Canon 18 Megapixels EOS Rebel T4i DSLR Review by ePhotoZine With Rating 4.5/5

On June 8 2012, Canon announced the highly anticipated EOS Rebel T4i (aka 650D) DSLR camera. This entry-level DSLR is equipped with a new 18 Megapixels CMOS sensor that offers a hybrid of phase and contrast autofocus, DIGIC 5 Image Processor, and 3.0-inch vari-angle LCD touch screen with 1.04 million dots resolution. Borrows from the EOS 60D DSLR, the T4i features a new AF system with a 9-point all cross-type sensor array and Hybrid CMOS AF to achieve fast focus when shooting stills or video in Live View mode. There is also a new Movie Servo AF mode for a continuous AF during HD video recording when using the newly introduced Stepping Motor (STM) lenses. The T4i also comes with stereo microphone, 5fps burst shooting (versus T3i's 3.7fps), ISO range up to 12800 (expandable to 25600), adjustable noise reduction strengths and two new creative filters: art bold and water painting.

There are two new STM lenses that's announced along with the T4i - the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens and EF 40mm f/2.8 STM lens. Both are Stepping Motor STM lenses which can support smooth and silent focusing to achieve continuous AF while recording video. The EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens also comes with Dynamic IS (Movie Shooting Mode only) that uses a wide image stabilization correction range to help ensure steady video. The one-inch thick EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens boosts an aperture of f/2.8 making it an ideal lens for capturing portrait stills or video. The Canon EOS Rebel T4i is listed for an estimated $849 body-only, or $949 with an 18-55mm kit lens, or $1,199 with the new 18-135mm kit lens. That lens alone is listed for $549, and the new 40mm pancake is listed for $199. The T4i is currently selling at around $799. Here's the summary of review by ePhotoZine, giving the camera a rating of 4.5 out of 5:

"Exposure is extremely reliable. Dynamic range is very good and can be expanded in a number of ways including the "Auto lighting optimizer" or the new HDR mode. Macro performance is reasonable although for better results a macro lens is recommended. Detail is good whether using the lens at the wide or telephoto end of the lens. Although it does benefit from stopping down the aperture, and the images are slightly softer at the telephoto end. There is quite noticeable barrel distortion at the wide-angle end of the lens. In addition, there is quite strong pincushion distortion at the telephoto end of the 18-135mm lens, from about 50mm and onwards - although how much it will show up in your photos depends on the type of photography you do. Vignetting was noticeable in shots (more so at the telephoto end), although the built in correction does a good job compensating for it. Purple fringing is is low as is chromatic aberration (CA), although it is visible if you look at images full size, and the camera will correct these problems in camera. ISO100 results, as expected, are very smooth, with very low levels of noise. ISO800 results are good although slight grain becomes visible. ISO1600 is when noise becomes slightly more noticeable. At ISO3200 the noise increases with slight colour loss. ISO6400 noise becomes more dominant with more noticeable colour loss, although results appear better performing than the Canon EOS 600D, giving usable results. Above this, at ISO12800 noise increases again, and it's at this setting that tiny white dots randomly appear, however images may still be usable with further processing as detail is still reasonable. As expected ISO25600 images contain the most noise, and due to the loss of detail this setting is best avoided.

Video is improved thanks to stereo sound and continuous AF, although this is still generally quite slow compared to mirrorless cameras, and the noise of the lens focussing is easily picked up by the internal microphones. In fact, the manual recommends the use of an external microphone if this is something you want to avoid. The touchscreen implementation is very good, being easy to use, quick and responsive, as well as allowing precise selection of options in the menus, and like the previous model, the high resolution 3 inch screen with 1040k dots looks excellent. If you don't record video and aren't a fan of touch screens, then the 650D still makes a compelling case for itself thanks to improved continuous shooting speed, additional high ISO settings, and improved shooting features, such as HDR and handheld nightshot. The Canon EOS 650D also goes a step further than the Canon EOS 600D, with noticeably improved image quality thanks to the DIGIC 5 processor, allowing higher ISO settings to be used confidently. While live view focusing may not be as quick as Canon would like you to believe, the 650D is an excellent all-round Digital SLR, that should keep the keen amatuer, enthusiast and perhaps even professional photographers happy."