Canon T4i Hands on Review

[unadog]

Hello folks,

I finally got my Canon T4i this afternoon. I put up a quick Word Press blog with some first thoughts about the camera:

http://blog.mtkalin.com/


I am going to head out now to take some pictures and test out the features, including the ISO and some dynamic range tests.

Feel free to ask questions here or at the blog. Samples soon.

Thanks!

Michael

[New_Zealand]

Very Cool!!!!

[Samuel H]

the cinema5D video test shows aliasing/moire just as with the old canons... https://vimeo.com/44077443

[unadog]

I saw that before I went out yesterday. Very disappointing.

If I had to **guess** - and it is only a guess - I'd say it is basically the same sensor, with better Digic 5 processing?

Even if the ISO's are better, that could come down to better in camera processing, or improved algorithms. That is still TBD by teh way - I can't say one way or another.

I am still figuring out the best strategy for autofocus in Movie mode. It seems best to turn off the always changing "Movie Servo Focus" for most subjests. Then use a process that is like a "lock, recompose, and shoot" strategy for stills - first lock focus on a subjset, and when you want to move focus, you can touch the screen exactly where you want the focus to move to.

The focus shift moves a bit fast, but hopefully that will work well with the STM lenses with a nice, smooth float into focus.

The Phase Detection focus in still mode that the T4i inherited from the Canon 60D is great! Fast, accurate, just nails the focus in most cases with no hunting for stills.

The combination Phase Detection and Contrast Detection focus in Live View and Movie modes is much, much improved over the T3i. With a non-STM lens, you can hear it step and pause, step and pause through the range as it looks for a focus lock. It locks quite well, and shows the sensor point taht is locked in large, green squares on the screen.

One BIG disappointment - all of the "Creative" modes - P, Av, Tv - use autoexposure that includes shutter, aperature, AND auto ISO!! I haven't found a way to turn off auto ISO yet! Sucks for auto exposure mode.

Manual exposure works fine, and you can set the ISO there with no problems.

I am pretty disappointed, because the "Movie" switch is now on the power on switch. I was hoping that would allow us to have "P" mode as fully programmed exposure, and "Tv" as Shutter Priority, where you set the shutter speed and the camera sets the aperature, and "Av" as aperature priority (possibly with a stepped override.)

No such luck as far as I can tell. This is a job for - Magic Lantern!

More later.

Michael

[nothing]

I...

Unfortunately most on this forum don't (and shouldn't) care about the things you are talking about here - for cinematography, autofocus and automatic exposure of any kind should never be used. Things may be different for some who shoot ENG or event videography (I don't do any of that myself, but I'd still use full manual) but DSLRs are not the best cameras for those kinds of shooting anyway.

One thing I do care about with regards to the T4i that you haven't addressed at all is the 3x-10x zoom mode from the T3i - is it present on the T4i or has it been eliminated?

[c3hammer]

I talked to a shop who called the Canon rep and there is no 3x-10x zoom function anymore it appears. It doesn't document it anywhere if it is.

Cheers,
Pete

[unadog]

Things may be different for some who shoot ENG or event videography (I don't do any of that myself, but I'd still use full manual) but DSLRs are not the best cameras for those kinds of shooting anyway.

One thing I do care about with regards to the T4i that you haven't addressed at all is the 3x-10x zoom mode from the T3i - is it present on the T4i or has it been eliminated?

Well, I do both. And sometimes things change in unexpected ways while you are shooting.

I'm working on a fictionalized documentary for example, based on a friends experince cutting, trying to commit suicide., being institutionalized at 12. It is a film that looks like a documentary. It uses a lot of run & gun type features, and the auto focus, face tracking, and auto exposure will be very useful.

I'd rather go from 1/60 to 1/120 on a big sensor than on a 1/3" for look. I just wish I could lock the shutter at 1/60 and have the aperature vary, but not the ISO. Or lock teh aperature when needed, and vary shutter or ISO. That will be a very usefull firmware enhancement, either by Canon or through ML.

I have used the T3i on pure documentaries - a homeless encampment, etc. And for music gigs for my son's group, with 15+ memebers on stage, dance, etc.

It has a look that is useful in many areas. If you can extend that look to an additional percentage of images, that is all good. It gives us more choices. No matter what categories we put things in, or how we work, there is always bleed over from one arena to the other.

On the digital zoom - no, the function is no longer there.

Michael

[nothing]

I talked to a shop who called the Canon rep and there is no 3x-10x zoom function anymore it appears. It doesn't document it anywhere if it is.

Cheers,
Pete

That is a shame. That was the only compelling reason to upgrade to the T3i from the T2i. If there are no improvements to IQ either (aliasing, moire, resolution) then there is no good reason to upgrade to the T4i, IMHO - in fact, without Magic Lantern, there is a big reason to NOT upgrade.

[Samuel H]

Indeed, it seems it's not there. The only reason I can think of is that the in-sensor-plane phase-detect creates image issues on a 1:1 crop, but if so then you'd have those issues in stills too.

[c3hammer]

That is a shame. That was the only compelling reason to upgrade to the T3i from the T2i...

The T3i's 3x zoom was the only reason I got into the dslr game so heavily. I looks like I might have to pick up a GH2 for it's 2.7x ETC crop zoom to make sure I'm future proofed. I think I'll give it a try before I buy another T3i for a back up.

I use it for wildlife work and with a 600mm lens there has never been anything like it. Previous to these two camera's the only way to get this kind of reach was to use a point and shoot attached to a spotting scope. As you can imagine the results while providing excellent content, was less than desirable image wise.

Another option is the new D4, but it's a $6000 camera. It only has a 2.4x crop from full frame and only provides a 1440mm equivalent focal length. The T3i with 3x and the 600mm is 2880 equivalent. The GH2 with a 600mm has the most reach with a 3050 equivalent.

I was really looking forward to Canon improving this feature along with video quality in general on the T4i. Looks like they dropped the ball all the way around

Cheers,
Pete