Rob Galbraith has a solid hands-on preview of the new Canon Rebel T1i (including some sample video clips):
A shallow focus effect can definitely be achieved with the Rebel T1i, but the 5D Mark II’s larger sensor – and resulting longer focal length for a given field of view – allows for shallow focus that is, well, shallower. How apparent or significant this is depends on what you’re trying to record, but in the one comparison we’ve done, the difference was dramatic.
For more news and reviews, see Photography Bay’s Canon Rebel T1i Reviews and Resources.