Canon T3i and T4i: 2012

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Canon T4i review

The Canon EOS Rebel T4i Digital Camera (Body Only) is an ideal camera for any level photographer; combining both high quality imaging power and a wealth of functions that enable you to create beautiful imagery with ease. This 18.0 megapixel DSLR features an APS-C-sized CMOS sensor and a DIGIC 5 image processor for fast operation and tremendous low light performance to an expanded ISO of 25600. A quickened 5.0fps continuous shooting ability and fast 9-point cross-type AF system are also supported by the performance of the DIGIC 5 processor. This combination of technologies also results in tremendous image quality with smooth color gradations and clarity for both images and videos.

Full HD 1080p video is supported and features a full-time Movie Servo AF system for continuous auto focusing while using live view to record movies. When using one of Canon's STM lenses, ultra-quiet and smooth performance is possible for fluid HD movie making. Additionally full manual sound and exposure control is supported, giving you a wide range of controls for handling your videos. For monitoring of videos and still imaging, a 3.0" Vari-angle touch screen LCD is incorporated and flips out and tilts for viewing from a wide variety of angles. The touch screen operation is highly intuitive and even allows you to control your focus points from the LCD.

The Scene Intelligent Auto Mode combines the essential auto modes with an intelligent EOS Scene Detection System to quickly and automatically determine the situation type you are working in and apply the necessary adjustments to render the scene correctly. Once the image has been captured, it will also apply enhancing techniques in order to improve skin tones and overall image coloration. Other creative modes include an HDR Backlight Control mode for improving the effective exposure value range of your image; a Handheld Night Scene mode which utilizes multi shot noise reduction techniques to give you improved low-light performance without the noise of high ISOs; and seven different creative filters to apply unique effects directly to your images in-camera.

The Rebel T4i is compatible with SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards and Canon's full line of EF and EF-S lenses.

18.0 Megapixel APS-C CMOS Sensor: The 18.0MP APS-C sensor provides high image quality and rich files exhibiting smooth color gradations, exceptional clarity and tonal range. It maximizes the light-gathering efficiency of each pixel and features center pixels that assist the Rebel T4i in delivering accurate AF performance. The maximum resolution affords plenty of room to make well-sized enlargements or crop into your images to focus on the details. The APS-C size sensor creates an effective 1.6x field of view when compared to full-frame 35mm format. ¹

Still Image Resolution: Max: 17.9 MP: 5184 x 3456
Medium: Approx. 8.00 Megapixels (3,456 x 2,304)
Small 1: Approx. 4.50 Megapixels (2,592 x 1,728)
Small 2: Approx. 2.50 Megapixels (1920 x 1280)
Small 3: Approx. 350,000 Pixels (720 x 480)
RAW: Approx. 17.90 Megapixels (5,184 x 3,456)

DIGIC 5 Image Processor: The DIGIC 5 image processor also helps to provide excellent image quality and high speed across the entire camera, enabling 5.0 fps continuous capture. This expedited processing helps to increase low-light sensitivity from ISO 100 to 12800 (and to an expanded ISO of 25600) while effectively reducing noise levels. This makes shooting possible in situations where it was previously unthinkable to shoot without flash. Paired with one of Canon's EF or EF-S lenses featuring Optical Image Stabilizer, the Rebel T4i is capable of recording gorgeous images even when light is scarce. The processor works with the CMOS sensor to create images with remarkable detail in a greater number of situations, without requiring artificial light sources. It enables the camera to perform sophisticated functions such as HDR Backlight Control, art filters, lens correction and much more. ²

ISO Speed Range: For Stills:
1. Manual setting range of ISO 100-12800, expansion to ISO 25600
2. Auto, ISO 100-6400 (in whole-stop increments)
In Creative Zone modes, the maximum ISO speed (ISO 400, 800, 1600, 3200, or 6400) for ISO Auto can be set
With C.Fn-6-1 (Highlight tone priority), ISO 200 or higher will be set

14-Bit A/D Conversion: The processor also supports 14-bit analog-to-digital conversion for richer, more vivid imagery. The T4i captures and records images with exceptional gradations and detail in subtle tones and colors, producing more lifelike and detailed pictures. By recording as many as 16,384 colors per channel, the T4i ensures that the fine detail found in subjects such as foliage, sky and water is maintained and recorded with an amazing level of accuracy, to ensure beautiful results.

STM Lens Support: When using one of Canon's STM lenses, Movie Servo AF will take full advantage of the stepping motor technology for smooth, quiet continuous auto focusing. This benefit is especially noticeable when recording HD video and proves to create a more fluid movie-making experience.

Enhanced EOS Full HD Movie Mode: The T4i features full HD movie recording capabilities in the 1080/30p, 24p, 25p (16:9); 720/60p, 50p (16:9); and 480/30p, 25p formats. The Movie Servo AF system provides continuous autofocus tracking of moving subjects during filming and when using live view. Manual exposure control and audio level adjustment are also supported, as is in-camera editing.

Recording Time: Using 8GB card: 1 hr 32 min @ 640x480, 22 min @ 1920 x 1080 or 1280 x 720

1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720: 330 MB/min.; 640 x 480: 82.5 MB/min.

Video Snapshot: Video Snapshot is a unique mode that captures short video clips of 2, 4 or 8 seconds and automatically combines them into one file, giving you a highlights album that requires no post-production or further editing. Thus, the compiled video is ready for sharing online or displaying right on your HDTV via the camera's HDMI port. Plus, stills are recordable during video shooting simply by pressing the shutter button. In playback, video clips in an album are now capable of being reordered or deleted.

3.0" Vari-Angle Touch Screen Clear View LCD Monitor II: This 3.0" LCD monitor with multi-touch operation and touch AF has a high resolution of 1,040,000-dots for high-definition monitoring and playback of your imagery. It features an aspect ratio of 3:2. The LCD boasts a viewing angle of 170° (vertical / horizontal), and the vari-angle capabilities allow the screen to flip out to the side then tilt up and down for use at a variety of angles, including front-facing for use with self-portraits. The touch screen functionality gives an intuitive experience when using this camera and even allows you to modify your focus positioning based on touch alone. Two finger touch gestures (multi-touch) are usable for zooming or changing images, menu and quick control settings are accessible, and focus point and shutter release can be activated with the mere touch of your fingertip. Because of new, durable construction between the monitor's resin-coated cover and the LCD, reflections are reduced and the display is viewable, without glare, from any number of angles. The Clear View coating gives a great deal of clarity, even in bright sunlight, and is also smudge-resistant. The LCD features both auto and manual brightness control.

Viewfinder: Eye-level SLR with fixed pentamirror, fixed focusing screen. Provides:
AF information: AF points and focus confirmation light
Exposure information: Shutter speed, aperture, ISO speed (always displayed), AE lock, exposure level, spot metering circle, exposure warning
Flash information: Flash ready, flash exposure compensation, high-speed sync, FE lock, red-eye reduction light
Image information: Highlight tone priority (D+), monochrome shooting, maximum burst (1-digit display), white balance correction, SD card information
Depth Of Field Preview: Enabled with depth-of-field preview button ³

9-Point Cross-Type Autofocus System: AF type: TTL-CT-SIR AF-dedicated CMOS sensor. Working Range: EV -0.5 - 18 (ISO 100). When shooting through the viewfinder, the 9-point cross type autofocus system provides quick and accurate results in either portrait or landscape orientation. A high-precision dual-cross f/2.8 center point gives the greatest accuracy and is utilized in spot metering as well as average metering modes. The AI Servo AF system achieves and preserves consistent focus with an amazing degree of reliability. Selected AF Point Display indicated via superimposed display in viewfinder and on LCD. Focusing Modes: One-Shot AF, Predictive AI Servo AF, AI Focus AF (switches between One-Shot AF and AI Servo AF). Manual focus also available. AF Point Selection: Manual, Auto; automatically set in Basic Zone modes ⁴

Hybrid CMOS AF: The Hybrid CMOS AF system allows for high speed focusing during shooting when using live view. Combining two distinct AF technologies--phase and contrast detection AF--the system enables faster and more precise autofocus. The pixels in the T4i's sensor aid these focusing technologies in predicting the location of your subject, thus making continuous focus tracking fast and accurate in video recording, and enhancing overall focusing speed.

Exposure Metering: Spot, Center-weighted average, Evaluative, Partial (9% of viewfinder)
EV 1.0 - EV 20.0 (at 73°F (23°C) with EF50mm f/1.4 USM lens, ISO 100)

Exposure Compensation: -5 to +5 EV in 1/3 steps or 1/2 EV steps
-/+5 for manual; -/+2 for AEB; +/-3 in 1/3-stop increments for video

Built-In Flash: Guide Number: Approx. 43' (13 m) at ISO 100
Up to 17 mm focal length
±2 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-stop

FE lock

Exposure compensation: Up to ±2 stops in 1/3 or 1/2-stop increments

For optional External Speedlite (not included), Flash Metering, Flash Exposure Compensation, and FE Lock info is same as for built-in flash

Shutter: 1/4000 to 1/60 sec., X-sync at 1/200 sec. (Scene Intelligent Auto), and 1/4000 to 30 sec., bulb, X-sync at 1/200 sec.; settable in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments
Lag: 0.075 sec between SW-2 ON and exposure start; 0.15 sec between simultaneous SW-1/SW-2 ON and exposure start; with the aperture stopped down by 3 stops or less. Excludes AF operation time
Shutter release: Soft-touch electromagnetic

High Speed 5.0 fps Continuous Shooting: The Rebel T4i is capable of capturing up to 5.0 images per second when shooting in continuous modes. This speed ensures you won't miss the shot when working in fast-paced environments such as sporting events, or situations where every moment counts, like getting the bride walking down the aisle. Thanks to enhancements in the shutter mechanism, the mirror drive and the sensor, the T4i is ready to catch all the action. ⁵

White Balance: Settings: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy (Twilight and Sunset), Tungsten Light, White Fluorescent Light, Flash, Custom (Custom: Approx. 2,000 - 10,000 K). Auto white balance with image sensor. Color Temperature Compensation / Correction: Blue/amber bias: ±9 levels, Magenta/green bias: ±9 levels (based on current WB mode's color temperature). Color Temperature Information Transmission: Provided

Multi Shot Noise Reduction: Multi shot noise reduction improves low-light shooting by essentially overlaying multiple, separate exposures on top of one another to build the image density and preserve detail. This mode effectively simulates high ISO performance without the increase of noise that goes along with it. It takes 4 consecutive shots, merges and aligns them, reducing more noise than the Rebel's traditional Noise Reduction filter, with little to no apparent loss of resolution. Subjects in motion are even optimized to reduce blur.

Built-In Stereo Microphone and Manual Audio Level Adjustment: An integrated stereo microphone and manual audio level adjustment help ensure that your audio will match the brilliant quality of your video. The wind filter feature minimizes wind noise when shooting outside. Sound recording levels can be manually (up to 64 different levels) or automatically controlled, and an integrated attenuator is also provided to reduce audio clipping. For more sophisticated audio recording, the Rebel T4i works with many third-party electret condenser microphones that have a 3.5mm diameter plug.

Live View Functions: Still photo shooting and video shooting
Autofocus: Face Detection + Tracking AF, FlexiZone - Multi (31 zones, AF at the touched Zone), FlexiZone - Single, Quick Mode AF
Manual focusing: Magnify the image by 5x or 10x and focus manually
Metering Modes: Evaluative metering, partial metering, spot metering, center-weighted average metering
Metering range: EV 0 to EV 20 (At 73°F (23°C), 50mm f/1.4 lens, ISO 100)
Grid Display, Exposure Simulation provided

Playback: Display Format: Single image display - Single image, basic information, detailed information, histogram display
Index display - 4-image index and 9-image index
Jump display (Image jump w/ Main Dial) - 1/10/100 images, shooting date, by folder, movies, stills, rating
Highlight Alert: On the detailed information and histogram displays, highlight areas with no image data will blink

Scene Intelligent Auto Mode: This intelligent mode combines numerous technologies (Picture Style Auto, Automatic Lighting Optimizer, Automatic White Balance, Autofocus, and Automatic Exposure) into one simple mode, allowing you to make optimal images with ease. The EOS Scene Detection system can automatically determine the shooting conditions you are in, taking into account faces, colors, brightness, moving objects, contrast, and even whether the camera is handheld or on a tripod, and apply these technologies to create the ideal exposure. The camera then further analyzes the resulting images and applies a series of enhancing features in order to better render colors and skin tones.

Picture Style: Auto, Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, User Defined 1-3

Advanced Imaging Features: Several image features allow you to manipulate the scenes in a variety of creative ways. Handheld Night Scene mode utilizes the multi shot noise reduction mode to allow you to shoot in low lighting and capture nightscapes with bright highlights and detailed dark areas--without the necessity of a tripod. By shooting and combining four consecutive shots at a shutter speed quick enough to prevent camera shake, Handheld Night Scene mode makes dramatic nighttime photography easy. HDR Backlight Control mode emulates high dynamic range techniques and extends the visual parameters of the image to include more shadow and highlight details in the image. It captures 3 consecutive shots at different exposures (underexposed, correctly exposed and overexposed) and then combines them, for a final result that preserves detail in both shadow and highlight areas for proper exposure. Seven different Creative Filters allow you to apply artistic effects directly to your images in-camera, including Grainy Black and White, Soft Focus, Fish-eye Effect, Toy Camera Effect, Miniature Effect, and now, Art Bold Effect, which makes photos look like an oil painting, with subjects appearing three-dimensional, and Water Painting Effect, altering images to look like a water-colored painting.

Additional Shooting Modes: Scene Intelligent Auto, Flash Off, Creative Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait

Lens Aberration Correction: An automatic corrective system can be employed in order to help reduce the effects of different lens aberrations. If there is light falloff detected towards the edges of the frame, the camera will automatically correct for this by evening out the exposure via the lens peripheral illumination correction feature. Additionally, a number of popular Canon lens' data is pre-programmed into the camera so it can quickly and automatically register settings according to the lens you are using. The T4i's chromatic aberration correction tool enables the correction of distracting color fringing at the time of shooting.

Feature Guide: A specific, helpful guide is integrated into the camera in order to help you learn about and determine which image settings to use in a given situation and how they affect your imagery. It is shown in each shooting mode, during mode dial operations, and for Quick Control screen functions, and appears automatically when a function is selected. This feature is enabled automatically, but can be disabled through the menu.

GPS Compatible: The Rebel T4i is compatible with the optional GP-E2 GPS receiver (not included). When connected to the hot shoe or through the accessory terminal, the receiver is capable of recording locational data, including latitude, longitude and altitude, to the metadata of your files for plotting to maps and reviewing your journey at home. You can even track the trajectory of movement with the receiver's logging function. An electric compass records the camera's orientation during every shot, and world time information is recorded via GPS syncing.

JPEG Resizing: You can conveniently resize your JPEG images to smaller formats in-camera. Keeping with the same aspect ratio and without modifying the original image, a new, smaller image will be saved to your memory card for expedited online use.

Photobook Setup: You can intuitively sequence and specify your images in-camera for printing out into a photobook. Your editing will be copied to a separate folder, ready for printing once at a computer.

Image Rating: For more expedited navigation through your images, you can rate your images on a scale from 1 to 5. Once images have been rated and sorted, browsing, printing and slide shows are a much more fluid experience.

Memory Card Compatibility: The Rebel T4i is compatible with SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards, including Ultra High Speed (UHS-I) cards. It also works with Eye-Fi SD cards, though is not guaranteed to support Eye-Fi functions, including wireless transfer. Eye-Fi cards are equipped with a Wi-Fi transmitter (IEEE 802.11b/g) and an internal antenna for wireless, high-speed image transfer. With an Eye-Fi card installed, the T4i is capable of displaying the Eye-Fi's connection status and error notes easily, enabling fully functional wireless uploading of images right from the camera.

Canon EF and EF-S Lens Compatibility: This camera is compatible with the full line of Canon's EF and EF-S lenses, ranging from ultra-wide angle to super telephoto lenses and encompassing the STM series that is optimized for video recording. Canon lenses utilize sophisticated optical expertise and micron-precision engineering to produce outstanding performance and gorgeous results. Special technologies like Canon's Image Stabilizer technology aid in reducing the effects of camera shake, effectively adding up to four stops of light and cutting back on blur for clearer images. With an array of lenses perfect for travel, sports, still life and everything in between at your disposal, you can really maximize the quality and performance of your T4i

Color Filter System: RGB primary color filters

Color Space: sRGB, Adobe RGB

Low Pass Filter: Fixed position in front of the CMOS sensor

File Numbering: Following 3 types of file numbering method can be set: Continuous numbering, where numbering of captured images continues even after replacing camera's card; Auto reset, where numbering will be reset to start from 0001 after replacing card (if card already contains images, numbering continues from last recorded image); and Manual reset, which resets file number to 0001 and automatically creates a new folder

Customization: Custom Functions: 8 Custom Functions with 24 settings available
My Menu Registration: Up to six top-tier menu options and Custom Function settings can be registered

Image Protection and Erase: Erase protection can be applied/canceled for a single image, all images in a folder, or all images on a card. Erase single image, erase selected images, erase all images on folder, erase all images on a card, or erase just unprotected images

Direct Printing: PictBridge-compatible printers
Printable images: JPEG images complying to Design rule for Camera File System; RAW images printable

DPOF: Digital Print Order Format: DPOF print ordering provided (Complies to DPOF Version 1.1). If both Standard and Index are set, only Standard will take effect for printing

Dust Deletion Feature: Self Cleaning Sensor Unit: Removes dust adhering to the low-pass filter. Self-cleaning executed automatically (taking approx. 2 sec.) when power turned on or off. Manual execution also possible (taking approx. 5 sec.)

Dust Delete Data acquisition and appending: The coordinates of the dust adhering to the low-pass filter are detected by a test shot and appended to subsequent images. Dust coordinate data appended to image is used by provided software to automatically erase dust spots

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Photography

Click here if you want to learn.

Canon T4i

Canon EOS 650D/Rebel T4i In-Depth Review

August 2012 | By Amadou Diallo with additional material by Andy Westlake

Preview based on a production Canon EOS 650D with firmware 1.0.1

The Canon EOD 650D / Rebel T4i is the company's latest addition to its novice-oriented 'Rebel' series. With more than two decades of continuous success in its film and digital incarnations, these little SLRs have been improved and refined to the point that Canon's biggest challenge is finding new ways to distinguish its updated models. Place the new EOS 650D / Rebel T4i alongside its predecessor, the EOS 600D / Rebel T3i, and the similarity in design and specifications may suggest nothing more than a nominal upgrade.
Indeed the headline specifications - 18MP CMOS sensor, 9-point AF sensor, 3:2 flip-out 1.04m dot screen are all familiar from the 600D. Look a bit closer, however, and each of these has been significantly improved, with an eye both to more seasoned users who demand SLR performance and compact camera upgraders who want a familiar feeling interface. The 650D also gains significance because it forms the basis of the Canon EOS M, the company's long-awaited entry into the mirrorless interchangeable lens market.
It is largely because of the rise of large sensor mirrorless models that in today's market an entry-level DSLR must offer more than just high image quality to entice compact camera upgraders. In the age of YouTube, quick and easy access to video recording capability is a must. And for users that are far more familiar with composing via an LCD screen than a viewfinder, live view performance is of no small concern. Of course the camera must still offer users a path to a more traditional DSLR-like experience, without which, they would be hard pressed to resist the temptation of a physically smaller 'mirrorless' camera.
The EOS 650D is Canon's attempt to meet these challenges head on, with new features aimed at improving its live view and video performance. It becomes Canon's first DSLR to offer continuous AF tracking while recording movies.
This is made possible by Canon's new 'Hybrid CMOS' sensor that now includes pixels dedicated to phase detection autofocus. The Hybrid AF system uses these to quickly set the lens to roughly the correct distance, then uses contrast detection AF to fine-tune focus. In theory, this should provide faster and more certain focusing for live view and video shooting compared to previous Canon models which rely on CDAF alone. You can read a more detailed explanation of this technology and see it in action on the AF performance page of this review.
The EOS 650D also becomes the first SLR from any manufacturer to feature a touchscreen. This is of the capacitive (contact sensitive) rather than resistive (pressure sensitive) type, behaving like that of a typical smartphone. In Live View and Movie modes the screen can be used to specify the point of focus and (optionally) release the shutter. It also supports iPhone-like multi-touch and gestures. The rear screen has been redesigned with no air gap between the display and cover glass in an attempt to reduce reflections and improve visibility in bright light. There's also an anti-smudge coating which aims to reduce the impact of its newfound touch-sensitivity.

Canon EOS 650D / Rebel T4i key features

18MP APS-C 'Hybrid CMOS' sensor
Phase detection AF from imaging sensor for Live View and Video
Continuous autofocus in movie mode with subject tracking
14-bit DIGIC 5 processor
ISO 100-12800 standard, 25600 expanded
5 fps continuous shooting
9 point AF system, all sensors cross type, central sensor F2.8 (from 60D)
63 zone iFCL metering
1080p30 video recording with built-in stereo mics
1.04m dot 3:2 touch-sensitive vari-angle ClearView II LCD (capacitive type, multi-touch support)

Additional improvements

The EOS 650D uses Canon's DIGIC 5 processor (as seen in the S100 and G1 X compacts), which helps enable a boost in the sensitivity range to ISO 12,800 (25,600 extended), and allows lens-specific corrections for chromatic aberration and vignetting in the camera's JPEG processing. The 'conventional' autofocus system for eye-level shooting is borrowed from the EOS 60D, and uses nine focus points which are now all cross-type, with the center point offering additional accuracy with fast lenses.
The camera also gains a built-in stereo microphone to provide sound for video, while retaining its predecessor's external microphone input. There are a couple of new scene modes, 'HDR Backlight' and 'Handheld Night Scene', both of which combine multiple exposures to give a final processed image. A four-exposure 'Multi Shot Noise Reduction' setting is also available in the PASM modes.
As is Canon's way, the EOS 650D doesn't directly replace the EOS 600D in the overall lineup. Instead the older model will remain in the line and effectively drop down a notch to the position currently occupied by the EOS 550D / Rebel T2i, which will be discontinued.

'STM' lenses: EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS and EF 40mm f/2.8 pancake

Canon EOS 650D with EF 40mm f/2.8 STM (mounted) and EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

Alongside the EOS 650D, Canon has introduced the 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM zoom and EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens. These two optics both use linear stepper motors for autofocus, hence their 'STM' designation. This type of motor is commonly used in lenses for mirrorless cameras as it offers the potential for fast, silent focusing during video recording, and is especially well-suited to working with contrast detection AF. However, this marks the first time this particular technology has been used in a conventional SLR system. Both lenses feature 'focus-by-wire' manual focus - as opposed to mechanically-coupled focus rings - and allow for full-time manual focus when the lens is set to AF mode, although only while the shutter button is held in the 'half-press' position.
The 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM is an EF-S lens for APS-C cameras that also features 'Dynamic IS' image stabilization, designed to compensate for the different patterns of camera movement encountered when shooting video (for example when walking with the camera). It is one of the EOS 650D's 'kit' lenses, along with the cheaper EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS II. It's a little smaller than Canon's existing EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens, and adds a helpful switch to lock the zoom at 18mm and prevent it from extending under its own weight when you're carrying it around. It's close-focus distance is also reduced to a pretty reasonable 39cm. Most significantly - for video shooters at least - this is the only kit lens option that is actually silent while focusing.
The EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake, meanwhile, becomes comfortably the smallest lens Canon makes, at about half the thickness of the EF 50mm f/1.8 II. It will also be sold as a kit with the EOS 650D in some regions (where it offers a slightly unconventional 64mm equivalent field of view), but Canon says it's aimed at least as much at EOS 5D Mark III owners. Indeed we can see it becoming a firm favorite with full-frame users, for whom it will offer a slightly wider than normal angle of view. One thing we dislike about its operation is that you can't retract the lens from an extended position without putting it on a powered-up camera, and the lens doesn't retract when the camera is turned off. If you want to take photos like a pro, Click here

Monday, October 1, 2012

Canon T4i Product Description

Product Description

Style: with 18-135mm EF-S IS STM Lens

From the Manufacturer

Inspiration On Demand

Canon is proud to introduce its most sophisticated Rebel ever—the EOS Rebel T4i DSLR! Built to make advanced photography simple and fun, the new Rebel T4i delivers phenomenal image quality, high performance, and fast, intuitive operation. This EOS Rebel amps up the speed with the powerful DIGIC 5 Image Processor that helps make high-speed continuous shooting of up to 5.0 fps possible—great for capturing fast action. An 18.0 Megapixel CMOS sensor ensures that every image is shot in superb, high resolution; and an extended ISO range of 100–12800 gives photographers the opportunities to take the Rebel T4i into more shooting situations than ever before. A 9-point all cross-type AF system (including a high-precision dual cross f/2.8 center point) delivers improved autofocus performance, and a new Hybrid CMOS AF System increases autofocus speed when shooting photos and video in Live View. For users interested in creating impressive videos, the Rebel T4i is ready to help you create your next masterpiece. Movie Servo AF provides continuous focus of moving subjects, so you never miss a moment. A built-in stereo microphone and manual audio level adjustment helps ensure that your audio will match the stunning quality of your video. First ever for an EOS Rebel, the Rebel T4i features a Vari-angle Touch Screen 3.0-inch Clear View LCD monitor II, which allows fast and intuitive camera operation. Add compatibility with Canon’s proven EF and EF-S lenses and a slew of EOS accessories, the Rebel T4i is an incredibly versatile tool for creating the images and videos you envision.

Amazing Capture and Processing Power

18.0 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) sensor

The EOS Rebel T4i features Canon’s amazing 18.0 Megapixel CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor. Perfect for enlargements or for cropping detailed portions of the composition, the EOS Rebel T4i’s sensor captures images with exceptional clarity and tonal range. This first-class sensor features many of the same new technologies used by professional Canon cameras to maximize each pixel’s light-gathering efficiency and has center pixels that aid in the EOS Rebel T4i’s accurate AF performance. This APS-C size sensor creates an effective 1.6x field of view (compared to 35mm format).

14-bit A/D Conversion

With 14-bit analog-to-digital conversion, the EOS Rebel T4i captures and records images with remarkable gradations and detail in subtle tones and colors, resulting in more realistic and detailed images. By recording up to 16,384 colors per channel the EOS Rebel T4i ensures that the fine detail found in subjects like foliage, sky and water are preserved and recorded with a tremendous level of accuracy, ensuring gorgeous results.

ISO 100–12800 and expandable to 25600 in H mode

Thanks to its new DIGIC 5 Image Processor, the EOS Rebel T4i features an expanded ISO range of ISO 100–12800 (expandable to 25600 in H mode) that makes shooting possible in situations previously unthinkable without flash. The Rebel T4i, with the DIGIC 5 Image Processor’s remarkable noise-reduction technology sets a new standard for Rebel cameras and low-light photography. Along with one of Canon’s EF or EF-S lenses with Optical Image Stabilizer, the EOS Rebel T4i can record beautiful images even when light sources are scarce.

DIGIC 5 Image Processor

The Rebel T4i is the first Rebel to feature Canon’s DIGIC 5 Image Processor. The DIGIC 5 Image Processor works with the camera’s CMOS sensor to deliver images with incredible detail in more situations, without the need for artificial light sources. With the power of the DIGIC 5 Image Processor the Rebel T4i can achieve higher ISO sensitivity, can shoot up to 5.0 fps continuously and can even perform advanced functions like HDR Backlight Control, art filters, lens correction and much more. The brilliant “brain” of the camera, this imaging engine supercharges every facet of still and moving image capture.

The Fastest Rebel Yet!

High-speed continuous shooting

A Rebel first, the EOS Rebel T4i can shoot up to 5.0 frames per second, continuously. Thanks to improvements in the shutter mechanism, the mirror drive and the camera’s sensor, the EOS Rebel T4i is ready for action; whether capturing that perfect expression, the game’s winning goal, or the bride walking down the aisle, the EOS Rebel T4i delivers the speed and performance to guarantee results.

Enhanced AF Systems Tailored for Perfect Stills and Video

Improved autofocus performance and new Hybrid CMOS AF

The EOS Rebel T4i is equipped with AF features that ensure speedy, accurate and continuous AF every time. When shooting through the viewfinder, the EOS Rebel T4i has improved autofocus with a new 9-point, all cross-type AF system (including high-precision dual-cross f/2.8 center point) for accurate focus whether the camera is oriented in portrait or landscape position. A new AI Servo AF system achieves and maintains consistent focus with an exceptional degree of reliability.
The EOS Rebel T4i features Canon’s amazing new Hybrid CMOS AF System, perfect for shooting photos and video in Live View. This new system combines two distinct AF technologies, phase and contrast detection AF, for speedier and more accurate focus. These complementary focusing systems are aided by pixels on the camera’s CMOS sensor that assist in predicting subject location; therefore making continuous focus tracking quick and accurate in video recording while enhancing focusing speed.

True HD Performance, Rebel Simplicity

Enhanced EOS Full HD Movie Mode with Movie Servo AF

The EOS Rebel T4i offers easy to use, professional video capture without compromise. Capable of shooting in a number of recording sizes and frame rates the Rebel T4i sets a whole new standard for performance, quality and simplicity. The Rebel T4i enables easy manual control of exposure, focus and Live View features, even in-camera editing! New Movie Servo AF allows continuous autofocus tracking of moving subjects while recording video. When shooting video with one of Canon’s new STM lenses, Movie Servo AF takes advantage of the lens’ stepping motor for smooth and quiet continuous AF. With an STM lens attached, the EOS Rebel T4i sets a new standard for SLR moviemaking performance!

Resolution & Recording Sizes	Frame Rates
Full HD 1920 x 1080 16:9 format	30 fps (29.97)
	25 fps – PAL standard
	24 fps (23.976)
HD 1280 x 720 16:9 format	60 fps (59.94)
HD 1280 x 720 16:9 format	50 fps – PAL standard
Standard Definition (SD) 640 x 480	30 fps (29.97)
Standard Definition (SD) 640 x 480	25 fps – PAL standard

Built-in stereo microphone, manual audio level adjustment

The EOS Rebel T4i has an internal stereo microphone for improved audio capture and a wind filter feature to reduce wind noise when shooting outdoors. Sound recording levels can be manually (up to 64 different levels) or automatically controlled. A built-in attenuator is also provided to reduce audio clipping. For more advanced audio recording, the Rebel T4i is compatible with many third-party electret condenser microphones with a 3.5mm diameter plug.

Video Snapshot

With the Video Snapshot feature, the EOS Rebel T4i DSLR can capture short video clips (of 2, 4 or 8 seconds) then combine them automatically into one video file as a snapshot or highlights â€œalbum.â€ With no editing needed after shooting, the compiled video is perfect for sharing online or displaying directly on an HDTV via the camera’s HDMI port. Additionally, stills can be recorded during video shooting simply by pressing the camera’s shutter button. During playback, video clips in an album can now be reordered or deleted.

Sharp and Clear, with Tactile Controls

New Vari-angle Touch Screen 3.0-inch Clear View LCD monitor II with multi-touch operation and Touch AF

The EOS Rebel T4i comes with a newly engineered, Vari-angle Touch Screen 3.0-inch Clear View LCD monitor II. Using the same capacitive technology as today’s popular mobile devices, this new screen is touch-sensitive and delivers intuitive touch panel operation. Two finger touch gestures (multi-touch) can be used for zooming or changing images, menu and quick control settings can be accessed, and focus point and shutter release can be activated with the touch of a fingertip. Displaying fine detail (at approximately 1.04 million dots), this screen is perfect for composing and reviewing images. Thanks to a new, solid construction between the monitor’s resin-coated cover and the liquid crystal display, reflections are minimized, and the display can be viewed, without glare, from any number of angles. The LCD’s surface is treated with a smudge-resistant coating to minimize fingerprints and maintain a bright, clear image display.

Complex Functions Made Simple

Scene Intelligent Auto mode

The EOS Rebel T4i features an enhanced Scene Intelligent Auto mode that incorporates a number of Canon technologies to deliver the best possible exposure. Joining Picture Style Auto, Automatic Lighting Optimizer, Automatic White Balance, Autofocus, and Automatic Exposure, Scene Intelligent Auto mode analyzes the image, accounting for faces, colors, brightness, moving objects, contrast, even whether the camera is handheld or on a tripod, and then chooses the exposure and enhancements that bring out the best in any scene or situation.

New Effects for Dramatic and Gorgeous Results

Handheld Night Scene mode

Accessible right on the EOS Rebel T4i’s Mode Dial, Handheld Night Scene mode captures nightscapes with bright highlights and detailed dark areas, delivering results previously impossible without the use of a tripod. By shooting and combining four consecutive shots at a shutter speed fast enough to avoid camera shake, the EOS Rebel T4i’s Handheld Night Scene mode makes dramatic nighttime photography simple.

HDR Backlight Control mode

The EOS Rebel T4i’s HDR Backlight Control mode ensures that backlit subjects are not recorded too dark. By shooting three consecutive shots at different exposures (underexposed, correctly exposed and overexposed) and then combining the images, the final result maintains detail in both the shadow and highlight areas, ensuring the backlit subject is properly exposed.

Seven Creative Filters, plus new Art Bold Effect and Water Painting Effect

To add to the fun and creative possibilities available with the EOS Rebel T4i, seven different creative filters that can dramatically alter the mood and visual effect of any particular scene. Creative Filters include Grainy Black and White, Soft Focus, Fish-eye Effect, Toy Camera Effect, Miniature Effect and new filters, Art Bold Effect (makes the photos look like an oil painting, with subjects appearing three-dimensional), and Water Painting Effect (photos are altered to look like a water-colored painting). Since the filters can be applied to the image after shooting, it’s easy to try several effects on the same shot.

Cleaner Images, Even at High ISO

Multi Shot Noise Reduction

To enhance its already admirable high ISO shooting capabilities, the EOS Rebel T4i features an intelligent Multi Shot Noise Reduction tool that reduces noise even further than the camera’s sensor and the DIGIC 5 Image Processor alone. With Multi Shot Noise Reduction activated, the camera takes four consecutive shots, merges and aligns them. This eliminates more noise than the Rebel’s traditional Noise Reduction filter, with little or no apparent resolution loss. Moving subjects are even optimized to minimize subject blur! Thanks to this clever new feature, high ISO shooting has never looked better.

Flexible and Reliable Recording

Compatibility with SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards, including new Ultra High Speed cards

The EOS Rebel T4i uses popular SD, SDHC, SDXC and is even compatible with the newest Ultra High Speed (UHS-I) memory cards. Compact and available in large capacities, SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards are a perfect complement to the EOS Rebel T4i’s compact design.
Additionally, the EOS Rebel T4i is compatible with Eye-Fi∗ SD cards, which are outfitted with a Wi-Fi® transmitter (IEEE 802.11b/g) and an internal antenna for wireless, high-speed transfer of images. With an Eye-Fi card installed, the EOS Rebel T4i can display the Eye-Fi’s connection status and error notes with ease, for fully functional wireless uploading of images directly from the camera.
∗Canon cameras are not guaranteed to support Eye-Fi card functions, including wireless transfer. In case of an issue with the Eye-Fi card, please consult with the card manufacturer. The use of Eye-Fi cards may not be available outside the United States and Canada; please contact the card manufacturer for territory availability.

A Comprehensive System of Optics Perfect For Video and Stills

Compatible with EF and EF-S lenses

The EOS Rebel T4i is compatible with all Canon lenses in the EF lineup, including compact and lightweight EF-S lenses, ranging from ultra-wide angle to super telephoto lenses and including the new STM series optimized for video shooting. Canon lenses employ advanced optical expertise and micron-precision engineering to deliver outstanding performance and deliver beautiful results. Special technologies like Canon’s Image Stabilizer technology help to minimize the effect of camera shake, effectively adding up to four stops of light; STM lenses even feature a stepping motor for smooth and quiet continuous autofocus while capturing video. With an array of lenses perfect for travel, sports, still life and everything in between, photographers can truly maximize the quality and performance of their EOS Rebel T4i.

More Features for Increased Versatility

Lens Aberration Correction

The EOS Rebel T4i features lens correction tools that compensate for lens characteristics that can affect overall image quality. The EOS Rebel T4i’s lens peripheral illumination correction feature corrects light falloff in the corner of the image according to the characteristics of the lens being used. It even has correction data for a number of popular lenses stored in its memory. With the EOS Rebel T4i’s new chromatic aberration correction tool, distracting color fringing can be corrected at the time of shooting.

Feature Guide

To help explain the specific function of features found on the EOS Rebel T4i, the feature guide displays a simple description helpful in determining the applicability for the situation at hand. It is displayed in each shooting mode, during mode dial operations, and for Quick Control screen functions. It appears automatically when a function is selected—a lifesaver when trying to determine the best mode or function for the next picture. The feature guide works automatically by default, and can be disabled easily through the camera’s menu.

GPS Compatible

With the optional GPS Receiver GP-E2 attached to the hot shoe or the digital terminal, the EOS Rebel T4i can record location, including latitude, longitude and altitude, plus can track the trajectory of movement with its logging function. An electric compass records the camera’s orientation during each shot, and world time information is recorded through GPS syncing.

JPEG Resizing

To create images suitable for sharing by email or online, the EOS Rebel T4i can resize JPEG files, in camera, of varying pixels (aspect ratio cannot be changed, only the image size can be decreased) while leaving the original image untouched.

Photobook Set-up

Photographers can share their images in book form with the EOS Rebel T4i’s convenient Photobook Set-up feature. Users can easily choose specific images, images in a folder and even all images, then specify their sequence and layout. The results can be printed in book form, with ease.

Image Rating

To help organize images recorded to the camera’s storage, the EOS Rebel T4i makes it simple to rate individual images from one star to five. Therefore, image browsing, printing and slide shows can be based upon those ratings.

Product Description

Canon T4i vs Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200 24.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR NIKKOR Zoom Lens (Red)

Overview: Entry-level Nikon, Cost = $699 includes 18-55 lens with VR (image stabilization) Comes in Red or Black with 3″ LCD screen, Battery life rated at 540 shots

Still info – 24MP, ISO Auto – 6400 (12,800 w/ boost), 11 focus points, center point is cross type(most accurate), 4 frames per second

Video info - 1920 x 1080 (30,25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps), Mono Mic with external mic jack, continuous AF during filming.

My Thoughts – The sensor in the Nikon D3200 is excellent, one of the best crop sensors ever tested by DxO mark folks, second only to a pentax. The built in guide mode does a good job of holding your hand and teaching you the basics of DSLR shooting while actually using the camera. Still lacks an in body focus motor which means that it will not Autofocus with all nikon lenses, especially older ones but I think this is much less of an issue than I made it out to be three years ago. The video focus is on the slow side and it can certainly hunt for for focus while filming, this can be heard through the on board mono mic. Using an external mic will obviously give you much better audio and lessen the noise from the lens as it focuses. Buy this is you care more about stills and want video as an after thought. For $700 you are getting some excellent image quality (IQ) but to really take advantage of it you will need to consider other lenses like the affordable but excellent quality 35mm f/1.8

Canon EOS Rebel T4i 18.0 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm EF-S IS II Lens

Overview: Step above entry-level, Cost $949 includes 18-55 lens with IS (image stabilization, comes in black with 3″ articulating touchscreen, Battery life rated at 440 shots

Still info – 18MP, ISO Auto – 12,800 (25600 w/ boost), 9 focus points all cross type, 5 frames per second, wireless flash control

Video info - 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps), Stereo Mic with external mic jack, continuous AF during filming (silent when paired with the two new STM lenses)

My Thoughts – Canon has now produced three Rebels at the 18MP mark, this sensor is paired with a new processor allowing for better high ISO images and has the added benefit of phase and contrast detection which makes focusing while video faster and more reliable. That coupled with the new STM lenses, one of which is quite affordable, makes this a potentially very exciting video machine for pros. Parents should also appreciate the stereo mic, you don’t need any extra doo-dads to get good audio. If you have an older Rebel and or a collection of Canon lenses it is certainly a worthy upgrade and offers both still shooters and budding videographers lots of room to grow but the D3200 is going to give you better image quality and slightly better high ISO for $250 less. You are giving up the articulated touch screen, better video with stereo and the ability to focus silently if you pick up those STM lenses in the future.

Final Thoughts – It is difficult to discuss these two cameras in a vacuum, there are plenty of other offerings in the price range of $650 – $1000 that will get you similar features.

For more comparisons look at The T3i and T2i comparison, The Giant chart of T4i, D3200, A37, G3 comparisons, and the JD Power Survey of DSLRS,

Canon Rebel T4i / 650D – Introduction

The Canon T4i is the latest addition to Canon’s EOS camera lineup. Since the EOS 300D, the xxD DSLR cameras are the most popular DSLR cameras in the world, and what gave Canon its great success in the digital photography business.

In a nutshell,The T4i/650D is equipped with a 18MP Hybrid CMOS sensor (will talk about this soon), 14-bit DIGIC 5 processor, ISO 100-12800 (expanded up to 25600), 9-pont AF sensor, a large 3-inch 1.04M-dots vari-angle Toucn-Sensitive display with multi-touch support. The camera can shoot at 5 fps in burst mode and record 1080p30 videos with stereo sound and continuous autofocus with subject tracking.

Canon really wanted to take this 650D / T4i not one step, but a few steps forward. The competition from Nikon’ DSLR cameras and the Mirrorless cameras don’t make the life any easier. Canon had to come up with a vastly improved camera in order to convince photographers that it can innovate like the other companies. I personally think that beginners and enthusiast photographers just won’t accept any other average DSLR camera. It has been too long since we’ve seen Canon implementing unique features in its entry-level cameras. I was even convinced that it’s better for many people to grab a Micro Four Thirds over an entry-level DSLR. Can Canon make us re-think our decision and purchase the new 650D / T4i over the competition?

Upper Entry-level cameras like the 650D are targeted to beginners and enthusiast alike. People that might want to start with a less expensive camera and update as they grow. The Canon already has the 1100D, it’s most basic DSLR camera. The T4i is certainly a few steps a head of that model, and with its new features, it really looks like a completely unique camera in the EOS lineup. The all idea is to have a camera with all the features that enthusiast might want, although not in the same build-quality and performance of the more expensive models (ie. 60D, 7D, 5D Mark III, etc.).

My first DSLR camera was the 400D, and I had such a great time shooting with it. Of course we’ve become spoiled when it comes to features. Most of us don’t need all the latest specs to shoot great images, but let’s admit it, there are here because they are useful, cool and can help beginners shoot better photos and videos too. In the days of mobile phone cameras, it seems that you need to put out more innovative products that can convince people to purchase your new products. The touch-sensitive screen is one of those features.

OK, let’s take a look at the Canon Rebel T4i / EOS 650D key features and see why you should be excited that this camera is released

STILL WORKING OUT THE DETAILS!

So you’re ready for a new consumer DSLR? Me too! I’m excited by a few rumors which I’ll cover in this Canon T4i review, maybe T4i preview would be more acurate? I’ll stop asking questions now and get on to what I’ve learned about this new camera.

The first feature I think about when I ask myself what’s missing from the T3i is an autofocus option while in video mode. I mean really, are consumer camera buyers expected to be able to focus on the fly, especially with some of the previous lenses that made manual focus pretty awkward. My fingers are crossed on this one, come on Canon!

Speaking of the lens… The word on the street is that a new version of the 18-135mm EF-S kit lens will be available along with the Canon T4i. This new lense is supposed to have silent autofocus. Personally I don’t care about silent focus, I just want great image quality and smooth operation. But I’m just one person writing a Canon T4i review, I suppose some photographers are concerned about the amount of noise their equipment produces.

There’s been reports of a new 24 MP sensor along with the DIGIC-5 image processor. In respect to DIGIC-5, bring it on! As for a 24 MP sensor… whatever. The old 18 MP is plenty for nearly any application this camera could be reasonably expected to handle. I’d just like to see reduced noise when shooting in low light with higher ISOs and a higher resolution sensor won’t be helping with that. When I actually get one of these in my hands my Canon T4i review score will depend highly on high ISO noise performance – I’m not a fan of flash. Lucky for me, the more recent reports claim that the T4i will retain an 18 MP sensor. We’ll have to wait and see on this one.

Now to the touch screen display. WHAT?!?! Yep, you heard that right, touch screen display! I don’t know if I care or not. I mean sure that sounds cool, but will it improve the experience or just be annoying? If it works as well as, say an iPhone, then bring it on. But if it’s going to be “iffy” I’ll stick with the directional pad and buttons. Not that a touch screen would mean you’d lose these things, of course.

It seems like everything these days has WiFi. I’d love to tell you in this Canon T4i review that WiFi will definitely be included. I can’t quite do that, but what I can do is say that it is HIGHLY rumored to be (whatever that means)! I would love to be able to access images on my Rebel T4i without searching for cables and going through that process… It just makes so much sense. Come on Canon, I really want this one!

ENDING THE CANON T4I REVIEW

To sum things up, the best guess about the T4i’s features is currently: a new silent lens with an awesome focal length range, a fancy touch screen display, DIGIC-5, and WiFi! I’m sure there’ll be some new video features thrown in there as well.

What Canon T4i review would be complete without a little intrigue? A Canon EOS 650D book was mistakenly released for pre-sale on Amazon recently, with a release date of May 17th. Of course it was promptly removed once the mistake was discovered! To me that means we’re looking at a Canon T4i release date on or before May 17th!

Visit the Canon site.

Image of the front of the Canon T4i. This is a T3i until I get a real photo!

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Canon T3i review

18.00 Megapixels	Canon EF, EF-S	3.0 inch LCD

Review Summary: Staking out the high end of the Rebel line, the Canon T3i shares the excellent image quality of its predecessor (the T2i), and offers the articulating LCD, remote flash control, and creative filters also found in the 60D. With Full HD video support, fast autofocus, and good quality optics, the Canon EOS Rebel T3i is easy to recommend.

Pros: Excellent image quality; Good grip; Full HD video recording; Swiveling LCD; Very fast autofocus; HDMI output.

Cons: Slow frame rate for sports shooting; Tendency to overexpose in bright sunlight; Live View AF is slow; No microfocus adjustment.

Price and Availability: The Canon Rebel T3i shipped from early March 2011, priced at US$799.99 body-only, US$899.99 with the 18-55mm IS II kit lens, and US$1,099.99 with the 18-135mm IS kit lens.

Canon EOS Rebel T3i Review

by Shawn Barnett, Dave Etchells, Zig Weidelich, and Mike Tomkins
Hands-on Preview Posted: 02/07/2011
Test shots from production sample (with updated crops): 03/30/2011
Review Posted: 08/11/2011

Just as the Canon 60D was aimed squarely at the Nikon D90 and D7000, the new Canon Rebel T3i has the D5000 and D5100 in its sights. We've now spent quite a lot of time with the Canon T3i, which sports a swiveling LCD screen and a slightly heftier build, and both looks and feels a little more serious than past models. Bundled with a new 18-55mm IS II kit lens, or the 18-135mm IS lens that's also available with the 60D, the new T3i looks and feels like its prosumer sibling, except for the grip spacing. It'll be ideal for those with small to medium hands, but those with larger hands might be more comfortable with the 60D.

Indeed, the major differences between the T3i and 60D are few. It's down to frame rate (3.7 vs. 5.3 fps), maximum shutter speed (1/4,000 vs. 1/8,000), AF sophistication (only one cross-type vs. all nine cross-type), viewfinder size (0.85x vs. 0.95x), buffer depth, battery type, and grip size. There are other, more minor differences, but those are the big items. As such, the T3i seems like a pretty good deal.

Compared to the T2i, the T3i adds the swivel screen, the new lens, more reduced-resolution JPEG options, and an Auto Picture Style mode. The Canon T3i (body with battery and card) also weighs a little more than the T2i, coming in at 20.6 ounces (583g) compared to the T2i's 18.5 ounces (525g). As mentioned, it's a few millimeters larger in all dimensions: 133.1 x 99.5 x 79.7, compared to 128.8 x 97.5 x 75.3. Some of those differences will matter, and I think many fans of swivel screens will opt for the T3i, while those who don't like them can settle happily into a T2i without feeling like they're missing a lot.

Walkaround. At a glance, the Canon T3i looks very much like the 60D. That's especially true when I have the 18-135mm lens mounted, which feels quite at home on the T3i. Even picking it up, though the grip is smaller, the texture is very much like the 60D's, which is very grippy with a good leather feel.

With the new 18-55mm lens attached, the T3i is much lighter. On the front we find the usual fare: an aggressively canted shutter button, an IR remote port on the front, and a self-timer lamp all in close proximity. On the right there's the flash release button, a four hole microphone grill, the lens release button, and the depth-of-field preview button. Not too different from the T2i at this point.

The top of the Canon T3i, too, is pretty similar to the T2i, with changes on the Mode dial and a new Display button just left of the ISO button. The purpose for this seems to be to turn off the rear LCD display when you're approaching the optical viewfinder, preventing night blindness, since the infrared switch is now missing from the rear of the camera.

The IR proximity sensor was displaced, of course, by the addition of the Canon T3i's 3-inch Vari-angle screen, whose specs match those of the 60D's LCD: 3:2 aspect ratio, 1,040,000-dot resolution, scratch-resistant fluorine coating, and the ClearView display technology that sandwiches a layer of optical elastic material between the coverglass for a remarkably crisp image both indoors and out. Controls on the back are a little smaller compared to those on the T2i, as they've had to move over a bit to make room for the hinge and frame around the LCD. The Menu button is off to the left for thumb actuation, and the Info. button is where the old Display button used to be. Otherwise, buttons are in the generally same position, a bonus for those upgrading from a T2i. There's also a little less of a thumbpad, but the design still allows for a secure hold.

When in all but Movie mode, the small round button just right of the viewfinder serves as the Live View activation button; when in Movie mode, you use this button to start and stop recording. You cannot start recording a movie when in still capture modes, but you can capture a still image while shooting a movie. You can also autofocus while shooting a movie. More on Movie mode below.

The Canon T3i isn't necessarily a compelling upgrade for T2i owners, but it does offer a lot for those who might have been considering a 60D for its swivel screen and more advanced Movie mode. It feels a little more substantial in the hand than the T2i.

Sensor and processor. There's little new about the Canon T3i's sensor and processor combination. Representatives mentioned that they've again reduced the gap between the microlenses, as they've said many times in the past, but they were declared gapless a few versions back, so it's tough to know how much more gapless they can get. We're guessing that it's the same four-channel readout as is found in the T2i's sensor, as the frame rate is the same 3.7 frames per second rating. (We measured 3.6 fps for L/F JPEG or RAW, 3.3 for RAW+L/F JPEG.) Maximum image size in pixels is 5,184 x 3,456, with a pixel pitch of 4.3µm.

According to Canon, the Rebel T3i's DIGIC 4 processor and buffer enables capture of about 34 large/fine JPEG images, six RAW frames, and four RAW+JPEG frames. With our tough compression target, we measured only nine, five, and three frames respectively. DIGIC 4 also allows capture of 14-bit RAW images, and the 8-bit JPEGs are created from 14-bit data.

Peripheral illumination correction. Vignetting, a darkening of the corners produced by some lens designs, is reduced via Peripheral Illumination Correction in the Canon T3i. Using a database of lenses, the amount of correction is customized for each lens mounted. Selecting the item from the menu brings up a screen where you can see which lens the camera detected, and whether correction data is available. You can then choose to disable the correction if the wrong lens is showing (as sometimes happens with non-Canon lenses), or else re-enable it.

Autofocus. The Canon T3i offers nine-point focusing with a central cross-type f/2.8 focus point and eight single-axis points. Though the number of AF points is the same as the 60D, the later has a significant advantage in that all of its AF points are cross-type, which are sensitive to both horizontal and vertical detail. The focusing screen is of the etched variety, with boxes surrounding dots, which light up red to confirm focus.

Metering. The Canon T3i inherits Canon's latest metering system, previously seen in the EOS 7D, T2i, and 60D. It's a 63-zone iFCL sensor, which stands for Intelligent Focus, Color, and Luminance metering. The name hints at how the sensor works: the iFCL chip has a dual-layer design with each layer sensitive to different wavelengths of light, allowing subject color to be taken into account when determining exposure. Information on focusing points is also taken into account in metering calculations. In this area, the Canon T3i, T2i, and 60D's iFCL chip differs from that of the EOS 7D.

ISO Expansion. The Canon T3i has an expanded sensitivity range, from a minimum of ISO 100 to a maximum of ISO 12,800. You have to enable ISO Expansion via a Custom Function setting. Instead of offering EV compensation from -2.0 to +2.0 as do some cameras, the T3i offers a much wider +/-5.0EV exposure compensation range.

CA and A+. CA mode is relatively familiar, giving the more novice user an easy way to adjust the exposure, flash, resolution, drive mode, and Picture Style. Setting aperture and shutter speed are converted to simpler concepts of background blur (blurred or sharp), and exposure level (darker or brighter) with a slider that's adjusted with the Main dial. The more complex exposure decisions remain under the Canon T3i's control in CA mode. The exposure slider is the more useful, standing in as a more comprehensible EV adjustment.

What's new is the Auto+ mode (A+ on the Mode dial), which is similar to Smart Auto on Canon PowerShot cameras. Employing what Canon calls EOS Scene Detection Technology, the new setting replaces the old "Green Zone" Auto icon. Auto+ combines information from five of the Canon T3i's systems, including Auto Exposure, Autofocus, Auto White Balance, Auto Lighting Optimizer, and Picture Style Auto into one smart exposure mode, according to Canon.

Picture Style Auto is a separate setting of its own, naturally selected as one of the Picture Styles, which you can bring up either via the down arrow on the back of the camera or through the Quick menu, or even the main menu. With this new setting, the camera will consider the scene and change the Picture Style accordingly.

Live View. Of course, the Canon T3i offers Live View mode, a fairly mature mode at this point, with contrast-detect focus as well as Quick AF focus, which uses the camera's phase-detect autofocus system. It seems pretty full-featured as Live View modes go. You can move the AF point around, you can switch between Contrast-detect and Phase-detect (Quick AF) modes, and you can even zoom in to 10x. Activating it is as easy as pressing the Live View/Record button on the back.

The Canon T3i has the best excuse for using Live View mode: its swiveling LCD screen, which allows you to compose images from odd angles. You won't want to use it all the time, because both autofocus methods are slower than autofocusing through the optical viewfinder, but when you need it, both the swiveling LCD and Live View mode are ready for action. Be aware that Live View mode also burns through battery life, typically cutting the number of shots per charge by more than half.

Movie mode. While the T2i included significant upgrades to Movie mode, the Canon T3i receives only a few, as the former's offering was pretty complete. We're talking Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 pixels at 24, 25, and 30 frames per second. 720p is available at 50 and 60 fps and VGA video is recorded at 30 and 25 fps.


1080p at 30 fps. (68.5MB download.)	720p at 60 fps. (81.5MB download.)

Movie Crop mode has been enhanced from the T2i's offering, now called Video Digital Zoom, which allows a cropped zoom from between three and 10x magnification in 1080p resolution at all frame rates. You have to enable it from the Movie Record Size menu option, and when you do, it starts out zoomed to 3x. From there, you can zoom in to 10x and back out smoothly, with no steps in-between. (Note that camera shake can be quite an issue when in Video Digital Zoom mode, particularly as you get out to 10x. A tripod definitely makes sense.)

Video Snapshot. A new video mode imported from the PowerShot line is designed to help you shoot and create very simple videos in short segments. Set the mode to shoot 2, 4, or 8-second snapshots during the day, and the Canon T3i will splice the snippets into a movie. You can also add a soundtrack. Just set the mode in the Quick menu screen, or on the Movie Record Menu 2. Select among Disable, or 2, 4, or 8 seconds. When enabled, pressing the Movie Record button records a fixed-length segment, rather than the normal toggle on/off behavior. Clips of the same length will be combined by the camera into albums. After shooting each clip, you have the option to add to the existing album, save to a different album, playback the latest snapshot, or delete without saving to an album. You can also edit the Video Snapshot albums on the included Video Snapshot Task software included on the software disk.

Choose among five standard background music tracks, or you can import your own music to the SD card via the EOS utility.

Audio level control. Omitted from Canon's early video-capable SLRs, an audio level control is included on the Canon T3i. Users can adjust levels with very fine-grained control (the scale has 5 tic marks on it for reference, but the record level varies smoothly), and apply a wind filter, or they can opt for letting the camera adjust the levels automatically. The level-indicator bar graph shows levels for both stereo channels, and operates like a standard VU meter, with an indicator for the peak level that persists for a few seconds. You can see the peak level indicated in the screenshot at right by the pair isolated dots towards the right of the bar. The two frames show the result of dialing down the sensitivity with roughly the same sound level presented.

Creative filters. First introduced on the 60D are a series of Creative Filter functions, similar to those seen previously in the company's PowerShot compact camera models, and fairly common in digital SLRs from rival manufacturers. The Canon T3i's creative filters include Soft Focus, Grainy Black & White, Toy Camera effect (which has strong vignetting and some color shift), Miniature Effect (which simulates shallow depth of field by applying a graduated blur near opposite edges of the image), and a new Fisheye mode for simulating the distortion seen through a fisheye lens. The strength of each effect is adjustable, as is the angle of the Miniature effect. Unlike filters available from other companies, Canon's creative filters are only applied after capture, and are not available for videos.

Multi Aspect. The Canon T3i also offers a selection of aspect ratio settings in-camera, allowing photographers to shoot their images with a specific print format in mind, avoiding the need to manually crop images in post-processing. Called Multi Aspect mode, the Canon T3i can shoot in the native 3:2, or 4:3, 16:9, and 1:1.

Flash. Like all Canon consumer SLRs, the T3i has a pop-up flash, with an X-sync of 1/200 second and a guide number of 43 feet (13m) at ISO 100. It lacks a PC Sync terminal, a feature that mostly studio photographers use for their lighting setups, something we really don't expect from a Rebel, but did miss on the new 60D. What the Canon T3i's pop-up flash does have for those interested in experimenting with lighting is the ability to function as a wireless flash controller, or as Canon calls it, an Integrated Speedlite Transmitter.

The mode is new to the Rebel line, and includes the ability to control up to two groups of flashes, selecting from among four channels, using a ratio spread from 8:1 and 1:8. It's not quite as thorough as the mode found on the Canon 7D, which can control up to three groups with considerably more nuance, but it's nice that it's there all the same. There's also an Easy Wireless mode that gives you just one channel and one group and the ability to adjust flash power via exposure compensation. Attach a 580EX II and you can set up wireless control for up to three groups right from the back of the camera, which works a whole lot better than using the confounding interface on most Canon flashes.

New flashes. Canon also announced two new flashes designed to appeal to the Rebel T3i user, with size and functions to match. The 270EX II is an upgrade to the 270EX introduced with the T1i. The new design still zooms and tilts vertically for bounce flash, and includes a more prominent LED ready lamp on the back, as well as a Slave setting, so it can serve as a small slave flash, activated by the Canon T3i's built-in flash, or by any other compatible flash in the Canon wireless flash system. When used in wireless mode, the Canon 270EX II can only serve in A group, and responds to all channels. It comes with a small foot to hold the flash, as well as attach it to a tripod. But wait, there's more: the Canon 270EX II can also serve as a remote control for the camera. Just put the T3i into remote mode, press the button on the right side of the flash, and the camera fires in two seconds. With the Canon T3i in wireless flash mode, we were able to get the 270EX to both trigger the shutter and fire as a flash under command of the Integrated Speedlite Transmitter, a potentially handy trick. It's a nice touch for a small pocketable flash, making it twice as useful, and twice as important to bring along. It runs on two AA batteries and retails for US$169.99.

The second new flash, the Canon 320EX, takes a retro approach to flash design, while simultaneously acknowledging a new need among the latest digital SLRs: It includes a very bright LED for shooting video. The LED covers the area of a 50mm lens on a full frame sensor, or 32mm on an APS-C sensor camera like the T3i. The color temperature range of the LED varies from 4,500 to 6,500 Kelvin, at 75 lux. It offers up to 3.5 hours of continuous shooting and has a range of 1 meter at ISO 3,200 with the lens at f/5.6.

The 320EX bridges the gap between the 270EX II and the 430EX II above it by also offering a manually zooming flash head that swivels and tilts for bounce flash. On the back, instead of a convoluted digital interface, you'll find analog switches for setting up the 320EX as a wireless slave flash. Just like the 270EX II, the 320EX can also serve as a wireless infrared remote trigger. The Canon 320EX runs on four AA batteries and retails for US$249.99.

HDMI output. The Canon T3i has a the same HDMI-CEC compatibility as the T2i, which not only allows you to play back your images on your HDTV, it also allows you to control the camera's Playback functions via the Consumer Electronics Protocol (CEC). Be aware, though, that you'll need to purchase a separate HDMI to mini-HDMI (Type C) adapter or cable. The cables are about $50 at retail stores, though much cheaper online; the adapters are cheaper too, but harder to find.

The Canon T3i also includes a 3.5mm stereo mic jack, a wired remote port, and a combined AV Out / USB port.

Lenses. Canon's EF-S 18-55mm lens included in the less expensive T3i kit is a revision of the last image-stabilized version. Now called the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II, the new lens claims up to four stops of stabilization effectiveness, and has a "leathertone" texture. The new lens will be available for sale separately, and has a suggested retail price of US$200.

Opting for the more expensive kit gets you the more versatile EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens, equivalent to a 29-216mm lens on a full-frame 35mm camera. Note that the lens is not USM (ultrasonic motor) drive, so it makes a little noise while focusing, but it's really not bad. We tested the lens on SLRgear.com, so check out our EF-S 18-135mm review if you'd like to know more, as well as read reviews from other users.

Storage and battery. The Canon T3i can accept SD, SDHC, and SDXC memory cards, as well as Eye-Fi wireless cards.

The camera uses the same LP-E8 battery pack used by the T2i which is CIPA rated for 440 shots in the T3i. And though the Canon T3i is slightly larger than the T2i, it uses the same battery grip, model BG-E8.

Availability. The Canon Rebel T3i started shipping in early March 2011, priced at US$799.99 body-only, US$899.99 with the 18-55mm IS II kit lens, and US$1,099.99 with the 18-135mm IS kit lens.

Shooting with the Canon T3i

by Shawn Barnett

I'm one of the potential customers who would struggle deciding between a Canon T3i and 60D. Having just wrapped up the Canon 60D review a week before, I had more than a few deja vu moments while working with the T3i on our first encounter. Though the grip size is quite a bit smaller, it's so grippy it felt similar. The appearance of the two cameras is also similar thanks to the T3i's larger profile.

Where I noticed a bigger difference was in the tell-tale sound of the shutter when it fired: The Rebel T3i still makes a loud winding sound, while the 60D just clicks. Mirror blackout time is also shorter on the 60D. Since I shot the Canon T3 at the same time, its longer blackout time of 150ms and comparatively sluggish winding sound was also a stark contrast to the quicker T3i at 130ms. I was happy with the T3i, but still prefer the 60D with its even faster 100ms blackout time.

Wide and Tele. The 18-135mm image-stabilized lens is equal to a 29-216mm lens on a 35mm camera.

The viewfinder of the Canon T3i is also quite a bit tighter than the 60D, and technically should appear dimmer than the 60D, as it uses a pentamirror rather than a pentaprism to bring the light to your eye, but I'm so used to shooting with small viewfinders I really didn't even notice.

I liked the Canon T3i's swivel screen, though I confess that I forgot to use it more often than not; indeed, shooting in Live View mode still doesn't often occur to me, even though I use mirrorless cameras about half the time these days. When I feel an SLR in my hand, I naturally want to bring it to my eye to compose images. I came to find the LCD essential for videos, though.

Autofocus is good and fast on the T3i when shooting through the viewfinder in its normal phase-detect mode, 0.16 second according to our test of a production model, which is smokin' fast, especially for auto-select autofocus. Choose an AF point, and you're actually penalized somewhat, with a reduction to 0.28 second. Shooting in Live View is a little slower. Contrast-detect is about 0.83 second, and "Quick" AF, ironically, is the slowest at 1.18 seconds. Not great, if not uncommon, so bear that in mind when choosing which to use.

I shot with both the 18-55mm and the 18-135mm kit lenses and liked them both. The 18-135 really makes the camera quite heavy, but it's more versatile, equivalent to an 29-216mm lens, which is excellent for most photographic situations. The 18-55mm is quite a bit lighter, though, with a slightly improved build and appearance. Its new image-stabilization engine also seems more stable. Canon claims it's capable of four stops of correction, and can now automatically tell when the camera is panning. Neither lens uses an ultrasonic motor (USM), by the way, so they do make a slight buzzing noise when focusing; it's not bad, though.

ISO 3,200 was an excellent choice for the Kindergarten concert, giving me a fidget-freezing 1/160 second while holding the camera above the crowd.

Family activities. After receiving the shipping version, I found the Canon EOS T3i an excellent companion on a great many family outings. Combined with the BosStrap, I was able to sling the T3i comfortably at my hip much of the time, which I found more convenient than my usual backpack or handheld carry. Since I've suffered a little nerve damage in my arms, my grip is not as sure as it once was with cameras, so I've gravitated to some kind of strap, and sling designs eliminate neck strain, allowing me to carry my youngest when necessary, while keeping the relatively light T3i at the ready. It's also less showy than having the camera strung around your neck.

Video sample. This 15-second 1080p30 clip shows how well the T3i does in relatively low light. (86.3MB download.)

School events. Normally I bring a longer lens and a big flash for school concerts, but the T3i promised more resolution, better low-light performance, and video capability, all in a smaller, less pretentious package, so I was happy to have it along. A man of average height, I was still able to get a good shot thanks to the swivel screen, which I nearly forgot about until I found myself envying a nearby camcorder user who was getting the whole show with her arm held high. I flipped out the T3i's handy 3-inch LCD and found I was able to get a more firm hold with my fingers under the camera's base and my thumb pressing against the LCD from the side.

Activating the Record button was easy, as it's in just the right place. There's just enough plastic surrounding the button where you can place the main part of your thumb and gently rock it forward to slowly press the button without shaking the camera too much. The resulting video is clean and of good quality.

The dark background gave the meter some difficulty, with many of my shots appearing too bright. This one was reasonably good, though.

Many of my videos, especially those taken of nearby subjects, are out of focus. They looked quite in-focus as I shot them, so I too often didn't find out until long after the event was over. As I test it here at my desk, it's very easy to assume that the camera has a greater depth of field than it does. I can focus on an object and three feet away and the objects six inches closer and six inches further appear to be in focus as well on the LCD, but when viewing the resulting video, it's clear that both near and far subjects are quite badly out of focus. Moving the camera just an inch or two this way or that throws the main subject out of focus too. This is especially problematic at close distances.

As for stills, which I shot from both the swiveling LCD and the optical viewfinder, the quality is excellent, good enough to shoot at ISO 3,200 with confidence that I'd get a low-noise image. Autofocus in contrast-detect mode, however, was not as fast as I needed, so I switched to the optical viewfinder.

Almost missed this giraffe portrait; good thing I was shooting RAW to resurrect this image from the shadows.

I spent a day wandering around the local zoo with the family, and I brought along the tripod in hopes of getting a chance to study a cool animal. Unfortunately, there were very few cool animals on that hot Atlanta day, and most were in hiding. The few I did get, though, required a little work to capture well. While shooting a giraffe in full sunlight, I found I had to adjust the EV by minus two-thirds stop. This happened in several circumstances, so watch your exposure.

Unfortunately, when another giraffe moseyed right in front of me in the shade and stopped about 10 seconds for his portrait, I couldn't change the EV back to zero fast enough. Instead I just made what shots I could, relying on the RAW file, which I processed afterward with the included Digital Photo Professional software. The giraffe's head was in an uneven tree shadow, with the bulk of that shadow in the center of its face, so I had to do some dodging in Photoshop as well, but my quick edit made a decent shot for the kids' walls.

Continuous Self-timer made the most of the few crowd-free moments at the zoo.

Self-timer. I also brought the tripod in hopes of getting a family portrait. I wasn't sure where, but surely there had to be a good place to get everyone in. As we left the Panda section, I noticed an interesting circular archway, and shuffled the family off to the side so people could walk by while I set up the T3i. Pressing the Drive mode button on the back brings up five options, the last of which is Self-timer Continuous, which will focus, then shoot between two and 10 images. When you have four kids, this is the way you want to go, because getting everyone with a decent expression and no blinks is tough, and they tend to get restless when you run back and forth to press the shutter too often. I also had my 580EX flash mounted, which I knew would probably fire for all ten shots, given the overall brightness of the image. I had the tripod open low with its legs set wide to minimize the damage should someone accidentally bump it.

Since people leave the Panda enclosure in surges, I just had to wait for the right moment. When I saw a group hanging back, I quickly organized the crew and pressed the shutter. "Okay, it's going to take 10 shots one after the other, just be ready!" Slick as you please, all 10 shots went off without delay. We were a little short to have the opening frame us as well as I wanted, without including too much foreground, but a square crop helps convey the message and makes for a decent impromptu family portrait at the zoo.

Handheld. This 0.4-second exposure caught the sparks as they trailed off toward the fire buckets and the moon shone in the distance.

When I set up other shots, one of them in shade, the flash had to work a little harder, making it through five shots quickly, then having to pause to recharge for the remaining shots. I think it was a combination of worn batteries and shadows. All the shots turned out okay, but shot shown above right was the better.

The T3i is an excellent family camera. I was happy I got the kids more in-focus than the fish.

Night. Between skits at a campfire, I noticed some moonlight coming off the water, and sparks were rising from the fire in just the right way, so I tried ISO 3,200 and handheld the shot for several 0.4-second exposures. I managed to capture the ambience of the evening reasonably well. I'd have liked to capture the moon as well, but it would have required a smaller aperture and a longer exposure, and there was no way I'd do better than this with dozens of kids jumping around in all directions. I was surprised how much detail came up in the trees. Everything's a little soft, but that's more thanks to shooting wide open and noise suppression than focus.

File sizes. As Spring cameras kept rolling in, this review was delayed again and again, so I racked up quite a library of images with the Canon T3i, such that just moving the main review folder from one computer to another took a long time. That's what you get when you shoot RAW+LF JPEG with an 18-megapixel camera, one that also shoots Full HD video. It's hard to argue with the level of detail you get, but just be aware that you should invest in a hard drive or two to store the images and movies you'll gather.

Bright. Here's another example of slight overexposure in bright light. I made another shot of this same dragonfly with the Olympus E-P3 just moments before and it was better exposed.

Overall, I was more pleased with the stills than the videos I got with the Canon T3i. The narrow depth of field that you want with still images becomes a problem when trying to shoot video of rapidly moving children. I tend to move as I shoot video, and it's more difficult to do that when shooting indoors, where you're more likely to be shooting wide-open where depth of field can be a problem. That's not necessarily a problem with the T3i, but it is a caution I should give to anyone hoping to shoot video with an SLR, as it requires at lot more than just pressing the record button as you would on a digicam. When it's in focus, though, the T3i's video is excellent. And still images from the Canon T3i are stunning, so it's an easy camera to recommend with enthusiasm.

For photography enthusiasts: Like the Canon 60D, the T3i is a great choice for family to enthusiast photographers. If you're happy shooting natural light and have no intention of tuning your lenses, you won't notice that neither the T3i nor 60D has the Microfocus adjustment or an X-sync terminal (if you have no idea what those are, again, you probably won't miss them). The 3.7 fps frame rate on the T3i is also a little slower than the 60D, as is the maximum shutter speed, which is limited to 1/4,000 second, all of which we said at the outset. If those are issues for you, you'll be happier with the Canon 60D's 5.3 fps and 1/8,000 second for about $200 more. If I were looking to do a little more of what I like to do, namely shoot sports and studio pictures, I would save a little longer and get the Canon 7D, bypassing the 60D altogether. Since both cameras would work with studio lights via a hot shoe, it's not a huge distinction, and both cameras can also remote control a limited set of EX flashes, so my complaints will not apply to most hobbyist photographers. For them, the T3i is a bargain.

For the family shooter: As a family camera, I'd go for the Canon T3i. It was an excellent companion, and offered enough of what I shoot an SLR for that I really didn't miss my more capable cameras until I needed to shoot in the studio. The slightly larger grip and articulating LCD are great to have, and the main high points over the slightly cheaper T2i. As for the video qualifiers I mentioned, they're the pitfalls you'll encounter with any digital SLR, especially when shooting indoors, so unless you're going to start a hobby shooting video carefully and methodically, please discount video as a major feature of any digital SLR you're considering, but you needn't avoid the T3i for that reason. For the money, the Canon T3i is one of the best cameras on the market.

Canon T3i Image Quality

Most digital SLRs will produce a reasonable ISO 100 shot, so we like to push them and see what they can do at ISO 1,600 at their default noise reduction settings. Recent advances in sensor technology have made ISO 1,600 look a lot more like ISO 100, but there are still cameras whose quality starts to fall apart at this setting. We're also comparing ISO 3,200 shots below, as well detail shots at ISO 100, 3,200, and 6,400. Be sure to check our Thumbnail and Gallery pages for more image quality samples.

Canon T3i versus Canon T2i at ISO 1,600




Canon T3i at ISO 1,600	Canon T2i at ISO 1,600
As expected, results from a production model T3i are very similar to the T2i, though the T3i's images seem just a little bit softer in low-contrast areas, suggesting more aggressive noise suppression is at work.

Canon T3i versus Canon 60D at ISO 1,600




Canon T3i at ISO 1,600	Canon 60D at ISO 1,600
The T3i's ISO 1,600 performance is pretty much a toss-up compared with the Canon 60D.

Canon T3i versus Nikon D5100 at ISO 1,600




Canon T3i at ISO 1,600	Nikon D5100 at ISO 1,600
There are some noticeable differences between the T3i and D5100. First, of course, is resolution, with the T3i coming in at 18-megapixels and the D5100 at 16.2-megapixels, so that explains the slightly different size of elements. Looking at the top tile, chroma noise in the shadows is a little more pronounced on the D5100, but the Canon employs more aggressive sharpening, leaving halos around the letters in the label. In the middle tile, the Canon does better with the mosaic tile, retaining more of the detail in the beige tiles in particular, but the Canon also removes some of the hints of color between the dark tiles, which the Nikon retains. The D5100 also does better with the red leaf swatch. Neither does a stellar job with it, but Nikons tend to do better than all other manufacturers with this element of our test suite.

Canon T3i versus Nikon D7000 at ISO 1,600




Canon T3i at ISO 1,600	Nikon D7000 at ISO 1,600
Against the D7000, the T3i does fairly well, rendering most detail a little more crisply, though the Canon applies a bit more sharpening by default. Again, more of the variability of the tan tiles is retained in the T3i. Nikon wins again on the red swatch, though, doing slightly better than the D5100.

Today's ISO 3,200 is yesterday's ISO 1,600 (well, almost), so below are the same crops at ISO 3,200.

Canon T3i versus Canon T2i at ISO 3,200




Canon T3i at ISO 3,200	Canon T2i at ISO 3,200
The Canon T3i seemed only marginally improved over the T2i at ISO 1,600, but the T3i retains more color at ISO 3,200, though detail and noise suppression are about the same.

Canon T3i versus Canon 60D at ISO 3,200




Canon T3i at ISO 3,200	Canon 60D at ISO 3,200
It's very close, and could come down to a difference in focus between the two, but the Canon 60D seems to have slightly more detail than the T3i.

Canon T3i versus Nikon D5100 at ISO 3,200




Canon T3i at ISO 3,200	Nikon D5100 at ISO 3,200
Here again, it is Nikon this time that has chosen to leave a little more chroma noise in the shadows to maintain a more photographic appearance (a few years ago, it was Canon that took this approach). As such, the Nikon image appears to have more detail -- quite a change from the ISO 1,600 image. Nikon's red swatch rendering is also still better than the T3i's, which is a blur.

Canon T3i versus Nikon D7000 at ISO 3,200




Canon T3i at ISO 3,200	Nikon D7000 at ISO 3,200
As we saw with the D5100, the Canon T3i has less detail than the Nikon D7000 at ISO 3,200, quite different from the result at 1,600. The D7000 still has a little chroma noise in the shadows, but more detail. And the red swatch is much closer to reality than the T3i can manage.

Detail: Canon T3i vs. T2i, 60D, Nikon D5100, and D7000




Canon T3i ISO 100 ISO 3,200 ISO 6,400	Canon T2i ISO 100 ISO 3,200 ISO 6,400	Canon 60D ISO 100 ISO 3,200 ISO 6,400	Nikon D5100 ISO 100 ISO 3,200 ISO 6,400	Nikon D7000 ISO 100 ISO 3,200 ISO 6,400
Detail comparison. When it comes to the detail shot, the Canon T3i does well. These five are so close to one-another, there's not really much to say. They all manage to render the lines between the letters, though the Canons may have an advantage here over the Nikons thanks to their higher resolution; but at ISO 6,400 I really don't have a preference. They're all five top-notch cameras and their image quality attests to that.