Preview: Canon EOS 600D (Rebel T3i)

[Felicis]

Canon has recently announced the launch of the EOS 600D, a compact and easy to use DSLR that is catered to beginner photographers. Being a new addition to the entry-level EOS line-up, 600D has many features that top the other features of entry-level models such as the 550D.

Key features of the 600D:


• 18 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
• 14-bit DIGIC 4 processor with ISO 100-6400 (Expansion to 12800)
• 3.7fps continuous shooting

What's different from the 550D?

• Fully articulated LCD screen
• New 'Scene Intelligent Auto' exposure mode (replacing full auto)
• 'Basic+' and 'Creative Filters'
• Multi-aspect ratio shooting (3:2, 4:3, 16:9, 1:1, possible in Live view)
• Integrated wireless flash control (with multi-flash support)
• 'Video Snapshot' mode for the creation of multi-take movies
• On-screen Feature Guide
• Auto Lighting Optimizer (adjustable in 4 levels)
• Image rating (1-5 stars)

The key features of 600D are further expanded below:

User-friendliness

The camera has been made to be user-friendly for beginners as it provides a range of automatic shooting modes such as the new ‘scene intelligent auto’ mode. It also has a Feature Guide, which provides information regarding the camera’s functions on its screen, thus helping beginners and enhancing their photography skills.

Multi-aspect ratio and Articulated Screen

• With multi-aspect ratio shooting function, the 600D can shoot at 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 and 1:1 aspect ratios.
• It has a 3.0” Clear View LCD screen that provides rich details and that has a 1.04 million-dot resolution.
• It also has an articulated screen which equates to a “flip out and twist” screen, allowing users to shoot from a range of unusual angles or when using a tripod.

Basic+

• Allows users to edit images and manage background blur effect automatically, under the ‘scene-based’ exposure modes.
• This helps users to achieve certain end-results to their photos because it helps them to enhance the photos easily.

Creative Filters

• ‘Creative Filters’ feature allow users to apply creative effects to their shots.
• Examples:
- Fish-eye effect (similar to a fish-eye lens)
- Miniature effect (turn subjects in a scene to look 'fake' and small scale)
- Toy Camera effect
- Grainy B/W
- Soft Focus

Wireless Flash

• Able to control off-camera flashes wirelessly, including the also recently announced, Speedlite 320EX and 270EX II.

Intelligent Auto

• The fully-automatic exposure mode (green square icon on the mode dial) has been upgraded to 'Scene Intelligent Auto' ('A+' icon on the mode dial).
• This mode analyses the scene and sets its exposure and image-processing settings accordingly, and even matches the appropriate colour output with the scene.

Video Recording

• Full HD recording, with movie shooting mode.
- full manual control available in video mode.
- 3 – 10x zoom with HD
• The camera has a 'Video Snapshot' movie mode that is a function similar to Canon's camcorders.
• It allows movies to be recorded in short 'takes', rather than one long continuous clip.
- Limits movie recording to short snippets of 2, 4 or 8 seconds, creating clips that are short and easy to edit.
- There is option of editing the movie after it is being put together. Thus, it allows easy editing of a multi-take movie without the use of computer softwares.

Sensor, ISO and Focus

Similar to the other entry-level models before it, the 600D has an 18MP APS-C CMOS sensor with an ISO range of 100-6400 (expandable to 12800) and 3.7fps continuous shooting. It also has 9-point autofocus and 63 zone metering systems similar to previous models.

Kit lens

The 600D kit provides a new Mark II lens, the EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 IS II. The camera will also come in a kit with the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens.

Price and Release Date (Estimate)

Date: Late February 2011
Price: SG $1,200 (body + lens)

Specifications

Body material	Stainless Steel and polycarbonate resin with glass fibre
Sensor	18.7 million effective pixels 19.0 million total pixels 22.3 x 14.9 mm CMOS sensor RGB Colour Filter Array Built-in low-pass filter with self cleaning unit 3:2 aspect ratio
Dust reduction	Low-pass filter vibration at power-on (can be interrupted) Anti-static coating on sensor surfaces Software based dust-removal (camera maps dust, removed later)
Image sizes	5184 x 3456 3456 x 2304 2592 x 1728
Still image formats	RAW (.CR2 14-bit) RAW (.CR2 14-bit) + JPEG Large/Fine JPEG (EXIF 2.21) - Fine, Normal
Movie recording	1920 x 1080 (1080P, 16:9) @ 30/25/24 fps 1280 x 720 (720P, 16:9) @ 60/50 fps 640 x 480 (4:3) @ 60/50 fps Quicktime MOV format (H.264 video,linear PCM audio) Up to 29 min 59 sec (or max file size 4 GB)
Image processor	DIGIC 4
Lenses	Kit lens: EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 IS II or EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS. Canon EF / EF-S lens mount
Crop Factor	1.6x field of view crop
Focus modes	Auto Focus Manual Focus (switch on lens)
Auto Focus	9-point CMOS sensor
AF modes	AI Focus One Shot AI Servo
AF point selection	Auto Manual
AF assist	Flash strobe
Shooting modes	Auto Portrait Landscape Close-up Sports Night portrait Flash off Movie Program AE (P) Shutter priority AE (Tv) Aperture priority AE (Av) Manual (M) Auto depth-of-field
Metering	TTL 63-zone SPC Metering range: EV 1.0 - 20 EV (at 23°C, ISO 100, 50 mm F1.4)
Metering modes	Evaluative 63-zone (linked to AF points) Partial 9% at center Spot 4% at center Center-weighted average
AE Lock	AE lock button
AE Bracketing	+/- 2.0 EV (3 shots) 0.5 or 0.3 EV increments
Exposure compen.	+/- 5.0 EV 0.5 or 0.3 EV increments
Sensitivity	Auto (100 - 6400 ) H1 expansion (ISO 12800 equiv.) Highlight tone priority
Shutter	Focal-plane shutter 30 - 1/4000 sec (0.5 or 0.3 EV steps) Flash X-Sync: 1/200 sec Bulb
White balance	Auto Daylight Shade Cloudy Tungsten Fluorescent Flash Custom
WB Bracketing	+/-3 levels 3 images Selectable Blue/Amber or Magenta/Green bias
WB fine-tuning	Blue (-9) to Amber (+9) Magenta (-9) to Green (+9)
Colour space	sRGB Adobe RGB
Picture style	Standard Portrait Landscape Neutral Faithful Monochrome User 1 User 2 User 3
Custom image parameters	Sharpness: 0 to 7 Contrast: -4 to +4 Saturation: -4 to +4 Colour tone: -4 to +4 B&W filter: N, Ye, Or, R, G B&W tone: N, S, B, P, G
Image processing	Highlight Tone Priority Auto Lighting Optimizer (Basic and Creative modes) Long exposure noise reduction High ISO speed noise reduction Peripheral illumination correction
Drive modes	Single Continuous: 3.7 fps up to 34 Large/Fine JPEG / 6 RAW frames Self-timer 10 secs (2 sec with mirror lock-up) Self-timer continuous
Mirror lockup	Yes (custom function)
Viewfinder	Pentamirror 95% frame coverage Magnification: 0.87x (-1 diopter with 50 mm lens at infinity) Eyepoint: 19 mm Dioptric adjustment: -3.0 to +1.0 diopter Fixed precision matte Proximity sensor disables LCD shooting mode information
LCD monitor	3.0" 3:2 TFT LCD 1040,000 pixels Approx 100% coverage Wide viewing angle (160° horizontal and vertical) Dual anti-reflection, anti-smudge 7 brightness levels Up to 10x zoom playback
LCD Live view	Live TTL display of scene from CMOS image sensor 100% frame coverage (30 fps display rate) Real-time evaluative metering using CMOS image sensor Best view or exposure simulation Grid optional (thirds) Magnify optional (5x or 10x at any point on the screen) Optional Auto-focus with mirror-down / mirror-up sequence Quick or Live mode autofocus
Record review	Uses last play mode Magnification possible 2 / 4 / 8 sec / Hold
Flash	Auto pop-up E-TTL II auto flash Guide number approx 13 Modes: Auto, Manual Flash On/ Off, Red-Eye Reduction X-Sync: 1/200 sec Flash exposure compensation: +/-2.0 EV (0.3 or 0.5 EV steps) Coverage up to 17 mm focal length (27 mm FOV equiv.)
External flash	E-TTL II auto flash with EX-series Speedlites Hot-shoe
Custom functions	12 custom functions with 36 settings
Connectivity	USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) Video out (PAL / NTSC) (integrated with USB terminal ) HDMI mini output (HDMI-CEC) E3 type wired remote control Remote Controller RC-6 External microphone (3.5mm Stereo mini jack
Audio	Mono microphone on front Mono speaker on rear External stereo mike (optional)
Storage	SD / SDHC card SDXC card
Power	Lithium-Ion LP-E8 rechargeable battery Approx 440 shots (23°C AE 50%, FE 50%), CIPA standard 4 level battery life display Optional ACK-E8 AC adapter kit
Battery Grip	Yes, BG-E8
Dimensions	129 x 98 x 62 mm (5.1 x 3.9 x 2.4 in)
Weight (inc batt/card)	530 g (1.17 lb)