Move over Fuji X100, Leica M9 and Sony NEX 7! Canon welcomes its first entry in the mirrorless digital camera market with the new Canon EOS M Digital Camera System. This very small form factor digital camera touts a very large APS-C 18 megapixel sensor just like the Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D. Just think of the new Canon EOS M as a very advanced point and shoot with interchangeable lenses. Scheduled for an October 2012 release to the public, the new Canon EOS M bundled with the new EF-M 22mm f/2 STM lens will be $799 USD.
The new Canon EOS M digital camera finally solves my Canon Powershot G1X gripes and issues. The Canon Powershot G1X which retails for the same $799 USD does not have manual exposure and audio control for video recording as well as an external microphone input jack. I found that rather disappointing but Canon vindicated themselves with the new Canon EOS M digital camera. Full manual video control of exposure and audio along with external microphone input are featured with the new Canon EOS M. Rejoice!
EF-M is another dedicated Canon lens lineup for the Canon EOS M digital camera. Since the large APS-C sensor is located in such a small form factor, there is little room to spare. Tight spaces require slimmer lens mounts to keep practical focal lengths like in the new Canon EF-M 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM zoom lens. This is another lens with the stepper motor feature to work in conjunction with the Hybrid AF of the Canon EOS M just like the Rebel T4i/650D.
Current Canon EF glass owners do not worry! Your expensive Canon lenses will work just fine with the new Canon EOS M digital camera. Canon will release a $199 USD EF to EF-M mount lens adapter which keeps all the AF and IS functions intact. The screen capture above is courtesy of Youtube.
Canon's first entry in the mirrorless digital camera market is quite impressive. The new Canon EOS M has all the features of the new Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D in the size of the Canon Powershot G1X. Just imagine a point and shoot with an APS-C sensor with interchangeable lenses with full manual control for video with an external microphone connection. I am looking forward in shooting some Full HD 1080p movies with this dream machine. Still photographers will be impressed as well. A frame rate of 4fps with JPEG's is sure fast enough to capture action and RAW image capability will satisfy the most creative.
There is nothing better than a captive audience for my next Canon Rebel T4i/650D and EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens video. The beautiful Monarch butterflies located at the BioWorks Butterfly Garden at MOSI gave me great opportunity to review the macro capabilities of the "shorty forty".
A 1080p video shot with the Canon Rebel T4i/650D paired with the Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens at 29.97fps. Edited with Final Cut Pro 6.0.6 and used a modified Canon E-1 Movie Plugin to transcode AppleProRes422. I also used the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS lens for extreme macro closeups in the video. For support, I used the Benro 3580 tripod legs with a Manfrotto 701 HDV video head. For audio capture, I used a Senneheiser MKE400 shotgun microphone. To control incoming light to maintain the proper aperture, shutter and ISO, I used a FADER ND Mark II Variable ND filter.
The macro capability of the Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens has a practical closeup range of 11.76 inches. Although, the "shorty forty" is not capable of capturing the 17,000 eyeballs of the Monarch butterfly, the 11.76 inch minimum focusing distance is good enough for me. The almost one foot gap between lens and subject prevents those unsightly shadows of oneself in the image as well as scaring off the tiny critters. Sometimes close is too close for a change...
Canon's DSLR flagship in the entry level Rebel lineup, the Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D, touts an impressive list of upgrades only 16 months after the venerable Canon EOS Rebel T3i/600D came to market. Is the new Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D a compelling and worthy upgrade over the Canon EOS Rebel T3i/600D? Read my practical review of the T4i and judge for yourself!
The T4i shares the same 18 megapixel CMOS APS-C sensor as the T3i but the major internal similarities stop there. The T4i runs on a DIGIC V processor for a faster 5fps shutter rate to catch fast action sports, a more sensitive 9 AF point system like the Canon 60D, a Hybrid AF system for continuous tracking during video recording and Live View and the first articulating touchscreen control LCD for Canon DSLR's.
The list goes on like the HDR Backlight Control for high contrast exposures, internal stereo microphone for audio capture for video and the addition of wireless RF control to dedicated RF Canon Speedlites. The retail price for the Canon T4i body only is $849. That is at least $200 more than the previous Canon T3i body only currently online. Do all these added T4i features worth the extra coin? My answer may surprise you but I will explain the ergonomic differences first.
The most obvious external difference between the T4i and the T3i is the dedicated movie mode indent on the power switch. No more rotating the mode dial to access movie mode. It is just a flick of the lever and you are shooting the same glorious selection of video resolutions just like the T3i. The internal stereo microphone is now on top of the pentamirror viewfinder but I suggest using an external microphone connected to the mini jack port on the side to gather the best audio. You can call the Canon Rebel T4i a "baby Canon 60D". If you are looking a small form factor with big DSLR features, the Canon Rebel T4i fits the bill.
Just like the T3i, the T4i's image quality is outstanding. Skin detail and color vibrance out of the T4i make it difficult to shoot a bad picture. With all the entry level Scene Intelligent Auto and Basic Zone Modes with the addition of Creative Filters, the aspiring photographer can start shooting epic images with ease. Soccer moms don't worry, you won't miss a shot like with your slow Apple iPhone 4S.
Impromptu photo shoots of your toddler's precious steps in poor lighting got you worried? You can shoot a clean ISO 3200 all day with no problem. ISO 6400 is for extreme low light indoor church or auditorium shooting but very useable to freeze the action. ISO 12800 and up is "Snow Falling on Cedar".
The T4i's more sensitive 9 point AF system like the Canon 60D tracks moving subjects in AI Servo with ease. My kid's ice skating lessons made a great test bed for vertical AF point AI Servo image samples. Keeping any AF point in AI Servo mode on a moving subject can be a challenge but practice makes perfect.
The T4i's video quality is outstanding just like the T4i. It shares the same HD video resolutions at many different frame rates along with manual audio, aperture, shutter and ISO control at your fingertips. Just like the more expensive Canon DSLR's, you have full creative control over your HD movies.
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. No more 4gb FAT 32 limit to make your videos stop short of 12 minutes at full resolution capture. Quite a remarkable feature for an entry level DSLR.
Now for the bad news and maybe the deal breaker for most people. The new Hybrid AF system of the T4i/650D allows objects or people to be continuously tracked in focus during video recording. With Canon's new EF STM or stepper motor lenses, the Hybrid AF system allows smoother lens focusing when compared to USM and non USM EF lenses. The new Hybrid AF system and the LCD touchscreen of the T4i/650D work in conjunction with STM lenses such as the new Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens for smooth focus tracking of subjects during video capture. Sounds like a fabulous feature since the invention of the wheel, right? Watch the video below and decide for yourself...
My Canon Hybrid AF conclusion? The Servo AF only works well with subjects and people moving at a toddler's pace. Anything faster than crawling, the Hybrid AF does not keep up with fast moving people or objects. My 15 month old baby daughter just started to walk recently and the Canon T4i/650D paired with the EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens kept her in focus most of the time. Before the test, my expectations were not too high for this T4i or any HD DSLR. Disappointed with focus tracking of normal everyday people or object movements, I was quite surprised at the quiet and smooth focus of the new STM or stepper motor. Say goodbye to noisy, ratchety and jarring focus movement of previous EF USM and non USM lenses. Canon's next step is to match the AF system of conventional camcorders out in the digital video market.
Now for more 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.
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!
My Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D verdict? The T4i is a winner in the entry level still photography category. A tried and true image sensor and upgraded AF system outputs great pictures along with beginner friendly Basic Zone Modes. The integration of the LCD touchscreen just like the Canon point and shoot Powershots make the transition easy for any novice to upgrade to the big DSLR's. The Canon Rebel T4i make complicated and confusing DSLR's very simple to operate.
In contrast, T4i is a horrible disappointment in the video category especially the wildly hyped Hybrid AF system for continuous focus tracking during recording. On top of that poor performer, the removal of the 3x-10x digital zoom during video capture shakes salt on the bleeding wound. The only redeeming video quality of the T4i is the extended video recording time up to 29 minutes and 59 seconds. Amen!
For current Canon Rebel T3i owners, the new Canon Rebel T4i is a worthy and compelling upgrade for still photography but a big disappointment for shooting video. If you primarily shoot DSLR video, keep your Canon Rebel T3i until Canon fine tunes DSLR auto focus servo tracking. Maybe there is a mirrorless camera system in Canon's future? Only time will tell at this point.
Canon's latest flagship entry level Rebel, the T4i/650D, touts a new Hybrid auto focusing system for video and the first LCD touchscreen for Canon DSLR's. Also introduced is the long awaited Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens. Otherwise known as the "shorty forty", this very slim profile prime lens has an affordable retail price of $199.
The new Hybrid AF system of the T4i/650D allows objects or people to be continuously tracked in focus during video recording. With Canon's new EF STM or stepper motor lenses, the Hybrid AF system allows smoother lens focusing when compared to USM and non USM EF lenses. The new Hybrid AF system and the LCD touchscreen of the T4i/650D work in conjunction with STM lenses such as the new Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens for smooth focus tracking of subjects during video capture.
I wanted to see for myself Canon's revolutionary hybrid focusing system. As a veteran television news photographer, I always manually focus lenses on my video cameras. Just the thought of horrible focus hunting and motor noise gives me nightmares. So how does Canon's Hybrid AF system stack up? Watch my 1080p video above shot with the Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D and the EF 40mm f/2.8 STM lens.
My Canon Hybrid AF conclusion? The Servo AF only works well with subjects and people moving at a toddler's pace. Anything faster than crawling, the Hybrid AF does not keep up with fast moving people or objects. My 15 month old baby daughter just started to walk recently and the Canon T4i/650D paired with the EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens kept her in focus most of the time. Before the test, my expectations were not too high for this T4i or any HD DSLR. Disappointed with focus tracking of normal everyday people or object movements, I was quite surprised at the quiet and smooth focus of the new STM or stepper motor. Say goodbye to noisy, ratchety and jarring focus movement of previous EF USM and non USM lenses. Canon's next step is to match the AF system of conventional camcorders out in the digital video market. Patience is a virtue!
While we are on the topic of DSLR video, the Canon Rebel T4i/650D replaces the 16 month old Canon Rebel T3i/600D with added and removed DSLR video functions. The Canon Rebel T4i/650D most notably does not have 1080p 3x to 10x Digital Zoom video capture and the "AF Quick" mode for video focusing. What happened? My only guess is Canon's marketing division got hold of the R&D department. The Canon Rebel lineup is marketed to the entry level and novice DSLR demographic, most notably soccer mom's. I can't blame Canon for this because all I see at theme parks and zoos during travels with my own family are inexpensive DSLR's strapped around parental necks. New parents mean "green" full auto mode on the control dial 24/7! This includes auto focus with shooting video, as well.
Let us take a break about video and focus on the great Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM lens image quality. This pancake lens is an amazing and must have for your camera bag. It is affordable, portable and super sharp for crop and full frame sensors. The color rendition of this lens is just about "L" glass quality. The above image was shot with the "shorty forty" and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III at ISO 3200. Focus was dead on and the image quality was outstanding for $199. This "shorty forty" is a no brainer!
I will have more video tests with the pancake lens paired with the Canon 5D Mark III and Canon 1D Mark IV shortly. I am working diligently capturing, transcoding and editing video footage to share the knowledge.
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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.
