The Good
- Detailed image and color quality.
- Articulated LCD screen.
- Feature Guide option which gives inputs on what each function does.
- Excellent dynamic range and ability to retain details at high ISO's.
The Bad
- Auto-focus is sluggish in Live View Mode.
- Battery tends to dry out while video recording.
- White Balance tends to go haywire when exposed to multiple lights.
The Bottom Line
The EOS 600D is the kind of camera that any person entering into the DSLR market would want to have in its arsenal. Bundled with decent features and a easy to use interface, it does its job in the best effficient manner - that is delivering pictures in a detailed way and rich with colors.
Review :
Canon's Rebel line of DSLRs have made a name for itself in the market. They have always been known to deliver outstanding models with excellent and easy-to-use features. Canon Rebel T3i/EOS 600D doesn't disappoint in that regard. Acutely targeted at the amateur consumer, it offers a lot to learn and also offers beginner-friendly features which actually help a consumer to learn new stuff and yet comes out on top when it comes to delivering pictures.
This is complemented by its Feature Guide option which basically tries to give input to the user on what each button/function does. This is particularly useful for users who have very less idea about the controls and as such it serves as a learning process for them.
Camera Body :
The Canon EOS 600D pretty much follows the same convention when it comes to ergonomics. Also, it is pretty much similar to its predecessor model Rebel T3/EOS 550D and has an improved handling mechanism. It supports a deep comfortable grip which had been missing in the previous models. It also offers an articulated LCD screen which can be rotated for various photography angle and for awkward angles. Most of the buttons are well placed on the body in terms of easy access for the user
It has a pentamirror viewfinder and it’s not as big as other optical viewfinders but it still does the job. Offers a magnification value of 95% coverage.
Features :
Continuous Shooting: Canon proclaims it as having a continuous shooting rate of 3.7fps which is its maxed out value. It’s not exactly that fast but can be considered to be at a decent number as other models from different brands have been known to have a higher number, most notably D5200 . At RAW formats though, the advertised number tends to conk out as the buffer needs to start all over again.
Auto-Focus: The Rebel T3i is surprisingly accurate when it comes to shooting.
It follows the same route when it comes to AF too. Has an 11-point AF system which complements its auto-focus feature. Locking /tracking onto a subject was spot on with AI Serve Mode. Shutter lag starts at around 0.04 seconds, which is pretty much at same mark for all models in this category. However, it tells a different story when it comes to Live-View mode. The accuracy works perfectly but the focussing bit comes up as a crop. Focussing takes some time to lock onto a subject and this basically rules out fast-action photography and movie recording when focus needs to be constantly swapped. Canon EOS 600D is, so to say, far behind its competitors in this field.
Wi-Fi: The 600D does not come with any Wi-Fi capability features.
Battery: Canon Rebel T3i uses the same LP-E8 battery like its predecessor model. CIPA has rated it as having 440 shots.
Sensor Performance and Image Quality :
EOS 600D inherits the same sensor as its predecessor EOS 550D which is an APS-C format CMOS sensor. It is practically the same sensor that is very much existent in other models its range. It employs an 18MP DX-format sensor and features the newest processor from Canon - DIGIC 4 which helps in capturing high resolution and detailed pictures.
Verdict :
The Canon EOS Rebel T3i is not your out-of-box DSLR and does not come up with any extra features than its other competitors in the market. What it does offer is the basic and easy to use model and with many other features that are important to the newcomers in the scene.
While its video capability focus might be a bit sluggish, it however makes up for it with its excellent and detailed image output.