Canon EOS 500D (Digital Rebel T1i / Kiss X3 Digital) Review
June 2009 |
Review based on a production Canon EOS 500D
Just 14 months after the launch of the EOS Rebel XSi (450D), Canon has unveiled its latest model, the Rebel T1i (500D). It's the fifth generation of Rebel and enters the market at a difficult time - in the midst of a global economic downturn and against the fiercest competition we've ever seen in the entry-level DSLR sector. So what has Canon done to make this latest model in the longest-established family in the sector live up to the edgy and exciting image implied by its US naming?
The 500D/T1i doesn't quite have to be the everyman camera that its predecessors were. The introduction of the Rebel XS (1000D) in June 2008 means the T1i no longer has to appeal to everybody who doesn't want to stretch to buying into the 50D class. As a result, the 450D was able to bulk up its feature set to include a selection of features that price-conscious shoppers don't necessarily realize they want, such as a larger viewfinder and spot metering. The result was probably the most complete Rebel we'd seen.
There's a full explanation of the differences between the 500D/T1i and it predecessor on the coming pages but, in general terms, it's a gentle re-working of the 450D. So you get the 15MP sensor much like the one that appears in the 50D, helping this to become the first entry-level DSLR to feature video (and 1080p HD video at that). You also get the lovely 920,000 dot VGA monitor that has been slowly working its way down most manufacturer's DSLR line-ups. There are a handful of other specification tweaks that come from the use of the latest Digic 4 processor but essentially this is most of a 50D stuffed into the familiar 450D body.
And, if the loss of the letter 'X' from the US name seems a bit disconcerting, you can comfort yourself with the knowledge that the Japanese market will still know it by the odd-to-European-ears 'Kiss X3 Digital.' For simplicity's sake, we'll refer to the 500D/T1i/Kiss X3 by the name 500D throughout the rest of the review.
Canon EOS 500D (Digital Rebel T1i) specifications
| List price (US) | • Body only: $799 • Kit: $899 (with 18-55 mm IS lens) |
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| List price (EU) | • Body only: €799 • Kit: €899 (with 18-55 mm IS lens) • Kit: €1299 (with 18-200 mm IS lens) |
| List price (UK) | • Body only: £869.99 • Kit: £969.99 (with 18-55 mm IS lens) • Kit: £1399.99 (with 18-200 mm IS lens) |
| International naming * | • US: Canon Rebel Digital T1i • Japan: Canon EOS Kiss Digital X3 • Elsewhere: Canon EOS 500D |
| Body material | Plastic (Stainless Steel chassis) |
| Sensor * | • 15.1 million effective pixels • 15.5 million total pixels • 22.3 x 14.9 mm CMOS sensor • RGB Color Filter Array • Built-in low-pass filter with self cleaning unit • 3:2 aspect ratio |
| Dust reduction | • Low-pass filter vibration at power-on (can be interrupted) • Anti-static coating on sensor surfaces • Software based dust-removal (camera maps dust, removed later) |
| Image sizes * | • 4752 x 3168 • 3456 x 2304 • 2353 x 1568 |
| Still image formats | • RAW (.CR2 14-bit *) • RAW (.CR2 14-bit *) + JPEG Large/Fine • JPEG (EXIF 2.21) - Fine, Normal |
| Movie recording * | • 1920 x 1080 (1080P, 16:9) @ 20 fps • 1280 x 720 (720P, 16:9) @ 30 fps • 640 x 480 (4:3) @ 30 fps • Quicktime MOV format (H.264 video,linear PCM audio) • Up to 29 min 59 sec (or max file size 4 GB) |
| Image processor * | DIGIC 4 |
| Lenses | • Canon EF / EF-S lens mount • 1.6x field of view crop |
| Focus modes | • Auto Focus • Manual Focus (switch on lens) |
| Auto Focus | • 9-point CMOS sensor • F5.6 cross-type at center, extra sensitivity at F2.8 • AF working range: -0.5 to 18 EV (at 23°C, ISO 100) • Predictive AF up to 10 m |
| AF modes | • AI Focus • One Shot • AI Servo |
| AF point selection | • Auto • Manual |
| AF assist | Flash strobe |
| Shooting modes | • Auto • Portrait • Landscape • Close-up • Sports • Night portrait • Flash off • Movie * • Program AE (P) • Shutter priority AE (Tv) • Aperture priority AE (Av) • Manual (M) • Auto depth-of-field |
| Metering | • TTL 35-zone SPC • Metering range: EV 1.0 - 20 EV (at 23°C, ISO 100, 50 mm F1.4) |
| Metering modes | • Evaluative 35-zone (linked to AF points) • Partial 9% at center • Spot 4% at center • Center-weighted average |
| AE Lock | AE lock button |
| AE Bracketing | • +/- 2.0 EV • 0.5 or 0.3 EV increments |
| Exposure compen. | • +/- 2.0 EV • 0.5 or 0.3 EV increments |
| Sensitivity | • Auto (100 - 1600 *) • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 • ISO 3200 * • H1 expansion (ISO 6400 equiv.) * • H2 expansion (ISO 12800 equiv.) * • Highlight tone priority |
| Shutter | • Focal-plane shutter • 30 - 1/4000 sec (0.5 or 0.3 EV steps) • Flash X-Sync: 1/200 sec • Bulb |
| Aperture values | • F1.0 - F91 (0.3 EV steps) • Actual aperture range depends on lens used |
| White balance | • Auto • Daylight • Shade • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Flash • Custom |
| WB Bracketing | • +/-3 levels • 3 images • Selectable Blue/Amber or Magenta/Green bias |
| WB fine-tuning | • Blue (-9) to Amber (+9) • Magenta (-9) to Green (+9) |
| Color space | • sRGB • Adobe RGB |
| Picture style | • Standard • Portrait • Landscape • Neutral • Faithful • Monochrome • User 1 • User 2 • User 3 |
| Custom image parameters | • Sharpness: 0 to 7 • Contrast: -4 to +4 • Saturation: -4 to +4 • Color tone: -4 to +4 • B&W filter: N, Ye, Or, R, G • B&W tone: N, S, B, P, G |
| Image processing | • Highlight Tone Priority • Auto Lighting Optimizer (Basic and Creative modes) * • Long exposure noise reduction • High ISO speed noise reduction * • Peripheral illumination correction * |
| Drive modes | • Single • Continuous: 3.4 fps up to 170 JPEG / 9 RAW frames * • Self-timer 10 secs (2 sec with mirror lock-up) • Self-timer continuous |
| Mirror lockup | Yes (custom function) |
| Viewfinder | • Pentamirror • 95% frame coverage • Magnification: 0.87x (-1 diopter with 50 mm lens at infinity) • Eyepoint: 19 mm • Dioptric adjustment: -3.0 to +1.0 diopter • Fixed precision matte • Proximity sensor disables LCD shooting mode information |
| Viewfinder info | • AF information (AF points focus confirmation light) • Shutter speed • Aperture value • ISO speed (always displayed) • AE lock • Exposure level/compensation • Spot metering circle • Exposure warning • AEB • Flash ready • High-speed sync • FE lock • Flash exposure compensation • Red-eye reduction light • White balance correction • SD card information • Monochrome shooting • Maximum burst • Highlight tone priority * |
| DOF preview | Yes, button |
| LCD monitor * | • 3.0" TFT LCD • 920,000 pixels • Wide viewing angle (170° horizontal and vertical) • Dual anti-reflection, anti-smudge • 7 brightness levels • Up to 10x zoom playback |
| LCD Live view | • Live TTL display of scene from CMOS image sensor • 100% frame coverage (30 fps display rate) • Real-time evaluative metering using CMOS image sensor • Best view or exposure simulation • Grid optional (thirds) • Magnify optional (5x or 10x at AF point) • Optional Auto-focus with mirror-down / mirror-up sequence • Optional Face Detect * • Two modes; normal and quieter • Remote live view using EOS Utility (via USB or WiFi/Ethernet using WFT) • Manual focus only |
| Record review | • Uses last play mode • Magnification possible • 2 / 4 / 8 sec / Hold |
| Flash | • Auto pop-up E-TTL II auto flash • Guide number approx 13 • Modes: Auto, Manual Flash On/ Off, Red-Eye Reduction • X-Sync: 1/200 sec • Flash exposure compensation: +/-2.0 EV (0.3 or 0.5 EV steps) • Coverage up to 17 mm focal length (27 mm FOV equiv.) |
| External flash | • E-TTL II auto flash with EX-series Speedlites • Hot-shoe |
| Other features | • Orientation sensor • Automatically writes FAT16/FAT32 depending on capacity |
| Auto rotation | • On (playback uses orientation data in file header) • Off |
| Playback mode | • Single image • Single image with info (histogram brightness / RGB ) • Magnified view (1.5 - 10x in 15 steps, browsable) • 4 and 9 image index • Auto play • Image rotation • Jump (by 10, 100 or date) |
| Custom functions * | 13 custom functions with 39 settings |
| Menu languages * | • English • German • French • Dutch • Danish • Portuguese • Finnish • Italian • Norwegian • Swedish • Spanish • Greek • Russian • Polish • Czech • Hungarian • Romanian • Ukrainian • Turkish • Arabic • Thai • Simplified Chinese • Traditional Chinese • Korean • Japanese |
| Firmware | User upgradable |
| Connectivity | • USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) • Video out (PAL / NTSC) (integrated with USB terminal *) • HDMI Type C * • E3 type wired remote control |
| Audio * | • Mono microphone on front • Mono speaker on rear |
| Storage | • SD / SDHC card |
| Power | • Lithium-Ion LP-E5 rechargeable battery (7.4 V, 1050 mAh) • Optional ACK-E5 AC adapter kit / car battery charger CBC-E5 |
| Battery Grip | Yes, BG-E5 |
| Direct printing | • Canon Selphy Printers • Canon Bubble Jet Printers with direct print function • Canon PIXMA Printers supporting PictBridge • PictBridge |
| Dimensions | 129 x 98 x 62 mm (5.1 x 3.9 x 2.4 in) |
| Weight (no battery) * | 480 g (1.1 lb) |
| Software * | • Zoom Browser EX / ImageBrowser • Digital Photo Professional (Windows / Mac) • PhotoStitch • EOS Utility (inc. Remote Capture; Windows & Mac except Mac Intel) • Original Data Security Tools • Picture Style Editor |
* New or changed compared to the EOS 450D / Digital Rebel XSi
Design
The 500D uses essentially the same body as the 450D with a slight peachfuzz texture to the plastic, which makes a bit of a difference in terms of perceived quality but the camera feels, compared to some of the competition, still a little plasticy. An 'EOS' name badge and eight tiny holes are the other noticeable differences. These holes are all movie-related and cover the microphone on the front of the camera and the speaker on the reverse. Other than that, a little bit of button shuffling is all that's changed, externally - the 500D loses a dedicated metering mode button (though retains direct access to the arguably less useful 'Picture Styles'), which now becomes a White Balance button. The Print Button, which handled White Balance on the 450D now provides access to movie recording and live view.
Construction
The 500D inherits the 450D's body and construction, and other than the surface finish and minor tweaks to the casing (microphone and speaker holes, HDMI port and recess for mounting the 'EOS' badge), it stays essentially the same. As such, it's primarily made from three materials; a stainless steel chassis (blue in this diagram), the mirror box which is made of high-strength 'engineering plastic' (red in the diagram) and the body made of a special lightweight 'engineering plastic' which also provides some electromagnetic shielding. Construction is good (considering the budget price) with no creaks or rattles. (Diagram provided by Canon, our colorization).
In your hand / grip
As as a result of the rather subtle nature of the changes made over the 450D, its fit in the hand is unchanged. It's got a slightly better grip than the first three generations of Rebels but it's still far from being the camera's design highpoint, and your hands don't have to be terribly large before you risk the camera becoming a touch awkward or uncomfortable after extended use. It's by no means terrible, but it's worth handling one to find out if you're someone who can't live with it.
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Side by side
Here we show the 500D against its most obvious rivals - the Nikon D5000 and the Olympus E-620 - and its predecessor, the EOS 450D. We've also included the dimensions and weight of the Sony A350 in the table.
| Camera | Dimensions (W x H x D) | Body weight (inc. battery & card) |
|---|---|---|
| Canon EOS 500D | 129 x 98 x 62 mm (5.1 x 3.9 x 2.4 in) | 524 g (1.2 lb) |
| Nikon D5000 | 127 x 104 x 80 mm (5.0 x 4.1 x 3.1 in) | 611 g (1.3 lb) |
| Olympus E-620 | 130 x 94 x 60 mm (5.1 x 3.7 x 2.4 in) | 521 g (1.1 lb) |
| Canon EOS 450D | 129 x 98 x 62 mm (5.1 x 3.9 x 2.4 in) | 524 g (1.2 lb) |
| Sony DSLR-A350 | 131 x 99 x 71 mm (5.2 x 3.7 x 2.8 in) | 664 g (1.5 lb) |
LCD Monitor
 | Although purists could argue that the LCD Screen doesn't make your pictures better, it's hard to go back to a 230,000 dot screen once you've spent some time using one of the 920,000 dot, VGA panels that have started to appear on recent DSLRs. The one Canon has incorporated into the 500D includes the anti-reflection layers that made the 50D's screen a particular pleasure to use. If it's the only factor that distinguishes between two cameras, we'd usually err towards the one with the nice screen. |
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Camera settings display
The settings display, as well as getting a Digic 4 makeover, is now interactive. Moving Live view off to its own button leaves the 'Set' free to give access to the key shooting settings. This means the four-way controller can either give direct access to its four assigned functions or, once 'Set' has been pressed, can be used to scroll around the all the shooting settings.
Viewfinder
 | The 500D inherits the 450D's viewfinder, which is one of the better pentamirror finders out there. However it's still not as big or bright as the pentaprism finders generally found in more expensive cameras. |
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Viewfinder view
The viewfinder view is almost identical to the 450D's, the only new element is the highlight tone priority indicator. As on the EOS 450D the focusing screen has a circle indicating the spot metering location. The AF areas are indicated by a small LED dot in the center of the AF point rectangle. With a depression of the shutter release button (half or full) this dot will briefly light to indicated the selected AF point (either automatic or manual) and then blink again once AF has been achieved.
Battery Compartment / Battery
The EOS 500D's battery compartment is located in the base of the hand grip behind a metal hinged plastic door. The battery fits horizontally into the base and is held in place by an white clip. The 500D uses the same battery as the 450D, the Lithium-Ion LP-E5 battery pack which offers 1080 mAh capacity. |  |
Battery Charger
 | The charger has also been taken over from the EOS 450D. A full charge from flat takes approximately 90 minutes on the LC-E5E charger. |
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Battery Grip (optional)
 | The 450D's optional battery grip also works on the 500D. The BG-E5 can take two of the newer LP-E5 batteries or six AA batteries (using different cartridges). As with previous grips this grip is inserted into the battery compartment and screws tight using the tripod mount. Older grips are not compatible with the EOS 500D. Also like previous models the addition of the BG-E5 transforms the handling of the EOS 500D, particularly when working with larger lenses. |
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Secure Digital Compartment
The EOS 500D sports an SD memory card slot and of course supports both SD and SDHC cards providing capacities over 4 GB. Like on the EOS 450D there is a 'beware I'm still writing to the card' warning screen and beep if you open the card door to soon. |  |
Connections
On the left side of the camera are all of the cameras connections, these are protected by a rubber cover which fits flush when closed. In summary from top to bottom: Remote terminal (E3 type), a combined USB and A/V output, and an HDMI socket (replacing the 450D's video out). |  |
Base / Tripod Mount
 | On the bottom of the 500D is a metal tripod socket which is aligned exactly with the center line of the lens and the focal plane of the sensor. Otherwise there's little to report here. |
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Pop-up Flash
The EOS 500D's pop-up flash has the same specifications as its predecessor (and all models of this series back to the the EOS 350D) with a range of approximately 3.7 m (12.1 ft) at wide angle using the 18-55 mm kit lens or 2.3 m (7.5 ft) at telephoto (guide number 13). The camera utilizes Canon's E-TTL II flash metering system which combines subject distance information gathered from the lens with measurements taken from a brief pre-flash before the main flash to determine flash power. The built-in flash can sync up to 1/200s and has an electronic pop-up release, in Auto exposure mode the flash will raise itself when required. |  |
AF Assist
As with previous 'Rebel series' cameras the EOS 500D uses its flash for AF assist. If you need to use AF Assist you must pop-up the flash which will fire a brief strobe of flashes (sometimes just one) to help the AF system to lock.
Flash Hot-shoe
 | The EOS 500D's hot-shoe can be used with Canon and third party flashes (although sync only on most third party units). The hot-shoe is E-TTL II compatible. Compatible flashes include the Speedlite 220EX, the new 270EX, 380EX, 420EX, 430EX, 430EX II, 550EX, 580EX, 580EX II, Macro-Ring Lite, MR-14EX, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX and Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2. |
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Lens Mount
The EOS 500D has a metal EF / EF-S lens mount which means that it can use the full range of Canon EF lenses as well as the designed-for-digital EF-S lenses. Because the sensor is smaller than a 35 mm frame all lenses are subject to a field of view crop (sometimes called focal length multiplier) of 1.6x, thus a 17 mm lens provides the same field of view of a 27.2 mm. |  |
Supplied In the Box
 | Items listed below are for the kit version (includes the EF-S 18-55 mm IS lens), note that there is no storage card included with the EOS 500D. The body-only version is exactly the same, except that the lens is not included. |
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- Canon EOS 500D Digital SLR body
- EF-S 18 - 55 mm F3.5 - F5.6 IS lens
- Eyecup (attached to camera)
- LP-E5 Lithium-Ion battery pack
- LC-E5 Battery charger
- Neck strap
- USB Cable
- Video Cable
- CD-ROM: Canon Digital Camera Solutions Disk (Win/Mac)
- Manuals / Reg. card
Canon Rebel T3 / EOS 1100D Review
April 2011 | Lars Rehm and Richard Butler
Review based on a production Canon EOS 1100D with Firmware V1.0.4
The bottom-end of the interchangeable lens camera has become fiercely competitive with manufacturers culling features and cutting-corners to offer a tempting upgrade path from compact cameras, at the most attractive price. As a result we've seen control dials, orientation sensors and even focus motors disappear to reduce the manufacturing costs of these entry-level, gateway cameras. From the consumer's perspective, of course, we've also seen technologies once only in the reach of the professionals filter down to almost compact camera prices.
For several years, Canon and then Nikon were able to carve up the sub-$1000 DSLR market between themselves, without any particular concern about other players in the market. But this hegemony was never likely to last, especially once the electronics giants such as Panasonic, Sony and Samsung had time to prepare their own competitors. Eventually even Canon had to respond to the arrival of these companies' increasingly impressive low-end offerings, most notably with the splitting of its Rebel series into a multiple model range.
In June 2008, rather than just letting the outgoing model's price drop when the next camera was introduced, Canon launched a completely new model that sat below its then very recent Rebel XSi/450D. The Rebel XS (EOS 1000D in Europe) was unashamedly a cut-down version of the XSi but its mixture of a well trusted sensor and compelling price tag have seen it continue to sell strongly, particularly at the price-conscious end of the market.
Two-and-a-half years is nearly two lifetimes in contemporary camera terms, so it was beginning to look like the XS might turn out to be a one-off, until the launch of its replacement in February 2011. The Rebel T3 (EOS 1100D) builds on a successful formula and takes it further, offering a strong (if not exactly cutting-edge) set of features in a body that suggests it should be very capable of competing on price.
The 1100D takes a series of familiar-sounding components and folds them together in a distinctly conventional but still capable-sounding package. So there's a 12MP CMOS chip that is likely to date back to the 450D/XSi, coupled with Canon's now-standard 9-point AF system and the 63-area iFCL (Focus, color and luminance sensitive) metering system first seen in the EOS 7D. These combine with the equally well-known Digic 4 processor to offer a camera that's unlikely to offer much in the way of surprises (which should also mean the avoidance of any nasty ones).
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| Sitting alongside the Rebel XS (1000D), it's clear that T3 (1100D) is very slightly larger but only by a fraction. The new model eschews the 1000D's textured plastic, instead being constructed of smooth, rather low-density materials. |
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| The rear view shows the 1100D has been updated in line with more recent Canon DSLRs, gaining direct access to live view/movie shooting and a Q button for the interactive 'Quick Control' displays. |
Canon EOS 1100D specification highlights:
- 12MP CMOS sensor
- 9-point AF system (up from 7 on the 1000D)
- 63-area iFCL color-sensitive metering (from EOS 7D)
- 720p movie recording at 30 or 25fps (H.264 compression)
- 2.7" LCD, 230,000 dots
- ISO 100-6400 (no expansion)
- Basic+ creative point-and-shoot mode
- Eye-Fi wireless SD card compatible menu options
Canon Rebel T3 (EOS 1100D) specifications
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| International naming | • US: Canon Rebel T3 • Japan: Canon EOS Kiss X50 • Elsewhere: Canon EOS 1100D |
|---|---|
| Pricing | • US: $599.99 with 18-55 IS II lens • Europe: €499 body only, €549 with 18-55 III lens, €549 with 18-55 IS II lens • UK: £419 body only, £459 with 18-55 III lens, £499 with 18-55 IS II lens |
| Body material | Plastic (Stainless Steel chassis) |
| Sensor* | • 12.2 million effective pixels • 12.6 million total pixels • 22.2 x 14.7 mm CMOS sensor • RGB Color Filter Array • Built-in low-pass filter with fluorine coating • 3:2 aspect ratio |
| Dust reduction | • Anti-static coating on sensor surfaces • Software based dust-removal (camera maps dust, removed later) |
| Image sizes* | • 4272 x 2848 (L) • 3088 x 2056 (M) • 2256 x 1504 (S1) • 1920 x 1280 (S2) • 720 x 480 (S3) |
| Output formats | • RAW (.CR2 14-bit) • RAW (.CR2 14-bit) + JPEG Large • JPEG (EXIF 2.3) - Fine, Normal |
| Movie recording * | • 1280 x 720 (29.97, 25 fps) • MOV (Video: H.264, Sound: Linear PCM) • Max duration 17min, Max file size 4GB |
| Image processor* | DIGIC 4 |
| Lenses | • Canon EF / EF-S lens mount • 1.6x field of view crop |
| Focus modes | • TTL-CT-SIR with a CMOS sensor • Auto Focus • Manual Focus |
| Auto Focus | • 9-point CMOS sensor • Cross-type F5.6 at center • AF working range: 0 to 18 EV (at 23°C, ISO 100) |
| AF modes | • AI Focus • One shot • AI Servo |
| AF point selection | • Auto • Manual |
| AF assist | Flash strobe |
| Shooting modes | • Auto • Program AE (P) • Shutter priority AE (Tv) • Aperture priority AE (Av) • Manual (M) • Auto depth-of-field • Portrait • Landscape • Close-up • Sports • Night portrait • No Flash • Creative Auto* |
| Metering* | TTL full aperture metering with 63-zone iFCL SPC* • Evaluative metering (linked to all AF points) • Partial metering at center (approx. 10% of viewfinder) • Center weighted average metering Range : EV 1-20 (at 23°C with 50mm f/1.4 lens ISO100) |
| AE Lock | • Auto: In 1-shot AF mode with evaluative metering exposure is locked when focus is achieved. • Manual: By AE lock button in creative zone modes. |
| AE Bracketing | • +/- 2.0 EV • 0.5 or 0.3 EV increments |
| Exposure compen. | • +/- 2.0 EV • 0.5 or 0.3 EV increments |
| Sensitivity | • Auto (100 - 6400) • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 • ISO 3200 • ISO 6400 |
| Shutter | • Focal-plane shutter • 30 - 1/4000 sec (0.5 or 0.3 EV steps) • Flash X-Sync: 1/200 sec • Bulb |
| Aperture values | • Depends on lens used |
| White balance | • Auto • Daylight • Shade • Cloudy • Tungsten • White Fluorescent Light • Flash • Custom |
| WB Bracketing | • +/-3 levels • 3 images • Selectable Blue/Amber or Magenta/Green bias |
| WB fine-tuning | • Blue (-9) To Amber (+9) • Magenta (-9) to Green (+9) |
| Color space | • sRGB • Adobe RGB |
| Picture style | • Standard • Portrait • Landscape • Neutral • Faithful • Monochrome • User 1 • User 2 • User 3 |
| Drive modes | • Single • Continuous: 2 fps up to 5 RAW frames / 3 fps up to 830 JPEG • Self-timer (2 -10secs) • Self-timer continuous |
| Mirror lockup | Yes (custom function) |
| Viewfinder | • Pentamirror • 95% frame coverage • Magnification: 0.80x * (-1 diopter with 50 mm lens at infinity) • Eyepoint: 19 mm * • Dioptric adjustment: -3.0 to +1.0 diopter • Fixed precision matte |
| Viewfinder info | • AF information (AF points focus confirmation light) • Shutter speed • Aperture value • ISO speed (always displayed) • AE lock • Exposure level/compensation • Spot metering circle • Exposure warning • AEB • Flash ready • High-speed sync • FE lock • Flash exposure compensation • Red-eye reduction light • White balance correction • SD card information • Monochrome shooting • Maximum burst • Highlight tone priority (D+)* |
| DOF preview | Yes, (assign via custom menu) |
| LCD monitor * | • 2.7" TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels • Wide viewing angle (170° horizontal and vertical) • 7 brightness levels • Up to 10x zoom playback |
| LCD Live view | • Live TTL display of scene from CMOS image sensor • 100% frame coverage • 30fps frame rate • Real-time evaluative metering using CMOS image sensor • Grid optional • Magnify optional (5x or 10x at AF point) • Autofocus: Quick mode, Live mode • Manual Focus • Remote live view using EOS Utility 2.0 (via USB or WiFi/Ethernet using WFT) |
| Flash * | • Auto pop-up E-TTL II auto flash • Guide number approx 9.2* • Modes: Auto, Manual Flash On/ Off, Red-Eye Reduction • X-Sync: 1/200 sec • Flash exposure compensation: +/-2.0 EV (0.3 or 0.5 EV steps) • Coverage up to 17 mm focal length (27 mm FOV equiv.) |
| External flash | • E-TTL II auto flash with EX-series Speedlites • Hot-shoe |
| Other features | • Orientation sensor |
| Auto rotation | • On (playback uses orientation data in file header) • Off |
| Processing | • Highlight Tone Priority • Auto Lighting Optimizer (4 settings) • Long exposure noise reduction • High ISO speed noise reduction (4 settings) • Auto Correction of Lens Peripheral illumination • Basic+ (Shoot by ambience selection, Shoot by lighting or scene type) |
| Playback mode | • Single image • Single image with info (histogram brightness / RGB ) • Magnified view (1.5 - 10x in 15 steps, browsable) • 4 and 9 image index • Auto play • Image rotation |
| Custom functions * | 10 custom functions with 32settings |
| Menu languages * | • English • German • French • Dutch • Danish • Portuguese • Finnish • Italian • Norwegian • Swedish • Spanish • Greek • Russian * • Czech • Hungarian • Romanian * • Ukrainian * • Turkish * • Arabic * • Thai * • Simplified Chinese • Traditional Chinese • Korean • Japanese |
| Firmware | User upgradable |
| Connectivity | • USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) mini-B • Video out (PAL / NTSC) • HDMI mini output (HDMI-CEC compatible)* |
| Storage * | • SD / SDHC / SDXC card |
| Power * | • Lithium-Ion LP-E10 rechargeable battery • Optional ACK-E10 AC adapter kit |
| Direct printing | • Canon Selphy Printers • Canon Bubble Jet Printers with direct print function • Canon PIXMA Printers supporting PictBridge • PictBridge |
| Dimensions * | 130 x 100 x 78 mm |
| Weight (no battery) * | 495 g |
| Software | • Zoom Browser EX / ImageBrowser • PhotoStitch • EOS Utility (inc. Remote Capture; Windows & Mac except Mac Intel) • Digital Photo Professional (Windows / Mac) • Picture Style Editor |
Body & Design
The first impressions of the 1100D are those of a camera that has been aggressively engineered to keep costs down. The body materials are plain and lightweight, giving a less reassuring sense of build quality than recent Rebel models have started to offer. The 1100D is (alongside Panasonic's trimmed-back DMC-G10 and Sony's entry-level SLRs) one of the most 'plasticky'-feeling interchangeable lens cameras we've seen.
The 1100D offers a more substantial handgrip than previous Canons at this level, which improves its feel in your hand. The buttons are also positioned so they're now all operated by your right hand, though their placement is clearly designed for changing settings via the screen, which is completely standard at this level of camera. However, we can't help but feel that the movement of the ISO button from the top plate to the rear is a retrograde step, as it can't now be easily changed with the camera to your eye and the viewfinder display turns off the moment you try to change it. You can however customize the flash button on the top plate to change ISO, but this means you'll need to enter the Q-menu simply to raise the flash.
The 1100D will be sold with two new kit lenses. The image-stabilized EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 IS II lens has received some cosmetic changes, but is optically the same as the previous version. Meanwhile, the non-stabilized EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 III receives the same optical design as seen in the IS versions, which should result in a significant improvement in image quality over its predecessors.
In your hand
The grip is larger than that of the XS/1000D, making it considerably more comfortable to hold for long periods of time. Despite the more crowded button layout on the back of the camera, there's still plenty of room to place your hand to support the camera.
On the top-panel, rather than the 1000D's ISO button the 1100D has probably the most oddly-placed flash button on any DSLR. Even with Auto ISO, we'd have thought sensitivity is still a more useful setting to have eye-level access to. ISO is still accessible via the four-way controller, but you have to take your eye away from the viewfinder to change it. However, it appears the Canon engineers weren't totally convinced by this design decision themselves. If you dive into the custom menu C.Fn-9 you can change the flash button's function and turn it into an ISO button. In turn you'll have to enter the Q-menu in order to raise the flash though.
On the top-panel, rather than the 1000D's ISO button the 1100D has probably the most oddly-placed flash button on any DSLR. Even with Auto ISO, we'd have thought sensitivity is still a more useful setting to have eye-level access to. ISO is still accessible via the four-way controller, but you have to take your eye away from the viewfinder to change it. However, it appears the Canon engineers weren't totally convinced by this design decision themselves. If you dive into the custom menu C.Fn-9 you can change the flash button's function and turn it into an ISO button. In turn you'll have to enter the Q-menu in order to raise the flash though.
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Viewfinder specs and view
The EOS 1100D appears to use the same viewfinder as the 1000D - it's rather small for today's standards but the most essential shooting parameters are visible underneath. The exposure level display along the bottom stretches to +/- 2.0 EV and you get ISO and White Balance information. You now also have nine visible AF points, as opposed to the 1000D's seven.
Viewfinder size
One figure hidden away in every SLR's spec is the size of the viewfinder (often in a format that makes direct comparison between competing models impossible). The size of the viewfinder is a key factor in the usability of an SLR - the bigger it is, the easier it is to frame and focus your shots, and the more enjoyable and involving process it is.
Because of the way viewfinders are measured (using a fixed lens, rather than a lens of equivalent magnification), you also need to take the sensor size into account, so the numbers in the diagram below are the manufacturer's specified magnifications divided by the respective 'crop factors'.
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| The EOS 1100D offers the currently smallest viewfinder in the Canon DSLR line-up, and indeed one of smallest optical viewfinders of all current Digital SLRs. |
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Viewfinder crop
All DSLRs at this level crop the frame slightly when you look through the viewfinder - in other words you get slightly more in the final picture than you see through the viewfinder. The EOS 11000D shows 95% (vertically and horizontally) of the frame which is pretty standard for this class of camera.
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| Canon EOS 1100D: 95% viewfinder. |
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Body elements
 | The EOS 1100D's four-way controller and the surrounding buttons let you navigate the menu-system, open the Q-menu and give you direct access to some essential shooting parameters such as ISO or White Balance. Compared to the 1000D, Picture Style and Metering mode have lost their hard buttons in favor of White Balance and ISO, which are arguably changed more often by most users. |
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 | Like most recent Canon DSLRs, the 1100D gains a button for easy access to live view mode. When in the movie record mode this button initiates movie recording. It's well-placed, just next to your thumb - within easy reach but secondary to the Exposure Compensation button, as it probably should be. |
 | The 1100D uses a new LP-E10 battery. This 6.4Wh unit will give around 700 shots per charge, based on standard testing methodology, representing an improvement over the 500 shots its predecessor could produce. Unlike the 1000D, the 1100D doesn't have a separate card slot. It's now integrated into the battery compartment, which can make taking the card out with the camera mounted on a tripod a little difficult. |
 | Under a rubberized flap you'll find the EOS 1100D's connection ports. From top to bottom: remote release terminal, USB port, and HDMI socket. |
 | Like more expensive Canon EOS models the 1100D has a metal EF / EF-S lens mount, which means that it can use the full range of Canon EF lenses as well as the designed-for-digital EF-S lenses. Because the sensor is smaller than a 35 mm frame all lenses are subject to a field of view crop (sometimes called focal length multiplier) of 1.6x, thus a 18 mm lens provides the same field of view as a 29 mm lens on a 35mm camera, a 50mm becomes equivalent to 80mm, etc. |
 | The flash button is moved just next to the shutter release. Sadly, unlike the 600D, the 1100D doesn't gain the ability to control remote flashes. The button can be customized to change ISO. On the mode dial the 1100D gains a movie recording mode position. Creative Auto also makes an appearance right next to the scene modes, to make it clear that it's an easy-to-use option. |
 | At a guide number of 9.2 (ISO 100) the 1100D's built-in flash is less powerful than its predecessor and other cameras in the Rebel line (GN13 at ISO 100). It can sync up to 1/200s and has an electronic pop-up release, so in Auto exposure mode will raise itself when required. |
 | The EOS 1100D's hot-shoe can be used with Canon and third party flashes (although sync only on most third party units), and is E-TTL II compatible. |
Operation and controls
The Canon EOS 1100D is a typical entry-level DSLR in so far that it features a relatively limited number of external controls. However, most parameters that don't have their own dedicated hard button can be changed in the interactive settings screen which can be accessed by pressing the Q-button. There is also (limited) scope for customization. The SET button can be configured to control image quality or flash exposure compensation, amongst other functions (see the Menu section for more details), and the flash button on the top plate can be set to change ISO.Compared to the EOS 1000D, buttons have been moved around quite a bit and the entire layout has been brought in line with more recent Canon models. A summary of the major control layout changes over the 1000D is as follows:
- Major re-arrangement of buttons
- Live view and movie button added
- 'Q' quick-menu button added
- Flash button has moved to the top plate (customizable for use as ISO button)
- ISO and WB buttons have moved onto the four-way controller
- No direct buttons for metering and picture styles
- Movie position added to mode dial
Top of camera controls (right side)
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Rear of camera controls
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Operation and Controls (cont.)
Like on most modern DSLRs on the EOS 1100D the rear LCD does not only give you an overview of the current shooting parameters but also provides, in addition to the camera's hard buttons and controls, another way of interacting with the settings.
Status Screen
 | The 'Camera settings' display gives you a comprehensive overview of the currently applied settings. As an entry-level DSLR the 1100D does not come with a top-LCD which makes this display much more useful than on some enthusiast or professional models. You can switch this view off by pressing the DISP button or enter the Q-menu by pressing the Q-button. |
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Quick Control screen
In the 'Creative Zone' exposure modes (P, Av, Tv, M and A-DEP), pressing the Q button 'activates' the status screen and allows you to change any of the displayed parameters. |  |
| The Shooting functions/Q Menu screen lists the key shooting parameters. Once you've navigated to one of them you can either spin the control dial to change it... | ...or, if you want to see all its options, you can press the Set button and be taken to another screen listing all the possible settings. |
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'Basic+' control Screens
The EOS 1100D gains the easy-to-use interface that has become increasingly sophisticated on recent EOS cameras. And, to be honest, it makes most sense on this, the company's entry-level model. As well as the Creative Auto mode that gives simple, results-orientated input into an otherwise automated mode, there are also the Basic+ options that first appeared on the EOS 60D. This allows the user to choose their chosen 'ambience' and specify the type of lighting being used for images taken in the scene modes, to allow control of the image processing settings and the white balance. |  |
| Once in a scene mode you can change the 'ambience' or 'lighting type' of the photo. The ambience setting changes the colour processing to one of a series of presets, while Lighting Type changes the white balance. | In Creative Auto mode you can also control the aperture but again avoiding technical terminology. Here is the 'background blur' scale with optional on-screen hints to explain how it should be used. |
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| You can specify the 'ambience' you wish to apply to the scene modes, including options such as 'cool' and 'intense.' | |
Canon Rebel T3i / EOS 600D Review
March 2011 | Richard Butler and (with additional material by Barnaby Britton)
Review based on a production Canon EOS 600D with Firmware 1.0.0
Ever since Canon introduced its original 'Digital Rebel' back in August 2003 - famously the first 'affordable' digital SLR - the company has continually developed and refined its entry-level line with ever-more-frequent releases, adding in more and more features in the process. So true to form, almost precisely a year to the day after the advent of the EOS Rebel T2i / 550D Canon launched its next model, predictably named the EOS Rebel T3i / 600D. As usual the 550D remains in Canon's range at a lower price point, with the EOS 1100D slotting in beneath it to round off the company's offerings to entry-level SLR users.
The new kid on the block can most succinctly be described as a 550D with an articulated screen, that also incorporates many of the beginner-friendly features we first saw on the more enthusiast-orientated EOS 60D. Perhaps most notable of these is 'Basic+', a simple, results-orientated approach to image adjustments in the scene-based exposure modes, that allows the user to change the look of their images and control background blur without needing to know anything technical about how this all works. The 600D also gains multi-aspect ratio shooting (in live view) plus the 60D's 'Creative Filters', a range of effects than can be applied to images after shooting, including toy camera, fisheye and fake-miniature looks. Additionally it can now wirelessly control off-camera flashes, including the Speedlite 320EX and 270EX II announced alongside it.
The fully-automatic 'green square' exposure mode has also been updated to 'Scene Intelligent Auto', with a new 'A+' icon on the mode dial to match. According to Canon, this mode (as its name might suggest) now analyses the scene in front of the camera and sets its exposure and image-processing parameters accordingly, and even tweaks the colour output to match. Continuing the 'beginner-friendly' theme, the camera now also incorporates a 'Feature Guide', that displays short explanations of what each function does on the screen to help beginners learn how things work.
There's an intriguing 'Video Snapshot' movie mode too, that's borrowed from Canon's camcorder range. This is based on the idea that movies are often more interesting when stitched together from a number of short 'takes', rather than one long continuous clip. It therefore limits movie recording to short snippets of 2, 4 or 8 seconds, then plays them back sequentially as a composite movie, with the option of adding a soundtrack to help tie them together. This, in effect, allows to you produce complex, multi-take movies without having to resort to computer editing.What hasn't changed at all, though, is the camera's core specification, making the 600D the first camera in the line that hasn't gained a higher resolution sensor or new processor. So Canon's tried-and-trusted 18MP APS-C CMOS sensor is still in place, along with its sensitivity range of ISO 100-6400 (expandable to 12800) and 3.9fps continuous shooting. Likewise the 9-point autofocus and 63 zone metering systems are unchanged. This means that the 600D is unlikely to bring any surprises in terms of image quality.
On the movie front the camera retains its predecessor's approach too, offering full HD recording via a dedicated position on the camera's mode dial, with full manual control available for those who want it. There's a new digital zoom function, offering 3 - 10x magnification, and the 600D also has sound recording level control built-in, with a stereo sound meter to help judge the right setting.
Put this all together, and it's clear that the 600D is an extremely well-featured little camera that's well beyond the traditional stripped-down 'entry level' fare, and indeed gives little away in terms of features compared to the EOS 60D (the differences are mainly in terms of ergonomics and handling). It's also clearly aiming to make life as easy as possible for SLR newcomers to jump onboard and start experimenting with creative controls, while offering plenty of room to learn and develop their skills. But there's an awful lot of competition in this market space at the moment, and the 600D will have its work cut out to stand apart from the crowd and tempt potential buyers away from the small, sleek and lightweight mirrorless models that will sit alongside it on the dealers' shelves. Read on to find out how well it fares in this competitive market.
A brief history; Canon entry level digital SLR series
- 20/08/03: Canon EOS 300D / Digital Rebel (6 MP)
- 17/02/05: Canon EOS 350D / Digital Rebel XT (8 MP)
- 24/08/06: Canon EOS 400D / Digital Rebel XTi (10 MP)
- 24/01/08: Canon EOS 450D / Digital Rebel XSi (12 MP)
- 10/06/08: Canon EOS 1000D / Digital Rebel XS (10 MP)*
- 25/03/09: Canon EOS 500D / Digital Rebel T1i (15.1 MP)
- 08/02/10: Canon EOS 550D / Rebel T2i (18 MP)
- 07/02/11: Canon EOS 600D / Rebel T3i (18 MP)
- 07/02/11: Canon EOS 1100D / Rebel T3 (12 MP)*
* The Canon EOS 1000D and 1100D represent a parallel, simplified sub-class of the Rebel series
Headline / New features
- 18 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
- DIGIC 4 processor with ISO 100-6400 (Expansion to 12800)
- Fully articulated 7.7cm (3.0”) 3:2 Clear View LCD with 1,040k dots
- Full HD movie recording with manual control and selectable frame rates
- Digital zoom in movie mode (3x - 10x)
- New 'Scene Intelligent Auto' exposure mode (replacing full auto)
- 'Basic+' and 'Creative Filters'
- Integrated wireless flash control
- 'Video Snapshot' mode for the creation of multi-take movies
Revised kit lens - Canon EF-S 18-55mm F3.6-5.6 IS II
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The 600D gets a 'new' kit lens, the EF-S 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 IS II. According to Canon this is identical in specification to the previous version, and features exactly the same optics and IS system: it simply has a revised external design. The visible changes suggest a paring down of production costs, for example the 'white square' alignment mark for mounting the lens is now simply painted on, rather than moulded. The camera will also come in a kit with the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens.
Canon EOS 600D vs EOS 550D: what's changed
One less easy-to-spot change is that the functions of the 550D's 'DISP' button have been divided up. The 600D now has an 'INFO' button in its position, which is used to cycle through the various information display options. There's now a separate button on the top-plate labelled 'DISP', which simply turns the screen on and off, effectively taking over the function of the 550D's eye sensor.
Canon EOS 600D vs. EOS 550D feature differences
The list below gives a more complete summary of the feature differences between the 600D and 550D:- Vari-angle display
- Scene intelligent Auto Mode
- 'Basic+' creative controls in scene modes
- 'Creative Filters' can be applied to images in playback mode
- Multi-aspect ratio shooting (3:2, 4:3, 16:9, 1:1, previewable in Live View)
- Integrated Wireless flash controller with multi-flash support
- 'Video Snapshot' mode
- Auto Lighting Optimizer now adjustable in 4 levels
- Feature Guide
- Image rating (1-5 stars)
- Eye sensor for LCD display replaced by 'DISP' button
- Marginally larger and heavier
Foreword / notes
If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read some of our Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).Conclusion / recommendation / ratings are based on the opinion of the author, we recommend that you read the entire review before making any decision. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of them, click to display a larger image in a new window.
To navigate this article simply use the next / previous page buttons or jump to a specific page by using the drop-down list in the navigation bar at the top of the page. You can support this site by ordering through the affiliate links shown at the bottom of each page (where available).
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Dpreview use calibrated monitors at the PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally also A, B and C.
Canon Rebel T3i (EOS 600D) specifications
| International naming | • US: Canon Rebel T3i • Japan: Canon EOS Kiss X5 • Elsewhere: Canon EOS 600D |
|---|---|
| List price (US) | • Body only: $799.99 • Body+18-55 IS II Kit: $899.99 • Body+18-135 IS Kit: $1099.99 |
| List price (EU) | • Body only: €749 • Body+18-55 IS II Kit: €849 • Body+18-135 IS Kit: €1049 |
| List price (UK) | • Body only: £679 • Body+18-55 IS II Kit: £769 • Body+18-135 IS Kit: £949 |
| Body material | Stainless Steel and polycarbonate resin with glass fiber |
| Sensor | • 18.7 million effective pixels • 18.0 million total pixels • 22.3 x 14.9 mm CMOS sensor • RGB Color Filter Array • Built-in low-pass filter with self cleaning unit • 3:2 aspect ratio |
| Dust reduction | • Low-pass filter vibration at power-on (can be interrupted) • Anti-static coating on sensor surfaces • Software based dust-removal (camera maps dust, removed later) |
| Image sizes * | RAW • 5184 x 3456 JPEG 3:2 • 5184 x 3456 • 3456 x 2304 • 2592 x 1728 • 1920 x 1280 * • 720 x 480 * 4:3 * • 4608 x 3456 • 3072 x 2304 • 2304 x 1728 • 1696 x 1280 • 640 x 480 16:9 * • 5184 x 2912 • 3456 x 1944 • 2592 x 1456 • 1920 x 1080 • 720 x 400 1:1 * • 3456 x 3456 • 2304 x 2304 • 1728 x 1728 • 1280x1280 • 480 x 480 |
| Still image formats | • RAW (.CR2 14-bit) • RAW (.CR2 14-bit) + JPEG Large / Fine • JPEG (EXIF 2.3) * - Fine, Normal |
| Movie recording * | • 1920 x 1080 (1080p, 16:9) @ 30/25/24 fps • 1280 x 720 (720p, 16:9) @ 60/50 fps • 640 x 480 (4:3) @ 60/50 fps • Quicktime MOV format (H.264 compression, linear PCM audio) • Up to 29 min 59 sec (or max file size 4 GB) |
| Image processor | DIGIC 4 |
| Lenses | • Canon EF / EF-S lens mount • 1.6x field of view crop |
| Focus modes | • Auto Focus • Manual Focus (switch on lens) |
| Auto Focus | • 9-point CMOS sensor • F5.6 cross-type at center, extra sensitivity at F2.8 • AF working range: -0.5 to 18 EV (at 23°C, ISO 100) • Predictive AF up to 8m |
| AF modes | • AI Focus • One Shot • AI Servo |
| AF point selection | • Auto • Manual |
| AF assist | Flash strobe |
| Shooting modes | • Scene Intelligent Auto • Flash off • Creative Auto • Portrait • Landscape • Close-up • Sports • Night portrait • Movie • Program AE (P) • Shutter priority AE (Tv) • Aperture priority AE (Av) • Manual (M) • Auto depth-of-field |
| Metering | • TTL 63-zone SPC • Metering range: EV 1.0 - 20 EV (at 23°C, ISO 100, 50 mm F1.4) |
| Metering modes | • Evaluative 63-zone (linked to AF points) • Partial 9% at center • Spot 4% at center • Center-weighted average |
| AE Lock | AE lock button |
| AE Bracketing | • +/- 2.0 EV (3 shots) • 0.5 or 0.3 EV increments |
| Exposure compen. | • +/- 5.0 EV • 0.5 or 0.3 EV increments |
| Sensitivity | • Auto (100 - 6400) • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 • ISO 3200 • ISO 6400 • H1 expansion (ISO 12800 equiv.) • Highlight tone priority |
| Shutter | • Focal-plane shutter • 30 - 1/4000 sec (0.5 or 0.3 EV steps) • Flash X-Sync: 1/200 sec • Bulb |
| Aperture values | • F1.0 - F91 (0.3 EV steps) • Actual aperture range depends on lens used |
| White balance | • Auto • Daylight • Shade • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Flash • Custom |
| WB Bracketing | • +/-3 levels • 3 images • Selectable Blue/Amber or Magenta/Green bias |
| WB fine-tuning | • Blue (-9) to Amber (+9) • Magenta (-9) to Green (+9) |
| Color space | • sRGB • Adobe RGB |
| Picture style | • Standard • Portrait • Landscape • Neutral • Faithful • Monochrome • User 1 • User 2 • User 3 |
| Custom image parameters | • Sharpness: 0 to 7 • Contrast: -4 to +4 • Saturation: -4 to +4 • Color tone: -4 to +4 • B&W filter: N, Ye, Or, R, G • B&W tone: N, S, B, P, G |
| Image processing | • Highlight Tone Priority • Auto Lighting Optimizer - 4 settings • Long exposure noise reduction • High ISO speed noise reduction • Peripheral illumination correction • Basic+ (Shoot by ambience selection, Shoot by lighting or scene type) * • Creative filters (Grainy B/W, Soft focus, Toy camera, Miniature effect, Fish-eye) - during image Playback only * |
| Drive modes | • Single • Continuous: 3.7 fps up to 34 Large/Fine JPEG / 6 RAW frames • Self-timer 10 secs (2 sec with mirror lock-up) • Self-timer continuous |
| Mirror lockup | Yes (custom function) |
| Viewfinder | • Pentamirror • 95% frame coverage • Magnification: 0.85x (-1 diopter with 50 mm lens at infinity) • Eyepoint: 19 mm • Dioptric adjustment: -3.0 to +1.0 diopter • Fixed precision matte |
| Viewfinder info | • AF information (AF points focus confirmation light) • Shutter speed • Aperture value • ISO speed (always displayed) • AE lock • Exposure level/compensation • Spot metering circle • Exposure warning • AEB • Flash ready • High-speed sync • FE lock • Flash exposure compensation • Red-eye reduction light • White balance correction • SD card information • Monochrome shooting • Maximum burst • Highlight tone priority |
| DOF preview | Yes, button |
| LCD monitor * | • Vari-angle 3.0" 3:2 TFT LCD * • 1,040,000 dots • Approx 100% coverage • Wide viewing angle (170° horizontal and vertical) • Dual anti-reflection, anti-smudge • 7 brightness levels • Up to 10x zoom playback |
| LCD Live view | • Live TTL display of scene from CMOS image sensor • Approx 99% frame coverage (30 fps display rate) • Real-time evaluative metering using CMOS image sensor • Grid optional (thirds) • Live Histogram optional • Magnify optional (5x or 10x at any point on the screen) • Quick or Live mode autofocus |
| Record review | • Uses last play mode • Magnification possible • 2 / 4 / 8 sec / Hold |
| Flash * | • Auto pop-up E-TTL II auto flash • Guide number approx 13 • Modes: Auto, Manual Flash On/ Off, Red-Eye Reduction • Integrated Speedlite Transmitter, wireless multi-flash support * • X-Sync: 1/200 sec • Flash exposure compensation: +/-2.0 EV (0.3 or 0.5 EV steps) • Coverage up to 17 mm focal length (27 mm FOV equiv.) |
| External flash | • E-TTL II auto flash with EX-series Speedlites • Hot-shoe |
| Other features | • Orientation sensor • In-camera copyright information • Image rating (0-5 stars) * • Automatically writes FAT16/FAT32 depending on capacity |
| Auto rotation | • On (playback uses orientation data in file header) • Off |
| Playback mode | • Single image • Single image with info (histogram brightness / RGB ) • Magnified view (1.5 - 10x in 15 steps, browsable) • 4 and 9 image index • Auto play • Image rotation • Jump (by 10, 100 or date) |
| Custom functions * | 11 custom functions with 34 settings |
| Menu languages * | • English • German • French • Dutch • Danish • Portuguese • Finnish • Italian • Norwegian • Swedish • Spanish • Greek • Russian • Polish • Czech • Hungarian • Romanian • Ukrainian • Turkish • Arabic • Thai • Simplified Chinese • Traditional Chinese • Korean • Japanese |
| Firmware | User upgradable |
| Connectivity | • USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) • Video out (PAL / NTSC) (integrated with USB terminal) • HDMI mini output (HDMI-CEC) • E3 type wired remote control • Remote Controller RC-6 • External microphone (3.5mm Stereo mini jack |
| Audio | • Mono microphone on front • Mono speaker on rear • External stereo mike (optional) |
| Storage | • SD / SDHC /SDXC cards |
| Power | • Lithium-Ion LP-E8 rechargeable battery • Approx 440 shots (23°C AE 50%, FE 50%), CIPA standard • 4 level battery life display • Optional ACK-E8 AC adapter kit |
| Battery Grip | Yes, BG-E8 |
| Direct printing | • Canon Selphy Printers • Canon Bubble Jet Printers with direct print function • Canon PIXMA Printers supporting PictBridge • PictBridge |
| Dimensions * | 133.1 x 99.5 x 79.7 mm (5.2 x 3.9 x 3.1 in) |
| Weight (inc batt/card) * | 570 g (1.26 lb) |
| Software | • Zoom Browser EX / ImageBrowser • Digital Photo Professional (Windows / Mac) • PhotoStitch • EOS Utility (inc. Remote Capture; Windows & Mac except Mac Intel) • Picture Style Editor |
* New or changed compared to the EOS 550D / Digital Rebel T2i
Body & Design
The 600D represents an evolution of Canon's long-running entry-level design, with the articulated screen being the most significant difference to a basic layout that dates back to the Rebel XSi /EOS 450D. There's a new grip for your left hand, and the mode dial reverts to a knurled (as opposed to ridged) design, but on the face of it little else is different relative to the 550D. So the body is covered with direct access buttons for most of the major shooting functions, which are used in concert with the 4-way controller or main control dial on the top plate to modify settings.
Perhaps the most important changes, though, from the photographer's point of view, are those which aren't at all obvious from simply looking at pictures of the camera. The grip is improved, and the buttons for key shooting controls such as ISO and exposure lock have been enlarged and given deeper travel, making them much more positive in use. This makes the 600D feel more like a serious tool than any of its predecessors.
In your hand
In the past we've not been big fans of Canon's entry-level models in terms of handling; since the EOS 350D they've been afflicted by a tiny, slim grips that seem to have been designed for the smallest of hands. The 600D finally addresses this with a grip that's slightly deeper, front to back, than its predecessor's, coupled with a sculpted channel on the back that provides a positive anchor point for your thumb.
This makes a big difference to the feel of the camera in your hand, and while users with large mitts may well still find it cramped, it's likely that a lot of users will find the 600D much more comfortable to hold than its predecessors. Overall it's the first entry-level Canon that we've been happy to carry around one-handed for an extended session of shooting since the original 300D.
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Viewfinder
The EOS 600D appears to use a very similar pentamirror viewfinder to that in the 550D; the specifications indicate a marginally decreased magnification (0.85x vs 0.87x), but this is too small a difference to be noticeable in practice. That aside it's identical in terms of markings and information displayed - see our EOS 550D review for more details on this. Again this means (as we said then) that it's one of the better pentamirror finders out there, but obviously is not as big or bright as the pentaprism finders generally found in more expensive cameras.Articulated screen
Canon was one of the very first manufacturers to use an articulated screen on a digital camera, dating right back to the Powershot Pro70 of 1998. For a long time the company seemed curiously reluctant to use one an SLR, but after 12 years of waiting, now two have turned up in quick succession. The 600D uses the same excellent 3:2, 1,040k dot display as the EOS 60D, with a side-hinged design that allows unobstructed movement even when using the camera on a tripod (something that tends to be a disadvantage of base-hinged designs).Swivel-and-tilt screens have undoubted benefits. They're great for shooting at awkward angles, perhaps on a tripod or with the camera held above your head, and provide a much more stable platform for shooting movies. We noted though that the usefulness of the 60D's screen is compromised by its distinctly hesitant live view contrast-detect AF, and the 600D unfortunately hasn't improved in this regard (it does share the same sensor and processor after all).
There is a workaround, which is to use the 'Quick Mode' AF in Live view. This flips the mirror down and uses the conventional phase detect AF system (as used for eye-level shooting) instead, then brings the mirror up to resume live view. This is much quicker, but it does result in the momentary loss of live view which is accompanied mirror operation noises. Because of this we found it works best if you assign AF to the '*' button on the back of the camera (by setting C.Fn IV-9 to 1: AE lock/AF) as otherwise you'll lose live view every time you half-press the shutter.
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Body elements
 | The 600D's mode dial hosts a brand new icon - 'A+' for 'Scene Intelligent Auto'. Otherwise we're looking at the same set of options as before, although Creative Auto has been moved next to the scene modes, presumably to encourage beginners to experiment with it. The A-DEP mode analyses data from all of the camera's AF points, and attempts to set a focus distance and aperture to ensure everything will be in focus. |
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 | There's also a new button on the top-plate. Marked 'DISP.', it's used to turn the LCD screen on and off while you're shooting. In movie mode it's used in conjunction with the two buttons on the camera's right shoulder to operate the digital zoom (when enabled). |
 | The 600D uses the same LP-E8 battery pack as the 550D, which as usual clips into place behind a door on the base of the camera. |
 | The memory card slot is on the grip side of the camera, and takes SD, SDHC and SDXC cards. |
 | The 600D's various connectors are hidden under rubber flaps on the other side of the body. Towards the front we have sockets for the optional RS-60E3 wired remote control, and a stereo microphone for recording sound while shooting movies. |
 | The camera's 'digital' connectors sit under another flap next door. There's a combined USB and AV out socket, plus mini-HDMI for playing back images and movies on your HD TV. |
 | The camera uses Canon's well-established 18Mp CMOS sensor (as also seen in the 7D, 60D and 550D), which has a 1.6x 'crop factor' meaning that an 18mm lens offers a similar angle of view to a 29mm lens on the 35mm 'full frame' format. The 600D accepts Canon's full range of EF and EF-S lenses, plus of course third party alternatives. |
 | The pop-up flash is the same as on previous cameras in the range. With a guide number of 13 it's got a reasonable amount of power for social shooting or a blip of fill-flash, and lifts high above the mount to minimize shadowing with larger lenses. One welcome new trick, compared to the 550D, is the ability to wirelessly control Speedlites off-camera, including the new 270EX II and 320EX models. |
 | Of course the 600D also sports Canon's usual dedicated hot shoe that's compatible with appropriate flash units. |
Operation and controls
Top of camera controls
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The large exposure mode dial offers a full range of auto and manual options - this is also your port of call when shooting video, as you have to explicitly set the camera to movie mode (on the whole we prefer cameras that have direct record buttons which work in all exposure modes). It's surrounded by the large, positive on/off switch.
Rear of camera controls
Canon has clearly set the 600D up to be controlled as far as possible by the right hand, and three key shooting controls - autoexposure lock (*), AF point selection and exposure compensation (+/-) are all placed within easy reach of your thumb. The latter has also moved slightly away from the viewfinder, making it a little more accessible, but it's still all-too-easy to hit the Q button below it by mistake. However he need to press a button to enter AF point selection mode, then the 4-way controller to select the required point, makes this process slightly more fiddly than on competitors which use the controller directly (but in turn sacrifice some other external controls).
The 'red dot' button beside the viewfinder has two functions. In movie mode, it starts and stops recording, whereas in all other modes it's used to enter or exit live view. The four-way controller provides direct access to white balance, focus and drive modes, and picture style during normal shooting, but there's no hard button for metering mode. However this is still relatively easy to set using the 'Q' button, which 'activates' the rear control panel to allow quick access to pretty well anything else you'd like to change while shooting.
When you switch to Live View or Movie shooting, the 4-way controller buttons no longer operate their marked functions, but are used directly to move the AF point around the frame (with WB etc now accessed via the Q button). We found this mode change somewhat disconcerting, and more than once ended up inadvertently changing the AF point position when we really wanted to set the white balance or drive mode.
Front of camera controls
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