Amazon Gold Box Deals (prices show up after adding the item to the list):

• Canon Rebel T4i/EOS 650D with Canon EF 18-135mm EF-S IS STM lens – $799 (click here)

• Canon EOS Rebel T4i/EOS 650D with Canon 18-55mm EF-S IS II

  - $649 (click here)

The Canon Direct Store has the brand new EF-S 18-135mm STM IS lens in stock and ready to ship for $549.99 (click here). As far as I know, this is the first shop having the 18-135mm STM IS in stock. Core specifications:

• Focal Length & Maximum Aperture: 18 – 135mm 1:3.5-5.6
• Lens Construction: 16 elements in 12 groups
• Diagonal Angle of View: 11° 30′ – 74° 20′
• Focus Adjustment: Inner focusing system
• Zoom System: Rotating Type
• Closest Focusing Distance: 1.3 ft./0.39m
• Filter Size: 67mm
• Max. Diameter x Length, Weight: 3.1 x 3.8 inch, 16.9 oz. / 76.6 x 96.0mm, 480g

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Amazon Japan has the Kiss X6i (Rebel T4i in America, EOS 650D in Europe) available for pre-order (click here to see all offered kits). The following options are available:

• X6i/T4i/650D & 18-135mm STM IS for ￥ 129,800 (click here)
• X6i/T4i/650D & EF-S 18-55mm IS II & EF-S 55-250mm for ¥ 129,800 (click here)
• X6i/T4i/650D & EF-S 18-55mm IS II for ￥ 99,800 (click here)
• X6i/T4i/650D body only for ￥ 89,800 (click here)

As far as I understand, they also have the EF 40mm STM pancake available for pre-order (￥ 20,530, click here), and the 18-135mm STM IS too (￥ 60,690, click here).

Update: the first preview already showed up at DPreview: preview (click here), summary (click here), sample images (click here). Another hands-on at engadget (click here). More previews and hands-on: Rob Galbraith (click here), ephotozine (click here), c|net Australia (click here). A comparison with theRebel T3i/EOS 600D at photozine (click here).
Update: Canon’s Rebel T4i/650D press release

Ok, we are ready. The Rebel T4i/EOS 650D (and the EF 40mm f/2.8 pancake) can be pre-ordered at Adorama and B&H and Amazon US (no pancake so far). See all the links below:

• Adorama: Rebel T4i/EOS 650D body only $849 (click here)
• Adorama: Rebel T4i/EOS 650D with 18-55 IS II $949 (click here)
• Adorama: Rebel T4i/EOS 650D with 18-135mm STM IS $1199 (click here)
• Adorama: EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens – $199, click here

• B&H: Rebel T4i/EOS 650D body only $849 (click here)
• B&H: Rebel T4i/EOS 650D with 18-55 IS II $949 (click here)
• B&H: Rebel T4i/EOS 650D with 18-135mm STM IS $1199 (click here)
• B&H: EF 40mm f/2.8 STM pancake lens $199, click here

• Amazon US: Rebel T4i/EOS 650D body only $849 (click here)
• Amazon US: Rebel T4i/EOS 650D with 18-55 IS II $949 (click here)
• Amazon US: Rebel T4i/EOS 650D with 18-135mm STM IS $1199 (click here)

Update: A first look video by whatdigitalcamera:

Specifications:

• STM Lens Support for Quiet AF in Movies
• 18.0MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
• DIGIC 5 Image Processor
• 3.0″ Vari-Angle Touch Screen LCD
• ISO 100-12800, Expandable to 25600
• Full HD Movie Mode with Continuous AF
• 5.0 FPS Continuous Shooting
• 9-Point All Cross-Type AF System
• Multi Shot Noise Reduction
• Compatible with Canon EF and EF-S Lenses

More information:

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Rebel T4i/650D with 18-135mm STM lens - image: www.canonpricewatch.com

Thanks to reader nini we can post the supposed specs of the EF 40mm f/2.8 pancake and the 18-135mm STM, both expected to be announced tomorrow, Friday 8th. The specifications have been published on Japanese site digicame-info (Google translated). If I got it right, they received the specs from an anonymous source. Here they are (this is machine-translated text, I made some corrections):

• EF-S18-135mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM [see image above]

- [...] new focus by (STM) stepping motor and six-group zoom
- Greatly improved performance [of] video AF
- AF achieve smooth video recording of a moving subject in combination with the EOS Kiss X6i[Rebel T4i/EOS 650D]
- Adopted a single sheet and high-precision aspherical lens 1 UD lens, achieving high image quality compared with conventional models
- The first with a dynamic IS valid when shooting motion
- Stage 4 minute camera shake correction in terms of shutter speed

• EF40mm F2.8 STM specs [see image below]
  - The thinnest and lightest lens in the EF line-up
  - [...] smooth and quiet AF drive [adopting a] (STM) stepping motor
  - 22.8mm Length
  - 130 grams in weight
  - [...] one glass mold aspherical lens
  - 7-blade circular aperture
  - noise reduction control is [achieved] adopt[ing a] micro-step drive to the diaphragm mechanism
  - Minimum focusing distance is 0.3m
  - full-time manual focus adjustment is possible to focus one-shot AF