Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification
The Canon EOS 1300D is an update to the Canon EOS 1200D and adds built-in Wi-Fi and NFC as well as a number of new scene modes and effects while maintaining a low entry level price of £299 with kit lens, or £329 with kit lens with IS.
Canon EOS 1300D Features
The Canon EOS 1300D (known as the Canon EOS Rebel T6 in the US) uses the same 18 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor as the Canon EOS 1200D but has been upgraded to include a number of new features, with the most noticeable being the built-in Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity which makes the camera much more appealing for entry level and younger shooters.
The screen is improved with a higher resolution 3inch screen, with 920K dots, which is improved over the 460K dots on the 1200D. Continuous shooting speed remains the same at 3fps and the ISO range is the same at ISO100 to ISO12800 (extended). The camera records FullHD video and features 9 AF points.
Updates over the Canon EOS 1200D:
- Wi-Fi and NFC built-in
- 3inch 920K dot screen
- DIGIC 4+ processor
- Food scene mode
- Grainy black and white effect
The Canon EOS 1300D has access to all of Canon's EF and EF-S lenses, and when combined with one of the prime lenses, it becomes a quite compact Digital SLR and for those that want the smallest possible Digital SLR system, then there are a number of pancake and compact prime lenses available, such as the 24mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens, 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens, and 50mm f/1.8 STM prime lens.
If you're wondering how the Canon EOS 1300D compares to the previous entry level Digital SLRs from Canon, then we've compared the main differences between the previous versions below:
Canon EOS 1100D | Canon EOS 1200D | Canon EOS 1300D | Canon EOS 100D |
12mp | 18mp | 18mp | 18mp |
2.7inch, 230K | 3inch screen, 460K | 3inch screen, 920K | 3inch touch-screen, 1040K |
0.80x OVF | 0.80x OVF | 0.80x OVF | 0.87x OVF |
DIGIC 4 | DIGIC 4 | DIGIC 4+ | DIGIC 5 |
720p Video | 1080p FullHD Video | 1080p FullHD Video | 1080p FullHD Video |
ISO100 to ISO6400 | ISO100 to ISO12800 | ISO100 to ISO12800 | ISO100 to ISO25600 |
N/A | N/A | Wi-Fi / NFC built-in | N/A |
3.2fps JPEG, 2fps raw | 3fps continuous shooting | 3fps continuous shooting | 4fps continuous shooting |
9 AF points | 9 AF points | 9 AF points | 9 AF points |
700 shots | 500 shots | 500 shots | 380 shots |
495g inc battery and card | 480g inc battery and card | 485g inc battery and card | 370g inc battery and card |
£220 with kit lens * | £259 with kit lens | £329 with kit lens | £329 with kit lens |
* If still available.
The Canon EOS 1300D is available body only, or with the 18-55 kit lens, or 18-55mm IS kit lens and we'd recommend the 18-55mm IS kit lens for those likely to want to shoot in lower light conditions, or for those that want to record hand-held video, as the Image Stabilisation (IS) will help under these shooting conditions.
The camera has full manual controls, as well as scene intelligent auto mode and a number of creative effects, including a grainy black and white effect, as well as a new food scene mode. Wi-Fi and NFC are built in, which will make it quick and easy to connect to compatible smartphones. You can connection to Android smartphones using NFC if they support it and this makes it very easy to connect and transfer photos, as well as remotely control the camera.
Key Features
- 18 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
- Canon EF lens mount
- DIGIC 4+ image processor
- 3inch screen, 920k dot resolution
- 0.80x magnification, optical viewfinder
- Wi-Fi and NFC built-in
- FullHD 1080p video recording
- ISO100-ISO6400, expands to ISO12800
- 3fps continuous shooting
- 9 AF points
Canon EOS 1300D Handling
Unlike the 1100D, the Canon EOS 1300D doesn't feel like a budget Digital SLR. It features a solid plastic body and ample rubber grip surrounding the grip and rear thumb grip of the camera. This means it feels similar in value to an older EOS camera like the EOS 600D, although without the side access to the memory card slot. The memory card slot can be found under the camera, in the battery compartment.
The layout of controls on the camera will be familiar to anyone who's used an entry to mid-level Digital SLR from Canon, such as the 1200D or 750D cameras. The buttons are clearly labelled and a good size, with easy access to a number of useful settings, including ISO, AF, WB and Drive mode on the 4-way controller. With good controls and rubber grip, the 1300D feels good in your hand, with a relatively compact camera body.
There are 9 focus points and these are quite central, which means you'll need to master focusing and re-composing if you want your subject off-centre. The optical viewfinder is clear and shows the focus points so that you know where the camera has focused.
Menus – The menus on the 1300D are well designed and easy to use with each main section colour coded and the screen is clear and easy to read. There's a Q button to give quick access to controls on the rear screen so that you don't have to go into the menus.
Using Canon's Camera Connect app, which is available for Android and iOS devices, you can view and transfer images on the camera, shoot remotely as well as change camera settings. Setting up the connection is particularly easy if you have an Android smartphone with built-in NFC.
Battery life - Battery life is rated at 500 shots according to Canon / CIPA test results, which is reasonably good for a Canon Digital SLR, although other Digital SLRs sometimes offer longer battery life, with the Nikon D3300 and Sony Alpha A58 both offering up to 700 shots.
Canon EOS 1300D Performance
The performance section is where we look at the image quality performance of the camera. Additional sample photos and product shots are available in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own review, photos and product ratings.
Speed - We took a number of shots to test the camera's responsiveness, from switch on to first photo, shot to shot, focusing speed etc. We take a number of shots and then use the average to ensure accurate and consistent tests, making it easy to compare with other cameras.
Shutter Response | 0.1secs |
Wide - Focus / Shutter Response | 0.25secs |
Full zoom - Focus / Shutter Response | 0.2secs |
Switch on Time to Taking a Photo | 0.4secs |
Shot to Shot without Flash | 0.45secs |
Shot to Shot with Flash | 0.55secs |
Continuous Shooting - JPEG (shots before slow down) |
3fps (1110 shots according to Canon) |
Continuous Shooting - Flash | 2fps |
Continuous Shooting - RAW | 3fps (6 shots) |
Focus and shot to shot times were both good, although the 3fps continuous shooting is looking a little dated, with competitors offering faster continuous shooting speeds. Tested with the EF-S 17-85mm lens.
Canon EOS 1300D (Rebel T6) Sample Photos
Sample Photos - The camera produces images with good colour and exposure. The portrait photo taken with flash shows no signs of red-eye. For better portraits you're likely to want a brighter lens than the standard kit lens for softer, blurred backgrounds (with "Bokeh"), and lenses like the 50mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.8 STM (£92), would make an excellent second lens. Dynamic range is reasonably good, although there is only the auto-lighting optimisation option to expand dynamic range recorded in JPEG images and to recover further highlight and shadow detail, you will need to process the raw files.
Canon EOS 1300D (Rebel T6) Lens test images
Lens Performance - We tested the Canon EOS 1300D with the 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM lens and the lens has a closest focus distance of 35cm, which is slightly better than some kit lenses. However, for better macro photos, a dedicated macro lens would be recommended. The lens does suffer from chromatic aberration. This lens gives the equivalent of 27-136mm in 35mm terms and is softer at the wide-angle end of the lens. The lens has image stabilisation (IS) and it is said to give up to 3 stops compensation and it makes a good general lens, with a better than standard zoom range compared to the normal kit lenses. However, it isn't very bright compared to some. Peripheral illumination correction is available in camera, based on whether there is data on the attached lens, but the camera doesn't offer as much correction as models higher up in the EOS range.
Canon EOS 1300D (Rebel T6) ISO test images
ISO Noise Performance - Noise is well controlled up to and including ISO1600 and detail remains fairly good. At ISO3200 noise becomes more noticeable and colour saturation drops which means results are a little disappointing as other APS-C and Micro Four Thirds cameras can deliver better results at ISO3200. Things get worse at ISO6400 and above with higher noise and random white dots in images. The 18 megapixel Canon APS-C sensor is really beginning to show its age here in comparison to other DSLRs with different sensors.
Canon EOS 1300D (Rebel T6) White-balance test images
White Balance Performance - The camera has two options for auto white balance (AWB) one that retains ambient lighting conditions, and one that has a white priority. This option is designed to work under tungsten lighting, but also works with mixed lighting, and fluorescent lighting, so that you can choose what results you want, for example choosing warm results for portraits or white results for product shots. Thanks to this, it's possible to get very good results, even in mixed lighting.
Canon EOS 1300D (Rebel T6) Digital filters
Digital Filters - In playback there are options for Photobook Set-up and Creative Filters. You can also use Creative Auto to apply a number of different effects, with the camera guiding you through the settings.
Video - Video quality is good recording FullHD at 1080p at 30, 25 or 24fps. You can also select from ISO100 to ISO6400 for movie shooting. The camera records mono sound, and there isn't a microphone socket on the camera. Video recording benefits from the use of a lens with image stabilisation, or alternatively a tripod or steady surface is recommended.
Value For Money
The Canon EOS 1300D is available for £349 with a kit lens with image stabilisation (IS), which makes it excellent value for money considering it has built-in Wi-Fi. Alternatives to consider include the following entry-level DSLR cameras:
Canon EOS 100D, 18mp, 3inch screen, 4fps, Mic socket, £359 with kit lens
Nikon D3300, 24mp, 3inch screen, 5fps, Mic socket, £279 with VR kit lens
Sony Alpha A58, 24mp, 2.7inch tilting screen, EVF, 5fps, in camera IS, £319 with kit lens
Pentax K-S2, 20mp, Wi-Fi, NFC, 3inch vari-angle screen, weather resistant, 5.7fps, in camera IS, Mic socket, £479 with kit lens
You could also look at the following mirrorless cameras with an electronic viewfinder (EVF), although these tend to have a higher price:
Panasonic Lumix G7, 16mp, 3inch vari-angle touch-screen, Wi-Fi, 8fps, £499 with lens
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II, 16mp, 3inch tilting touch-screen, Wi-Fi, 8.5fps, £549 with lens
Fujifilm X-T10, 16mp, 3inch tilting screen, Wi-Fi, 8fps, £549 with lens
Sony Alpha A6000, 24mp, 3inch tilting screen, Wi-Fi, 11fps, £480 with lens
Have a look at more DSLRs in our Top 10 Best APS-C DSLR Cameras 2015. You'll also need to buy a memory card and a case or bag to keep your camera safe and protected - have a look at our complete guide to camera bags.
Canon EOS 1300D Verdict
Few DSLR cameras feature built-in Wi-Fi, particularly entry-level DSLRs, and this makes the price of the Canon EOS 1300D all the more impressive. The built-in Wi-Fi is easy to use with a compatible smartphone and the built-in NFC makes it all the more accessible for those with a compatible Android phone. However, if you can live without Wi-Fi, then the Canon EOS 100D, while still available, offers a more compact body with slightly better build quality, as well as a touch-screen, quicker continuous shooting, and a better ISO range.
While the Canon EOS 1300D doesn't offer the fastest continuous shooting or the highest resolution sensor, it offers solid image quality, improved white balance options and good colour reproduction. With the entry level price and built-in Wi-Fi, the Canon EOS 1300D would make an excellent first Digital SLR.
Those looking to purchase an entry-level interchangeable lens camera are likely to be put off a mirrorless camera with built-in EVF due to the additional cost involved, when compared to an entry level Digital SLR, such as the 1300D. The Canon EOS 1300D is introduced at an extremely competitive price point and with Wi-Fi and NFC built-in offers the "must-have" feature of 2016.
Canon EOS 1300D Review - Verdict: The Canon EOS 1300D offers built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, while being extremely competitively priced.