February 2011 - This morning (7th Feb) Canon have announced the introduction of TWO new digital SLR cameras into their EOS line-up. I was invited to Canon UK’s HQ in Woodhatch to see what the new models would be and, more importantly, have a little play with them.
Read our EOS 600D and EOS 1100D Preview...
Canon EOS 1100D and EOS 600D Promotional Video by Canon
Key features of the Canon EOS 600D
Check out Canon's EOS 600D Product Tour
- 18-megapixel CMOS sensor
- Scene Intelligent Auto mode
- Full-HD EOS Movie
- On-screen Feature Guide
- Up to 3.7fps continuous shooting
- Wide-area 9-point AF
- 1,040k-dot vari-angle 7.7cm (3.0”) screen
- Basic+ and Creative Filters
- Built-in wireless flash control
18 MP APS-C CMOS sensor
An APS-C sized, 18-megapixel CMOS sensor captures images that are packed with detail and clarity. Such high-resolution allows large print sizes and the flexibility to crop pictures for alternative compositions.
ISO 100-6400 sensitivity
An ISO range of 100-6400, extendable to ISO 12,800, enables high-quality hand-held shooting in low-light conditions, without the need for flash.
14-bit image processing
At the heart of the Canon EOS 600D is a 14-bit DIGIC 4 image processor that provides exceptional colour reproduction, smooth tonal gradation and tight control over noise.
Scene Intelligent Auto mode
Scene Intelligent Auto analyzes each scene in detail and picks the right camera settings each and every time, leaving you free to concentrate on what's important – your photography.
On-screen Feature Guide
The EOS 600D's on-screen Feature Guide provides descriptions of many of the camera's functions, as well as advice on how to use them.
Full-HD EOS Movie
Shoot Full-HD video with manual control over frame rate, exposure and sound. Video Snapshot technology allows short clips of 2, 4 or 8 sec to be merged into a single movie file, for footage that looks like it was edited professionally, while Movie Digital Zoom permits 3-10x magnification while retaining Full-HD quality.
Canon EOS 600D Sample Video
9-point wide-area AF and iFCL metering
Nine AF points, including one central cross-type sensor, spread out across the frame for swift, accurate focusing, even with off-centre subjects. 63-zone iFCL metering ensures accurate exposures time after time.
1,040k-dot vari-angle 7.7cm (3.0”) screen
Shoot from unique angles with a 7.7cm (3.0”) 3:2 Clear View LCD screen, containing 1,040,000 dots for increased clarity.
Basic+
Basic+ technology allows photographers to customize basic auto settings according to lighting conditions or ambience.
Creative Filter Effects
Creative Filter Effects can be applied to Raw and JPEG files post capture, including Toy Camera, Soft Focus, Miniature, Grainy Black & White and Fish Eye simulations.
Built-in wireless flash control
An integrated wireless Speedlite flash controller and Easy Wireless technology allow off-camera TTL flash without the need for extra accessories.
Use with all EF and EF-S lenses
The EOS 600D is supported by the complete system: flashguns, remote releases and over 60 lenses trusted by professional photographers the world over.
Canon EOS 600d: Manufacturers warranty information
Canon are well known for their high quality customer service and over the last few years Canon Consumer Imaging (CCI) has been developing a Pan-European organisation to create uniform service standards across Europe. Canon has a central, multi-lingual helpdesk in Europe where customers receive expert technical advice at no extra cost.
Read more about Canon's (UK) Warranty Terms & Conditions
Repair Centre Network
Canon's Repair Centre Network is improving all the time and is another area that has undergone several changes. Canon has adopted a ‘Return To Base' repair service on a variety of products. Canon has adopted a 'Return To Base' policy on the majority of Canon Consumer Imaging products due to requests from end users. This new policy will ensure added convenience for the end user, as there will be no requirements to wait at home for an engineer.
You can find your local Canon Authorised Service Repair Centre here
Benefits of Registering with Canon
Lost or Stolen
If you were to lose or get your Canon goods stolen then don’t fear, all is not lost. If you are unfortunate enough to have a product stolen make sure you tell Canon about it and give them the serial number. Customer Services has created a new database of known stolen products and every time a product comes in for repair it is run against this database. No matter what the circumstances, police forces can contact Canon if they recover your product so it can be returned to you. Your purchase with Canon is also kept on their records along with the serial number and date of purchase, perfect if you ever need to make an insurance claim and have lost your records. It’s worth remembering that some insurance company’s will accept as proof, the details from Canon’s database as long as it is complete, including date of purchase and serial number.
Report your stolen product by calling Canon UK Regional Competence Centre – 0844 369 0100 (calls cost 5p per min from a BT landline, call costs vary with network / service provider).
Remember: If you can't find your serial number, as long as you registered it you can go into your own You Connect account to find it.
Find out more on Canon's Warranty
Helpful downloads for the Canon EOS 600D
Search for and download software, manuals or the latest firmware updates for the Canon 600D
Canon 600D Sample Images
The Canon Sample images can be found here on the Canon website.
The Canon 600D + EF-S 10-22mm ISO 200, Aperture: f/8.0, Shutter speed: 2.5 Leading lines help to guide a viewer through the story of a photograph. Here they have been used to good effect: the converging verticals of the building lead the viewer up the image and the inclusion of the palm fronds at the top of the image ensure the viewers' eyes are deflected back to the main subject.
The Canon 600D + EF-S 17-55mm ISO 100, Aperture: f/8.0, Shutter speed: 1/400 Technique: Miniature effect. Although this is a wide cityscape it seems to consist primarily of just three colours - red white and blue – almost as though it was built entirely from brightly painted toy building blocks. The photographer has used the miniature effect setting within his camera to reinforce that idea making the whole city look like a miniature model.
Manufacturer's Description
Feature Guide - a first for EOS cameras To get the best out of any digital SLR, an understanding of the camera’s features and technologies is essential. With the EOS 600D's new Feature Guide, newcomers to the DSLR world are given a brief explanation of what each feature does and how one might best use it. For example, the 'Aperture priority AE' feature is explained on the camera's LCD screen saying 'Adjust aperture to blur background (subjects stand out) or keep foreground and background in focus'. Once any feature is selected, the camera also provides onscreen help with step-by-step instructions as well as useful hints and tips.
Ensure high quality images every time The EOS 600D combines advanced imaging technologies to form Scene Intelligent Auto which guarantees high quality images with every shot. Scene Intelligent Auto is powered by the EOS Scene Detection Technologies which combine to help you achieve the highest quality images: EOS Scene Detection System, Auto Focus, Auto Exposure, improved Auto White Balance and Auto Lighting Optimizer and new Picture Style.
Record full High Definition movies with stereo sound
Zoom in to High Definition movie-making Boasting HD (720p) movie capability, the EOS 600D does not just shoot video clips, it offers the enhanced image quality, smooth frame rates and aBoasting the most advanced EOS full HD (1080p) movie capturing features to date, the EOS 600D does not just shoot video clips, it offers the enhanced image quality, smooth frame rates, in-shooting optical zoom, stereo sound and adaptive exposure compensation you would normally find in a professional movie-making tool.
In addition to selectable frame rates, the EOS 600D enables easy manual control of exposure, focus and Live View features and even allows for in-camera editing. The large APS-C CMOS sensor and compatibility with over 60 Canon lenses provide a wealth of depth-of-field options, and it's all as easy as the press of a dedicated Live View/Movie Recording button that gets the shooting started fast.
It also features a Movie Crop mode that effectively provides a 7x zoom.
It is easy to view and share your movies and stills too, thanks to an HDMI connection which allows High Definition playback of footage and images on any HDTV.
Multi-shot movies with music made easy Video Snapshot mode makes it fun and easy to create great videos without the need to edit on a PC. All you have to do is press the record button to capture short clips, 2, 4 or 8 seconds. These can they be put together in a playlist to create a highlights movie of your day. Add music to the movie using pre-loaded tracks for that professional finish or add your own music using the Music Transfer Utility supplied.
The EOS 600D performs outstandingly in low light, with incredibly low image noise.
Powerful resolution and low light performance The EOS 600D's 18 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor performs outstandingly in low light and produces images with incredibly low noise. Canon's DIGIC 4 processor works alongside the sensor to deliver 14-bit image processing, for smooth gradations and natural looking colours, as well as split-second start-up times and near-instant image review after shooting. DIGIC 4's advanced Noise Reduction when shooting at higher ISO speeds enables the EOS 600D to offer a high ISO range of up to 6400 - expandable to 12800 - so you can shoot in low light without the need for flash.
With continuous shooting up to 3.7 frames per second in bursts of up to 34 JPEGs or 6 RAW files it is easy to capture dramatic action shots. It captures enough detail to enable you to make ultra-large prints or crop sections from pictures and still maintain the highest quality, as well as get creative with your image processing.
The 9-point AF system, 63 zone dual-layer light meter and 3.7fps shooting means you’ll always get the perfect shot.
Focusing made easy A wide-area Auto Focus (AF) system uses nine separate focusing points to lock onto subjects fast and makes it easy to get the shot you want. As well as Manual Focus there are three auto-focus modes to choose from: One-Shot AF, ideal for static subjects such as portraits and landscapes AI Servo, great for moving subjects and keeps following the subject with predictive tracking until you take the shot and AI Focus, which switches from One Shot to Servo when movement is detected. The centre, cross-type focus point operates flawlessly in lower-light and lower-contrast settings.
iFCL light metering for better results in difficult lighting situations To complement the 9-point AF system, the EOS 600D features a 63 zone dual-layer sensor. By taking into account the colour and luminosity surrounding chosen AF points, this system delivers an incredible level of accuracy for better results even in difficult lighting situations. Since the metering sensor has a colour measurement function, exposure errors and focus errors caused by different light sources are minimised; the EOS 600D gives stable exposure from shot to shot in situations where light changes, such as a theatre or concert hall. This makes the EOS 600D ideal for scenes with extreme difference in brightness; the camera balances exposure of the main subject at the background, and exposures are not overly influenced by bright areas in the shot.
Live View Function Live View is a real-time visual feed, which enables you to view your subjects directly on the LCD monitor, a great help when shooting from awkward angles. It's easy to magnify any part of the scene 5x or 10x for precise manual focus. You can even choose a grid overlay, perfect for keeping vertical or horizontal lines straight in your composition. Live View Function can be used remotely via a computer through a USB connection and the included EOS Utility software.
The different modes allow you to control the look and feel of your images
Unlock your creativity The EOS 600D has five Creative Modes to explore: Av mode automatically sets the shutter speed, but allows you to control depth of field by letting you choose the aperture. By setting the extent to which the lens opens ('aperture'), you can control the portion of a scene that appears sharp in the image ('depth of field'). A larger aperture will provide a shallow depth of field (sharp in the foreground with a blurred background) whereas a smaller aperture will give a sharp picture throughout.
Tv mode automatically sets the aperture and you select the shutter speed. This enables you to change the appearance of motion in your shots.
In Program Mode both the aperture and shutter speed are controlled by the camera but you can select other settings: with Drive Mode you can select from Single Shot, Continuous Shooting or Self-timer; Metering Mode allows you to specify the area of the image you wish the camera to use to calculate exposure; White Balance setting means you can determine what the camera reads as white to allow for your specific lighting conditions and Flash Mode gives you control over your flash settings. >/p>
Manual Mode allows you to control both aperture and shutter speed so you have total creative freedom with your shots - great for difficult lighting situations or capturing subjects with different effects.
A-DEP Mode automatically sets your depth of field so you can be sure to capture as much or as little of the scene as you wish in focus.
All the Creative Modes allow you to change your ISO speed. This is the measure of the sensor's sensitivity to light. Altering it allows you to modify the exposure accordingly and gives you more freedom to be creative with your shots in different lighting conditions.
For those times when you prefer to concentrate on great composition the EOS 600D also offers several Basic Modes, which control all the settings. These include; Full Auto, which allows you to use the camera to 'point and shoot'; Portrait, which ensures the background is out of focus and the foreground is pin sharp; Landscape, which sets a longer exposure and a smaller aperture to capture both the foreground and background in focus; Close-up which allows you to focus on very close objects; Sports, which uses a fast shutter speed to freeze action; and Night Portrait, which increases the ISO to make the camera more sensitive to light. You can also prevent the built-in flash from popping up using the Flash Off setting (for shooting in Museums and galleries).
Effortless operation The EOS 600D’s 3” Vari-Angle LCD screen not only flips 175° and rotates 270° - it also has an incredible 1,040,000 dot resolution and 3:2 aspect ratio, offering incredible flexibility of shooting without compromising on quality. So whether you’re shooting across a crowd or from ground-level, you’ll capture the scene perfectly every time. Plus, the EOS 600D’s anti-reflective, water-repellent coating makes for easy viewing in bright light and from a variety of angles.
Choose your style The EOS 600D allows you to change the look of your images by customising Picture Style settings for colour, saturation, sharpness and contrast, either in-camera or later with Canon's comprehensive software suite supplied. Six preset Picture Styles include Portrait, which provides a sharp and crisp image with nice skin tones Landscape, which emphasizes vivid blues and greens and Monochrome to give you stunning black and white images. Canon also offers additional downloadable 'Picture Style Files' that can be installed into your camera for even more imaging options at your fingertips.
Professional Software The EOS 600D allows you to shoot in RAW format and the Digital Photo Professional software which comes free with it enables high-speed RAW image processing, fast previewing for real-time image adjustment and support for sRGB, Adobe RGB and Wide Gamut RGB colour spaces. Because it is CMS (Colour Management System) compatible, Digital Photo Professional allows for easy image layout and printing in Adobe RGB in conjunction with Easy-PhotoPrint and PictBridge printers.
Power in your hands Canon's latest generation of DIGIC processor, the DIGIC 4, is the brain of the camera and is responsible for the superb responsiveness of all EOS models. Faster and more powerful than its predecessor, the DIGIC 4 processor gives exceptional performance and low noise at higher ISO speeds. When shooting in darker conditions, even if you are pushing the ISO to the limit, DIGIC processing applies sophisticated Noise Reduction algorithms - helping to eliminate graininess and preserve detail. The speed of DIGIC also means less processing time for longer battery life and faster start-up times.
Extend your lighting capabilities Mastering flash photography can take a lifetime but Canon's extensive range of Speedlites, can make it simple to get great results. These flash head units can be used on or off camera to open up a range of creative possibilities. You can use them in situations where there would otherwise not be enough light or as a fill-in flash to change your daylight pictures dramatically.
The EOS 600D comes with an Easy Wireless Flash Shooting mode allowing the user to simply turn on the built-in wireless Speedlite transmitter, place the wireless compatible Speedlites around a scene and start shooting – reducing the complexity of the set-up. The EOS 600D is only the third Canon EOS to feature a built-in wireless Speedlite transmitter, with the 7D and 60D being the other two.
The Speedlite range is compatible with all EOS cameras and includes a choice of four standard models and two models for specialist macro use.
EOS Integrated Cleaning Systems For consistently pristine results, a complete dust prevention and cleaning system works to keep the EOS 600D's sensor spotless. A combination of technologies reduces, repels and removes dust, including a Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit that shakes dust from the sensor with each power-on.
Technical Jargon - What does it all mean?
EOS - Stands for Electro Optical System.
SLR - Stands for Single Lens Reflex: Means the camera has one lens that is used for both composing the frame and capturing the image to memory.
EF-S - Are designed specifically for cameras with an APS-format sensor, such as the Canon 1100D, 600D, etc. Cameras that support the Canon EF-S lens mount can also take the Canon EF lens mount. The 'S' stands for 'short back focus', which means that the rear element of the lens is closer to the image sensor.
APS-C - A type of digital camera sensor with an integral x1.6 magnification factor. This means that for all lenses (Canon, Sigma & Tamron) you have to x the focal length of your lens by the crop factor, which is 1.6 (Nikon 1.5). For example - Canon 50mm x 1.6 = 80mm. For a camera with a cropped sensor the field of view you actually get is 80mm.
CMOS - Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor – A type of image sensor used in many digital cameras