel like I'm talking to a celebrity! I have watched your training videos and admire your work greatly. So wish I could be a fly on the wall with some of you guys on this forum while you're shooting!

The 60D should be coming in the mail tomorrow! Gonna do my first two shoots with both cams yet this week!

You are welcome Lisa. I realize when making a financial decision you want to make sure you made the right choice. Been there, done that.

Others helped me when we were first starting out and even just a couple of hours ago we received some help from a friend, so we are always willing to help and share...as time permits. ;-) So forget about the celebrity thing. We are all just trying further our craft and capture some great memories.

OK, forgotten.

: )

One quick question if you have a sec: so my 60D's on bride (45 degree angle off to front side) and in aisle, and the (don't kill me for this...) HV40 on the groom (45 degree angle front other side)?

I would use two identical cameras and settings to cover the same scene (bride/groom) and the different one to cover either a different scene (audience?) or the same scene from a completly different angle (aisle?).
That way it's going to be more difficult to spot the difference between the cameras.

Hi Lisa,

I thought you just bought a second 60D? I would use the two 60Ds for B&G closeups and have the HV40 for a wide cover shot.

If you use the 60D and HV40 to cover a similar shot the quality difference between the two will really show. By putting the HV40 as a back cover shot, it will help hide some of the quality differences. Now if the ceremony is outside, you can get away with a lot more, but inside, the HV40 really starts showing it's weakness.

If I misunderstood and you only have one 60D, then I would use it for the tight shot of the Bride and use the HV40 at the back for a wide shot.

Yeah, what Spiros said. ;-) He just have hit the reply button before me.

Yes, I do have two 60D's.

I thought the best layout is to have 1-60D w/70-200L in the aisle on a tripod after the processional and then to have another 60D with Tamron 17-50 2.8 focused on the bride since they're the most shots I'd use? (This is based on Still Motion's tutorial, but of course they have three cams that all match seamlessly.)

Then the HV40 on the groom since I figured I'd use like one second. But I see your different view. Yes, a wider angle from the back would hide the lighting factors. Oh my word. I'm so confused. I hope I can move around a little. I'm so afraid I won't be allowed!

In your case, just like both me and Mark already said, the best setup is with the HV40 in the back (not nececerily wide, I would personaly shoot tighter, just like if I had a 60D with a 70-200 lens on it) and the two 60Ds in front, one covering the bride and one covering the groom.

My personal favorite setup would be a 4 camera setup with three cameras just like on the stillmotion tutorial and one more taking shots of the audience. I would really like to have the parents expressions while their offsprings excange vows. It can really make a difference.