Appearance and processing
Plastic dominates the visual impression. The build quality is excellent but, and the camera looks solid and high quality. That was in the EOS 350D already exactly and several trips and total over 30,000 trouble-tripping later my doubts about the durability of this Kistchens were long since gone. The EOS 600D plays as a successor of the same product line also priced in the same ballpark. We can only hope that it also has the same endurance ...
The 600D is slightly larger, to use but not you realize this difference. The control elements are clearly arranged and meaningful.
The rear is dominated by the large, brilliant, vari-angle display, which is also very good anti-reflective treatment. Actually, I thought I could do without the folding mechanism well, but in some situations (self-timer, recording extreme angles such as at floor) he is very practical.
It is also positive that Canon to the main holding area now adds grip rubber pads with "leather structure" donated so that the device is securely in your hand.
Battery and memory card compartment have solid covers that snap tired. Also frequent changes are likely to cause any problems.
So far everything ok.
Operation and function
The important controls are within easy reach and react promptly to inputs. The operating concept is now very mature and resembles logically the six years older 350D still strong, that most existing functions there feel very similar. (It was also equal to the familiar "EOS-feeling" one that I know and appreciate since my first analogue EOS 1000FN of 1993.)
A little mourned I have only the separate LCD segment display for the essential information that could be read clearly better especially in direct sunlight as the TFT main display now also used for.
The menus have become very colorful and offer all kinds of bells and whistles such as image ratings and Creative Filters that I will certainly never use. But a good idea, the two separate buttons near the shutter button to turn off the information on the display (for example when shooting at night) and to select the ISO setting.
In video mode, located right next to the eyepiece Live View button serves as the trigger. Once you know that, but the law is practical. In particular, you can press this button during recording without distortion. Somewhat awkwardly, however, is that the video mode can be reached only when extreme settings on scene mode knob. This means (for example, between program AE and video function via nine settings) with changing use frequent switching back and Herratschen.
In photo mode, the EOS 600D can operate very smoothly and safely.
There is hardly any perceptible shutter lag, and also the internal image processing is very fast.
Series photos shoots the EOS 600D slightly faster than the 350D, the first four photos (before the buffer is full) are always within one second in the box, then it goes (depending on the memory card) in RAW + JPEG or with about 0.7 . JPEG only 3.5 frames per second on.
RAW (CR2) occupy depending on the image content about 22-32 MB, JPEGs in the highest quality around 5-8 MB. Canon has the CR2 format apparently recently again changed so that RAWs can be read from the 600D only by the latest software.
The battery type was also quoted in the previous model 550D, therefore are good batteries from other manufacturers available (about half price of an original battery). A second battery you should always have it, even if you rarely need it: The first battery was enough for my 600D for over 700 photos and several minutes of video.
Image quality for photos
The image quality on the whole is expected to be excellent. The 600D exposed safely and provides natural color reproduction, thus affords little slip that you would necessarily rectify via RAW workflow.
In terms of low noise it is especially in the lower ISO range is not quite to the spotless record of six year old "ancestors" approach. This price you have to pay for the 2.25-times the resolution. From ISO 400 the APS-C sensor produces noticeable noise, at least at the level of the 350D, and indeed over the entire ISO range up to 1600 (more can not 350D). In particular, the luminance noise is a little stronger in the 600D, and there are already at moderate ISO set to 400 individual outliers (especially clear to bright pixels) that does not get the noise reduction entirely under control. ISO 3200 and 6400 should only be used when it is absolutely necessary.
Even my copy is not entirely free from the infamous "sensor spots", ie microscopic contaminants directly on the sensor, which (from about 11) can stand out as a small gray, round spots with a small aperture in low-contrast areas of images. The built-in automatic cleaning system remains ineffective. Of course that's a bit annoying at a brand new camera. That reminds me but so far no "real" recording is come across (except being targeted test photos), on these spots (here two on the right half of the image) can be seen, I have not taken any manual cleaning tests.
The resolution with nearly 18 megapixels sounds once formidable. But the factor of 1.5 per edge compared to the 350D is not so essential for many motives. I must admit that I am a little disappointed because a quantum leap in image quality does not mean the transition to the 600D. The higher resolution you pay with something greater luminance noise. So in low light conditions it is still, stingy deal with the ISOs, to avoid having to sacrifice behind a good part of the effective resolution Entrauschungsalgorithmus.
But once again clearly: I mosere here on very high level - the EOS 600D has a very good sensor, which allows you to make fantastic photos - so no comparison with the pixel-defying compact snapping that are currently everywhere in the store shelves.
A few words about the kit lens
The kit lens (EF-S 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6 IS II) falls not in the category "Housing cover with lens", but is quite usable and the small additional cost compared to the Body alone woth (if you do not already has a good alternative or extreme claims has).
It is small, light, image stabilization, fast and focused relatively safe. It has an acceptable imaging performance, the 18 MP sensor, however, does not irritate completely. Also you have to live in the wide-angle range with a relatively strong distortion.
My six year old Sigma 18-50mm 1: Although 2.8 EX DC delivers more visible detail and less distortion at higher light intensity, but at the expense of a much higher weight, sedate focus and waiving an image stabilizer.
I still have not decided, therefore, what lens I'll use as "Always top". A new purchase I close at the moment of first, because for a real quality or focal thrust I had to invest heavily.
"And ... Action"
The video function provides very decent results, detailed images with beautiful colors. But it is also considering the necessary image quality quite place hungry. Annoying that is of course only if you (like me), the recordings often no longer want to process on a PC.
The new "digital zoom" allows soft zoom factor in the range of 3 to 10, but must be activated via the menu. Funny Thing Happened on when the unused sensor surface would be used for digital image stabilization would. But such does not provide the 600D.
The built-in microphone is rather seen as a temporary solution and provides barely acceptable sound quality with significant background noise. Although on two tracks, is thus received only in mono. For require- ments is thus an external microphone required. I think that's a shame, because me personally the sound quality is not important enough for it again.
(Specification Video:. Max 1080p AVC with 25 fps, about 45 Mbps, Audio: Stereo PCM with 48 KHz, 1536 Kbps)
Conclusion
With the EOS 600D makes it as demanding user in the "end-users" - or lower Hobby segment definitely no mistake. As a bonus for outstanding photo mode, there is a quite useful HD video function.
For inputs and transfer passengers who do not have a compatible standard lens, which has in the kit is very good value for money.
Moving from (much) older models the EOS Digital series is also recommended. Though perhaps - depending on requirements and favorite motifs - the gain in image quality alone will not be decisive, so it is worthwhile for the very much improved electronics.
The operating concept of the EOS series was refined further by Canon and is for me an important argument for choosing one of these cameras.
Overall I am very pleased with the "new" and can detect only a few minor shortcomings. Therefore I give a strong buy recommendation and five star *****.
