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  • Design & Usability

  • Features

  • Conclusion

  • Related Video

  • Design & Usability
  • Features
  • Conclusion
  • Related Video

Canon's vertically integrated structure means that the company uses a lot of the same tech in its cameras year after year, while the rest of the camera world moves on to better, faster, sharper new stuff. That's why the new Canon EOS Rebel T6i (MSRP $749.00) is such an exciting model. It brings some modern imaging technology into the Rebel lineup at a price that will make an easy recommendation for existing Rebel owners.

Design & Usability

Simple, but more than enough

While we weren't as impressed with this camera as we were with its sister, the T6s, there's little doubt in our minds that the T6i is meant for less experienced shooters. While you get many of the technological benefits of the T6s, it's in a package that's closer in spirit to the T3i and T5 than to the 70D.

The single, well-placed mode dial is perhaps the first giveaway that the T6i has been designed with newbies in mind. The whole camera is a bit bigger in every dimension than even the previous "large" Rebel T5i.

We were impressed with the way the T6i felt. Thanks to its bigger grip and solid-feeling case, it handily outclasses previous Rebels by quite a bit. Between the mode dial and the shutter button are three handy shortcut controls—one for ISO, one for display options, and the other for metering.

A pivotal feature in the T6i is the vari-angle touchscreen.

A pivotal feature that makes the jump into the new T6i is the vari-angle touchscreen. This panel—a 3-inch display with nicely implemented touch controls—is super easy to use. It especially comes in handy when shooting video, since it can let you grab footage from just about any angle, just like a camcorder.

On the back of the camera, you'll find a layout that is very reminiscent of a T5 or T3i, with four shortcut buttons that double as your directional pad for navigating menus. If you want more advanced controls, however, you'll have to spring for the more expensive T6s. We were impressed with its top LCD and improved rear controls.

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Features

Plenty to love with few omissions

Canon was quick to point out that this is one of the first Rebels to feature both NFC and WiFi built-in. That means fast photo sharing straight out of camera, and even access to mobile-bound editing apps like VSCO Cam.

Built around a new 24-megapixel sensor, the T6i should give you very decent still performance, especially when compared with its cheaper, older 12-megapixel siblings. The only area where we think Canon fell short was with video. Unlike competing DSLRs in this class from Nikon, the Rebel T6i can only shoot 1080/30p video, meaning it's not an ideal update for people looking to shoot high quality HD video.

Credit: Reviewed.com / Brendan Nystedt

The biggest complaint we can lodge against the T6i is that its viewfinder is small and not very bright for the price.

Since it has a lot in common with the enthusiast-aimed Rebel T6s, the T6i leaves out a few features in order to further differentiate itself. Other than the completely different physical build, the T6i doesn't include servo for AF in live view, and it doesn't have an electronic level.

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Our biggest complaint that we logged when we wrote up the T6s applies here, too. The viewfinder that Canon has built into the T6i just doesn't seem like they tried very hard. It's very similar to other pentamirror units in other Rebels, but for the money it just seems dim and lackluster.

According to Canon's specs, the T6i's optical finder offers 95 percent coverage with 0.82x magnification. Contrast that with the similarly priced Pentax K-S2, which features a bright pentaprism (just like cameras in the film days) with 100 percent coverage and 0.95x magnification and, well, the T6i's little OVF just seems so dim and small.

The T6i's variangle screen makes video shooting a snap.
Credit: Reviewed.com / Brendan Nystedt

The T6i's variangle screen makes video shooting a snap.

Conclusion

A new hope for Rebels

Even though we're more bullish on the T6s, we still think that the Rebel T6i has a lot to offer. Whether you want a better quality camera from the get-go or are looking to replace an older Rebel like a T2i or T3, this is finally an option that will give you something to upgrade to.

The T6i represents a new melding of performance and usability for Canon.

While we have to say that it looks mostly competitive with the Nikon D5500, you will get a higher-density sensor that can shoot 1080/60p. We'll have to get both cameras into the lab in order to make a final call on how they stack up, but we're not sure that the Canon will come out unscathed. Moreover, a very aggressive Pentax K-S2 is ready to shake this segment up, with a fully weather-sealed body and great controls for a little less than either option.

But, one thing's for certain: The T6i represents a new melding of performance and usability for Canon. At the price, we see this easily beating out its older siblings to become an exciting new addition to the Rebel lineup.

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Meet the tester

Brendan Nystedt

Brendan Nystedt

Contributor

@bnystedt

Brendan is originally from California. Prior to writing for Reviewed.com, he graduated from UC Santa Cruz and did IT support and wrote for a technology blog in the mythical Silicon Valley. Brendan enjoys history, Marx Brothers films, Vietnamese food, cars, and laughing loudly.

See all of Brendan Nystedt's reviews

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