The new ultra wide and ultra affordable Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4-5.6 IS STM kit lens enables first time DSLR owners wide angle lens opportunities. Landscapes, large group shots of people and other narrow situations where wide and up close is required.
The built in image stabilization is great for low light shots and even better for stable video capture. For less than half the price of the more expensive Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens, the new EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM is a great value for the entry level DSLR owner.
A 1080p video shot with the Canon EOS 70D paired with the new ultra wide Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4-5.6 IS STM kit lens at 29.97fps. Edited with Final Cut Pro 6.0.6. and used Compressor at "Best" quality to export my timeline for a 670mb h264 video file.
A 1080p video shot with the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM ultra wide kit lens paired with the Canon EOS M with EF-M Lens Adapter at 29.97fps. Edited with Final Cut Pro 6.0.6 and used Compressor to export the timeline at "Best" quality for a 1.6gb H264 video file.
The Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM ultra wide angle budget lens makes a perfect starter kit for the DSLR and mirrorless novice. Wide angle is needed in theme parks such as the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom.
I tried the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster with the tourist friendly Canon EF-S 10-18mm paired with the mirrorless Canon EOS M to evaluate the IS and the field of view from my seat. The results were outstanding considering this ultra wide lens is only $299 and cost less than the Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM lens.
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The Canon EOS 70D with the amazing Dual Pixel CMOS AF for continuous AF servo during video recording hits a homerun for DSLR video capture. My Canon EOS 70D Video Test clearly demonstrates the pin point accuracy of the AF Servo during video recording and the very useful touchscreen controls for critical focus. Other great features include 3x to 10x Digital zoom for 1080p video, choice of ALL-I and IPB video compression, full manual control over video and audio, intuitive touchscreen controls with the articulating LCD screen and the remote features of the built in WiFi control make the Canon EOS 70D truly a winner in the competitive HD DSLR market.
A 1080p video shot with the new Canon EOS 70D at 29.97 fps. Edited with Final Cut Pro 6.0.6 and used the Canon E-1 Movie Plugin 1.5 to transcode to AppleProRes422 from H264. I exported the FCP timeline using Compressor at "Best" quality to yield a 2 GB H264 video file for my Youtube upload.
The Canon EOS 70D was paired with the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS, EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5, EF 70-200mm f/4L IS, EF 300mm f/4L IS w/ EF 1.4x and the EF 35mm f/1.4L lenses. For stability, I used the Manfrotto MVH500AH fluid video head with BENRO 3580 tripod legs. For audio capture, I used the Sennheiser MKE400 shotgun microphone with wind muff and the RODE VideoMic GO microphone with RODE wind muff. To control incoming light to shoot wide open aperture, I used the FADER Mark II Variable ND Filter and the GENUS Variable ND Filter as well.
A 1080p video shot with the Canon EOS 70D paired with the Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS lens with Canon EF 1.4x extender at 29.97fps. Edited with Apple iMovie '11 and exported with Quicktime with "Best" quality for a 137mb H264 video file. For support, I used the Manfrotto MVH500AH fluid video head paired with BENRO 3580 tripod legs.
To capture the "Blood Moon" Lunar Eclipse, I used the 3x to 10x Digital 1080p video zoom built in the Canon EOS 70D. This yields almost a 6400mm focal length equivalent with crop factor, extender and digital zoom for a great reach into the heavens.
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Filmmakers rejoice! A worthy replacement of the venerable Canon EOS 60D workhorse has arrived. The new Canon EOS 70D will be coming in September 2013 for a retail price of $1199 for body only. For that much coin, you get a 20 megapixel APS-C sized sensor with 19 point AF, 7 fps, touchscreen articulating LCD, built in Wi-Fi and the newly developed Dual Pixel CMOS AF for continuous AF during video recording. Anxious to get your hands on one?
According to Canon, the new Canon EOS 70D coupled with the newly developed Dual Pixel CMOS AF is a "game changer" in the DSLR industry. Of course, we have heard this before with the 2008 Canon EOS 5D Mark II and certainly, Canon has to fill some big shoes at this point! As everybody knows, DSLR's are not conventional camcorders when it comes to AF during video recording. Canon attempted this feat with the Canon EOS Rebel T4i with much disappointment. Should I be cautiously optimistic with the new Dual Pixel CMOS AF of the Canon EOS 70D? I will not hold my breath for too long but there is always hope...
Let us focus on the positives of the Canon EOS 70D for now. You get a touchscreen LCD like the T4i/T5i, 19 point AF which is an upgrade from 9 points, built in wi-fi like the Canon EOS 6D, a very fast 7 fps shutter rate and plethora of manual video and audio controls for critical filmmaking. Here is an added bonus feature...gone are the days of mode dial rotating every time for video mode, we now have a dedicated movie mode button like the Canon EOS 7D. Hooray! All these goodies make the next couple months until the Canon 70D release in September 2013 give tech addicts the cold sweats!
The new Canon EOS Rebel SL1/100D digital camera takes all the "Rebel" goodness and wraps it in a small package. This new entry level 18 megapixel Canon Rebel with an APS-C CMOS sensor is now the lightest and smallest DSLR in the digital market today. This small form factor certainly blurs the line with their existing and not so popular Canon EOS M digital mirrorless compact camera just released in November 2012. The Canon EOS Rebel SL1/100D emerges as the Canon EOS M mirrorless digital camera with a real viewfinder and no silly EF-M Lens Adapter, IMHO.
Does the new Canon EOS Rebel SL1/100D video performance stack up with its Rebel brothers? Yes, it certainly does except for the fact it is missing an articulating screen and a larger capacity battery. Just like the Canon EOS M mirrorless digital camera, the new Canon EOS Rebel SL1 is missing the swivel screen and utilizes the same Canon LP-E12 battery pack. The new Canon Rebel SL1/100D also retains the quite useful touchscreen feature of the 3.0 inch LCD screen, the extended video record time of 29 minutes and 29 seconds and the full manual exposure and audio control with an external microphone jack. Enough said! Watch the Youtube video above to see for yourself!
Surprisingly, Canon has managed to fit an optical viewfinder and a built in pop up flash in the Rebel SL1/100D with a form factor similar to the Canon EOS M mirrorless digital camera. The familiar Rebel controls like Mode Dial, AE lock and even the ISO button are all in the usual locations on this small Rebel body. Full size features like a 4 fps shutter rate powered by a DIGIC V processor and video resolutions like 1080p at 30fps and 720p at 60 fps fill this "baby" Rebel with adorable goodness!
My Canon EOS Rebel SL1/100D rig consisted of the new Manfrotto MVH500AH fluid video head for support, the Rode VideoMic shotgun microphone with the Rycote Lyre Suspension System for audio capture and the new Hoodman Custom Finder Kit with the H32 viewfinder loupe to help in critical focus. As for lenses used in my Youtube video, I used the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L prime and the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS macro lenses. As expected, the Rode VideoMic with the more durable Rycote shock mount is a dream and can now actually fit comfortably in my camera bag. The new Manfrotto MVH500AH fluid head is larger than my Manfrotto 701 HDV head but this new head has tilting spring tension with a new quick release plate. The Hoodman Custom Finder Kit with H32 loupe is still under my pending evaluation for now. Stay tuned for more...
The Hybrid CMOS AF II makes an infamous comeback but in an allegedly improved 2nd version! Canon's attempt at continuous AF during video recording was a blatant disappointment. Just like the Canon EOS Rebel T4i and the Canon EOS M Hybrid AF systems, I did not expect much with the new and improved 2nd version of the Hybrid AF Servo function. Again with the new Canon EOS Rebel SL1/100D, the continuous AF during video recording hunted back and forth like usual and completely missed the boat, IMHO! Manual focus during video is the way to go for great video!
So what is my Canon EOS Rebel SL1/100D Video Test Verdict? The Canon EOS Rebel SL1/100D emerges as another stellar video performer just like its bigger Rebel brothers but just in a small form factor with no articulating screen. If travel size and weight are your criteria for minimalist filmmaking, the new Canon EOS Rebel SL1/100D is your DSLR Phoenix rising from the digital ashes!
Just like the BMW 3 series, Canon introduces entry level full frame luxury with the 20 megapixel Canon EOS 6D with a street price under $2000. In the EOS full frame lineup, the Canon EOS 6D is the smallest and least expensive compared to the venerable Canon 5D Mark III and the ultimate Canon flagship, the 1DX.
To the majority of DSLR owners, the lesser expensive APS-C cropped sensor sits comfortably in their camera bag. Why full frame then? Full frame means a true focal length equivalent of your lenses. A wide angle 14mm lens with a full frame sensor will give that extra wide reach for landscapes and architecture. The larger surface area of a full frame sensor produces a dreamier background bokeh with your glass compared to cropped sensors. A must for portrait photographers.
Enough of the "why?" and now more to the "what?"...The Canon EOS 6D touts a 20 megapixel CMOS sensor with a DIGIC 5+ processor to keep up with the 4.5fps shutter rate. The smaller form factor of the Canon 6D is just about the body equivalent of the Canon 60D. Also like the 60D, the Canon 6D has only a single Secure Digital memory card slot. Similar to the rest of Canon full frames, no built in flash. The Canon 6D has a 97% viewfinder coverage with interchangeable screens to satisfy most demanding photographers.
The Canon EOS 6D is the first Canon DSLR with built in Wi-Fi connectivity to mobile devices and GPS capability. With the free Canon EOS Remote App for both Apple and Android operating systems, you can remotely control, capture and view images on your Apple iPad or even a Samsung Galaxy Tablet. For social media fanatics out there, you can photograph in full frame glory and wirelessly transfer your images directly to your Apple iPhone's Camera Roll. Fuzzy cellphone Facebook pictures are now things of the past...
A true test for ISO capability is a tungsten lit portrait at ISO 3200. In the usual Canon fashion, ISO 3200 is nice and clean with wonderful skin tone and detail. The Canon EOS 6D boasts an expandable ISO range of 100 to 102800. Enough range for even the faint of heart...
He shoots, he scores! The Canon EOS 6D has 11 AF points to satisfy most soccer moms and dads. The 11 AF points does not compare to the flagship Canon 1D series, but the sports photography performance of the Canon 6D is decent in my opinion. With my Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 IS lens set at wide open, I was able to track my son with any of the 11 AF points in the viewfinder with no problem.
Now for the video nitty gritty. A dedicated selectable video/still record button gets you up and running for multiple resolution HD video with your choice of ALL-I or IPB compression. The Canon 6D touts the extended record time up to 29 minutes and 29 seconds with built in Time Code. Only one SDHC memory card slot for all those disappointed redundancy fans. Low light video capability? ISO 3200 is nice and clean. The Canon EOS 6D HDMI output is a selectable info overlay cropped 1080i signal that does not black out when you press the record button. An audio input allows external stereo microphones for dual channels of manually adjustable audio but of course no headphone jack to monitor audio like the Canon 5D Mark III. Ugh!
How about aliasing and moire? I pointed the Canon EOS 6D in the direction of busy textured surfaces such as brick walls, patio screens and landscape foliage with no success. Despite all the online reviewers out there, in my honest opinion I found no horrible or distracting aliasing and moire with my practical hands on review. Other than the usual CMOS jello shutter and vertical smearing of fast moving objects, the Canon EOS 6D is a quality FULL HD DSLR.
My Canon EOS 6D video review opinion? The Canon EOS 6D has outstanding full frame video quality but of course no headphone jack for true video fans like the more expensive Canon EOS 5D Mark III. Entry level is entry level, full frame or not...Is almost $1000 a worthy upgrade to the Canon 5D Mark III for audio monitoring ? IMHO, YES!!! For aspiring filmmakers upgrading from a Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D to glorious full frame affordability of the Canon EOS 6D? Of course, an astounding YES !!!.
My Canon EOS 6D verdict? The Canon EOS 6D is a full frame still image powerhouse that caters to old school 35mm photographers. Now considered "Dinosaurs" of our time, still photographers cherish a picture worth a thousand words. Despite all the fancy gadgetry and Full HD video, the Canon EOS 6D shines as a phenomenal still image maker with outstanding resolution and low light capability. The extras are for the other 99%.
You can view more pictures and videos in my Canon EOS 6D Verdict and Video Review Gallery shot with the Canon EOS 6D paired with the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS and the 70-200mm f/4L IS lenses.
Patience is a virtue. The lure of full frame sensor DSLRs is now a step closer to reality for all those drooling APS-C sensor owners. The new Canon EOS 6D is the latest addition to Canon's full frame DSLR lineup along with the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and the flagship Canon EOS 1DX.
Categorized as an entry level full frame DSLR in a compact form factor, the Canon EOS 6D packs a mighty punch with a 20 megapixel sensor, DIGIC 5+ processor, 4.5fps shutter, 1080p video with full manual control and selectable compression and the first Canon DSLR built in Wi-Fi and GPS connectivity. Enough of the pleasantries, more of the good stuff later in my upcoming Canon EOS 6D Verdict and Video Review. Let us move on to video!
My brief Canon EOS 6D experience was the direct result from my friends at North Tampa Photography. With Canon EOS 6D in hand, I quickly shot some video to get some hands on time with this Canon 60D sized body with a full frame sensor. A big sensor means wonderful and dreamy bokeh with a true lens focal length equivalent in the viewfinder. A must for popping portraits and wide detailed landscapes. Full frame ROCKS !
Now for the video nitty gritty. A dedicated selectable video/still record button gets you up and running for multiple resolution HD video with your choice of ALL-I or IPB compression. The Canon 6D touts the extended record time up to 29 minutes and 29 seconds with built in Time Code. Only one SDHC memory card slot for all those disappointed redundancy fans. Low light capability? ISO 3200 is nice and clean. The Canon EOS 6D HDMI output is a selectable info overlay cropped 1080i signal that does not black out when you press the record button. An audio input allows external stereo microphones for dual channels of manually adjustable audio but of course no headphone jack to monitor audio like the Canon 5D Mark III. Ugh!
How about aliasing and moire? I pointed the Canon EOS 6D in the direction of busy textured surfaces such as brick walls, patio screens and landscape foliage with no success. Despite all the online reviewers out there, in my honest opinion I found no horrible or distracting aliasing and moire with my practical hands on review. Other than the usual CMOS jello shutter and vertical smearing of fast moving objects, the Canon EOS 6D is a quality FULL HD DSLR.
My Canon EOS 6D video review conclusion? The Canon EOS 6D has outstanding full frame video quality but of course no headphone jack for true video fans like the more expensive Canon EOS 5D Mark III. Entry level is entry level, full frame or not...Is almost $1000 a worthy upgrade to the Canon 5D Mark III for audio monitoring ? IMHO, YES!!! For aspiring filmmakers upgrading from a Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D to glorious full frame affordability of the Canon EOS 6D? Of course, an astounding YES !!!.
The Apple iPhone 5 launch day was just three weeks shy of a calendar year since the release of the previous Apple iPhone 4S. Did almost a year make a world of difference? Consider the new Apple iPhone 5 more of an evolution than a revolution to the more advanced average consumer, nowadays.
My Apple iPhone preorder days are over. Ever since the two previous Apple iPhone launches, I learned a valuable lesson about supply and demand in the Apple world. Avoid the demand online and head to the supply with no wait at your local AT&T Store like this one at International Plaza in Tampa, Florida. No lines, no chaos and no headache!
Faster, lighter, slimmer and sharper describes the new Apple iPhone 5 smartphone. A faster A6 processor cranks out the new features of iOS 6. A new design with lighter materials gives a near weightless and slim form factor than the previous Apple iPhone 4S. The longer screen gives way to a sharper "Retina" display of 4 inches instead of 3.5. The crystal clear 1136x640 resolution screen is now a native 16x9 aspect ratio. Hooray for the video filmmakers! I can go on and on about the new features of the Apple iPhone 5 but I am really interested in the photography and video capabilities. Read on...
The 8 megapixel iSight camera with f/2.4 lens touts a wider field of view and better low light capability with improved noise reduction for both stills and HD video. The slightly wider angle glass lens helps the already amazing picture quality in daytime and nighttime.
Although this new Blogger interface does not give this Apple iPhone 5 Panoramic photo at ISO 3200 justice, the low light performance and noise reduction makes a world of difference. This ISO 3200 is comparable to my Canon Powershot ELPH 300 HS. This impressive caveat combined with the new iOS 6 Panorama feature gives a new meaning to "Smartphone". Minus the optical zoom of the Canon ELPH 300 HS, the Apple iPhone 5 is really a camera with a phone built in...
The improved iSight camera features spill over to the amazing 1080p Full HD video capture of the Apple iPhone 5. The wider angle f/2.4 glass lens, improved noise reduction in low light and better in camera image stabilization makes this iPhone 5 an impressive filmmaker's tool.
My Apple iPhone 5 verdict? The photo and video capabilities are a night and day difference with the previous iPhone 4S. The physical attributes of the iPhone 5 are simply beautiful. A great piece of Apple machinery!
Now for the bad stuff! The Apple Lightning connector is great on paper but horrible for the rest of the world with a plethora of previous dock connectors. It is just another Apple product to consume with our money. The Google iMap application is now replaced with a Apple designed Map app powered by Tom Tom. Why change something that is not broken? My quick solution to this problem is to download the free Google Chrome App. Bookmark the built in Google Map tab in the Chrome browser and your Google Map problems are solved. Hurry and download the Chrome App before Apple pulls the plug!
To view more photos and videos in full resolution shot with the Apple iPhone 5, you can see them all in my Apple iPhone 5 Experience and Video Test Gallery.
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How can you celebrate Independence Day without fireworks and a catchy blog post title? The Canon Rebel T4i on the 4th of July kicked off a pyrotechnics display with a high ISO video test. I was so busy capturing the bombs bursting in air in 1080p video, I only have 2 megapixel video screen grabs of the July fourth explosions. No worries, the glorious Full HD video will suffice!
Armed with a plethora of enormous firework cakes, I cranked my Canon Rebel T4i/650D wide open and the ISO to an amazing 3200 to capture this 1080p video shot at 29.97fps. I paired my T4i/650D with an EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens and captured audio with a Senneheiser MKE400 shotgun microphone. For editing, I used Final Cut Pro 6.0.6 with the Canon E-1 Movie Plugin to transcode to AppleProRes422. Finally, for support I used Benro 3580 tripod legs with a Manfrotto 701 HDV video head.
This is my kind of bakery! Explosive cakes piled high to the amazement of children and crying babies. Consider it a Filipino obsession with ornate gunpowder displays for grown adults as well.
Cousin chaos returns for America's Independence Day! Family is more powerful than gunpowder bursting in air, except for my baby daughter's loaded diaper of mass destruction.
ISO 3200 is the limit for Canon T4i video capture. I expected noise and grain at this level for a proper exposure for extreme dark followed by flash bang moments. Shooting wide open at f/2.8 challenged the venerable T4i CMOS sensor for light gathering. Of course the more expensive Canon 5D Mark III and the 1D Mark IV is at least two ISO stops cleaner but the T4i is over three times less expensive. Not too shabby for entry level!
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.
Chad Soriano brings more than 20 years of experience as a television news photojournalist and still camera photographer. Chad worked at Tampa’s Fox Television station, WTVT. His primary role there was in the special projects, consumer investigation unit. His assignments ranged from general news to consumer fraud. His skills in news gathering and camera-work combine to create a strong tool in developing and promoting a unique visual style.
