There has been some interesting commentary about the 650D, and some of the technology in it:
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canon-eos-650d-rebel-t4i/
http://www.techradar.com/news/photography-video-capture/cameras/has-canon-revealed-its-mirrorless-technology-1083891
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2012/06/is-the-canon-650d-a-future-mirrorless-camera-hiding-in-plain-sight/
The two most interesting elements of the 650D are probably the touch screen, and the sensor which includes phase-detect focus capability. These are two key elements expected to be included in a mirrorless system. Aside from an EVF, these are possibly the main technologies Canon needs to get working correctly to make a mirrorless system which is usable.
There has been a bit of debate about the relevance of a touch-screen - especially from typical SLR users, who are used to eye-level shooting. Smartphone upgraders are however used to using a touch-screen.
If we are seeing the technologies that Canon plans to use in a mirrorless system, what is still unclear is whether it will be an EOS system (i.e. with an EF lens mount) - which would seem to lose out on size by still having to maintain the same distance from the lens mount to the focal plane - or a different lens mount - which would in effect mean an entirely new system.
There has also been the patent for a lens adapter, which appeared to be an adapter to connect an EF lens to a mirrorless camera. That has been taken to indicate that Canon is planning to launch a mirrorless system with a shorter flange-distance.
Canon seems to have downplayed a little the fact that the 650D has a new sensor - there hasn't been any mention about whether there has been any change to the existing 18MP sensor, apart from the addition of phase-detect AF capability. There is the native ISO12800, however. Does that mean we will see a difference in high-ISO performance?
If Canon is testing its mirrorless technology in the 650D, then it would appear that the only bit still under wraps is an EVF.
There is no doubt we will see a lot more speculation over the next few months!
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canon-eos-650d-rebel-t4i/
http://www.techradar.com/news/photography-video-capture/cameras/has-canon-revealed-its-mirrorless-technology-1083891
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2012/06/is-the-canon-650d-a-future-mirrorless-camera-hiding-in-plain-sight/
The two most interesting elements of the 650D are probably the touch screen, and the sensor which includes phase-detect focus capability. These are two key elements expected to be included in a mirrorless system. Aside from an EVF, these are possibly the main technologies Canon needs to get working correctly to make a mirrorless system which is usable.
There has been a bit of debate about the relevance of a touch-screen - especially from typical SLR users, who are used to eye-level shooting. Smartphone upgraders are however used to using a touch-screen.
If we are seeing the technologies that Canon plans to use in a mirrorless system, what is still unclear is whether it will be an EOS system (i.e. with an EF lens mount) - which would seem to lose out on size by still having to maintain the same distance from the lens mount to the focal plane - or a different lens mount - which would in effect mean an entirely new system.
There has also been the patent for a lens adapter, which appeared to be an adapter to connect an EF lens to a mirrorless camera. That has been taken to indicate that Canon is planning to launch a mirrorless system with a shorter flange-distance.
Canon seems to have downplayed a little the fact that the 650D has a new sensor - there hasn't been any mention about whether there has been any change to the existing 18MP sensor, apart from the addition of phase-detect AF capability. There is the native ISO12800, however. Does that mean we will see a difference in high-ISO performance?
If Canon is testing its mirrorless technology in the 650D, then it would appear that the only bit still under wraps is an EVF.
There is no doubt we will see a lot more speculation over the next few months!