News
News Categories

New Canon EOS 650D is the World's First Touch-Screen DSLR

By Alvin Soon - on 8 Jun 2012, 4:05pm

New Canon EOS 650D is the World's First Touch-Screen DSLR

The Canon EOS 600D (left) and the new 650D (right).

Canon has just announced the entry-level EOS 650D, the successor to the year and a half-old 600D. The new 650D brings a few improvements to the table - notably a capacitive touch-screen which makes it the first touch-screen DSLR in the world. We show you how it's new user interface works at the point of launch:-

So what else is new? The 650D brings with it an 18MP APS-C sensor with Canon's DIGIC 5 processor, shoots up to five frames per second and has a very high ISO ceiling of ISO25,600. The sensor is a new 'Hybrid CMOS' type which includes both the standard phase detection auto-focus used in DSLR cameras, as well as the contrast detection AF found in mirrorless system cameras.

The 650D also comes with HDR Backlight and Handheld Night Scene modes, which first made their appearance on Canon's compact cameras. It seems that the 650D has absorbed advances in technology not just from Canon's DSLRs to advance its state of the art, but also features from Canon's compact cameras to make it even more user friendly.

At the same time, Canon has also announced two new lenses with stepper motors, which auto-focus silently for shooting video. The EF-S 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM is an EF-S lens for APS-C cameras and will be one of the 650D's kit lenses, while the EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake will only be sold as a kit with the 650D in some regions.

Interestingly, the introduction of the EOS 650D DSLR camera edges Canon closer to a possible mirrorless system camera of its own. The 650D brings with it phase/contrast detection AF, similar to the AF system Nikon uses in its 1 series mirrorless cameras. Canon already has a large sensor compact in the G1 X, a sensor similar in size to those found in the Micro Four Thirds standard.

Even though rumors are heating up that Canon will introduce a mirrorless system in 2012, their latest developments seem to follow the same old focus on compact and DSLR cameras. We hope to be proven wrong - after all, Canon HQ can't be ignoring the fact that mirrorless sales have already eaten half of the DSLR market in Japan.

The Canon EOS 650D with the standard 18-55mm kit lens will be available from end-June at S$1299, while the new 18-135mm kit will be available in mid-July at S$1699.

The Canon EOS 650D at its launch in Singapore.

The full press release details can be found on the following page.

Join HWZ's Telegram channel here and catch all the latest tech news!
Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.