Canon EOS700D straddles the line

Taking the Canon EOS700D out of its box can be a little daunting. This is no compact point and shoot. Instead, this sturdy digital SLR with its detachable lens is aimed at the more serious photographer.

Not quite a professional camera, this new 18-megapixel model from Canon is aimed at the amateur photographer or consumer who wants a more sophisticated experience.

It is quite heavy, though comfortable to hold (with both hands, you may sprain your wrist trying to take shots one-handed).

It has a standard ISO range of 100 to 12800 which can be expanded to 25600, meaning low light conditions should not pose too big a challenge. A 63-zone metering sensor and video recording at 1080p full high definition round out the core specifications .

Our test model came equipped with Canon's 18-135mm zoom lens that offers a convenient range from wide to telephoto. Quick to focus and take a clear picture, the lens features optical stabilisation to produce sharper images at slower shutter speeds.

The 700D has a built-in pop up flash and a 3-inch LCD touch screen with live view that pops out and rotates to let you experiment with different angles, adjust the frame (or take great selfies).

The screen allows you to track faces, select focus points and change settings.

For most users the intelligent auto mode will be the only one you will need to use. But for the more experimental who want greater control over each picture, the dial mode has 11 other settings as well as a number of creative filters such as toy camera, fish-eye, grainy black and white and miniature effect.

As you begin to gain confidence, you can play around with the exposure and aperture settings and hone your photography skills to take fabulous pictures. The 700D is not for beginners, but it is simple enough to master.

thamid@thenational.ae

Race card

5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; 5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m

6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; 6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 2,200m

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (PA) 1,400m

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme

Priority access to new homes from participating developers
Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
Flexible payment plans from developers
Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates

Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021

Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”

While you're here

National Editorial: Why is a Muslim Brotherhood-linked app still on Apple and Google Play?

Damien McElroy: Europe's response to Islamist extremism is encouraging but not enough

Con Coughlin: How extremists are using Zoom and other tools to exploit this pandemic

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