Canon EOS Rebel T4i Verdict and Video Review

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.



You can view more images, ISO comparisons and videos in my Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D Verdict and Video Review Gallery.



Stay updated with future Canon Rebel T4i/650D samples, tests and videos by Becoming a Fan on my Facebook Fan Page and following me on Twitter!

Canon EOS Rebel T3i Verdict and Video Review

The new Canon EOS Rebel T3i is not a wolf in sheep's clothing waiting to pounce on unsuspecting consumers in the competitive entry level DSLR market. Like fine wine and its predecessor, the Canon EOS Rebel T2i, gets better with time. The time of exactly one year to the day of delivery of the Canon EOS Rebel T3i/600D to ChadSorianoPhotoBlog.



The 18 megapixel crop CMOS sensored Canon Rebel T3i is not just a Canon Rebel T2i with an articulating screen. It has big features in a small package. The most obvious one is the vari-angle high resolution LCD just like the Canon EOS 60D. The T3i has built in wireless flash control for Canon Speedlites just like the Canon EOS 60D. The T3i has manual audio control for video capture like the Canon EOS 60D. See a familiar pattern? Consider the T3i as a baby 60D. Wait a minute, the T3i replaces the T2i in the Rebel series. Let us finally move on to the T2i now.



My ChadSorianoPhotoBlog is not a Canon wikipedia, so I will only go over the major differences between the T3i and the T2i. The first thing you will notice is the slight change in ergonomics. The T3i has a slightly bigger grip with more non slip rubber areas on the surface of the body along with a taller stance and a bit more depth. All these minute changes were to accommodate the swivel screen. The button layout are well placed like the T2i despite the smaller 4 way controller. It just plain works.



The T3i is marketed to entry level DSLR consumers as well as more advanced prosumers. In other words, there is a lot of built in beginner oriented camera functions that make first time photographers at ease with making good pictures. Like the picture above, the new Creative Filters to the T3i give in camera manipulation of JPEG files effects. I found the "Toy Camera" effect as well as the "Miniature" effect quite convincing. There are plenty of "Scene Intelligent Auto" features otherwise known as fully automatic mode to fill pages of my PhotoBlog. I will now move on to the nitty gritty.



It is all in the details. Skin details. I mean where skin looks like skin and not some mushy digital reproduction of skin. Canon excels in this category. As seen in my Canon Rebel T2i Verdict and the Canon 60D Verdict, the tried and tested 18 megapixel CMOS sensor with DIGIC IV processor wins the skin detail and dynamic range contest hands down. Canon also carried over the same winning sensor as well as the reliable 9 point focusing system. It plain works,again.



The DIGIC IV processor enables the T3i a native ISO range of 100-6400 plus a digital expansion of 12,800. I can confidently say you can shoot at ISO 1600 all day with no problem. Very clean images. ISO 3200 is good but easily cleaned up in RAW processing. ISO 6400 is for freezing action in dark interiors like cathedrals and church halls, so expect gritty but useful images. ISO 12,800 is for pitch black emergencies. Let the snowfall begin! The picture above is shot at ISO 3200 with ambient light from the restaurant and was processed from RAW with Digital Photo Professional. That is the free software that comes with every Canon DSLR.



Now for the glorious HD video capabilities of the T3i. Just like the T2i, the T3i has 1080p, 720p and 480p video resolutions at various frame rates in both NTSC and PAL. All exposure controls for video and audio are fully manual. You can plug in a stereo microphone in the minijack for external audio capture as well. Full control like this are only found in the more expensive full frame HD DSLR like the Canon 5D Mark II. A particular video feature of interest that cannot be found in the T2i and the 60D is 3x to 10x digital zoom during 1080p video recording. The video above demonstrates the amazing resolution at 3x to 10x. Imagine a 400mm lens with a 1.6x crop factor at 10x digital zoom. That is a 6400mm equivalent focal length. You can video tape a NASA Space Shuttle launch 12 miles away or shoot a lunar eclipse with no problem.



The above T3i Video Test is shot at 1080p at 29.97fps. Edited with iMovie'09 and used Quicktime at best quality to compress the h264 video file. I also used an IGUS Drylin Camera Slider on Benro 3580 legs give the camera some lateral movement during the shots. If you are wary of non linear video editing, the T3i has a new "Video Snapshot Mode". You can shoot 2,4, or 8 second video clips and the camera will do "in camera video editing". The finished sequence is saved to camera's SDHC memory card as a single movie file.



The Verdict? There is nothing entry level about the Rebel T3i except its price. $899 for the kit and $799 for body only. It is so chock full of pro-oriented features that the Rebel T2i will be only a faded Canon memory. The line between novice and advanced photographic tools is grossly blurred. Say good bye to my Rebel T2i and say hello to my new digital friend, the Canon EOS Rebel T3i/600D.

You can view more pictures, videos and ISO comparisons in my Canon EOS Rebel T3i Gallery.

Stay updated with the latest Canon gear reviews by becoming a Fan on my Facebook Page and following me on Twitter!



***MAJOR UPDATE***

My initial Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D Video Test is posted here. My Canon EOS Rebel T4i Verdict and Video Review will be coming soon. Make sure you check out all the new features of the new Canon Rebel T4i/650D, it has all sorts of new goodies!


***Major Update***

I just posted my Canon EOS Rebel T4i/650D Verdict and Video Test here.

Canon EOS Rebel T3i Video Test

Canon did it again just like Apple. The Canon EOS Rebel T2i impressed me and many other entry level DSLR newbies with outstanding image quality and Full HD video with full manual control performance in a small form factor. Now, exactly a year later, the Canon EOS Rebel T3i exceeds it's predecessor with even more features for the same price point. Sound familiar? Apple iPhone to Apple MacBookPro to Apple anything!



History repeats itself many times over. Just like the Canon technology turnover, I give to you my initial Canon EOS Rebel T3i Video Test in 1080p. I am working diligently on my full blown Canon EOS Rebel T3i review with ISO and image quality comparisons. So in the meantime, just like clockwork, I shot a video with the Canon EOS Rebel T3i and edited with iMovie'09 for you.



To the amazement of befuddled Canon Rebel T2i owners is the obvious addition of an articulating screen just like the Canon EOS 60D. It does not stop there with the similarities. Remote flash control of specific Canon TTL flashes and manual control of audio for video capture top off a very long list of features.



As you noticed in the Canon EOS Rebel T3i Video Test, I used an IGUS Drylin Camera Slider W1080-B to spice up the 1080p video shot at 29.97fps. The IGUS slider used a Manfrotto 701HDV head on top of Benro 3580 tripod legs. A Sennheiser MKE400 shotgun microphone captured my manually controlled audio and the T3i/600D was paired with the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L and EF 100mm f/2.8L IS lenses. I edited with iMovie'09 and used Quicktime to compress a 550mb H264 video file.



Just like the T2i, the new Canon EOS Rebel T3i shares the same glorious 18mp CMOS crop sensor with a high native ISO range(100-6400) and Full HD and HD video resolution at frame rates of 24p,30p and 60p in both NTSC and PAL. I could go on but that is for my upcoming Canon EOS Rebel T3i Verdict and Review. As expected, the T3i captured video flawlessly with the added bonus of the vari-angle screen for high,low and reverse angle perspectives.



I captured the Canon EOS Rebel T3i in action for this video test with my Canon EOS 1D Mark IV. I used a Rode VideoMic for audio and used the Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L and EF 100mm f/2.8L IS lenses.



For all Final Cut Pro users out there, I just created a Canon E-1 Movie Plugin fix for T3i video. Do not be confused by all the complicated code in the above picture. It is the actual modified .plist file that Final Cut Pro uses for the Log and Capture feature. For all non Final Cut Pro users out there, the Canon E-1 Movie plugin automatically transcodes the h264 video files to a lossless editing codec called AppleProRes422. Confused? I was at first but if you dare to jump into the realm of Final Cut Pro, all this jargon will make sense to you. For exact instructions to implement this modified .plist file in your own Final Cut Pro software, go to the Discussion Forum on DVinfo.net. I explain with step by step instructions to install the .plist file in your computer.



Stay updated on my ChadSorianoPhotoBlog by becoming a Fan on my Facebook Page and following me on Twitter.

UPDATE: My Canon EOS Rebel T3i Verdict and Video Review is complete.