Canon EOS 600D DSLR Camera, Body only

* 18-megapixel CMOS sensor
* Scene Intelligent Auto mode
* Full-HD EOS Movie
* On-screen Feature Guide
* 3.7fps continuous shooting
* Wide-area 9-point AF
* 1,040k-dot vari-angle 7.7cm (3.0 inch) screen
* Basic+ and Creative Filters
* Built-in wireless flash control


Our opinion:

There are not many 18 Megapixel cameras about yet - neither are there many DSLRs capable of recording Full HD movies - so the EOS 600D is part of a very elite group.

Beginner-friendly features include an on-screen guide as well as 'Basic +' overrides: think of it as an intermediate step between fully automatic (A) and the semi-automatic modes (A or S).
Unusually for a DSLR, the EOS 600D also features 'scene intelligent auto mode'. This term describes further intelligence built into the camera's 'Auto' mode: it branches out into the scene modes (Portrait, Landscape etc) and applies more suitable aperture settings for the type of scene that is being photographed.

Purist may feel that this makes good photography too accessible to people who have no idea about the subject. However, it also progresses the DSLR from being (usually) the prerogative and metier of a single family member to becoming a successful, easy-to-use all-family tool. Surely that would be a good thing, wouldn't it? You could just put the camera into 'scene intelligent auto mode' and let someone else do all the hard work for once; and who knows, you may even appear in the odd photograph yourself then.

You may not be overly impressed with the EOS 600D's continuous shooting speed at first - but remind yourself that this is an 18 MP camera; an awful lot of data has to be written each time you press the shutter.

We also like the fact that the EOS 600D has a vari-angle LCD; whilst this is possibly more important when videoing, it certainly comes in useful as in still photography on occasions (i.e. macro photography or over-head shooting).

In essence, the Canon EOS 600D is a high-tech fusion of a state-of-the-art DSLR and a Full HD 'camcorder' - with several beginner-friendly features.

Highly recommended *****

With class-leading 18-megapixel resolution, user-friendly design, and the entire EOS family of lenses and accessories at your disposal, the EOS 600D lets nothing stand in the way of your photography.

18 MP APS-C CMOS sensor
An APS-C sized, 18-megapixel CMOS sensor captures images that are packed with detail and clarity. Such high-resolution allows large print sizes and the flexibility to crop pictures for alternative compositions.

ISO 100-6400 sensitivity
An ISO range of 100-6400, extendable to ISO 12,800, enables high-quality hand-held shooting in low-light conditions, without the need for flash.

14-bit image processing
At the heart of the Canon EOS 600D is a 14-bit DIGIC 4 image processor that provides exceptional colour reproduction, smooth tonal gradation and tight control over noise.

Scene Intelligent Auto mode
Scene Intelligent Auto analyzes each scene in detail and picks the right camera settings each and every time, leaving you free to concentrate on what's important – your photography.

On-screen Feature Guide
The EOS 600D's on-screen Feature Guide provides descriptions of many of the camera's functions, as well as advice on how to use them.

Full-HD EOS Movie
Shoot Full-HD video with manual control over frame rate, exposure and sound. Video Snapshot technology allows short clips of 2, 4 or 8 sec to be merged into a single movie file, for footage that looks like it was edited professionally, while Movie Digital Zoom permits 3-10x magnification while retaining Full-HD quality.

9-point wide-area AF and iFCL metering
Nine AF points, including one central cross-type sensor, spread out across the frame for swift, accurate focusing, even with off-centre subjects. 63-zone iFCL metering ensures accurate exposures time after time.

1,040k-dot vari-angle 7.7cm (3.0 inch) screen
Shoot from unique angles with a 7.7cm (3.0 inch) 3:2 Clear View LCD screen, containing 1,040,000 dots for increased clarity.

Basic+
Basic+ technology allows photographers to customize basic auto settings according to lighting conditions or ambience.

Creative Filter Effects
Creative Filter Effects can be applied to Raw and JPEG files post capture, including Toy Camera, Soft Focus, Miniature, Grainy Black & White and Fish Eye simulations.

Built-in wireless flash control
An integrated wireless Speedlite flash controller and Easy Wireless technology allow off-camera TTL flash without the need for extra accessories.

Use with all EF and EF-S lenses
The EOS 600D is supported by the complete system: flashguns, remote releases and over 60 lenses trusted by professional photographers the world over.