Canon EOS 600D18 Megapixel Specifications Review And Price

Full specification for Canon EOS 600D (Rebel T3i)

Sensor	18MP APS-C CMOS
Output Size	5184x3456
Focal Length Mag	1.6x
Lens Mount	Canon EF/EF-S
File Format	Raw (14bit), JPEG, Raw & JPEG
Compression	S3/S2/S1/M/L
ISO	100-6400 (Expandable to 12,800)
Shutter Speeds	60-1/4000th second, plus Bulb
Drive Mode	Single, Continuous, Self-timer (2secs/10secs/Continuous) & Remote L (low), H (high), Self Timer
Viewfinder Type	Optical Pentamirror
Field of View	Appox. 95%
LCD	3in, 1040k-dot Clear View TFT LCD
Live Mode	Yes
Movie Mode	1080p HD, 30, 25 or 24fps, H.264 (MOV format)
Built-in Image Stabilisation	No, lens based
Dust Reduction	EOS integrated cleaning system
Focusing Modes	One Shot (Single), AI Servo (Continuous), AI Focus (switches from One Shot to AI Servo if movement is detected), Manual
Exposure Modes	P, A (Av), S (Tv), M, Scene Intelligent Auto, Creative Auto, Scene Modes, Movie
Metering System	TTL using 63 zone iFCL system
Exposure Comp	-5 to +5 EV in 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps
Colour Space	sRGB, Adobe RGB
White Balance	Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White Fluorescent light, Flash, Custom
White Balance Bracket	3 frame +/- 3 levels
Colour Temp Control	2000-10,000K
DoF Prview	Yes
Built-in Flash	Yes
Max Flash Sync	1/200th sec
PC Socket	No
Cable Release	Yes
Memory Card	SD/SDHC/SDXC
Power	Rechargeable Li-ion battery LP-E8
Connectivity	HDMI, USB 2.0, 3.5mm mic jack
Dimensions	133.1 x 99.5 x79.7mm
Weight	570g
Other
AF Points	9 points (central point cross-type)

Manufacturer website: Canon

Canon EOS 600D review

If you've taken a quick glance at spec of the Canon EOS 600D, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the specs for the EOS 550D have mistakenly been used instead. And that's because, internally at least, very little has changed or been tinkered with from the previous model that the Canon EOS 600D replaces.

This starts with the sensor, with the EOS 600D sporting an identical 18MP resolution to the EOS 550D (and the 7D and 60D also), though Canon are at pains to point out that it's not an identical chip. This also means that the ISO range also remains the same, running from 100-6400, while it can be expanded further, to an ISO equivalent of 12,800 at its H setting.

 

The DIGIC IV image processor that's used in a host of other Canon DSLRs allows you to capture 14-bit Raw files and offers a burst rate of 3.7fps (no improvement over the 550D), with the same 63-zone iFCL metering system (first seen in the 7D) and 9-point AF system (with the central AF point cross-type) also being recycled from the 550D.

While the Canon EOS 600D may share a great deal of DNA with the 550D (and 60D for that matter), there have been some changes, with the most obvious being the rear screen. The 3in screen used by the 550D was excellent thanks to the 3:2 aspect ratio used and a screen resolution of 1040k-dots. That remains the same, but it now offers tilt and swivel positioning, just like the 60D's vari-angle screen. It can be swung out from the body by 180° and rotated 270°, allowing it to be positioned for a range of shooting angles during Live View or video recording. On that subject, the Canon EOS 600D can record full HD video at 1080P with a choice of 30, 25 and 24fps capture.

You're not restricted to shooting in the EOS 600D's native 3:2 aspect ratio either, as it can also be set at 4:3, 16:9 and 1:1, though a little of the resolution is sacrificed due to the crop being applied. You also get a Scene Intelligent Auto mode replacing the ‘green square' Auto mode that's been on a long line of Canon DSLRs, with this new mode setting AF, brightness, flash and colour tone according to the scene.

If you've got yourself a compatible flashgun as well, then you can now use the Canon EOS 600D's built-in flash to trigger and control it wireless for a host of potential lighting techniques and is a welcome inclusion on a camera of this class.

If you were expecting a shiny new AF system, then you'll be disappointed, with the Canon EOS 600D sticking with the tried and tested 9-point phase-detect AF system used in previous models. The nine points are grouped relatively tightly together in the centre of the frame in a diamond formation; with the central AF point the only cross-type variant sensor, being sensitive to both the horizontal and vertical.

Focus selection is carried out by hitting the AF point selection button, then using the control wheel or d-pad to select your desired AF point, and while you may find the central-bias of the AF points restrictive when mounted on a tripod, it'll focus with not much fuss, with hardly any over- or under-focus issues - even with non-central AF points. While it's a solid system, it does feel a touch unsophisticated compared to rivals the Panasonic LUMIX GH2 and Sony Alpha a55. These offer much more in the way of AF speed and focus-tracking, leaving the system in the Canon EOS 600D to appear a little outdated and slow.

With the exception of the screen - more on that in a moment, the Live View system is remarkably familiar to that of the 550D. You've got two main options when it comes to focus - there's Quick mode, using the 9-point phase-detect system already discussed, but the feed is cut when focus is being acquired and the default setting, Live mode. This uses contrast-detect AF, allowing you to move the AF ‘box' round the majority of the screen via the d-pad, though you can't focus right up to the edge of the frame.

There's also the option to set it to Face Detect Live mode, and to toggle between the 3 AF Live View options, you can either dive into the main menu or hit the Quick menu button during Live View. If you're using manual focus or just want to confirm AF, then the 5 and 10x zoom feature via the magnifying/AF point selection button is very handy. In operation, and in Live mode, focus is relatively good if there's a decent amount of contrast in the scene, but can struggle in limited contrast scenes, slowly trying to obtain focus. For a DSLR, the system works well, but there's no getting away from the fact that compared to the Live View system found in the LUMIX GH2 (or the G2 for that matter), and it's excellent touch screen and responsive AF, the EOS 600D struggles to mount a challenge.

The 3:2 aspect ratio screen delivers the goods however. Thanks to it being the ratio as the sensor, images during playback or during Live View fill the screen perfectly (assuming you're using the native 3:2 aspect ratio of the chip), so no black borders running along the top and bottom of the screen. That's not forgetting one of the key differences that sets the Canon EOS 600D apart from the EOS 550D, the vari-angle screen. It offers pretty much identical control to the screen found on the 60D, allowing it to be pulled and angled into a range of positions, while the screen can also be stored facing the camera for extra protection.

The viewfinder doesn't offer quite 100% coverage, down to 95%, so you may have to be cautious when framing and reviewing images as it's surprising what can creep into the frame in that extra 5% that you can't see. The viewfinder, with a magnification of 0.85x, is good for a camera of this class, and while the optical viewfinder utilized here easily beats an electronic equivalent, it can still feel a touch cramped when you peer through it.

The Canon EOS 600D's burst rate of 3.7fps isn't going to set any records, loosing out to both the LUMIX GH2's 5fps and the Alpha a55's impressive 10fps (though that's in Speed Priority mode). Set to continuous drive mode, the EOS 600D can shoot 6 Raw files consecutively, while it was able to shoot over 100 JPEG files continuously.

Finally, a quick word on the new Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II kit lens that's bundled with the Canon EOS 600D. Incorporating a built-in anti-shake system (IS), the lens is a cosmetic update to the previous model, with the internal lens construction remaining the same. That said, the lack of USM (Ultrasonic) motor that features on a lot of Canon's glass means that there can be some audible noises as the lens focuses.

 price:
The price in Dollar: $800
The price in Euro: 600
The Price in Pound: £500