What an amazing small compact SLR camera! I originally purchased the 20D but I found it a bit too big for my taste. The Digital Rebel XT is small and compact and perfect for my wife and I. Although small, the battery can easily shoot 230 shots in a single charge (20% using flash).

I highly recommend this camera it's perfect for amateur photographers. This is an excellent upgrade from my previous Canon G2. If you are new to photography I would recommend the G6 before this camera. But the best nest step would be this one.

Also, with the $700 dollars that I saved getting this instead of the 20D, I purchased a new Canon 17-85mm EF-S lens. What an AMZING lens!

Hope that this help!

I bought this camera as soon as it was available on Amazon, and have had it for about a month now. The experience has been fantastic. The pictures are nothing less than stunning. Colors are great, resolution is amazing, and the software package is very complete and easy to use.

Probably the best features are the number of modes that are available, and the ease of use. It can be set to a full program mode, and used as a point and click snapshot camera by anyone at all, or put into full manual mode for the more experienced.

I do have a couple of suggestions. Order this body without the Canon lens. I upgraded to a Sigma 28-300 mm Macro Zoom for about the cost of the original lens, and now have one lens for virtually any situation.

Also, get top notch compact flash card. I bought high speed, 1 GB Lexar 80x flash because I really wanted the ability to take high speed repetative pictures. I was not disappointed. You can either take one picture after another about as fast as you can hit the sutter, or put the camera into repeat-shot mode and hold the shutter button down. This is a great feature.

Also order a spare battery or two. It takes a lot of pictures on a single charge, but seems to go from a full battery indication down to dead real fast, so there's not a lot of warning that you need to charge up.

All in all, a very outstanding bit of technology.

I'm stationed overseas so most companies won't let me buy cool electronics like the Digital Rebel XT so I went out on the Japanese economy. This is my first digital SLR. I've struggled trying to capture great shots of my daughters playing soccer, basketball, running track..etc., with the "enthusiast" zoom cameras. The Kiss Digital N is made in Japan and has a few minor differences from the U.S. model. The kit zoom 18-55 lens for instance is USM. I bought it as a kit with another Canon lens as well, a 55-200 EF. It's light, cheap, and good enough as I'll get to in a minute. In the end it was between the Pentax istDS or the Digital Rebel XT. After completing all of my research on-line it came down to Canon picture quality, and technology. Am I happy? So far this camera is light years ahead of any digital that I've owned. It's fast, the pictures are sharp if you understand the limitations of the lens you are using, and it's easy. My wife can use it just fine and she doesn't have a digital clue. For the enthusiast, there is plenty of stuff to play with. The 8 megapixel CMOS sensor produces amazing results. The soccer pics tell the story for me. The 55-200 EF produced some incredible shots. It's USM and focuses fast and sharp. It's not an "L" lens but I don't even know what that means! This camera will sell like crazy. Eventually I plan on buying a 35mm EF prime F2.0 lens, the wireless remote, the battery grip, and Canon Flash. Highly recommended.

Fabulous camera - incredibly fast and accurate. Pictures are really awe inspiring. Very good software interface as well. Highly recommended.

The circle is now complete: I started with film SLRs about 35 years ago, used them professionally in my job, but for personal use, I had gone to point and shoot film and recently point and shoot digital. I have not been happy with the sharpness of the point and shoot cameras so I thought it might be time to try the digital SLRs for sharpness and higher resolution.

I ordered the silver body Rebel XT camera as I like it better than a faux pro black camera (this is afterall not a pro camera), and black cameras look dirty or dusty all the time. It came rapidly from Amazon.com. I have had mostly good pictures with this camera, but there are a few things I would add to the other posters.
Pro: compact, light, fast, good in outdoor daylight.
Cons: in incandescent light the AWB is only fair. The picture color is better if you set this manually in a manual mode rather than using the AUTO mode.
Sometimes the autofocus has a tough time figuring out where things are indoors, and sometimes there is severe hunting, with an occasional focus which is way off. You can fool this autofocus in situations where the subject is further back than foreground objects unless you set the focus point ahead of time, which is usually not what you think about on the spot.
ISO speeds in AUTO mode is 400, and cannot be set higher. You can set this to 1600 with very little noise in the non-auto modes.
Kit lens is a bit soft in my example, despite good reviews. I got in a Tamron lens (28-75) which seems sharper, but some say this lens has a yellowish cast, which I have not seen yet. One other thing pointed out by the professionals: you have to wait till the buffer has saved the picts to the CF card or they will be lost. So long as the little red led has stopped flashing you are OK.

Overall I am happy with this camera. I wish it were a bit more user friendly and intuitive, and there was more control over the ISO and AWB in auto modes. You can't expect the kit lens to be very good considering the price it is, but I would rather have a better prime lense than a cheap zoom which you have to replace anyway. Next time round I will just get a body and forget about the kit lens. For those looking to step up from a point and shoot film camera or a lessor digital, this is the right direction. I do wonder if I should have got the 20D instead, but for the difference in price, I got my Tamron lens and I am happy I did it this way. Good luck and happy picture taking to you all...

Edit 4/10/2005: before doing my 24-75 zoom Tamron lens rebate, I wanted to be absolutely sure there were no front focus issues with this lens in this camera. Some have said the Tamron lens might have a front focus issue, and I spent a lot of time yesterday and today specifically looking for front focus problems, and found none. I took dozens of pictures indoors and out, with flash and without, and found no consistent problem worth sending the lens or camera back for. As I said above the focus is sometimes off indoors, probably due to low light, but much more often than not it is good. Outdoors today I shot some sharp pictures which focussed spot on, and I am pleased with the Tamron len's performance in my Rebel XT.

I bought from amazon after being let down by Dell. It arrived next day and on the weekend i gave it a good workout at a local airshow. I took just under 1000 photos and was amazed by how well the shots came out in sport mode. Very quick focus and spot on.
excellent camera and well built , not small as some people have noted, works for me...

Got this camera after considering between this and the 20D. Was very impressed with the 20D, but the price difference could easily give me a very good lense, and the feature differences are minor, so Rebel XT it is. I am a photography enthuiast who wishes he had the budget for a canon 1D MarkII but instead have the budget of a mortal and have to pay for a personal camera out of his own pocket.
I have been reading some other reviews on this site and other sites regarding digital SLR cameras in general. I had to admit, most of the reviewers really are better served with a point and shoot. This is a SLR camera, it will take great pictures in automatic modes, but if you use your camera in those modes, get something like the Canon Pro1. This camera is to be used in Av, Tv or Manual modes, maybe in Program in a pinch. It requires you to understand WB, depth of fields, exposure metering as well as other wide array of nuances that come with a SLR camera. If you don't want to spend some time to learn some details about photography, you will be better served with a point and shoot. If you decide to use the attached flash for in door portrait shots, you're probably better served with a point and shoot. If you need to frame your shot on the LCD, you're better served with a point and shoot (becasue the whole SLR concept of through the lense view of the scene, DOF checking, focus accuracy is completely lost by that opinion). Yes the sensor on dSLR's will get dirty and require maintenance. Some one mentioned why don't engineer design the sensor to have the opposite charge to rebel dust. Well, dusts don't have one single polarity in their charges, so 50% of the dust will be attracted to the sensor doesn't matter what polarity the sensor is charged with.
Also, this is not a Canon 1Ds either, so it does have its limitations, but then again, people who will feel completely limited by this camera should have gotten a Canon 1D series camera anyway.
The best merit for this camera is foremost image quality. It's extremely low in image noise all the way up to ISO 800. ISO 1600 is completely usable if you stay below 8x10 enlargement and don't mind photoshopping your image a little. Again, if you don't ever want to bother with photoshop adjustment of you pictures, you probably will be better served with a point and shoot. The kit lense is of decent quality again for the price, but you're definitely short changing yourself if that's the only lense you decide for have for this camera. If you want to buy the kit and had no intention to buy another lense, you shoud seriously be considering Canon Pro1, it's got a L glass and a good match between the lense and the body. Buying this camera will be at most 50% of your investment if you truly want to make it worthwhile, the other 50% will be needed for buying good lenses (get the Canon 17-40mm USM L lense, the 70-200 4L zoom, and the 28-135mm as a walk-around, the Tamron 28-74 is an excellent medium range lense as well and is probably a superior substitue for the Canon 28-135 USM).
I would have to say lack of spot metering does give the Nikon D70 an advantage, but this camera does have a center metering mode with exposure lock, so it is not really a show-stopper. Compared to the D70, the Rebel XT has superior noise level performance. This is from my personal experience as well as photos from a wide variety of sites on the net. Low noise level is very important to me, so if this is on your priority list, you really can't go wrong with the Rebel XT at this price point.
What I want to emphasize here is seriously consider your needs before buying this camera, to make this camera truly worth the money you spent, you need to spend a bit more of your money and a lot of more of your time on learning how to properly handle a piece of equipment like this. Otherwise, you guessed it, Canon Pro1 is a very very good candidate.

This camera makes photography more fun. All the positive things that have been said are true so I'll spend my time with some ideas for those who are on the "fence" or who are not sure if a DSLR is for them.

If you are new to DSLRs and/or photography, this camera (and any dslr) takes more knowledge than a standard p&s camera. The biggest complaint I hear is it is not as sharp as my old P&S and the pictures are softer. DSLRs do not apply as much in camera sharpening so your images may not be as sharp straight from the camera (you can change that in the camera).

Best results will always come if you do some post image processing (pp). If you do not like PP, this is a negative, however, you can set the in-camera options to apply pp to your liking. It is just better controlled in pp software.

Knowledge of photographic concepts such as Depth of Field(dof) and exposure control are needed. People sometimes complain about the cameras soft images when in actuality it is user error due to the concept mistakes above.

Plan to spend more money on lenses!!! The 18-55 is very good for the money ($80-$100 market) but is nowhere near the quality of other options that you have. Plan to spend more on at least 1-2 quality lenses for best results. There is really, really a noticeable difference.

A few reasons I rated this camera 4 instead of 5: 1)The eyepiece view is a little smaller than other DSLRs. This makes composing a little more challenging, espec. for manual focus. 2) the viewfinder is too dim and gets washed out in the sun.

In the end, image quality is king and the images from the 350D arethe kings crown.

This is my 2nd D-SLR, after the Pentax *ist D. I switched because more lenses are made for Canon, the lenses are easier to find, and Canon also has USM focusing available. I've had the camera for a little over a month, and don't regret buying it at all. It IS small, and light. The 20D looks better on paper and feels more solid, but it's also larger and heavier-about half a pound more than the Rebel XT. After using the Rebel XT for a few days the size didn't seem like a disadvantage anymore. It isn't weather-sealed, but neither is the 20D.

Like others have noted, the LCD is hard to read in direct sunlight. Here is where we see the advantage of having most information (ISO level, etc) in the small grey LCD--it's readable in all lighting conditions, whereas the color LCD washes out in bright sunlight.

The camera also rattles a little, due to the hinges on the pop-up flash. It doesn't sound broken or worrisome, but you are definitely aware that this isn't a professional-grade, durable camera.

The XT doesn't feel as durable and substantial as the Pentax *ist D, or the Nikon D70, or some of the offerings from Minolta and Olympus. But at the same time, it doesn't feel cheap to me. Frequently the heft and density of cameras gives the illusion of quality. The Rebel XT, though it feels superficially a little flimsy, is much more of a camera than any point-and-shoot superzoom made by Sony, Canon, or anyone else. SLRs give you much faster focus, much better low-light performance, and the advantage of interchangeable lenses.

That being said, you may be disappointed if you expect to get the Rebel XT and only the kit lens. The kit lens isn't a good indoors or low-light lens. If you absolutely don't want to spend any more money past the initial investment, stay away from SLRs. You'll still get some advantages, granted, such as the faster focus, but overall it might be a disappointing experience for you. I like the XT's kit lens, but it has its limitations. There is no one do-it-all-well perfect lens. If you shoot under good lighting conditions from f8-f11 you'll get good pictures with the kit lens and have nothing to worry about. In a dimly lit room you'll need either a faster lens or something with image stabilization, like the Canon 17-85mm.

Overall, this is a great camera, and the kit lens is a perfectly serviceable beginning lens, which is also small and light enough for travel. I would prefer a more solid build, but I opted for the lighter weight and smaller size of the XT over the better build and durability of the 20D. Both take about equivalent pictures, though there are some specs that are different, like more frames per second and ISO 3200 capability on the 20D. Ultimately SLRS are more about lenses than the camera, and really all photography is more about the photographer than the equipment. The XT, with the right lenses, is as capable as anything else on the market. Unless you need ISO 3200, or 5 frames per second, or a heavier, sturdier build, I see little reason to opt for the 20D. Put the $500 difference into lenses instead, and you won't regret it.

- Excellent quality of photographs straight out of the box
- Very fast in all departments
- Intuitive (easy) menu system
- Quiet operation

I also experienced very good battery life (with preview turned off, which in my opinion for fast shooting should be off anyways)

As a side note: no matter how big/small your hands may be: get the vertical grip (BG-E3). It's extremely well built, gives the whole set up nice heft without feeling too heavy. It also gives you a choice of power (rechargables - one or two, or AA batteries).

Overall, I don't see anything else in this price range that's even remotely close to what the Rebel XT represents; in built quality and the actual photographic output.

I love the size and potiential of this camera. The fact that I could use my old lens was what caused me to only look at Canon Cameras.

PROBLEM: White Balance was way off. When I took pictures, the blues did not come through. For example, I took one picture of a fortress in Corfu, Greece that had a background of a blue sky with a few white clouds with the new Canon XT and my wife's $300 5mp Sony. The Sony showed blue skies and white clouds and the Canon showed all grey skies. No distinction between the clouds and the sky. I shoot this in the automatic (green square) mode.

I worked with the professional photogragher on our cruise ship and he agreed there was a problem. I returned the camera and obtained a refund. I was disappointed. One final comment: I am not a professional photographer so this could be pilot error!

1. Complete control over every aspect of the picture-taking process. You can pretty much override and alter any of the "default" settings with ease. One complaint: there should be a mode in which you set the aperture & shutter speed and the camera picks the optimal ISO; perhaps there is one -- I haven't found it yet.

2. The menu system scared me at first, but after about an hour of playing with it, it becomes remarkably intuitive. A little practice is all that's needed.

3. According to the gurus, 8 Mpix is enough resolution to easily beat out even the slowest film in terms of detail. It's not that digital has better resolution, it's that the "noise" is much lower. I'm used to medium format work, and I have no qualms about the switch.

4. Camera is small and light. I don't know what other people are talking about; I have big fat hands and have no problem manipulating all the controls, taking steady pictures, etc. Perhaps they are just used to larger cameras? In any case, there's no reason to be afraid of this guy because of the size.

5. Autofocus sometimes has to "hunt" a little in low-light conditions, and its possible to confuse the system. However, I can't cross-compare: this is the first system I've used with autofocus!

The"Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only - Black)"it is new in box,never opened.I have 4 like and the price for 1 it is 750$

I bought a Digital Rebel XT last april 2005 after taking a lot of information on this camera on internet websites and with retail stores. I chose up this Canon product for two major reasons, first Nikon D70 was not available at that time and second Digital Rebel XT + lense EF-S17-85mm IS USM seemed to be better and affordable choice. But 2 months and 24 days of use later, I feel very disappointed. When I tried to take pictures of my daughter receiving honors at her "gala meritas", the fill-in flash with loud clickety-clack noises refused stubbornly to pop up. It was impossible to take any pictures with flash even after the camera was shut off and reopened again. Each time an error message was appearing up in the viewfinder, blocking completely the use of the camera. And this is not the end of this sad story because Montreal Canon customer service is very slow to handle up my request of service, at least 4 weeks. And don't try to ask questions to a Canon technician. Only the retailer is able to get a few information and answer you to wait because you don't buy at least a $5000 camera to have the right to get faster service. Really, really frustrating buying experience...

i love photography and for a long time, i've been watching from the sidelines of the digital world using point and shoot cameras. when it came time to purchase a digital slr, however, it came down to either the 20d or the 350d by canon or nikon's d70. all three were entry level professional cameras, but i ended up going with the 350d--the digital rebel xt.

i have not been disappointed with this camera. it does everything from landscapes to macro to portraits. i think a lot of the people giving it lower rankings haven't taken full advantage of the camera's abilities yet or tried out new lenses; they complain about how it fits their hands without trying a battery pack, or they complain about the range (i.e. zoom) when they're using a 18-55mm lens! they need to realize that this is not a point and shoot, this is a camera that requires either previous knowledge or the ability to learn hands on. if you want to do skyline photography, you should not expect the default kit lens to do a decent job; rather, you should buy a wide angeled or telephoto lens.

in other words, it's a great camera and that's why i'm writing this review. i was seeing too many negative reviews from people who don't seem to totally get what a digital slr is and how much it requires; new lenses, new abilities, and a lot of time.

The Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Lens (Black) it is brand new in box,never opened.I have 3 Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Lens (Black)at the price of 800$ each.Thanks

The Canon Digital Rebel XT is a great camera. I have been able to use all my Canon EF lenses, which was the main reason I purchased this jewel. The shots are absolutely stunning. It takes great shots in auto mode, but has the ability to let your creativity fly with manual and other program modes. If you have legacy EF lenses and you want to maximize that investment, this camera is definitely the way to shoot digitally.

We were using a Digital Rebel 6.3MP and an old Sony 5.0 MP 7X optical when the Sony got wet and began working intermittently. Time to replace the Sony and move up a notch! Having been well-impressed with the Rebel 6.3 and the two lenses we'd added (EF 55-200 4.5-5.6 USM and the superb EF 700-200 2.8 with Canon's 2X extender bought used), we decided to jump on the Digital Rebel XT with the 18-55 lens.

It arrived Thursday, and we sent it back Monday. Here's why. It was too small. Smaller is usually better, but the XT started to feel and look like a toy camera, or at least a point-and-shoot. My wife and I both have smallish hands, and the XT was bordering on being too small to be ergonomic for us. With the 70-200 lens attached, the Rebel XT disappeared.

The second why is features. This is not a knock on the XT, which is a fine (excellent, really) camera with significant improvements over the original Digital Rebel. When we sent the XT back, we got Canon's 20D. Aha! you say. The XT and the 20D are basically the same camera. Not completely, and here's Canon's language comparing the two:

"There are, of course, some very real differences between the EOS Digital Rebel XT digital camera and the more advanced EOS 20D. While the 20D SLR includes performance features such as faster continuous shooting speed (5 frames per second [fps] vs. 3 fps) with larger burst capability (23 frames vs. 14 frames) and custom function settings (18 vs. 9) that more than justify its heftier price tag, this new Rebel XT model was created for those dedicated SLR users who are migrating to digital for the first time and don't wish to give up the flexibility an SLR system offers."

After using the Digital Rebel and three lenses (plus extender) we evolved from point-and-shoot to serious amateurs, and now we're knocking on the door of "prosumer." The 20D puts us there. It also uses the same batteries as the Digital Rebel, which is a plus. Like the Digital Rebel, the 20D is the size of a traditional SLR and easier to handle than the XT, even if it weighs a bit more.

This is not a rip on the XT, but a word to the wise for folks like us who feel ready to move to the next level. We took some fine photos with the XT, which we aren't discarding just because we sent back the XT.

A final note: If you get the XT (and that is not a bad thing), get the body only and a lens other than the 18-55 that comes standard in the Digital Rebel and XT kits. Again, this is a fine lens with good, middle-of-the-road capability. But if you're getting serious, you need all the lens you can afford, or even a little more than you can afford. The Canon EF-S 17-85 4.5-5.6 gives a lot of range and versatility and would be great with an XT if you're trying for really good photos while keeping life simple and your camera-lens package light. Even better is the EF-S 10-22 3.5-4.5. But the prize of our collection is the EF 24-70 2.8. It provides superb performance. Yes, the cheapest of those is about the price of an XT body. You get what you pay for. We were lucky enough to have fallen into a little cash and put it into a 20D and a great lens (24-70), a really good lens (10-22), and a relatively compact versatile lens that performs well in good light (17-85).

If you're sitting on the fence as to your photographic future, I hope this helps.

I received my new Canon Digital Rebel XT 2 weeks ago. It has performed excellent for me. I have already printed off some images..stunning quality. This camera is easy to use and produces
wonderful results!

I've shot Canon cameras since the late '70s; literally 10's of thousands of frames of film. I've also shot as many frames through Nikon and Pentax cameras. So, naturally when I went to DSLR format I wanted something I was familiar with; something with credibility, too. I found that and a lot more in the Rebel XT 350D. A lot of camera in one small, very low-priced unit.

I would recommend this camera to anyone wanting to get into serious digital photography. This camera will do just about anything you would or could get from another $2K or so. So, why spend it on the body when you can on the lenses. That's what I did.

I would also recommend that you purchase the battery-grip as well. Not so much for the extra battery power -which is nice; especially on remote shootings - but for the balance and feel of the unit. It make a world of difference in the feel.

NOTE: The very low-cos, yet extensive array of settings and adjustments (many found on the higher-end DSLRs) make this one of the best buys in Digital photography.

ofieldstream

I bought this camera at B and H Photo on Wed, 7/6/05, so I've owned it for less than a week. This Canon 350D is a digital replacement for my N75. My family loves Nikon and during my search for a digital camera it was difficult passing over the Nikon D70, but only initially. The size, weight, and feel of the Rebel XT is comparable to my N75. I have small hands and found the D70/D50 and even other Canon SLRs to be too large and quite heavy. I am the sort of person who enjoys bringing my camera everywhere; toss it in a bag or backpack and go. The only real difference in weight now is very minimal, even with the battery pack.

I haven't read the manual yet. The controls are pretty intuitive and fun to play around with. Connection to my PC is pretty simple. I'm not too excited with the Zoom browser software. I'm going to kill it and remove it from my pc soon. It's just a silly interface and I really prefer the simplicity of XP's Explore browser which is sufficient.

This camera has a USB 2 connection which I don't have yet. I've taken about 200 photos the past 3 days in large format and upload time hasn't been an issue using my 1.0 USB ports. My USB 2.0 PC card will arrive soon and I am looking forward to seeing the difference in speed. I will update my review then.

I bought the body and lens kit. I thought I might be annoyed with the lens since I'm used to 28-80, but I find that it's an easy move to 18-55. As for a true critique in the quality of this particular lens, I am not qualified for I am an amateur photographer/hobbyist. (...) I hope my experience helps someone with their decision in the pursuit of purchasing a digital SLR regardless whether this is the choice or not.

i thought this product would be a great gift for my gf. i found one online with lense for $600. i ordered. whoops. every one of these cameras requires about $250 in accessories. the normal camera price comes with body and lense. no battery, no cables, no software, nothin. you have to buy the accesories, you have no choice. be careful out there and call to order stuff online. gf better like this gift...

This is a great camera but be aware of the prices in marketplace that seem too low. They are. These people are just trying to scam you. DO NOT wire them money.

Hi.. I bought the Black XT the first week it started selling at Amazon. I researched for several months on which D-SLR to buy, at first I read a lot about avoiding bulky and heavy d-SLRs. So I decided for the XT because it is a newer generation product, seemed small a very light. The camera performed well but mine had a defective flash mechanism, I also noticed a soft focus problem (this has been mentioned in several forums). So I returned to amazon - they gave me a refund after 30 days and I decided not to buy the same product again. IT IS JUST TOO SMALL FOR MY HANDS, I couldnt get a good firm grip on it. So I went to a store and tried the Nikon d70...PERFECT Ergonomic design, so I bought it.

Be careful, go to your local store and see if this camera feels good in your hands.. when buying a d-SLR, you will probably stick with the camera longer that a point-shoot camera, it is essential that you feel comfortable with it. I liked the d70 very much, also the quality of the Nikon kit lens is much more better than the canon kit lens, take that into consideration seriously, just do a search on google for the price of the Nikon 18-70mm lens v.s. the price for the Canon 18-55mm lens.

When moving into SLR camera, in future years, you will probably stick with your lenses and just upgrade the body, lens technology does not change as camera bodies do. Battery life is also better on the d70. The XT is still a great camera and a good buy. d70 has a better body finish. So go to you local camera store and take a couple of sample shots with the different D-SLRs available before buying online.

I've art directed my share of photo shoots in NYC and I'm also writing, designing and photographing my cookbook and this camera is perfect for me. Through my experience, I've seen some amazing photography but had never taken the photo. Now I can. It's the easiest camera to operate. I'm a total novice but the quality of the photography is phenomenal. I can't wait to see the photos when I know what I'm doing. For the curmudgeons that said it doesn't feel like a traditional camera, you're right. But that's a good thing. It's smaller, lighter, faster, sleeker and takes great pictures. I'm sure tradition cameras will copy the XT's design. You'll find that it's not too small. The XT is like a Mercedes and the Nikon is like a Cadillac. My favorite feature is how easily I was able to take pictures from my powerbook. The photos displayed on my screen almost immediately. Then I could change the aperture, ISO, and take another photo instantly. I don't even know what that stuff means but I was able to see the results and through trial and error take a decent photo. I had always seen photo grain in digital photography, even from high-end professional cameras, but my photos have almost no grain. It's really hard to believe. Digital photographs have always shown grain.

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.

This camera deserves this description very well. It is a rebel in terms of its price-value ratio.
Since nothing is perfect in this world, there's no point going on about what is missing in this camera. I found lots of things, including the 8.0 million pixel resolution, that made me happy from the very start. Picture write and read speed is fine, depending on the manufacturer of the card one uses. Focusing is done in a snap (and so far I haven't taken the camera outside from the dusk of my flat to see how it performs in better lighting). Even with the basic kit on, one can easily crop pictures taken at maximum resolution (RAW) to achieve a very good digital zoom (if you do not distinguish between the two types of zoom). Now, invest some money in people selling things for photographers:), and they'll let you have better lenses to take pictures from whatever distance your selected moose or stark naked woman on the beach feels comfortable with your presence.:))
The software that came with the camera, is easy to use.
All functions are easy to learn and remember. If not, some reading of the manual and additional material concerning medium-level basics of photography will help settle this dispute between what the camera offers and what you have chosen to learn so far. I don't agree that the camera seems too small. Or is it that some of those complaining about this aspect would still prefer to use the first makes of cellular phones? I doubt that. Smaller buttons is an overall tendency for all types of electronic equipment nowadays. Learn to live and deal with this.
No complaints whatsoever on my part.

Overall, very impressed with this camera. All my old lenses are compatible and picture quality is superb. My only complaint so far is that my old speedlight doesn't appear to be compatible. I am still experimenting with it, but so far i have had no luck. One of the things i have been most impressed with is the battery life of the camera. The sleep mode works very well and has no impact on the usability of the camera.

What an amazing camera! I am just now moving into amateur/hobbyist photography. My setup: Rebel XT, 1GB SanDisk CF, 28-135mm/3.5-5.6 IS Canon, and 50mm/1.8 Canon (fixed) for low-light indoors shots. After printing several vacation shots on my Canon PIXMA iP5000, I cannot tell a difference from 35mm film even after close scrutiny.

My choice was between Digital Rebel XT or Nikon D70. What sold me on the Canon was the lens selections, particularly the image stabilization feature. I concur with the other reviewers: the IS lenses are amazing. For example: outdoor night shot 1/5 sec at 100mm on ISO 400 and no tripod - NO BLUR. Don't ask me how this is possible, but it worked. I got some amazing nighttime photos of the city skyline in Nassau, Bahamas, long after the sun went down.

Things I liked:
- phenomenal picture quality, even in very low light
- aesthetics. yes, i'm vain...
- fast shutter response
- good built-in flash
- excellent lenses (esp. 28-135mm/3.5-5.6 IS!)
- nice menu shortcut buttons on rear panel
- ability to shoot RAW
- 1GB CF holds ~260 finest JPEG photos

Small complaints
- brightest LCD setting still dark in sunlight
- auto white balance gets it wrong once in a while
- white balance modes are just so-so in my experience

Unless you are an extremely discriminating photography professional, I cannot imagine you would be displeased with this camera. For the money, you'll probably not find a better camera.

Happy shooting,

With my camera of course. I am in the Navy as a photojournalist serving on board a ship. My job entails me to shoot a lot and I mean a lot of photos. I am actually using the 300D model of this particular SLR and have had nothing but fun shooting this camera. The shots that I have been able to produce have been nothing short of spectacular. The crisp vibrant colors and the many features on this camera have been amazing. I recommend this camera to anybody who wants to start out in the wonderful world of photography. I am looking forward to using this camera out in the civilian sector of my job. Oh by the way, if you are wondering which two presidents I have shot with this camera they were Presidents George H.W. Bush and President Bill Clinton while they came aboard to thank my many shipmates for our part in the humanitarian relief efforts that took place earlier this year to help the victims of the December 26th tsunamis.

I am not a professional photographer. I take the usual memoir-type photos, but in addition I am a flora/fauna enthusiast. This camera with the stock lens--off the shelf--is great for taking close-ups of flowers and insects. I had anticipated having to buy a more specialized macro lens (and I no doubt will, eventually) for this type of work but I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could take better than expected closeups with the supplied kit lens.

I also have aquariums and this camera is great for aqua-photography as well.

Performance: My last digital camera was a Nikon CoolPix. From necessity I got used to the lag-times involved in actually capturing images. With this Canon model, however, that's not an issue. When you click, you get your photo, and you can take one after another, without delay and with that satisfying "click" you get from an SLR. With the Nikon, I was never sure when I had even taken a picture.

This camera is outstanding. The only issue that may affect your decision is weight. If you're looking for a small, light-weight type of casual camera then go with something else. This camera is designed more for those who want the flexibility/options of the traditional SLR. It's got the heft of an "old-style" SLR, so if you want something less cumbersome this isn't the model for you.

I want this camera bad so I splurged and bought it. I thought I got an excellent deal but it turns out, I got had! The seller went under the name of cyber_flexo.com and they sold the camera for a mere $500. Too good to be true, I think so. Beware if the Amazon payments don't work. If it doesn't work and they ask you to pay by Western Union (or anything else), DON'T DO IT!!!! I've sent 3 emails after they got paid today on the 3rd of Aug but no replys. BEWARE of too-good-to-be-true prices on this (or any other) camera. (...). Also I can't find their name here so they obviously are under a different one (if they are still here). Please let me know if you spot them.

If I ever get the camera, I think it will be a fantastic one! I only rated it 3 stars because I honestly just don't know.

Beware of BRD Security Products, Inc.
They listed a XT for sale and then cancelled the transaction.

It appears that some of the sellers are using a bait-and-switch tactic by offering a low price and then canceling the order. I tried to order this camera ten times from different sellers, and the order was cancelled every time. I have written to Amazon numerous times regarding this, and have not received a response.

I upgraded from the original Digital Rebel two months ago and am happy I did so. The original digiRebel was a very good camera but the XT is a great one for serious amateur photographers.
The shutter is wonderful and the eight mp resolution is nice too,
but the best feature might be the Digic II processer.

While the 18 x 55 kit lens is shunned by photophiles, I found it to be okay, however I have recently upgraded to the EFS 17-85 IS USM.

I have tried to buy this camera 6 times now. Everytime a seller posts $400, $500 or $600 I jump in and place my order. And everytime the order gets cancelled with the reason varying from 'unable to process your credit card information' to 'item was not in our inventory'. Appears that some merchants are pulling off a scam by posting unbelievably low pricing. I have written to Amazon customer care and they came back apologising about the transaction and recommending that I try buying from the same seller at a later time!

I got so frustrated trying to buy this camera that I finally switched over to get a Nikon. And guess what, the same thing is going on over there as well.

I hope Amazon does something about such fradulent merchants.

I am sure its a great camera but I am having a bad experience trying to get my hands on it. Bottom line please dont get your hopes high when you see low prices. You are not going to get the item for that price so dont waste your time buying it and then waiting for a refund.

Just recently purchased this camera to replace my old Canon 35mm SLR which had been sitting in storage for a couple of years since I bought my first digital.

Already having Canon USM lenses I got the body only and am very impressed with the results so far. I can honestly say that the only photos that haven't come out the way I wanted them to were purely my fault.

Gave it 4 stars for 2 reasons.
1. I am used to changing the focus from Single to Servo using a dial. Since I change this setting a lot I do not really like having to push buttons to do this.
2. They have made this camera a lot smaller than the 'traditional' Canon SLR. Mostly in the width...I did prefer the larger body size personally.
3. Having to push buttons to change the focus point really does annoy your subjects for portrait shots. (It takes some time) I know I should have bought another camera with Eye focusing if this was an issue for me, but it is just what you get used to I suppose.

I have been dabbling in photography and astrophotography for a couple years now, and was looking for a good upgrade to my Coolpix 995. Boy, was I blown away by this camera! The XT is olidly constructed, has loads of manual features, and works well in the basic zones as well. I would have liked to have seen it bundled with a better lens, but that's just nitpicking -- the lens is a solid performer for its $100 street price. I highly, highly recommend this camera!!!

I've had my Digital Rebel XT for several months now, I've taken over ten thousand pictures with it, and it is without question the most versatile camera I've ever owned. It is also one of the easiest to use. With a simple turn of the dial, you can put it in point-and-shoot mode, specialized automatic modes for various situations, or any of the "artistic" modes, including fully manual.

You'll want to shoot using the higher-end modes, because you can save your pictures in RAW format, allowing you to fix errors afterwards that cannot be corrected in a jpg.

If you can afford it, get this camera body only, and skip the kit lens. Instead, fork over the $600 for the 17-85mm IS lens by Canon. The Image Stabilization is well worth it, and the lens is versatile enough that you don't have to change lenses at all for most shooting. Although I've not had any problems with dust, this is supposedly a weak spot for digital cameras, and not having to change lenses is a major plus. (In fact, the only other lens I use on this camera right now is a 600-1300mm zoom.) The camera's computer will automatically balance the lens IS feature in both automatic and "artistic" shooting.

I also got the Canon speedlight 580 with this camera, and the camera's computer also accurately balances with the flash, syncing at up to 1/200th, I think. Outstanding.

The only thing I wish this camera had that it doesn't was 1/8000th of a second. There have been some bright daylight shots in which I didn't have time to get the shot in, because 1/4000th wasn't enough, and the shot was gone before I could adjust everything to it. Shooting in RAW, however, I was able to correct most of it afterwards.

I did lose some pictures by snapping the shot right before turning the camera off. If you do that, you will lose the shot. (It only takes about a second to save a shot, so you just have to not turn it off instantly after the shot.)

All in all, I could not be happier with this camera. I've used it to shoot baseball and softball, both portraits and action, including action close-ups with a long zoom and both a tripod and monopod, several thousand wildlife shots, mostly with a long lens, several hundred outdoor scenery shots, and several thousand candids. It hasn't faltered once, and it has performed perfectly.

Although it is easy to use right out of the box, it is WELL worth reading the manual.

I recently ordered this camera from Amazon. The price is pretty good- $550, but the seller requested you to send the money through Western Union and he would pay 50% of the transaction fee. At beginning, I was a little hesitant to do it, but then the seller used the fake page < Amazon Payment Center > tried to make you believe that this transaction was approved by the Amazon.
However, after I sent the money to him, the seller disppeared and I still got no camera since then. I emailed Amazon and informed them this situation, but I was told that my money could never be got back because I sent the money throuhg Western Union, which is not approved by Amazon.
Hope you will never make the same mistake as I did! That was a pretty tough lesson!
Beware of this guy:
Jianu Mircea Marian
(aprovedseller1998@yahoo.com )
He is the seller that tried to trick the buyer with fake Amazon page !!

Overview:

Current equipment (recently purchased)

Canon Digital Rebel XT (EOS 350D)w/Lens Kit
Canon Digital Rebel XT "Starter Kit" w/Bag, extra battery, haze filter. Do NOT confuse this with the Digital Rebel (non-XT)starter kit, which is also for sale.
Canon 420 EX Flash
SanDisk CF Type II (1 GB)
Canon Semi-hard Case (EH-18L)
Canon Remote Controller (RC-1)

Experience:

Currently 34 years old, began taking pictures at age 10 with non-SLR type cameras. Previous cameras include Canon AE-1 Film SLR, Sony Mavica MVC-FD90, Sony Mavica MVC-CD250 and Sony Mavica MVC-CD400. I'd estimate that I've taken 10,000 pictures with film cameras over the years (non-SLR, AE-1, A-1 and F-1, the A-1 and F-1 being bodies owned by my father, who is a well regarded semi-professional photographer and former instructor at the local Community College on film photography)and an additional 10,000 pictures with various digital cameras.

This is my first Digital SLR purchase.

General Impressions;

My FIRST recommendation to anyone thinking of purchasing this camera would be to download the owners manual from Canon, it's available via the Canon Website in .pdf format.

Several hours of your time spent reviewing the actual manual should provide confidence that this camera can be used effectively by any level of photographer.

If you're a novice, disregard the "Manual" sections of the manual and concentrate your attention on the "Automatic" sections. This camera is literally so easy to use a child can take an excellent photograph. I let my 9 year old daughter (with me giving her 2 minutes of advice and observing her carefully to protect the camera as she used it) take 25 photographs in the "Full Auto" mode, using only the pop-up flash unit. Out of 25 photos, I would rate 2 excellent on composition and the other 23 very poor (as expected), but the QUALITY of the images was outstanding. Every image was crisp and vibrant. My daughter is a TOTAL novice, other than using a few of the "disposable" pre-loaded cameras at a birthday party, these are the first 25 photos she's ever attempted. The 2 of excellent composition (of her little sister who's 2, and was in full "go" mode moving around) I sent to my father (who hardly passes out compliments on my photographic skills at a whim)with his response being "great photos".

I've personally shot 300 frames with the camera in "Full Auto" mode, using no flash (even when one was needed), the pop-up flash unit and the 420 EX (approximately 100 frames each way)and have even tried to "fool" the camera by taking portrait type shots in "Sports" mode and etc. The camera is very intuitive and will save most users from common mistakes associated with trying to take Photographs as opposed to Snap Shots. The only limitation on the quality of the images you can expect mostly relates to your skills in composing the photographs.

This camera can be used as a point and shoot camera or can be fine tuned to allow more creative/experienced photographers to push their limits. This is NOT a professional quality Digital SLR (or if it is, I can't imagine a pro using a digital camera, for high end photography this camera has SERIOUS limitations). Having said that, I would recommend this camera to anyone that is comfortable spending the money on it. This is not an inexpensive commitment. Initial outlay for a "basic" set-up will run you between 1200 and 1400 dollars, and additional lenses, filters, accessories will add 500 or more dollars (with your budget being the only limit on the "or more" amount).

I've read reviews where users mention several "negative" issues with the camera. First, some reviewers mention that the battery cover "rattles". I can't speak to their experiences, but there is no "rattle" on my camera body at all, none. Very solid. Second, I've read complaints that the size is too small. I'm not a small man, and I have fairly large hands. I think the camera IS compact, but not uncomfortable to use. As a matter of fact, the smaller size keeps me mindfull of the fact that it's a precision instrument and that it takes a delicate touch on the shutter and a light "approach" to taking a great photo. Finally, I've noticed that some people think the camera has a "cheap" feel to it. I can only assume that they're used to camera bodies made of metal. This body is plastic and rubber, but again mine feels very solid in my hands, not "cheap" at all, unless I heft my AE-1 right after the fact. But that's comparing apples to oranges.

Photo Quality:

In the Large Fine Format, this camera will give you everything you expect in terms of image quality.

Ease of Use:

If my 9 year old can take pictures with it, anyone can.

Value:

Relative to the cost of other Digital SLR's (and having reviewed their owners manuals as well) I'd rate this as a very good value.

5 Star Items:

Autofocus - Very Fast, haven't "stumped" it yet.
Menu - Easy to understand/use
Battery Life - Excellent
Image Quality - Excellent
Canon Engineering - Excellent, I'm biased probably, never had a problem with a Canon Film SLR, don't expect any with a Canon Digital.
Speed - Excellent, this camera is FAST. Ready to go.
Ergonomics - Very Very Good, but not perfect.

4 Star Items:

Viewfinder - It's very good, the placement of the screen leaves a LOT to be desired, but not enough to downgrade the camera overall.
CF Slot - Not overly easy to get the card in, but not HARD.
Pop-up Flash Unit - Good for what it is, but nothing you want to rely on if you're planning on taking good photographs in every situation.
Included Software - Very good, nothing earthshaking.
Battery Charging - Very good, under 90 minutes to take a drained battery back to full charge.
Changing Lenses - Very good, about what you'd expect.
Owners Manual - Informative, but could have been better organized.

3 Star Items:

Neck Strap - Poor, not comfortable. Plan on buying a replacment.
Included Lens - Average. Meets the "general" purpose shooting requirements for most situations, about what you would expect from a $100.00 lens. Plan on upgrading the lens, but I still recommend buying the full "kit" with Lens, instead of body only.

Overall, I gave the camera a 4 star rating, because nothing is perfect, but personally I'm very pleased with my purchase and would recommend this camera to anyone that isn't attempting TRUE professional quality photography.

Recommended purchases;

2nd Battery, 2nd CF Card (recommend Type II), Additional Lenses, Camera Bag, Remote Control, Filters, Flash Unit (420 EX, is cost effective and gives good results, EH-18L Body Case and Tripod.

Potential worthy purchases;

Battery Grip (BG-E3)
AC Adapter Kit (ACK 700)

Also, I bought my items directly from Amazon.com, got a good price and everything was delivered on time and in good condition. Just to echo some other reviews, if they price is "too good" be wary, as always you get what you pay for.

Hope this was helpful information.

Canon EOS 350D is the most sophisticated gadget I ever have. Previously I have a 35 mm film camera and pocket Digital camera and this camera more valuable for the semi professional consumers. Start with the new look design (smaller then Nikon D 70s or D 50) and light then both of its. The feature it's rich. You can find this feature in professional camera also. The advantage of this gadget is you can set every scene manually or automatic from focus, white balance, aperture, speed, flash, ISO, metering etc. This is important for the professional photographer to have the best photo. Continues shooting feature is 3 times a second and starting time below a second. I just bought I month ago and I feel I already expert on using it. I try a many setting in manual shoot with set the aperture, white balance and aperture the result is very good that I never have a photo like it is before. The battery is good even I already shoot 100 times with maximum jpg files (8 m pixel) the batteries still function in good condition. The 350D can use any Canon mount lenses. I recommend this camera for the professional photographer beside the complete features this gadget has a valuable compare its price. You can have this Gadget with standard lens of EF-S 18-55 mm with only $800. You will be a professional shortly with this prosumer camera.

Why do people ruin the rating of a product???

When their problem is with a seller (and not even Amazon). I do own this camera but did not purchase it from this site. So I thought I would do just to the excellent DR XT and give it 5 Stars here to help counter at least one of the "PRODUCT" Reviews that are actually reviewing a bad experience with a failed purchase.

Please do state your purchase experience and warn others of your mishap but it is not necessary to give the "PRODUCT" itself a bad rating and downplay the overall score. Unfortunately, some people only look at the overall (average) rating of a product and will not even see why your "BAD REVIEW" was given.

Why not start your review with something like:

***WARNING*** ***WARNING*** ***WARNING***

And, then state your message warning others about your purchase experience. You can do this and still give the actual product the a rating in comparison with previous other actual product reviews that were written previously. This way you are not misrepresenting the product itself.


Just my two cents while doing my part to help justify the product rating.

It is remarkable to consider that the single-lens reflex camera has been around since the 1970s and, despite the transition away from 35mm film to digital, this type of camera remains one of the best you can purchase. The Canon Digital Rebel XT was my choice as I have always been satisfied with Canon and the quality of their cameras. The camera is aimed at the serious amateur photographer, and priced at under $1000. So onto my impressions of it.

The first thoughts on the camera after opening its box is the size, it is one of the more compact SLRs on the market. Some may dislike this, but for me it is a positive feature of the camera. The aesthetics of the camera are good; I choose the model with the silver body. The first minus is the lack of a supplied compact flash card. Canon are a little mean in this regard, and even with their point-and-shoot digital cameras only supply a small (32 MB or so) CF card. I would recommend purchasing at least 1 GB CF card for this camera. For the price Canon really should try and do better. The rest of the review is very positive. Computer support is good (Mac and PC) with the bundled CD applications, though it isn't good enough to tempt me away from Editing in Photoshop. The camera interface is straight forward, and the auto-focus will allow many to use this camera and produce great quality images without the need to change the settings. AT 8 MP, image quality and definition are very high. The manual and supporting documentation is very good and detailed, so without too much effort you can easily learn how to adjust the image settings to produce exactly the picture you wish. The user-interface and LCD is good and easy to work with, and I find Battery life is good.

All-in-all an excellent package. One of the best SLR cameras of its type on the market, and you don't have to be a "pro" to take excellent pictures with it. If you don't have one then definitely order a case for the camera, a good quality photo printer, and longer term you will probably want to invest in a tripod and extra lenses. Canon continues to maintain their record of excellence in their SLR cameras.

Just received this camera as an anniversary present. I love it!! It is replacing my Canon Rebel 2000 film camera. The XT is extremely easy to use, fast, and takes incredible pictures! I photographed a painting on our living room wall from quite a distance. When printed on 4x6 photo paper, I could still even read the signature on the painting. As others have stated, there is almost no shutter lag at all--even with a standard 512mb Compact Flash card to record the images. The menus are very easy to understand, and the features are easy to choose and set. The Black and White capabilities are awesome! The ability create and set custom parameters is wonderful.

The camera accepts my lenses from the Rebel 2000; however, it does not particularly like my Quantaray 70-300mm zoom lens. Sometimes it works, and sometimes I get an error code 99. It prefers original Canon lenses. (Just means I have a new item for my Christmas wish list.)

I am a short person and have no issue with the size of the camera at all. (Some have stated that it is too small.) This is perfect for me and the feel of the camera in my hand is quite "hefty."

I recommend a screen cover for the LCD because it is smudged by the nose while taking pictures. I plan to get one right away.

This is a great camera for those wanting to switch to a digital SLR, but do not have the extra $$$$$ for the Canon 20D or some of the other choices out there. It has all of the features you could want as an advanced beginner for setting the creative zones for personalized photography. I think it will even work for the novice who just wants to use it in the automatic zone, too!! Awww, why not say it---even some "pros" will probably find this one great addition to their camera collection.

This may just be the camera you have always dreamed of having--it is for me!!

I'm no pro, but I just wanted to improve my good eye for photography with a SLR that could help me "feel it more".
This is my first SLR, I upgraded from a Sony DSC 717 which is a great prosumer camera. However, I wanted to feel the freedom of a SLR in which I can use some different lenses and flashes to add a more professional look to my photos. I have had this one for one month now and have taken like 500 pics. It's incredibly quick to start and it feels way too god. I think that the black body is a huge improvement because it eliminates the cheap feel of the previous 300D.

No complaints until now. Software is good but not a replacement for PhotoShop.

Let me say at the outset that I am an amateur photographer but I decided to buy this camera as a gift to myself from last year's salary bonus after previously owning a Canon 35mm SLR and the digital Canon G2. I wanted a camera that I could use for the next 5 years. I also went ahead and bought the recommended telephoto lens, the external flash and a 1GB flash card. I have been using the camera for about 1 year now and I can say that I'm reasonably satisfied with it. I did read all the reviews about it before purchase so I was aware that it had a 'problem' with under exposed shots when the flash is used at night. I thought I could live with that, as I was told that setting the White Balance (WB) to the appropriate setting would eliminate the underexposure. I have not found that to be the case and this has made me very wary about taking shots with the flash at night. I constantly have to check to see if the shot looks ok before the subjects move away. I think I need some guidance as to how to correct this issue once and for all.
One thing which surprised me was the filesize. Being an 8 megapixel camera, the smallest filesize still approaches half a megabyte. Trying to e-mail photos to my friends quickly fills up their inbox and often I have to zip and send files multiple times to send all the required files. The other thing which surprised me was that I had to use the viewfinder to take the pictures. Being an SLR, you can't use the LCD when taking shots. The LCD is used for review only. I was not aware of that having been acustomed to my G2 but that was more my ignorance than a fault of the camera. I would still recommend this camera, I have already done so to one of my close associates who have also gone ahead and bought the camera. I can't afford another camera for sometime to come.

Having used the pocket Canon S110 for the past three years, and already owning a Canon EOS Elan 35 mm camera, I've long been a fan of Canon. I'd held off on buying a digital SLR due mainly to price. Finally, with the Digital Rebel XT, I could buy for less than $1,000 the quality that pros paid $7,000 for just a few years ago.

Likes:
- Size and feel: it's about as small as you're going to get for an SLR, yet it still feels good in your hands, with all controls pretty accessible.
- Speed: having spent three years cursing shutter lag on my point-n-shoot S110, it's amazing to be able to get off 2 or 3 frames per second. You'll quickly find that you shoot 3-4x as many shots in a day, just because you can get them off quickly.
- Battery life - I purchased a second battery but have yet to have to use it. I can shoot 200+ shots and the battery is still going strong.
- automatic modes (portrait, action, etc) with options to override focus mode
- Basic 18-55mm EF-S lens is a solid, well-performing lens

Dislikes:
No strong complaints overall. It's taking me a little longer than I expected to learn all of the control options on the menu. Also, in bright daylight, the menu's not that easy to see on the LCD.

All in all, the combination of high picture quality (equal to that of the 20D) and virtually no shutter lag makes this a fantastic entry level digital SLR. The ability to change lenses, use filters and modify settings as you would in the 35mm world changes the whole realm of digital photography. I have a feeling my 160 GB hard drive may not support me for long...

The good aspects of the Canon Rebel series are easy to rattle off: the cameras are affordable, they're compatible with a large variety of Canon's incredible lenses, they can be set on full auto or fully manual (so you can grow into it), and they're compact and light. For someone unfamiliar with SLRs, this is a good starting camera.

The downside is equally simple: Canon Rebels don't last forever. Matter of fact, they don't last that long at all. It's just no fun to hold a camera with a plastic body. And it's nerve-wracking to know that one minor drop could render your camera broken and useless. Canon makes many enuinely awesome cameras; the bottom-of-the-line Rebel is unfortunately not one of them.

I initially bought this camera because of it's "ease of use", and the compact travel size afforded for an SLR. But after a trip to NYC I completely changed my mind and upgraded to the 20D. First was the size: This camera is an ergonomic catastrophy. I did love its light weight feel while slung around my neck, but if you put any other lense on this camera, you will soon find that it will completely off-balance the camera itself and make for an abnormal feel. The case is just too small for me for an SLR. I also couldn't stand the cheap feel of the casing. Hold it next to a 20D and you'll see what I mean. For anyone getting into digital SLR photography I would recommend paying the extra $500 for the model above the XT...20D. Its just as easy to use as the XT, but with MUCH MORE POTENTIAL! Why buy a camera with limited capabilities, even if you are a beginner? By the way, we all know its the LENSE that takes the picture, the camera just processes the information. You will never be sorry buying good L line lenses over the cheap stuff with so-so reviews. I used the 17-40mm L with the XT and it took unbelievable pictures, no question. I'm for sure keeping the lense.

In summary; the camera has good but limited features, and with the L lense took amazing pictures, but the petite size and cheap feel didn't work for me.

I owned the first Digital Rebel and it was quite remarkable at the time. The Rebel XT takes all the great features of the original and improves it in every way. I am a professional photographer and I own a Canon 20D as well. The XT is a great second camera for me as it has most all the features of the 20D and is MUCH lighter. 8 megapixels and the RAW + Jpeg mode are new as is a faster start-up and a greater image buffer for when you are shooting action. Using PhotoShop CS2, I can take the RAW files and turn them into 70 meg files with amazing quality and clarity.

I recommend the external power grip as it adds a vertical grip and also the ability to use AA batteries or 2 lithiums! Consider also adding the 420EX flash if you plan to do a lot of flash photography. The 420EX will allow you to save the camera's battery and also give you a more powerful flash that syncs at ALL shutterspeeds in Program, TV and AV modes. The lens is optically sound but not much of a zoom. Consider the 75 - 300mm USM.

Bought this camera after reviewing it against the Nikon D50. Although the D50 felt more comfortable in my hand (the grip), the Canon was lighter and a 8.1 vs 6.1 megapixel. I took the Canon to Maui and it took INCREDIBLE pictures. I bought it to get into the hobby of photography - but have only used the auto features. AMAZING battery life compared to other cameras I've had. Surprising small for a DSLR.

Hi,
I have had this camera for a week and it totally rocks. [...]

Thank you!

p.s. this camera is smoking HOT

I selected this Canon d-SLR camera because of the DigicII processor capturing images at 8 megapixels. So far I have been shooting in only two formats-RAW and high-res JPG. After two weeks of shooting, I'm starting to get used to the different options. I like shooting in black and white in RAW format, but it is nice to also be able to reprocess these images back into full color with the software that comes packaged with the camera. The camera is so good that it is forcing me to buy a new photo printer to do it justice. I bought the standard "kit" lens with the 18-55mm zoom. It is a good lens for the price. I just wish it were just a little faster than f3.5-5.6. I do, have the option,however, of buying about four more Canon EF-S lenses (offered as of 9/2005) that are made especially for the camera's sensor dimensions as well as many EF lenses. Flexibility, ease of use, small learning curve, great photos, and a concise but well organized owner's manual all make the Canon Rebel XT (350D) a great digital camera to own.

I haven't had a chance to use all the features yet, but I've yet to find anything about this camera not to like. It's easy to learn, with most settings being very intuitive. A great camera for someone who's fairly accompliched with shooting film with an SLR who wants to move to digital.

I've been waiting for a SLR digital that's affordable ($1,000 or less) and which can handle high ISOs well. I enjoy shooting without a flash, and am used to Fuji 800 film which has some beautiful grain, and I didn't want to loose that experience with my "upgrade" to digital".

The HUGE dissapointment is the focus appears very poor. I've seen other poeple say the same thing on user groups, including some people suggesting it's only a problem in the "creative zones". Either way, I've ended up with more out of focus pictures in 2 months than I've gotten in 2 years.

Until Cannon fixes this problem, I wouldn't recommend anyone purchase it. It's really frusturating to have dozens of great compositions that are out of focus.

Wow! Got this camera just before my Hawaii vacation. Although I still haven't finished all the instruction, I did learn enough to take fantastic pictures in all kinds of different lighting. Time exposures at night were superb. High resolution results with the SLR camera cannot compare to digital instamatics with those tiny lens aperatures. Recommend this for any enthusiast who lkie to control their on settings.

With this Rebel you can click away to your heart's content and every picture will be awesome!

This is a great entry level (or for those like myself who are going from film to digital) camera. I took 30 or 40 shots with the kit lens and they were not real good. I then purchased the EF 100mm f2.8 Macro and the picture quality improved big time. I use this lens for both everyday and macro photography. It is quieter when in AF mode not to mention faster. The best way to buy this camera is body only and then buy a good lens.

4 stars because of VERY minor niggles, otherwise I would have given 5 stars:
1) No ISO display in view finder
2) View finder could be bigger
3) kit lens (18-55) not great (for this reason I had to buy body only and bought Sigma 18-200mm instead)
I have had this camera since July 2005 and love it and no regret over my previous Canon powershot S1. I was thinking about upgrading from S1 to S2 but decided I should go straight into DSLR instead of another Point & shoot (P&S) camera which I will outgrow it and eventually need a DSLR anyway.

To be honest, it was my third 350D after two failed on me! The full story and comparison to P&S can be read here in my website:
http://www.theteh.com/html/p_s_vs_dslr.html

Initially I was disappointed with the poor quality control that one could get faulty camera from Canon. I put of buying the 350D after two failed on me until after 3 months, my urge for a DSLR could not stop me from getting my 3rd 350D! There was no other better DSLR at that time (and still is now as of Sept 2005). I personally think that 350D is still better than the Nikon counter part D70/D50 despite that they have a better lens (18-70mm).
Here is my review of my 3rd 350D:
http://www.theteh.com/html/my_3rd_350d_xt.html

There are many sample photos taken with 350D in my website (check out links under 'Resources') if you are interested. The first travel photos with my 350D (with Sigma 18-200mm and Sigma 30mm f1.4) was the Croatia gallery:
http://www.theteh.com/html/croatia.html

DSLR is 'FAST' and P&S is 'SLOW' to me. This is the single factor that made me chose the 350D instead of another P&S. Second is the shallow Depth of field (DOF) produced by large aperture lenses (eg the Sigma 30mm f1.4, a truly fantastic lens). If speed and shallow DOF are not what you are after, there is no reason to get a DSLR.

See pic was taken with the Sigma 30mm at f1.4 to get shallow DOF:
http://www.theteh.com/html/borough_market_18.html

Hope this review helps you to decided!

I had a Canon film camera (elan 7e) for a while and i decided its time for a digital. I held off for as long as I could. This meant not getting the original Rebel. Which of course turned out for the better.
The Rebel XT is a nice step up from the original Rebel. With its 0.2 second start up time its alot faster than the original rebel which had around a much longer time of roughly 2-3 seconds. It also has a larger buffer and increased framerate. The original rebel would take a few shots of RAW at 1.5 Frames per second where the rebel XT takes 3 FPS for 6-7 RAW files and of course even more when shooting JPEG.

There are alot of features on this camera which are nice to have even if you don't need them.
It's a great camera all around.
The smaller size is nice too.
There are alot of people who say its way to small..
I'm 6'4" and my hands aren't small either. It fits nicely.
And with the grip no one can complain.

I would recommend getting a wireless remote for the camera also.
top lens recommendations for the money
Canon 18-55 ( not a bad starter lens when stopped down)
Canon 70-200 f/4L
Canon 17-85 EFS IS USM


CS_112 FDT2

After using the Canon A85 Powershot 4.0 megapixel camera for almost a year, I decided to upgrade to a high quality digital camera and chose the Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP.

I was disappointed from the first picture. The autofocus was extremely poor. Virtually every photo taken in a variety of settings, lighting and speeds were soft or blatantly out of focus. The manual focus has no focus guide, either. Other professional photographers also tried their hand at this camera, only to yield the same results.

I've been taking photos for almost 20 years, and have used a variety of digital cameras through friends and associates over the past few years to get an idea of what non-film cameras can produce. This camera caused more disappointment than all the other ones I've tried, combined. I took about 300 pictures, trying every avenue to produce a picture that looked like it was taken by a 8.0 MP semi-professional camera, to no avail. I found that my Canon A85 took consistently sharper images at 4x6 print size when shooting side-by-side.

I returned the Digital Rebel after one week, and the search for a decent digital one continues...

With this Rebel you can click away to your heart's content and every picture will be awesome!

We had researched this item and found it well recommended. It is simply a great digital camera at a reasonable price. By getting it without the lense we were able to select the one we wanted.

Using the Digital SLR is having the best of both worlds. You get to set your depth of field and focus like an SLR but you know you've got your shot with the digital technology. The only thing I found in shooting primarily landscapes at this point is in autofocus mode the image seems slightly out of focus.
The camera itself is comfortable in the hand. You can feel the quality in the placement of the controls and the ease of use. Overall it is a camera for the hobbist or pro and I love my birthday present!!!!

This is a great camera, but it is a REAL frustration to spend north of $800 and not have something work out of the box because it has no memory card. At first I figured I'd lost it so I spend a half hour looking through the garbage before emailing customer service. They seemed to think some advice on where to buy a flash card would suffice. The instruction manual is no work of art either

With all that said, it is an excellent camera with an easy interface to the computer.

I love this camera.

I'm an amateur photographer who was looking to supplement my Canon AE-1 with a digital camera.

I looked at digital point and shoots, mostly because of the cost difference between them and the SLRs. I first bought the Canon Powershot S2. I thought that was a decent camera, but after using it for a couple of days, it was obvious that in 6 months I would want more horsepower.

So I returned it and bought the Digital Rebel XT (otherwise known as the 350D). It was definitely the right decision.

I won't go into many technical details as so many people already have, but instead would like to inform anybody on the fence between point and shoots and SLRs to definitely go with the SLR. The 350D is worth every penny. It is a joy to be able to grab the camera, flick it on (0.2 second startup) and shoot. At 3 frames per second with a good memory buffer, you will be all set to capture your shots at a moment's notice. That is something that point and shoots simply cannot do. I don't know about you, but I value the ability to flip on my camera and instantly get a shot.

The 350D was the highest rated digital SLR in the recent Consumer Reports magazine too. Everybody I know who has one loves it.

From the camera startup, to shooting, to uploading the images on my PC, the 350D performs excellently. The menu system is well designed, the buttons are accessible. The more I use the camera, the more I like it.

This is a much lighter camera than Canon's next in line 20D. The 20D is made of metal and is about $500 more. The 350D has a plastic body (but it's quality, sturdy and has a very solid feel). Best of all, the camera is LIGHT. You can barely feel it hanging on your shoulder.

The 350D kit (as opposed to just the body) comes with an 18-55 lens. This is an economical lens, about $100 retail, but I think it's very good quality for its price.

The 350D, as well as the 20D, can use all of Canon's "EF" series lenses (the world's largest assortment of interchangeable lenses). This means that if you want to invest in lenses, you can do so with confidence because when it's time to upgrade the camera body, all of your lenses will fit.

So, yeah, this camera is fantastic. It's light, versatile and powerful. Because of this, barriers to usage are minimal. What I mean is that if you want to go somewhere, it is easier than ever before to bring your camera along. Its size, weight and ability to respond quickly to real life photographic situations make it a pleasure to use.

But Close.... Here's the problem. You can take good photos with anything, if you are careful, hold the camera steady or use a tripod and know how to make a photograph interesting. Years ago, I bought an Agfa ePhoto 1680. The lens on this camera was wonderful. I have 8x10's that are grainless and perfect which were taken at the equivilent of 1.8 megapixels. No one would ever think they were made with a digital camera. I was careful not to exceed the contrast range of the sensor and the camera was on a tripod. It's not resolution that makes a great picture, it's the picture that makes a good picture. It's the technique and equipment that fade into the background to go unnoticed when a photograph is well executed.

OK, back to the Rebel XT. Mine arrived and could not deliver a sharp image. I tried everything but the camera was somehow malfunctioning. I sent it back to Canon and 2 weeks later I recieved it back... fixed. Now the images are sharp.

Decided to compare this to film, used my EOS A2E with Kodachrome 64 to photograph landscapes on a beautiful summer day. Soft light, tripod, beautiful conditions a sky filled with small puffy clouds, perfect. I made six exposures then switched cameras to the Rebel XT. Same 6, carefully exposed and checked.

I had chromes back in 3 days, decided to print one at a local lab. I made a 16x20. I then sent a raw file from the Rebel XT to a well known mail order lab and also received a 16x20 of the same basic exposure.

Two friends come over, I show the first the digital print. They were impressed, it came from a digital camera and didn't look "digital" what ever that means. Then I pulled out the K print, silence... "wow." I asked what the difference was, they couldn't articulate what that was. I studied the two as carefully as possible, I think I can explain it. In the smallest branches and twigs, the digital broke up, couldn't handle the detail. The Kodachrome handled the detail with ease.

Here's what I think. Digital cameras are wonderful for making photos without film. Yet film is good at high resolution down to the size of silver halide crystals.

Theoretically, 12 megapixels is about where you reach the limit of film. When you get to 18 megapixels, you are able to deliver medium format quality, that's where it really starts getting interesting.

This summer, I took a 5 wk old 8MP Digital Rebel, purchased through Amazon, on vacation to British Columbia in July. On a hike in the Canadian Glacier National Park, on a drizzly day, I would take the camera out of the case, take a shot or two, put it away, wipe it off every now and then. Towards the end of the day, I powered it down and it never came back on. Tried the "dry it out" regimen in the user's guide, no luck. It became "luggage" for the rest of the trip. Used my trusty 4.1MP Sony DSC-S85 after that. I'm sure its my fault, but ... you know ... I didn't handle it with any less care than 5 other cameras I've owned. Sent it to Canon for repair ... they said moisture exposure is not covered under the warantee. Gave me a $MANY estimate to repair. Grumble, grumble. Sent it to Sanford Camera Repair for a second opinion and they said could not be fixed. Thinking of buying one? Think "fair weather camera". Good for birthday parties in the back yard, maybe, (if no pool ... or sprinklers ... or drooling golden retrievers.)

There were two brand new Digital Rebel XT 8MP SLR cameras with lens advertised on Amazon for $450. When I tried to buy one of them the site kept adding junk to my cart. When I removed the junk the site would not allow me to purchase. I do not like Amazon's deceptive techniques.

I have owned 3 Canon digital cameras and thought my S1 was the bomb. It is, however, this thing is unbelievable. It is so responsive and fast that I could hardly believe how quickly I could shoot photo after photo at the highest resolution. I got the all black and some say they feel cheap when you hold them. I think it feels awesome...but I have small hands and it fits perfectly. The quality of the photos are fantastic, even with the stock lense. I love this camera...the performance is incredible and it is a blast to use. My poor S1 is gonna get lonely.

The new Canon EOS "Digital Rebel" XT offers many of the same exposure features and improvements as the 10D, but slightly scaled back to keep costs under control. The Canon EOS "Digital Rebel" XT provides a slightly re-engineered CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor - Another imaging system used by digicams. It is not as popular as CCD but the future promises us even better digicams based on CMOS sensors due to the lower amount of power consumption versus the typical CCD device) sensor very similar to that on the Canon EOS 10D, as well as most of the same exposure features.

The main differences lie in the design of the body. The Canon EOS "Digital Rebel" XT makes much greater use of plastic, it has less control over focus or metering modes, also does not have a Custom settings menu, and a handful of other minor changes. The Canon EOS "Digital Rebel" XT is an exceptionally small and lightweight camera designed for amateur Digital SLR owners, but it delivers the responsiveness and image quality you'd expect from a semipro model.

What's new is a specially designed Canon EF-S lens, designed only for the Digital Rebel, and sold only as part of the Digital Rebel kit. This new lens takes advantage of the size difference between the Rebel's sensor and a normal 35mm film frame to reduce the back-focus distance, shrink the image circle, and shed quite a bit of size, weight, and cost in the process. The biggest draw for the Digital XT is that it offers much of the same functionality as the wildly popular 10D model, but at a much lower price.

After personally owning the Canon EOS "Digital Rebel" XT for four months, I have found it more useful than a normal pocket digital camera and normal SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera. This camera is the pinnacle of camera production. We have the capability to create SLR camera media and quality into digital media at your finger tips, with quality results, editable right then and there, and all the while providing the reliability that a normal SLR camera would come with. This camera has also offered up incomparable quality and functionality. It is versatile; with the various lens compatibility it holds there is no end to the possibilities and the creativity.

I previously owned the Canon Digital Rebel so this camera was a jump up in megapixels. The camera is smaller than the first Rebel, but I added the battery grip which gave it a better feel in my hands. I bought the 70-300 zoom lens with image stabilization. I took pictures in very low lighting without a tripod with very good results. The 420 flash is also a nice add on. I use the Canon pixma I9990 printer which is pictbridge compatible for amazing 13x19 photos. Canon is the only company that I would do commercials for.

This is a really nice Digital SLR, but if you are upgrading from the original Digital Rebel be warned that this is a MUCH smaller body. It does not have the same high quality feel as the first and it is actually pretty hard to use if you have large hands. To me it is almost worth paying the $450 more for the 20d just to get the larger body.

I just got back from taking this camera to Ireland with me...wow!! Friends and family both have said the quality is amazing, suitable for poster-size prints. Being new to SLRs, I had to really find some organized way to run through the auto modes and creative modes to figure out what was going on, but it didn't take long. You just have to take photos of the same subject with the same light through each mode to identify the characteristics of each. I'm now starting to really enjoy the range of possibilities with the creative modes.

I'm glad I upgraded to the Canon 17-85mm IS USM lens, because the kit lens didn't seem good enough for this camera. But the quality of colors and resolution is simply unbelievable!

I highly recommend this camera for anyone wanting to get into SLRs for a very good price and almost unlimited expandability.

This is a very good DSRL camera for the price. I have a Canon 20D which only produces the same picture quality. Amazon.com has great service which allows you to return the product within 30 days without any restocking fee. This is one of the reasons why I love shopping from Amazon.com

Hi,

I got this camera in the mail recently and all I can say is that I'm utterly impressed. Don't listen to those pro/photosnubs who lambast this very powerful camera. Don't feel envy or inferior than this camera's "bigger" sister (the D20) because it offers, by far, pretty much the same specs. This camera feels solid, very easy to handle and get around of. The plethora of Canon lenses you can attach to this camera is big enough to let your imagination do its work (limited only by the depth of your pockets).
*Image quality is bar-none.
*Noise @ relatively high ISOs (400-800) is negligible.
*Battery life is decent (buy an additional battery).
*The auto focus is blazing fast (with canon lenses).
*Start-up time is unreal!
*Menus and configuration settings of the camera are well thought-out and designed.
*Very versatile; in fact, extremelly versatile. Just as it can work for those new to SLRs, it can work for advanced amateurs and semi-pro photographers as well.

Things you need to (must) do and buy to make the most of this camera:
* Ditch the kit lens...leave it as a "just-in-case-of-doomsday" lens.
* Buy at least 2 more lenses one for wide-angle shots and one tele-foto (zoom). I recommend buying Canon's as they perform the best with their cameras (though if you're on a tight budget, you can get Sigma's).
* Tripod.
* External Flash (if you plan to use it in less-than-ideal light conditions).
* Carrying case.
* Filters.
* Insurance!!!

Yes, I know that buying all of the above will set you back $1700-2K (camera inclusive), but in this field is more true than anywhere else, "you get what you pay for."

If your hands are big and don't feel very comfortable with this camera, you might then try a D20 (or buy the external battery grip for the Rebebel XT).

In short, very good camera, good price, good upgrade options, and reliable service from Canon. The best value in the DSLR market today--period!

A year ago I sold my Digital Rebel on eBay and purchased the 20D. I have since not looked back. This camera has brought nothing but joy to myself and others. The sharpness and colors from the famed Canon sensor are true to their reputation. Friends and family all love the pictures that come out of this camera.

After selling my Rebel, I debated upgrading to the new Rebel XT or the 20D, which I'm sure many of you might be having right now before pulling the trigger. I held both in my hand and played with them at the PMA tradeshow where the XT was introduced. It was very light and felt very small in my hands. I don't have exceptionally large hands, but the XT felt like it was designed for smaller hands. That being said, it is a great travel partner to have being so compact and light-weight.

The only other drawback, however, is that the user interface is quite different from the 20D. Although it may seem like a trivial feature, the dial navigation on the 20D has been immensely more convenient and practical when shooting compared to pressing the buttons on the Rebel or the XT. I didn't like having to navigate through the ISO or other changes to white balance via the LCD screen. I definitely think there's a reason why the 20D is more expensive beyond the fact that it has the solid magnesium alloy body. The user interface for me was worth the extra money as well. The more you take photos, the more you will realize the freedom that comes with controlling your aperture, shutter speed, white balance and more with the 20D interface versus the XT. That being said, it is still several hundred dollars more expensive and the sensors are practically the same (the XT has 0.2 fewer megapixels). But the XT will give you the same stunning results because the differences are mainly external.

The XT is not for everyone just as the 20D is not for everyone. I suggest strongly considering and weighing the differences between the two camera bodies before purchasing and prioritizing what's most important to you between size, weight, and UI. If you travel a lot and don't want to lug around a heavy camera...then without a doubt get the XT. It's the same bang for less buck and for the price the XT package can't be beat.

I highly recommend getting the kit lens with either camera. For an additional (...) it is well worth it just for the range and it has pretty decent quality results. Bang for your buck it can't be beat. Make sure you pick up a EF 50mm f/1.8 II USM lens for another (...). This is a powerful little lens at a great price.

I have had so many friends ask me about my camera and my pictures, that I decided to create a site called eosrebels.com that you might find helpful in making your decision and learning about the basics of digital SLR photography. It's specifically for owners of the Canon EOS digital SLRs. Check it out for useful tips and research that will help you get started on this rewarding journey of digital photography! Either way you won't regret your purchase. It would make an incredible gift, not only for Christmas or a birthday, but for life. It sure did change mine.

Also take advantage of the triple rebates from Canon going on right now until January 2006. You can find the rebate form at eosrebels.com/blog.

Don't hesitate to buy this camera today!

I just returned from an Italy tour wherein I was confronted with personnel at the Vatican and other museums demanding no photos to be taken. Not just flash but no photos at all. When I got to the statue of David, I was not leaving until I got a picture. With the camera set on AV priority I politely took a seat on a bench as though I was tired, and with a little care in positioning and being very still I clicked off nearly half a dozen shots. Out of those I did find one that was not blurred and was reasonably composed. The exposure was perfect and what little camera noise there was, was negligble. As a matter of fact, I was not disappointed with any of the pictures I had to take without flash. There were a number of instances during daylight where the camera would flip up the flash. I could not understand this until I tried to bypass the electronics by switching to manual and found the picture was much better with the flash than without. On top of this, all my old Cannon SLR lenses fit right on the camera without an adapter. Cannon, I love you for making this camera.

I am an 18 month user of the original digital rebel, and I love it. I've been looking at the feature upgrades of the XT for some time and finally decided to sell my old camera and buy this one. After one day of use I sent to back and cancelled selling my old one:

Con:
This is made for very tiny hands. I wear a men's medium glove because they are too small for the "one size fits all". I was shocked at how small your hands need to be to comfortably hold the unit. My wife was equally disappointed. I tried 2 approaches:

It is comfortable with 2 hands. This is how I shoot when I have my heavy lenses and external flash installed. However I only sport this at events I know I will shoot a lot. When I am at home or take the kids out, I want my light lens and shoot with only one hand (corralling the kids with the other).

Use one hand. There are 2 positions this will work, my grip was strong when I slid my thumb far to the left to "create shorter fingers" but I found it difficult to press the trigger. In a normal position my grip was loose and I tended to droop the camera counter-clockwise.

Pros:
Everything else you've read is true. The body is slightly more professional, the burst rate is noticeably faster and the buffer is larger. The higher ISO quality is amazing. Choosing the ISO/WB is not much more tedious, but I agree that in sunlight this is a chore. I do also notice the LCD is more blurry since I got used to reading it straight on using the original, you need to hold it at an angle. The menus are just as intuitive as the original. FEC is a big win.

It is clear to me that the original Rebel neutered features via Firmware to upsell the equivalent quality 10D and this time the grip is the incentive to buy the 20D.

Background: began photography in 1979 using a K1000 developing in the school darkroom. I've used a T90 since they were introduced in 1986, added a Hasselblad in 1999 for landscapes and a Sony point and shoot in 2002 for "walking around".

I found I was using the Sony for all our holiday and travel shots, and the Hasselblad just for my recreational landscapes, the T90 not at all. I began to want the creative control I had with 35mm but with the convenience of digital, and decided that a DSLR was the answer.

Here's how I use my Rebel XT:

With a 24mm EOS as the ultimate "carry around" camera, it's very compact and light, has outstanding battery life and gets plenty of shots on a 1Gig card. Perfect for "point and click" type shooting.

Switch to the outstanding 17-40 f4L and add the battery grip for more "serious" out and about shooting. This is my typical vacation configuration. The battery grip provides a very comfortable holding position, and I can probably manage over 1,000 shots without recharging when using two batteries. The 17-40 f4L is a beautiful lens with outstanding color rendition and resolving power, it also has very good environmental seals that keep moisture out of the lens and the body. I've had the surface of an umbrella in Scotland dumped on the camera in this configuration and it survived fine.

For motorsports photography I use the 70-200 f4L and a monopod. I've had prints made at 24"x36" from these sessions that are simply stunning.

For closeups I use a set of fully automatic tubes and a 50mm 1.8, a great lens for very little money.

Observations:

Be prepared to do more work in post-processing than with a point and shoot, the Rebel XT does not pump up the colors or sharpening as much in camera as the strictly "consumer" cameras - but used properly the results can be much better.

Control focus points yourself. I think many focus problems stem either from not noticing that the camera has picked the wrong point for you, or not paying attention to the aperture picked if using one of the more "programmed" modes. I use Speed priority or Aperture priority only, just as I always did with the T90. I tend to configure auto focus so that only the centre sensor is used and use focus hold to pick the spot and then re-frame. I initially had some disappointing results until I took more control of the process myself.

Above all enjoy!

Ok so it's canon, you know it's going to be good, but everything about this camera is great. It's lightweight, compact (for an SLR) and takes amazingly great pictures. I cannot wait to get out and take some photos at the US Figure Skating National championships with this camera.

The manual is also easy to read and understand, and the tech support--if ever you need it--is user friendly!

Buy this camera, and be ready to never look back!

After a long and detailed due diligence on a mid-level professional digital cameras, my search ended between Nikon (D70/D50) and Canon (20D/350D). I finally decided on 350D for its balance of a great value and a huge variety of after-market accessories and web-based support and advice.

I recently received this camera from Amazon and, though my expectation was rather high and the camera did not blow me away, I'm very happy with the purchase.

PROS:
- Light, compact, and ergonomically designed.
- The camera does NOT feel plasticky at all. It feels solid and radiates the craftsmanship of a prosumer product.
- Easy to use. Take the camera out of the box and start snapping away.
- The bundled software is useful if not professional quality.
- Amazing flash performance. Pictures taken in total dark comes out looking professionally lit.
- Quiet when snapping pictures. Fast startup time. Very good batter life.
- For a fan of Canon, add to the inventory of other Canon products, from camera to lenses to printers to photo paper.

CONS:
- The EF-S zoom lens that comes with it is rather slow and a bit disappointing in picture quality.
- The camera - as many reviewers complained - is ergonomic but does not feel very well balanced. It's very awkward to take a picture with only one hand holding the camera - you need two hands. No matter how I tried, my grip on the camera never feels comfortable.
- Documentation is buggy and uneven. Some of the step-by-step instructions simply do not work, and I had to figure out the correct steps by playing with the controls myself.

(...)Amazon double-boxed the package, which arrived without a dent.

I bought my 8 megapixel Digital Rebel XT in August. I'm in love with it. If you're looking for a manually operated slr, you won't go wrong with this. It's lightning fast when you turn it on and it can take shots rapidly.

I've taken some great pictures with this camera -- and I'm just learning. It can be used in automatic mode (like a point and shoot) or you can set it manually.

It is physically smaller than the 300D, but it has many more features.

GREAT CAMERA!

If you are a photographer who wants to get more out of your dSLR, this is definattely the one..

So far here is what I think from it:
CONS>
1. REALLY FAST CAMERA !!
2. Has many functions that will push your photography techniques to the edge.
3. Quality of Images, Sensor and NOISELESS photos, even at high ISO (at 1600 almost none at all)!!
4. This is the Camera to have it, and we talking about a ALMOST Pro one..

CONS>
1. The only thing that might be drawback on it would be the size of the Grip at the camera, if you happen to have a big hand.
In this case... Might be worth to get the Grip (which I have done !!)

As you can see, this is a 5 star camera and you will not regret it. But if you are looking for a camera for just "point and shoot", better get another one, otherwise you might be driving a FERRARI just to go around the block !!

Canon Lover's know that this is definatelly a Great Camera.
;-)

This camera is amazing. It, however, as all digital SLRs have, has a steep learning curve. If you just want to take pictures of the family, you won't be impressed. However if you are interested in other realms of photography, such as macro, nature, landscape, artistic, this is the perfect camera.

This is a case where I can't wait to write a review about a product that I love and believe in with all of my heart and soul! You can rest assured in knowing that there is no possibe way to go wrong if you're considering the purchase of one of the most intelligent and powerful high-end digital cameras on the market. The Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera, that comes complete with an awesome Canon EF-S 18-55mm (f3.3-5.6) lens, is the highest performing high-end digital camera that I have ever used. If you read nothing more-know that you are making a sound purchase and if you're purchasing as a gift-you simply couldn't be more thoughtful or generous!

With so many brands on the market and so many choices, where does one begin to find the right camera for their personal and professional needs? Where does a photographer or the average enthusiast start to isolate the camera that they want to buy for themselves or as a gift? Do I just need to focus on the impressive 8 Megapixels technology or is there more I need to consider?

If you're either new to digital photography or new to Canon, you should feel very confident that this Canon Digital Rebel XT is one of the best digital cameras ever produced. I really do hope that this personal and honest review will help you narrow your search and help you develop more faith in what you're buying. I'm assuming that you probably have a good deal of experience with photography or you're a person that appreciates great photography. So if you're looking for an outstanding digital camera at a Professional Level, you've found it with this monumental digital camera from Canon. This is a VERY dependable camera, clearly at the top of the almost all the reviews I've thoroughly researched while doing my homework for this important review. If you're a photographer, you know how great it feels to put a great machine in your hands. Your confidence as a photographer immediately improves with a camera that offers an awesome array of important performance features. The Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Lens is as sturdy and comfortable as they make them! And with 8MP quality and a fantastic Canon 18-55mm lens, you have a complete camera package that only lacks someone to take the photographs!

This Canon Rebel XT (Digital 8MP) camera will always take incredible color-rich and vivid photos for you-even if you make a slight mistake or move your hands just a tiny bit when photographing. It actually has a great deal of technology that is built-in and designed to compensate for anyone who might be in a poor lighting situation or someone who forgets to focus well before shooting the picture. Don't worry if you are a bit unsteady as the technology will help to compensate for any small movements. I typically use the function that allows the camera to call all the shots. At first I wasn't comfortable in doing that, but soon learned that Canon's technology has far surpassed my own abilities-for the most part. However, even though you can have the Rebel "Call All The Shots", you are always abled to manually handle absolutely any function that you might want to adjust. What more could anyone ask? I'll never forget how impressed I was with the first set of photos I had printed. I was in a hurry and had no time to make any adjustments with the incredible software that is included with the Canon package. When I went to pick up the photos, which only took about 30 minutes, I could not believe how "perfect" the photos looked to me.

Canon Digital Cameras are pretty hard to compare with others in the this high-end digital arena. I've had Powershots for a long time and I've taken over five thousand photos with them-they stand up against my accidental drops or drops of rain when I've exposed the camera to water. This Rebel XT Digital Camera is a couple notches well above the Powershots and is perfect for anyone.

Aside for requiring powerful batteries that use a good amount of power, there is no downside to this incredible digital camera from a great digital camera maker. I've been able to have these photographs enlarged to poster size and found them to be as vivid (even close up) as I could ever have imagined. With 8 Megapixels, sizes like 8x10's are not even a concern when enlarging.

Canon was in the camera business decades before digital cameras were even on the market and they've really pushed the digital envelope with this camera. If you're looking for a gift for someone who is an avid photographer, or a professional, and likes digital photography, you've found it in the Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Lens. You can stop looking and place your order now. Your recipient will be extrememly satisfied with the ease of use and the high quality of this great camera.

If you are an avid photographer, like myself, and wish to have a great camera for digital shots-this is the baby you'll want to buy! If you're looking to take photographs that you will likely enlarge to 5x7's, 8x10's or larger, this camera has enough power and technology to do the job without looking like a digital photograph. Often my framed digital prints look better than my photographs taken with film-something I never thought would happen!

There is a great deal of information that you can read about this camera on the Canon website and other review sites online. You can compare the camera with others in the same category. You might find some slightly better deals with other brands that might offer even larger amounts of Megapixels. That really is NOT what you should be looking for. Often the number of Megapixels is only possible with the use of special software to inerpolate the photographs. You don't want to have to worry about all of that. You are set with the Canon that truly delivers 8.0 VIVID Megapixels!

Canon puts together an entire Kit or Package when you buy the Digital Rebel XT. I wanted to also let you know that the software that's included with the camera package is fantastic and is literally worth the price of the camera in itself. However, you're getting a super package with this deal and a camera that can depend on for as long as you want to own the camera. I've exposed it mine to rain about 10 different times, and I've not EVER had any even a small incidental problem. reminds me of the Energizer Bunny-It just keeps on Going and Going and Going and never stops! You will NOT be disappointed with your purchase and with the warranty from Canon.

I hope that this honest review was of some help to you as it was a pleasure to write it for you.

Pete Cannice from Phoenix, Arizona.
Horsepete@aol.com

Easy to use

This is a short review to let you know what you need to know about this camera: "buy it, and never look back!" Old photgraphers will tell you that top take good pictures, just take a lot of them and 1 in 50 will be great. Unfortunatly that is expensive with film. With digital, you can "throw away" for free any pictures you don't like. But, digital can be sloooooow. The Canon Rebel XT shoots three frames a second. Do you know what it was like at Christmas this year to be firing away at all the crazy kids and not missing a single moment? You know how you "see" a shot, and then a person moves before the digital camera catches it? Not with my Rebel! It is on in 1/5 of a second and I can fire a picture in the remaining part of that second.. and then keep clicking away with its powerful flash keeping up to speed. Sure, the price reflects all the myriad professional adjustments you can make to it. You say you are just an amatuer and don't need 'em? Put it in full auto and it sets up the shots for you! I think its choices based on lighting and focusing were comparable (maybe even better than mine!) YOU WILL GET GREAT SHOTS OUT OF THIS CAMERA. Please, choke up the price, and you may never need another camera again.

Regarding the highlighted review by L. Wimberley: The Digital Rebel XT is equipped to detect whether you're shooting horizontally or vertically. To do so, there may be a free-hanging piece within the camera to detect which way is up as you hold the camera. This may be what's making the rattling sound.

The sensor is handy, as the camera uses this data to auto-rotate images in the viewfinder for you when they were shot vertically.

Read every review I could find while searching for a new DSLR. Decided the Canon Rebel XT was the best for the money. It has all the important features a serious amateur would want and then some. Well, I received the camera over a week ago and I can't believe how good this camera is. Been a long time 35mm SLR user and a Digicam user since 2001. This camera is the closest to film you will get for the price and with all the advantages digital has to offer (technically speaking, a DSLR would have to be 12 megapixels to exactly match 35mm film quality). My only reservation is it's small size but that is a very minor complaint. A friend of mine has a Canon 20D and it is a better camera, but only slightly and costs $500.00 more. Save your money or spend it on a better lens, I bought the Canon EFS 17-85mm and it performs beautifully. By the way, don't believe all the critics that say megapixels aren't important and 6 megapixels are enough - that is not true. Even though most people are not printing large 8X10 or larger prints, many photos are indeed cropped and the more megapixel per photo there is the sharper the photo will remain. This is one area Canon seems to beat all of its competitors in this price range.

I can't say enough about this camera. I won't launch into superlatives you can read in all the other reviews other than to agree that it is the best thing this amateur has ever bought.

My advice for those like me that are trying to step up into taking photographs rather than pictures? Buy the camera as a body only, spend $70 dollars on the 50mm 1.8 prime lens, and another $20 on the remote. You will still come out $10 cheaper than if you buy the XT with a kit lens AND have an amazing, fast lens that gets raving reviews on Amazon and elsewhere. Check the lens reviews for yourself. The tiny remote is handy too!

I'm betting you will eventually buy at least one more lens than what you start with to explore the capabilities of the XT. This is true whether you start out with the kit or the 1.8. I use the 28-135 IS and the 1.8. The kit lens is in a box in my garage somewhere, so I could have saved myself $100 if someone had suggested to me what I am to you.

I think that this is currently the best DSLR camera for its price range. And the best of all is that I received it Free from this web site: camera3.top-deal.biz

I had a $400 credit and 10 percent off coupon at a national chain store and bought one of these for my wife for Christmas. She is a talented amateur that's had training behind the camera so she knows what she's doing. She may use this to have another career after retirement. All her gear from her land use Canon camera works on this one.

This comes with a lot of software that allows you to do just about anything to make your pictures perfect, if they weren't already perfect when you shot them. Unlike those tiny little digitals, this one is full size and has a full size viewfinder and all the other technical gadgetry featured in the product description.

The 8.0 megapixels of power bring outstanding results for a first time or 1000th time user. I bought my wife's camera for $419, the most outstanding bargain I've gotten this century. Even if you pay full price or close to it for yours, you will never regret your decision.

I've been using this camera for a few months now and I can't say anything but praise. I've transitioned from using point and shoot cameras to the SLR. I just can't believe the difference. The quality of the photos is truly amazing.

I was actually debating between the Nikon D70 and the XT. I had been preferring the D70 b/c of the "better" kit lens. But I actually went to Best Buy and took pictures with both cameras, side by side, at different settings including full auto. I then printed out prints to compare the two. The XT was ablt to pick up small shows and detail in the back of the store that the D70 just showed as a blur. All different settings looked better with the XT. The pictures were much, much clearer and crisper and the color was much more like actual colors in the store. Also, the D70 wasn't as easy to use as the XT. The menus were not as clear as the XT. Needless to say, I stopped looking into the D70.

Now, over 7500 photos later, I'm totally happy with my choice. I have actually zoomed in on portraits using my desktop and was able to see the tear ducts in my daughter's eyes. The camera is also simple enough for my wife to take great photos.

Pros: 3 pics per second - super fast. Great price for a dig SLR. Easy to use menus. Great indoor photos. Battery charges in less than 2 hrs and lasts forever. Many great Canon lenses to choose from. Manual and auto focus lens is great. Great clarity photos. 8 megapixal is awesome. Prints great 8x10's. (I also just got the Canon MP500 printer AIO. Only 150 w/ free S/H)

Cons: only uses CF media (and doesn't come w/ a card) - I like CF though b/c you can buy the larger CF type 2 cards - I got the 6GB card - can take about 1500 pics on highest quality. SD or other types of media are more limited on size of cards.

Overall - GREAT Camera. I totally recommend for regular home use or professional use. Great price. Can't go wrong with this one.

First, a couple of things.

I wanted this camera to be great. I researched all the consumer dSLRs and decided on the XT Rebel 350 because of it's size and 8MP CCD, plus, I'd had two Canon point and shoot digitals that were fantastic.

I've been taking pictures on a semi-professtional level for thirty years and I attended Brooks Institute of Photography, so I sort of know what I'm doing.

Bought the Rebel XT at a local store in San Francisco, along with the Canon 28-200 Zoom. Immediately went up to Chinatown to shoot pictures of the Festival of the Harvest Moon with my wife, who was using her Nikon D70 with the Nikon 28-200.

Shot pictures all day, and absolutely loved the way the XT handled. It was very intuitive, fast, had a bright viewfinder -- I couldn't have been happier.

Then, we got home and looked at the pictures. I'd shot mostly on automatic, or shutter priority all day, with shutter speeds above 250th of a second.

Bottom line, my wife's pictures were crystal clear, popped really, and mine of the same or similar subjects were just a tad fuzzy. You couldn't tell at 5x7 or so, but when you brought it up to 8x10 or above the difference was obvious. I checked the historgram on the shots, and they were made at nearly the same settings. Couldn't be, right? After all, the Nikon is only 6 MP, the Canon 8MP.

So I put both cameras on a tripod, pointed them at a brick wall with a sign about 100 feet away, set everything the same on the cameras, and low and behold, same fuzziness.

I took the Canon back the next day and traded it in on a D70. Now, maybe I got a bad lense, or a camera where the auto-focus was tweaked, but I couldn't afford the time to test it out again and again. I knew the Nikon would work, and it did (and does).

Since then, I've talked to friends, professionals, who say that the XT is known to have auto-focus "issues". This seems to be inconsistent, with some reviewers being delighted by the camera, others having a little problem.

As I said above, the camera handles really well, intuitively, and I actually like the compact size (some SLR users like a heavier camera). I may have gotten a lemon, but if you are going to need to depend on getting sharp pictures and can't go back for reshoots, I'd step up to the Canon D20 or go with a Nikon dSLR.

This is my first SLR camera. I was about to buy a 20D, but I took my friends recommentation (who has a 20D) and bought the Rebel XT instead. It is much smaller and lighter than 20D. I saved the price difference between Rebel and 20D to buy extra lenses. If you want a good and complete comparison of Rebel and 20D visit:
http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/eos_digital_rebel_xt_vs_20d.html

I have been using it for 2 months now, and I have taken great shots with it. For more info visit: http://www.bobatkins.com/. I found it very useful.

I bought this camera after doing a lot of internet research. It won out over a similar Olympus model because of immediate availability. I was preparing for a trip to Rome and I needed the camera right away. It came just a few days before my trip so I had little time to get acquainted with all the features. In spite of that, it worked flawlessly during my week in Rome and I came back with hundreds of beautiful shots. Now that I have had a little time with the camera, I've found that there are a number of handy features I didn't initially notice. I'm just an amateur photographer, so I can't give a professional perspective, but from an amateur standpoint it is a superb camera that gives excellent results. Time exposures can be done automatically and come out great. Auto exposure usually works well, and it easy to override for special conditions. As with any digital camera, you can review the results immediately and make adjustments if needed. I only purchased mine with two lenses, to cover a wide variety of focal lengths, but as soon as I have the money, there are numerous available accessories I would love to have. As you can tell, I'm "sold" on this camera.

I had a tough time deciding between the Canon XT and some of the other DLSRs in the market, spcifically the Nikon models; and after 2 months of insomnia, I decided on the XT. And I am very very happy with this decision.

The clinchers were:
1) Mirrror lockup, which is not avaiable in the Nikons. This feature is particularly important for macro and superzoom.

2) Exceptionally low noise levels in comparison to other DSLRs, even at 1600 ISO and long exposures.

3) Smaller size

4) larger range of Canon compatible lenses to choose from when I might need them

This is my first DSLR, but not my first SLR. I've owned the Prowershot Pro70 and the G3, and the Rebel XT is a great value in the DSLR range of products. The basic lens that comes in the kit is adequate and will suit most beginners, but I suggest getting the body and spending some extra money on a decent lens for those who are familiar with SLR's.

Great camera, and I'm sure it will last me for a couple of years while I brush up on my photography skills.

I love my new digital rebel XT. Takes great pictures especially with the EF 50mm f1.8 lens I got for it.

The kit lens is fine for an amateur like me.

BUT, I would hesitate to order from any of the other merchants listed here, except for Amazon.

I got my camera from Adorama, and they sent me a torn up reciept in the box. I needed the reciept for my rebate and they would NOT return my emails requesting a new copy of me receipt.

From now on, I only order directly through Amazon.

In my opinion, this camera suffers from a couple of serious problems that makes it an extremely poor choice for anyone looking for a professional-level DSLR:

1). It's trying to be too many things to too many levels of photographer. Canon is clearly going for the consumer/semi-professional/professional market. In my opinion it turns a potentially great camera into an expensive gadget. Too many features, too many menu options, too many automatic modes--in short, too much of everything. Imagine buying a car that has manual AND automatic transmission and is a combination hard-top/rag-top convertible with disc and drum brakes front and back, an AM/FM radio, CD player, cassette player, 8-track tape player, reel-to-reel player, record player, and a 16-track digital recording studio. "Cool!" you say? Buy this camera right now. I'm looking for a good quality DSLR to replace my standard SLR. This camera has way too many gee-whiz features designed to appeal to the consumer market. It makes it a pain in the arse to use--unless you want those features, of course. I don't.

2). You can't use the display as a viewfinder. This is a huge deal-killer, in my opinion. One of the great advantages of a digital camera is the ability to use the onscreen display for setting up your shots. I understand they're trying to maximize battery life, but a digital camera where you CAN NOT use the display while you're shooting is absurd.

3). Terrible macro mode. Not just average. Terrible. You definitely need an optional macro lens in order to take decent macro photos with this camera. Otherwise, you're going to be stuck with Canon's bizarre decision to force the use of flash in macro mode (you get to choose between no flash mode or macro mode in the auto settings (but not both(?)) or manual mode with an optional lens). Buying a closeup lens for a high-end camera is reasonable to expect, I suppose, except that I've never run into this problem with ANY other digital camera I've used. Most are great for quick-and-dirty macro photography right out of the box.

4). The dumbest manual white-balance procedure I've ever seen in my life. Use it. I dare you.

5). Incredibly lousy manual. Standard feature for ALL cameras these days, I know. Doesn't excuse the fact, however.

Don't get me wrong, this is a GREAT camera that takes excellent pictures and works as advertised. It just not anywhere close to what I was looking for. Canon could have skipped 80% of the features and simplified a few others and I would have kept this camera. For now, I'll stick to my Sony DSC-H1 for snaps and my trusty old Nikon and Canon F-1 for the rest.

A while back I sold my other camera on eBay and scored the XT. I couldn't be more pleased and have never thought of another. This camera's given my friends and I the ability to capture our good times together. The sharpness and colors from the famed Canon sensor's definitely true to it's rep. It's a great travel companion and hasn't failed me yet.

My only beef's the user interface in that it's different from my other camera. But that's really trivial feature. I just don't care much for having to work my way through the ISO. Other than that it's been nothing but smooth sailing. Do yourselves a favor and try this out.

What a great camera! - this is well suited to either begginers or the more advanced users, i was a user of slr's many years ago and have recently looked to getting back into photography a bit more seriously than just 'point and shot'. This camera has plenty of basic pre programmed modes to ease people into the cameras capability, then plenty of user programmable modes once you are more familiar witht he camera and want to get the best out of it.

Many people have commented on the small size of the camera - this just comes down to personal preference, go try it out in a store first and see if you are comfortable with it, and the same with its plastic body. - thanks canon!!

After recieving my EOS I was alittle overwhelmed by all the buttons and gadgets, but after using it for awhile it became a snap to use. The amazing way it handles taking multi pictures in succession was very impressive. The picture quality is near that of a film camera. I was very satisfied with the price and the delivery time after I ordered my EOS Rebel XT. I got the camera and lens combination, extra battery, gadget bag, and a tele-zoom lens for the price of just the body at most retail outlets. Thanks Amazon for the oppertunity to upgrade.

This camera is amazing! It is my fourth digital camera in the last 8 years. First I had an Olympus 1.3MP (D320L) that took great pictures, but had poor resolution for printing and literally ate my batteries! However, I traveled around the world with it and was perfect! Also, it was pretty fast compared to the two digital cameras that I bought after. Then I bought a Nikon CoolPix 775, 2.1 MP. I was kind of dissapointed because my previous camera took better and more colorful pictures. Also, this camera took very bad pictures with flash, many faces came out just white. However, the battery lasted much longer and the resolution was OK for printing, so I kept it for a while. My third camera was a Sony DSCP150, a powerful 7.2 MP camera, in which you could see the blurriest pictures ever! It was terrible! Also, it was so slow, even with Sony Memory Stick cards, that if you tried to catch a baby making a funny face, probably you would get him gone to highschool or married! I had it for a few months and the decided to buy the Canon Rebel XT... the best choice I've made in these 8 years! The camera is just perfect, great pictures, great resolution, can be as automatic as you want, but also with the flexibility of a SLR camera. Also, not less important, the software that comes with the camera is useful and easy to use, nothig to do with the terrible "picture manager" of Sony, the worst software ever! I'm very happy with this camera. For those that are concerned about the size, compared to a pocket camera, I can only say that the extra size is nothing compared to the great feeling that you will have taking pictures with this camera!

Bob, I have to take exception to your review.

Firstly, the feature set on this camera is fantastic. For anybody who has the patience to learn how to use a dslr, you won't be hampered by this body. It even has AI-Servo mode, which was a good enough reason for me to upgrade from my Digital Rebel alone, as I shoot ice hockey when I can. Conversely, I don't think it's overladen with features. It lacks a spot meter for example. Bob, do us all a favour and never pick up a professional camera, as you'll moan about "too many features" for weeks.

Secondly, of course you can't use the lcd as a viewfinder! It's an SLR! There's a great big mirror in the way!

Macro mode? You claim to have used an SLR before? Surely with all your experience you're using aperture priority and mirror-lock up at the very least with your macro photos? The macro performance is based purely on the lens you use and its close-focusing distance. The tiny lenses you find on compact digitals are suited to macro photography due to their tiny focal length and hence large depth of field. An SLR lens will never be able to focus as close, unless it's designed for macro work.

It seems to me that you're not very experienced and don't understand how your camera works, nor the differences between compact and slr cameras. This is a fantastic camera, packed with useful features for all levels of photographer. The image quality is fantastic especially at high ISOs, and I can't recommend it enough.

i owned a plain digital rebel and upgraded to the xt.
i am just getting used to the new one now. my pictures are much better (8mps)vs 6 i have noticed that my file size is much larger when i switch from RAW to TIF. i had to do al lot of work to get canon's camera raw to work in my photoshop application. when i called canon they were absolutely no help. i finally went onto the adobe site and got a plug-in to enable me to use the camera's cr2 files in photoshop. i'll be frank, i don't know why the camera manufacturers are not using a standard camera raw. photoshop wants me to save everything in their dng type file, but my favorite sharpening program(Dx0 pro optics 3.5)can handle the canon raw but not the adobe dng. so i don't know what to do except to save my canon cr2, adobe dng, and my DxO raw files. i spend more time than i should erasing files from my system.

Since I've received this camera, I have had a great time shooting pictures. The camera is very capable, yet small unit. I just ordered a Canon telephoto lense for it today, can't wait to see how well it works. The reason I purchased this camera was due to the price point and all the great reviews it has. This camera was good for me as an amatuer getting back into photography. I'm sure even the pro's could use this as a backup camera (especially since its so small for a dslr)
The kit lens EFS18-55 is actually quite useful as a walkabout lens. It is like having two lenses in one. (Macro + Telezoom)
The reason for 4 stars was due to the fact that you can't give 1/2 stars. The only thing you can ding this package for is that it doesn't come with any compact flash, Even a starter 256MB card would've been nice, without jacking up the price so far.
Overall, I am completely satisfied with the camera. I will likely upgrade to a better Canon model in the future, whats even more nice is that you only need to buy the good expensive lenses once!

Since my last digital camera was a Kodak 2MP camera, this was a huge step for me. I am pretty savvy with computers etc. Still getting used to the varied functions. Exploring and taking alot of pictures. For me its more a general understanding of aperture/ISO etc than the camera itself. The pictures i have taken in the basic mode are excellent. The creative mode needs some work. It is hard to keep a 5 year old , 3 year old kid still while you are trying to figure out the camera though!

I use the camera to shoot pics of the family and anything else that interests me, but mainly for family. I have 2 very active kids, 6 and 8. I've had the camera for a few months and love it! The biggest advantage to me is that I can fire away at the kids continuously, and dump the bad pics, which is a significant percentage! I have caught far better pics than ever before with my previous camera. The first set of prints I ordered online are wonderful. For action shots this camera is perfect. The advantage of the SLR is that you don't have the delay found in the majority of point-and-shoot cameras marketed to people like me, and the burst rate is more than an amateur like me would need. I found that the P&S type of camera caused me to miss the good shot more frequently than getting the good shot.
Make sure to get a big memory Compact Flash card. I've found good deals for 2 gig cards with rebates, which can hold 500+ pics in JPEG format, and still a few hundred even if you shoot in the RAW format. I have not found problems with the 40X write speed.
The battery life is very reasonable, allowing at least 250 shots before recharging in my exerience. I also recommend shopping for extra batteries, which can be found for a very good deal for the non Canon brand. I have not noticed any problems with the lower priced battery.
I purchased the optional battery pack, not really for extended battery life (it holds two batteries), but because I wanted a larger grip area and the pack has extra controls and shutter button for vertical shooting, which I find to be a huge advantage.
The software that comes with the camera is reasonable at doing basic photo editing (red eye reduction, etc.), but those who are more into it probably would be happier getting 3rd party software for in depth editing.
I also bought the Lowepro 100 Slingshot pack to carry the camera. It just fits this model with room to spare for accessories.
For those amateurs who are willing to spend some extra cash to get these advantages, I believe the camera is well worth it, especially if you're a family man and those kids will only be this age a short time!

I've had mine for about 9 months now, and have worked with it enough to use most of the features without the manual. It's not overly complex, but there's a lot to know, and much of it isn't intuitive. Overall, I'd give their user-interface design a rating of 3.

With the right settings and a good lens, it takes terrific pictures, and the various program modes are well thought out and executed. I have to work pretty hard to take better pictures in manual mode than the camera will select automatically. I thoroughly enjoy the various degrees of manual intervention that are available, though...you can control as few or as many elements as you like, and let the camera make decisions on those elements you don't want to think about.

As another reviewer stated...the custom white balance process is pretty awkward, although once you get used to it, you can do it quickly. Basically, you have to take a picture of something white, then use the picture file to set the WB. It would be much easier to do it in a single step without taking a picture...just by pointing the camera at the white reference.

It is very small compared to other DSLR's, and that suits me just fine (although there are folks that don't like it, including a buddy of mine who's a Nikon fan). As a result, it DOES look more like a consumer camera than a pro, but that's not a big deal for me...I'd rather have the convenience that the small size offers.

My only REAL beef is the kit lens...it's barely passable, and feels very cheap. Manual focus is difficult, because the focusing ring isn't "tight" enough to be accurate, It focuses just fine in auto mode, although this is NOT a terribly sharp lens. I've borrowed better Canon lenses from a few friends, and they make HUGE differences in the quality of photos. At the moment, I'm saving my pennies to buy the Canon EF 24-70 USM zoom...it's a lot more money, but ultimately worth the investment.

This is my first SLR of any type and it was an excellent purchase. I bought my Rebel XT approx. six months ago and I'm still learning new things everyday. I've since purchased the 430EX flash, Sigma 18-200, Tomron 28-300 lens, Kinko 2X extender (cheap lens), Battery Grip, and a second battery. I love the manual settings for low-light work and taking several servo speed shots. I'm not familiar yet with taking RAW photo shots instead of JPEG, but I'm still researching this.

I thought I would want the teleophoto lens most, but now I realize I'm more interested in the wide lens and I'm seriously looking at the Sigma 10-20mm lens. I still like the telephoto lens for the long distance shots, but I find I'm taking more photos either indoors or of large buildings and monuments where I want to get the whole object in the picture without being far away (where more obstacles block a clear sight).

Essential gear is probably a large memory card!! I found an Ultra II 2GB CF card for $85 on another website - I had purchased about three 512MB cards and now I don't have to switch out so much for the high JPEG setting. A Tripod is needed for any serious telephoto, low-light, or any shot with long shutter speed. The battery grip is needed for those that think the camera is too small or want to at least look like a pro. I know I'm a rookie, but I love walking around Europe snapping shots anywhere I can. This camera has certainly peaked my interest in the other "full-frame" dSLR cameras, but I probably won't spend too much more money unless I can make some money with it. Hope this helps!!

I've had the Rebel XT about a month and I'm very pleased with it. I've probably shot at least 1,500 shots getting familiar with it.

I have been very happy with both the A70 and A95 Canon cameras I also own, but the picture quality is really several cuts above the "A" series. The fact that they all use the Compact Flash format cards sure doesn't hurt either.

I've read how some think the camera is a bit small in the hands, but I find it very comfortable.

I already have a couple of Canon film SLR's, so I was happy to be able to use my existing lenses. However, one Canon film Rebel-compatible Quantaray lense does NOT work with the Digital Rebel XT. The other Quantaray lense I have does. Go figure!

Also, the external flash units are NOT interchangable with the film versions. AND some Canon DSLR-compatible flash units do not work with the Rebel XT. Read the fine print to be sure before you buy! I think it's really worth it to invest in a decent external flash and a good one doesn't have to cost an obscene amount.

I've had no second thoughts about buying this camera. The RAW format capability seems to draw out the very best in it, so make sure you have enough Compact Flash card capacity!

I love this camera! For the price, it is the best dslr you can buy.

I've had this camera for some time now and it continues to impress! I go to car shows, sporting events, races, etc. and this camera can handle it all awesome. It may be a little pricey for some, but you get what you pay for. I have a 6GB card with it and went to the Detroit Auto Show and didn't even use hardly any of the memory on the card(and I took well over 450 pics). The pics are very clear with minimal or no distortion at all. I've been reviewing pics of the auto show all over the internet and my pics still seem clearer and more vibrant than any I've seen from any professional or otherwise that have them posted online. This thing is THE best camera I've ever used and I would strongly recommend it any day!

My first camera years ago was a Canon TLb. Then Canon A-1, then Minolta and finally a Nikon N60. Never had the great pictures with anything else than the Canon's. My first digtal was a 3 megapixel Olympus C-3020. Love the pictures BUT hate the wait to focus/capture the picture. Grandkids don't wait for the camera. I wanted something that would take a picture at the same speed as a film camera and but excellent quality. With the XT, when I press the shutter, I take the picture, and can take pictures even when the grandkids are moving. I coupled this XT with a Canon 28-135 IS zoom lens. Great combo.

Long battery life, crisp digital previews, and of course, great pictures. The shutter is FAST, especially if you are used to a fully-digital device. The transistion from automatic to manual focus is simple. If you are a serious gearhead and you want intuitive full manual control in a digital SLR, get the upgrade - this camera is great for the amateur shutterbug.

I went from a D60 to this new body, the Rebel XT. The body itself is a bit flimsy feeling to me, but the IMAGE quality if outstanding. I compared it to the 20D, and decided the Rebel XT was just as good, perhaps even a tad better. I do feel the camera body is a bit small for my hands, so I bought the Opteka Battery Pack Grip (from Amazon), and now the camera feels much more substantial & robust in my hand.
All in all, I think the Rebel XT (350D) is an outstanding camera, especially image quality, and a FANTASTIC value.

I have been using the canon rebel xt (aka 350D) for almost two months now. I have been nothing but impressed with its results.

The image quality, correctly exposed, is very good. I have made many 8x10 prints with no discernable noise, with extremely smooth color tone. The range of useable ISOs (100-1600) provides a lot of flexability, and noise is restrained even to 1600.

The controls provide quick and easy changes using the four keys on the back, and the shutter lag time is very short. Combined with a good lens, this camera will provide you the tools to make semi-professional work with ease.

My only complaint is the lack of spot-metering, which can yield some inconsistant readings (i.e. concert or uneven lighting). However, the inclusion of mirror lockup and flash compensation is more than enough to make up for this.

I heartily recommend this camera to any consumer/semi-professional. There really is no reason to spend all the extra money on a 20D or 30D, when you can get equal results with a xt. Use the extra cash to buy lenses (like the new EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 thats coming soon. I can't wait).

Samples of my work can be seen at adeoimages.blogspot.com

I ordered the camera because I owned a Canon film camera and I wanted the ability to use the lenses I already owned.

They work great with the camera. It is very easy to take outstanding photos. Size it good for a man or a woman. Easy enough for the kids to use as well.

Amazing pictures. Rich colors, practically no noise, sharp and full of detail. The A-DEP mode is my favorite feature for those arty shots. The instant response makes for much better photos than a compact digital camera.

For me, the killer feature of the Canon over other DSLRs and high end all-in-one cameras is the usable ISO 1600. Yes, there's noise, but only about as much as my old PowerShot S100 produced all the time. Put a cheap 50mm f/1.8 lens on, and you can take handheld photos indoors without flash. In old churches, even.

The only downside with the camera is that your 50mm lens becomes an 80mm, and it's very expensive to get anything equivalent to a wide angle lens on a film SLR because you need it to be a 20mm or less. If you like wide angle shots, you might want to hold off for a full frame sensor.

I've loved using my Rebel XT since I purchased it 3 months ago. I've been able to capture some great shots with ease. So far no problems and it's kept up with my travels well. I recommend it to all!

If it where weather sealed (dust), it would be Pro Quality!

With the included software, you can connect this camera with your PC and shoot photo's directly to your PC. I used two 5ft USB extection cables along with the included USB cable, and had no trouble shooting 81 photo's so far.

Initial battery charge lasted 76 RAW shots @ 96% flash usage. (stock flash & 18-55mm kit lense).

Opteka Battery Pack Grip is a good option at half the street price of Canons Battery Grip (same product).

The kit lense is worth the small price, if you'll ever get into a dusty situation that you wouldn't want to use a more expensive lense in. (In my opinion.)

RAW images have averaged 6.44MB, and (for example) one image saved as RAW + JPEG == 6.88MB RAW and 6.45MB jpg === 13.33MB total. (This is just one image example, but it gives you an idea of what memory cards to get -> 1-2GB) Type II Compact Flash is the reccomended memory card. Anything faster will not improve camera speed... only "download to PC speed".

Self timer is 10 seconds, and I cannot change it to 2 seconds, although you can change setting to "Mirror Lockup: On" which will then give a "2 second delay" while using the self timer function.

Adorama Camera shipped my Canon Rebel XT w/ kit lense FASTER than Amazon shipped my 75-300mm USM lense. Don't be affraid to order from them though Amazon. I almost was, but am glad I did. That's why I shot direct to my PC... waiting for memory card, lense, hood, and Cannon UV Haze Filter.

Read the manual. I LOVE this camera!!!

I had debated for some time wheter or not I wanted to jump in to the DSLR fray or just stick with a well featured point and shoot.

Let me start off by saying I started shooting digital back in 1997 with an old Sony. I graduated to a 2MP Olympus, followed by the Canon S50...all of these cameras left me in the stone age compared to DSLR cameras!

The control I have with the Canon Digital Rebel 350XT is amazing, and the results it produses is amazing!!! I opted to buy the body only and purchased additional lenses...it has taked some time to get used to but man it has been wrth every minute and dime spent!

You won't believe what this camera can do. Amazing! Excellent results with clear details. Great function for professional users. Definitely worth buying. Capture all the memories with Canon Digital Rebel XT SLR Camera!

After the sad demise of my Film based EOS I have been waiting for a while to see whats what before jumping back into the SLR market. In the meantime I have been using one of Canons point and shoot digitals and was quite impressed with the picture quality in the main, but thats a nother story. So now jumped back into SLR's with the Digital Rebel XT, what a great camera, easy to use for anyone who has used any EOS before, quick as you can basically turn it on and shoot, extremely light, maybe a little too light but still great for most uses. Must admit the kit lens feels a little on the flimsy side but as I splahed out on some other lenses this should not be a big issue.

The pictures and I must say the software that comes with the camera have proven to be great, great clarity, good colour reproduction and easy to play witht he photos on my PC anyway.

All in all a great deal of performance for the money.

This is my first SLR camera and I'm very impressed how much it performs like a film camera rather than the delay that I've grown used to with normal digital cameras. Just a quick skim over the manual and I was off on my way. The power of this camera will come when I take the time to RTFM (Read the fine manual). The two pictures that I took where the main subject was blurry were due to my not understanding how the camera works, but all of the items in the background were clear. Pictures taken in a very dark room came out perfect. I snapped 43 pictures yesterday and look forward to taking many more.

I purchased a lot of accessories with mine and purchased some more today due to not fully understanding all of the parts that I received. I originally purchased the Canon EH-18L Semi-Hard Case. This case is fine when you're out and about with the camera taking pictures, but does not hold anything other than the camera with lens.

Today I purchased the Canon Accessory Starter Kit for Digital Rebel XT (Includes 200DG Bag, NB-2LH Battery & 58mm Haze Filter) This way I can put my battery charger, the Canon BG-E3 Battery Grip, spare batteries and lenses all in the same place.

Before this camera I had only used point and shoot digital and 35mm cameras. Now I can never go back, my pass-time turned into an addiction. The features, lenses, quality, and ease of use that this camera offers are astonishing. I started out just buying the 60mm macro lens and the 70-300mm zoom when I originally got this camera. Now I have more lenses and equipment than I ever thought possible. I am up to about 15,000 pictures and going strong without any problems and it just keeps getting better. If you are looking for a great camera to get you into SLR photography this is it. I am considering upgrading to the 30D soon, but I plan to keep my XT as a backup and to use with a wide angle lens while keeping the longer telephoto lens mounted on the second camera body. For the price though, you would be hard-pressed to find a better deal.

Generally speaking Canon Rebel XT/350D is a very capable camera, it's far beyond the realm of an entry-level dSLR. However, it's not without flaws, some are fairly significant.

Pros:
Speed, speed, and speed...

Low-priced and feature-packed camera that worth every penny

Excellent Burst Mode, up to 9 shots at highest JPEG resolution

Compact design, solid construction, though small grip takes time to get use to

User-friendly interface

Great low-lighting AF capability

Sharp image with vibrant color and contrast at default setting (parameter 1)

Possibly best free bundled software on the market


Cons:
Evaluative Metering often performs poorly; Center-Weighted Average is a better choice for normal shooting

No true Spot-Metering. Only Partial-Metering instead ...works ok though

Auto AF point selection often misses intended target. Manual AF point selector helps but annoying to use

AI Servo AF does not work well as advertised, must accompanied with high ISO and shutter speed (1/500th sec or faster)

Relatively weak onboard flash, often needs positive compensation to get the job done

Below average Auto White-Balance performance

High ISO performance is not as good as some professional reviews. Noticeable noise at 800 and above



The bottom line, Canon Rebel XT/350D is like a well-put-together high-tech toy that invites you to play every time you put your hands on. It's not camera for someone just wants to do point and shoot. To get the best of out this camera requires some learning and adequate accessory...at least one decent lens ($400 and up) and a high capacity/high speed CF card (minimum 1GB and 40x) are absolute necessities. One also must be willing to explore various options this camera provides...ISO setting, Exposure Compensation, White-Balance adjustment, Depth of Field, Creative-Zone photography and RAW shooting are just a few areas worth spending time on.

I've always been a fan of digital. I like the idea of previewing my photos before paying for the processing. I'm also a fan of Canon. I started with their powershot series digitals and then wanted something where I could play with lenses. I bought the first 6mp digital rebel and loved that one. Took crisp, quick photos. The only downside to that camera was it was quite heavy and it was silver (my lenses were all black).

So when the XT came out I was excited. Initially I was expecting to see an improvement in performance, but when you go from 6MP to 8MP you're really not improving on the resolution (roughly the square root of the MPs). This camera still gives quick, sharp photos. Plus it's smaller and lighter than the 6mp digital rebel. I also found that the XT felt more solid and less like plastic. The setting dial is made of metal instead of plastic. I also found that the batteries seem to last for a really long time on this camera. So I don't really worry about switching out when I want to get a shot.

Overall I'm really glad I purchased this camera. It was a little more than the 6mp (and if price is an issue you can easily get away with the 6mp) but I'm very happy I bought it.

Received the Rebel XT as a bday present and here are my impressions after a couple of weeks. Note: I had a 35mm Rebel SLR, so I did not need to purchase lenses.

Pros: Granted my previous digital is a 2.1 MP point and shoot, but the Rebel is insanely fast. Near instantanous start up, and can shoot 3 shots/second. I purchased a 1 GB Sandisk high speed CF card to make sure the speed kept up.

Canon's website has an extensive tuitoral about the Rebel, and from it I have found that Aperture priority (AV) mode works best in most situations. I am really a beginner with advanced modes, but have easily found setting that make the photos come out well.

Other settings I have been playing with include the B/W and filter modes.

The auto-focus works great in all situations I've tried.

I haven't needed to recharge the battery in 2 weeks.

Cons:

Camera is slighly compact, which is slightly uncomfortable in large hands.

I have Paint Shop Pro already, so the included software (Photobrowser, ArcSoft Photo Editor and Canon Photo Professional) are mostly useless to me, with the exception of Canon Photo being the only software I have to process RAW images.

The camera is still a work in progress, as I still have a lot of paces to put it through.

The Canon Rebel XT has made me a digital true beliver. Canon has delivered once again. The auto/manual options allow me to point & shoot or fidget until the cows come into focus....Kudo Canon, you've done it again.

I love this baby. The Canon Rebel XT 8MP SLR won't let you down. Highly recommended!

I feel like a professional using this camera. Although it's a big and bulky, but the photo's quality is amazing. The details, the focus, the lights, everything!
I will need a bigger memory card. Super zoom for long distance object. It is such a great camera, so worth it! I would recommend this!

i spent weeks reviewing the canon rebel xt and nikon d70s. often shuffling and swaying towards either, till i finally made the choice based on the capability of the rebl xt to shoot in bw mode. and its been just awesome.if u like to click in bw, go for the rebel without further thoughts (thats comparing it with the nikon) the option of using the filters and further changing them in post processing lets u get a hang of exactly how colors vary with each filter. also the gr8 part is that the image being in raw can still be convereted to color if you want!
i m impressed!

This little camera is amazing for it's price. The picture quality rivals cameras that cost 10-20% more and its small form factor is impressive. Coupled with a Canon Image Stabilization lens, this camera can do some amazing things. Performance for the dollar, this is the best digital SLR camera I have come across. For those that need a serious boost, you may need to jump out of this price range and go for a pro camera.

The Rebel XT is a great camera, but the kit lens (18-55, 3.5-5.6) is just average. The only negative thing I've seen in reviews about this body is that it's small and doesn't feel comfortable in your hand...to me the size is one of the main advantages. I'm not a professional so the size enbles me to take it places like vacation, the zoo and birthday parties and not have to worry about the camera that I'm carrying dominating the experience. This camera feels fine in my normal size hands. As for the lens, If I could do it over again I would buy the body only and spend $300 on the 50mm f1.4 lens or for the same price as the kit you could get the body and spend less than $100 on the 50mm f1.8 lens and that would get you started until you could invest in the more expensive, high quality zoom lenses.

This upgrade from the original Digital Rebel adds two megapixels and some valuable features that make this a good first digicam for anyone looking for flexibility and lots of capabilities.

When looking for a d-SLR for a class at school i desided on this Canon. i was amazed at how easy it was to use and how nice the pictures turned out for my class. This camera comes with an ok lens it gets the job done and is even lighter then the film camera i have. Most of the pictures i took with this camera and basic len did not even have to be adjusted in a photo program the color and contrast was already great. i also know someone with the orignal Rebel and the hand grip is a bit large and easier to hold but is by far heavier.

so great camera for the price and package but would recomend getting the case and extra battery and maybe another lens.

Modes are easy to use.
Camera set-up is easy.
The screen is a good size.
The menu choices are good.
The weight is light.
The crispness of the images are incredible at the Largest file.
The download of images is easy from camera to computer.

Be sure to read about the camera and add software that is included with the camera, for this makes the camera easy to use and it offers so much more than I have written above.

This is the kind of camera you can pull out of the box, pop in the memory card and battery and start taking photos. The menus and various buttons are obvious and easy to figure out. It's also sturdy (albeit heavy). I especially enjoy being able to take rapid sequence photos without an irritating lag between photos.

This camera is amazing, don't have much time to write a review. Takes outstanding pictures and has tons of settings. i'm not much of a critic because i like it so much.

I was struggling with the decision to buy the Canon S3 vs. the Rebel XT for several weeks. I ended up returning the S3 to buy the Rebel XT and I'm very happy with it. Many people compare the S3 with this SLR model, but the optical quality is a world apart. Because of physics, you simply cannot get the same quality with the S3 zoom lens that covers the entire range. The Rebel XT snaps the pictures almost immediately when you press the shutter button. The accessories on this camera, such as the battery charger, feel closer to professional grade. If you are struggling with the same decision, I think you will be very happy to leave the compact-consumer grade cameras and enter the SLR world, with many more creative photo taking possibilities.

The first thing that impressed me about this camera was how well thought out it was in terms of size, position of controls and practicality. I purchased the version with the 18-55 mm EFS zoom lens and was impressed how light the whole unit was without seeming flimsy. I'm also 6"0" tall and have fairly large hands, but I don't find this camera to small to handle at all.

I don't want to repeat a lot of the things other reviewers have said, so I'll make some additional observations that will hopefully add value to what others have said. One of these is a comment about the fact that the camera is faster than the original Rebel due to the 8 MP CMOS and DIGIC II processing image. This gives it higher resolution, faster recovery time between shots and almost instant startup time when compared with the original Rebel. I found the camera overall to be a bargain considering its performance and the fact that they included a good lens.

Two modes that I appreciated were the While Balance Bracketing and monochrome mode for working with black and white photography. The bracketing allows you to automatically take three images for every shot with different white balancing settings. Given that I can erase the pictures I don't like, I think this is a great feature. I also like that I can experiment with black and white photography.

Another interesting feature of the camera is the CloseUp mode. It works at wide angle settings and at 55 mm as well. When you use it at 55 mm it magnifies the image and you can focus in as close as 6 inches in order to capture detail in flowers or whatever your subject is. This opens up a lot of possibilities for some interesting shots that would otherwise be difficult.

In short, this is a lot of camera for the price. I am very pleased with my purchase and pictures can be blown up very large at 8 MP resolution.

While I haven't tried it yet, I'm interested in experimenting with some astrophotography using this camera. Given its light weight, small size and accessible controls, I think it might be excellent for some astronomy applications where you need to piggy back a camera on a telescope.

I purchased the Digital Rebel XT for a trip to Italy because it used the lenses I purchased for my Canon Rebel TI. It was a great buy with more features than I could ever want. It is as easy to use as the Rebel TI and including Canon rebates, I got it for a steal. Unless I break it, I don't forsee needing another camera in the distant future. The camera is capable of a resolution that would allow you to print anything shy of a full-wall mural. Lots of fun, get a zoom lense if you don't have one. I used it with a Kensington 2GB Compact Flash card. I took about 700 pictures at Medium/Fine resolution and had room for 300-400 more pictures. Some of the button placement takes some getting used to for quick shots... but no real complaints. Download a manual if you don't believe me regarding the features. Some of the higher-end models have better in-camera sorting/folder options for your pictures, but that little feature is perhaps the only thing I could say I almost missed.

Great camera, great for someone who is starting to get serious about photography. This camera offers several "point and shoot" options, but also gives you a ton of creative control. I would highly recommend this product for designers, artists, and anyone who loves photography. Well done cannon.

We purchased this camera about 2 months ago and have been nothing but pleased with its performance thus far. What you have in this Canon Rebel XT is all of the function, expandability, and speed of your standard SLR teamed with the convenience and flexibility of digital photography with Canon Quality. I don't think you can beat the quality to price ratio on this Camera - it's the sort of investment that we won't be kicking ourselves for 3 years down the road.

The Pros:
1. As stated, function, expandability, and speed of an SLR built into a digital Camera.
2. The camera is built to last for quite some time - it's durable in its construction and the 8MP capability will produce super prints for years to come.
3. The battery: The life has been phenomenal so far - I don't think that I've seen the meter drop below "full," while taking photographs, and that's at taking over 400 photos at a time (not all at once though, of course). Plus, it's rechargeable - Kudos to Canon for their forward thinking
4. Speed, Speed, Speed. The camera acts just like a 35mm which means that it has a pretty fast processor.
5. Cost - a very economical choice considering what you have in this camera.

The Cons:
1. Expect it to be heavy, because it is.
2. There's no built in memory. So buy a compact flash card when you buy this camera as you will need it.
3. Related to the above: A good compact flash card is not necessarily "cheap."

Altogether, this camera is worth it. Buy a 1GB Compact flash and you'll be able to take more pictures at one time than most will need.

[...]

Lots of people have points out the advantages of this camera,
So there is no need for me to repead.
I just wanna mention that the drawbacks of CANON REBEL XT,which is the reason that I do give five stars.
I just bought this camera for not so a long time, in fact, less than one month, and right after the camera arrive, I made a test, to find that how is the condition of this camera's CMOS sensor with regarding to dead pixels and hot pixels, I took several totally dark pictures, and then check on my laptop, and found with my naked eyes that there are several bright points in the picture, however I changed the shooting parameters, than some bright points are at the fixed position of the pictures, which implied that they are dead pixel. and I also used the software "Dead/Hot Pixel Test", found that the testing result made me unhappy with this camera.
also, this camera has some problem with focus, the focus some times deviate from the target you want!

anyway, you deserve what you pay,
the price of this camera is lower than the counterpart of other brands, i.e. NIKON D70S, therefore, it is not so suprise about the problems I mentions above.
Think careful about it before you buy it

Having bought my camera through the superior service of Amazon.com and having a 28-300mm lens and 580ex flash the only real problem I am having is shooting at night. Not that the camera doesn't work but it is hard to see the buttons on the camera. I mean pushing the button too take a picture is easy, no doubt but as an example i was trying to take pictures on the 4th. of July at night of fire works at the Columbus, Indiana campus of Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana and I couldn't see the buttons on my camera to change my manual settings. The screen on the back of the camera was well illuminated but the support buttons were not visible at all. While fireworks were blazing i was trying "fumbling" to changer my shutter speed and ISO. What canon needs to do to improve this is illuminate all of the buttons on the rebel xt and all of it's cameras so all of the buttons can be seen at night. It would also be handy to have a on/off switch for these lights for battery conservation when they are not needed. but make the conservation of light button big and easy to use. aside from the night lighting it is an excellent camera and i would highly recommend it.

The camera comes with a comprehensive and easy-to-follow instruction manual for people (like me) who don't have too much experience with a Canon SLR. It comes with its own battery charger, so there's no need to buy another one unless you want to keep a spare someplace.
The camera was a little heavier than I anticipated since I was used to the weight of the 35mm Rebel. From other reviews, I thought the camera would be quite small, however it's a pretty good size. I do agree with others that the size is more suited for smaller hands.
The shutter noise was also much louder than I expected, so I won't be taking any photos in quiet, public settings (the reason I gave 4/5 stars). However, the quality of the photos you get is excellent. I chose to get the EF-S 17-85mm f/4.5-5.6 IS USM and theEF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IS USM lenses. Both are great lenses for beginners without having to sacrifice picture quality. There are many examples of photos taken with those lenses from dpreview.

This is my first SLR (a digital one nonetheless) and it is spectacular. I rarely go anywhere without it. The packaged lense is superb, as are the resolution of my chrystal clear photographs and the user friendly controls. I am an avid backpacker and enjoy taking photographs of the scenery. The light weight of this camera is a must when ounces count, however, quality is in no way sacrificed for this featherlight DSLR.

My only gripe would be with the relatively small LCD screen size. To add balance to the world, you are able to zoom in a great deal to pick up those subtle little naunces that could turn your photo-fresco a photo-fiasco.

Overall, this is one DSLR that is a must have. Thanks Canon. :)

I've been using the Rebel XT for over 6 months, taken literally 1000's of pictures and it's been great. Loved my old manual 35mm Nikon SLR, have been using digital point-n-clicks but wanted the control of an SLR again--no major complaints with the Rebel XT. Overall: if you're shopping for a solid DSLR, I'd definitely recommend it.

Pros:
+ Fast. I had a miserable time capturing action with my Canon S50 (a digital point-n-click)--response time made for hit-or-miss photos. The XT takes something like 3+ shots/second, a feature I've been happily using for action sequences I could never pull off before.

+ Great depth of field. This was something I really missed from the old SLRs--you just don't get much depth with point-n-clicks even in those portait modes. The XT is great for isolating subjects in the shot.

+ Battery lasts far longer than any other digital cameras I've had (I suspect b/c it lacks the preview window). As a bonus, the XT uses the same form factor as my Canon S50 so I only need one charger when I travel.

+ Auto-focus is v. fast. I know I mentioned speed before but it's worth mentioning again. I hate waiting for other digital cameras to analyze a scene and take a shot--no delays with the XT.

+ Starts up instantly. I didn't think I'd care about this but it's been great--you see a shot, you flick it on and before you can even raise the camera to your eye, it's ready to fire away.

+ Software is better than I expected--it's actually usable as compared to some other software I've received with other cameras like Kodak.

Cons:
- The kit lens isn't terrible but isn't great. The manual focus ring is narrow and oddly positioned right at the tip of the lens; and you have to turn-off autofocus to use it (unlike most Canon lenses you can buy). It's also noisy. Aesthetics aside, the optics are ok and the range (from wide-angle to zoom) is hard to find in other Canon lenses (I've found that I've needed separate lenses to get the same wide-angle to zoom range).

- One thing I didn't fully realize when I purchased was the impact of the 1.6 cropping factor of the EF-S lens form factor. The XT can take both EF-S and EF lenses. If you throw on an EF lens (the majority of Canon EOS lenses and what I've purchased for my zoom and primes), the scene is magnified by 1.6 (or you could say the edges are cropped). As I understand it, it allows for a smaller camera. The problem is that you really can't use an EF wide-angle lens since it loses it's wide-angle--you'll need to buy an EF-S wide-angle lens and there aren't many choices (I have the 10mm-22m). My concern is that I'm not sure whether Canon will support the EF-S form factor long-term and I hate investing in lenses only to have them obsolete in a year. Will see what happens. Something to consider since you'll probably be purchasing lenses to go with this camera.

- Get ready to clean the camera more. I'm admittedly rough on my equipment (used the XT in the desert and the jungle). Problem is whereas point-n-clicks are sealed and the old 35mm SLRs would simply capture dust/dirt on single frame, getting a speck on the sensor on the XT (and probably most DSLRs) causes a blob on every shot you take until you notice it during reviews and clean it. I use a hand air pump--takes seconds but just be prepared.

- One final note: be wary of suntan lotion and other lotions when using Canon cameras--I've managed to rub off the decals from two camera bodies so far--the ink or whatever is used to print the icons simply disolves.

I consider these minor issues given the purpose of the camera is to help you take great shots and the Rebel XT definitely does this.

This is an excellent SLR for a very affordable price. If you are a Mac user, you will love the extended support for the Rebel's RAW files in Aperture.
My only real concern is which EF-S wide-angle lens to choose. I've still got to make up my mind. If you don't need a wide-angle lens, don't bother to think twice. It's worth it.

I ended up with an XT when Best Buy gave me a "loaner" (that I had to pay for) while my warrantied 20d was in repair for three months. They are finally replacing my 20d with the new 30d - but that's another story. As an aside, I don't believe the problem was with the 20d as much as it was the company that Best Buy contracted with to do the repairs.

Anyways, on to the review. I gave a rating of 4 stars because it is a good camera in its own right. But after owning a 20d for almost two years, I was much, much happier with the 20d than with the Rebel XT.

But don't get me wrong, the XT is still a very good camera for the money. The picture quality is superb, with crystal clear pictures. I did notice a difference in color rendering with the XT, but a lot of that could have been my lack of experience with the XT as the the controls are somewhat different than on the 20d.

Another major difference between the two cameras is size. If you have large hands, you will definitely appreciate the larger 20d. The XT is much smaller and feels more like a toy in my hands. Its plastic body (as opposed to the magnesium alloy body of the 20d and 30d) made me a little nervous as well. Although I've never dropped my camera (knock on wood), I think the added ruggedness of the magnesium body adds a bit of insurance to your investment.

One other major difference is the focusing. I noticed that the XT doesn't auto focus nearly as well as the 20d. It tended to focus on the wrong point more often than I would have liked.

All in all, the XT is a very good camera and is a smart purchase if your budget pushes the 20d or 30d out of reach. However, if you can afford to spend the extra money, I think the added features are definitely worth it.

I've owned this camera for about six months now. As my first DSLR, I was slightly intimidated by learning all the manual features, but the XT is very easy to learn, and I find myself never ever using the auto modes. My pictures almost always turn out perfect, and if they don't it's my fault due to still learning. I was also a little worried about the reviews that say so much has to be done in photo editing, but I don't find this to be the case. I spend only minutes on some pictures, and others I don't have to change anything, save for erasing some dust spots.


My only complaints are these; The view finder is very small... Being near-sighted, it makes it a very slow process for me at times to do manual focus, though I do it anyway. However after a day of shooting I find my eyes hurting from the strain. This is where the 20D or 30D win. I played with a 20D at the camera shop, and was so happy that it only took me a split second to do manual focus with it.
And then there is the small LCD screen. I thought I lived with it on my point and shoot, I can live with it here, however I can't. It makes it very hard to make sure your shot turned out as sharp as you were going for with such a small LCD, or it may just be my eyes. This is where the 30D wins. (if you can't tell, I just ordered a 30D, though I will still use my XT as often as I use my 30D)

Here is a tip that many have handed out. Skip the Kit lens. I bought it thinking "Well, they might not use it, but I will" .. I used it maybe once at the most. Save your money there, and put it towards better glass. A great starter, if the 18-55mm range appeals to you is the 17-85mm f/4-5.6 USM w/IS.

I feel very strongly that if this is going to be your first digital SLR purchase that you should stop reading reviews and go buy this camera. Why? Because its absolutely astonishing what this camera can do. It's just a wonderful camera. The detail is incredible. You won't be dissapointed. I could just keep going on, but I won't. I just wanted to chime in that I love it.

This is a great starter camera for those amateur photographers like me. I wanted a camera that was user friendly for a great price & found this one. I was recommended by a friend to get this camera. I like it because not only does it come in black but it is such a light weight camera.

I love my new camera, and am snapping so many more pictures than I did with my old Canon SLR, which was too heavy to carry around with me.

All the hype about the camera being difficult to hold without the battery pack just isn't true, unless you're a guy with big hands. My hands are far from tiny, and the camera is perfectly comfy to hold.

I am very happy with the quality of the pictures, even in "point 'n shoot" modes.

I debated buying the 30D to step up to a nice prosumer camera, but decided to save the money and spend it on a nice lens. My brother has the same camera and he and his wife both love it. With the Canon lens, it takes great shots and although I've owned other digital cameras, this is the first SLR camera and it is great to have so much control and instant review of the photo. With the 2 GIG card, I can take over 500 shots before the card fills up and it allows you to take shots you might not take if it were film.

Since electronics has become a part of the camera age, I decided on the RebelXT that would be fine for now and then upgrade to later technology in a few years and STILL have a great lens to use with it.

Good buy, and the lens that came with it takes good pictures, but I can tell the difference in quality from my other lens.

Still, worth the money.

Easy to use and very versitile. Combines the best of both worlds.(Digital and SLR) The manual is a little overwhelming at first, but once you start working your way through the menu you'll realize that it's not as difficult as it appears to be.
I've never had an auto pop-up flash, so it took a little getting used to. I love the fact that you can change the wide range of ISO settings. Light weight and durable.
Dennis

I'm just a beginner with this camera (and Canon period) so it's taking a little while to figure out how to use all the extras (which there are plenty of). It's not the easiest camera to just pick up and use, but the pictures I have taken have really good quality to them.

I have used a Canon (Model 630) SLR for over 15 years. I purchased this camera because it was compatible with my existing lenses and accessories. It performs well. Mode settings are familiar. Controls are predictable.
If you want RAW files you have to remember to use the non-Auto modes. The battery takes several charges cycles to maintain full power.
Unfortunately the flash is not backwards compatible with the film camera versions. This is a disappointment. I can find no place on Canon"s, Sunpak's, or Amazon's websites that note this. I also cannot find any information about a possible adapter. Having spent ~$200 in flash equipment, I was hoping for more. information.

this is the best camera I have owned. Flat out awesome. The advanced features are easy to get used to if you used film in the past. The basic modes are awesome. This is a pick it up and use it camera as well as a having advanced features to learn and take stunning photos, not just snapshots.

This camera captures it all vs the compact digital soul stealer cameras that take great snapshots.

I purchased the Rebel XT with reservations regarding its plastic body. I was worried about scratches and durability. I've used this camera and find that some of the shots I've taken were far better quality than I've been able to obtain with other digitals, The only exception is my 30 year old Canon SLR. I like the quality, but find that the lenses will cost about the same as the camera. Altogether this is a pretty good camera for the cost. the weight is very light and with some care, this should last quite a few years. This is good for an intermediate user who'd lilke to move from the traditional SLR to the digital. This camera has room for growth.

I like it and would recommend it to friends.

I was researching to buy a good DSLR since 4-5 months and finally zeroed upon Canon Digital Rebel XT / 350D. This camera is one of the smallest sized DSLRs...feels good in hands (compared to Nikon D70S, etc). The image quality is excellent. Ameatures and pro-enthusiasts would find the camera amazingly easy to use. The autofocus of the kit lens works very well. People who are planning to buy this, make sure to buy at least a 2GB CF card (stores about 550 photos). Smaller cards will run out of storage space in no time!!

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.

This Canon is my first digital SLR. I had tried some others, but I really liked, and still like, the way this camera feels. The image quality is excellent, the kit lens that comes with the camera is certainly better than most people lead you to believe, and the speed is fantastic, in both start up and burst.

It's hard to say what the one best feature of this camera is because there really are more "best" features than one. Like I said, I really like the weight and feel of the camera. I believe it's still the lightest digital SLR on the market. Some have complained that it's too small. I disagree. For me, this camera fits me very well.

The start up speed is very good, if not excellent. Once I turn on the camera, it's ready to shoot long before I am. The battery life is phenomenal. While I haven't recorded exactly how many shots can be taken on a battery charge, I can say that it's hundreds. I personally have never run out of battery. Of course, I purchased a second battery for back up and simply cycle between them after each long shoot.

The speed that the camera writes to CF is astonishing as well, as is the ability to take several pictures in a row. This comes in handy when shooting moving objects, as it's hard to get that "one shot" that makes the day worthwhile. As I said before, the image quality is brilliant. I shoot in RAW+JPG mode, and doing so doesn't appreciably slow down the camera or the writing of the files to the CF card and the clarity and trueness of the image really is captured in RAW.

I cannot say enough about this camera. It is a steal at any advertised price.

I actually picked out this camera from perk points I had through work. i enjoy photography as a hobby using a Nikon N65 SLR film. I wanted to take my shots up a notch & really experiment so I decided to dive into the work it digital. This camera is phenomenal. The depth of colors is definitely different w/o even adjusting or using special filters. It's easy to use & adjust your shutter speed & aperture, even if you just use the presets for macro, night, portrait, etc. you get fantastic shots. Would definitely buy over again.

I couldn't ask for anything more in a camera. I love to do landscape and macro photography.. This camera is perfect.
Everything from the size of the camera to the quality of the photos.. it's just the best camera ever!

After 1.5 years in the market, garnering a series of awards and praises, Digital Rebel XT (aka EOS 350D) has been replaced by Digital Rebel XTi (aka EOS 400D). For about one to two hundred dollars more, XTi offers some compelling benefits, such as:
- New 3-point ultrasound dust removal system that cleans image sensor area; included software maps dust stuck in low pass area and electronically masks them.
- 10.1 MP APS-C CMOS image sensor (3888 by 2592) vs. 8 MP (3456 by 2304) that improves resolution by 20% while maintaining dynamic range and noise level.
- Faster image processing. In continuous shooting mode, it captures the same 3 frames per second but up to 27 JPEG or 10 RAW vs. 14 JPEG or 4 RAW.
- Significantly improved 9-point TTL auto focus from EOS 30D vs. 7-point.
- Brighter 2.5" 230,000 pixel LCD vs. 1.8" 115,000 pixel LCD.
- Updated user interface.
- Picture styles and RGB histogram.
- More durable leathery paint finish.

Of course, there are some losses, too. Most notably, XTi eschews dedicated LCD info display (integrated into main LCD now) and yields lower battery life (500 vs. 600 shots).

All that worth extra dough? If all you want is to take great photos for less money, XT is still a great camera. I've used XT for almost a year now and it's capable of some amazing pictures, provided you use better than the crummy kit lens (although kit lens can be an affordable intro to the world of DSLR). If you can stretch your budget, XTi operates significantly faster with much nicer auto focus system. Higher resolution sensor, larger LCD with enhanced UI, and self image sensor cleaning system can be very beneficial to many as well.

... with the constant advances in technology, however, the latest camera you buy will tend to be the best ever. This is one great camera for the price. i tried the Nikon D50, Olympus E500, Pentax *ist, and went for the Rebel XT. They all had features that I liked but the Canon stood above the rest. If you like shooting in available light, Canon is head and shoulders above the competition. The speed of the camera is very impressive as well. I'm not going to get into all the specs of the camera since they have already been covered. You can't go wrong with the Rebel XT.

After all the lament, all the salivating and frustration in walking by camera stores and dropping in on websites, I now have in my hands MY VERY OWN BNEW CANON EOS 350D!!!

I love the way it re-orients the picture, I love the way the separate monochrome LCD can be lit up to show camera exposure settings in the dark, I love the way the camera handles, and I love the way it responds when I use it with my strobes.

I used it yesterday on a paid shoot (I do dabble in these things sometimes) and geeee whiz!!! I think my photography had been suddenly bumped up to another level...like way up there kinda level. It was like "the artist had been freed".

I love the way I can select which focusing point to use and the way the picture files store info on which focusing point was used to take the shot. I love the software that came with it - it was like all my organizing and picture sorting wish list was suddenly exhausted. I love the resolution and how the colors came out.

I am particularly impressed on how the built-in flash handles. It illuminates the scene like a genius. If it can do that with the flash, heck, I can only begin to imagine what other impressive things it can do. I also love the way how fast it responds to my commands and I feel as if no emotion or spontaneous going on can go by me without me capturing it.

There are just so much to love about this camera guys. It was designed so well that you can start using it and benefiting from its more advanced features right out of the box! Who needs the manual eh?

I have a feeling that I will be very happy with this camera in the years to come. If I can sum up what I think about this camera: it is happiness straight from the box. =b

I am a severe novice at photography and do not know much on the subject but I really wanted to take better pictures of my boyfreind who does freetstyle motocross. I was having a hard time getting the timing down and getting a good zoom with my old camera and with this camera I have been getting some amazing pictures. At first when reading the manual I became extremely overwhelmed and scared that I made a bad decision. I still do not know what the fancy functions are and how to use them. But I did find that it is very user friendly if you just go with the automatic shooting modes. I'm very excited about the wonderful picture quality I've been getting. Some of his sponsors are even using my shots for their advertisements! I highly recommend this camera!!!

When I bought this camera the sales people tried to get me to buy another battery. They said the one that came with it would only be good for about 20 minutes. Now I have bought alot of items in my lifetime, a 20 min battery on a camera just doesnt seem like a very good "business" choice. So I said no. So I got the camera, charged the battery until the light went green (which sucked because I wanted to play with it right when i got it) and started taking pictures (oh I also got a 2G CF) worked great....so I planned to go up a mountain and take soem scenery shots. Keeping in mind what the sales person had told me I pocketed the charger just incase. Well, 6000', 300 pictures, and 5 hours later the camera is still running strong, still have 200 shots left for the trip home, battery life indicator hasnt budged off of the full button. So all in all, I think the battery life is great, now i can see if your taking say thousands of pictures all in a row you may need another but for just going on a trip and shooting a few pictures at every stop point, the original will work fine. as for the quality of photos.....i love them.

I had 2 Rebel cameras so it just made sense for me to pick up this digital camera and attach my old lenses. While I had owned other digitals I keep going back to my old Rebel, until now. We got the back up battery pack. My husband and I love it.

I already had a digital rebel and was able to sell it to a co-worker and use the proceeds for my new rebel xt. Faster, lighter, better. Simple review. It took everything that was great about my digital rebel and made it better. Some complain that it feels "too light"...OK...it that's your thing. To me, it's still solid and the pictures speak for themselves.

Now, with the addition of the 10 MP rebel xt, I'll bet the original xt can be purchased for an even better price.

No downsides that I can think of...

I love the new digital Canon. The only problem is it's not nearly as tough as it's film twin. I had the camera less than a month when the pop-up flash quit working. The Canon people have been great, and very helpful, but I'd rather not have had to send a brand new camera back to the factory. The photos, however, are wonderful. Film quality for the most part - printable and enlargable. (It would probably be better to use the camera with a tripod when using the 300mm telephoto but I hike with it, so just remember to steady it before taking wildlife photos.)

It is extremely easy to use. Hard to figure out the menu, but once that is done there is no problem. Takes beautiful pictures. Great for action shots as well. Seldom find a blurry photo as it has a stabelizer built in.

This Camera is excellent one!! really when you compare its price and its results and the level of quality you get you will know why this is the best in its category, I'm getting a very professional results using it with a lot of styles.. Highly recommended

I am 67 years old and started out in photography as a kid with a contact printer and a box camera. I have had all types of cameras over the years, mostly 35mm film Canon slr's. I too bought all sorts of these 5-7 MP point and shoot digital cameras before returning to my true love, SLR's. I have had my digital Canon Rebel XT about a month now and I can't keep my hands off of it. It lacks nothing. Although the kit lense is good, I bought a 28-135 Canon zoom lense with image stabilizion and have produced stunning photo's with it. I love the way you can use the 7 points to focus, I mainly use only the center point with focus lock and never get an out of focus picture. I guess the nicest thing for me is that I now don't have the urge to buy every point and shoot camera that is paraded out on QVC or HSN that has a "wonderful" new feature like "low light or non-shake." This Canon has every good feature in the known universe and you can't outgrow it. Its a camera that will let you be as good as you can be, it won't hold you back. The battery life is great, the built in flash is good but I bought a 430EX and that's even better. I never figure I'm wasting money buying accessories for this camera as it will be my main squeeze for many years to come. I always missed my 35mm Canon slr's and now feel that I have an old friend back again, only much much better. Believe me, you can't go wrong getting this camea, its beyond description....

I almost didn't buy this camera simply because of the plastic body (I'm used to a Praktica MTL3 film camera, which is built like a tank). However, I'm glad I overlooked that because the camera is top-notch in terms of robust features and the quality it provides. Startup time is very quick and making adjustments to shutter speed and aperture is intuitive.

If you get the bundle with the kit lens, I highly recommend complimenting it with the very affordable Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens, especially if you are a big fan of DOF and do a lot of available-light / low-light photography.

This camera it's amazing, I've been usign for a long time a canon EOS 300 film camera, that's really a great camera, and now this digital rebel. Does everything like a professional camera. The DR-XT kit is a good start, whatsoever more lenses fron EF are available to complete the photo equipment. Bottom line, this is so far the best camera I've ever used.

I bought this a few years ago and can't believe I haven't written about this before. As a photographer I've always stuck with Canon's camera's as they are durable and they make the best camera for sharing life's memories. The 1st best thing about it is that it is compatible with Canon's film SLR EOS Camera lenses!! This alone makes it a great value!! All of the lenses I have fit and didn't have to spend additional funds for it. I spent the extra though for the standard Digital 18-55mm lens package and it is a nice lense but remember it is for the Digital Rebel only. The picture quality is also great!! You can set the settings for how well you want your resolutions and that means alot. This camera captures photos on a CF card. The camera has software included for editing and viewing your photos on the computer. But on the back of the Rebel is a viewscreen for viewing photos right after taking the photo as well as review. It is definately a plus having this feature. You also get a cord for transferring your photos onto your PC as well. I've been able to fit over 1000+ photos on my 1GB CF card. If your looking for a great deal and a great investment into digital photography, you found it with the Digital Rebel.

The Digital Rebel is the most amazing camera i've ever owned. My previous camera was a Canon A90 and I loved using all the features on it [great camera!]. I decided recently that maybe I should graduate to a SLR because I was starting to get more creative with my photography. I spent a great deal of time researching cameras and finally decided on the Digital Rebel. After a few months of owning it I still am amazed. The image quality is fantastic, it's quick and responsive, and every day using it I learn a little more. It's the perfect intro SLR camera for me because everything makes sense and it's easy to learn. I've gotten amazing shots that I could never dream of getting with a point and shoot.

If you are finding yourself wanting a little more than a point and shoot, go for this camera, you wont be sorry.

If you are like me:
1. Who is thinking of buying his next camera.
2. Have never used SLR before.
3. Wonder if it is really worth it to spend extra for Rebel, instead of a good point-n-shoot from Canon (for half the price?).

Well, Yes it is worth it, even the complete automatic mode is much better than best in the class point and shoot. And as you try other semi-automatic modes (like sports, night, portrait, closeup), you will realize it was all worth it.

I have recently promoted myself to using Av/Tv mode and took picture at very less light, without flash. They look so natural compared to generic point and shoot.

A beautiful camera that takes stunning photos! The Rebel XT allows me to work in my "dumb" mode, taking over most of the work when I am too busy to fiddle with settings. It also allows me to be wonderfully creative with its Aperture and Time priority modes. my favorites pre-setting allows me to use the flash, but keep then shutter open to allow backgrounds to show up more realistically. Great when snapping pix of the marching band at a football game or a downtown night scene.

The camera's zoom setting lets me get closeup into photos I have shot. And a camera-to-TV cable that lets me shows pics immediately. The Rebel XT is very intuitive with features that I plan to grow into. It's a terrific camera all around that lets me focus on composition, especially at family events when it's about the celebration -- not the camera!

I love it!

I have put my XT thorugh the works as I shoot a ton of photos. I bought it in JUly 2005 and I'd have to say I'm closing in on 40 to 50,000 photos taken. I wish it had a counter on it that I could check so that I could keep an eye on it. I am waiting to replace it with the up-grade version to the 30D. It still keeps clicking away though and I've had no problems or malfunction errors yet.

I recently purchased a Rebel XT as an upgrade to my existing Rebel, which has been an outstanding performer. After a day of using the Rebel XT I noticed a consistent softness of the XT's images. Since I still had the Rebel, I did a side-by-side comparison, using the same lens (the 50mm f/1.4) and found that the Rebel XT's images were remarkably softer than the Rebel's! While the XT's images were larger, they were much softer and mushier, with a significant loss of detail. This finding was consistent across many side-by-side photos, not just once in awhile. I returned the XT, and hopefully the replacement will be better. If so, I'll up my rating from two stars because the rest of the camera is lovely. But what's the point if you get mushy, soft photos? BTW, I have read reviews of the new XTi that say the XTi's images are considerably softer and mushier than the XT's! The explanation given is that cramming more pixels onto the same sized CMOS reduces sharpness, even while simultaneously increasing resolution. I wonder if the same phenomenon explains the loss of sharpness between my old Rebel and the XT? Or did I just get a bad XT? Boy, I hope I just got a bad XT, because everything else on the XT is a dream come true.

Well, I just have to say that I am totally in love with this little camera. It's my first DSLR & it is awesome. I searched & searched for the best price & the best camera,I had narrowed it down to a few cameras, for around the same price & decided to get the Canon, as I had an old Rebel filmed camera when I was much younger. Well, I am not disappointed.

I bought this camera about 6 months ago and since have made hundreds of pictures with it. I can say that it definitely exceeded my expectations. My husband and I had an HP digital camera before and I wanted to go to a higher level. It was worth the investment. It is so much fun to use this camera. The pictures are great quality and I haven't even used the highest pixel level for my picture. Also, I have not even played with all the various features it offers. The battery is great. I bought a second one to be able to exchange, but one battery is good for about two days and hundreds of pictures on a lower level of pixels. The camera comes without a memory card and I have bought a 4 GB SanDisc compact flesh card which has two sections of 2 GB each that you can use. I never take the card out of the camera, since it is so easy to download picture via the cord to your PC. I love the camera and can recommend it strongly.

This totally amazes me...!

Isn't the purpose of a digital camera to take a picture?

And yet, when you take this camera out of the box you cannot take a single digital picture with it unless you've purchased a separate CF Card. You would think that for 600.00 they would throw one in for you?

To make matters worse it's not clearly or obviously noted on Amazon or in the Canon description that a CF Card is or is not included with this camera. Let me tell you... it is NOT included! Surprise!!!!

Well, it has been a year since I recieved my Rebel XT and I am more than pleased with the camera. The build quality, features, and photo quality have made this camera a joy to own and use.

When I first decided to move from film to digital, I began the long and tedious process of researching all the cameras on the market at the time. I had previously owned many Canon film cameras and compact digital cameras, so they were of course my first choice. I looked at Nikon, Olympus, Canon, and Konica(now Sony) dSLR's.

The Canon came out on top in all catergories with the exception of a few at the time, such as price because of the Nikon D50, though the Rebel's other features clearly outway the Nikon. Overall, the Canon is just a superior camera, so hopefully, that saves you the trouble of spending nearly a month researching.

Alright, so how is that camera? It is wonderful. It fits well in my hands and everything is where it should be. It does feel a little light, but it is made to be compact and light, plus that can easily be remidied by adding a battery grip. All of it's settings and features are virtually identical to the more expensive 20D, as is the image quality. There is a good amount of grain at ISO 1600, which is really a shame, but that can generally be fixed in an image editing program of by using a flash. The battery life is very good, but I do reccomend purchasing that battery grip that I mentioned before. Not only does it add weight and balance the camera, but it also doubles the battery life, which is good for those of us who go out and take thousands of pictures.

This is just a wonderful camera for the prosumer crowd, and there is no reason that it cannot be used as a pro camera for creating prints and such. I would recomend this to anyone looking to break into photography or someone who has been photographing for 30 years.

My recomendations:
- Get a few extra batteries and a battery grip. Remember, you don't have to buy a Canon grip or batteries, and if you don't, you'll probably save at least 50%. Do some research on here. The Opteka grip is great, it is what I own, and you can find a huge number of batteries, just pick own with a good review.
- Sigma lenses are generally in expensive, take great shots, and are durable. Some Canon lenses will have better optics, but will cost at least twice as much.
- Get the Canon 50mm f/1.8. It is a very inexpensive lens(about $60 - $70) and takes amazing shots.
- Big memory cards are amazing. Buy one, seriously. I have a 6GB card and shoot in RAW, so I get about 650 pictures. JPG will get 2000. I need another one because I shoot so much.
- External hard drives are a must for all those big files. I have a 250GB Phantom Drive, and I reccomend that, but there are now many cheaper alternatives.
- Don't forget a tripod and/or a monopod, a flash(though it does have one, external flashes are much better), and filters if you want to experiment.

Hope you enjoy your camera as much as I have!

This camera is a rip-off. A year ago I could have recommended this camera, but it's already succeeded by the Rebel XTi. Not only that, If dust were to get into your camera, you are doomed, as the XTi has a self cleaning sensor unit that shakes off dust. Any dust that adhered to the sensor can be removed with the bundled software. It also has a higher resolution sensor, although there is no real difference. In fact, the XT may have better pixel detail than the XTi. But if you want to look for a new DSLR, try a 10 MP XTi, Sony a100, or Nikon D80. Many critics would choose the Nikon, but I would choose Canon's XTi. There is only 7-point AF, while the XTi has 9-point AF. I don't really care if you can shoot 3 FPS on both cameras or even 5 FPS like the 30D because you can't get light into the camera and it only works under super bright conditions. The only good thing is the price, which is cheaper than the XTi, but still not worth it.

Quality: 2/10 (1/5)
Lower resolution than XTi. If dust gets into the camera, your doomed.

Value: 4/10 (2/5)
Few hundred dollars cheaper than XTi, but still no worth it. More like a "Rip-off" XT than a Rebel XT.

Overall: 2/10 (1/5)
Absolutely horrible camera, as it has been succeeded by a better one. Canon should have called it the Digital "RIP-OFF" XT than the Digital Rebel XT, creating a new series!

great add-ons and great pics. I'm not sure why the all black is a premium cost?

This camera offers a lot for the price. At 8MP it is all the serious amateur will need for good prints up to 11x14. It is very user-friendly and I judge user-friendly by how often I have to refer to the manual. All controls are easily accessible so it is easy to switch from 100 to 400 ISO or from flash to no flash or from aperature priority to speed priority. Also, there is vely little delay between shots. My only quarrel with this camera is that the resolution choices do not go low enough. If you know you want to use photos on the Internet, you don't need more than 200 KB; larger resolution settings use up memory space both on the memory card and on the computer and are slow to send with e-mail. But this is a minor complaint. I love the camera

Great camera, takes awesome pictures, seemless to all the Canon accessories I have collected over the years, great customer services, highly recommend it

I've had various digital cameras over the years, but I'm glad I finally took the plunge into the SLR world! This camera makes it as easy or as complex as you want. Control over aperture and shutter speed combined with the ability to use Macro and Zoom lenses has given me much more freedom than any point and shoot ever has. I can't imagine what would prompt me to buy another camera.

Having worked with many SLRs before, I have to say that this has been the easiest to learn by just picking it up and using it. The camera is full of features, which work excellently from the ones I have used so far, with a good battery life and excellent quality shots. The response time of all functions, including power on, is very fast. The camera worked instantly with both my PC and Mac, and provided software for both (although it wasn't needed to just download the pictures).

I highly recommend this to amatuers and professionals alike.

I absolutely love this camera - perfect for me. Easy to use, enjoy using iphoto and sending to family and friends; enjoy making cards with photos. Nature shots, people shots, scenes, all wonderful. What a gem. Ordered telephoto lens, too, which I use a bit. UV FILTER is a must...would have broken lens once already, without it.

this has to be the best digatal camera I have ever worked with. I have been using digital cameras because finding a good developer in my area was impossible. but i never liked the digital as much as my old 35mm minolta. this camera is better than a 35mm.

Bought from Adorama, quick service, shipping status, great price.

I decided to save a few hundred dollars and buy the XT instead of the XTi. I've been very happy with it. Great pictures and overall, very easy to use. The kit lens is cheaply made and a little slow to focus, but photo quality is good, and the 18-55mm range is appropriate for the smaller sensor.

As others have commented, the grip is probably more suited to the average woman's hand than a man's, and can be uncomfortable with on-camera flash. Also, no ISO shown on the LCD. Since you can change ISO so easily, it would be nice to have a quick reminder what it's set for, and not get extra noise when you don't need high ISO.

The software is ok, but a card reader and Photoshop are the way to go. Adobe Bridge makes working with camera RAW much faster and easier. If you're a student or know one, you can get MAJOR discounts (about 75%) on Adobe Creative suite or Photoshop through the college bookstore.

Basically, I would have bought the 30D if I could afford it, but for half the price you definitely get more than 3/4 the camera, with just a few minor differences that you can live with if you're reluctant to part with another 600 bucks.

If you are used to a non SLR digital camera like i was, watch out! This camera is GREAT!! Pictures are clear, the time it takes to take the picture from when you hit the button, PERFECT! When you have a baby, you must be able to snap the pictures instantly, and this camera allows you to do that. GREAT DSLR, highly recommend!!!!!!! Another great camera from Canon.

This camera was recommended to me by a photographer friend. I took the advice, and am so glad I did. I started to want the XTi with its 10MPs, but knew that because I am a serious hobbyist, I could spend the extra money on a new lens or accessory instead. The Rebel XT fits my lifestyle! I love this camera!

The camera is very good, from the ones I have seen with friends. Unfortunately, the one I ordered was delivered to me by amazon.com in a very sloppy packaging. The entire camera box was bouncing in the larger case, as amazon.com did not place adequate padding on the inside. They were kind enough to return it, though. I would have preferred a much better packaging.

This camera is my first venture into high quality digital photography. I have been using 35 mm SLR cameras for over 40 years.
I am really impressed! While this is not Canon's or anyone elses top of the line, it is a great choice for an amteur or semi-professional photographer.
I have been a technical writer, so I need photos both in color and B&W. With 35 mm film SLR, I always carried two - one with color and one with black and white film. With the Digital Rebel, I can take both color and B&W with a single camera - a real plus. Since a lot of my photos have been taken in a manufacturing plant or in the field, I like the image stabilized EF lenses and the ability to select either aperture or shutter priority - and let the camera thoose the appropriate shutter speed or aperture. And if I want complete control, that is available as well.

I absolutely love this camera. It takes such great pictures and I love how fast it is. I would reccomend this camera to anyone who wants to take proffesional quality pictures without sacrificeing ease of use. This camera is soo easy to use. It's pretty unbelievable.

Bought it during thanksgiving of 2006. Excellent DSLR, light weight and handy. Use it during the holiday, great performace and no problem. I mainly use the Canon EF 50mm f1.8 lens with it, got high quality and clear images. Love them both.

My husband bought this camera for me for Christmas mostly I wanted to expand from my point and shoot camera.... I have taken about 200 pictures with this camera and it is amazing... It catches great details of my very active 4 year old....even with the kit lens my pictures are amazing!

Althought the first trial with this camera was bad, because the camera was purchased as a kit and the lens was not in the box, after an aftermarket lens was purchased, it is evident this is one terrific camera. Pictures are super clear. The camera is easy to use in the automatic mode.

This was a great gift idea!
I got it for my daughter inlaw & son for christmas.
They are exspecting their 1st child & it will be put to good use!
She was so happy & surprised upon opening it, that tears ran down
her face for several minutes as well as several other in the room.
She carries it around with her everywhere taking pictures & she loves it!
She uses it so much that she wants a 2nd battery for it for her birthday.
Great Camera! (Needs a memory card packaged in with it for immediate use)

We are very pleased with this camera. It came exactly as promised, and we love it. A great product.

We also ordered the starter kit with bag, extra battery and protective filter. A must for this product.

I bought this camera for my wife recently. It is a great choice for an aspiring photographer, like her, who has a good eye and a desire to learn more advanced photographic concepts. The fully automatic mode makes this camera the best point and shoot out there, in my opinion. You'll be taking great pics a few minutes after you open the box. Other modes give you aperture priority or shutter speed priority as well as full manual. The pics look fantastic! The camera is fairly user friendly and is packed with cool features. The battery's charge seems to last forever. So far we took over 300 photos, many using the onboard flash, and still haven't recharged it! I didn't give it 5 stars because it doesn't come with a compact flash card. You'll need to purchase that separately.

I recommend this camera to any photographer, on any level, interested in a great digital camera. All this comes at a pretty decent price too.

I bought a brand-new Digital Rebel XT (350D) over a year ago, and have cursed it often for the dozens of lost gallery-quality shots due to the INFERIOR design of the camera's "AUTO-FOCUS" system. "Back-focusing" is a major problem. Seems everything BEHIND your subject winds up being in perfect focus. This is especially frustrating since I replaced the cheap 18-55mm "kit" lens with an expensive Canon "L" series, 24-70 f2.8 macro-zoom lense. Unless you use the "creative-zone" and choose only the center area (or point) of the cross-shaped, seven area focus sensor, don't plan on getting a properly focused picture. Apparently Canon realized THERE'S A PROBLEM with the EOS 350D's focus system, because the new EOS 400D (Rebel XTi) comes with a different sensor; it's the same highly accurate, nine-point "diamond" shaped focus sensor that's found on the considerably more expensive, professional grade EOS 30D. I'm going to cut my losses and unload the 350D on ebay. I hope the 400D I ordered yesterday from Amazon will give me the results I'm looking for. My fingers are crossed....

I wasn't sure how well I would do with this camera since I've never owned an SLR before. However the quality of the pictures I've taken so far with this camera has been outstanding. I had no trouble getting started with the auto mode to begin with and then the online courses that Canon provides helped me to play around with some of the more advanced features. The only thing that was a bit of a suprise at first was that it didn't come with a memory card and has no internal memory, so I couldn't even really play with it until I went out and bought a CF card. But, that was a pretty minor issue. I'm no expert, but I've been taking digital pictures for quite some time now and I'm very pleased with this purchase!

I am not really the photography enthusiast like my wife! however i can assure all that this is a camera with results! we took various types of pictures during the EID Holidays and i can assure u all that when compared to your CyberShots and those simple cameras, this is truly a pro's level camera!

Owned this one for almost a year now and I am generally happy with it.

Won't repeat the good points by so many reviewers and articles. Here's the list of problems I found based on my use:

1. The sensor gets dirty easily (I do switch lenses often, never in any dusty environment though), and hard to clean.

2. Shutter button becomes sticky just now, won't release once pressed sometimes.

3. View finder is small and hard to manual focus in regular day light, impossible in dim in door setting for me.

4. The menu has most of the things I need, but not quick to get to during shooting. I have to give up so many good opportunities just to adjust the settings: focus (single point to muli-point), white balance. Yes, the custom white balance works great. But I didn't realize I have to rely on it in most of the in door settings. Auto WB fails in door most of the time with strong color bias without flash. When different rooms have different lighting condition, I have to set each one up before I can make my shots. And it ain't easy or quick. This is the pain in the ... Tried Olympus Evolt E500 and the auto white balance on it was worse. Maybe this is an inheritant DSLR problem because of the current limitation of the sensor technology?

5. The building flash is kinda weak, but the recycle is fast. The external flash just is too big and slow. Wish Canon will make the new ones more powerful in the future.

6. The camera's software gives me errors from time to time, regardless which lenses I use, Canon or Sigma. Pull the battery and restart usually solves the problem. But at one time, it went totally crazy, none of the lenses I have can auto focus. I ended up reinstall the firmware and it solved the problem.

I am going to send it back for service, and hope things will get better after that.

All in all, this really is an entry level DSLR, something supposed to be a lot more expensive. Canon managed to make it affordable for us mortals with a catch. I think I'll move to the 30D line when it comes out with auto sensor cleaning. The full frame is great (better view finder and faster AF, among other things), but it places too much pressure on the lenses. I just can't afford the right lenses for the full frame. Haven't heard any rumors on 40D yet. The new 400D XTi supposes to have better AF and sensor cleaning. But I am far more cautious about the Rebel line in general now. Perhaps Canon made too many comprimises to make this line affordable.

By the way, I took over 80,000 pictures with this camera in less than a year. So I real used it.

Camera was shipped to me a lot sooner than promised. Everything was in the box except I had to purchase a CF Card (I did not know that was not included). Camera works great and the pictures are awesome. At this price, it is really a great deal.

I bought my digital rebel in late October 2005 from Amazon. Loved it, until one day just before Christmas it wouldn't turn on. No power, nothing. Changed batteries. Called Canon tech support, who ran me through a few things to try and then told me I'd have to send it to a repair center. Went through the holidays with a borrowed digital so as to no have to dust off my Canon Elan and use film. Paid [...] to ship my digital to Canon, and finally TODAY I received a letter in the mail (have they not heard of email or even the telephone???) that is a standardized form for repair with a minimum [...] fee - they have not even looked at my camera yet.

Why could Canon not have told me that would be the minimum cost when I called tech services and got the shipping info and asked if they had any idea on repair charges?? Why couldn't they have said "ship it with a $211.65 check to..." This camera cost [...] when I bought it. Am I wrong to think a $900 camera should last more than 14 months??

Considering that the cost of a new body is not much more than the minimum repair price I am EXTREMELY unhappy with this situation. On top of this, when I called to discuss it with them today the only consolation I was offered was - they will ship it back for free if I don't have it repaired. If I do have it repaired, it will cost me [...] to have it shipped back. How does that make sense?

This is the worst customer service ever. And I've already been without a camera for over a month. I am at the end of my rope with Canon.

Just got my Rebel XT, and I can put into words how much fun it is to take pictures. I have used film SLRs for over 20 years. Then a couple of years ago I bought a Nikon point and shoot. But I still preferred my film slr, except for that fact that I had to buy film, take the pictures, then wait for the results. I used the point and shoot more and more, for the instant results. But my wife and I got frustrated with the lag time, and the fact that most of the pictures with the point and shoot had to be posed. When I used my old Minolta (x700) and Nikon(N6006) slrs, all the pictures were spontaneous and captured the moments as they occurred. We were never able to do that with the Point and Shoot. So we decided to bite the bullet and buy into the DSLR world. I looked and compared for months on the best camera. "What brand should I buy?, How many MP? What price range??????

What sold me on the Canon was the cost and the quality of pictures it takes. I could have bought a more expensive camera, but then that would have left me with little money to add on. I took one piece of advice from the message boards and that was to not worry about the camera body, invest your money in glass. And coming from the film slr world that makes perfect sense. So we bought the Rebel XT.

I have had it for two days and can only say how great it is. I love being able to compose pictures like I use to do with my film slrs, but being able to see the results instantly. I love being able to make adjustments and reshoot it instantly, not a week later when I got the film back. Yesterday I fired off 150 shots, which I never would have done with the film SLR, because of cost, and I probably would be waiting for the shutter on my point and shoot.

I know the Rebel isn't the perfect camera. I wish I had a bigger LCD and the grip was a little more comfortable, but that is superficial. It is what is on the inside that counts. I compare it to owning a Toyota; it isn't the most luxurious car, but it gets the job done. I would love to have the BMW, but I can do most of the same things with the Toyota.

For a couple hundred more, I could have gottten the 10 megapixl toy. But then I would have had to figure out how to add a star to this rating.

I bought this toy/tool for my work photos (I do custom woodwork and glass etch (home improvement, art, etc.)) and wanted a camera that didn't fight me for every photo. In short, a camera which was reasonably easy to operate, but which would not have to be upgraded any time soon. Currently, I only have the stock lens.

Though it is going to take a little time to get to know the intracacies of operating this toy for that museum quality photo, I am able to get great photos from the start. The menus are far easier to navigate than my point and shoot (an Olympus C4000). I just have to remember to switch between program options (e.g., close up and portrait group, shutter and priority group). Too, of course, the camera can grow in capabiltiy, since the lenses put me back in the category of a 35mm SLR. While I miss the on screen view finder, for setting up certain shots, the trade off in quality of an SLR makes it easier to tolerate that compromise.

The quality of shots with the stock cheap lens are so good, compared to my previous camera, I long for the time I can compare photos by it with a quality lens. My next investment for the camera will be a zoom lens. I'm not a pro, so the loss of quality, as compared to a fixed lens, shouldn't hurt too much, expecially since the choice available is compromise or forego the increased capability entirely.

I bought the extra battery with this. I've had the camera a month, shot a couple hundred photos and at least twenty percent were with a flash. I'm still running on the same battery. Sweet deal.

I bought the 4 gig flash card. You can have my house, my car or my dog, but leave this card alone. Before, I had to plan my shots and download daily to clear it for the next round. I was limited to around twenty shots. Now I can shoot for a couple weeks and barely dent the card's capaicty. It will hold around four or five hundred high quality photos. If I went to low res, well, that exceeds human capacities for comprehension of infinity (okay, maybe that's an exageration, but you get the point).

Buying the Cannon Rebel XT was an excellent choice for me. I have not yet gotten beyond the tip of the iceberg, to try all the neat stuff this DSLR camera can do. So far I have only used it in automatic mode, and it works very nicely. How can something so easy to use, create such beautiful pictures? I have taken pictures of people to pets to outdoors in nice weather and snow, to my active toddler grandson. The close up of snow flakes after dark,is really cool!!! The timer to "shut off" is a great feature for me, I tend to forget to turn things off. The directions in the book, I would give 4 1/2 stars, had to do a little re-reading to make sense of just a couple minor things. Suggestion: have the camera battery fully charged, CD card in (not included), and then read the book and "play" at the same time. Soon I will be ready to play in the manual mode, Yeah!!!

im sure there's going to be enough reviews this week to bump me down before anyone can read this review, so im just going to give my 5 stars and tell you it's a ton of fun. it's a ton of fun.

Soy un usuario un poco mas que amateur y mucho menos que profesional y esta camara me resulta realmente extraordinaria. Una gran cantidad de opciones y lo mas importante con una gran calidad!!!

Estoy tomando mi primer curso de fotografia y la verdad cada vez me demuestra que es una gran camara. 100% recomendada.

If there's one thing I've learned in my travels, it's that people are capable of amazing things. But I've also learned that there's limits to what a man can do, and what a man can bear. This wonderful camera, on the other hand has no limits that I can see, other than those resulting from my own failure to understand and take advantage of its many possibilities. If you're using one of the point-and-shoot digitals you owe it to yourself to try this one and find out what it's like to be transported to another world.

This camera is an excellent choice for photographers just starting out. I would definitely go for this camera rather than upgrading to the 30D or higher. It's not all that expensive, and it has most of the features of its more expensive cousins. The only negatives are that it seems too lightweight, especially when using larger lenses. Also, even for a beginner, I would not buy the kit lens. I made that mistake, and I wish I had just bought the inexpensive 50mm 1.8 II lens. It's [...] and well worth it. Later, you can buy a separate zoom lens. However, altogether, this is a great camera for beginners.

This camera is great. I am by no means a photographer, but this camera makes it so easy. I want to shoot everything. Right now I am using the automatic features, but I hope to work my way up to the other features. Picture quality is great, makes it easy for anyone to take great pictures. I am so happy my Fugi point and shoot broke! I don't think I will ever buy anything other than a Canon again. It was better than I could have imagined for the price. BUY THIS CAMERA.

So far, my new Canon camera has been so easy to use. It is very intuitive. But I have had Canon cameras in the past. I have had to adjust to the multiple focus points but I can tell it will be a very useful tool.
I have been able to take great pictures here at home. I can not wait until I make my next big trip and really use my zoom.

I bought this camera as a retirement present for my dad. After about 400+ pictures, I have to say this is one of the best digital cameras I've ever handled!

For starters, the default automatic settings give excellent results in most cases. Colors are vivid, white balance is spot on, and automatic ISO selection is OK. For the real enthusiast, the multitude of options gives something for nearly every situation.

As with any DSLR, shot composition is done exclusively through the viewfinder. This is not a limitation once you realize the advantages of optical correctness in shot composition. The RAW output comes in handy for print use of the shots.

Overall, a great buy!

My Canon is such a pure delight, powerful FABULOUS photographs with instant results. I have been using film since I can remember, and having the professional quality digital is a dream come true. I use it with my existing lenses from my Elan and my Rebel. Glorious close ups and landscapes. So happy to be in the digital scene and show that I am a true professional! Thank you!!

I bought this camera in hoping to upgrade from my Canon A610 (fantastic camera btw). The main reason for the switch was because I wanted to take night shot without having the lag that is normally associated with Point and Shoot cameras. My impression:

The Good stuff:
-Camera shutter speed is fast. It was better than I had expected.
-Easier to use than expected.
-Shoots great photos in Auto mode
-Good amount of manual selections to work with
-Lightweight and small
-Compatible with many Canon lenses
-Priced very low for a DSLR

The Bad stuff (opinion):
-Camera feels cheap. Too much plastic, but I'm sure canon had to cut cost somewhere to be able to sell the camera this cheap. At least they cheapen the external rather than the internal.
-Cannot turn off flash in some mode. You'll have to either set the exposure, aperture, or the contrast in order for the flash to not come on. It's very annoying since some of the photos I want to take do not need more light.
-The camera will not take pictures because there is not enough light for a particular setting. I cannot see why the camera cannot just let me take the photo and let me do whatever I want with it. I am using the camera to take picture. I'm the photographer, not the camera.
-LCD screen is a bit small (hence the XTi is better in this department)
-Camera kit does not come with a standard memory card. I recommend at least 1GB. You'll be taking more pictures than you'll anticipate.

Conclusion: For the price I paid for this camera, I am happy with my purchase. It's a great camera, and I can see why it's been one of the best selling cameras in the world. However, if you can fork out a bit more for the XTi, I would recommend so for the bigger LCD and the self-sensor cleaning system. The pictures I take with this camera is not leap and bounds better than my Canon A610, but I bought the camera for its ability to shoot at night

Unfortunately someone swiped it, but I learned how to shoot digital photos on this model. I loved it and used it every day until it was stolen. I'll probably upgrade for my next camera, but for the price this is an excellent model for anything you'd need to do. If you're a pro then you already know what you need, but if you're getting into photography and am not sure what your first camera should be, you won't be disappointed by this one. The only thing that could be better is the autofocus in low light conditions, but if you are not into using manual focus then you may as well just get a nice powershot that will fit in your pocket.

The REbel XT is a great affordable camera that is everything that people say it is and more. It is very user friendly and takes AMAZING pictures. I highly suggest it.

The camera is very easy to use and takes GREAT pictures. I have been very satisfied with it and have taken many pictures. I don't know much about photography but I am learning with this camera. I recommend this camera to anyone who is interested in photography but does not have much experience. It's great for beginners.

This camera is just plain awesome. I got it on a Friday and Sunday I shot our Church Directory. Using the built in flash made the light perfect and I got through the entire 200 couples with no problem with battery power. I was pretty suprised that the camera came with no memory card, since without it, it is useless. BTW, I recommend a good 2meg card as your first investment. I had a couple crop their portrait to a head shot (I shot full length portraits) and ordered an 11 x 14 and it was TACK SHARP.
I can't rave enough about how easy this camera is to operate. This is perfect for anyone wanting to get into Digital SLR cameras. This camera, lacking a flash snyc port, is everything one can want in a camera. The perfect fit from beginner to pro.

There are so many reviews in here already I can not add much. The camera is great buy it you will not be disappointed. This camera has rekindled my intrest in photograpy I just can not seem to find enough free time to us it as much as I would like. I thought my last camera had a fast shutter speed a Konica Minolta Dimage Z3 but the Canon Rebel xt much much faster. The only negative I have is there a to many accessories that I now want lenses, flash etc. Bottom line buy this camera you will love it.

I go this camera from J&R Music and Computer World through Amazon, and they gave me a great deal on a kit that came with an EFS 18-55mm lens for just $580. It's was just the camera I needed for my photography class.

PROS:
- Very user friendly, I felt like a pro by the end of the first week of use.
- At $500-$600 price range, you get a good SLR camera for the money, especially if you're a struggling college student like me.
- Uses CompactFlash memory cards which is one of the most affordable and versitile of memory cards.
- Includes multiple shooting modes.
- Accepts both Canon EFS and Canon EF lens.
- Includes a very fun video cable allowing connection from the camera to a TV or other types of monitors to view the camera's pictures for presentational purposes.
- Completely customizable settings like white balence, ISO, metering modes, aperture and shutter speed.
- It starts up really fast when you turn it on; you'll never miss a shot.
- Has a wide variety of accessories that you can buy so you'll never get bored with this camera.
- IT'S A CANON. I just needed to say that because these guys know how to make a camera.
- 3 FPS capabilities make shooting fast action a breeze.
- Fast USB 2.0 connection.



CONS:
- I suggest that you get a faster lens then the one that comes with the kit. The kit lens that I got only goes from 4-29 aperture settings. It all really depends on what you're looking for. For ameatures it's a pretty good lens, but if you're looking to use this for professional purposes or low light settings I'd suggest upgrading to a better lens or else you'll get blurry pics from camera shake. A tripod is a good alternative as well.
- The kit didn't come with a memory card, so you'll need to get one seperately. You can find some good 1GB ones here on Amazon from $15 and up.
- No video mode, but if you're looking to just take still shots, then this shouldn't be a problem.
- AF (auto focus) on the lens isn't the greatest, I just leave it on Manual Focus (MF) all the time now.
- It's kind of small compared to other digital SLR's so if you have larger hands, this camera maybe somewhat akward to hold. I had this problem at first, but I found a neat way to mold my hands around it. You can also get a battery grip for the camera to combat this feature.
- Tinkering with the aperture settings can be a little akward, I can't really descibe it that well, so I suggest you play with the camera at a nearby store or something.
- Deleting mulitple pictures from the card can be a pain. My previous point and shoot camera had a select feature that allowed you to delete specified pics from the card, so that feature kind of spoiled me.
- The battery is made specifically for this camera. Which means when it eventually loses it's charge, you're going to have to buy another specific kind of battery. I personally like my cameras to use common batteries like AA's because they're easy to find and don't cost all that much to replace, especially if you use IC3 AA batteries which only take 15 minutes to recharge. It's not that big of a deal, but that was in my head when I made this purchase.
- I'd consider this more of a pro feature, but the LCD monitor on the back doesn't work as a view finder like regular point and shoot cameras would. Some people like using the monitor on the back as a view finder, but I always find that to be tacky, and people look really stupid when they do that. If you're that kind of person that leaves the camera on AUTO mode all the time then this will kind of suck for you, but I've found that when people use the actual view finder, they take shots with more professional looking composition.



OVERALL:
This is a great SLR camera for people looking for a low-cost/high-value camera to use for photographic purposes. It's great for college students taking photography that don't want that huge SLR price but want a great working camera. It's totally upgradable and you can take some great shots with this camera. With 8MP you can make really big prints. If you're looking to persue a photographic career, this is a great digital camera to get yourself started with.

I am an amateur photographer so my opinion is not based on more technical aspects. This camera is so great compared to my non slr digital camera. I have a one year old child who is never still. This camera allows me to catch those moments that the other digital would miss. It's so easy to use. The automatic mode has captured some pretty amazing photos. There are creative modes that allow me to choose how much control I want - great for a beginner like me. It's so much lighter than the other digital slr cameras that I was considering. I can take it everywhere without much trouble. I highly recommend it!

New to DSLRs, I was initially debating between the Nikon D40 and this camera. The XT offered many advantages over the D40, just do some research and you'll learn quickly. Purchased the camera with the kit lens 18-55mm, I do believe the kit lens does offer good general use. But depending on your primary use you'll soon discover that an upgraded lens will really allow the XT to shine. I've recently purchase a 70-200mm 4LCanon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras and can't wait to snap some pictures at motorsport events, air shows, landscape, ect.

Great camera.

This camera is way more than I anticipated . . . pictures are clear even when circumstances are questionable. I took fabulous rapid shot photos of sports and awesome views from a helicopter . . . you should have been there! Thank you Canon and Amazon!

I bought this camera when it came out & have been very impressed with the quality of my photos. It inevitably gives me clear, crisp images with little work on my part; most of what I have shot with this has been set on Auto. My mother also has this camera and she uses only the kit lens to take outstanding portraits. The kit lens has gotten a bad reputation but I recently compared shots with it to one of my L lens and was somewhat surprised to see the photos are very nice even with the comparison. I have found colors to be quite good and the lens produces nice sharp images. I suspect there is quite a variation in the lens quality due to mass production. Overall I would have to rate this 5 stars and consider it an outstanding value for the money.

I begun with photography 5 years ago, and i always wanted to buy the best, i did a research in [...], and this is the great value added of this company, that you can read owners reviews.

I started with a simple powershot and loved Canon for all options that it offer you, i bought the Canon Powershot G5, which it was a very good item; now i Own this DSLR and is the best of the best, some of my friends have Nikon and Sony's SLR, and is not even compared with Canon; definetly the Best!!!.

The lens that it comes with the kit is very fast and good quaality, i always have recomend Canon for photography, just define what you want and how flexible you want it, then read a lot of reviews and buy it through A[...]!!!!

Regards,

Miguel Torres

I bought this camera for my daughter and I to play with. She is really into photography, so I wanted something that would let her play but didn't require me to understand all those photography terms to take a picture. This camera hits the mark perfectly! The auto setting takes a great picture, but the manual settings which are really easy to set, allow you to be creative. The display and readout on the back are great and easy to use. We are really happy with this camera!

This is an awesome camera that takes excellent pictures, what I missed is the chance to view the photos in the screen before taken it, you cannot see the image in the screen to take your picture.

I really like this camera!

I takes very good pictures but if you have big hands, maybe you'll need to add the battery grip as i did.

The result is a bulky camera perfect for amateurs like me.

Easy to use giving excellent results.

This is my first SLR camera. I've always been interested in professional photagraphy and I'm glad to have this camera to start with my study. The picture quality are incredible compared to any of the point and shoot camera I had before, even good ones. I like the display panel and it's easy to set up the aperture and shutter speed. I also like using the manual focus. I think it focuses better than Auto once you figure it out. Highly recommended camera!

I have been completely impressed with the Digital Rebel XT from the moment I took it out of the box.

I did get it w/kit lens, which is pretty decent. But I have also added a Canon 50mm/1.8 and a Canon 100mm/2.0, both of which are amazing lenses.

The camera is very easy to use once you get the hang of it. I like the different white balance settings...there's pretty much one for every situation I've been in.

I have gone online into the Canon Digital Learning Center on their website, which offers excellent tutorials on how to use the camera as well as photography in general.

This camera is EXCELLENT. You WILL NOT be disappointed. I absolutely love it!

This is my 1st SLR camera and it is easy to use and takes amazing pictures I recommend it.

This camera is awesome I am still learning a thing or two about photography but this camera works itself you get the perfect picture everytime. Great for catching pictures of kids who are all over the place.

This is my first digital SLR. I had a minolta 700 for years.

This camera does everything that my 35 mm film camera did and more. It is a lot lighter than I expected. Pictures are stunning. Focus is fast and quiet.

If you are not a pro this is the camera for you. I would suggest the D30 if you are a pro.

Amazon beat all the others in price. Standard shipping brought it to my house in two days.

I bought this camera and love it. This camera takes great pictures and the fact that it works with the EOS accessories is a huge plus. I can use the other lens that I have without having to buy new gear.

Its not too heavy and fits well in the hands. I also purchased a 4GB card and have extra storage space.

I am very happy with the camera and highly recommend it.

Great camera. It is sold as a non-professional grade DSLR but I have sold pictures taken with it professionally, as I'm sure countless others have as well. I don't think I need to be the 999th person to wax poetic about it, so I won't go any further. There are plenty of other well-written reviews detailing the good points in better ways than I can.

I did want to write this review, however, as a cautionary tale against buying this crappy kit lens. Please just buy the body only and get a decent lens separately! I sure wish I had.

Again, I am talking only about the kit lens here: horrible in low-light, horrible in too much light. Here's the biggest issue, however: porous construction allows dust inside. I kid you not, day one of owning it after cleaning it with a lint free cloth, there were about 20-30 little dust particles visible ON THE INSIDE! No way to get them out, either. I tried blowing on it with a compressed air can (just to hopefully move them to the sides and out of the middle) but all it did was move them around. How is this lens so porous right out of the box? If the dust was already there out of the box and I just didn't notice it, that would be just as bad if you ask me. Of course there is no way to open it without sending it off, which would cost more than the lens is worth. I will say the dust was so tiny that I never saw any interference in the picture output, but just knowing it is there is enough to drive a perfectionist like me CRAZY. Sidebar: I don't imagine many people who are purchasing DSLR cameras for several hundred dollars are not perfectionists, but I digress.

Anyway, again great camera just don't get this worthless kit lens. Spend a couple of hundred extra and get a decent USM lens. If there one more issue to mention, it would be that the built-in flash is laughable. I don't know why they even bother putting it there. It should be used in case of emergency only! If you are planning on shooting indoors you must get a flash. Not you should get a flash, you must. The built-in flash is a joke. that being said, this is the case with every digital SLR camera I know of.

I've had this camera for 18 months now, and have shot in just about every type of lighting and situation you can imagine. Considering I spent under $700 even then, this counts as one of the great bargains I've ever run across. At $500, this is a no brainer.

There are almost 300 ratings on this camera alone, so you will see each and every feature of this camera dissected - based upon each individual reviewers personal preferences and biases. Because of that, I will simply make a cheat sheet of common issues, and comment upon whether I personally think they are of significance or not. I have used this camera extensively as both a hobbyist, advanced amateur, and as a pro. OK, here goes....

The construction is "flimsy" or "not robust enough": False. It may not be up to Canon 1 series construction, but it is a long way from "flimsy", that's for sure. I wouldn't recommend spiking it on the ground like a football, but otherwise, it is perfectly adequate for almost any situation.

The body is too small and/or the grip is too narrow: It may well be. I like the grip on the old Rebel or the 20/30D a lot better. The body size is becoming something of the norm with entry level digital cameras, so I don't think that's an issue any longer. But I STRONGLY suggest that you handle it before you buy it. Because the only person who will know for sure whether it is OK or not is you!! This is a big deal. If you are not comfortable with the grip/handling, you will not use it, or you will not get the kind of pictures you want.

The kit lens is.....the best thing since sliced bread/good/average/terrible/should be blown up: I think I covered everything there. In reality, it is an average, consumer grade lens which under good lighting conditions can give excellent pictures. However, (unlike the Rebel XT) the construction IS flimsy, and it will not stand up to more "challenging" light situations. Stepped down and in mid zoom range, it has resolution values on par with L glass. So it can produce excellent results (but only under those particular circumstances). I wouldn't go shooting with it in low light, though.

The 20/30D takes "better" pictures than the Rebel XT: I don't think so. I'll be happy to take pictures with the same settings and the same lenses from the body of the Rebel XT vs. the 30D, and we'll see if you can tell which is from which. The quality of the glass is of decisive importance, not the body used.

The 20/30D performs "better" than the Rebel XT: Not really. Performance is fairly similar. There are some upgrades to the larger and more expensive bodies - they do shoot more frames in a second, and the control wheel, top mounted LCD and more customizable features certainly make it easier to take pictures in demanding situations. But unless you are really pushing the envelope (and if you are, you already know each point I am trying to make), then the higher grade bodies aren't going to offer you much more.

The 20/30D is a "better" camera than the Rebel XT: Again, if you are a power user who needs maximum control over variable shooting situations, than yes, those two models will give you better performance and a better overall experience. If you are not, and you think the "better" camera will give you "better" results....well, you are in for a surprise.

There is no real difference between 8 and 10 megapixels in the real world: Actually, there might be. 10MP can actually have MORE noise than 8MP, but that is a problem more for a compact camera. Otherwise, it's a complete waste of time. The resolution I gained going from 6 to 8MP was negligible at best, and had zero effect on any pictures I printed - including pictures at 20X30". 8 to 10MP has even less of an impact. Heck, unless you are engaging is massive cropping, going from 6 to 10MP is pretty much a waste of effort.

The Rebel XT doesn't have spot metering, and my old crappy compact camera does. What gives?: Yes, this can be a big deal, and a very unwelcome surprise as you progress in photography. It will probably make me buy a 30D when it drops in price a little bit more. Spot metering is one of those terms that you wouldn't even think about....until you actually need to use it. Then you'll miss it, that's for sure.

The Rebel XT has an outdated auto focus system compared to the 30D or the XTi: By all accounts, there is some truth to this. The Autofocus of the newer models is supposed to be superior. This is relative, though. It's mostly a very low light issue. Under most circumstances, the AF is perfectly adequate.

Having made it this far....and you did? Congratulations! The Rebel XT is at a price point which can't be beat, and will give you archive quality pictures for many years to come. The period of rapid advancement in digital camera technology is over, so you can feel safe in buying this camera and not feeling like you are "missing out" on the next best thing. It can and will serve you well.

The camera is great! It is exactly like my old film Rebel so the learning curve wasn't that bad. I can still use all my same lenses and other accessories from my film camera. I got the high speed CF and the shooting speed is great. I think the screen could be a little bigger but its not too bad. The price is really good for all that you get. Anyone looking to go digital that is comfortable with their film Canon should buy this because the conversion is so effortless.

Both of our previous digital cameras (not SLRs) had a delay when taking pictures. This camera is the opposite of that. It takes pictures so fast that we no longer lose that special moment when trying to take a picture. The picture quality is superb and transferring images from the camera to our Mac is a mindless and fast operation. We're not great photographers, but this camera helps us make up for it. It's incredibly easy to use and the auto-focus works perfectly. The battery life is excellent too.

I just love my new camera. By far the best digital I've ever had. Takes wonderful clear shots and is so easy to use. There are still lots of features I have not tried and I am excited to do so. The only feature that would be nice is if you could snap a shot in view mode. You can't have your lcd screen on "live" and take a picture, you have to look through the lens for each shot. It would also be nice if the lens cap was tethered, I just know I am going to leave it somewhere. Overall, an excellent camera!!!

If you want to upgrade from your point and shoot cameras and at the same time learn to take real photographs, then get this camera. With prices around (...) it's a virtual no brainer for serious beginners. You will probably not notice the 2 MP difference between this camera and the XTI unless you are doing a lot of photo manipulation or printing very large prints. Plus shooting in RAW will help you from losing data while correcting photos.
The Censor cleaner on the XTI is just one more moving part that could break. As long as you are pretty careful, you shouldn't worry too much about dirt on the censor. I've changed lenses on the beach pretty easily by making the change inside my camera bag.
I've noticed a couple of review complaining about the White balance and issues with overexposed pictures. TAKE IT OFF AUTOMATIC, LEARN TO USE YOUR CAMERA, AND TOSS THE KIT LENS!!!! If you've done any research you've probably come to realize that the 18-55mm kit lens is a dud. it produces poor color saturation, it's slow as Christmas, and is not very sharp. You can improve the color saturation a little with a polarizing filter, but you're better off just not buying the lens. For (...) you can get a great little 50mm fixed lens that is pretty sharp from about f1.8 - f8 and it has great color saturation.
It's also true that you have to compose the shot through the view finder and not on the LCD. You're playing with the big boys now! There's more to think about than whether to use the "little mountain" or the "little stick man." Shutter Speed, aperture, ISO Sensitivity, White balance, Light meter, and the ability to lock the focus are all viewed through the view finder.
Here's the rub with the XT... It's Tiny, It's plastic, and any thing shot with an ISO of 800 and above is pretty worthless. It's not a pretty grain!
If I had to do it over again I would have gotten the 30D for several reasons. If I was debating on getting the XT or the XTI I'd lean towards the XT. The 2MP difference wouldn't affect me. The Larger LCD would be nice but it's not worth an extra (...).

I selected this model of the Canon SRL camera line because of the acceptable mid-price and number of features available. I was not disappointed. The camera has been very easy to use and produces excellent pictures. I was equally pleased when the digital camera worked perfectly with all of my old Canon SRL 35mm lens (thus saving me the requirement to buy another $.. in lens). The only special point of interest about this camrea is that it appears much lighter than I expected. Some may find this to be advantage (light to carry) and others may see it as a disadvantage (expecting quality with weight). Overall, I am extremely please with the camera, the items included in the kit and the ease of purchasing it from Amazon.com.

The Amazon service was prompt and the price was reasonable. The product is much better than expected. Until I discovered the proper placement of my thumb, I made a few mistakes by unintentionally pressing various buttons on the back of the camera, but that was my error. The camera does very nice work. I should have bought it sooner. My suggestions to Canon: Include a memory card with the camera and consider a rewrite of the instruction manual.

Why I gave it one star? Because it doesnt powered on although I bought it brand new. Of couse I fully charged the battery! I put my friends battery into it, it still didn't work.
I called canon, canon said I had mail it to canon for services.
I asked how long to get it fixed and they said at least a month. I asked can I get a exchange and they said no.
The body and lens are made with plastic. very cheap.
For a product and services like this, it deserves 0 star.
You gave it 5 star because yours works but I can't because mine doesn't work. Is that fair?

I'm not a camera junky but everyone seems to be raving about this one so I got it. My pictures come out great but it might be because I've got a good eye... who knows. The big problem is that when you put it on a plane and then forget to get it from the overhead compartment, it should have a buzzer or something that shouts your name or barks at you. This way you won't loose it and have to buy another one.

I wish I had a better lens though. This is just a basic one that doesn't get you too close to any action. You'll be scraping pennies to buy the bigger zoom lens within 6 months to a year. There goes another $300-$600.

We bought our Rebel after seeing the output from a relative's Rebel. This is so much better than the smaller cameras, even with the higher MPs. The depth is great, as is the ability to move from auto to settings. For the amateus such as myself, it's a great introduction. Yet, a wedding photographer was using the same camera with different lense. I appreciate our relative's recommendation, and would most certainly recommend to others.

Excelente Camara Digital.

Deberian incluir una tarjeta de memoria para completar el kit.

La calidad de la Cam y sus infinitas funcionalidades. Software y accesorios completos.

I have a different lens, but I'm sure the standard is good for most people... The camera is awesome.

I was very happy with my first digital SLR. I have been snapping photos every day with my XT. Today, at my daughter's birthday party, no less, the camera died without warning. I took a few shots, turned it off as carefully as ever, and set it on the table. When I tried to turn it back on a few minutes later, it wouldn't work. No LCD, wouldn't turn on. NOTHING! I assumed it was the battery. Took the battery home, charged it, and it still doesn't work. Since the company's policy is 15 days to return an opened item, and I've had the camera for 20 days, I am wating to hear about any exceptions to the returns policy, or whether Amazon will step in somehow and do what is right. I am sick over this. Did I just throw $600 out the window, or will Canon, Vann's (the independent company) and Amazon do what is right.

Read other 1 & 2 star reviews. The same thing seems to have happened to others as well. Perhaps these cameras have a fatal flaw. I am discouraged, disappointed and disheartened. Buyer Beware!

Will update!

The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT is my fifth Canon SLR camera. Other Canon cameras I own include the Canon EOS 10S, the EOS Rebel G2, the EOS Elan 7, the EOS Rebel digital (6.3 MP) and now the EOS Rebel Digital XT.

Canon products keep getting better and better and less expensive. I used to be a big Minolta fan, but then Minolta did its swan dance and I got stuck with a couple of Minolta bodies and a bunch of Minolta lenses that were no longer supported. That will never happen with a Canon camera.

But back to the Rebel XT. This camera has all the wonderful features that made the first EOS Rebel digital such a big hit and then improves upon them. The obvious improvements are a smaller and lighter body as well as a bigger sensor (6.3 vs. 8.0 mp). The other not so obvious improvements include much faster response time (I can't tell you how many shots I previously lost due to lag time) and a new accessory battery grip that takes rechargeable batteries as well as AA batteries. While traveling is not always feasible to bring a charger along, so the ability to use standard and readily available AA bettereis is a major plus.

This camera is a true joy to use. I passed up on the XTi (like I passed up on the Elan 7E) because I do not need or want some of the extra complexities of the XTi model. I don't need eye focusing (Elan 7E) and I don't need a CMOS self-cleaner (Rebel XTi). It is not all that hard to occassionaly clean out the old CMOS.

If this is your first digital SLR camera you will like the point-and-shoot auto modes found in the camera. If you are a more advanced user you will benefit from all the shooting choices available with the camera. In other words, this is a camera that you can grow with and will not soon outgrow.

If you already own Canon, or Canon-mount lenses, then buy the body only and skip the kit. If this is your first SLR, get the kit and learn your way around the camera using the lens included with the kit. Is not as bad as some people would like to make it out to seem.

Get this camera and you will never look back!

This is a great product . I would buy it again . I absolutely love it !

I got the body only version brand new for under $500, then bought a couple of nice lenses to go with it. After spending a day with the camera on full charge and the manual in my hands I learned all the functions. From the menus to the buttons and switches layout, this camera is just about perfect. Great fun! Highly recommend you get one.

I'm brand new to the SLR world and decided about a month ago I'd continue a hobby I had started in middle school. I was torn between the XTi and the XT. After doing much research, learning, and getting information overload, I decided for my needs, I'd pick up the XT. From what I read, the difference in MP wouldn't be much of an issue for me. The self cleaning on the XTi would be awesome. It came down to an issue with money and "wife" approval. At just under $600 with kit lens, the XT was "psychologically" a little easier to buy than the XTi. Anyway, I'm in the tech field and began thinking of the bodies like computers. New and better stuff will keep coming out faster and cheaper, in this hobby the lenses seem to be the real investment.

Anyway, so far I love the camera. I'm learning still but I do like the creative modes the XT offers. Kind of like step learning. I've got down all the terminology and what each thing does, but need to learn how it actually works and think the creative modes offered on XT are the perfect bridge.

I have absolutely no complaints so far about the camera (although i did get the dreaded 99 error that I've read about, but I turned off the camera and it went away. I hope I didn't get a dud).

The Good:

1. Great value in my opinion
2. Camera feels good overall (some have complained about it being too light or feeling cheap). I don't get this impression at all. Although one of the cons I'm listing does have to do with the shape.
3. Easy to use with plenty of different modes to help you along the way

The Bad:

1. Like others have complained, the grip feels a bit compacted. I don't have really big hands, but it feels a tad unnatural holding the camera. Its not terrible though, but its a little annoying
2. Not necessarily against this camera, but one thing I didn't think about is that you can't shoot with glasses on. Too hard. But it does have an adjustment that goes to -2.5 (right at my vision) and I can shoot with no glasses, or contacts.
3. The kit lens leaves something to be desired. I'm a newbie and I can already feel the limitations of this lens. Under sunny conditions, the lens performs pretty good, no complaints. But indoor photography sucks for lack of a better word. Plus the range doesn't seem useful. Its a short telephoto and maybe a long wide. Would I buy it with the kit lens? Yeah, for only $70 or $80 more, I think its worth it. However, if choosing b/w the kit lens and picking up the nifty fifty (Canon 50mm prime), I might have been better off picking up the body only and getting the nifty fifty. I'll know when I actually order the nifty fifty. I guess I felt I wanted some range, so I went with the kit.

I am going to pick up the nifty fifty to see what this camera can really do. I'm pumped about the hobby and so far so good. I think I'd be even more excited if I had better glass on the cam. But I'm still learning. Maybe the kit lens isn't all that bad and its the photographer.

The only bad thing about this hobby though is that initially, I thought I would be happy with the body + kit lens. Now I want more glass, better flash, monopod, etc, etc.

For the price, its hard to find a DSLR that provides as much quality as the Canon Rebel XT. If you want to spend a little extra money, get the XTi, but believe me, the two are very much the same camera (I have both, use them both, and love them both, but find no huge difference between the two).

The XT's 8 megapixels can easily make 16x20 enlargements, meaning you don't really need the extra two megapixels of the XTi.

The XT's screen is smaller than the XTi, but that also means it wastes less battery power, especially because the system info is displayed on a thin LCD screen. This is a mixed blessing, and for me, I do prefer the XTi's larger screen that shows the data in large numbers and letters, fully lit at all times. Shooting at night or in the dark, I hated having to press the XT's light button just to see my data. Between the two, I feel this is the only major weak point of the XT compare to the XTi.

The dust removal is a nice feature of the XTi, but most casual users of the Rebels don't change lenses that much, and if you do it right, you don't run a risk of dirt inside the camera. The XT not having dust removal has been no problem for me at all, as I've never gotten dust on my sensors after a lot of lens changes.

Capability-wise, the XT is just a little slower than the XTi. Casual users won't notice it at all.

One point not mentioned to much is the autofocus points, which I feel is a big disadvantage of the XT as compared to the XTi. Having less points to select from is a weakness that bothers me at times while switching between cameras, but not a major problem when you know how to use the points well.

If you want the best bang for your buck, get the XT. Both it and its XTi younger cousin are both excellent cameras, and either would make you happy.

I have taken some gorgeous pictures with this camera and I know nothing about photography. However, this camera has sparked an interest in learning more about taking pictures.
Images are incredibly sharp and clear. I have blown several pictures of my kids and a couple scenic photos up to 8x10's and the quality is superb. I mostly use the automatic setting, but I am starting to learn to use some of the other settings.
Battery life is excellent. I keep an extra battery charging at all times. You definitely want an extra battery and you can find them cheap. Don't let one of these online camera shops sell you one for $40 or $50. These guys online that advertise selling these cameras for ridiculously low prices are "salesmen". They will pull you in by advertising the camera for some crazy-low price. Then they get you on the phone and convince you that you need all this other over-priced stuff. If you don't buy the extras, they suddenly don't have the camera in stock or it will take 3 weeks to ship. They are good at this.. just a little warning. I ended up paying more for mine at a local camera shop just to avoid these guys.
Sorry for my lack of technical knowledge.. here's the bottom line: This camera takes beautifully sharp photos and is simple to use. I am extremely satisfied with the quality. Take lots of pictures and BACK THEM UP REGULARLY!!

Great!

I had to buy a camera that I can manually change the aperture and shutter speed and I chose to buy this camera. I still have my Canon SD500 for backup but I mainly use this camera for practically everything! Sexy!

I was a long-time user of SLR cameras, and I resisted going digital for many years. Then I received the Canon Digital Rebel XT as a gift in May 2007.

Armed with a 4G memory card, I used the Digital Rebel XT on a recent trip, and I was quite pleased with the 750+ pictures (which used up about two thirds of the card) I took.

The camera behaved just like the SLR's I was used to, but without the bother of loading film, unloading, worrying about using up all my rolls, etc.

I am ashamed to say that I don't know how to use most of the features of the camera, but what I have used so far has been great.

Highly recommended.

I love this camere from the minute I got in my hands. It's small, light and sofisticated. Even the lens 18-55mm can make pretty nice pictures. 8 megapixel is totaly enough to make a nice pictures. Don't think about it too much just get it, you will love it.

Well,

I spent my time researching DSLR cameras. I will avoid the specific details but my main decision factor was price. I wanted a camera that was under $700 (including a lens). I realize that I was probably you typical DSLR researcher and buyer. This was going to be my first DSLR camera, and I didn't want to break the bank while at the same time having room to expand.

The Canon XT fit into the price range while giving me the options I wanted. I didn't see the need to go up to the XTi, Nikon D40x, Nikon D80 because at 8 MP you can pretty much blow the XT pictures up to poster size and not really see huge loss in detail. I also had the luxury of choosing between all the different brands because I didn't have any lens already purchased. My main comparison came down to the Canon XT versus the Nikon D40. Both were similar in price (with the kit lens included), but when I went to the local camera store to try them out (I still purchased from Amazon, no sales tax really gives Amazon an advantage here) I kept coming back to the Canon XT.

The Canon XT has more autofocus points which were instantly apparent when I was just picking up the camera and trying to take pictures in the store. Also, in a non-scientific statement the Canon just felt better in my hands. I know it is made from plastic but it fit right into my hands and felt extremely comfortable. The one item that I did like the Nikon over Canon was that the Nikon uses SD cards instead of CF in the Canon. I just like SD better because most laptops now (including mine) have a slot where you can just slide the SD card in and the laptop reads the card exactly like a hard drive. Also, in talking to the kind individuals in the camera store and in searching online I found that the Canon type of lens (AF) are more common and there are more generic (Tamron, etc) lenses available so over the long run (where as I have found out that you are going to pay alot more for your lenses then you ever will for your DSLR camera) so this was another selling point of the Canon XT.

My first pictures with the camera were up in a trip to Alaska and the kit lens did OK but I could definitely see it limitations. That being said for a difference of $70 between body only and body and lens, I think this lens will serve me well until my skills develop more. I would rather learn on (and maybe break) the cheap kits lens and then move up to the better lens then start out dropping alot of money on expensive lenses.

Overall, the Canon XT is everything I wanted it be. It fits right into my hands, the autofocus is good, all the controls are available for any skill level from novice to pro, and I didn't break the bank to purchase it (I got the Canon XT (with kit lens), a 2 GB card, and I nice little holster bag all from Amazon for under $725). I am pleased, the only reason I don't give this a 5 star rating is that I don't think the kit lens is perfect and I wish that you could take RAW photos in the Automatic modes (sometime I don't want to fiddle with the settings but I still want to modfiy the pictures later)

I'll try to make this review as short and simple as possible.Let me start by saying that I am an amateur photographer. I travel a lot due to my proffesional affairs as well as personal. I needed a camera that could shoot fast and acurate pictures and would not be to costly. I purchased a Konica Minolta Dimage A200 ( which I use as a secondary camera ) but is a bit to slow for my taste even though it takes amazing pictures. Honestly, Canon's agressive marketing technique was one of the major factors in my desition as far as purchasing the camera or at least looking into it; the camera was displayed every where from Dubai to Europe to Asia to New York, so I started looking into it. The reviews were great and when I was finally able to get my hands on one at a camera store, I just fell in love with it, shorty after I purchased the camera, and have no regrets, especially after understanding all the menus and functions of it, I have become more of a photographer than I ever though I would be. I got a package deal over a year ago with SIGMA glass, decent but not the best I've seen. Invest in some good glass and you will not be disappointed. I though about upgrating to a different camera ( XTi, 30D, Nikon D40x even Nikon D200 ) but really have no need for it, it would almost be a "waste" for my needs and in my case, money is almost no matter, how ever I could just not justify purchasing something else! . I could go on and on about how much I like and enjoy this machine, however, I'll just make one last statement; if you are looking into getting into the SLR world, this machine will not disappoint you, get some good glass, learn the camera and just shoot away!

I am totally impressed with the camera's performance. Still experimenting with art phography. Have made great progress and am convinced that I wll be able to produce extraordinary photos of art work.

I bought this camera just last week and have not put it down since. I spent some time deciding between the rebel xt and the kd100. In the end I went with the rebel simply because of the 8 megapixels and overall better reviews. In fact the only reason I considered the kd100 was because everyone said the rebel was too light, felt flimsy, or was too small to hold. Naturally when the rebel arrived in the mail I immiedately examined the build quality and size of the camera. To be honest i wouldn't want a camera any larger, and I had no problem with the hard plastic body which I thought felt very sturdy in my hands. Size issues aside, this camera delivers fantastic pictures at an affordable price and that's exactly what I wanted.

I just got this camera as a gift. It came in a timely fashion. I have a Canon EOS 650 so many of the features are similar. I was disappointed that there was no CF card included in the box. There is nothing in the description of the product that states the CF card is sold seperately. The manual eventually tells you the card is sold seperately but not until you get to the part about inserting the card. I have purchased other digital cameras online and they have come with a basic card. Perhaps you could make note that the CF card is sold seperately? Thanks.

I love this camera! It makes me look like I know what I'm doing. Easy to use, and the photos are excellent quality. Everyone needs one of these.

I am new to the SLR cameras so I may not be the best one to review this camera, but I`ll try. I have had 2 other digital cameras, both Canon and both point and shoot and loved them and decided that I would stay within the Canon family. I am an avid scrapbooker, both digital and paper, so it is important that I have good quality pictures. I have taken lots of outdoor and indoor pictures with this camera and so far I am amazed at the beautiful, clear results. I did buy a book recomended by a friend detailing the functions of the Rebel XT and it has been very helpful as instructions that came with the camera were hard to understand. The only negative thing so far is that the camera feels a little bulky to me, but I`m sure that is because I am used to smaller point and shoot cameras. We are going out west in a few weeks and I am really looking forward to all the great pictures I`m sure this camera is going to take.

This is my first "real" camera. After reading the manual, I am comfortable learning on this camera. When in doubt, I use the autofocus and the pictures turn out well. I usually enhance the pictures through my photoshop program, but the originals are great as well! This was the best material gift I've ever received!

There are already so many reviews for this time tested piece that my contribution is not really required. But my say is that If you buy this you will not regret, this is a very powerful piece of equipment and you will enjoy every bit of it.

Although the kit lens is not that great and I wish I had bought another good lens with it, which I am going to do soon.

I was new to 35mm cameras when I purchased this camera. Within a couple of hours, I felt in command of most of the controls, and was taking good photographs. It has a built in light meter display, so you can adjust your settings to get appropriate light, before you shoot the picture.

One nice thing is that the camera shuts off if you accidentally leave it on, which I have done on several occasions.

The only complaint I have is the autofocus. I shoot photos of animals indoors, and I have enough to worry about without having to manually focus the camera. At the same time, I need this kind of camera to have control of lighting. The autofocus in these situations is too slow, or it seems confused and unable to choose what to focus on.

Loading photographs onto my PC seems to go very slowly as well.

I recommend getting the best lens you can afford (widest range of focal lengths) since the one that comes standard in most packages is a little limiting. You won't regret it.

I love this camera, I can't say enough about it. It does great with low lighting, does great close-up. It is so versatile and isn't terribly heavy. This is a great camera.

Purchased the Digital Rebel on Amazon because of the competitive price. Upon arriving, I found that the memory card just wouldn't read. I replaced the card twice, swapped it for the card from my old camera to no avail, and finally called up a local big name electronics shop and asked if their tech support would check the camera out even though it was purchased through a competitor.

They kindly agreed.

The prongs that read the card had arrived bent. The bends were minute, but enough to interfere with the transfer of data. Most electronic stores will inspect high priced goods before allowing them to leave the store, Amazon, however, does not. An Amazon customer service operator confirmed this. While I am sure 99.8% of these camera reach their final destination in good working order, some do not. And it isn't fun to end up being in the minority.

I returned my Amazon purchase and bought a new camera through the competitor even though the price was a bit higher. However, I was also able to purchase an extended refund along with it.

The camera works beautifully, however, I will not be purchasing high ticket items like this through Amazon again. Luckily, I was able to return it.

The brand new Rebel XT I received had a faulty flash button and flash function right out of the box. When lighting levels are low the camera pops up the flash automatically, however with this one several malfunctions occured simultaneously:
*the flash popped up, but did not fire
*the camera made a weird rapidfire clicking sound like keys being quickly pressed on an old-fashioned typewriter
*the camera would "seize" or lock-up, the only recourse being to cycle the power off and on manually
*the only item then displayed on the LCD was a low battery warning (even though the battery was fully charged. This indicator would revert to charged status after cycling the power.)
*lastly, of course, no image would be stored.

I will say Amazon was exceptionally prompt in issuing a replacement order.

I've owned a Canon A-1 for 23 years and it's seen a lot of use. I get the feeling this one probably won't be around that long.

This is probably the lowest in the line up of Canon DSLRs and makes a really good first DSLR. I will skip the technical details (since they can be obtained from the Canon website), and get straight to the relavent points.

The camera is nicely designed, light yet packed with features. People with big hands, may find it difficult to use the camera, but since I have relatively small hands, I am not complaining. The layout of buttons and the menu is very clean and simple. The manual is very detailed and I would recommend you read the manual even if you have used a Canon earlier.

The body is all plastic and feels cheap. I would have really liked if there was say a rubber grip or something that would aid in getting a better hold. The lense that comes with the camera is probably not the best but still gives great shots! I would recommend buying just the body and a good quality lens preferably the image stabilized.

To sum it up, a great camera from Canon at an unbeatable price yet not compromising on features. Great for students and beginners.

This is my 4th digital camera and is by far my favorite. I tried the simple in your pocket digital camera which is great and a smaller somewhat SLR camera that was also nice but there is just something about the heft of a real SLR camera and the joy of lenses etc.

I almost didn't buy this camera w/ the 18-55 lens becuase I have several lenses already from my Canon film SLR, but I am glad I went with the lens on this unit. It has a terrific range and may save me from having to take a bunch of lenses with me on vacation. Speaking of lenses: I have two Canon lenses and 1 Sigma that I used w/ my film SLR w/ no issues. At first I was very worried when I got this camera b/c all the research said my old lenses would work, however, I was having trouble getting them to go on. The film lenses have metal mountings whereas the digital has plastic mountings, this meant--for me at least--that I had to get them on by very specifically placing the openings. Once you get the hang of it-it is ok, but warning that you won't be switching the lenses off and on as quickly as you might be used to. That being said the included lens is AMAZING!

Another note about lenses because I found this out shortly before purchasing. Your old lenses most likely will not be as accurate as their numbers say. The digital will read them at about a 1.6 focal length difference which is great for a telescopic lens as it will make it have a wider range, for a macro however it pretty much defeats its usage. You can look up more details about how the numbers work online.

Good POINTS:

Camera is quiet. Takes pictures well inside and out. Battery life is great, I have yet to charge mine. It accepts my old mini-tripod and shutter release from my film SLR. The setting variety is great, especially the bracketing feature--I leave mine on that or on the TV setting for when I want to pick it up and take a quick picture. Comes with a nice manual and pocket manual. Pictures printed from not even the highest setting on this camera at 8 x 10 were frameable.

Lower POINTS:

Finding the setting for black and white was a bit difficult. It takes getting used to having a larger camera again after carrying a small one.

This is a great camera though. And for everyone who says you need the 10MP XTI, don't listen. If you are just an average camera enthusiast who will use this around the house and on vacation this is plenty for showing off good pictures and getting quality prints.

when buying an SLR the important thing is to also look at lens avalable also and the two makers of bodys and lens are only cannon and nikon and cannon is less expensive for a similar quality and features so a winner there and also cannons pro level white telephoto lens totaly rule which is quite aparent as if you ever see a bank of photoprgathers at a sporting event all you tend to see is a sea of white lens sadly for those lens which will fit on this body start well over twice the price of this body
also another note buying a body with out a lens is not a bad idea as the first thing that gets replaced tends to be the medicore kit len

We've owned the Rebel XT for 1 month now. It does everything we want as avid hobby photographers. The small body size is convenient for carrying and storage. The camera works great with our older Quantaray 28 - 90mm lens as well as our Sigma 28 - 200mm lens.

The Speedlight 430X flash is a must for night/evening shooting. Does a much better job than the body flash.

Sports mode is incredibly fast - as usual for Canon. In taking pictures of people diving off rocks into a lake, you can get 5 shots in mid flight... just for a point of reference.

The 1.8" screen is plenty big to review your shots - don't feel it necessary to go for the 2.5" screen on the XTi.

Our take - save the extra $250 from the XTi and get yourself a good lens. You can't go wrong with this one!

When the typical point-n-shoot, low-light shutter lag of my otherwise very nice Sony DSC-H1 couldn't do justice to rodeo action (grrr), I had to scratch the itch for SLR speed. If you are itching too, then here are first impressions from a guy who has but a rough understanding of how ISO, aperture and shutter speed work together. If this describes you, then I hope this poor effort helps.
I looked HARD at the Nikon D40 6mp, settling on the Cannon Rebel XT 8mp when I found it could be had for just $20 more and seemed to get ever so slightly better professional reviews for quality, features and included software. This much I'm sure ... don't focus on pixel count lest you buy additional noise with a higher count; 6MP is plenty for most of us. The better advantage is the physically larger sensor in an SLR over a PnS. Here's what I think, so far.
This is an unfair comparison, but for general purpose, auto-mode shooting I see no gain over the Sony, which takes SUPER close up and macro 5MP photos. Distant objects are better in the Canon, but it's programmed macro mode doesn't work nearly as well, especially with focus. I'm hoping it's because I don't know what I'm doing, yet (close the aperture, right?). The point is that, just because it's an SLR doesn't mean it takes better auto-mode photos out of the box. The jury is out until I go through the full learning curve. The SLR will fix action shot shutter lag and offers other features, but it is an expensive incremental improvement over a quality point-and-shoot, in my humble opinion.

If you are new to SLR, really shop carefully. You are going to spend allot of money on an ENTRY level SLR. Nikon & Canon are the mass leaders but I wonder about unintentional, yet real, pro-review bias. Olympus, Sony and others might make true gems. If you can, RENT one of each before buying so you wind up happy. I'm not sure if I am.

I am not a photography, but I needed to buy a camera. I read the reviews and picked this one up. It has not disappointed and I cant get over how great the quality is. The pictures look professional and the pictures have such a high resolution, the images takes up megabytes on the computer.

Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Lens (Black)

It is an amazing camera even for someone without a great deal of experience. The auto focus mode is great when you are in a hurry to get great pictures while driving; however, the manual focus options are unbelievable as well. I'm glad I purchased it.

So far so good. But the only reason I give this product 4 stars instead of five was that I had to send it back and get another one. I bought this camera so that I could take very good pictures at my wedding but unfortunately the first one that came didn't have a working flash. Those pictures came out blurry, distorted and unusable. So I sent the camera back to Amazon and the next day I had a new one in the mail. The new one works great and takes excellent pictures, I just wished I had it for my wedding.

I remain very pleased with the Canon Digital Rebel XT, it is an excellent camera. The one drawback I kept reading about was the plastic body, but rest assured that is not an issue at all. In fact, when making comparisons, I found the lesser weight of the plastic body to be an advantage and it is plenty sturdy and robust for a camera. I am puzzled why it is mentioned as a drawback at all. As for controls & features, it is excellent in both regards and learning the operation of the camera is simple and intuitive. The controls are well placed, easy to utilize and the display screen is excellent. The software that is bundled with the camera is very good and has proven more than sufficient for my needs. I would highly recommend this camera to anyone.

The camera is quite nice. It has a number of point-and-shoot modes available to the photographer. I use them sometimes if I don't have time to compose the shot. Most of the time I use the M mode.

I do not want to be redundant in my praise - please read all the other 5 star posts.

Here are the few items I found a little unpleasant but are not a show stopper.

1. Small viewfinder: it is quite difficult for me to manually focus through the viewfinder without the help of the seven focusing points. You can either focus manually by eye sight, or press the shutter halfway in order to trigger the focusing points while manually focusing on the object desired. I don't think the instructions manual describes using the auto focus points while in manual focus mode.

2. The aperture button is not placed as conveniently - it's right next to the LCD screen. It would be more intuitive if it was in a location for easy thumb access.

3. The kit lens is really flimsy. The front part actually is wobbly while in manual focus mode.

I did a bit of research before buying this camera. For anyone with a budget under $1000, this camera is for them. It takes A+ pictures and it has all the features you would want/need in a DSLR. This was my first DSLR after using Point and Shoots for about 4 years and I was surprised. However, a warning, once you meet friends with Canon 30Ds - you'll want to get their camera.

Only negative: This camera is SMALL. I have large hands (not huge) and my three first fingers and my thumb are all I can use to hold this camera. HOWEVER, just buy the battery pack and your pinky will have something to hold onto.

I recommend getting the 28-105mm lens (non-IS) as I did.

Definitely a VERY good camera. However, after having this camera since July of 2007 - I've already put in my order for the 40D :).

Love my new Digital Rebel XT....I am taking a 5 week couse in September at a Community College to learn how to use my new camera inside and out...Women, if you are looking to take up photography I strongly recommend you purchase this item...You cannot go wrong...I am a beginner and this camera is really user friendly. definitely worth every penny...I give Canon an A+.....mspisces13

I consider the camera an excellent item. It was shipped fast and received in an excellent condition. Beautiful service. Thanks

This camera may not be for the pro, but then that is not who it was designed for. I have had this camera for about 3 weeks and have take a lot of pictures with it. Having used a "Rebel XS" film camera for about 15 years before it died, I was glad to see how similar the operation and feel is on the XT. This made for a short learning curve.

I was hesitant to leave film for digital, but am totally glad I did. The advantages far outweigh the drawbacks. One adjustment I am having to make is that pohtos are slightly underexposed on the fully automatic setting, this is NOT a problem with the camera, but the nature of the technology and something that is easily overcome.

This is an excellent camera for the person who wants really top quality snapshots AND the ability to go well beyond snapshots on occasion. I actually think a pro could use this camera with success, since it is my belief that a truly creative photographer can take top quality photographs with a box camera - the bells and whistles are nice but the most important part of this machine is the operator.

I bought this product a little over a year ago but did not get to the creative functions until recently. When I tried to use the main dial it did not work. The camera has been meticulously cared for and has never been dropped, bumped, etc. Canon charged me $200 to fix (I was 8 days outside their warranty but they wouldn't budge). $200 to fix a piece of plastic on a $600 camera...
The camera takes nice pictures but should be fairly expensive to operate at $200 per year...
Last Canon product I'll ever buy.

I LOVE this camera, I'm still unsure how to use the advanced features even after reading the manual and some online sites but maybe I'm just a slow learner LOL The standard photo options are great and make for great pictures, you can get quite close with the lens it comes with too. The speed at which it takes pics is fantastic, no lag time, which is great with 4 kids, cant wait for the camera to be ready! I love it

I bought this Camera from my wife for Christmas to replace her Film Version of this camera. I thought it would be a nice gift and allow her to explore Photography in a more creative way, since here wouldn't be any of the associated film and development costs for non-keeper shots. She would also be able to use her existing lenses from her Film Camera (A standard zoom and telephoto zoom).

Boy was I stupid. I'd was never into photography much before, but once I had the Digital Rebel XT in my house, I couldn't help but play with it every once in awhile. Now, Not only have I stolen my wife's Camera, but her hobby as well. I even recently purchased another 400 dollar lens... and have a long list (thousands of dollars worth) of new toys (photography equipment) I *NEED* to buy.

I do let my wife use the camera every once in awhile... but boy was this the best Christmas give I ever got.

I was so excited to get this as my first SLR camera, it was very affordable and had so many features... however, I didn't realize that you could not use the LCD screen as a viewfinder. You have to look through the tiny viewfinder to see your picture before you take it. Then you can view the pictures taken via the LCD screen. Major drawback for me. I will be returning it and buying a different camera that allows for LCD viewfinder usage.

Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Lens (Black)

I got my camera on Monday. I will update more as I use it. My initial review is that this camera is excellent. I know a few semi-pro reviewers said that the kit lens is crap but I find it to produce very clear vibrant images even in the macro mode. I will be getting a new telephoto Sigma lens in few days and will review that as well. I do suggest getting a decent polarizer and uv haze filter as they do help to produce more vibrant images outdoors.

I had to choose between the XT and the XTi with the higher price tag. I have to say that other than the sensor cleaner and 2 extra megapixels(which you really don't need for most shoots) there's not much better about the XTi, you even lose the back lit settings display screen and only have the lcd. As long as you invest in some decent lenses this camera will do everything you need and more with all the settings and manual features it has. I added an image taken to the list of sample photos here. Look for the picture of the black cats on the leather chair.

I will update this review as I get more use out of the camera.

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
-----
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
-----
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
----
* 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.

I have been using this camera for about two years, and I have a long experience in creative photography. I can say without any hesitation that the Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera is on of the best cameras in the market today.
It has all the sophisticated functions that any professional photographer may need.
The only thing that I did not like is the lens; I changed it to a Sigma 14 - 200 mm, which is equal to 28 - 300 mm in a conventional SLR. It gives me the ability to zoom from a wide angle lens of 28 mm to a telephoto lens of 300 mm in a second, which is a great advantage in many situations,

This camera has been reviewed many, many times so I don't have much to add. The pictures are great, it's easy to use, etc. Aside from that, it did stop working on my vacation about 3 months after I purchased it. I sent my camera in to a Canon Service depot and I received it back, fixed, within a week. While I wasn't overly impressed that the camera broke in the first place, I was impressed by the quick, hassle-free service.

The canon rebel xt is a great budget/beginner's DSLR! This camera is now my baby!! =]

I would highly recommend it to the beginning amateur or serious amateur. This camera has both manual and auto settings. It is incredibly easy to use if you have done your homework...for example, you must use the viewfinder to shoot the picture, for some this is a turn off.

As for ergonomics, this camera is light and compact compared to other DLSR's, this has worked out great for me, because I have small hands. If you have larger hands I would suggest getting a battery pack grip to make it more comfortable.

The pictures so far have come out stunning using the kit lens. The kit lens is pretty flexible and will be able to take 90% of the shots you will need. However, I would suggest getting other lenses if you need to be a bit more creative. I think I'll be ordering the 75-300mm lens and EF 50mm f-1.8 II pretty soon!

Battery life is great, mine lasted through hundreds of shots, and it comes halfway charged right out of the box, so you don't have to wait to play with your new baby!!! And as for memory cards, I would suggest going with a high speed memory card, if you don't you won't be able to take advantage of the burst mode. The SanDisk Ultra II 2 GB will get the job done quick enough, plus it's cheaper than the SanDisk Extreme III.
If you are looking into taking the plunge into SLR photography, as I was, DO IT!! This camera is an amazing learning tool, and great investment!

Great great grrreat camera! Save your money on the Rebel XTi and purchase the XT, so you can invest in some nice lenses, filters, etc. A nicer lens will get you a lot farther than a slightly larger LCD screen and 2 megapixels will. Honestly, unless your a professional, there is no need to go up to 10MP. And if you are a professional, you wouldn't be going with a Rebel anyway, even though they take incredible shots that nearly rival professional work. It does offer RAW so the potential is there.

The size of this camera has been a concern for some. I have large hands, as I'm 6'4, and with the added battery pack grip, it fits my hands perfectly. The battery pack is a huge plus anyway for those all day hikes/photo shoots when you don't want to keep changing the battery every few hours.

The features/options on this camera are enough to keep every amateur photo enthusiast entertained for years to come, as well as those considering the entry to professional work.

As for the kit lens, I haven't used it or seen it in action, but if you are on a budget, the reviews I've read assure me that it will cover all of your needs until you are able to invest in a more expensive lens.

Great camera for a great price.

Short and sweet.. Spend the extra money for the XTi. I returned this camera and bought one. The XTi outshines this unit for about $100 more.

I am very pleased with this camera. After shooting 1000's of frames with film, I am finally able see real clarity in digital pictures. The grain is gone.

I've had a the Canon Rebel for film which unfortunately is in not working, but in the auto focus mode, it seemed easier to get a great shot than in this one. I've had a whole birthday party turn out blurry with this camera. It's likely that I just didn't find the right setting, but it's not like I just opened the box either. It was a bowling alley, lower light with action so that made a difference. Also, I have had situations where I would like a shot with no flash, but I can't avoid blur. I switched to manual and seemed to get what I wanted, but the auto focus almost always forces a flash in most any lighting situation! ERRRR! I am going to switch to the lens with my old camera and hope this helps. This is still the best deal you will find if you are desperate for a digital SLR like I was. Best of luck!

I really am satisfied with my new Canon. I love it, the size, the options it has, the lens, the great pictures.
I recomend.
Moreover, the price is good.

I love this camera I dont hardly miss a shot. The one thing I do not like is that the lense that comes with the camera does not get up close enough now I need another lense.This camera otherwise is so far a great camera

I had other SLRs before, the starter machines I mean. Digital Rebel XT is the best one I had so far. It feels very professional, and it really takes very good pictures. The LCD screen is a bit smaller for my taste, but it doesn't justify the quality of the images I receive from the machine.

Buy it; if you are ready to jump in SLR world, before get yourself a crazy expensive machine :)

I won't echo the common noteworthy points in the previous reviews but my main problem with this camera is the numerous times the one-shot autofocus fails in overlapping near and far daylight illuminated stationary objects (i.e. animal in a cage, person behind a picket fence, building behind tree branches, etc.).

Granted that page 76 of the instruction manual on this camera and even in the Canon EOS 5D's instruction manual writes about the same problems and corrective procedures. The 5D from my experience doesn't have this autofocus problem with the same lens (Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM) in the same scenario.

Otherwise, the Digital Rebel XT is a very good (4 out of 5 star rating) camera for it's selling price.

Is the best camera that you can start to make pro photos. Is somewhere beetween home and pro photo camera! Have a good price also!

Previously I owned the 35mm Canon Rebel EOS 2000 and making the switch to digital has been perfect. I am by no means a professional but like to think I know a little more about photography than Joe Six-Pack. This camera does everything that I need it to do and does even more than I was expecting it to.

Pros: Takes amazing photos, auto-mode, manual modes, lightweight, looks cool, makes you look like a professional photographer even when you're not.

Cons: LCD screen could be bigger, plasticky.

I've used point-and-shoot cameras for most of life, and they've worked decently. However, I grew tired of dealing with poor auto-focus, unnatural colors, lack of manual controls, etc, and after my friend let me borrow her Nikon D30 for a bit, I decided that it was time for me to upgrade to a DSLR. After days upon days of research, I decided to go with this camera, pairing it with a Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Macro Lens, which I bought from a separate dealer. The camera came right on time in a nice box which contained software, a USB cord, a charger and battery, manuals, and of course, the camera itself.
In terms of ergonomics, the camera with the lens attached maintained a decent, balanced weight. I had no problem in terms of holding the camera, but others with larger hands may feel that the grip is not big enough to comfortably hold onto the camera. Performance-wise, the camera simply amazed me. it created excellent reproductions of colors, and it also took absolutely beautiful macro shots. The camera's also got a pretty good battery life, but it wouldn't hurt to get a backup. If you're an amateur or hobby photographer who wants to upgrade to a DSLR camera, you should definitely consider this camera. Sure, the Rebel XTi model is out now, but this one is much cheaper, and it produces photographs that are almost on par with the XTi.

I'm completely impressed with this camera, the colors and the quality image is superb, well that in the opinion of someone who just has started in the SLR domain, but if you want to get started in the pro field this is one good choice.

This camera and its included software is all you need, really. It goes from "point and shoot" to all types of customized photography. If you already have Canon lenses, I strongly suggest getting the body only, and a decent memory card. Even the included flash works great. Nice job, Canon.

Excelent camera for the price. I was inpressed with the many advanced features for being the bottom of the line dslr.

I just paid 500 for this thing and I haven't been feeling any buyer's remorse, yet. I've been comparing photos from past point and shoot pictures to the XT's. I chose 2 photos taken with flash and auto focus, from fairly close, and that are roughly the same size: 3264 X 2176 compared to the XT's 3456 X 2304. I am viewing both in the Microsoft Office Picture Manager. The one from the point and shoot gets blurry at about 90%. The XT starts to get blurry at 250%. Whatever that means, I have no idea. To me it means that the APS-C sensor size is doing its job. Is it 100 dollars better then the point and shoot? YES. I think the zooms are the same with the lens that's on it now. Close ups look alot less distorted with the XT. In auto mode the XT is just as easy to use, except it takes pictures faster. And it's cooler to have a camera that looks like a camera. The only bad thing is that now I have to get a telephoto zoom lens because I want one. So, for 500 it's worth it without a doubt except for the fact that it's making me want to spend 200 more on a lens.
***UPDATE - I've been playing with this camera for a few days now and I'm still happy with it. First, somebody said the thing is for small handed people. I'm a big mo-fo and my hand fits fine. I'm also impressed with battery life. The battery got low at 250 pics, but it still doesn't need to be charged yet at 375. The only thing I don't like is the battery meter it only has 3 settings: ok, low, and must be charged(which I havn't seen yet.) I also like how fast pictures can be taken, autofocus is fast too.

I am very satisfied with this SLR. Excellent value for the price ratio. Recently, my friend let me try a few of his lenses and the experience got just that much better! I definitely recommend this camera but watch out - all the accessories add up quickly ;)

I've never owned a camera, film or digital, before. So as a first time-camera owner, I'm more than thrilled.

First the bad (and they aren't that bad):

1. As you start using it more you want to buy more accessories, like filters, lenses, and tripods, oh, and a bigger bag every few months for all the growing stuff. Okay, not really a negative, but something you should watch for.

2. The 'Kit' lens that comes with the camera is great for most shots within 50 feet or broad landscape shots. For people new to SLR's (digital or not) the kit lens is a good starter lens to feel out SLR's potential, but if you have even a few months of SLR experience, I would suggest buying the body-only and selecting the lenses you know you'll want. Because anything more than 50 feet or if you're trying to capture a specific element of a landscape shot, you'll find the kit lens lacking.

3. Manual settings are a little difficult to figure out. Okay, when I bought this camera I knew nothing of f-stops or shutter speed and any combination of these. I am still closer to confused than comprehending, but I've found I want to start trying out these seetings and it isn't obvious how to set these yourself. For those who want to just take a picture the cheat-sheet at the top (a wheel you turn to tell the camera what type of combination of f-stops/shutter speed/etc you want) is more than adequate (and I've had no problems using it). But after starting to learn what you can do by modifying f-stops and shutter speeds, I have started to yearn for a more newbie friendly process. Again, though, this is really dependent on the type of person you are. I like lots of control so this has started to gnaw at me some (though no where near enough to rate less than 5 stars)

The good (and I think they're real good):

1. I've never had any of the pictures developed (I bought a digital camera for a reason), but image wise, the pictures are great quality. As I take pictures with the highest resolution the camera allows I find I'm often disappointed by a picture until I remember that the picture is 3x larger than what my monitor displays, and when I view full size the detail is incredible. I had a chance to shoot some tidepools, and I'm not sure the urchins and starfish looked that good in person.

2. Lots of high-quality pictures. I bought 2, 2GB memory cards and I can fit 566 highest quality JPEG pictures on them. With two cards I've never had to worry about being selective with my shots. Professionals might find this untrue, but as a budding hobbyist, I'm extremely happy.

3. Battery life, I read somewhere that you should have 2-3 times as many batteries as you think you'll need. Well I'm a little curious about that one. I have 1 battery and I've never been concerned about losing a charge. I've virtually filled both of my 2GB cards up on the same battery (800+ pictures) and it still showed a nearly full charge. Now I may be less demanding than most because:
a) I don't review pictures, I do that when I return home
b) I don't take many pictures with the camera's flash

But even when I've forgotten and left the camera on for a few days after taking a few hundred shots, it still shows a nearly full battery. Now you probably should have a few extras just in case, but if you aren't away for extended periods, battery concerns are quite minimal.

4. Ease of use - The Canon is VERY forgiving. Even right of the box, if you leave the settings on automatic and let the camera decide the settings you'll be very happy with the shots. Knowing how to adjust the settings will give you an incredible shot, but for the rest of us, we can let the Canon select the settings and come out with a very good shot that more than meets our hopes.

*****

Summary: This 8MP is a greaty starter camera and looks to be able to scale upward. It is very forgiving of your ignorance, allows you ample ways to upgrade as your understanding grows, and is a joy to use.

Even if you plan on becoming a pro, this is a great camera to cut your teeth on without breaking the bank. I'd recommend this camera to any beginner or non-professional.

I am deeply invested in Canon EOS film and digital cameras. The Rebel EOS 350D XT 8MP black body is a great addition. It will easily pay for itself in photo sales.

great camera, very responsive and fast, after using many point and shoot and advanced point and shoot cameras, this was definitely a step up for me. The only problem i have is the stock lens delivers some soft images, i would recommend buying the body and another lens

I love it. I am still figuring out all the wonderful things it can do!

I've been using this camera for about a year and a half and have previously owned multiple point and shoot digital canon cameras. This camera allows a level of creativity unavailable with the other cameras. I have taken numerous pictures that people have asked "Where did you get that print?" It is easy to use but has all the power you would expect from a SLR. I didn't buy the kit lens and opted for some higher quality lenses that have served me very well.

Since others have listed pros and cons very well here are the highlights for me:

Pros:
SLR
400+ shots on a single charge
Fast shutter release
Expandability

Cons:
Doesn't fit in your pocket

I am far from a professional photographer but I think anyone can take great pictures with this camera. I did alot of research before deciding wether to replace a privious pocket digital with the Rebel and I am glad that I got the Rebel. The picture quality is great and the fact that the camera is very user friendly is also obviously a major plus. I've always been one to take and share pic's and most people have noticed the change in quality of the pic's from my old camera to Rebel. I still havn't used all of the features but have played around with some nighttime photography as well as daylight and indoor and have been very pleased. Some of the features I don't know that I will ever use but I figure that if I ever decide to pursue them they are there. The only down side to this camera that I can think of is, if your looking for an pocket size camera then this is not for you. The Rebel is much bulkier but, in my opinion, the inconvienence is well worth the quality and flexibility that this camera offers you.

I'm a complete amateur, but I love this camera. It's relatively easy to use and the manual is WAY easier to understand than the one that came with my Powershot S2IS. The only problem I have with it--which I admit could be owner malfunction--is the battery life. It says that it uses relatively little power when the camera goes to sleep but it seems like my battery drains super fast. I use it for 10-15 minutes and then turn it off. I can do that 2-4 times before the battery shows that it's almost gone. Am I doing something wrong? I'm ready to get a spare battery, but I'd love to know if there's a way to conserve battery power.

I ordered this exact camera from Amazon.com back in May of 2007. I love this camera, the quality of its picture taking and how very EASY it is to use. For a photography novice like me using a professional grade digital camera like this it is super easy to use. Canon makes great cameras.

HOWEVER....the CFS cards (which is basically the term they use for memory cards) plug into a slot inside the side of the camera. The cards have a series of holes that align into tiny copper prongs inside the camera. It does not take magnetized memory cards like a lot of digital cameras do. Twice I have run into the problem where since I use multiple memory cards and am VERY careful when removing and inserting them-at some point one of the delicate prongs that the card plugs into gets slightly shifted and therefore it would not plug in correctly and completely prevents you from taking or saving pictures unless you get it fixed (You will get a message on the screen saying "CFS error." At first I thought I had purchased a faulty memory card-but soon learned from a representative at Canon that unfortunately it was not the card but when inserting and removing these cards a lot of people have run into this problem--SO I just wanted to warn you all that it can become a MAJOR inconvenience to you if this happens as it can take some time to fix (although it's a simple problem to fix.) The first time it happened to me, I sent it in to Canon's repair center and they had it fixed just as new for FREE because it has a warranty, but it took six weeks. The second time it happened, I took it to a local authorized Canon technician who also fixed it for free since it is still under warranty.

My advice and what I am going to do is buy a memory card that holds the largest amount of gigabytes possible and just never remove the card so that the prongs will not get compromised. Once the memory card is full-there is no need to take it out to upload the digital images-that is done through an adapter/usb cord. So....I am just going to keep this new memory card inserted indefinitely-upload the photos onto my computer or a CD when it gets full (which takes forever because it takes loads of photos on the 2.0 GB cards even on the highest quality picture taking setting) TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN.

Other than that, I'm in love with this camera and the user guide makes everything so simple and I learn new techniques every time I use it, because it has so many amazing features.

What else can i say but i love my camera it is by far the best present i have gotten. It takes amazing pictures and quickly gets you addicted to taking pictures ..i find myself taking pictures of everything just to see how the settings all work.Anyone you buy this for will love it. You will need at least a 2gb card and highly recommended to buy a camera bag oh and a tripod. Have Fun

The company that sells this camera is not customer friendly,they asked if you have any questions, or concerns, and when I did give a response my order was cancelled, they did not try to fix the problem at all, and I needed this for a Christmas gift for my daughter, I would not use this company, the product may be great, but the service is awful.
Angie Smith

This is probably the best non-breathing thing I have. I absolutely love this thing!!! To be frank I did not compare with Nikon counterparts or other Canon cameras, I also have never used another SLR before so I went with what most reviews said about the XT. Almost bought the XTi but price difference at the time was $200. Plus I love the information screen on these cameras and dont mind the small LCD screen. XTi seems a better deal now as the price difference has shrunk (bye bye XT). Anyways, this is a GREAT camera. Pictures are way way better than a conventional digital camera. Even at ISO 1600 pictures look great. Bought a Canon 50mm 1.8, and Tamron 17-50 F2.8 + Tamron 70-300 lens. Great combo, stored kit lens in the closet (ok lens but kind of boring). I feel like a pro now and plan to learn about photography seriously. Canon 30D and 40D are way sexier, might upgrade later after I build a nice lens collection.

This camera doesn't come with a memory card... I guess I didn't realize that before buying it. Otherwise I might not have thought this was such a great deal. Look into their XTi. I'm pretty sure the shutter speed is significantly faster. Also do research on lenses you might want before you buy. There are some kits that might come with more than one lens.

I am a novice photographer, but really feel in love with the abilites that this camera has! I have owned several other digital cameras including the Sony Mavica & the Canon Sureshot. This camera is clearly a step above, and I am very happy that I purchased it!

I just recently purchased a Tamrom Lense which provides me with slightly better zoom, and substantially better clarity and colors!

Hope this helps - Good Luck

My wife and I bought this camera in the Summer of '06. We wanted to get a camera that we'd never have to replace. We got our wish.

I'm an amateur amateur photographer. Zero training. Picking up this camera, practicing with it's settings, and reading the manual has done wonders for my family photo albums. Photography used to frustrate me because I didn't understand the lingo and the numbers. I still don't really understand them, but I know what settings to plug into my camera to produce clear, amazing photographs. And because this camera is fun for this amateur to use, it makes it fun to learn the specifics of photography. I've since added a telephoto lens and a wide angle lens to my camera bag, and it's a breeze going back and forth between them. You'll enjoy photography with this camera.

One drawback that is worth mentioning is that the built-in flash is not the greatest in many situations. This can be solved by adding a flash (not cheap, but well worth it). Is this reason enough to not choose this camera? Not at all.

If you're considering a digital SLR camera, go with this. The cost/performance ratio is what you're looking for.

Excellent product at best price. quick shipping. Have already ordered more items. Very happy with transaction.

I spent a lot of time online searching for the best price on this camera, and this was it. It arrived in a few days and was perfect. I purchased it as a Christmas gift for my 17-year-old daughter, and she is thrilled. Just remember to purchase a memory card separately as no card is included with the camera kit.

Finally made the switch from my Canon Elan 7e to a digital SLR. Good speed and features for the price. I love it!

I love this camera! I don't know a whole lot about professional photography, but I love to play and have gotten some great shots over the years with my Canon Sureshot. This is my first SLR, and for the first time, I feel like the quality is comparable to film. I've had this camera a week, and have already figured out how to take great pics. You can do as much or as little creatively as you want to with this camera. The kit lens has been fine for what I use it for (mostly family/baby shots), but the zoom is a little lacking if you're wanting to use it from a distance (such as a sporting event). It's great if you have young children in the house who don't hold their cute expressions very long. I took 200 photos in no time, not realizing how many I had and still had plenty of room on the 2GB card. I've had to recharge the battery twice - using the viewfinder eats the battery up, so I'm weighing the pros and price of a spare, but it only takes an hour or 2 to recharge. (I did find the battery dead after not using the camera for a couple of days, when previously it had partial charge). There is a digital battery indicator on the screen, however, it only has two settings - fully charged and "half" charged, which can mean "about to die," so if you do imporant shoots on a timetable, I'd have a fully charged spare. It does take a little longer to load onto the computer compared to my Kodak Easyshare, but it's really not bad - not as bad as I was expecting after reading other reviews. We ordered the 8 megapixel and have been very satisfied.

This camera for the money is a very good digital slr. Quick and easy to learn.For someone who owns slr cameras i am really enjoying this camera. small and light weight,quick on shots. for the money it,s great.having digital convenience with small size and not the heavy mess i.m use to carrying around

I researched DSLRs for the last year before choosing the Canon; I own a Fuji finepix that I love, but it was only 4 megapixels and I wanted something more advanced now that I know what I am doing with a digital camera. I also wanted speed; my son plays soccer and football and the regular digitals are too slow for fast-moving bodies. So far, I am extremely pleased. I have yet to take any sports photos, but I have taken some great family pictures and fantastic ones of the dogs also; the detail is amazing. The camera is also very simple to use; I can switch from portrait to sports mode with just the turn of a dial and the auto-focus button on the lens is an added bonus. I showed some friends and family how simple it was to use and the detail of the photos and many are now seriously considering buying one. Overall, very pleased so far.

Overall this camera is a great buy. I have seen what others have said about the auto focus, it tends to focus on the wrong things in the seven point mode. You can bypass this in the P mode by choosing the central point focus, but then you lose out on the other Auto features. The only other problem I have had is that the flash sometimes seems out of sync. Some of my shots you can actually see the flash on the left side of the picture, that it hasn't made it across in time.

But don't let this slight irritations stop you from buying it! Compared to the point and shoot models out there this slr camera for the price is superior.

Great camera to use. If you know what you're doing, there is great image potential from this product. It is light weight and not bulky at all. Battery life is better than expected, and image quality in all modes is very impressive.

- As one of my X'mas Gift's, my GF purchased the Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Black 'body'.
Some of you might have come across some of my other product Reviews and might recall that I use exclusively Canon & Nikon Digital & 35mm cameras.
I still own several 35mm models from each manufacturer, and have some very
expensive lenses that were in storage. This is one of the main reasons my GF, bought this particular Rebel XT model, so I can continue to use some of my extra lenses. And just to throw some info into the mix, is that this model has a plastic body, which is the reason, it's so light & small.
I would Highly-Recommend this Rebel XT perhaps as a great option for those people that would like to 'Transition-Up' from the typical 'point-n-shoot' consumer cameras, and more towards the ~ 'Pro-sumer' Level. By establishing a new 'Learning Curve' on this one, will Pay you back great Dividends, when you make your way up to the Mark III, which is one of the top-of-the-line Canon Digital SLR's, period!
I'm not going to list every possible Pro & Con issue with the Rebel XT, as some of the other Reviewers, have already done a magnificent job.
What I will repeat here is that my GF (and the past ones), all know that
I have always attempted to Select only those Product Lines that have been defined by their High-Quality & Features, & have been Rated near the top of the curve, and are also Unique or have an interesting Style. BTW, I also received the Canon 2400 Gadget bag (read all my reviews).
The only other add-on item that I would recommend for this camera is the
BG-E3 Battery Grip. You won't be disappointed!

Pros: Very sharp contrast & detail even in low light; built in flash has good range; smaller & lighter than other DSLRs including the original rebel; zero shutter lag or shot to shot delay; uses compact flash cards which are inexpensive and easy to handle; can be upgraded to handle AA batteries; compatible with all EOS film camera EF lenses; lots of menu choices including customizing scenes; great Black/white mode.

Cons: Kit lens results in underexposed pictures when using flash and automatic settings(which can be compensated for by using manual settings); automatic white balance not as good as many point & shoot cameras; can not effectively focus on two objects that are different depths even in aperture priorty or A-DEP modes (as many point and shoots can); much larger and heavier than almost all point and shoot cameras; good lenses are expensive; no image stabilization without special (expensive) lenses.

Other thoughts: I think many people buy a DSLR because they think the image quality is much better than a point and shoot. This is not necessarily true especially when using a cheaper lens (ie the kit lens) compared to a great point and shoot cameras such as the canon SD700, fuji f31fd, olympus C-7000 or panasonic DMC-FZ5. I found a better lens than the bundled 18-55mm kit lens that sells very cheaply (especially used), the canon ef 28-80mm 1:3.5-5.6 which results in more realistic color and brightness especially in automatic mode. A good point and shoot is much more practical for carrying around and really does as good a job for image quality under most situations and better in some others (such as photographing objects at different distances simultaneously and trying to keep all in focus). The real advantages of this camera over a point and shoot are that almost every conceivable setiing can be changed manually; the availablility of so many lenses (though the really good ones are very expensive); the feel of a professional camera and much better flash range. I believe that most people that buy this camera will also own (and use) a small point and shoot camera. If you have no desire to use manual settings, consider this purchase carefully. You may be better of with a good point and shoot (The DMC-FZ5 and SD700 are my favorites)

Maybe I got a lemon. I bought this camera based on the previous reviews. I was so dissapointed with the very first shots I took. I was expecting sharp clear pictures and all I got were slightly fuzzy ones. This camera was supposed to be an upgrade from my Kodak 740 5mp. My Kodak takes amazing pictures! You can see every hair and every eyelash on my grandsons with the Kodak 740 and I was expecting to be blown away by the picture quality of the Canon by moving up from a 5mp to an 8mp. I tried different settings manual and auto but my old Kodak 740 takes much better pictures. I'm sending this back to Amazon and upgrading to the Kodak 8.2mp Easyshare. Hopefully the new Easyshare will fix the complaints I had with the 740 - the lag time between pictures and with image stabilization I can't wait to see what kind of pictures I can get with it.

I am really happy that I decided to switch from point-and-shot to DSLR camera... you can see the difference instantly!!! If you have professional camera first time in your hands (like me), you will also want to find some good literature to help you understand and use your camera to the maximum of its possibilities... (the manual witch comes with the camera will not be enough) otherwise it is waste of money to only use the Auto mode. I am still testing it and playing with it, but this camera has already proven how great your photos can be. I just want to warn you that you will become addicted to it :) and it is good to get a big memory card, so you don't have to stop too often to change the card or empty the old one... you will also be happy with the battery life - I am telling you, you can take you time!
So give your CANON a try and learn a little about professional photography and I promise you... You will get amazing results!

I researched the Rebel XT in depth before my purchase. I decided on the XT as opposed to the XTI due to the price. I found the very best price at Amazon however, I was a little concerned when it arrived. The camera was shipped along with a cookbook that I ordered without any additional packaging materials within a large box. The camera was in perfect condition and I began taking pictures. The best feature of this camera is that I can use the auto settings or manual settings when I want/need to get creative.

We absolutely love this camera!!!!! It's easy to use and a takes fantastic pictures. Would buy again and would highly reccomend to anyone.

Perfect camera for those wanting more than just a point-and-shoot. Too many features to list, but definitely usable right out of the box, even by those intimidated by SLR's.

My Canon gives me great time, my family is v. happy. It is affordable and light. May fit any canon lense not like Nikon D. Good quality and pictures are great recent 8x12 inch very good details. I do strongly recommend it.

a very good camera at a very good price can't find one like this at this price and got here quickly like it a lot

the canon rebel xt 8mp is GREAT! it is easy to use and put into operation. inculding a cf disk would have made it better from the start. i had to shop around to get one at a good price.

The camera is everything that was promised. I spent alot of time reading reviews, and for a starter SLR, they all pointed to this one. The pictures are the best I've ever seen from a home camera, although that's compared to the point and shoots family, friends and myself have used through the years. Adorama Camera (via Amazon) had by far the best deal, and they delivered on time with no problems. I am very happy.

This is a quality camera at a great price. It is my first SLR so I'm still learning to use all of its capabilities, but it is still simple enough to use as a point and shoot camera.

i got this camera prior to a trip overseas as well as to capture my 2 year olds faces. i was sick of "digital delay". it is awesome. it went around the world with me and held up great. at home, it works magic in getting the perfect snapshot.

i love this camera. i wanted a nicer model- not a pocket camera. and i tried the tweener models at the store- the ones that dont have the delay in taking the picuture - but the manufacturers just moved the delay such that it takes a second or two to "save" to the memory card. this camera takes photos in quick succession so you can see them almost as if you were looking at a flipbook. it is awesome and just what i wanted.

I was looking for a great beginners SLR and got it! I would recommend this product to anyone looking to get into SLR photography at a beginners level.

I am an ammeter photographer and take about 3000 photos a year. I have owned this camera for 2.5 years and could carry it with me 24x7. I know that there are better cameras but for the money you will have a hard time proving that this is not the best. I had some off brand lenses and do not like them as much as the Canon equipment and am looking to invest in my first image stabilized lens. You can get the XTi (10M pixel) but the cost vs. pay off is not as good as the XT. Each photo is about 2.5M and with a 2 Gig card you can take about 500 photos before you have to off load. At that resolution I can print 8.5X11 photos and you will have a hard time believing that the picture did not come from a 35mm camera. The only bad thing is that you may have to by a new hard drive to fit all your new data. This camera is very good for the beginner who wants to learn or just point and shoot.
Happy shooting

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.

The Digital Rebel XT is a pretty fantastic camera if you just look at the unit itself. Anyone migrating from the Digital Rebel (300D) as I did will pick up the camera with no problems. They're functionally identical. The pictures are crisp, even with the kit lens though you'll soon want to upgrade to get the full use out of the dSLR. I bought this camera even though the XTi was out because the dust reduction and larger LCD didn't seem to justify an additional $175. That's a personal choice though as the XTi is a great camera as well.

Unfortunately, the XT is becoming dated quick. Canon released information about the XSi which includes a new battery type and SD cards instead of CF. Basically this means that the extra card, extra batteries, and battery grip pack I bought won't be sticking around when I upgrade my body again. I don't regret this purchase but I probably would have been a bit more calm about my accessories if I had known about the XSi earlier.

This is my first Digital SLR. I've owned 35mm SLR's but have been waiting for the an affordable quality Digi SLR. This is it! I don't know how this camera could be better for the money, other than a larger veiwing screen. That's it. The package lens is OK at best. I'd probably buy this camera without it and save the money. You can get the 50mm prime lens for about $80. It's a much better lens. It's amazingly sharp for $80.

Be advised Canon is no longer offering updates to this camera's firmware. Not that it needs it... I assume from that, that canon has discontinued this camera.

8 megapixel is all I need or I may have looked at the XTi. However, if I had it to do all over again, I'd buy the XTi with the 2 1/2 inch sceen without the kit lens. Add a nice Sigma zoom and the Canon 50mm prime and I'd be in business.

All in all, you can't go wrong for $450 buying this camera.

I received this camera as a Christmas gift. I was heming and hawing for over a year on whether to transition from film SLR to digital, and if digital, compact or SLR. Well, I asked Santa for this bad boy. What a camera! Impresively light weight, sufficiently rugged, great flash, quick turn on and shoot, very log lasting battery pack. I love this camera and highly recommend it.

Not much to say here other than we love like this camera. There is a lot to it. I had to order one of those cd's on learning more about the camera. Great camera for someone that like hands on experiments.

ONE BIG ADVICE.

If you are going to use this as a point and shot camera then you are wasting your money. Ever since we got this camera I have only used the auto setting on a few occasion, other than when I first got it it's always been on the custom mode. I find that I have more of a control on what my pictures are going to look like. Sometimes they come out good and sometimes they don't, but that's all about learning.

Great camera. Can't wait to upgrade my lens.

My Rebel XT was stolen in December, and I've upgraded to the Canon 5D. But I purchased another XT to replace my wife's camera, which was a Canon 570. For the difference in price (about $200) the XT is vastly superior, and my wife is delighted with its performance and picture quality. Canon has reduced the construction quality somewhat - more plastic - but for the price, this is a great machine. I paid Can $ 1100 for my XT body in May of 2005, and now you can buy it with 18-55 lens for $450! Great value. Buying it from Amazon was really easy. It came in days.

If you are on the fence about this product (like I was), then you should not hesitate any longer. In the description, it definitely underestimates the battery life. I bought this camera about month and a half ago. The battery took an hour to charge. I have taken at least 1000 pictures with it. Flashes, long exposures, you name it. Just today, the battery life indicator showed one third full. I plugged it in, and a half an hour later, it was fully charged.
Also, it takes great all around pictures. The image quality is very good. The 18-55 lens works fine for me. I don't think I would need another lens anytime soon. It is good for zoom, close ups, etc. I might want a macro lens soon, but other than that, there is really no need to get more lenses. I would recommend a remote (for bulb exposures, etc.), and a UV filter. Also, a tripod is a necessity. The xti is no better, so don't waste your money when all it does is use up battery faster.
Anyway, this is worth the money, and Amazon is the place to buy it from. Buy it. You'll be glad you did.

The camera was so easy to use and the quality of the pictures were amazing! The night shots were easy to take and looked great!

I've wanted to purchase the Canon Digital Rebel XT for more than 6 months, and had been keeping my eye on the prices from both local and web stores. I was amazed when I found it on amazon for such an affordable price. The camera arrived on time, and in new, unopend condition, as advertised. I'm very pleased with the camera and the price.

I purchased this camera on a whim, because I thought that I'd like to dabble in photography a bit. I have to say, this is the best 500 bucks I've ever spent. It has launched me into a career that I had no idea I was talented in.
I WILL say, that I do like the the color quality of the Nikon DSLR better, but for the money, you can't beat the quality you will get with this Rebel. The Nikon DSLRs that I shopped around for were in the 800+ range, and I couldn't afford that, and the Rebel delivers all the quality anyone needs for semi-proffesional and will exceed your expectations if you are looking for a little higher quality of a camera for basic photographs or family snapshots.
I will say, if you are trying to use this for semi-pro to pro photography, invest in a decent lens, because contrary to some opinions, I think the kit lens provided sucks if you need to use it in lower light conditions. There will be much blurring or digital noise involved.
Also, consider shooting in RAW format for you budding photographers, because then you can go into Photoshop and really see the full potential of a photograph.
Also, check out: http://www.usa.canon.com/content/rebelxt_tutorial/rebelxtlessons.htm
For all the basic info on F Stops, Exposure, White Balance, and much more.
It significantly helped me learn about my camera since I couldn't afford lessons.
Hope this review helped a little!

it's a great camera. my one complaint (this can probably never be fixed, so i'm cool with it) is that the lense it comes with is standard. telescopic ones cost more, and after buying a 500 dollar camera with a 60 dollar memory card and a 100 dollar tripod, i'm kind of wiped out.

Good, but We cannot use LCD screen for taking pictures. It is only for review

I bought this camera for a college level mass communications photography class-it fits the needs very well, and people that rent the school's cameras are pretty jealous that I have a "big fancy camera". I've made some really cool photographs so far, especially after learning the advanced settings (which really aren't that hard, especially if you practice). I've only used point and shoot cameras, and this camera is a great way to get into "actual" photography-where you actually have to do something to make the pictures turn out well, as opposed to just taking pictures and accepting the mediocre images. The lenses available are awesome, and some aren't too outrageously priced. I'd suggest the Canon 50mm f/1.8 of f/1.4, because with the kit lens you really won't be able to do much indoors. The kit lens isn't the best, but is leaps and bounds better than even the best point-and-shoot (I have a Canon SD1000, and from what I've used/seen friends use/read about, I don't know how much better point-and-shoot cameras get).

We have enjoyed our new camera and have taken on several trips and the quality has been excellent. So far it has shown us the best in picture taking.

I am new to the SLR world and have quite a bit to learn;however, I have to say that this camera is easy to operate and learn about from the booklet that comes with it. I am very happy with the pictures I have taken so far. I think that one of the best features is that you can take so many pictures, so quickly. The macro feature has been fun also (taking close ups of flowers or of lemons on the tree). I still have a lot to learn but this is the perfect intro to the SLR world I think and it won't cost you an arm and a leg to do so. The camera does not come with a memory card so you do have to buy that separately---Just know that so you can get that before your camera arrives. Overall, excellent value!

Nice product, great price, but does not come with a CF card. So no, you can not use it right out of the box, unless you happen to have a CF card on hand. I recommend you buy one through Amazon, along with the camera, so you will not have to drive down to the local mall to get one.
This annoyance can be easily prevented by Canon by including one with the camera.

Compre la rebel xt primero por el precio, soy diseñador gráfico y trabajo con webs, y esta camara tiene suficiente poder para dedicarme solo a la fotografia profesional. He usado antes camaras canon y son muy buenas pero esta es una buena opcion para quienes inician en la fotografia profesional o fotografos mas avanzados. Tiene 5 puntos de enfoque que se pueden manipular para lograr efectos muy buenos, y una rafaga de disparos continuos de unos 12 disparos en unos 2a3 seg. Como detalle tambien les aclaro que el lente ef-s 18-55 que trae se queda corto para hacer acercamientos entonces tengan por seguro que tendran que adquirir otro lente. Otras baterias tambien son otra buena opcion para comprar puesto que si usan mucho el screen para revisar las fotografias se consumen bastante rapido. Bueno, la verdad yo si la recomiendo.