Unanimous Decision - Just Like Mayweather Over Guerrero, $648 w Kit Lens is Winning Canon T4i Price

If you are a Canon shooter, and you need a DSLR with touchscreen video autofocus, the T4i is a great option.  I have shot with this camera, and the touchscreen autofocus makes life a lot easier.  Now that the T5i has been introduced, the T4i's price is coming down.  Right now, you can get one for $648 with the 18-55mm kit lens from BuyDig via eBay.  That is $101 lower than the price at Amazon as of this post.

There are only a few available - and they won't last at this price!

Canon T3i closing out - $599 w kit lens!

With the arrival of the T4i, Canon is discounting the still very capable T3i.  Readers of this blog will know that I recommend the Panasonic GH2 at this price point for video - but if you shoot more JPEG stills than video - or if you already own EOS lenses, Canon makes great cameras for the money.  In time for the holidays, the T3i is now $599 with the 18-55mm kit lens at Amazon new  - and even less than that refurbished.

Canon T4i vs Panasonic GH2 shootout in progress

I rented the new Canon T4i with the 40mm STM (STepper Motor) pancake today for a side-by-side comparison with an unhacked Panasonic GH2.  I will shoot the comparison over the next few days, with the emphasis on the T4i's new video friendly features (autofocus in video mode, silent lenses, touch screen rack focus).  If there's anything else you'd like to see - please let me know in the comments section - I'll incorporate it in the shoot if I have time (it's a 3 day rental).

First impressions: After selling the T2i and shooting with the GH2 for a year and a half, I'd forgotten how big the mirror-box camera are.  Even with the pancake lens, the T4i seems heavy and bulky compared to the GH.  And I'd also forgotten how annoying it is not to have auto-switching between the viewfinder and the LCD - and to lose the viewfinder when I want to shoot video (grrr).

That said, I'd also forgotten how nice the Canon menus and interface are.  I haven't used the T4i's touchscreen for video yet, but I have used it to set the date and time - and it is a lot more responsive than the GH2's touchscreen.

This is going to be a great shootout!

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"New" Canon T4i - 2010's Features - Today

The new Canon T4i/650D was introduced today with several new features - to include a touchscreen, autofocus in video mode, new silent autofocus lenses, a built-in stereo mic and a new DIGIC 5 processor. Digital Camera World in the UK has the first hands-on preview:

 

As a former Canon T2i owner,  it is nice to see that Canon is making an effort to catch up  - and I look forward to seeing video images from the new DIGIC-5 processor, but it is hard to get too excited. I have had a touchscreen, video autofocus, a silent AF lens and a stereo mic on my relatively moire-free (and less expensive) Panasonic GH2 for a year and a half.

All that is left now for Canon is to do something about the 12 minute clip length limit and the viewfinder that goes black in video mode.

That said, this would be a great camera for digital filmmakers who have a significant investment in Canon glass. And the new high ISO modes made possible by DIGIC-5 look promising.  Hopefully, DIGIC-5 will push Panasonic towards higher ISO/better stock low light performance as they finalize the GH3.

Canon USA press release here.

Available for pre-order at Amazon and Adorama.

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