Facelift at a high level

Having spent many years of satisfied users of EOS 350D, I switched last year to the 600D. By continuing, proven EOS-operating concept I was at that time felt right at home with this camera. At least until the release of the 650D, there was I think in this price range is no better DSLR. After over a year of this new addition now competes against my 600D. In short, the 650D makes all essential things for me about as good as its predecessor. And some details a little better. The most important innovation is the ability to touch operation.

Now for the details.

Appearance, processing and use

The EOS 650D comes in a sturdy box. In addition to the camera itself and the kit lens it contains the usual accessories (strap, rechargeable battery, charger, cable), warranty booklet, a CD with the in-house software (most importantly, the RAW processing "Digital Photo Professional") as well as detailed printed manuals in different languages ​​(also German).

Externally similar to the 650D its predecessor almost like peas in a pod. Housing dimensions and shape are unchanged, and also the plastic feel remains. The latter is repeatedly criticized for analog days at the cheaper EOS cameras. Durability is not a problem but with normal use of these cameras.

The microphone that picks now in stereo, is no longer positioned on the camera accessory shoe before the left front, but above. The "DISP." - Key to switch off the display has disappeared (this function now accepts the "INFO." - Key). Otherwise, some of the still useful placed buttons and the display frame are slightly different shape. In my specimens the back buttons on the 650D are much smoother, but this is a matter of taste.

The vari-angle display offers a brilliant display similar to that of the 600D. Presumably, as a tribute to the touch-sensitive surface that is anti-reflective coating but have been much worse. Precision and sensitivity of the touch surface are very good for it and make a sophisticated impression.

The touch operation is in my view a useful bonus, even if it brings no significant advantages in normal photo mode. Of course you have to get involved as an old hand once on this conceptual change. But then we find quite a number of situations where you get faster by touch goal. Off the menu operation from the touch-screen in the live image is useful to quickly select a destination point ("Touch Shutter"). Exposure and focus are then performed for the selected item.

Apart from the touch features in my opinion, is the biggest change to the operation that the video mode is now no longer reaches over the scene mode scroll wheel, but via a third position of Einschalthebels. If you record videos frequently, which is a distinct advantage. At the knob there for now additional image overlay automatics for night and backlit subjects (HDR), which prove to be quite useful.

By slip rubber pads in the right places and not too smooth housing surface can be combined with the EOS 650D (unchanged) handle safely.

Battery and memory card compartment do not have the same solid covers that snap tired and also withstand frequent opening and closing easily.

Function and photo quality

The image quality of the 650D as a whole is excellent and corresponds to my subjective perception and some carried out by me direct comparisons based on real motives largely of its predecessor.

The 650D exposed as expected safe and provides natural color reproduction, thus affords little slip that you would necessarily rectify via RAW workflow.

The noise is very unobtrusive to ISO 800 in the overall picture. Above ISO 1600 is stronger color noise joined to the already impaired the image impression. In a direct visual comparison to me the noise performance of the 650D appears pretty much identical to that of the predecessor to up to ISO 800. It was not until about ISO 1600 rustles the older 600D recognizable stronger, the difference with higher ISOs increases. In particular, the annoying color noise at high sensitivities, the 650D a little better under control.

In photo mode, the EOS 650D can operate very smoothly and safely. There is hardly any perceptible shutter lag, and also the internal image processing has been further accelerated. The autofocus operates in Live View mode is not quite as awkward as in the predecessor, he is slow there but still.

Series photos shoots the 650D with five fps slightly faster than the 600D (four), with the effective benefit in RAW shooting low fails because the internal buffer memory after five shots is full (in RAW + JPEG for about four). Then it goes, depends on the memory card, much slower on. JPEGs in maximum quality typically fit at least about 15 to the internal memory.

RAW (CR2) evidence based on image content 20 till 32 MB, typically about 25 MB, JPEGs in the highest quality 4-15 MB, typically around 7-8 MB. Canon has once again changed the CR2 format, so RAW can be read from the 650D only by the latest software. The somewhat older, but 10 still current for Photoshop Elements plug-in Camera RAW 6.7 as white with the files what to do.

Via USB to the PC transmits my 650D is not a record, but acceptable 21 MB per second (here: SanDisk Class 10).

The battery type has been adopted by the previous models, so it's no problem finding good and cheap replacement batteries from other manufacturers. Like its predecessor, the 650D is however so conserving battery charge in order that a fully charged battery even with intensive holiday photograph is usually sufficient for several days, for example. (After more than 400 photos and over 10 minutes of video shows me my copy at this moment still full capacity at.)

The kit lens (EF-S 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6 IS II) is as an entry lens quite usable and the small additional cost compared to the Body alone woth, unless you already own a good alternative or particularly high claims has. It is small, light, image stabilization, focused quickly and relatively safely, albeit noisily. It has an acceptable imaging performance, the 18 MP sensor with open aperture, however, does not irritate out. Also you have to live in the wide-angle range with a relatively strong distortion. (If one is prepared to invest here, in particular the newly released STM lenses from Canon are interesting, which should support the Live View mode and video shooting particularly well - own experience I have with it, but not yet.)

Quality of video recordings

The video function provides neat, though not superior results. Videos from the 650D offer a beautiful color reproduction, but seem a bit restless and irritate not from their nominal resolution. They are also considering the necessary image quality very space-hungry. My NEX-5N delivers fine-drawn video at half the data rate. Annoying the space hunger is of course only if you (like me), the recordings often no longer want to process on a PC.

The sound quality when shooting video has been significantly improved. The 650D has a stereo microphone and features at last two different tracks on. Up to a still acceptable background noise, there are no longer grounds for complaints. Even the bass is recorded very nicely.

One of the innovations of the 650D is the continually-tracking autofocus. Although slowed down to reduce noise, it is with the kit lens but clearly too loud, especially when using the built-in microphone. In this case, you have to focus manually, which is virtually inaudible to the smooth-running focus ring of the kit lens.

(Specification Video: max 1080p AVC with 29.97 fps, about 45 Mbps, Audio:. Stereo PCM 48 KHz, 1536 Kbps)

Conclusion

Bottom line, the EOS 650D as its predecessor for the photo mode is an excellent, pleasant camera. As demanding users in the "end-users" - or lower segment hobby to do with it is definitely a mistake. The video function I see more as a useful bonus.

There are some technical improvements over the 600D, as the touch operation, the now ordinary stereo sound and the continued focus on video or image overlay modes for HDR and night shots. But all this should not be the decisive factor for many users. With a tight budget, or lack of interest on the touch screen and video function, I would still recommend to 600D. They remain hot on the heels of the 650D and provides an almost evenly matched picture quality.

On the other hand brings the EOS 650D their benefits with almost no other disadvantages. The only step backwards in my view that has become worse antireflection of the display. The value for money is very good and the extra cost the innovations quite appropriate. Therefore, it is my new favorite, and I give a strong buy recommendation and five star *****.