 "Canon EOS 700D Review")
Sitting at the top of Canon’s consumer range of DSLR cameras, the EOS 700D is an upgrade to the EOS 650D. The notable improvements include sturdier build, redesigned mode dial, preview for creative filters and higher Live View refresh rate. Also for the first time Canon has bundled the new EF-S 18-55 IS STM lens. Let’s see how this camera fares and whether it’s a worthy upgrade.
Bundled with EF-S 18-55 IS STM lens
Design and features
At a weight of less than 750 g (including the stock lens) and with a compact body, the EOS 700D can easily fit into smaller bags. The EOS 650D was the first DSLR camera to feature a touchscreen. The EOS 700D retains the same and also maintains the 18.2 megapixel APS-C sensor, DIGIG 5 processor, 9-point autofocus and 5fps continuous shooting. It can record videos at full HD and has stereo microphones.
This is the first time that Canon has included the 18–55mm, f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens with a consumer class DSLR. It features stepping motor technology, which offers quieter continuous autofocus when attached to bodies that incorporate Canon’s Hybrid CMOS AF technology. Focusing is silent even while shooting videos and the stereo microphones don’t pick up the sound of the AF motor. The lens can focus on subjects as close as 25 cms.
Mode dial with Basic and Creative zones
The mode dial used in the EOS 700D is slightly different than the 650D’s dial. The one here can be rotated infinitely, which is quicker when it comes to going back to the first few modes from the last mode. You don’t reach an endpoint from where you have to rotate in the opposite direction to go back.
The mode dial has two zones: Basic and Creative. The Basic zone offers eight shooting modes starting with the fully automatic mode, which is highlighted in green. Here, the ISO, flash, focusing and colour tones are all managed by the camera. Next is the Flash Off mode followed by the Creative Auto mode that has numerous colour modes such as Standard, Vivid, Soft, Warm, Intense, Cool, Brighter, Darker and Monochrome. These settings allow you to set the level of background blur. The next few modes are most commonly used scene presets—portrait, landscape, close-up and sport. The Scene mode doesn’t allow shooting in RAW, but you have presets to shoot night portrait, night landscape and HDR. The Creative zone has the PASM modes that offer fine grained control over exposure. Depending on the set mode, you can adjust the aperture, shutter speed, white balance, EV, ISO level, flash intensity and metering mode. The easiest to use in the PASM mode is the Program mode in which the camera determines the aperture and shutter speed, while allowing you to adjust the rest of the parameters. Just above the mode dial is a dedicated button to set the ISO level and to the right is the on/off and video switch.
3-inch capacitive touchscreen and eye-sensor for EVF
Another useful addition is the creative filter preview in Live View. Various creative filters like Grainy B/W, Soft focus, Fish-eye, Art Bold, Water Painting, Toy Camera and Miniature can be applied to the image, and adjustments can be made to control the strength. These filters can also be applied to photos using the post processing options available in the playback mode.
As with most Canon cameras, the controls are very intuitive. If you’re a Canon user, you will get used to this camera in no time.
Build quality and ergonomics
The EOS 700D feels much steadier in hands thanks to the rubber layer added on the grip. The body material is the same—stainless steel and polycarbonate resin with glass fibre.
Fully articulating LCD for convenient shooting
The touchscreen is a real pleasure to work with. It’s of the capacitive type, which is more responsive than a resistive one used in cameras such as the IXUS 510 HS. The touchscreen comes in handy especially when using Live View wherein you can touch to move the focus area and adjust the settings. Viewing the images in playback mode is also easier using the touchscreen. Pinching to zoom in and out is supported and panning the photos in zoomed view using your finger is more convenient than using the D-pad. The fully-articulating screen is very helpful to compose frames with the camera held above or below eye level.
Control panel and memory card slot
The wireless flash trigger will definitely entice a photographer who can’t afford a prosumer camera and wants to use external flash. The inbuilt flash can sync in 1st curtain or 2nd curtain modes.
Performance
The sensitivity range extends from ISO 100 to ISO 12800 and can be pushed to as high as ISO 25600. We took the 700D for a spin to a nearby market to assess the low light performance. We set the mode to Aperture Priority and used different ISO levels. Noise levels were tolerable till ISO 1600, after which one starts seeing lesser colour details. Under normal settings, the colour saturation is very good. There are other options that let you change sharpness, contrast, saturation and colour tone.
ISO 200
ISO 400
ISO 800
ISO 12800—grainy, but still looks quite punchy
Video recording capabilities are moderate, but the continuous autofocus tracking is useful. Shooting in low light condition is a bit challenging and the loss of details in shadow areas is noticeable above ISO 1600.
Shot at ISO 800 without flash
Shot using external flash to fill light
Verdict
At an MRP of Rs 59,995 (with EF-S 18-55 IS STM kit lens), the EOS 700D is more expensive than the EOS 650D by a few thousand rupees. The price of only the body is Rs 53,995. It’s a worthy consideration for someone who wants to move a step higher than the EOS 1100D or EOS 550D and already has Canon lenses and accessories. For a first-time buyer who is a budding photographer, the fact that the EOS 600D (with EF-S 18-55 IS II kit lens) is available for Rs 34,000 and the Nikon D5200 (with AF-S 18-55 VR kit lens) is available for Rs 40,750 can’t be ignored. Although a bit dated, the 18 megapixel EOS 600D is still very good value for money. The only things that you don’t get are STM lens, fully articulating display, touchscreen and DIGIC 5 processor. Even more attractive is the D5200 with a 24 megapixel sensor. You can easily get a decent telephoto lens and a few filters for the price difference. That is, if you’re fine with the absence of touchscreen and the ISO topping out at 6400.
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
