First few hours with Canon EOS 650D

Canon's latest DSLR, the EOD 650D, has some firsts to its name. For instance, this 18 megapixel camera is the first to have an intuitive vari-angle capacitive touchscreen which can be used to focus as well as click pictures.

Overall, the 650D looks like other EOS cameras, but it is not that similar.

To accommodate the 3-inch vari-angle LCD, which needs space to fold and swivel, all buttons on the left of the LCD have been shifted to the right. This makes it easier to operate than the left-right combination.

The menu and info buttons are now on the left of the viewfinder while the ISO button is towards the front of the dial. One of the best things about the camera is the fact that the LCD can be folded back with the screen facing the camera thus protecting it.

The camera features a new 9-point all cross-type AF supported by a Hybrid CMOS AF system. So the auto-focus is really fast when you are framing shots using the view finder.

The touchscreen is also handy while changing settings as you are framing a shot.

The camera has almost everything you would expect from a Canon DSLR. Plus, there is full HD video recording aided by the LCD screen for live shooting.

Read full review in the next issue of Gadgets & Gizmos