This review is from: Canon EOS 650D Digital SLR Camera – Black (Inc. 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens Kit) (Electronics)
You’re thinking of getting the 650d, reading the reviews, comparing it to the 600d and countless others and pulling your hair out at all the pros and cons? Am I close. I’m a photographer and have used this, the 600d and its sony equivalent. I might be able to help. Let me start with an anecdote, (you’ve read enough technical jargon for now so consider this a breather) I film the eagles on Mull and the landlady I stay with was telling me about this other photographer who visits her little cottage (it’s beautiful by the way, you should visit if you get the chance). So anyway, she is cooking tea , as she does if you ask her nicely. While it’s cooking he shows her one of his photos, probably of a sea eagle catching a fish. Everyone wants to photograph one of those even though its on every other postcard in Scotland. Next to a highland cow looking over a gate its the top photo/cliche to get.. Anyhoo, she looks at the photo and says “wow that’s great…you must have a brilliant camera” . So they sit down for supper a bit later and its delicious, she is a great cook. He says “This is lovely…you must have some great saucepans!” boom boom. But herein lies the real point of this camera. You know its the person behind the camera that takes the pictures but do you really know it? This and the 600d take pictures so good (if you have the skill) you could blow it up the size of front door but are you going to want to. The thing no sellers want to tell you is that for years, maybe 5 , all of the big names have been making great dslr. Since the nikon d40 perhaps. But you really want to know, if you bought this, would you be happy or buying a pup. Be reassured that neither canon, nikon or sony make chocolate teapots. They know how to make a great camera and this is one. It’s biggest difference as you will have read ad nauseum , is the touch screen. is it worth it. It is if you like touch screens (I do). That’s not flippant, it’s how it is. So the photos will be great and its a great camera, you’ve read other reviews so I won’t duplicate what you have already read but one thing you may not have read is about the video. All the makers have got dslr right. No pups in sight, but video is a relatively new feature and Sony have tbh been leading the way. This camera sets to rectify that by having autofocus. A lot of places on the net, say it’s not needed, you should be using manual focus. Nonsense. Manual focus is ok at times but can be a pain. Filming your dog on the beach for example..The autofocus on the 650d is actually pretty good. Not as good as a camcorder but pretty good. The slowest part is for it to get going. But when it’s locked on its sound. Well worth having. So thats sorted right..err no, not really. This is the 650d ‘s killer feature. Trouble is, they left out the killer feature on the 600d. The 3x zoom with “no loss in quality”. So here is the choice if you are buying this for video. if you want you’re 300mm zoom to be able to zoom to 900mm for filming sport or wildlife. It’s the 600d for you If you love the idea of autofocus (or hate the idea of doing it the old fashioned way) its the 650d for you. In my opinion if you’re considering the other makes like Sony, it comes down to who makes the the lens you are likely to want. I know I have focused (blabbed on) about video but hey, there has been thousands of photo reviews already about iso , shutter speed etc etc. Nothing for me to add there! So if you are considering using it for video here are a few “must have” things you will need to go with it.Hoya 58mm UV FilterReplacement Battery for Canon LP-E8 / suitable for Canon EOS 550D / EOS 600D / EOS 650D Oh and the one that should have gone top of my listMake better videos with your dslr or camcorder So now I have spent ten minutes typing away, telling you how I like the 650d for video (I do) do me a little favour and click that you find this helpful. Unless you don’t. Either way you will enjoy this camera but do consider the little brother the 600d also. We live in good times to take photos as there are so many great cameras and this is definitely one of them. One more thing I forgot to mention (and yes it is regarding the video) is that to get great video you need to use the right settings in the menu.Unfortunately these are counter intuitive and if you don’t use them you may be under whelmed. If anyone wants them, comment and I will try to post a link
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Canon EOS 650D Digital SLR Camera – Black (Inc. 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens Kit) (Electronics)
I pondered for months over every test report for a whole range of DSLRs across the Pentax, Canon, Sony and Nikon ranges. My choice was limited as I have been used to having an articulated screen on my Powershot G5 and G12 and this is a facility I did not want to lose. I take a lot of pictures of railways and use the versatility of the articulated LCD frequently.
Having read so many DSLR reports and opinions on forums I ended up suffering from information overload. Then Canon brought out the 650D and immediately my mind was made up. The recall of the 650Ds due to a dodgy grip intervened though and no one seemed to have even a demonstrator for a while.
Finally I found that Jessops in Exeter had them (sorry Amazon) with the 18-55mm kit lens so after a cursory inspection I threw all caution to the wind and bought one on the spot. I have only had it three weeks at the time of writing but so far I am very pleased with it. Before I touched the camera I read the whole of the quite comprehensive A6 sized manual up to the movie section. Not having had a DSLR before some of it seemed like double Dutch. On picking up the camera though most things fell into place and I began to feel pretty confident. The 18-55 kit lens is a trifle soft at both ends but nothing I can’t live with as I am unlikely ever to make prints at maximum size. In fact I am impressed with just how precise the focusing is on a DSLR. My G12 produces lovely pictures but the smaller sensor means not having to think too much about depth of field. Something that definitely comes into play with a DSLR.
I find the camera a nice weight and size. I have average size hands but on my G12 fingers and thumb are constantly pressing buttons by mistake. Not so the 650D. There is ample room for my thumb to rest between two banks of buttons on the back but almost everything is accessible when needed by thumb or forefinger. The video button could be better placed nearer the shutter release but for me it is OK. I do shoot a lot of video but with a dedicated video camera. I may use this camera as a backup for the odd video but prefer my usual Sony and DV tapes.
Half pressure on the shutter release is easy to find and hold. Being a spectacle wearer this is a boon. Wearing glasses means that half pressure has to maintained longer than usual in order to look around the viewfinder for settings or focus confirmation.
One of the most significantly useful features is the Q button which brings up a screen full of options that can be easily altered by buttons or by touchscreen. I prefer to use buttons as the LCD panel can get very messy very quickly from finger grease marking when it is used as a touch screen.
Where the touch screen comes into its own is in live view for setting focus. Just touch the screen where you want the main focus to be and camera does the rest including taking the shot. There is quite a delay though between touching the screen, focus being found and the shutter firing so this facility is only useful for static subjects. With the screen extended to the left of the camera it is very easy to hold the camera steady with the right hand and adjust focus and firing the shutter with the left . I am not left handed but this could be handy for anyone who is. I cannot compare the touch screen to any on smart phones as I don’t possess one.
One thing lacking is fn buttons which can be user defined. The manual says that the `Set’ button can be user defined but doing so you would lose that facility for setting any parameters you have decided upon and the touch screen would have to be used for `Set’ confirmation. I could be wrong about this. Further investigation is necessary.
There are three user defined settings available in Picture Styles but the parameters the user can set appear to be confined to brightness, contrast, colour saturation and sharpness. It was in using picture styles that I made my deliberate mistake which took me a couple of weeks to correct. I don’t like garish colours so I started shooting with the Picture Style set to neutral. Everything seemed fine so far as I knew but when I attached the Tamron 10-24mm lens that I purchased at the same time as the camera, I could barely achieve focus no matter what I did. After dozens of trial shots I was on the point of returning what I thought was a dreadful lens. Reading once more through the manual and playing with Picture Styles I discovered to my surprise that setting the Picture Style to Neutral sets the sharpness to zero whereas every other style sets it to half way between zero and seven. Problem solved and the Tamron lens is really very good.
In bright sunshine I find the LCD screen just as poor as every other I have ever tried in spite of what manufacturers would have you believe. Angling the screen helps a bit but the time taken to find an acceptable angle could mean…
This review is from: Canon EOS 650D Digital SLR Camera – Black (Inc. 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens Kit) (Electronics)
I spent hours and hours on the internet trying to find decent reviews on this item. As there aren’t really very many at all I have decided to do my own!
Overall this camera is spectacular. Some very nice features that set it above other cameras in the range.
Autofocus is fast and exceedingly accurate with the 18-55mm kit lens. This includes the in video focusing, which is better than I expected but not outstanding, although, I’ll update this when I have an STM lens! you do get quite a lot of focusing noise in video footage when used with a non-STM lens, though again, I’ll update when I have one.
The HDR mode is very good, there are no problems with image alignment when shooting handheld. Night shooting is the same story, I have got some very good pictures.
The technology in this camera is impressive, I like the added touch of a touch screen, though I don’t really use it for much more than zooming in on images. However it is very responsive and can be useful at times.
Customisable menu is a great help if you like to de-clutter and only have options that you want/need.
This is a massive upgrade from my Eos 20D and I am very happy that I have purchased it. One downside is that I thought the camera would be a little bigger than it is, so I’ll probably be getting a battery grip at the first chance I get!
This is a very good ‘entry’ level DSLR that can definitely be used by the amateur (Because of all the helpful information on the massive high quality display) and semi-professionals and professionals alike.
I would highly recommend this camera to anyone who is looking for a new SLR as an upgrade from a previous one.
EDIT:
I am having some difficulty with how light and small this camera is having had it for a little while now. It does not feel nearly as substantial as my 20D did. I basically bought this camera for the full HD video in which it excels. However the pictures with the kit lens aren’t as sharp as I would have hoped. I’m going to treat myself to an L lens and I’ll update on sharpness and image quality then.
For now I am content, however I will be buying a 5D mark III at the next available opportunity.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Ok, so I know what you’re looking for in a review…,
You’re thinking of getting the 650d, reading the reviews, comparing it to the 600d and countless others and pulling your hair out at all the pros and cons? Am I close. I’m a photographer and have used this, the 600d and its sony equivalent. I might be able to help. Let me start with an anecdote, (you’ve read enough technical jargon for now so consider this a breather)
I film the eagles on Mull and the landlady I stay with was telling me about this other photographer who visits her little cottage (it’s beautiful by the way, you should visit if you get the chance). So anyway, she is cooking tea , as she does if you ask her nicely. While it’s cooking he shows her one of his photos, probably of a sea eagle catching a fish. Everyone wants to photograph one of those even though its on every other postcard in Scotland. Next to a highland cow looking over a gate its the top photo/cliche to get.. Anyhoo, she looks at the photo and says “wow that’s great…you must have a brilliant camera” .
So they sit down for supper a bit later and its delicious, she is a great cook. He says “This is lovely…you must have some great saucepans!” boom boom.
But herein lies the real point of this camera. You know its the person behind the camera that takes the pictures but do you really know it? This and the 600d take pictures so good (if you have the skill) you could blow it up the size of front door but are you going to want to. The thing no sellers want to tell you is that for years, maybe 5 , all of the big names have been making great dslr. Since the nikon d40 perhaps. But you really want to know, if you bought this, would you be happy or buying a pup. Be reassured that neither canon, nikon or sony make chocolate teapots. They know how to make a great camera and this is one. It’s biggest difference as you will have read ad nauseum , is the touch screen. is it worth it. It is if you like touch screens (I do). That’s not flippant, it’s how it is.
So the photos will be great and its a great camera, you’ve read other reviews so I won’t duplicate what you have already read but one thing you may not have read is about the video. All the makers have got dslr right. No pups in sight, but video is a relatively new feature and Sony have tbh been leading the way. This camera sets to rectify that by having autofocus. A lot of places on the net, say it’s not needed, you should be using manual focus. Nonsense. Manual focus is ok at times but can be a pain. Filming your dog on the beach for example..The autofocus on the 650d is actually pretty good. Not as good as a camcorder but pretty good. The slowest part is for it to get going. But when it’s locked on its sound. Well worth having. So thats sorted right..err no, not really. This is the 650d ‘s killer feature. Trouble is, they left out the killer feature on the 600d. The 3x zoom with “no loss in quality”. So here is the choice if you are buying this for video.
if you want you’re 300mm zoom to be able to zoom to 900mm for filming sport or wildlife. It’s the 600d for you
If you love the idea of autofocus (or hate the idea of doing it the old fashioned way) its the 650d for you.
In my opinion if you’re considering the other makes like Sony, it comes down to who makes the the lens you are likely to want. I know I have focused (blabbed on) about video but hey, there has been thousands of photo reviews already about iso , shutter speed etc etc. Nothing for me to add there!
So if you are considering using it for video here are a few “must have” things you will need to go with it.Hoya 58mm UV FilterReplacement Battery for Canon LP-E8 / suitable for Canon EOS 550D / EOS 600D / EOS 650D
Oh and the one that should have gone top of my listMake better videos with your dslr or camcorder
So now I have spent ten minutes typing away, telling you how I like the 650d for video (I do) do me a little favour and click that you find this helpful. Unless you don’t. Either way you will enjoy this camera but do consider the little brother the 600d also. We live in good times to take photos as there are so many great cameras and this is definitely one of them. One more thing I forgot to mention (and yes it is regarding the video) is that to get great video you need to use the right settings in the menu.Unfortunately these are counter intuitive and if you don’t use them you may be under whelmed. If anyone wants them, comment and I will try to post a link
Was this review helpful to you?
|Forget reviews – just buy it.,
I pondered for months over every test report for a whole range of DSLRs across the Pentax, Canon, Sony and Nikon ranges. My choice was limited as I have been used to having an articulated screen on my Powershot G5 and G12 and this is a facility I did not want to lose. I take a lot of pictures of railways and use the versatility of the articulated LCD frequently.
Having read so many DSLR reports and opinions on forums I ended up suffering from information overload. Then Canon brought out the 650D and immediately my mind was made up. The recall of the 650Ds due to a dodgy grip intervened though and no one seemed to have even a demonstrator for a while.
Finally I found that Jessops in Exeter had them (sorry Amazon) with the 18-55mm kit lens so after a cursory inspection I threw all caution to the wind and bought one on the spot. I have only had it three weeks at the time of writing but so far I am very pleased with it. Before I touched the camera I read the whole of the quite comprehensive A6 sized manual up to the movie section. Not having had a DSLR before some of it seemed like double Dutch. On picking up the camera though most things fell into place and I began to feel pretty confident. The 18-55 kit lens is a trifle soft at both ends but nothing I can’t live with as I am unlikely ever to make prints at maximum size. In fact I am impressed with just how precise the focusing is on a DSLR. My G12 produces lovely pictures but the smaller sensor means not having to think too much about depth of field. Something that definitely comes into play with a DSLR.
I find the camera a nice weight and size. I have average size hands but on my G12 fingers and thumb are constantly pressing buttons by mistake. Not so the 650D. There is ample room for my thumb to rest between two banks of buttons on the back but almost everything is accessible when needed by thumb or forefinger. The video button could be better placed nearer the shutter release but for me it is OK. I do shoot a lot of video but with a dedicated video camera. I may use this camera as a backup for the odd video but prefer my usual Sony and DV tapes.
Half pressure on the shutter release is easy to find and hold. Being a spectacle wearer this is a boon. Wearing glasses means that half pressure has to maintained longer than usual in order to look around the viewfinder for settings or focus confirmation.
One of the most significantly useful features is the Q button which brings up a screen full of options that can be easily altered by buttons or by touchscreen. I prefer to use buttons as the LCD panel can get very messy very quickly from finger grease marking when it is used as a touch screen.
Where the touch screen comes into its own is in live view for setting focus. Just touch the screen where you want the main focus to be and camera does the rest including taking the shot. There is quite a delay though between touching the screen, focus being found and the shutter firing so this facility is only useful for static subjects. With the screen extended to the left of the camera it is very easy to hold the camera steady with the right hand and adjust focus and firing the shutter with the left . I am not left handed but this could be handy for anyone who is. I cannot compare the touch screen to any on smart phones as I don’t possess one.
One thing lacking is fn buttons which can be user defined. The manual says that the `Set’ button can be user defined but doing so you would lose that facility for setting any parameters you have decided upon and the touch screen would have to be used for `Set’ confirmation. I could be wrong about this. Further investigation is necessary.
There are three user defined settings available in Picture Styles but the parameters the user can set appear to be confined to brightness, contrast, colour saturation and sharpness. It was in using picture styles that I made my deliberate mistake which took me a couple of weeks to correct. I don’t like garish colours so I started shooting with the Picture Style set to neutral. Everything seemed fine so far as I knew but when I attached the Tamron 10-24mm lens that I purchased at the same time as the camera, I could barely achieve focus no matter what I did. After dozens of trial shots I was on the point of returning what I thought was a dreadful lens. Reading once more through the manual and playing with Picture Styles I discovered to my surprise that setting the Picture Style to Neutral sets the sharpness to zero whereas every other style sets it to half way between zero and seven. Problem solved and the Tamron lens is really very good.
In bright sunshine I find the LCD screen just as poor as every other I have ever tried in spite of what manufacturers would have you believe. Angling the screen helps a bit but the time taken to find an acceptable angle could mean…
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|Very Nice Camera,
I spent hours and hours on the internet trying to find decent reviews on this item. As there aren’t really very many at all I have decided to do my own!
Overall this camera is spectacular.
Some very nice features that set it above other cameras in the range.
Autofocus is fast and exceedingly accurate with the 18-55mm kit lens.
This includes the in video focusing, which is better than I expected but not outstanding, although, I’ll update this when I have an STM lens! you do get quite a lot of focusing noise in video footage when used with a non-STM lens, though again, I’ll update when I have one.
The HDR mode is very good, there are no problems with image alignment when shooting handheld.
Night shooting is the same story, I have got some very good pictures.
The technology in this camera is impressive, I like the added touch of a touch screen, though I don’t really use it for much more than zooming in on images. However it is very responsive and can be useful at times.
Customisable menu is a great help if you like to de-clutter and only have options that you want/need.
This is a massive upgrade from my Eos 20D and I am very happy that I have purchased it.
One downside is that I thought the camera would be a little bigger than it is, so I’ll probably be getting a battery grip at the first chance I get!
This is a very good ‘entry’ level DSLR that can definitely be used by the amateur (Because of all the helpful information on the massive high quality display) and semi-professionals and professionals alike.
I would highly recommend this camera to anyone who is looking for a new SLR as an upgrade from a previous one.
EDIT:
I am having some difficulty with how light and small this camera is having had it for a little while now. It does not feel nearly as substantial as my 20D did.
I basically bought this camera for the full HD video in which it excels.
However the pictures with the kit lens aren’t as sharp as I would have hoped. I’m going to treat myself to an L lens and I’ll update on sharpness and image quality then.
For now I am content, however I will be buying a 5D mark III at the next available opportunity.
Was this review helpful to you?
|