Canon’s New Cameras Boast Speedy AF Systems

Canon is bringing its Dual Pixel CMOS AF autofocusing technology to three new interchangeable lens cameras: the new mirrorless M6, the 77D and Rebel T7i.

Another feature that unites these models? None record 4K video. Let’s dive into them, shall we?

M6

Is Canon stepping up its mirrorless game? It sure looks that way. Fast on the heels of last year’s M5, the company is now adding the M6, a 24-megapixel APS-C mirrorless camera.

The M6 features Canon’s DIGIC 7 processor and Dual Pixel CMOS AF autofocusing technology. The camera can burst at up to 7 fps with continuous AF engaged or up to 9 fps with AF locked on the first frame. What the M6 can’t do is record 4K video. Filmmakers are relegated to full HD 60p recording.

Similar in spirit (though not in implementation) to technologies introduced by Olympus and Panasonic, Canon has introduced a combination five-axis image stabilizer to the M6. The combo IS uses optical image stabilization in the lens and digital stabilization in the camera to help correct for camera shake.

Additional features include:

• Built-in Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth (Bluetooth is used for remote control and automatic pairing, not image transfers)
• 3-inch tilting, touchscreen display (up 180 degrees and down 45 degrees)
• five custom function controls
• 49 AF points sensitive to -1 EV
• 1/4000 sec. max mechanical shutter speed
• built-in flash
• native ISO of 100-25,600
• 295 shot battery life, per CIPA

The new Canon EOS M6 ships in April 2017 for $800. It’s available for pre-order now. It will also be sold in a kit with the EF-M 15-45mm/F3.5-6.3 IS STM zoom lens for $900. Finally, you can buy it with the EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM lens for $1,280.

Canon is also offering an optional EVF for the camera (the EVF-DC2) with a resolution of 2.36 million dots. It will cost $200.

77D

The new 77D features a 24-megapixel APS-C-sized CMOS image sensor and DIGIC 7 processor. It’s capable of an ISO range of 100-25,600 and high-speed shooting up to 6 fps with focus fixed on the first frame. The camera incorporates Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF autofocusing technology and has 45 all cross-type points.

The camera offers an RGB+IR metering sensor that employs Color Detection AF to detect skin tones. According to Canon, when a skin tone is detected, AI Servo AF starts off on skin-colored AF points, then tracks the subject based of the original AF point’s color information, maintaining focus on the person as they move. There’s also an anti-flicker function to compensate for flickering light sources.

Additional features of the 77D include:

• electronic image stabilization in movie mode
• HDR and time-lapse movie modes
• built-in Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth
• full HD video recording
• 1/4000 sec. max mechanical shutter speed
• built-in flash
• 3-inch vari-angle touch screen display
• 820 shot battery life

The 77D ships in April for $900 for the body (pre-order); $1,049 with the new EF-S 18-55mm lens (pre-order) and $1,499 with the 18-135mm IS lens (pre-order).

Rebel T7i

The T7i brings several firsts to the Rebel series. It’s the first model with Dual Pixel CMOS AF and the the first Rebel with a 45-point, all cross-type AF system within the optical viewfinder. Beyond that, the Rebel T7i very closely mirrors the 77D’s feature set.

The T7i packs a 24-megapixel APS-C-sized image sensor with a DIGIC 7 processor and ISO range of 100-25,600. You can hit up to 6 fps in continuous mode with AF fixed on the first frame.

Additional features include:

• creative filters for stills and video
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC
• full HD video recording
• battery life of up to 820 shots
• 3-inch, vari-angle touchscreen display
• electronic image stabilization for movies
• new on-camera guide to represent how switching exposure modes changes an image

Look for the T7i in April. It has a body-only price of $750 (pre-order); with the new EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens for $900 (pre-order) and with the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens for $1,299.

EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens

The kit lens for the Rebel is also getting an update that shaves about 20 percent of the size off of its predecessor. The lens offers image stabilization good for up to four stops of correction and can be purchased for $250.