Canon announces newest rebel - T4i

[KCmike]

Taken from the USA Today website:

Canon on Friday unveiled the Rebel T4i — a big update to its best-selling line of digital SLRs with dramatically improved focusing for both stills and video.

The new Rebel T4i.
Previous Rebels offered high-quality video but autofocus could not be adjusted while recording, presenting a challenge for consumers.

The Rebel T4i ($849 for body only; $949 with lens) can continue to focus while recording. Before, you would set the focus point, and if your subject moved while recording, you couldn't adjust it unless you were in manual focus.

Using what Canon says is a new and improved image sensor that emphasizes video, the camera focuses just by looking at its subject — with face detection and scene detection. USA TODAY got a sneak peek at the camera this week, and the improved focus — for both stills and video — is a marvel.

Not only does it work as advertised, but the focus will continue to adjust just by pointing the camera at the subject — without having to press the shutter button down halfway.

The advantage of shooting video with a DSLR is the cinematic, greatly improved look of the image, which is shot on a sensor chip some 20 times larger than those found in most traditional video cameras. The main drawbacks include not being able to zoom in and out smoothly and sound.

One problem with recent cameras by Nikon and Sony that have improved video autofocus is that on the audio you can hear the lens motor while the camera is autofocusing.

Canon addresses this with the introduction of new Stepping Motor (STM) lenses, which focus silently. Canon has two new STM lenses: an 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 wide to telephoto zoom and a 40mm f/2.8 portrait lens.

Additionally, the new Rebel sports a touch-screen LCD for both composing images and shooting stills and video.

Specs: The Rebel T4i has the same 18-megapixel sensor as previous models (and step-up models 60D and 7D) with a more powerful DIGIC 5 processor (up from DIGIC 4) that allows for faster shooting. You can shoot five frames a second, up from 3.7 frames per second on the Rebel T3i.

 

[ukcatfan]

I will tell you what surprised me the most. The price of this entry level model is $50 more than the recently announced mid-range Pentax K-30 with kit lenses included. With the exception of a nicer video mode, the K-30 runs circles around this Rebel. Also, the touch screen is resistive, not capacitive. Big time fail there in my opinion. My wife and daughter have resistive screen phones and it is very frustrating. While I am sure that they will sell a lot of these cameras, Canon is getting to the point where they are offering too little for the price.

 

[zackiedawg]

According to Dpreview's look, the touch screen was touted as being capacitive, including multi-finger touch support for pinch zoom and such. So the touch screen should be a good one, for those who like that. For those who don't, it can be disabled and all the normal physical controls remain. I give them credit for that.

As for the price - Canon and Nikon can always price higher than Pentax and Sony, because they are mor epopular and well known. It never matters if you actually get anything more or less for the money - it just matters that more people buy based on the brand name, so they can charge a little more at least until demand fades.

It looks like a nice step up for Canon users - a lot of nice features added that finally start to catch up to the competition - a faster live view was needed as they were way behind Sony there (they still are - Canon is still admitting live view with on-sensor PDAF and hybrid CDAF is still not as fast as using standard PDAF with the OVF - but it's an improvement over their past cameras), focus during video (Sony cameras and mirrorless cameras were already there long ago), multi-frame stacking modes in camera (Sony pioneered, and Pentax and Nikon also started to offer previously), and supposedly improved high ISO processing which should help them get a little closer to the Sony sensor trio (Sony, Pentax, Nikon).

Competition is a good thing - Pentax looks like they continued their line of excellent cameras that are a bit different, chock full of features and weatherproofed, Sony continues to try new things with the SLTs which have caused competitors to start trying to engineer solutions to counter or keep up, Nikon continues to push excellent focus tracking, and now Canon steps up and pushes the PDAF on-sensor idea into the DSLR world.

It's all good!

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

According to Dpreview's look, the touch screen was touted as being capacitive, including multi-finger touch support for pinch zoom and such. So the touch screen should be a good one, for those who like that. For those who don't, it can be disabled and all the normal physical controls remain. I give them credit for that.

As for the price - Canon and Nikon can always price higher than Pentax and Sony, because they are mor epopular and well known. It never matters if you actually get anything more or less for the money - it just matters that more people buy based on the brand name, so they can charge a little more at least until demand fades.

It looks like a nice step up for Canon users - a lot of nice features added that finally start to catch up to the competition - a faster live view was needed as they were way behind Sony there (they still are - Canon is still admitting live view with on-sensor PDAF and hybrid CDAF is still not as fast as using standard PDAF with the OVF - but it's an improvement over their past cameras), focus during video (Sony cameras and mirrorless cameras were already there long ago), multi-frame stacking modes in camera (Sony pioneered, and Pentax and Nikon also started to offer previously), and supposedly improved high ISO processing which should help them get a little closer to the Sony sensor trio (Sony, Pentax, Nikon).

Competition is a good thing - Pentax looks like they continued their line of excellent cameras that are a bit different, chock full of features and weatherproofed, Sony continues to try new things with the SLTs which have caused competitors to start trying to engineer solutions to counter or keep up, Nikon continues to push excellent focus tracking, and now Canon steps up and pushes the PDAF on-sensor idea into the DSLR world.

It's all good!

How do you know all this stuff????? LOL

Do you write for a tech pub?

 

[HPS3]

I don't understand why they stick with the 18mp sensor. I've had a T2i and although it's a nice camera, it's no where near the 16mp Sony sensor or the new 24mp sensor I currently have in my Nex 7. I shoot at ISO 1600 frequently and find the Nex with 24mp handles the noise better.

 

[photo_chick]

I don't understand why they stick with the 18mp sensor. I've had a T2i and although it's a nice camera, it's no where near the 16mp Sony sensor or the new 24mp sensor I currently have in my Nex 7. I shoot at ISO 1600 frequently and find the Nex with 24mp handles the noise better.

That makes two of us. Yes, it's a great sensor and it's been well proven in the field. However, 3 successive Rebel models with the same one? Come on Canon. It's time for a new crop sensor. One reason I can see not doing so is because with the new 5D and 1D models they widened the gap between full frame and crop again. And that is getting people like me, who were content to stay crop because crop was fairly competitive IQ wise, to go full frame. But really, who knows what they're thinking. Maybe they'll come out with a new mid-level camera to replace the 7D and bridge the gap.

 

[HPS3]

I can't wait to hear what the 70D's going to have. It can't be the same sensor. Im looking to pick up a DSLR to go along with my Nex 7 and am leaning towards Pentax. You can get a great camera with IBIS and Weather Sealing for under $1000.

 

[zackiedawg]

I can't say from the perspective of a Canon owner, since I don't own one...but personally the MP count wouldn't be my concern. 14MP is more than enough for me, so 16MP (the Sony sensors I use now) or 18MP are both fine with me, as long as the IQ is there. What I'd be more concerned with myself is that the image quality from that 18MP improved over the previous version. If the sensor improves dynamic range due to better processing or better engine, and can get cleaner, more detailed high ISO to compete with the Sony sensor, I personally would be happy with it. Admittedly the previous versions of the Canon sensor were a bit behind in a few regards, not hugely - the difference between all these cameras is so minor as to be almost insigificant for the average shooter. If they can match the Sony 16MP sensor's DR and high ISO, who cares if it's still an 18MP sensor? Besides, there seem to still be tradeoffs currently between the super-high MP sensors and the lower MP ones - look at how Sony had to regress a bit on the high ISO noise & JPG processing results on the 24MP sensor in order to gain the stunning resolution at lower ISOs.

 

[ukcatfan]

I think the site I saw that it was resistive touch made a mistake. That is good because capacitive is the way to go and not even much more expensive to implement.

I completely understand that C&N will always be more expensive, but I am surprised that their entry level model is now the same price as the mid-level model from someone else. That kind of pricing pressure is certainly going to be noticed by management and marketing execs. I have said before that Canon has too many levels. I see the xD and xxD lines merging within another generation or so. There is not enough different with them to justify the difference in price. In general I see the entry level of the industry sort of going towards mirrorless consumer friendly models and the cheapest true DSLRs starting at the current mid class. I do not think you will ever see another entry level Pentax DSLR, only mirrorless.

P.S. by xD line I am talking about APS-C models

 

[HPS3]

Justin, I'll agre with you on that. To get the great DR and resolution on the 24mp sensor at low ISO they definitely gave up the higher ISO performance. I used to shoot the D5100 and Nex 5n at 3200 all of the time. With the Nex 7, I usually limit myself to 1600. At 3200, the difference is petty noticeable. I hand seen some K5 photos at 3200 that look great. If Pentax can tackle the AF-C problems(speed) that I hear about, the K30 will be a fantastic buy. They seem to tweak these Sony sensors the best. I just wished it had the ISO 80 like the K5.

 

[ukcatfan]

I can't wait to hear what the 70D's going to have. It can't be the same sensor. Im looking to pick up a DSLR to go along with my Nex 7 and am leaning towards Pentax. You can get a great camera with IBIS and Weather Sealing for under $1000.

I am still happy with my K-r, but the K-30 has me thinking. The weather sealing is one of the main reasons why. I wonder if they might do a kit with the sealed 18-55mm?

 

[HPS3]

UKcatfan, I was hoping the same thing but it seems do far the only kit with WS is the 18-135. I don't really need the size of the 18-135 to carry around all day.

 

[bob100]

Additionally, the new Rebel sports a touch-screen LCD for both composing images and shooting stills and video.

I like the touch screens on cell phones, not sure how useful it would be on a camera

 

[ukcatfan]

I like the touch screens on cell phones, not sure how useful it would be on a camera

I completely agree, but to the average clueless consumer that is a big deal.

 

[meanpc]

Canon and Nikon know that at this point in the game, a lot of people are loyal to their brand either because of just being fan-boys and girls or because they are so heavily invested in lenses and flashes. Those consumers, including me, won't move to another system over a few hundred dollars.

Dont forget there are T3 and T2 offerings that are very capable and cheaper. I don't know that the T4i should be classified as strictly an entry level camera. If they would only put a selector wheel on it...

 

[bob100]

Canon and Nikon know that at this point in the game, a lot of people are loyal to their brand either because of just being fan-boys and girls or because they are so heavily invested in lenses and flashes. Those consumers, including me, won't move to another system over a few hundred dollars.

Dont forget there are T3 and T2 offerings that are very capable and cheaper. I don't know that the T4i should be classified as strictly an entry level camera. If they would only put a selector wheel on it...

a "selector wheel" !
it does look they beefed up the Rebel line with a higher FPS rate and expanded AF points

 

[ukcatfan]

Canon and Nikon know that at this point in the game, a lot of people are loyal to their brand either because of just being fan-boys and girls or because they are so heavily invested in lenses and flashes. Those consumers, including me, won't move to another system over a few hundred dollars.

Dont forget there are T3 and T2 offerings that are very capable and cheaper. I don't know that the T4i should be classified as strictly an entry level camera. If they would only put a selector wheel on it...

No second wheel is one of the main things that make it entry level. It is their current generation higher spot in entry level, but it still is exactly that. The build materials and quality are another reason plus it does not have the other little extra features such as weather sealing, faster burst rate (but at least improved), etc that make a camera not entry level. These models are aimed more at new users than upgrades. If you upgrade, they want you out of the Rebel line. New customers are going to start noticing that most other brands are offering more features for less money than their previous generations.

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

I noticed that they also announced the 40mm Pancake lens at F/2.8. At $199....hmm.

The Nifty-fifty F/1.8 is $99 and the 50mm F/1.4 is About $375. Not sure if I see the point of putting out the 40mm F/2.8.

It's kinda nice to have that small of a lens but if I'm in for $200 I would probably save up and get the F/1.4 lens (and yes, I've shot the 1.4 and the 1.8 50mm).

Is there something I'm missing about a 40mm Pancake lens?

K

 

[Luv2Scrap]

I noticed that they also announced the 40mm Pancake lens at F/2.8. At $199....hmm.

The Nifty-fifty F/1.8 is $99 and the 50mm F/1.4 is About $375. Not sure if I see the point of putting out the 40mm F/2.8.

It's kinda nice to have that small of a lens but if I'm in for $200 I would probably save up and get the F/1.4 lens (and yes, I've shot the 1.4 and the 1.8 50mm).

Is there something I'm missing about a 40mm Pancake lens?

K

I was wondering the same thing!

 

[meanpc]

I have a thrifty fifty, and there's no doubt it blows the kit lenses away as far as IQ goes, but the build quality is horrible, the bokeh is so-so, and the focus is extremely dodgy. I wouldnt mention it in the same breath with the other Canon primes.

The 40mm/2.8 pancake for $200 sounds pretty nice to me, but I havent seen the build quality or IQ yet. The 50mma focal length is ok, but I think most crop shooters find themselves crowded in a lot of situations. The 40mm may be a nice walkaround focal length in a super compact package. If someone on these boards gets one, I'd love to hear a review.