Dialling out
Like the 60D, the 600D makes its video capabilities a separate setting on the mode dial. This is frustrating - the video mode is at the end of the dial settings from the M or Av modes, so you have to spin the wheel almost a whole revolution to get at the video mode, then turn it all the way back to return to shooting stills.
The articulating panel nestles neatly into the body when off-duty
This doesn’t compare well to the approach Nikon has taken with the D5100, which uses a spring-loaded switch to activate Live View, and a dedicated record button to start shooting. Still, I'm pleased there’s no lock button on the mode dial, as it makes things less fiddly. There’s only one control wheel, which means you need to hold the Exposure Compensation button to access aperture settings in manual mode.
The 3in, 1040k-pixel LCD is a peach. As is the fashion, it’s a Vari-Angle monitor, swivelling out from the camera body from a hinge on the left side, and then tilting up and down. It’s very useful for shooting video, and clicks firmly into place when you’re finished.
The screen can also be turned round to face inwards, which could stop it picking up scratches if you’re the type to dump things in a shoulder bag. It’s a bright display too, and while I missed the dedicated LCD settings panels of Canon’s higher end cameras, the settings screen is clear and responsive.
More exciting than the fold-out screen, though, is the wireless flash control, which is a great inclusion on a consumer-grade camera. Make the appropriate choices in the 600D’s menu system and you can fire a Speedlite via a control flash from the integrated unit. Wireless TTL flash control normally costs a few hundred pounds, but the 600D allows you to create relatively complex lighting setups with no extra hardware.
Few self-respecting cameras would be without flip screen viewing this year
It worked pretty well in my tests, particularly indoors, where the effect of the in-camera flash bouncing off walls allowed a remote flash to fire even without line of sight, to a distance of around 30 feet. Outdoors, with more ambient light and nothing to bounce off, the system required the slave flash and the camera to be looking at each other, and distance was reduced to around 15 feet.
Next page: Sample Shots
COMMENTS
Perhaps they still like making cameras for photographers...
Everything you suggest are toys/tricks that eat into battery life.
When I go out with a camera, its to take pictures not ass about with Facebook.
All I need is a good selection of lenses, a spare battery and SD card, but then again I am one of those people who cringe when I see people taking snaps holding a camera at arms length.
Choice?
So long as camera mounts are non-standard then you'll buy what body fits onto your lenses.
Those starting out right now should be more interested in buying a decent lens than the body. But everyone I know who has bought an SLR has stuck with the very average kit lens, bad move.
Re: Re: EF lens mounting makes it (AC@14:31)
Don't want to turn this into even more of a Canon vs Nikon bunfight because both systems are great, but there are a few things that need to be clarified.
Nikon's entry level bodies don't have a focus drive screw and so won't AF with AF lenses that don't have a built-in motor. They also won't meter with non-CPU lenses, so while "Any Nikon-mount lens will mount onto a Niikon DSLR", that is true only if you're willing to accept variable values of "will work".
Meanwhile as Thomas pointed out, all EF lenses will work properly and completely on all EF and EF-S bodies. And as a bit of irony, using a mount adaptor any Nikon lens will meter on any Canon DSLR, albeit with stop-down metering, and with a focus confirmation chip in the adaptor they'll also trigger the body to indicate focus lock.
EF-S is for consumer-only... - nope that's not right
Not true! -' No professional worth his salt .... yada yada' There are excellent EF-S lens, 15-28 and 18-135 which are more than capable especially on the 7D. Yes professionals use EF-S too. EF-S are not consumer based.
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0909/09090103canon15mm28mm18mm135mm.asp
If you want excellent lens for canon and don't want to spend a fortune on 'L's buy the EF primes 50 f1/4 and 85 f1/8.
Also most if not all, the f/4 L lens are sharper than the f/2.8 lens equivalent. While we are that it, I feel like a rant, people who are not Event/Wedding/Sport photographers who buy the f/2.8 lens are simply wasting there money and don't understand what they are doing. If you need to shoot in low light buy an EF prime for a quarter of the price. Yes I know some of the L prime are beautiful too but get real unless you know how to take picture. </rant>
