Digital Photographer - UK (2020-05)

Right

Classic SLR build

and layout

The 90D is every inch an

enthusiast-grade SLR, but

with more inches around

the waist than the Fujifilm

and Sony cameras

Right

Front-facing screen

As featured in a growing

number of Canon cameras, the

3.2-inch, 1.04 million-dot rear

touchscreen is fully articulated

and looks good from any angle

PRICE: £1,299 / $1,349

Canon EOS 90D + 18-55mm

It’s a sign of the times that this is the only SLR in the

group, but it works particularly well in mirrorless mode

The recently launched EOS 90D is very capable for stills capture,

being Canon’s best and most advanced APS-C format SLR to date.

It has a 32.5MP image sensor that’s much more hi-res than any

other camera in the group. Further attractions include an up-market

pentaprism optical viewfinder. That said, an optical viewfinder is of

no use whatsoever for vlogging, as the reflex mirror flips up, taking

it out of service during live view and video capture.

To compensate, the 90D has some major video-friendly

attractions elsewhere. It has a highly competent ‘dual pixel AF’

image sensor, which utilises phase-detection sites across most of

the image frame to deliver fast and accurate hybrid phase/contrast

autofocus. The system works particularly well with the 18-55mm

kit lens that, like those of the mirrorless cameras in the group,

employs a stepping motor autofocus drive. This delivers smooth

and virtually silent focus transitions when shooting video.

The rear LCD is a 3.2-inch touchscreen with 1.04 million

dots and full articulation. Swinging it around

the side to face the front, you can talk to the camera and use a

hotshoe-mounted microphone without it getting in the way. A

further bonus is that it has microphone and headphone sockets.

The 90D can capture 4K UHD video with no additional crop factor,

taking full advantage of wide-angle lenses. Canon is somewhat

notorious for lacking sensor-shift stabilisation in its cameras (so

far at least) but ‘Movie Digital IS’ is available for electronically

stabilising video capture, albeit with a slight crop factor.

1080p Full HD video is superb quality, although 4K capture tends

to have slightly less clarity, unless you dial in the optional crop

mode. But it’s our favourite SLR for vlogging and is great for stills.

Left

Top

Typical of up-market Canon

SLRs, the top plate includes

a secondary info LCD, as well

as direct-access buttons for

important shooting controls

Far left

Rear

The rear panel includes a

simple start/stop button for

video capture and a joystick

controller, as well as a multi-

way pad and rotary dial

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