Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D Video Test

Almost 16 months after the venerable Canon Rebel T3i/600D hit store shelves, Canon unleashed a new Canon Rebel T4i/650D to the entry level DSLR market for a retail price of $849 for body only. The Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D is now touted as Canon's flagship to its Rebel lineup. Although it shares the same 18 megapixel CMOS sensor as its predecessors, the Canon Rebel T4i/650D features a DIGIC V processor to handle the faster 5fps shutter rate, a new Hybrid AF system to work in conjunction with Canon STM (stepper motor) lenses for video, a more sensitive 9 point AF like the Canon 60D and the first the touchscreen control for Canon DSLR's. Of course, there is much more to list but that will have to wait for my upcoming Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D full review. Patience!



As soon as I picked up my Canon Rebel T4i/650D from my friends at North Tampa Photography, I hit the ground running by capturing some video to evaluate image quality and the new touchscreen feature on the swivel LCD. The video above was shot at 1080p with the Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D at 29.97fps. I edited the video using Final Cut Pro 6.0.6 using a modified Canon E-1 Movie Plugin to transcode the h264 video files to AppleProRes422. I used Compressor to export a 470mb h264 video file. I paired the T4i/650D with the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L lens and captured audio with the Rode VideoMic shotgun microphone.



Now for my brief video evaluation of the T4i/650D! First the good stuff... The extra indent on the power switch for movie mode makes the transition easier to capture video without turning the mode dial almost a full 360 degrees. The built in camera microphone is now stereo and placed above the viewfinder. Hesitant at first for change, the touchscreen LCD controls are surprisingly good and practical for recording video. With a touch of the Q (quick menu) button, you have touch control of all major functions including aperture, shutter, ISO, focus point, focus magnification and much more to list. The touchscreen is quite handy especially when choosing focus point and magnifying digitally for critical focus. No more fumbling with control dials and menus anymore. Total video recording time is now up to 29 minutes and 59 seconds. Just like the Canon 5D Mark III, a new continuous video file is created when the 4gb file limit is reached. The new Hybrid AF system for Servo AF during video capture looks very promising and I will have a full review and Hybrid AF video test shortly.



Now the bad stuff...Gone are the days of 1080p 3x to 10x digital zoom video capture like in the previous Canon Rebel T3i/600D. Canon completely removed this useful feature adding that extra reach for distant subjects like in my Supermoon video. Next problem is the removal of the AF Quick mode option in movie mode. I found the AF system of the stills mode is much more accurate and "quick" than the new Flexizone single focus point. Habits are just too hard to break! As an added note, the Movie Servo AF is enabled by default in movie mode. It has to be disabled because the AF will be constantly hunting for focus during video capture. Another brief critical issue with the AF is switching between stills mode and movie mode. If you are in AF Quick mode in Live Mode for stills, your selected setting in movie mode for AF will be set to the AF face tracking mode by default. Confusing? This maybe corrected in some future firmware fix, hopefully. As of now, that briefly wraps up my initial positive and negative video aspects of the new Canon Rebel T4i/650D. Everybody will have to wait for my full review and in depth look into the Hybrid AF system with Canon STM lenses.



Look familiar? This is my modified .plist for the Canon E-1 Movie Plugin v1.3 to make the Canon Rebel T4i compatible with the Log and Transfer feature of Final Cut Pro. All of the other higher end Canon DSLR's can quickly and easily transcode h264 video files to AppleProRes422 for smooth non linear editing except the Rebel series. I fix that problem easily like the previous Rebels here. Be warned! Follow instruction carefully in that link and click on the picture above to view the .plist modification for the Canon Rebel T4i/650D. Good Luck!



There will be more to come especially with the new Hybrid AF tracking system with Canon STM lenses including the new Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens or "shorty forty".



This concludes my first of many Canon Rebel T4i/650D Video Tests. Some extra tidbits I have to mention regarding video. Like the Canon 5D Mark III during video recording, the HDMI output is a cropped 16x9 version that is displayed with or without camera information. This sure beats a 4:3 480p video output like the previous Rebels! Just like the previous Canon Rebel T3i, the new T4i keeps the manual audio control for video and the added video resolution of 720p at 59.97fps as well.



Stay updated for my upcoming Canon EOS Rebel T4i Verdict and Video Review by Becoming a Fan on my Facebook Fan Page and following me on Twitter!










***MAJOR UPDATE***

I posted a new Canon Rebel T4i and EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens Video Test here. See the amazing new "shorty forty" especially when paired with the T4i/650D.

***Major Update #2***

I just posted a new Canon EOS Rebel T4i Verdict and Video Test here.

Canon 5D Mark III Practical Review and Video Test

The new Canon 5D Mark III hit the store shelves with much anticipation. It has been three long years since Canon 5D Mark II owners have been waiting with high expectations of a suitable replacement. In September 2008, award winning photographer Vincent LaForet showed the world an affordable consumer grade camera can achieve a filmmaker's cinematic look and feel in Full HD.



Fast forward over three years later to March 2012. The Canon 5D Mark III based on the Canon 7D design emerges with a 22 megapixel full frame CMOS sensor with a host of major improvements over its predecessor like a 61 point AF system and a headphone jack to monitor audio during video capture. Just like the 1D series, the addition of dual memory card slots adds to capacity and redundancy along with a bright and wide 100% viewfinder. I will list more major improvements with examples. Read on...



I spent the last month immersing myself with the Canon 5D Mark III shooting pictures and video of real life situations. No fancy scientific charts or graphs in my Canon 5D Mark III practical review. I bring to the HD DSLR world just a family point of view through the lens of the Canon 5D Mark III. The baby stroller comes in handy as a camera gear caddy, as well.



I will get straight to the point for still photographers. The Canon 5D Mark III can freeze fast action with AI Servo in low light with a very clean 6400 ISO all day and night. The new 61 AF points and the DIGIC V+ processor can crank out the 6fps with decent accuracy at my kid's Spring Carnival at night. I am a Canon 1D Mark IV owner with a tenacity for dead on focus at a fast frame rate. The Canon 5D Mark III new 61 point AF system is top notch for a non 1D series camera without the 1D series price tag. Brilliant!



Believe it or not, this is ISO 51200 freezing action at 1/800th shutter speed at aperture f/4. Not entirely noise free, but clean enough for candle lit Wedding receptions. It is a vast 3 ISO stop improvement over the Canon 5D Mark II. This 5D Mark III at ISO 51200 looked better than my 2006 Canon 1D Mark II N at ISO 800. How times have changed...



High Dynamic Range photographers rejoice! The Canon 5D Mark III is the first Canon DSLR with built in camera HDR processing. With a press of a dedicated HDR button, you can automatically capture three images at different exposures and the DIGIC V+ processor will do the rest magically. You can immediately view the aligned and processed JPEG from the super sharp 3.2 inch LCD screen. For even more manipulation, you can post process the HDR images in the newly updated Canon Digital Photo Professional version 3.11.26. Say goodbye to Photomatix and hello to the free Canon Digital Photo Professional with built in HDR tool.



No more print button to access Movie mode in the Canon 5D Mark III. The Canon 7D selector dial on the Canon 5D Mark III now makes it easier to shoot Full HD movies. Just like the 7D, the Canon 5D Mark III now has 1280x720p at 60fps video resolution. All this cinematic goodness comes with a choice of two H264 video compressions, ALL-I and IPB. I am still investigating the pros and cons of both at the moment. The ALL-I compression captures Quicktime MOV video files at a massive 3 times the size compared to IPB. Your memory cards and hard drives will burst. Just like broadcast TV cameras, embedded video Timecode is now a reality for HD DSLR's. RecRun and FreeRun Timecode can make logging hours of footage more manageable.



The 4gb FAT32 flash memory card limitation is a thing of the past when it comes to the roughly 12 minute video recording cap of the Canon 5D Mark II. The Canon 5D Mark III can record up to a full 29 minutes and 59 seconds during one video capture. The DIGIC V+ processor records consecutive 4gb files to the memory card. In post production non linear video editing, you can line up the consecutive video files in your timeline for a seamless edit. As for in camera memory card space, you can program the camera to automatically jump from one card slot to the next when the first card becomes full.



Audio capture with HD DSLR video recording has always been a challenge. Although not perfect, the Canon 5D Mark III shines with the new addition of a headphone jack to monitor audio, displayed and adjustable audio levels during recording and touch sensitive controls for quiet adjustments. I am not a big fan of stereo mini jack audio connections. They get loose over time along with the crackly noise that follows. I do not expect Canon to put a full size XLR audio connection on the Mark III anytime soon. That is what the new Canon C300 and C500 full blown cinematic cameras are made to accomplish. Their hefty $15,000 and $30,000 price tag for professional audio is overkill. The new Beachtek DXA-SLR PRO will just do fine at the moment.



A 1080p video shot with the Canon 5D Mark III at 29.97fps. Edited with Final Cut Pro 6.0.6 and used the Canon E-1 Movie Plugin version 1.3 to transcode to AppleProRes422. I used Compressor at high quality to get a 1gb h264 video file. I used an AZDEN ECZ-990 shotgun microphone for audio and a Zacuto Z-Finder Pro 2.5x for critical focus. For support I used a Manfrotto 701HDV head with Benro 3580 tripod legs. I also used a FADER ND Mark II variable neutral density filter to control exposure at the optimal 1/60th shutter speed, wide open aperture and an ISO of 160.



The picture above with lines of code is my modified .plist of the Canon E-1 Movie Plugin version 1.3 for Apple Final Cut Pro editing software. My point? Just like in my Canon Rebel T3i Video Test, I modified the plugin for an entry level DSLR like the T3i to transcode automatically to AppleProRes422 like the big boys. Now with the addition of the Canon 5D Mark III to the Canon E-1 Movie Plugin .plist, Canon Rebel T3i/600D owners can have their dessert, also.



A 720p video shot with the Canon 5D Mark III at 59.94fps. Edited with Final Cut Pro 6.0.6 and used the Canon E-1 Movie Plugin version 1.3 to transcode to AppleProRes422. I used Compressor at best quality to get a 750mb h264 video file. I used an AZDEN ECZ-990 shotgun microphone for audio and a Zacuto Z-Finder Pro 2.5x for critical focus. I also used a FADER ND Mark II variable neutral density filter to control exposure at the optimal 1/125th shutter speed, wide open aperture and an ISO of 160.



The Canon 5D Mark III verdict? For a retail price of $3499 for body only, the Canon 5D Mark III is not in the Canon Rebel category when it comes to price. When compared to the Canon 5D Mark II, the price is justified especially with the 61 AF point focusing system and the plethora of video improvements. The Canon 5D Mark III is a Wedding Photographer's dream DSLR. A high ISO capable full frame sensor with accurate multipoint AF system with Full HD video capability. It is a no brainer for current Canon 5D Mark II owners to upgrade to this amazing camera. A game changer to the DSLR industry in 2008 and again in 2012.



You can view more ISO examples, product shots, HDR photos, videos and more in my Canon 5D Mark III Practical Review and Video Test Gallery. Shot with the Canon 5D Mark III paired with Canon EF 17-40 f/4L,EF 24-105mm f/4L IS,EF 70-200mm f/4L IS,EF 35mmf/1.4L,EF 85mm f/1.2L and the EF 70-200mm f/2.8l IS II lenses.



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***UPDATE***
Canon EOS 5D Mark III Firmware 1.2.1 Update Released for Download with new features such as a clean HDMI out and cross-type AF points at f/8.

Epic

Bigger than life itself. No fabled heroes on this New Year's Day but only humbled eyes capturing a chronicle of events called my family. Year 2011 has passed and the dauntless task of 2012 seems as bright as the New Year's Eve firework's display at LEGOLAND Florida.



Cousins forever. Just like Dick Clark's Times Square Ball Drop for New Year's Eve, the countdown is ticking for priceless childhood moments. School winter break converged masses upon central Florida with several theme parks closing its doors due to over capacity. We braved the traffic and crowds and hit LEGOLAND Florida with a vengeful bite of Granny Apple Fries with delightful whip cream.



Enamored by bombs bursting in air like my wife, my almost 10 month old daughter shares the same fondness for elaborate firework displays. Armed with store bought 500 gram gunpowder cakes, my brother in law illuminates the neighborhood with theme park quality fireworks. The little ones duck and cover while the adults and the local County Sheriff gaze with mouths agape.



A thousand points of light shine bright upon the best Christmas of my lifetime. "The best Christmas" may sound cliche to my kid's gift filled eyes but it is an epic truth to me.



My oldest niece meets the youngest of the Soriano family only for the second time this year. Despite this gap, my baby daughter stares deep into her oldest cousin's eyes with a lifetime of familiarity...Epic.



You can view more photos in my New Year's Eve for 2012 Gallery shot with the Canon EOS Rebel T3i paired with the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens.

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All Quiet on the Thanksgiving Front

Thanksgiving Day usually sparks the season of holiday warfare. With only 31 days until Christmas Day, chaos erupts with annual Black Friday shopping events, must attend holiday office parties, school Christmas pageants and the ever stressful large gatherings of family functions. This Thanksgiving Day was surprisingly different for a change. Why? I did not have cooked turkey obligations.



With relative calm and precooked Costco Kirkland Signature Honey Glazed Ham plus the added bonus of an enormous baked apple pie with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream, Thanksgiving Day was quite relaxing and stress free. No messy Turkey frying with expensive $50 peanut oil for a $20 bird and no long distance traveling this year makes me a happy camper. Just Florida weather in the Fall season and three servings of Apple pie a la mode to enable my post Thanksgiving dinner hibernation.



To win battles in holiday warfare, you have to distract the enemy (in-laws and kids) with rudimentary devices like an inflatable bounce house. Despite a few head bumps and tears, a few dollars spent on a bounce house rental equals priceless enjoyment of a plate full of turkey with all the trimmings.



All is quiet on this Thanksgiving Day. I give thanks for my family, my apple pie a la mode and my trusty Canon EOS Rebel T3i/600D for capturing this turkey moment.

The Fruits of Our Labor Day 2011

Labor Day sparks the end of summer and the day off from work for most but for my newborn daughter Serena, this holiday weekend celebrates her 6 month old milestones. Sitting up on her own, grabbing objects with her hands and recognizing her own name are just a few recent developmental skills of this very happy baby.



With 10 pounds of Rib-eye steak and Pork ribs to grill, we officially ended summer with a windy trip to our favorite Fort De Soto Beach Park. The family loves the beach and everything that comes with it. The waves, the splashing and the seashell hunting tops the beach favorite's list. For me, it is the uninterrupted charcoal grilling with the ultimate final reward of consumption. One juicy bite at a time.



Okay, we did not spend all weekend grilling meat and soaking up all the sunshine. We journeyed long and far to various eating establishments. Of course, all this culinary research is for the greater scientific good. The good of our appetites.



We hit a Food Network favorite of Guy Fieri, Taco Bus in Tampa, Florida. I would not consider this Mexican Food Truck restaurant as a "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" hotspot, but more like a school bus authentic Mexican kitchen attached to an air conditioned dining area.



All that matters to me is that the kids like it with the convenience of 24/7 yummy dining. My daughter's Food Network choice is definitely the fried fish tacos with all the trimmings. Scrumptious!



Capturing my newborn daughter's six month milestones is naturally a labor of love. Every month comes with a new shining baby moment and an overwhelming photo gallery of cute and adorable baby portraits.



Labor Day for my son means a few short weeks closer to the upcoming iPhone 5. Call my son the King of anything Apple and an Honorary Soldier of the soon to be released, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.



Almost every week my daughter Serena surprises me with some new baby skill. Everyday my daughter's adorable smile makes everything worthwhile one photograph and dirty diaper at a time.



You can view more fruits of our Labor Day 2011 shot with the Canon EOS Rebel T3i/600D and the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV in my Labor Day 2011 Gallery.



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Canon EOS Rebel T3i Digital Zoom Video Test #3: Sea-Monkeys

My son and I got close and personal with his new watery friends. A recent trip to the mall landed him another chapter in his quest for an ideal family pet. There were Clown Fish, then Gold Fish, recently Beta Fish and now Sea-Monkeys. Like packets of sugar poured into my much needed morning coffee, my son anxiously ripped the pouch of Instant Live Eggs into the supplied red aquarium. Then came the waiting and more waiting for the "Amazing Live Sea-Monkeys" to come alive.



Days passed and hope was slowly diminishing, the encapsulated Brine Shrimp Eggs hatched and the Sea-Monkeys came to life. With the eyes wide open stare of my son, the almost microscopic newborn animals circled with random beauty. I shared the same amazement and captured the moment on video with my Canon EOS Rebel T3i paired with the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro lens. Combined with the lens and the Full HD Digital Zoom feature of the T3i/600D, my son and I got close and personal with his new aquatic friends.



See more Canon Rebel T3i/600D photos, videos and related hyperlinks in my Canon EOS Rebel T3i/600D Video Test Gallery.

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Yummy House China Bistro Experience

A family favorite has spread its wings and landed further east to nurture and feed hungry souls in Tampa, Florida. A wonderful addition to the already famous Yummy House on west Waters Avenue, the new and upscale Yummy House China Bistro on east Hillsborough Avenue opened its glorious doors this week to fans of Hong Kong style Chinese cuisine.



Yummy House China Bistro has a challenge to live up to the outstanding reputation of the original Yummy House Chinese restaurant in west Tampa. I have a lengthy history of family events held at this culinary establishment. Birthdays, Father's and Mother's Day, Anniversaries and everything in the Hallmark calendar catered to Yummy House believers. The crowd gathering at the Waters Ave strip mall signified convinced stomachs coming back for more.



Will upscale expansion hurt my Asian taste buds? The mouths of many converged at Yummy House China Bistro across the street from the Sanwa Farmer's Market to find out.



Wipe the drool off your face now. Remember this Sizzling Pork dish along with other Yummy House classic plates like Salt and Pepper Calamari. Yummy House China Bistro has unique entrees on the menu to make your eyeballs big. The family devoured the Sweet and Sour Fried Grouper chased down with the Hong Kong Sirloin with stir fried vegetables including Mango slices. Yummy!



Meet my fellow food critics. Eating is their number one specialty. Consumer electronics and every Apple Computer device are secondary. Whining is a close third. The food items on the menu we ordered were just splendid. My kids agree wholeheartedly. Equivalent or better than the original Yummy House on Waters Ave in my opinion.



All this Chinese goodness comes at a higher price on the wallet. Not an outrageous increase but only a slight contrast to the value priced original Yummy House on Waters Ave. You pay for the ambiance. The new building, the increased staff and the new Asian contemporary Darren White interior design of just a bigger restaurant. I think you can fit three original Yummy Houses just in the main dining area. Ultimately, you have a financial dining choice of either the value priced Yummy House or the more upscale Yummy House China Bistro. You will not be disappointed either way.



The fabulous cuisine comes from chefs and food staff transplanted from San Francisco, New York and Las Vegas. Attention to detail is seen by the custom made kitchen equipment from Hong Kong.



The masterminds and owners of Yummy House China Bistro are John Zhao and Executive Chef Tommy Tang. They have their hands full quite literally. The original Yummy House on Waters Ave will remain open to West Tampa. Yummy House China Bistro welcomes the new fan base north of Ybor City and Seminole Hard Rock Casino and Hotel down the street.



The good news Yummy House China Bistro has Dim Sum. The bad news is the Cantonese style Dim Sum is traditionally only for lunch and not dinner. The plates of steamed goodness in metal baskets will tempt you as they are pushed in rolling carts next to your table. From the familiar Shu Mai and Honey Glazed BBQ Pork Buns to sweet Crispy Fried Sesame Balls and Hong Kong Style Egg Tart, you will go Dim Sum crazy with the selection.



I could barely eat all the delicious food and shoot HD DSLR video with my Canon EOS Rebel T3i/600D at the same time. I managed to shoot a quick look inside Yummy House China Bistro handheld with the T3i paired with the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens. The 1080p video was shot at 29.97fps and edited with iMovie'11. I used Quicktime to compress a 499mb H264mb video file. My shutter was at 1/60th, aperture at f/2.8 and my ISO was all the way up to 3200 at times.



You can view more Canon EOS Rebel T3i/600D pictures and videos in my Yummy House China Bistro Experience Gallery.

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