My T4i and image 10,000

It’s getting close to 1 year since I purchased my Canon T4i and you can’t say that I haven’t used it. I recently passed the 10,000th image. I thought that I would take some time to make a road test review of the camera and what it has gone through in the last 350 days.

Ventura Pier

So 350 days and 10,000 images averages out to 28 images a day. No I didn’t take the camera out each day but when the camera was out it was shooting. But I don’t want to get ahead of myself. Going over the hardware of the camera, well it has been back to Canon twice in the last year. The first time was back in March of 2013. I had noticed that there was dust inside the lens and in the viewfinder. Off to Canon it went. I got it back a week later, lens was good now but there was still a little dust in the viewfinder. I decided to let it go for the time being as I had planned on sending the unit back just before the warranty was up. So in September I did just that. The recall for the rubber grips had me looking at the body closely and seeing a slight color change in the grips which I noted on the service ticket. I also noted the dust on the focusing screen. Camera is back, again, and everything is great.

Mickeys Fun Wheel at Disneyland

So in the Rebel line of cameras Canon needs to step up the quality control a bit, but on the other side the service for warranty items is fast and easy. The speed of service may also be due to the fact that I live in the Los Angeles area and ground shipping gets the unit to Canon service in Irvine actually arrives overnight.

I learned what the camera could do and gathered information from the internet on how to better take photos and was impressed. The one thing that I wished the camera could do is more that 3 exposure bracketed shots. Searching around I found an application for android phones that will control the camera and lets me take as many as 19 bracketed exposures. Now that would be overkill for HDR, but 5 and 7 shots is often a desired bracketing. This app called DSLR Controller gives you a remote view screen and complete control over the functions of the T4i and many other cameras. It does require android 4.0 or greater to work and is cheap at $8 for what it can do.

When I first was ready to purchase the camera I waited after the initial release so that I could get the new 18-135mm IS STM kit lens. This would allow me to cover a greater zoom range that the 18-55mm that the original released kit lens. The 18-135mm covers a majority of shooting situations. This lens has image stabilization which you just can’t do without really. The new feature of this lens is the STM or stepper motor that is used for focusing the lens. This mechanism is virtually silent when focusing and does not create any vibration in the camera. The T4i was marketed as a great camera to record video as the sensor has specific technology to maintain focus during the shot and this lens does not translate any whining to the audio. I have not done much video with the camera but when I have it is nice to not have to use and external mic to keep from hearing the focus system in the video.

Along with an assortment of filters I was looking at getting a longer lens to extend how much I could zoom in. There are cheap 75-300mm lenses without image stabilization, but the farther you zoom in the more important IS is to the shot. I looked at off brand lenses and the Canon 70-300mm IS USM lens. The Canon lens was $649 just to much for me to buy at the time. I was patient and Canon offered the lens through their refurbished web site, more that that they had a 50% off sale. So I was able to purchase the lens for $250. A screaming deal and this was the exact lens that I wanted.

Jacks House and Image 10,000

The operation of the T4i is just smooth. I love that I can jump to any setting quickly by using the touch screen and just pressing the Q button. I showed another photographer with a 60D the touch screen and his jaw dropped at how flexible and easy it made getting the settings right. Hopefully this touch screen will migrate up the Canon line. There are a few things lacking in the camera, WiFi and an intervalometer. The DSLR controller app will work allow you to download jpeg’s to you phone to upload and it also works as an intervalometer making the app even more the tool to have.

So over the year, I have learned a lot, pushed and expanded the camera. Of course the T4i has been replaced with the minor upgrade T5i but these Rebel cameras can really perform. If you can afford a full frame camera body, buy it. If you are on a budget the Rebel series is a great way to get the right shot.