• APS-C 332.3mm2
  • 18.0 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 36.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Detailed specifications
  • Canon EOS Rebel T2i (EOS 550D)
  • Nikon D800
Links
Prices:    
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website
Canon EOS Rebel T2i (EOS 550D) webpage
Manufacturer website
Nikon D800 webpage
Predecessor: Canon T1i
T1i vs T2i
Nikon D700
D700 vs D800
Successor: Canon T3i
T2i vs T3i
Nikon D810
D800 vs D810
General
Model Number: T2i D800
Alternate Model Number(s): EOS 550D, EOS Kiss X4  
Camera Format: SLR Pro SLR
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $899.99 $2999.95
Street Price: $692.18 $1,849.95
Date Available: 2010-02-25 2012-03-30
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 26.0 oz (736 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
35.6 oz (1,008 g)
includes batteries
Size: 5.1 x 3.8 x 3.0 in.
(130 x 97 x 76 mm)
5.7 x 4.8 x 3.2 in.
(146 x 123 x 82 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Canon Sony
Effective Megapixels: 18.0 36.3
Sensor Format: APS-C 35mm
Sensor size: 332.27mm2 (22.30mm x 14.90mm) 861.6mm2 (35.90mm x 24.00mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 4.30 microns 4.88 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.6x 1.0x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed Fixed
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: No No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 66 95
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 22.1 25.3
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 11.5 14.4
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 784 2,853
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 5184 x 3456 (17.9 MP, 3:2),
3456 x 2304 (8.0 MP, 3:2),
2592 x 1728 (4.5 MP, 3:2)
7360 x 4912 (36.2 MP, 3:2),
5520 x 3680 (20.3 MP, 3:2),
3680 x 2456 (9.0 MP, 3:2),
6114 x 4080 (24.9 MP, 3:2),
4608 x 3056 (14.1 MP, Other),
3072 x 2040 (6.3 MP, Other),
4800 x 3200 (15.4 MP, 3:2),
3600 x 2400 (8.6 MP, 3:2),
2400 x 1600 (3.8 MP, 3:2),
6144 x 4912 (30.2 MP, 5:4),
4608 x 3680 (17.0 MP, 5:4),
3072 x 2456 (7.5 MP, 5:4)
Image File Format: JPEG, .CR2 RAW (14-bit) JPEG (EXIF 2.3), RAW (NEF), 14 or 12-bit; TIFF
Continuous-mode frames/second: 3.6 4.0
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (30/​25/​24)
1280x720 (60/​50)
640x480 (60/​50)
1920x1080 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (60p/​50p/​30p/​25p)
Movie File Format: .MOV (H.264) MOV (H.265/MPEG-4 AVC, Linear PCM audio)
Composite Video Out: Yes No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: Yes n/a
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Canon EF/EF-S Nikon F
Lens: Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 29 - 88mm  
Focal Length (actual): 18 - 55mm  
Zoom Ratio: 3.00x  
Aperture Range: f/3.5 - 22 / f/ 5.6 - 38  
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 25 cm to Infinity
9.8 in to Infinity
 
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 58.0mm n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: Yes No
Digital Zoom: Yes
Digital Zoom Values:   1.2x, 1.5x (DX), 5:4 crop modes
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: AF-dedicated Phase-detect CMOS Sensor, 9-point, center cross-type high-precision at f/2.8, light source detection 51-point TTL phase detection via Nikon Advanced Multi-CAM 3500FX including 15 cross-type sensors; f/8 supported by 11 central sensors; Contrast detection AF in Live View mode
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD Optical / LCD
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; eye-level pentamirror 95% coverage, 0.87x mag., 19mm eyepoint, -3 to +1 diopter SLR; eye-level pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.7x magnification, 17mm eyepoint, -3 to +1 diopter
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.54x 0.70x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.87x 0.70x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.2
Rear Display Resolution: 1,040,000 dots 921,600 dots (307,200 px)
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom: 10.0x  
Top Deck Display: No Yes
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 6400 6400
Minimum ISO (native): 100 100
ISO Settings: Auto, 100 - 6400 in 1/3 or 1EV steps, H=12800 Auto, 100 - 6400 in 1/3, 1/2 or 1EV steps, plus down to 50 in Lo-1, up to 25,600 in Hi-2
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White Fluorescent, Flash, Custom Auto (2), Incandescent, Fluorescent (7), Direct Sunlight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, Preset Manual (4), Color Temperature (2,500K-10,000K); Fine-tuning available for all options.
Shutter Speed Range: 1/4000 - 30 sec 1/8000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 63-zone Evaluative, Center-weighted, Partial (9%), Spot (4%) 91K-pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering III, Center-weighted (weight of 75% given to 12-mm circle in center of frame; diameter of circle can be changed to 8, 15 or 20 mm, or weighting can be based on average of entire frame), Spot (4mm circle or about 1.5% frame, centered on selected focus area)
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Creative Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night portrait, Flash off, Auto Depth-of-field None
Self Timer: 10 or 2 seconds 2/5/10/20 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer): No Yes
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes Yes
Flash Modes: E-TTL II Front-curtain sync, Slow sync, Rear-curtain sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync; supports Advanced Wireless Lighting system
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 13.0 m / 42.7 ft. 12.0 m / 39.4 ft.
Flash Range Description: Lens aperture dependent Lens aperture dependent
Max Flash Sync: 1/200 1/250 (up to 1/320s with lower flash range)
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps -3 to +1 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot Shoe ISO-type hot-shoe, PC Sync terminal
Built-In Wireless Flash Control: No Full TTL exposure
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC / SDXC CF1 / SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support: No UHS support UHS-I
Other Memory:   UDMA7/UHS-I compliant
Dual Card Slots: No Yes
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: .CR2 RAW (14-bit) RAW (NEF), 14 or 12-bit; TIFF
Movie File Format: .MOV (H.264) MOV (H.265/MPEG-4 AVC, Linear PCM audio)
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No No
NFC: No No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: Yes Yes
Headphone Jack: No Yes
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 3.0 Super Speed
PictBridge Compliant: Yes Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional Wired or Wireless Optional wired or wireless
Connections (extended): Mini HDMI-CEC, External Microphone Jack, Wired Remote Mini HDMI (Type C), 10-pin Expansion Terminal (GP-1 GPS compatible), Stereo Mic Mini Jack (3.5mm), Stereo Audio Out (3.5mm)
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.44 0.42
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.46 0.39
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 7 23
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):   0.46
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 3.6 4.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 10 54
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 3.7 4.0
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames): 6 18
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 3.6 4.0
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames): 3 14
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.25 seconds 0.21 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR): 0.99 seconds 1.74 seconds
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR): 0.122 seconds 0.184 seconds
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.162 seconds 0.044 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.21 seconds 0.22 seconds
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.096 seconds 0.043 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes): Live View: Quick Mode: 0.991s Live Mode: 1.720s Prefocused: 0.122s OVF, Full Autofocus, 51-point Auto Area = 0.306s Live View, Full Autofocus = 1.735s Live View, Prefocused = 0.184s
Startup Time: 0.4 seconds 0.3 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.7 seconds 0.2 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power: 3.2 seconds 3.8 seconds
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):    
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 440 shots 900 shots
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary LP-E8 Proprietary EN-EL15
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeble Lithium-ion rechargeable or MB-D12 battery grip
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary LP-E8 Lithium-ion rechargeble 1 x Proprietary EN-EL15 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes Yes
Internal Charging Supported: No No
Software
Included Software: Canon Solutions Disc (EOS Utility, ZoomBrowser EX/ImageBrowser, Digital Photo Professional.Picture Style Editor, Movie Edit Task, PhotoStitch) Nikon ViewNX 2 CD-ROM
OS Compatibility: Windows XP/Vista/7, Mac OS X 10.4+ Windows, Mac OS X
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Flagship Rebel model. Full HD (1080p) Video, New Movie Crop Mode (640x480, 7x magnification), 9-point AF, 3-inch 3:2 LCD, EyeFi Card Status Display. New 36.3-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, New EXPEED 3 processor, 91K-dot Matrix Metering III, Improved Auto ISO, Full HD 1080p30 movies, HMDI simultaneous output, Dual SD+CF slots, USB 3.0.