Digital Camera World » Canon

Canon EOS 100D review: does the Rebel SL1 / EOS 100D offer more than its size?

jmeyer — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:06:08 +0000

The Canon Rebel SL1 / EOS 100D is the world’s smallest and lightest DSLR. But is its image quality up to scratch? Find out in our Canon EOS 100D review.

Canon finally introduced its own CSC last year with the Canon EOS M, but now it has also released the Canon EOS 100D – also known as the Canon EOS Rebel SL1 in the United States – which is the world’s smallest and lightest DSLR.

The Canon EOS 100D / Rebel SL1 is an all new DSLR that joins the EOS camera line-up, sitting between the EOS 1100D and EOS 600D. But what else does it offer apart from its size?

Here Amy Davies of our testing team takes a look at what this camera has to offer in her Canon EOS 100D review video.

Canon SL1 / Canon EOS 100D Review Video Transcript

This is the Canon EOS 100D, which at the time of launch is the world’s smallest and lightest DSLR.

Canon has managed to shrink down all of the major components of this camera, but still retain an APS-C sized, 18 million pixel sensor at its heart.

This grip, although not as pronounced as on other DSLRs, still allows for good purchase, even when shooting with the camera one-handed. This dial here just next to the grip is used for altering aperture or shutter speed, depending on the mode you’re in.

Despite the camera’s small size, Canon has managed to keep a good button layout, with the majority being easily reached by the thumb on the right hand side. There’s also a mode dial, which is used to access fully automatic modes, semi-automatic modes, and full manual modes.

You’ll also notice here that the on/off switch can be pushed one step further to activate the movie mode on the camera. This makes it quicker to reach than having to spin the mode dial all the way around, and should make capturing those spur of the moment movies much easier.

We’ve seen “Creative Auto” mode before, and it helps new photographers get the shots they want, without using complicated photographic terms. So for instance, using this setting to make the background more or less blurred is actually altering the aperture.

Creative Auto Mode also makes accessing the digital filters, such as Toy Camera effect easy. Although you can’t shoot in raw format with digital filters, you can access a Extra Effect Shot mode which shoots one standard JPEG, and one with the effect added – useful if you decide you don’t like the filter further down the line.

Bizarrely, although digital filters can be accessed when shooting in other modes, such as aperture priority, you can only reach them when shooting in Live View mode, and the option to use Extra Effect Shot is not available.

For better control, you could choose to use Picture Styles. A number of presets are already included, such as Landscape and Portrait, while there’s also space for up to three of your own, useful if you want to create a custom setting, such as high contrast monochrome. You can also shoot in raw format too, for added flexibility.

On the back of the camera is a 3-inch touch sensitive LCD panel. This can be used for a range of things, including quickly accessing the Quick Menu. Simply tap this Q button here, then touch the setting you want to change. You can then use the scroll dial at the front of the camera to quickly move through the different options.

One of the good things about the touchscreen is that if you don’t want to use it, you don’t have to. Exactly the same operation can be achieved by using this button in the centre of the four-way control pad and the arrow keys here.

There are a lot of similarities between the button layout on this camera and other Canon DSLRs. So for instance, here we have a button to control exposure compensation, and another here to play back images.

The autofocus point can be changed in one of two ways, depending on whether you’re shooting in Live View or not. Press this button here to choose from one of the nine AF points available. You can use the touchscreen, which is especially useful in Live View mode – in fact you can also touch the screen to fire the shutter. Tap the screen at the point you want to use and the camera will focus and take the picture. This is useful in a few different scenarios, such as when using a tripod.

Unlike the majority of compact system cameras on the market, the 100D has a traditional optical viewfinder. This sensor here automatically switches off the screen when the camera is lifted to the eye. It’s worth bearing in mind however that the viewfinder doesn’t offer a 100% field of view, something to consider when composing your images.

We had high hopes for the Canon EOS 100D at its launch, with its promise of similar image quality to other cameras we’ve been impressed by in the past. In reality, the 100D delivers excellent images which are bright, punchy and detailed from a range of different shooting conditions.

However, we can’t help but feel that having the world’s smallest and lightest DSLR doesn’t mean too much when the rest of the system remains comparatively large and heavy. It’ll be interesting to see how the sales figures of this camera compare with its CSC rivals.

PAGE 1: Canon Rebel SL1 / Canon EOS 100D Review
PAGE 2: Our original Canon Rebel SL1 / Canon EOS 100D announcement story

Canon T5i review: is the EOS 700D / Rebel T5i a worthy upgrade?

jmeyer — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:00:12 +0000

The Canon T5i / EOS 700D promises to be Canon’s most advanced EOS camera to date, but is the 18-megapixel newcomer enough of an upgrade over the Canon T4i / EOS 650D? Find out in our Canon T5i review video.

The Canon EOS 700D (Canon Rebel T5i) is the replacement for the Canon EOS 650D. It will sit alongside the Canon EOS 600D at the very top of Canon’s “consumer” lineup, just below the Canon EOS 60D that starts its “enthusiast” range.

Along with its 18-megapixel APS-C Hybrid CMOS sensor and DIGIC 5 image processor, the Canon T5i / EOS 700D also boasts 5fps shooting and a native ISO range from ISO 100 to 12,800.

Find out in our testing team’s Canon T5i review video whether this new Canon camera is a worthy addition to your camera bag.

Canon T5i Review Video Transcript

Hi, I’m Angela Nicholson head of testing for Future Publishing’s photography portfolio and in this video I’m going to take a look at the Canon EOS Rebel T5i / EOS 700D

Anyone who owns a T4i/650D will spot that this camera looks very similar, in fact it’s almost identical and has the same 18-million-pixel APS-C format sensor, Digic 5 processor and 9-point autofocusing system.

As before, this camera has a touchscreen which is backed up by the usual array of button and dials so it’s up to you how you adjust the camera settings.

The screen is very responsive and once you start using it you start to rely on it more and more. It provides a really quick way of changing settings, scrolling through images and zooming in to check details.

The downside to this is that the screen quickly gets covered in fingerprints and these obscure the image in bright light, so it’s essential that you carry a cloth to wipe the screen regularly.

On the top of the camera we can see that the mode dial has been changed a little with the introduction of raised icons and a finer textured edge. It also rotates through 360 degrees making a little quicker to find the option that you want.

As in the camera it replaces the T5i, or 700D, has pixels on its imaging sensor that are used for the phase detection part of the hybrid focusing system that is available when using live view mode or shooting videos.

However, Canon has improved the live view focusing performance of the new camera and it focuses quicker with one of the STM lenses mounted.

I still wouldn’t use live view when shooting a moving subject though, you’re much better off composing the image in the viewfinder and using the faster phase detection AF system.

The STM lenses have stepper motor autofocus drive and this is designed to move subjects more smoothly into focus when shooting video.

It works well and is almost silent so you get very high-quality footage with the subject moving slowly, but smoothly into focus.

One of the biggest changes brought with this camera is that the impact of the JPEG-only Creative Filters can be previewed on the screen when shooting in live view mode.

Alternatively, you can apply these filters using the camera’s image processing controls.

The menu system will be familiar to Canon SLR users and as usual it’s divided into tabbed screens that allow quick navigation.

The My menu option is especially useful as you can register up to 6 features that you want to access from it. I find it useful to use it to reach features like mirror lock-up and the flash control options.

There’s also a Quick menu that can be reached by pressing this button or touching this icon on the screen. It gives a quick route to the most commonly used features and adjustments can be made using the physical buttons or the on-screen controls.

The T5i/700D produces high quality images with bags of detail, rich, pleasant colours and a good range of tones.

However, as we have found before with Canon’s iFCL Evaluative metering system, the exposure can vary significantly in high contrast situations depending upon the brightness of the subject under the active AF point. It responds more like a centreweighted metering system than you might want.

PAGE 1: Canon T5i review / Canon EOS 700D review
PAGE 2: Our original Canon T5i / Canon EOS 700D announcement story
PAGE 3: Our original Hands-on Canon Rebel T5i / Canon EOS 700D review

Canon unveils important update to Project1709 with competition (Advertorial)

jmeyer — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 23:00:41 +0000

Canon has revealed a raft of new features and functionality to its Project1709 photo management platform, which promises to offer photographers even greater flexibility with their images.

Key to the Project1709 version 1.1 update is a new feature within the software’s interface that allows photographers to upload their images directly to Flickr from within the Project1709 interface – as well as download images already stored on Flickr.

What’s more, Project1709 users will also be able to comment on Flickr photos from within the Project1709 interface.

Photo management also becomes easier in version 1.1, with new tools for managing your images. The update brings photographers the ability to edit file names, rotate and delete images from within the Project1709 interface, as well as create albums.

Canon has also made improvements to the software’s search functionality, allowing you to filter results by new ANY or ALL tags, helping you find your images in an instant.

The improvements released in version 1.1 stem from user feedback on the beta version of Project1709, released last year, which is now open to all photographers and is the perfect one-stop shop for managing your images.

Users can store, manage, share and now make edits to their photos – and though Canon has developed the cloud-based platform, you can use it no matter what camera you shoot with!

To celebrate the update to Project1709, Canon is offering two lucky Digital Camera World readers a £100 gift voucher for its expert photography course ‘Making The Most Of Your Digital EOS’.

What’s more, two additional winners will receive Canon’s training DVDs ‘The Art Of Seeing’ and ‘Introduction To Photography With Your Digital EOS’.

Click here to find out how you can be in with a chance of winning these prizes from Canon.

Hands-on Canon EOS 700D / Rebel T5i review

jmeyer — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:30:57 +0000

Hands-on Canon EOS 700D / Rebel T5i review: this new Canon camera is an EOS 650D replacement, but is there enough difference to warrant an upgrade? Find out in our hands-on Canon EOS 700D / Rebel T5i review video.

The Canon EOS 700D price tag will be £629.99 / €799.99 body only.

Canon says the EOS 700D is its most advanced EOS camera to date, and inside this new body is a Canon-designed, Canon-manufactured 18-megapixel APS-C Hybrid CMOS sensor, Canon’s DIGIC 5 image processor and an AF System with 9 cross-type points.

Ali Jennings of our testing team got an exclusive preview of a pre-production model of this new Canon camera. In this Canon EOS 700D / Rebel T5i review video he runs through the camera’s key features and build quality.

Don’t also miss Ali’s hands-on Canon EOS 100D / Rebel SL1 review video

Hands-on Canon EOS 100D / Rebel SL1 review

jmeyer — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:10:38 +0000

Hands-on Canon EOS 100D / Rebel SL1 review: do great things come in small packages? We preview some of the key features and build quality of the new Canon DSLR, which Canon says is the world’s smallest.

The Canon EOS 100D / Rebel SL1 is an all new DSLR that joins the EOS camera line-up, sitting between the EOS 1100D and EOS 600D. But what else does it offer apart from its size?

In his hands-on Canon EOS 100D / Rebel SL1 Ali Jennings takes an exclusive look at a pre-production model of the Canon EOS 100D / Rebel SL1 to see what the world’s smallest and lightest ever DSLR has to offer photographers.

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Canon EOS 100D: price, release date, specs for smallest-ever APS-C DSLR

jmeyer — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 05:00:36 +0000

Canon has revealed an official Canon EOS 100D price, release date and spec sheet for the new DSLR claimed to be the smallest and lightest APS-C DSLR ever made.

The Canon EOS 100D was made official today and is not a Canon 1100D successor, the company says, but instead will sit above Canon’s entry-level DSLR in its lineup.

The 18-megapixel Canon EOS 100D price tag will be £579.99 / €739.99 inc. RRP (body only), or £709.99 / €909.99 in a kit with the new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM also announced today. A Canon EOS 100D release date is expected in late April.

Canon Announcement: Canon EOS 100D release date set for April 2013

Measuring 116.8 x 90.7 x 69.4mm and weighing in at 407g, the new Canon EOS 100D boasts a new 18-megapixel APS-C Hybrid CMOS AF II Sensor, which uses phase detection pixels spread across 80% of the sensor’s imaging surface to help increase the camera’s AF speed and tracking performance in Live View or HD movie mode.

The Canon 100D also uses the company’s DIGIC 5 image processor and features an Optical Viewfinder, as well as a 3in ClearView II Capacitive Touch screen.

Canon EOS 100D price confirmed at £579.99 / €739.99 body only

Other features include 4fps continuous shooting and a range of shooting modes and creative filters, such as new Kids, Food and Candlelight modes, an enhanced Creative Auto Mode.

And new to the Canon 100D is Canon’s Extra Effect Shot mode allowing photographers to capture two images simultaneously – one with a Creative Filter applied and one standard image.

For HDSLR enthusiast, the Canon EOS 100D also shoots full HD movies at 1920 x 1080p and incorporates a Video Snapshot mode that allows photographers to capture and edit short video clips.

Canon EOS 100D specs include new 18-megapixel Hybrid CMOS AF II sensor

Announced along with the Canon EOS 100D and Canon EOS 700D is a new Canon standard zoom lens, the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM.

This new Canon lens features a 4-stop Optical Image Stabilizer, which allows photographers to use lower ISO levels and longer shutter speeds.

It also offers a close focusing distance of 0.25m, Super Spectra Coating and STM technology to keep noise to a minimum while focusing during video recording.

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Canon EOS 700D: price, release date, specs revealed for EOS 650D replacement

jmeyer — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Along with its Canon EOS 100D announcement, the company has revealed a Canon 650D replacement, giving us an official Canon EOS 700D price, release date and spec sheet.

Promising to be Canon’s most advanced consumer EOS camera to date, the 18-megapixel Canon EOS 700D price tag will be £629.99 / €799.99 body only, or £759.99 / €969.99 in a kit with the new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM standard zoom lens also announced today.

The company also says the Canon EOS 700D release date will be from late April, like the Canon EOS 100D.

The Canon EOS 700D price tag will be £629.99 / €799.99 body only.

Key to the Canon 700D specs list is a Canon-designed and manufactured 18-megapixel APS-C Hybrid CMOS sensor, as well as the DIGIC 5 image processor, which is also found in the EOS 100D.

The Canon 650D replacement offers up to 5fps shooting, along with a native ISO range from 100-12,800, which can extended to ISO 25,600.

The Canon EOS 700D AF System features 9 cross-type points spread across the frame, and photographers have the option to manually select and adjust focus points or use full automatic mode.

A Canon EOS 700D release date is scheduled for late April.

The Canon 700D also incorporates a 3in Vari-angle Clear View LCD II Touch screen allowing photographers to shoot from a variety of angles, along with a simplified 360-degree rotating mode dial.

Like the EOS 100D, the Canon 700D offers a range of Creative Filters and scene modes, as well as a Scene Intelligent Auto mode that automatically detects the scene being shot and selects the best camera settings to use.

A 360-degree mode dial is among the Canon EOS 700D specs.

The new Canon camera also incorporates the same HD video options found in the Canon EOS 100D, such as Video Snapshot mode for capturing and editing short video clips.

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Focus On Imaging 2013: best new cameras on show and other highlights

jmeyer — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:46:07 +0000

What new cameras were on show at Focus On Imaging 2013? Our head of testing rounds up the highlights.

In her new video, Angela Nicholson takes a hands-on look at some of the new cameras from Fuji, Canon, Nikon and others that were on hand at the UK’s top photography trade show in Birmingham, England, which concluded this week.

New Canon low-light sensor can record images in pitch dark

jmeyer — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:49:01 +0000

A new Canon full frame sensor is capable of recording faint stars and capturing images in extreme low light.

Canon has announced it has developed a new high-sensitivity 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor designed for video recording, which can capture Full HD video with low noise in the darkest of environments, according to the company.

The newly developed CMOS sensor features pixels measuring 19 microns square in size – which is more than 7.5 times the surface area of the pixels on the sensor in Canon’s flagship full-frame DSLR the Canon EOS-1DX.

“Thanks to these technologies, the sensor facilitates the shooting of clearly visible video images even in dimly lit environments with as little as 0.03 lux of illumination, or approximately the brightness of a crescent moon—a level of brightness in which it is difficult for the naked eye to perceive objects,” according to the Canon announcement.

“When recording video of astral bodies, while an electron-multiplying CCD,*2 which realizes approximately the same level of perception as the naked eye, can capture magnitude-6 stars, Canon’s newly developed CMOS sensor is capable of recording faint stars with a magnitude of 8.5 and above.”

Using a prototype camera which housed the new Canon full frame sensor, the company recorded footage of a dark room being illuminated only by burning incense sticks (approximately 0.05–0.01 lux) and video footage of the Geminid meteor shower.

The image below shows a moonlight scene recorded before and after increasing sensitivity using the new Canon full frame sensor.

The company says it his aiming the new Canon full frame sensor at astronomical and natural observation, as well as medical support and the surveillance and security industries.

However, the announcement suggests that through further innovation the sensor could “expand the world of new imaging expression.”

Our popular Canon SLR Handbook now available for iPad and iPhone!

jmeyer — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 19:30:29 +0000

Are you a Canon SLR user? If so, check out our new iPad special: a 220-page Canon SLR Handbook packed with video lessons and practical advice on mastering your Canon camera.

What’s inside our new Canon iPad guide

The Canon SLR Handbook is a comprehensive course for learning how to use your EOS digital camera. Filled with practical advice, it’s the instruction manual that should have come in the box with your Canon D-SLR!

Our comprehensive 18-lesson Canon SLR College provides a complete introduction to photography with a Canon SLR – from how to change your lens, to how to master apertures and shutter speeds.

Our tutorials, and the accompanying videos you’ll discover free with the digital edition, show you how to edit the pictures you take using the software that is shipped with every Canon digital SLR.

As you learn more about photography, you will be tempted to invest in more lenses and other accessories – but make sure you read our fact-packed group tests before making a decision about what to buy!

You can buy it now via the free Photography Week, Digital Camera or PhotoPlus app (go here if you don’t have any of these on your iPad or iPhone already http://goo.gl/uq01T). The Canon SLR Handbook costs just £6.99 / $9.99 for the digital edition.

Or if you prefer the print version (which has has now been reprinted four times), you can order the bookazine + videodisc online here: http://bit.ly/VAgw9P for £14.99.