Juha Saarinen looks at the piggy in the middle DSLR from Canon. Canon makes lovely gear – mostly – but the Japanese imaging giant has an annoying tendency to come up with confusing product lines. For instance, you may wish to buy an expensive full-frame DSLR for the benefits a bigger imager brings.

Excellent 18.7MP APS-C sensor; Image quality even at high ISO levels

Somewhat plasticky and insubstantial construction; Not great value in NZ

Initially, the Canon EOS 600D may seem nothing more than a slight upgrade from the EOS 550D, but the newcomer actually owes much to AP's Product of the Year 2011, the EOS 60D.

Canon's EOS 600D further blurs the line between a beginner and professional DSLR. Although it has a smaller frame and lacks a second control dial and screen, it still packs a lot of features.

Good image and video quality; handy 3in articulated screen; fast autofocus with viewfinder; can wirelessly control other flash units

Live View mode is slow to start up; Autofocus is noisy in video mode

I am quite happy with the Rebel T3i. There is nothing negative to say really regarding quality of photos, which is great. However if I had to be critical I would say the autofocus drains the battery quite quickly.

Photo quality

Battery Life

Canon's triple-digit EOS line has traditionally catered for those dipping their toes into DSLR photography, but as successive models have acquired more functionality, they've ventured further into enthusiast territory.

Overall strong image quality; Wireless flash capabilities; Articulated LCD; Full HD video recording; Plenty of features for beginners to grow

Meagre burst rate; Not built for those with large hands

Updates to Canon's popular range of consumer-level digital SLRs always make waves, and the new EOS 600D is no exception. Slotting in at the top end of Canon's entry-level line-up, it ‘makes capturing exciting, fun and creative images easier than ever', the company brags.

Excellent sensor and great high-ISO quality; articulating LCD screen is bright and detailed; some improvements over the EOS 550D

Some menu options hard to find; layout of controls could be better

Canon's new low to mid-range DSLR is essentially a 550D with a flip out screen but that's precisely why it's so good.

Overall the Canon EOS 600D scores above the average model; however, it's not without its flaws. Look past these, though, and you've got a great entry-level DSLR

Great for budget photographers and filmmakers, better Canon DSLR's available at higher prices

Flip-out Screen; Auto-Gain Control; Excellent Image and Video Quality

Lots of plastic(easily broken if dropped); Does not have a full-frame sensor

On my old camera, simply, a sony cyber-shot I wasn't getting very clear pictures but it was amazing on the Digital SLR camera how clear and crisp the pictures I got were. The camera was nice, a bit bulky and heavy but not to bad.