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Canon T2i vs T4i

The Canon EOS Rebel T2i (called Canon 550D in some regions) and the Canon EOS Rebel T4i (labelled Canon 650D in some countries) are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2010 and June 2012. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 17.9 megapixels.

As their names suggest, both the Canon EOS Rebel T2i and the Canon EOS Rebel T4i belong to Canon's Rebel line of DSLR cameras. This range of APS-C cameras, which started out with the Canon EOS Digital Rebel in 2003, has been a big commercial success and the backbone of Canon's dominance in the digital camera market. The popularity of the Rebel cameras is the result of them inheriting much of the sensor and shooting technology from earlier released professional DSLRs, while being sold at a much more budget-friendly price point. The strong brand reputation of Canon and the comprehensive EOS system of compatible lenses and accessories further contributes to the appeal of the Rebel cams, including the Canon T2i and Canon T4i. Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Canon T2i
versus
Canon T4i
Canon T2i   Canon T4i
Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses Canon EF mount lenses
17.9 MP – APS-C sensor 17.9 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/30p Video 1080/30p Video
ISO 100-6,400 (100 - 12,800) ISO 100-12,800 (100 - 25,600)
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 1040k dots 3.0" LCD – 1040k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Swivel touchscreen
3.7 shutter flaps per second 5 shutter flaps per second
440 shots per battery charge440 shots per battery charge
129 x 98 x 62 mm, 530 g 133 x 100 x 79 mm, 575 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS Rebel T2i and the Canon EOS Rebel T4i? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon T2i and the Canon T4i is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Canon T2i vs Canon T4i
Compare T2i versus T4i top
Comparison T2i or T4i rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon T4i is notably larger (5 percent) than the Canon T2i. Moreover, the T4i is markedly heavier (8 percent) than the T2i. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the T2i nor the T4i are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon T2i 129 mm 98 mm 62 mm 530 g 440 n Feb 2010 EUR 649ebay.com
2.
 
Canon T4i 133 mm 100 mm 79 mm 575 g 440 n Jun 2012 EUR 799ebay.com
3.
 
Canon T1i 129 mm 98 mm 62 mm 520 g 400 n Mar 2009 EUR 699ebay.com
4.
 
Canon T3 130 mm 100 mm 78 mm 495 g 700 n Feb 2011 EUR 399ebay.com
5.
 
Canon T3i 133 mm 100 mm 80 mm 570 g 440 n Feb 2011 EUR 549ebay.com
6.
 
Canon T5 130 mm 100 mm 78 mm 480 g 500 n Feb 2014 EUR 399ebay.com
7.
 
Canon T5i 133 mm 100 mm 79 mm 580 g 440 n Mar 2013 EUR 599ebay.com
8.
 
Canon T6s 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 565 g 440 n Feb 2015 EUR 749ebay.com
9.
 
Canon T100 129 mm 102 mm 77 mm 436 g 500 n Feb 2018 EUR 399 amazon.com
10.
 
Canon XSi 129 mm 98 mm 62 mm 524 g 500 n Jan 2008 EUR 699ebay.com
11.
 
Canon XTi 127 mm 84 mm 65 mm 556 g 370 n Aug 2006 EUR 799ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The T2i was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 18 percent) than the T4i, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, the T4i uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC 5) than the T2i (DIGIC 4), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Canon T2i and Canon T4i sensor measures

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 17.9 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the T2i and the T4i have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the T4i is much more recent (by 2 years and 3 months) than the T2i, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The T4i has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Canon EOS Rebel T2i has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 100-12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS Rebel T4i are ISO 100 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-25600.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

T2i versus T4i MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. Of the two cameras under review, the T2i has a notably higher overall DXO score than the T4i (overall score 4 points higher), which gives it an advantage in terms of imaging quality. This advantage is based on 0.4 bits higher color depth, 0.3 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.1 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon T2i APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.111.578466
2.
 
Canon T4i APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.711.272262
3.
 
Canon T1i APS-C 15.1 4752 31681080/20p21.711.566363
4.
 
Canon T3 APS-C 12.2 4272 2848720/30p21.911.075562
5.
 
Canon T3i APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.111.579365
6.
 
Canon T5 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.911.372463
7.
 
Canon T5i APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.711.268161
8.
 
Canon T6s APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.612.091570
9.
 
Canon T100 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.911.469563
10.
 
Canon XSi APS-C 12.2 4272 2848none21.910.869261
11.
 
Canon XTi APS-C 10.1 3888 2592none22.111.066462

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/30p).

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The T2i and the T4i are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (95%), but the viewfinder of the T2i has a higher magnification than the one of the T4i (0.54x vs 0.53x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon T2i and Canon T4i along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Canon T2ioptical n3.0 / 1040 fixed n 1/4000s 3.7/s Y n
2.
 
Canon T4ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon T1ioptical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.4/s Y n
4.
 
Canon T3optical n2.7 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
5.
 
Canon T3ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel n 1/4000s 3.7/s Y n
6.
 
Canon T5optical n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
7.
 
Canon T5ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
8.
 
Canon T6soptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
9.
 
Canon T100optical n2.7 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
10.
 
Canon XSioptical n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
11.
 
Canon XTioptical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The T4i has a touchscreen, while the T2i has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The T4i has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the T2i does not have a selfie-screen.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the T2i and the T4i write their files to SDXC cards. The T4i supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the T2i cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS Rebel T2i and Canon EOS Rebel T4i and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon T2iYstereo / -Y-mini2.0---
2.
 
Canon T4iYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
3.
 
Canon T1iYmono / mono--mini2.0---
4.
 
Canon T3Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
5.
 
Canon T3iYmono / monoY-mini2.0---
6.
 
Canon T5Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
7.
 
Canon T5iYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
8.
 
Canon T6sYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
9.
 
Canon T100Ymono / mono--mini2.0YY-
10.
 
Canon XSiY- / ---mini2.0---
11.
 
Canon XTiY- / ----2.0---

Both the T2i and the T4i have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The T2i was replaced by the Canon T3i, while the T4i was followed by the Canon T5i. Further information on the features and operation of the T2i and T4i can be found, respectively, in the Canon T2i Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon T4i Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Which of the two cameras – the Canon T2i or the Canon T4i – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.


Advantages of the Canon EOS Rebel T2i:

  • Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (4 points) in the DXO overall assessment.
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.54x vs 0.53x).
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (18 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2010).


Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS Rebel T4i:

  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC 5 vs DIGIC 4).
  • Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (5 vs 3.7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
  • More modern: Reflects 2 years and 3 months of technical progress since the T2i launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the T4i is the clear winner of the contest (8 : 4 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

T2i 04:08 T4i

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon T2i and the Canon T4i place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the T2i or the T4i perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon T2i..+ +..77/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2010 EUR 649ebay.com
2.
 
Canon T4i4/5+ +..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2012 EUR 799ebay.com
3.
 
Canon T1i..+ +..74/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2009 EUR 699ebay.com
4.
 
Canon T3..80/100..69/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2011 EUR 399ebay.com
5.
 
Canon T3i3/5o..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2011 EUR 549ebay.com
6.
 
Canon T53/5+....4/54.5/5 Feb 2014 EUR 399ebay.com
7.
 
Canon T5i......76/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2013 EUR 599ebay.com
8.
 
Canon T6s5/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 EUR 749ebay.com
9.
 
Canon T100..o3/5..3.5/53.5/5 Feb 2018 EUR 399 amazon.com
10.
 
Canon XSi..+ +..+ +4/54.5/5 Jan 2008 EUR 699ebay.com
11.
 
Canon XTi..+ +..+ +o4/5 Aug 2006 EUR 799ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications: Canon T2i vs Canon T4i

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Canon T2i Canon T4i
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Canon EF mount lenses Canon EF mount lenses
    Launch Date February 2010 June 2012
    Launch Price USD 699 USD 849
    Sensor Specs Canon T2i Canon T4i
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 22.3 x 14.9 mm 22.3 x 14.9 mm
    Sensor Area 332.27 mm2 332.27 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 26.8 mm 26.8 mm
    Crop Factor 1.6x 1.6x
    Sensor Resolution 17.9 Megapixels 17.9 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5184 x 3456 pixels 5184 x 3456 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.31 μm 4.31 μm
    Pixel Density 5.39 MP/cm2 5.39 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/30p Video 1080/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 6,400 ISO 100 - 12,800 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 12,800 ISO 100 - 25,600 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 4 DIGIC 5
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 66 62
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 22.1 21.7
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 11.5 11.2
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 784 722
    Screen Specs Canon T2i Canon T4i
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.54x 0.53x
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 1040k dots 1040k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Swivel screen
    Touch Input no Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Canon T2i Canon T4i
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 3.7 shutter flaps/s 5 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations100 000 actuations
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support no UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Canon T2i Canon T4i
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI mini HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Canon T2i Canon T4i
    Battery Type Canon LP-E8 Canon LP-E8
    Battery Life (CIPA)440 shots per charge440 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 129 x 98 x 62 mm
    (5.1 x 3.9 x 2.4 in)
    133 x 100 x 79 mm
    (5.2 x 3.9 x 3.1 in)
    Camera Weight 530 g (18.7 oz) 575 g (20.3 oz)
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