Rumours spread all around about the APS-C mirrorless model, when a lens designed for contrast autofocus was patented by Canon. It looks much like the design was for the Stepping Motor (STM) lenses which canon is rolling out with its contrast AF- friendly EOS Rebel T4i. The CMOS sensor includes ‘Contrast Autofocus’ sensors which are used in camcorders and video AF systems. It also includes the ‘Phase Detection’ sensors found in dSLRs. A switch to the touchscreen LCD makes Canon EOS Rebel T4i much more suitable for shooting videos than the previous models. It provides the photographers with a continuous shooting rate of 5 frames per second. A nine cross type point autofocus phase-detection system brings the T4i into analogy with other cameras of its type.
Cannon EOS Rebel T4i
The effect of T4i is that now EOS Rebel T3i will become affordable & EOS 60D will be less compelled to purchase. The EOS 60d takes over T4i with its better burst performance which includes a faster rate, a deeper buffer, a better battery life & a better constructed body.
Canon EOS Rebel T4i will have a pair of STM lenses- 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM for $549.99 which will be shipped in a kit & also with a 40mm f2.8 STM pancake for $199.99. As compared to the lenses of EF/EF-S, the lense of T4i provides quicker and quieter AF during video capture. The optics on the Canon’s STM lens are 18-135mm which is sharper than that of non STM lenses, and are about $50 cheaper. The 40mm pancake is a bad choice. Canon could not save much with a smaller lens coz the body is still large and also it does not make the camera look ‘moderate’. It also left out the ‘Image Stabilization’ to make the camera look smaller and a bit cheaper in price , which is a wrong step by Canon.
The better aspect of the camera is that it uses Contrast detection AF. But the benefits could only be gained by the STM lenses users and that also in Live View and Movie Capture. While going for sub-$1,000 18-55mm kit, one had to pay $150 extra for a touchscreen.
Though it is a nice responsive touchscreen with better user interface and touchfocus which streamlines Live View Shooting. The camera does not support Peaking (Edge detection) which is an imperative feature for LCD based shooting.
The upgrade from Digic 4 to Digic 5 image processor brought newer efficacy which includes Sony staples like noice reduction, multishot, night scene, powershots for shooting quick clips, HDR backlight modes (combines 4 shots), video snapshot mode carried from the camcorders & an improved Auto mode to summon scene analysis.
A65V is one of the biggest obstacles for ‘Canon EOS Rebel T4i’. A65V has got faster burst shooting and competitive video. And also it includes the sensor shift image stabilization.
Techs. & Specifications of Different Camera Models:
| Canon EOS Rebel T3i | Canon EOS Rebel T4i | Canon EOS 60D | Nikon D5100 | Pentax K-30 | Sony Alpha SLT-A65V | |
| Sensor (effective resolution) | 18mp CMOS | 18mp hybrid CMOS | 18mp CMOS | 16.2mp CMOS | 16.3mp CMOS | 24.3mp Exmor HD CMOS |
| 22.3×14.9mm | 22.3×14.9mm | 22.3×14.9mm | 23.6×15.6mm | 23.7×15.7mm | 23.5×15.6mm | |
| Focal-length multiplier | 1.6x | 1.6x | 1.6x | 1.5x | 1.5x | 1.5x |
| Sensitivity range | ISO 100 – ISO 6400 / 12800 (expanded) | ISO 100 – ISO 12,800 / 25600 (expanded) | ISO 100 – ISO 6400 / 12800 (expanded) | ISO 100 – ISO 6400 / 25600 (expanded) | ISO 100 – ISO 12800 / 25600 (expanded) | ISO 100 – ISO 16000 |
| Continuous shooting | 3.7fps 6 raw/34 JPEG |
5fps 6 raw/22 JPEG |
5.3fps 16 raw/58 JPEG |
4fps n/a raw/100 JPEG |
6fps 8 raw/30 JPEG |
8fps (10fps with fixed exposure) 13 raw/17 JPEG |
| Viewfinder (magnification / effective magnification) | 95% coverage 0.85x/ 0.53x |
95% coverage 0.85x/0.53x |
96% coverage 0.95x/0.59x |
Optical 95% coverage 0.78x/ 0.63x |
Optical 100% coverage 0.92x/0.61x |
Electronic OLED 0.5 inch / 2.36 million dots 100% coverage 1.09x/0.73x |
| Autofocus | 9-pt AF center cross-type to f2.8 |
9-pt AF all cross-type; center cross to f2.8 | 9-pt AF all cross-type; center cross to f2.8 | 11-pt AF center cross-type to f5.6 |
11-pt AF 9 cross-type (SAFOX IX+) |
15-pt phase-detection 3 cross-type |
| AF sensitivity | -0.5 to 18 EV | n/a | 0 to 20 EV | -1 to 19 EV | -1 to 18 EV | -1 to 18 EV |
| Shutter speed | 1/4,000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/200 x-sync | n/a | 1/8,000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/250 sec x-sync | 1/4,000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/200 sec x-sync | 1/6,000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/180 sec x-sync | 1/4,000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/160 x-sync |
| Metering | 63-zone iFCL | 63-zone iFCL | 63-zone iFCL | 420-pixel 3D color matrix metering II | 77 segment | 1,200-zone |
| Metering sensitivity | 1 to 20 EV | n/a | 0 to 20 EV | 0 to 20 EV | 0 to 22 EV | -2 to 17 EV |
| Video | H.264 QuickTime MOV 1080/30p/ 25p/24p; 720/60p/ 50p | H.264 QuickTime MOV 1080/30p/ 25p/24p; 720/60p/50p | H.264 QuickTime MOV 1080/30p/ 25p/24p; 720/60p/50p | 1080/30p/ 24p; 720/30p/ 25p/24p H.264 QuickTime MOV | H.264 QuickTime MOV 1080/24p/ 25p/30p; 720/ 50p/60p | AVCHD 1080/60p @ 28, 24Mbps, 1080/24p @ 24, 17Mbps, 1080/60i @ 17Mbps |
| Audio | Mono; mic input | Stereo; mic input | Mono; mic input | Mono; mic input | Mono | Stereo; mic input |
| Manual aperture and shutter in video | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | n/a | Yes |
| Maximum best-quality recording time | 4GB/11 min | 4GB/12 min | 4GB/12 min | 20 min | 4GB/25 minutes | 2GB/29 min |
| Image stabilization | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical | Sensor shift | Sensor shift |
| LCD size | 3 inches articulated 1.04 megapixels |
3 inches articulated touch screen 1.04 megapixels |
3 inches articulated 1.04 megapixels |
3 inches articulated 921,000 dots |
3 inches fixed 921,000 dots |
3 inches articulated 921,600 dots |
| Memory slots | 1 x SDXC | 1 x SDXC | 1 x SDXC | 1 x SDXC | 1 x SDXC | 1 x SDXC |
| Wireless flash | Yes | n/a | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life (CIPA rating) | 470 shots | 440 shots | 1,100 shots | 660 shots | 480 (lithium ion); 1,600 (lithium) | 510 shots |
| Dimensions (WHD, inches) | 5.1×3.8×3 | 5.2×3.9×3.1 | 5.7×4.1×3.1 | 5×3.8×3.1 | 5.1×3.8×2.8 | 5.3×3.9×3.3 |
| Body operating weight (ounces) | 20 | 18.3 (est) | 27 | 19.6 | 22.9 (est) | 22 (est) |
| Mfr. Price
|
n/a$799.99 (with 18-55mm lens) | $849 (body only)$949 (with 18-55mm lens)$1,199 (with 18-135mm STM lens) | $999 (body only) | $799.95 (body only)$899.95 (with 18-55mm VR lens) | $849.95 (body only)$899.95 (with 18-55mm lens) | $899.99 (body only)$999.99 (with 18-55mm lens) |
| Release date | March 2011 | June 2012 | November 2010 | April 2011 | July 2012 | October 2011 |