Is the Canon Rebel T2i a good camera?

Will it allow me (a beginner) to grow with it, or will I out grow it in a few years?

Is Nikon really better than Canon?

I want to take a lot of macro and action shots, but I will do some landscape shots.

I have my eye on a fisheye lens, as well.

So, do you think this camera is what I need?

Added (1). I guess the bottom line is, will I need to get a new camera in a few years, or will it be something I can use for the next 10+ years?

Its not about the body, its about the lens.

My mom had her dslr for 4 years before she swapped up. It was already a used one too. You shouldnt need to outgrow it unless you go pro in a few years really.

Nikon vs Canon, its entirely a preference thing. There's no upper hand, everyone just has a preference.

get different lenses for that. Get a macro(high mm number) and for landscapes get a lower numbered mm lens.

fisheyes are very expensive, its way cheaper to buy an adapter, however, they both offer authentic fisheyes.

it doesn't even matter what body you get, just one that fits, if you have your eye on a fisheye lens, and you only have 1k to spend total. Get the 600/700 dollar fisheye and a way cheaper body.

You can use your camera for as long as you like, the software and screen size and focus points and such will go out of date eventually, but that doesn't matter as long as it is something youre used to. I have a 2.5inch screen, most have a 3 inch now.doesn't bother me a bit.

Any camera is a good camera. You're going to eventually replace a camera in that 10 years due to its shutter life. So it depends on how often you take photos.

Your camera is not going to determine how long it stays with you, it's what you shoot and your growth in photography that determines what camera will suite you. For now, a Canon T2i is a good camera. Maybe as you continue to take pics and start leaning towards a specific type of photography, you will begin to look for a specific camera for your needs.

If you want macro, it depends on the lens you use, and the same for landscape shots. Both can be achieved with the T2i. Sports usually demands faster frames per second but does not mean you can't take nice sports photos with the T2i.

In reality, what's going to determine the quality of your photos is going to be you, the photographer, the lens you attach, and lastly, the camera body you use. That's my opinion.

Your camera time line might look like this:
-Start with a T2i, start liking sports photography a lot so you move to a Canon 7D for faster fps, then you buy yourself a fast lens like a 70-200mm 2.8

-Start with a T2i, start liking landscape photography a lot and the camera you have is good enough, then you buy yourself a wide lens like a 10-22mm

-Start with a T2i, start liking the night life or low light photography and so you might move to a Canon full frame for high ISO performance

There's so many other things that can happen. Point of the story. The T2i is a fine camera. You will eventually understand it's the lens you attach that will capture the photographs you want to take. Maybe you find a body will be better suited to take specific type of photos.

Is Nikon really better than Canon?

It depends.

If you are just starting out, then you need to spend some time in a proper camera store, holding both in your hands.

The sensors of each brand are designed differently for various reasons.

For now, spend some time in the research mode, learning the various features of each and how the whole of their systems may match your needs for the future.

Here is how the 550D and Nikon D5100 sensors compare under different situations; Colour depth, Dynamic range and Low-light ISO.

http://www.dxomark.com/...nd2)/Canon

What you need to do is spend a lot more time on Canon and Nikon websites to see what is available in the way of lenses and accessories.

You are buying a camera system, not just a camera body. They body will be replaced in five or six years, not because it will wear out, but because the technology will tease you into buying a new camera body. All your lenses that you have purchased over time, will still work just fine.

Now to address your interest in shooting macro, action shots and landscapes.

ANY dSLR can do that, but what you need is to consider buying the lenses necessary to take those kinds of shots

Macro: A macro lens. They come in focal lengths of 60 mm, 85 mm, 100 or 105 mm and 200 mm.

Action: A lens like a 70-300 mm

Landscapes: 10-24 mm wide angle zoom.

As you can see, you are only looking at the tip of the iceberg when you buy an entry level camera like the Canon 550/T2i or Nikon D5100

http://bythom.com/iceberg.htm