Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Lens (Black) by Canon
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Digital camera reviews of Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Lens (Black)
Digital camera Review: Amazing camera
Summary: 5 Stars
After owning several P&S cameras and a film SLR, this camera is no comparison. Even with the limited knowledge I have of using a dslr I am able to get some great pictures and they just keep getting better.Digital camera Review: An Amazing Camera
Summary: 5 Stars
So yeah this was my First Digital SLR and I would have to say there is no better place to start. Anyone with a serious interest in photography will love this camera. It's a high quality camera for the price, and it comes from what I would say is the best company in the Business. I love all Canon's products, and this one is no different. A truly amazing Camera.Digital camera Review: An all around good camera
Summary: 4 Stars
The Canon Rebel XT (350D) is a great start for any up and coming photographer. It is truly a rebel, in that it is a prosumer camera that can take beautiful pictures and prints. Here are some pro's and con's from our experience:
Pro's
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1. It takes beautiful pictures, given the right lens and creativity.
2. It is affordable, especially in the aftermarket.
3. It can take EF-S and EF lenses. (Canon 5D and on do not take EF-S lenses.)
4. Light weight, good for travel.
5. Battery grip allows increased power and better grip for vertical/horizontal shots.
6. Fast start up time.
7. Seven AF points
8. E-TTL II compatibility
Con's
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1. Low light noise at ISO 400 and higher.
2. Relatively minor con: not weather sealed. If you want to take pictures in tough weather, make sure you buy cover.
3. If you change lenses a lot, buy a blower to be able to clean dust.
4. Limited ISO range, only up to 1600
5. Small viewfinder
Tips
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* You have a crop factor of 1.6. So if you have a 10mm lens, you effectively have a 16mm lens.
* Use a different flash to be more creative like bouncing the light off the walls or ceiling. You can't do that with the on-camera flash.
* Battery grip is a definite buy, more power and better ergonomics.
Conclusion
The biggest issue with the 350D is the noise level in ISO 400 and more. But if you shoot in good light or have a good flash, the 350D is the ultimate bang for the buck camera. Its sensor size is also about the same as Canon's 400D, 10D, 20D, and 30D. If you are looking for a camera more expensive than the 350D, invest in the 40D, 5D, or something higher.
Digital camera Review: An entry level digital SLR that doesn't take entry level pictures!
Summary: 5 Stars
Perhaps the best quality of this camera is the image quality. Simply put, it is fantastic. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the quality of pictures taken with this camera equals that of the MUCH more expensive 20D. Image quality is also superior to the Nikon D70, both in terms of noise level and resolution (8MP vs 6.1MP). So while this camera may not have the metal body, substantial feel, and features of the above two cameras, it either equals or exceeds these two cameras in terms of image quality. And is image quality not perhaps the most important quality of a camera? I should also note that the Rebel XT is cheaper than EITHER of these cameras.
Of course, this camera is not without some hitches. One is, of course, the lens. Many others have complained about this. Admittedly, it is not too bad in many situations. And perhaps I have not found all of its faults. But it has one SEVERE shortcoming I have painfully noticed - no numbers on the focusing ring. This is quite a problem if you like night photography. In such a situation, it is VERY hard to focus using the viewfinder. And an estimation of distance generally results in a better focus. Numbers would also make landscapes easier to focus on, as you often just go to infinity.
Speaking of night photography, another annoyance I have found is a few errant bright pixels in dark areas. This is a particular problem with high ISO and/or long exposure times. And the noise reduction does little to nothing to deal with this. However, I do not know that another digital camera would do better in this area. These sorts of artifacts could very well represent a shortcoming of digital technology (vs film) which has not yet been overcome.
Another issue is size. This camera is quite small. But this can be a good or bad thing. On one hand, it can make the camera more difficult to hold. But on the other hand, it makes it light and easy to carry with you. I guess it all boils down to what you are comfortable with.
The bottom line: despite any shortcomings, a GREAT choice for your first digital SLR. It's inexpensive. And it takes pictures that WON'T leave you wishing you had spent more.
Digital camera Review: Another stunning winner from the bright minds at Canon
Summary: 5 Stars
I spent three hours yesterday playing with the brand-new Canon Digital Rebel XT digital SLR camera, and man, was I impressed.
I hadn't been too impressed with the original Digital Rebel, except for its revolutionarily low price (for a d-SLR), because it was slow and felt slimsy. The new DR XT is quite different. Even though it's 3 ounces lighter than the original DR -- mostly due to the use of a smaller battery; see below -- its smaller form factor actually makes it feel more solid and "real". In other word, unlike the original DR, this one feels professional, not toy-like at all.
By now you probably already know Canon makes some of the best digital cameras in the world. Even though I'm a Nikon shooter when it comes to d-SLR (sorry, loyal Canon shooters!), I own a couple Canon compact digital cameras and love them, too. The DR XT's image quality is once again excellent. I took a few indoor shots with the camera, both with and without flash, and then the store clerk let me download them to their PC. The JPEG pictures (I didn't try RAW) looked excellent on the Sony LCD screen, on par with the more expensive EOS 20D d-SLR. Color tones were accurate and the resolution was really good. The improvement picture quality over the original DR ("DR Classic"? BTW it's now $200 cheaper) comes from both the 2 extra megapixels and the better color accuracy. BTW, the DR XT reportedly uses a tecchnically different CMOS sensor than the original DR, although I haven't been able to find out exactly how this one is better in technical terms than the old one (other than the two extra megapixels). No matter, my limited true-world testing showed the image quality is indeed better than the already-excellent image quality of the original DR. And, as in the past, Canon does a wonderful job at keeping noise low -- I considered noise acceptable up until ISO 800.
The kit, which I recommend, comes with the same flimsy 3x EF-S lens (which won't work on regular film SLRs) as the original DR. You should most definitely get a better lens, although the kit lens works well as a "street zoom." I didn't get a chance to test the lens outdoors as the store wouldn't let me take it outside, but I have no doubt that this new model can only be better than the original DR, which was already very good even before you considered its low price.
The DR XT is fast: at last, you can turn it on and start shooting without waiting several seconds like you had to with the original DR. The only downside compared to the original DR is the smaller, lighter battery in the DR XT also means shorter battery life. I highly recommend you get an extra battery or two. You won't be able to go through a full day of shooting on just one battery, even if you don't use flash much. (But all pros and pro-wannabes use fill-in flash, don't we?) I also recommend a good camera bag; I personally like Tamrac for that. In addition to the spare battery (batteries), bag and a better lens or two, also consider getting a tripod (Sunpak ones are cheap but ok quality), an external flash as well as filters -- esp. a high-qual circular polarizing filter.
In summary, the Canon Digital Rebel XT is another stunning winner from Canon. It features faster speeds (start-up and shot-to-shot), excellent image quality, and terrific look-and-feel. Despite my personal preference for Nikon pro-level gear, I can recommend this Canon d-SLR to my friends without reservation.
Feel free to e-mail me at gadgester @t hotmail with your questions and commends.