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.