Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT 350D
The XT is the best camera on the market for anyone considering a digital SLR for the first time. It is a full-featured camera with amazing output. It is also extremely light and compact. The tradeoff of the lighter body is that it is made of plastic and consequently less sturdy compared to the magnesium alloy body of the 20d. The user interface is also more complicated and less intuitive than the dial and joystick controls on the 20D because you have to use the LCD a lot more. The image quality has been compared by several reviews and tests and is almost indistinguishable from the 20D. For hundreds of dollars less, user-interface, 0.2MP and plastic may be worth the savings. After holding the camera, I felt like it was a bit too small and designed for more feminine hands. At the same time, when I'm carrying a camera around my neck with a heavy lens, I sometimes wish I had a smaller lighter camera body. In the end though, I decided to go with the 20D because user interface is critical to me and I liked the more solid feel of the 20D. Make sure you weigh what is more important to you when choosing between the two.
This was a tough $500 decision for me at the time. Was it worth it? I'm sure I could have taken many of the same shots as I have with my 20D, but I'm happy with my choice. That being said, I've recommended this camera to anyone and everyone who wants to get into digital SLR photography and doesn't want to spend over $1000 doing it.
Features
- High-performance digital SLR with 8.0 Megapixel CMOS Sensor and DiGiC II Image Processor
- Smallest and lightest EOS digital SLR to date
- Fast 3 frames-per-second shooting with 14 frame burst and 0.2 second startup time
- High-speed, wide-area 7-point Auto Focus with superimposed focusing points
- User-selectable metering patterns, Auto Focus modes, custom functions and flash exposure compensation
- Direct-Print support with PictBridge compatible printers
- USB 2.0 High-speed interface for quick downloads
- Compatible with EF and EF-S Lenses and most EOS system accessories including EX-series Speedlites and a dedicated battery grip
Camera Forum
Reviews
- Megapixel.net (Very Comprehensive)
- Photo.net
- Bob Atkins Photography
- DPReview (Very Thorough)
- Steve's Digicams
- The-Digital-Picture.com
- Ben Long
Photo Samples
Firmware Update
Where to Buy
Black w/ Kit Lens
Silver w/ Kit Lens
Black Body Only
Silver Body Only