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Canon Australia announces new DSLR camera

Press release from Canon

Canon Australia today announced a new flagship addition to the entry-level EOS digital SLR camera range – the EOS 650D. Sitting above the popular EOS 600D, the new EOS 650D introduces significant quality and performance enhancements to suit hobbyists, while easy-to-use functions allow photography newcomers to take the shots that only a DSLR camera can achieve.

“The Canon EOS 650D is the most powerful creative tool for the rapidly growing number of budding photographers, offering ease of use for complete newcomers and huge scope to grow into the camera as their skills develop,” says Rebecca Pearson, Assistant Brand Manager – EOS, Canon Australia. “This camera has arrived at the right time given the rapid growth in entry-level and hobbyist photographers in the DSLR category in Australia. New features such as full HD video with AF and touch-screen navigation will inspire even more photographers and videographers to explore the creative options made possible with DSLR cameras and lenses.”

The imaging system is built around a new 18 megapixel CMOS sensor with fast 4 channel read-out, and the new DiG!C 5 image processor. These two components combine to deliver continuous shooting speeds of five frames per second (fps), while noise is expertly controlled at ISO speeds up to 12800, expandable to 25600 in H mode.

For the first time in an entry-level EOS, the AF system adopts a 9 point all cross-type array for superior focusing performance through the viewfinder. The addition of the dual-cross point in the centre allows for much faster, precise focusing for photographers using high-speed f/2.8 lenses.

‘Hybrid CMOS AF’ offers the most dramatic improvement to focusing with the LCD screen since Live View first appeared on EOS cameras. The technology combines the benefits of two different focusing systems – ‘phase detection’ and ‘contrast detection’ – to deliver focusing performance that is fast and accurate for stills and video, even when the subject is moving. Another EOS first is the Clear View II LCD Monitor featuring ‘Touch Screen’ operation, placing focusing control at the fingertips.

Movie capture is enhanced yet further, with on-board stereo sound, and silent AF performance when used in conjunction with one of Canon’s new ‘Stepping Motor’ lenses.

Those who choose a Canon EOS to begin their photographic journey will find that Intelligent Auto enables them to easily capture superb shots in a variety of conditions. And as they step up to intermediate features such as Creative Auto and other Basic Zone shooting modes, the built-in feature guide will offer enough assistance to help them accomplish their photographic goals.

Detailed feature information

New AF Capabilities

The EOS 650D features a dramatically upgraded AF system including a nine-point all cross-type AF array, with a high-precision dual-cross f/2.8 point at centre. The model is the first Canon camera to feature the new Hybrid CMOS AF system, which increases AF speed by reducing the camera’s need to “hunt” for focus. The result is fast continuous AF when shooting photos and movies in Live View. Because the camera’s cross-type AF points have two-dimensional contrast detection, the EOS 650D provides highly accurate focus regardless of the shot composition and ensures great focus no matter where the subject is located in the frame. The addition of the dual-cross point in the centre allows for much faster, precise focusing for photographers using high-speed f/2.8 lenses.

With the camera’s touch screen, users can touch the face of the person they would like to focus on and the camera will remain focused on them while they remain in-frame, ensuring sharp focus in crowds and group shots. The new AF system enables touch autofocus for shooting photos and movies in Live View. Touch Focus can be used in video mode, with or without an STM lens. However the effects of continuous AF will only be achieved with the use of an STM lens.


Continuous AF during HD Video Recording

For the first time in a Canon EOS DSLR, the EOS 650D includes Canon’s new Movie Servo AF. When used with Canon’s new EF and EF-S STM lenses, the camera can provide smooth and quiet continuous AF while recording movies. This technological breakthrough enables the new EOS 650D to achieve AF while still retaining a DSLR camera’s signature background blur and image quality, for stunning creative effects.
When shooting video with Canon’s STM lenses, AF also remains silent, helping ensure you only capture the sound of the scene being recorded. The EOS 650D features a built-in stereo microphone – a first for the EOS line – that includes an attenuator function to reduce audio distortion in extra loud situations.

Canon’s First Touch-Screen DSLR

Another Canon first, the EOS 650D includes a best-in-class Vari-angle Touch Screen 3.0-inch Clear View II LCD monitor featuring 1.04 million dot resolution for unparalleled, clear viewing. The electro-static touch-panel screen is the most advanced that Canon has released to date with multi-touch capabilities allowing photographers to use familiar gestures such as “pinch-to-zoom” and “swiping” to scroll between pictures. Camera operation has been simplified through this feature allowing for Touch Focus or Touch Shutter controls via the vari-angle touch-screen.

The vari-angle touch-screen flips out to the left and rotates 180 degrees forward and 90 degrees backward, making tough above-the-head and low-to-the-ground shots easy and allowing improved views during photo or video capture. That means the overhead shot taken in a crowd just got a little easier to shoot.

Improved Imaging Performance Features

The EOS 650D helps novice photographers capture great images and video, even in low-light with a range of new performance features:
• Handheld Night Scene mode
• HDR Backlight Control mode
• Multi-Shot Noise Reduction mode
• Upgraded Video Snapshot mode
• Upgraded Scene Intelligent Auto mode

Canon’s new shooting modes (Handheld Night Scene, HDR Backlight Control and Multi-Shot Noise Reduction), take multiple pictures, and combine them – in camera – to help capture a wider dynamic range, minimise the image grain or noise, and produce more vivid colours so landscapes and city scenes are as breathtaking as when seen in person.

Creating movie masterpieces just became much easier with the upgraded Video Snapshot mode. Now with the EOS 650D users will also have the option to delete, cut or re-order the clips before exporting the Snapshot album to post or share.

Canon’s Scene Intelligent Auto mode – the “green box” mode on the dial – analyses the scene being shot, taking into account faces, colours, brightness, movement and contrast, to select appropriate camera settings help produce the best possible image.

New STM Lenses and Accessories

To leverage the unique, new shooting functions of the EOS 650D, such as EOS Full HD Movie with continuous AF, Canon is introducing two new unique lenses: the new EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens and new EF 40mm f/2.8 STM lens. Both new STM lenses includes Canon’s new Stepping Motor technology, which allows the lenses to smoothly and silently focus and, when used in combination with the EOS 650D’s Movie Servo AF feature, achieve continuous AF while recording movies. The new stepping motor technology in both lenses quietly focuses allowing the EOS 650D’s stereo microphone to only record the sounds of the scene being shot.

The versatile EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens offers the right combination of size, weight, image stabilisation and focal length, allowing photographers to capture wide-angle or telephoto photographs and movies. This lens is a great option for photographers who may only want to carry one lens with them for both wide landscapes and close-ups. Appearing for the first time in a Canon EF lens is Dynamic IS (Movie Shooting Mode only), which uses a wide image stabilisation correction range to help ensure steady video even when shooting while walking.

The new EF 40mm f/2.8 STM lens offers an ultra-slim, lightweight design that helps photographers avoid overwhelming their subjects with a large lens and to remain discreet in sensitive shooting situations without compromising performance. The “pancake-style” lens boasts an aperture of f/2.8, making it an ideal lens for capturing portrait stills or stunning movies. The lens is 2.28cm thick when attached, making it easy to carry and fit conveniently into a purse or pocket.

The EOS 650D is also compatible with Canon’s previously introduced GP-E2 GPS Receiver, which can be mounted to the camera’s accessory shoe. The GPS unit was created to serve outdoor photographers; it records shooting locations including latitude, longitude and altitude, as well as camera direction. A Logging function can tell how far a photographer has travelled as well.