Canon's newest addition will sit at the "top of Canon's entry-level EOS line-up, above the EOS 550D and the new EOS 1100D," also announced today.

The 600D uses the same 18-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor as the professional EOS 7D as well as the DIGIC 4 processing engine. It offers an expanded ISO range of 100 to 12,800, can shoot images at 3.7fps and has a nine-point auto-focus system.

Also borrowing from the more-advanced 7D camera, the 600D uses the same iFCL Metering system, which has a 63-zone Dual-layer metering sensor "helping you to ensure your shot is correctly exposed, even in difficult lighting conditions," claims Canon.

The 600D also comes with a three-inch, vari-angle ClearView LCD screen with a resolution of 1.04 million dots.

As for filming capabilities, Canon continues to bring Full HD features to its entry-level models with the 600D offering resolution of up to 1080p at a variety of frame rates - 29.97, 25 and 23.976 at full resolution, and 59.94 at 720p. It also has a HDMI mini-output and an external microphone jack.

However, for the first time in Canon's range of DSLRs, the 600D features a new Movie Digital Zoom function, which, claims Canon, crops the centre of the sensor from 3x to 10x while still maintaining Full HD quality.

The 600D will retail from April at £679/€819 body-only, or £769/€929 with the new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II lens, also announced this week.

While the 600D will be sold alongside its predecessor, the 550D, the camera will replace the 500D that has now been discontinued, BJP understands. Similarly, the newly-announced EOS 1100D will replace the 1000D Canon launched in 2009.

The 1100D has a 12-megapixel sensor, a sensibility range of ISO100 to ISO6400 and 720p high-definition video capture capabilities. The camera has been designed for 25-to-35-year-old women, who, says Canon, are buying "more and more entry-level DSLRs," according to a report by Amateur Photographer.

The EOS 1100D will retail from £419/€499 and will be available in April.

Visit www.canon.co.uk.