Canon EOS 600D review

Canon EOS 600D: Does the 600D have what it takes to compete?

On paper, the Canon EOS 600D certainly ticks all the boxes. Its 18-megapixel CMOS sensor is impressively large and the new model includes notable specs such as a vast ISO range and a full 1080p HD movie mode. However, the competition in this area of the market is heating up, as many rival manufacturers are also introducing impressive DSLR models to their ranges – can the EOS 600D compete with them?

The first issue that needs to be addressed with the EOS 600D is its body build. The finish is very plasticky, which some may not be too bothered by, but for many this will be off-putting. The body’s very light and the size is small for a DSLR, and its durability and longevity seem questionable. Also, the buttons on the back panel are flushed very close to the body. In low-light shooting this could be problematic as, despite the clear labelling (which is perfectly fine when used in daylight), as soon as the light disappears the user won’t be able to see them. There is no obviously tactile connection with any of the controls on the bottom back panel.

Like many of Canon’s cameras, the 600D’s layout is easy to understand and the functions are simple to use. To switch it on, a lever has been placed next to the top mode dial and the switch feels solid and reacts positively. Anyone used to a Canon camera shouldn’t have any problems sourcing the features and altering the settings; however, those new to the manufacturer’s systems may need to refer to the manual on first use. To make things simple there is a shortcut ISO control button on the top panel as well as white balance, drive mode and AF shortcuts on the back panel. These are all one touch away, which, for the level of photographer this camera is aimed at, is perfect. 

The EOS 600D’s Live View button is situated next to the viewfinder and it doubles up as the video record control, which gets a little confusing at times. To engage the video mode the user needs to access it first through the top mode dial then has to press the record button to stop and start recording.

For complete beginners Canon has included an intelligent Auto mode, which for the retail price of this camera seems a little unnecessary. Users spending this sort of money on a DSLR should already have an interest in controlling aspects of their shooting, even if it’s not on full manual settings. There are also shortcuts to all the Canon scene settings – portraits, landscapes and macro – on the top dial, but again these are basic modes and should be avoided if users want to get the most out of the 600D.  

For those wanting creative features Canon has included a 3-inch tilt-and-swivel LCD screen and a Creative Auto mode. We found the LCD screen to be handy when shooting from above and below, and the Live View shortcut button on the back panel meant this feature was easy to use. When in the video mode the LCD screen was again useful as it allowed us to be creative in our composing. In bright sunlight the screen was clear to view thanks to the 1040K resolution, which made it easy to view images and check data information for correct exposure values. To source the histogram the Disp. button next to the ISO control on the top panel needs to be pressed twice.

The Creative Auto mode can be found on the top dial, and it includes a range of settings that can be further tweaked on three different levels. This is a great feature for those who want to be creative in their approach to photography but don’t want to be spending time editing images post-shoot. However, this setting was one part of the camera that was not clear to alter and, after many attempts to adjust it, frustration had set in and the instructions were needed.  

There is no doubt that image quality is one of the Canon EOS 600D’s redeeming features, and even when tested with the standard kit lens the results were quite impressive. In fact, the quality of the images in low light was highly notable and noise was minimal even at ISO 6400. The 600D’s 18-megapixel sensor serves its function well here, and images can be enlarged to a decent size, but when shooting in RAW the smaller memory cards (around 4GB) soon become full. For an 18-megapixel camera, users will need to have a couple of 16GB-or-larger SDHCs to really make the most of a shoot.

Unfortunately, we found there were a few problems with the image quality when the camera was presented with a vast dynamic range. The 600D overexposed on a number of occasions, although the exposure compensation button is one touch away and can help tweak the exposure quickly.   

The 600D is quick to focus, and by pressing the shutter to the halfway position the model sources a focal point efficiently. On the video mode we found the results were superior if the lens was changed to a manual focus, but this was not an issue as the LCD screen’s clear to view and much easier to use this way.     

Overall, the EOS 600D put in a solid performance; however, this level of camera is always tricky to judge in terms of value for money. For a fair bit less money a beginner could still buy something decent, and for a little more a higher-end DSLR could be purchased.

For many enthusiasts the Canon EOS 600D will deliver exactly what they require, while others may feel that spending an extra £150 or so will get them more for their money.