Our Canon EOS 350D/Digital Rebel XT Review Roundup includes reviews from across the Internet as well as user comments. Digital Rebel XT will not replace the original EOS Digital Rebel in Canon’s DSLR line-up but instead increases the selection, providing added prosumer features and enhanced user control in the sub-$1,000 (USD) price bracket. With an impressive 8.0 megapixel CMOS sensor and Digic II Processor, the Rebel XT emphasizes increased speed, added control and stronger performance in a reduced overall frame.
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[Full Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT Spec Sheet at Digital Camera Info]
[Official Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT Website]
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[Canon EOS 350D Sample Images]
[Canon EOS 350D Sample Images]
[Canon EOS 350D Sample Images]
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Digital SLR Guide – The most significant issue I had with the Canon EOS 350D is its size, which is ironic since this is also a selling point for the camera.
The EOS 350D is exceptionally compact, and Canon has eliminated some of the controls available on their other digital SLRs.
I found that this not only makes the camera hard to operate, but also a little difficult to hold.
[Canon Digital Rebel XT Review At Digital SLR Guide]
[Canon Digital Rebel XT Review At Outback Photo]
Outback Photo – The main criteria are probably size/weight and cost. Here you have to find out what you want to do. A camera that stays always home because you find it too big is not of great help. We will probably use the XT as our travel snapshot camera. This is not meant negative at all as we think you can create very good work using the Rebel or 350D/Rebel XT.
[Canon Digital Rebel XT Review At Outback Photo]
Lets Go Digital – The Canon EOS 350D overall quality is excellent. Especially the application of the DIGIC II processor gives the camera indeed a surplus-value. This processor is used by Canon on a broad range and it certainly pays off. The Canon 350D’s responses under various circumstances are incredibly impressive. Action, portrait, indoors and outdoors images, snapshots or precise macro images, the Canon EOS 350D is a versatile camera with easy access and captures all these images effortlessly.
[Canon Digital Rebel XT Review At Lets Go Digital]
Camera Labs – The 350D / Rebel XT delivers an almost unbeatable package of quality, speed, size and price. The most obvious selling point is of course its 8 megapixel resolution, and while the difference between this and its 6 megapixel rivals can be subtle, it’s certainly visible in real life results. Thankfully the smaller pixel pitch doesn’t compromise noise levels, and Canon’s DiG!C II processor ensures silky smooth results at standard ISO settings, while allowing the use of a smaller, lighter battery without affecting lifespan.
[Canon Digital Rebel XT Review At Camera Labs]
Creative Pro – If you’re shopping for an entry-level SLR, you may be tempted to save money by going with the original Rebel. I recommend you buy the XT instead. The performance improvements in the XT are definitely worth $100 and the hassle cause by a smaller camera body. Speedy startup, and the lack of lock-up during writing, means you’ll have a much smoother workflow when shooting.
[Canon Digital Rebel XT Review At Creative Pro]
DP Review – I was surprised to see settings such as ISO, metering, AF mode and white balance moved from the status LCD to the LCD monitor (which means you have to be able to see it to make changes) and with the requirement of an extra press of the SET button to make changes stick. Lets hope a firmware update can take care of that. We were also disappointed with the ‘new’ Kit lens, it effectively cripples the potential of the 350D with softness and ghosting at small apertures, do yourself a favour and go for the body only option along with a good lens (the EF-S 17-85 mm IS is good but expensive).
[DPReview Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT Review]
Luminous Landscape – This is a sweet little camera that could well be the best DSLR camera value on the market today (March, 2005). Newcomers will find the price to be right and the camera to be feature rich. Experienced photographers will be frustrated by some of the interface problems, but none of these are really show-stoppers.
Now, if Canon would just hire a few photographers to take prototype cameras for a walk around the block before committing to some of the more egregious design bloopers that it insists on foisting on us, then they really might become the 800 pound gorilla in the digital camera market that they clearly aspire to be.
[Luminous Landscape Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT Review]
PC Magazine – The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT is a superbly crafted camera that will please nearly anyone with any interest in photography—from those who want to set their camera on auto to those who want to experiment. And by keeping the price under $1,000, Canon ensures the continued popularity of its Digital Rebel line. This camera provides a truly excellent value, and we wholeheartedly recommend it.
[PC Magazine Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT Review]
DC Resource – Overall I give the Rebel XT the thumbs up — it’s a great choice for those ready to move up to a digital SLR. Just be sure to buy a decent lens for it! Trying to decide between the XT and the 20D? Image quality is comparable so I’d look at the chart at the beginning of the review to see if the 20D’s “step up” features are worth your money. For those looking at other entry-level D-SLRs, I’d say the Rebel XT easily beats the Nikon D70 (though that camera feels a lot better in your hands) and the Olympus E-300 (though it has many nice features like that famous dust remover). I haven’t tried the Pentax *ist DS (since they won’t send one to me), so I can’t say how that camera does against the Rebel XT. Any digital SLR is going to be a great choice and a step-up from a fixed-lens camera, so my advice is to try them all and see which you prefer!
[DC Resource Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT Review]
Megapixel –
Positives
Excellent image quality.
Large image buffer.
Very good ergonomic design.
Very low sensitivity to noise.
Custom functions.
Solid construction.
Light-weight.
Negatives
No lens hood included in the kit.
No small infrared remote control to manage bulb mode.
Monitor a bit dim under daylight.
[Megapixel Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT Review]
Digital Camera Info – Initially unveiled at PMA 2005, roughly a year and a half after its predecessor, the Canon Digital Rebel XT appears to be a real winner. Offering strong image quality, rapid shooting and processing speeds, and the ability to apply a range of Canon and independent lenses in a compressed package, the XT should have a wide appeal. Canon seems to have corrected the majority of the flaws apparent in the Original EOS Digital Rebel, with the only remaining question concerning the feel of the body. As with the original Digital Rebel, the XT is again formed out of an extremely lightweight polycarbonate, retaining the same consumer-grade frailty that forced some to denounce it as amateur. Although meager to some, the compact frame will unquestionably be an asset to other users, as the 17.1 oz. Rebel XT, currently the lightest digital SLR on the market, offers the portability of a compact camera, with the performance and flexibility provided by a prosumer grade model.
[Digital Camera Info Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT Review]
The Digital Picture – Speaking very generally, the Canon EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT is to the Canon 20D what the Digital Rebel 300D is to the Canon 10D (fewer features, lower price). And generally speaking some more, the Canon EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT is to the Digital Rebel 300D what the Canon 20D is to the Canon 10D (a technology and feature upgrade). The 350D/Rebel XT is a healthy upgrade from and less feature-handicapped than the 300D.
[The Digital Picture Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT Review]
Steve’s Digicams – The first thing that strikes you about the Rebel XT is its diminutive (for an SLR) size. Weighing in at just 1 pound 11.5 ounces including battery, EFS 18-55mm kit lens, CF memory card and strap, it surpasses the Pentax *istDS as the lightest dSLR currently available. Despite its small size, the XT possesses good ergonomic qualities; it is comfortable to hold and its controls are both logically organized and easy to operate. The only issue I had was with its Drive Mode button; I accidentally depressed it several times and wondered why the shutter didn’t actuate – it was in self-timer mode! The XT’s controls are nearly identical to those of the original Rebel, with the exception of the Drive Mode button, and the left/right buttons of the 4-way controller accessing menu options for metering and AF mode respectively (functions not present on the original Rebel).
[Steve's Digicams Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT Review]
Photo.net – Canon’s EOS Rebel XT has a nice review at Photo.net and here is a summary conclusion. “What I’m sure many people want to know most is how the image quality of the Digital Rebel XT compares to that of the EOS 20D. Well, I had a chance to shoot a couple of comparison shots at ISO 100 and a couple at ISO 1600. Both cameras were set to the same parameter set (set 2, all setting “normal”) and the same lens was used. Lighting was normal outdoor daylight.
My conclusion from looking at these few images is that image quality is very very close. In fact I really couldn’t see any significant difference in terms of sharpness or noise levels, even at 200% in PhotoShop. I’m not saying there’s no difference (yet). I haven’t done any scientific testing. What I’m saying is that if there is a difference, it was to small for me to see based on “normal” shots of a “normal” subject.
[Photo.net Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT Review]
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[Canon Digital Rebel XT User Reviews At Photography Review]
[Circuit City Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT User Comments]
[DP Review Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT User Comments]
[Amazon Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT User Comments]
[Epinions Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT User Comments]
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Canon upgrades world’s best selling digital SLR
Amstelveen, The Netherlands, 17 February, 2005 – Canon, a leader in photographic and imaging technology, today upgrades the EOS 300D with the 8.0 Megapixel, 3 frame per second EOS 350D Digital. The launch completes a refresh of the entire digital EOS line-up and confirms Canon’s commitment to digital SLR research and development.
“The EOS 300D kick started the digital SLR revolution, becoming the best selling model of all time, ” the EOS 350D Digital will now take over, playing a major role in Canon’s digital SLR strategy,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging Europe. “Canon predicts the D-SLR market will double in size by the end of 2006.”
The EOS 350D Digital features a newly developed, second generation, extremely low noise APS-C size 8.0 Megapixel CMOS sensor – the fourth new CMOS sensor from Canon in just twelve months. It is powered by the same DIGIC II image processor found in Canon’s professional series D-SLR cameras, and features 3 frame per second, 14 frame burst operation, USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface, simultaneous RAW and Large JPEG writing and 0.2 second start up time. The camera is more than 10% lighter and 25% smaller by volume than the EOS 300D. It is available in both black and silver finishes.
“The camera combines ease of use with many of the same compelling technologies found in Canon’s professional series EOS cameras, chosen by more than 70% of pro photographers at the 2004 Athens Olympics, ” observed Jensen. “For the first time, every camera in the EOS digital range now incorporates a Canon original CMOS sensor and Canon DIGIC II processor.”
In terms of speed and resolution, Canon now has the leading performance camera in every D-SLR segment; all launched since January last year:
EOS-1Ds Mark II – 16.7 Megapixel full frame 35mm sensor, 4 fps
EOS-1D Mark II – 8.2 Megapixel APS-H size sensor, 8.5 fps
EOS 20D – 8.2 Megapixel APS-C size sensor, 5.0 fps
EOS 350D Digital – 8.0 Megapixel APS-C size sensor, 3.0 fps.
Target user
With plain language menus, intuitive controls and default settings chosen to reflect general every-day use, the EOS 350D Digital is designed to appeal to digital still compact users looking to expand their creativity, and film SLR users who have been waiting for 8.0 Megapixel performance at this price point. It will be available as body only and in kit form with the new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II lens.
Improvements over the EOS 300D
The new CMOS sensor and high performance DIGIC II performance lead a number of improvements to the EOS 300D. Other advances include E-TTL II distance-linked flash metering for easy, consistent and precise flash exposures. Users can now select between three focus modes: One-Shot AF, AI SERVO and AI Focus. Writing to memory card is 3.5 times faster and the interface is upgraded to USB 2.0 Hi-Speed for fast image downloads. Mirror lock-up and 2nd curtain flash have also been added.
The camera now features the same Monochrome mode found on the EOS 20D, allowing users to shoot in black & white with a range of filter effects. White Balance correction of both blue/amber and magenta/green bias is available to 9 levels and WB bracketing is extended to include the magenta/green bias direction. Digital Photo Professional RAW image processing software – the same professional workflow software supplied with Canon’s
Low noise sensor and precision optics
The CMOS sensor features redesigned pixel sites, with improved capacity to isolate any residual charge remaining after the pixel site is reset. This is then subtracted from the exposure to suppress any random pattern noise. Improvements in image quality are particularly noticeable with long shutter exposures and high ISO settings, and result in more even rendering of uniform surfaces, such as blue skies. The low noise of the second generation CMOS sensor delivers clean images from ISO 100 through to ISO 1600.
The APS-C size sensor gives the camera a 1.6x magnification compared to 35mm cameras. The camera’s EF-S lens mount works seamlessly with all of the more than 60 Canon EF lenses – the world’s largest interchangeable lens system. It is also compatible with the four EF–S lenses developed for Canon’s APS-C format digital SLRs (the EOS 20D and EOS 300D) including the new
EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens.
Faster processing for better results
Underpinning the camera’s performance is Canon’s high-speed DIGIC II (Digital Image Core) processor, as found in Canon’s professional series EOS-1D Mark II and EOS-1Ds Mark II. DIGIC II is Canon’s second generation image processor, purpose built to handle the complex algorithms required for maximum image quality; optimally processing functions such as white balance and colour rendition. By integrating key functions onto a single processor, DIGIC II delivers superb quality images without trading camera responsiveness. “Digital image quality is dependent on three factors: lens quality, sensor performance and image processing capability,” said Jensen. “Canon is a developer, designer and manufacturer of the key components in each of the three critical technology areas: lens, CMOS sensor and image processor. It is the leadership position in each of these core technology areas that gives the EOS 350D Digital its edge.”
Better focusing
Focus can now be selected between One Shot AF (for single shot focusing), AI SERVO AF (for predictive tracking of subjects approaching at up to 50kph up to 10m away ) and AI Focus AF (switches automatically between One Shot AF and AI SERVO AF when subject movement is detected). This improves on the EOS 300D by providing direct selection of the three focusing modes. For more flexible focusing, AF point selection is now possible with the cross keys as well as from the main dial. Full time manual override is available with all EF Auto Focus lenses, while a new Precision Matte screen gives a brighter viewfinder image for easier, more accurate manual focusing.
Improved flash
The pop-up flash has a guide number of 13 and sits even higher (95.5mm) above the optical axis than on the EOS 300D, helping suppress red eye effect and reducing the possibility of lens barrel shadow. Angle of coverage extends to support wide lenses to 17mm. Flash compensation of ±2 stops in 1/3- or 1/2- stop increments is available with both the built-in flash and with all EX-series Speedlite flash units.
Print and review
Lab-quality prints can be produced without the need for a computer by directly connecting the EOS 350D Digital to any PictBridge compatible photo printer via the supplied USB cable. The new USB 2.0 Hi-Speed connection improves computer upload times, and is also compatible with USB 1.1 and Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) for driverless transfers.
The 1.8″ LCD is used to select and review photographs to be printed and set print variables. During image playback, it is possible to jump forward or back by date, by single image, or by groups of 10 or 100 images. Review display modes have been extended, making it possible to review an image without overlaying any information.
High-end exposure control
The EOS 350D Digital retains the accurate 35 zone TTL metering of the EOS 300D. The three metering modes (evaluative, partial, and centre weighted average) are now manually selectable and both exposure compensation and exposure bracketing are available in 1/2 stop increments as well as the 1/3 stop increments of the EOS 300D. The EOS 350D Digital retains the popular Programmed Image Control modes of the EOS 300D, such as Night Portrait, Sports, Close-up, Landscape, Portrait and Flash OFF.
Shooting adaptability
Shutter speeds extend from 30 sec to 1/4000 sec, plus bulb and high-speed x-sync at 1/200s. The memory card slot supports 2GB and higher CompactFlash Type I and II cards. Optional wired or infra red wireless remote control is available. Seven preset White Balance settings (such as cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent, etc.) plus custom White Balance and ±3 stop White Balance Bracketing (WB-BKT) ensure that image colours match the photographer’s recollection of the scene.
Comprehensive accessories, software and online access
The EOS 350D Digital comes complete with NB-2LH battery pack, charger, USB cable, video cable, wide embroidered anti-slip neck strap. A new optional Battery Grip BG-E3 gives the camera a solid and balanced pro feel, particularly when the camera is fitted with longer lenses, and includes a shutter release and main dial for vertical/portrait shooting. It comes complete with one magazine that takes 6 AA batteries and another that takes two NB-2LH Li-Ion rechargeable batteries.
Purchase of the EOS 350D Digital entitles photographers to membership of the CANON iMAGE GATEWAY with a 100 MB online photo album for image uploads. As well as Digital Photo Professional RAW image workflow software, ZoomBrowser EX 5.1 (Windows) and ImageBrowser 5.1 (Mac) are included for handling image file transfers between camera and computer, managing and printing files, and preview and conversion of RAW images. PhotoStitch is included for seamless merging of panorama shots. Arcsoft PhotoStudio software allows artistic and creative manipulation of images.
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I just bought a 350D Canon Camera, and I find it very vesatile to me as a new user to a Digital SLR Camera.
Is there any chace that your group could help me maximize the feature of Canon 350D camera by giving me some tips and tricks to operate the said camera.
thanks