Canon EOS 700D: Review

The EOS 700D ( Canon EOS Rebel T5i called in US markets) is Canon’s new camera aimed at photographer’s enthusiasts who demand to own tool features advanced speed and quality without the bulk (both physical and economic) of a professional body.

Compared to the previous Canon EOS 650D, the Canon EOS 700D change some design choices (such as the mode dial to the mode, which now rotates 360 degrees rather than having a limited run) and implements some new features such as, for example, the ability to view in real time the effect of creative image filters. In terms of technology, aesthetics and general controls, the two cameras are very similar, so we are more in the presence of an update that is not a really qualitative leap forward.

Obviously, for all the photographers who have already learned to appreciate the quality of the Canon design, this are not bad news. The Canon EOS 700D can indeed boast excellent ergonomics and build quality certainly satisfactory: the camera body is solid. The standard tires offer an excellent grip where it is needed, the controls are all at hand and the handle general is very convenient. A single note can be moved to the quality of some keys, which give a feeling a bit cheap, especially the selector to the cross and the dedicated button to ISO.

The rest of the technical features of the Canon EOS 700D is excellent, from the viewfinder, rather large and bright for a camera in this class (though not in a position to provide a visual coverage of 100%), up to the excellent screen swivel from 1,040,000 points, which is moreover equipped with a capacitive multi-touch functionality, like that of a modern smartphone.

It is possible to scroll through images in playback by sliding your finger on the LCD panel or zoom in using the pinch-to-zoom. Actions now become part of the common use for a technology product and which are welcome in the field of photography. The equipment is completed by a CMOS sensor in APS-C format 18 megapixel effective, accompanied by a DIGIC 5 image processor.

Canon EOS 700D: Performance

We find, then, how does the Canon EOS 700D on the road? At the level of general operations (focus, shutter speed, playback of images), this camera offers very good performance. The shutter is never desired and is always ready to shoot when we want it, offering an excellent burst of up to 5 frames per second, which is sure to exceed the photographers keen to capture fast movements.

Even the auto focus is quick and accurate phase, and can track the subject in continuous mode without great hesitation, consistent with the limits of an instrument of this category. Less exciting is the hybrid AF that is used during Live View: with good light and static subjects, it is fully usable, but when one of these conditions fails, the level of performance falls well below of what is offered by mirrorless cameras much more economical.

A defect common to almost all SLR cameras, this, but you cannot help but notice. Fortunately, even in Live View is offered the opportunity to use the function of quick auto focus, which rapidly lowers the mirror to use the sensor to step up again and just confirmed the acquisition of fire, speeding up the process considerably.

All the operations of the AF Canon EOS 700D are supported by the new lens in the kit, which exploits a new design of internal auto focus motor, to offer performance clearly superior at the point of view of noise and precision, especially when using the contrast method.

Although the dimensions are slightly increased compared to the previous model 18-55, the results are obvious: the auto focus is completely silent (the goal not literally emits no audible noise) and focusing a Live View is much less extensive and obvious than it is with conventional lenses, making it much easier movie recording.

In terms of optical performance, the lens does not work miracles (like almost all the optical-kit), but still offers good performance: the detail is not very high, especially at wide apertures, but it is still good enough, and the distortion is quite contained. There are chromatic aberrations, which are evident in conditions of light and contrasts more complicated. You can activate an automatic correction of the aberrations in-camera (with compatible lenses), but the burst speed will slow down significantly.

Canon EOS 700D: Quality Images ans Video

The 18-mega pixel sensor of the Canon EOS 700D capture’s photos of excellent quality. The yield of color and contrast is balanced and pleasant. The white balance is generally accurate and reliable automatic exposure. When viewed at 100% on screen, 18 mega pixel sensor may be slightly soft and lack a bit of hacking, but for a APS-C sensor so dense, the yield is still more than satisfactory.

Good, but not stellar, even on high ISO performance: up to the value of 800, the images are very clean and nicely detailed. In 1600 we start to notice a noise digital knead lightly the detail and the colors are slightly faded, but the images are perfectly usable. In 3200, ISO 6400 and above, the situation is complicated: the noise is much more noticeable and start to show the blocks of color noise, which significantly worsen the quality of the image. Even at these values, the images are still usable at a low resolution and still valid for a limited Internet and social networks. Overall, the performance in low light is not, perhaps, at the top of the class but still very good.

Also in the video quality expressed by the Canon EOS 700D is very high. You can record movies up to 1080p resolution at 25 fps, which are pleasing both in terms of colors that detail. The auto focus is not comparable to that of a dedicated camcorder, but remains higher than the average of the class, both as regards the precision for both the fluidity, and especially is completely silent. The recorded audio from the integrated stereo microphones is nice, but for the most demanding users, you can take advantage of the microphone input outside, on the side of the camera body.

Conclusion

With its excellent balance between price, performance, size and image quality, the Canon EOS 700D is a camera that fits in perfectly with its market segment by offering a competitive and very attractive by Photographer’s fans, but budget-conscious.

The picture quality is excellent, both photos and videos, and responsiveness of the camera (in terms of AF and burst) is very satisfactory for an instrument of this price. Size and weight, although not comparable to those of modern mirrorless, are still contained enough to make the 700D a camera to take with you everywhere.

Where to Buy Canon EOS 700D

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