Aspiring photographers looking to upgrade from their smart phones or compact digital cameras so they can take better pictures and have more lens flexibility are faced with a bewildering choice of DSLRs, MILCs and all-in-one cameras. Canon, a category leader in starter DSLRs since the dawn of digital with its Rebel line, today announced the Canon EOS Rebel T6, a budget-priced DSLR that is compatible with Canon’s entire range of interchangeable lenses, flashes and accessories—and offers Wi-Fi and NFC wireless capabilities. Is this the right point of entry to “serious” photography? Let’s take a closer look.
Canon EOS Rebel T6 Key Features
- 18MP CMOS APS-C sensor
- ISO range 100-6400, expandable to 12,800
- 9-point AF system includes one center cross-type AF
- Optical viewfinder
- 920k dot resolution, 3-inch LCD monitor
- Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC
- Scene Intelligent Auto mode
- Feature Guide teaches user camera settings
- 1080p full HD video
- Creative filters
- Auto White Balance
The Rebel T lineup features cameras with everything you need to get started: A big APS-C sensor for improved resolution and overall image quality, the ability to accept all Canon EOS-mount lenses from ultra-wides and zooms to telephoto and macro, compatibility with Canon’s lineup of shoe-mount flashes (which can be controlled wirelessly for more interesting off-camera flash photography) and in more recent models, high-definition video recording.
While the beginner-oriented but somewhat more advanced Canon T6i offers a higher-resolution 24MP sensor, it is a more expensive affair, currently available from Adorama for $749. Let’s take a look at the Canon T6. If you’re on a tight budget, is this the right camera for you?
Sensor: Is 18MP Enough? (The short answer: YES!)
Although the Canon T6’s 18MP sensor falls short of the 24MP sensor on the T6i, it is still plenty of resolution. An 18MP sensor will deliver images that you can print to poster-size and they’ll look great. The 100-6400 ISO range should be plenty for most general shooting conditions and for flash-free, low-light photography, especially when using a fast lens. The sensor is APS-C format, which is considerably larger than most compact camera sensors, so image quality will definitely be better. The Digic 4+ processor is said to be 60% faster than its predecessor when processing high-ISO images. That means you don’t need to wait so long between shots to take the next picture.
Wireless image sharing and camera control
The Canon T6 boasts built-in Wi-Fi and NFC wireless connectivity. You can wirelessly share your photos via the Canon Camera Connect app on your Android or iOS mobile device. You can browse, transfer, and post images and videos to social media sites. The camera also connects to the Canon Connect Station CS100, which lets you store, view and organize all of your image files. Using a smartphone or tablet you can also control the camera remotely, adjusting exposure, changing shooting modes, and controlling the AF features.
Autofocus
The T6 uses basically the same 9-point autofocus system as its predecessor and other current Rebel-series cameras. It has a 9-point AF system with one center cross-type AF point and AF Servo AF. This means it can focus quickly and precisely under both low and normal lighting conditions.
Viewing the image
The Canon T6, being a DSLR, has a reflex-mirror-based optical viewfinder. What you see is what you get. There are no screens to look at—you are actually looking through the lens at the scene. If you prefer composing on the 3-inch LCD monitor, Live View is available. One of the cost-cutting measures deployed on this camera is that the monitor is in a fixed position, while more expensive models have a flip-out monitor.
Determining exposure is easy
One of the things that scares snapshooters away from DSLRs is they seem complicated. Scene Intelligent Auto to the rescue! This feature, which you choose by turning a dial on the camera top, reads the scene a fraction of a second before exposure and determines what combination of camera settings will work best. So, you can concentrate on compositing and taking the picture.
Feature Guide lets newbies grow
If you’re feeling ambitious and want to learn what it takes to be in control of the camera, the T6 offers a Feature Guide. This displays a simple description that explains how each function works. It appears automatically on the LCD monitor, so you don’t need to go to the manual unless you absolutely need it.
At theMovies
The Canon T6 captures up to 1080/30p HD video, as well as 720 at 60fps. It features in-camera video editing, and offers both auto and manual exposure and focus options. There’s also a Video Snapshot feature; you can tell the camera to capture 2,4, or 8-second video clips, which are then automatically combined into a single video file as a snapshot or highlights album. You can then play your videos back on an HDTV via the camera’s HDMI port.
Filters and features for creativity
The camera offers five different creative filters for still images: Grainy B/W, Soft Focus, Fisheye, Miniature and Toy Camera effects. These are fun modes to experiment with to change the look and feel of your pictures. There are other creative options that can be found in the Creative Auto mode. Want to shoot your food? It’ll give you the ideal exposure for that!
Auto White Balance
Canon has tweaked its auto white balance to compensate for overly red or yellowish green images that are the result of shooting under different kinds of artificial light. The color meter looks for a neutral white in the scene and balances the rest of the image accordingly.
The Canon T6 is a polycarbonate-body camera, so it isn’t quite as sturdy as a more professional model, and it isn’t water-resistant. However, it is a solid picture-taking tool and is a great way to get started in interchangeable-lens digital photography.
The Canon EOS Rebel T6 will be available from Adorama in a kit with the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II lens for $549.99. It is also available in a double-zoom kit with the 18-55mm and EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III lens for $749.99.
