Photography Digest

Ever since Idea offered its unique 'Digital Rebel' returning in Aug 2003 - usually the first 'affordable' electronic SLR - the company has consistently designed and improved its entry-level extensive range with ever-more-frequent produces, such as in more and more features in the process. So actual to type, almost completely a period to the day after the discharge of the EOS Insurgent T2i / 550D Idea released its next design, normally known as the EOS Insurgent T3i / 600D. As regular the 550D continues to be in The cannon eos eos extensive range at a cost-effective, with the EOS 1100D slotting in below it to circular off the organization's unique deals to entry-level SLR customers.

The new kid on the prevent can most succinctly be described as a 550D with an articulated display, that also features many of the beginner-friendly features we first saw on the more enthusiast-orientated EOS 60D. Perhaps most significant of these is 'Basic+', a easy, results-orientated way to picture improvements in the scene-based visibility techniques, that allows the individual to alter the look of their pictures and management experience thinking without challenging to know anything particular about how this all functions. The 600D also income multi-aspect quantity getting (in stay view) plus the 60D's 'Creative Filters', a extensive range of outcomes than can be used to pictures after getting, such as toy online digital camera, fisheye and fake-miniature looks. Furthermore it can now easily management off-camera quick fast quick flashes, such as the Speedlite 320EX and 270EX II declared together with it.

The fully-automatic 'green square' visibility strategy has also been personalized to 'Scene Awesome Auto', with a new 'A+' symbol on the strategy change to go with. According to Idea, this strategy (as its name might suggest) now analysis the landscapes at the top element a portion of the online digital camera and places its visibility and image-processing aspects accordingly, and even modifications large outcome to go with. Ongoing the 'beginner-friendly' concept, the online digital camera now also has a 'Feature Guide', that shows brief information of what each operate does on the display to help newbies understand how aspects perform.

There's a tremendous 'Video Snapshot' film strategy too, that's obtained from The cannon eos eos videocamera extensive range. This is with regards to the notion that films are often more exciting when cushioning together from a extensive range of brief 'takes', rather than one long continuous film. It therefore restrictions film producing to brief concepts of 2, 4 or 8 a few moments, then features it returning sequentially as a mixture film, with the choice of along with a soundtrack to help tie them together. This, in impact, allows to you generate complicated, multi-take films without having to hotel to pc modifying.

What hasn't personalized at all, though, is the online digital camera's primary requirements, developing the 600D the first online digital camera in the extensive range that hasn't obtained an improved fantastic indication or new processer. So The cannon eos eos tried-and-trusted 18MP APS-C CMOS indication is still in position, along with its knowing extensive range of ISO 100-6400 (expandable to 12800) and 3.9fps continuous getting. Furthermore the 9-point auto-focus and 63 position metering techniques are the same. What this means is that the 600D is unlikely to bring any entertainment with regards to picture.

On the film front side element part the online digital camera maintains its predecessor's strategy too, providing complete HD producing via a devoted position on the online digital camera's strategy change, with complete information management available for those who want it. There's a new zoom capability ability capability operate, providing 3 - 10x magnifier, and the 600D also has mp3 stage management built-in, with a music audio assess to help assess the right developing.

Put this all together, and it's apparent that the 600D is an amazingly well-featured little online digital camera that's well beyond the conventional stripped-down 'entry level' take a position up, and indeed gives little away with regards to features contrary to EOS 60D (the modifications are mainly with regards to ergonomics and handling). It's also clearly trying to make way of life as easy as possible for SLR newbies to leap on board and start analyzing with amazing manages, while providing enough to understand and make their abilities. But there's an terrible lot of competitors in this industry currently, and the 600D will have its perform cut out to take a position apart from the audiences and entice audiences away from the little, smooth and compact mirrorless designs that will sit together with it on the dealers' racks. Research on to find out how well it expenses in this aggressive industry.

A brief history; Canon entry level digital SLR series

• 20/08/03: Canon EOS 300D / Digital Rebel (6 MP)
• 17/02/05: Canon EOS 350D / Digital Rebel XT (8 MP)
• 24/08/06: Canon EOS 400D / Digital Rebel XTi (10 MP)
• 24/01/08: Canon EOS 450D / Digital Rebel XSi (12 MP)
• 10/06/08: Canon EOS 1000D / Digital Rebel XS (10 MP)*
• 25/03/09: Canon EOS 500D / Digital Rebel T1i (15.1 MP)
• 08/02/10: Canon EOS 550D / Rebel T2i (18 MP)
• 07/02/11: Canon EOS 600D / Rebel T3i (18 MP)
• 07/02/11: Canon EOS 1100D / Rebel T3 (12 MP)*

Headline / New features

• 18 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
• DIGIC 4 processor with ISO 100-6400 (Expansion to 12800)
• Fully articulated 7.7cm (3.0�) 3:2 Clear View LCD with 1,040k dots
• Full HD movie recording with manual control and selectable frame rates
• Digital zoom in movie mode (3x - 10x)
• New 'Scene Intelligent Auto' exposure mode (replacing full auto)
• 'Basic+' and 'Creative Filters'
• Integrated wireless flash control
• 'Video Snapshot' mode for the creation of multi-take movies

Revised kit lens - Canon EF-S 18-55mm F3.6-5.6 IS II

The 600D gets a 'new' kit lens, the EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 IS II. According to Canon this is identical in specification to the previous version, and features exactly the same optics and IS system: it simply has a revised external design. The visible changes suggest a paring down of production costs, for example the 'white square' alignment mark for mounting the lens is now simply painted on, rather than moulded. The camera will also come in a kit with the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens.

Canon EOS 600D vs EOS 550D: what's changed

Once again the EOS 600D doesn't officially replace the 550D, but instead slips comfortably into the range between it and the more enthusiast-orientated 60D. The two cameras look near-identical from the front - the 600D is just a fraction taller and wider, due mainly to the swivel-and-tilt screen, and it's a fraction heavier too (by about 40g / 1.4 oz). It's also now got a more obvious grip area for your left hand below the model badge.
Naturally, though, that articulated LCD results in more substantial changes on the back of the camera. The unit is hinged from the side, in signature Canon fashion, and takes up more space than before. So while the rear layout stays the same as the 550D,the 4-way controller's a little smaller and some buttons have moved across to the right. This in turn impinges slightly into the rear grip area, so Canon has created a highly sculpted channel to guide your thumb away from accidental button presses, and help provide a positive grasp on the camera. Note too that there's no space any more for the sensor below the eyepiece that the 550D uses to turn its display on and off.
One less easy-to-spot change is that the functions of the 550D's 'DISP' button have been divided up. The 600D now has an 'INFO' button in its position, which is used to cycle through the various information display options. There's now a separate button on the top-plate labelled 'DISP', which simply turns the screen on and off, effectively taking over the function of the 550D's eye sensor.
This top-down view reveals that the 600D is also a bit deeper, front-to-back than its predecessor, again due mainly to the swivel screen. This adds about 3mm to the depth of the grip, which may not sound like much but improves the handling to a surprising degree. The new top plate 'DISP' button can also be clearly seen here.

Canon EOS 600D vs. EOS 550D feature differences

The list below gives a more complete summary of the feature differences between the 600D and 550D:

• Vari-angle display
• Scene intelligent Auto Mode
• 'Basic+' creative controls in scene modes
• 'Creative Filters' can be applied to images in playback mode
• Multi-aspect ratio shooting (3:2, 4:3, 16:9, 1:1, previewable in Live View)
• Integrated Wireless flash controller with multi-flash support
• 'Video Snapshot' mode
• Auto Lighting Optimizer now adjustable in 4 levels
• Feature Guide
• Image rating (1-5 stars)
• Eye sensor for LCD display replaced by 'DISP' button
• Marginally larger and heavier

Original Article:www.dpreview.com