Canon 650D Review

For the ability to review the camera Canon EOS 650D body Many thanks to Vitaly Yakovlev, who sent me a camera for review from another area.

Canon 650D Review

Canon 650D is the newest, latest hobby cropped DSLR model as of early 2013. I was very surprised that the Canon 650D is built on the basis of a relatively old matrix. A similar matrix was used in Canon 550D. Of course, the Canon 650D uses an updated matrix paired with a new processor, which allowed us to reach the limit of ISO 25.600 (H mode).

Canon 650D uses CMOS sensor on 18MP, in the end, you can get pictures from 5184 on 3456 pixels (total 17.915.904 pixels). Nikon and Sony already use 24-megapixel matrixes in their models. Of course, not in megapixels camera level is measured. Canon 650D can use ISO 100-12.800, the sensitivity range can be extended to ISO H (25.600). In general, it is very interesting that just ISO 12.800 and ISO H 25.600 can be used for shooting photos, but ISO 12.800 is already called ISO 12.800 for shooting video, and the ISO sensitivity value of 25,600 is not available at all. Also, in the automatic ISO mode, only values ​​up to ISO 6400 are available. I believe that the matrix was not completely updated.

Canon EOS 650D sample photo

The Canon 650D is Canon's first DSLR with a true Continuous auto focus when shooting video 'Servo AF'. Video mode is activated by a special switch near the wheel for selecting shooting modes. Record and stop video recording by pressing the Live View button. You can shoot videos in Full HD 1920x1080 format with a frequency of 30, 25, 24 fps, H.264 codec in MOV format. Sound is recorded from the stereo microphone, which is located on the camera near the flash. One speaker is responsible for playing sound on the camera. When shooting video in M ​​mode, you can control shutter speed, aperture, and ISO speed. Shutter speed cannot be set below 1/30 second. In Servo AF focus mode, it is very convenient to select the desired focus area using the touch screen. For the video camera, the Canon 650D is very well suited.

Canon EOS 650D sample photo

Canon 650D has touchscreen (touchscreen), which seemed to me a very convenient innovation in modern digital mirror photographic construction. Using the touch screen is very convenient to select any desired focus point when working in Live View. Also, it is very convenient to navigate through the menu and very, very convenient and comfortable to view the shot material. The display supports multi-touch, this allows you to zoom in on the captured material with two fingers. The display responds only to the fingers, gloves cannot use the display. Navigating photos taken is similar to how it is done on modern mobile smartphones, tablets, etc. I expected that the touch display would be an unnecessary element in the camera, for which you would have to pay extra money, but everything turned out to be the opposite. You can turn off the camera control function using the touch screen and use the usual buttons to control it.

Canon EOS 650D sample photo

Canon 650D has a focusing system based on 9 cross-type focus sensors. The same phase focusing system is used in the advanced camera. Canon 60D. But unlike other cameras, the Canon 650D has a special hybrid focus system in Live View and when shooting video.

Example photo on a Canon EOS 650D at high ISO

Hybrid Focus Method in my eyes was not a panacea at all. Phase focusing in Live View mode allows you to quickly focus the lens in the area of ​​focus, but then fine-tune the focus using the usual fidgeting of the lens in contrast-detect focus mode. In general, the Canon 650D focuses faster in Live View and when shooting video than contrast focusing cameras. Still, the focusing speed of the Canon 650D in Live View mode and when shooting video remains slow enough. Also, the Canon 650D can use hybrid phase focusing. only in the central area of ​​the image... By the way, they say that if you use specially designed lenses for focusing through Live View - Canon STM, it can speed up and improve focusing. I believe that Hybrid CMOS is a huge step forward, it just needs to be improved.

Example photo on a Canon EOS 650D at high ISO. The noise level is very high.

The camera can shoot at a speed 5 frames per second... Believe me, 5 frames per second is already a serious indicator for an amateur camera. Truth, frame buffer, which is the place where pictures are placed before recording them on a memory card, the Canon 650D is quite small. I used a Canon 650D camera with a SanDisk Extreme PRO 95MB / s memory card SDHC Class 10 16GB. If you disable all additional features, such as:

• Light Priority (aka D +)
• Perifer. lighting (vignetting control)
• Color aberration (lens aberration control)
• Shumopod. when it lasts. shutter speed
• Shumopod. at high ISO
• ISO range extension

Then when shooting in RAW format, the buffer shows 6 shots, in JPEG L format 9 shots. With my quick memory card, the length of a real series of pictures is 1-2 frames longer than it shows frame buffer... When I used a slower memory card, the camera started to slow down after the buffer was full. If you enable all the additional functions described above, then in RAW format the camera can take 6 frames in a row, and in JPEG L format only 3 frames. In general, with a fast memory card, after filling the memory buffer, the camera simply continues to shoot, but at a lower rate of fire, while it does not 'freeze'. For instance, Canon 1100D, after filling the buffer, it slows down a lot.

Canon EOS 650D sample photo

I also want to note that the Canon 650D has something like an auto focus lamp, but in fact it works as a timer (delayed) shutter indicator. Low-light auto focus assist illumination is provided by the built-in flash in strobe mode. I don't like this 'blinking' backlight.

Canon 650D sample photo

On the camera you can find the following ports:

• USB 2.0
• HDMI mini
• remote control connector
• stereo microphone jack

Also, the camera has a number of additional useful features:

• Cleaning the matrix from dust. Can be set to 'Auto clean' in which the camera will clean the sensor every time the camera is turned on or off
• Auto power off function
• Sets of Picture Controls
• Different auto focus settings: Tracking, FlexiZone Single, FlexiZone Multi, High Speed
• Remote flash function. This is a very useful thing.
• Noise reduction function in burst shooting NR. Combines the last 4 pictures, does not work in RAW, RAW + JPEG. The same function increases the dynamic range of the image.
• and a number of others, by the way, a request to users of the Canon 650D, please unsubscribe, can the Canon 650D sync with an external flash at short shutter speeds?

Canon 650D sample photo

Personal impressions

I really liked the Canon 650D camera with its touch-screen rotary display. As for the noise level, the operation of the focusing system with the new hybrid phase sensors, and the quality of the images in general, I was left a little upset. You can find examples of photos on the Canon 650D in the lens overview Canon Zoom Lens EF-S 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6 IS II

More examples of photos (with processing) on ​​the lens Canon Zoom Lens EF-S 55-250mm 1: 4-5.6 IS II for Radozhiva kindly provided Alexander Frolov.

Prices for modern Canon cameras in popular stores can look at this link.

In comments Can I ask you a question on the topic and you will answer, and you can also express your opinion or describe your experience. Many little things for a photo can be found on AliExpress.

The Canon 650D is a great amateur camera. It attracts with its light weight, good rate of fire, touchscreen display and ample video shooting capabilities. Recommend.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval.