The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT

Looks like this accidentally leaked out a bit early, but Canon is introducing the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT, a new 8.0 megapixel digital SLR that is supposed to be lighter and smaller than the original Canon Digital Rebel, have an improved CMOS sensor, and be able to write images to its memory card 3.5 times faster.

[Via Digital Photography Blog]

[Jonathan Wilson @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

nice but the battery pack/grip looks confused

[nial @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I second that. I just got an Olympus E-300 on Monday, and compared to the Canon DSLRs that I have used, I find it much simpler and overall a better design. That's really just an opinion, but it's a great camera for the price. I'm by no means knocking the Canon cameras, as they are excellent as well. Don't wait around for this camera to come out unless you have any particular reason to do so, as the Olympus is a fine solution with the same resolution and similar capabilities that is available now.

[Mark H @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Looks like something my dad would kill for and he used to run a photography business on the side.

[Santosh @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Hi Peter, by when do you think this model would be released and what would be an approximate price? any guesses? I was almost ready to buy the Rebel EOS D300 and saw this :)

[Walter @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Batty pack looks fine to me... extra shutter release for shooting vertical.

And they got the colour right this time!! Silly I know... but that was one of the biggest complaints with the original.

[Jnetty @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Looks like a good design, battery grip looks cool. Maybe i'll get that camera later on.

[BJBarron @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Nice. Only two things... will it overlap and hurt the 20D sales? What pisses me off is this is a better camera than the 300D yet they are planning to continue selling the 300D for only $100 less? What??? Why can't they start selling the 300D for $400 or $350? Yeah yeah then it will hurt their Compact Digital market. I HATE those P/S cameras. I have never seen anybody put those stupid things in their shirt pocket to carry around. Most women purses have so much junk in them that they rarely have room for the P/S camera either so it gets carried just like any SLR does.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Oh man, I am so all over this. This is the camera I've been waiting for. An entry-level, sub-$1,000 DSLR with a Nikon or Canon lens mount (I don't care about the bodies, I just care about Nikon or Canon glass) with 8MP resolution and a non-crippled firmware. I need to read more - I'm sure there are some major differences between it and the 20D - but it sounds like Canon's removed some of the biggest ones. Sensor size is going to be a biggie for me - is the sensor the same size as the one in the 300D? If so, that might negatively affect image quality, with those extra pixels crammed on there...

The grip looks fine to me. Apparently poster #1 has never used an SLR before... it's an optional accessory, it doesn't come standard, and all serious cameras have them available. Canon's just showing what this camera looks like with it attached - to me it looks like pretty much every other SLR grip/battery pack.

[Ben @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Jeff: I just read a big write-up about the camera, and though it does have the same size image chip as the 300D, Canon apparently redesigned the sensor to have fewer parts, bigger pixels and less noise.

Extensive write-up:
http://www.pma-show.com/review/canon/001_EOS_digital_rebel_xt.html

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

"Extensive write-up:"

Well, I'm sold. Page 2 of that write-up really explains a lot (page 1 is basically just the press release), and while I'd still like to see some real tests, Canon doesn't usually claim one camera has *better* image quality than another (in this case, the 350D vs. the 300D) and then not deliver. And they openly acknowledge that packing more pixels onto the same size sensor can compromise quality, so they're being totally transparent about what they've done. Based on this, it would really surprise me if the 350D *didn't* have image quality better than the 300D, *and* with a larger physical image size!

Where do I sign up??

[Saro Mardirosian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

To me nothing get even closer to the Olympus E-1 system. All of the recent digital cameras manufactured by either Canon or Nikon have been made in China, Malaysia or Taiwan. Not that there is anything wrong with those contries, but Sorry, I am NOT paying $1000 to use a third-world contry product. At least the Olympus E-1 claims what they sell (a true Japanese product from the inside out), and for that reason alone, I do not mind spending even $2000.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

"Not that there is anything wrong with those contries, but Sorry, I am NOT paying $1000 to use a third-world contry product."

Someone needs to tell China and Taiwan that they are third-world countries. Malaysia *maybe*... China and Taiwan? These are among the world's economic (and military) powers.

Your comment is simply filled with prejudice. There have been no quality control issues whatsoever with any Canon or Nikon camera that I can recall, over the last ten years.

If you're buying a camera based on the country where it's made, then you don't know much about cameras.

[Jonathan Wilson @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

why would somebody say that ive never used a SLR before ive used more than i can remember, what im trying to say is that the grip fits like shit and looks nasty like all entry level/mid range canon eos cameras...(the body feels good and the grip feels like plastic nonsense), also before making such a stupid assumption "jeff" at least look at my photos..you joke

http://homepage.mac.com/jonwilson/Start.htm

p.s. i shoot with canons...but honestly the grip looks like it doesnt fit well

[Minuk @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

"Someone needs to tell China and Taiwan that they are third-world countries."

Hate to spoil your ignorance-filled rant, but China has the SECOND LARGEST economy in the world after the US with a GDP of 6.5 trillion dollars.

And I hope you don't own any IBM, Apple, or Creative products, because surprise! They're all from Taiwan or Shanghai.

If you're going to speak, say something intelligent.

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I have to wonder if it'll feel as cheap and nasty as the plastic 300D

[Jason @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

The 300/350D is a low end DSLR with a high price. Cheap construction only surpassed in cheapness by the EOS 3000 on which the body is based. With the (likely) price being same as 300D intro price of AU$1999, for a lousy AU$600 more you can get the far superior 20D.

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Was preparing to pull the trigger on a used D10 for about $800 until I saw this XT. Need to buy something by mid-April (Kentucky Derby season and all!). I'm merely a hobbyist, but want to make the smart buy here. Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

DADDY LIKE. ME WANT.

[Andrew @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Sorry, I just have to add something to this wonderful post. This is purely motivated by Saro's Comments. Paying 1,000 dollars more for a camera that has the same capabilities as the Canon but differs only that they ASSEMBLE the parts in Japan is to me a decision that makes no sense. Where do you think all the Components are made? They are assembled in Japan but not manufactured. I assembled my Bush computer desk in my home office, that doesn't mean Bush manufactures them in my home office, does it? I don't know just something to ponder I suppose.

I am also highly considering this camera after just recently settling on the 300D. Shortly afterwards I read an article at PCWorld.com that Canon is to release this soon, March is it? They plan on introducing it at 999.99 USD. Lowering the 300Ds price by 100 USD also, so do watch for that if you are not waiting for the XT and are planning on getting the Digital Rebel, the price has not come down yet as the XT has not been released yet. Canonusa.com has some good info on this camera for those who are curious about the added pixels on the same size CMOS sensor. There is a Digital Rebel XT tour on this web page located on the right side of the screen near the bottom, its in black with red text. This as well has some good info on the new camera. Anyway, Its my understanding that the entire Sensor, while the same size, has had a bit of upgrading done to it, performace tweaks if you will. Anyway, this is all based on the information I have come across, I can't wait til I can afford this baby!

[Dave @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Hi All, I too cannot wait to see this new Rebel XT. I am in the market for a DSLR, and considering this XT along with Nikon D70 and Oly E300. Also, this would be my 1st digicam, any comments or suggestions would be very helpfull. I own a Canon A1 35mm that I love and has been an excellent camera. right now steering towards the D70 because price is down and pretty sure its a good one. Thanks

[Zach @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

There is a place online that has the digital rebel(300) for sale at anyehere from $395-420.
I have never bought anything from them so i am not sure how they are. The digital rebel is advertised as new so i assume that it is not a refurb or new. The website, in case you want to know is amphotoworld.com. I saw there advertisement in popular photography.

[Sue @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Hey! I am in the same boat as Dave. I was just about ready to order my first digital camera too and was leaning towards the D70. Today was the first time I heard about the Rebel XT. Can anybody tell me how they compare?

[Mary @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

This is a dumb question - I'm fairly new to todays cameras - I notice most new cameras don't have a cable attachment thingy on the shutter release anymore. Is there another method for tripping the shutter with the camera on a tripod in these new cameras? Also, if you want to lock the shutter open, for say, 10 mintues or more to capture lightning or other night stuff, are the Canon 300D and 350D's capable of doing this?

[GH @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

I have owned several Canon & Nikon cameras over the past 35 years. Film & Digital. None have been "junk".

[Jon @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Okay, I'm like many of the other commenters, very new to the digital camera game. I've had a Canon AE-1 for 30 years and am still using (and loving) it. But I feel it's time to move to digital. I've been to the Canon web site and they load you up with technical data that I don't understand. I'm pretty sure that I will buy the EOS-XT, but can someone explain to me what it is I'm buying. What is the 300D, the 350D etc.

[Allison Farmer @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

If any of you are considering purchasing a high end camera and are impressed with the prices at amphotoworld.com, be ware that this company is in the business of scamming. I could tell you my long horrid story, but the easiest thing to do is to say go to google and look up amphotoworld and disputes, or a & m photoworld and disputes. You will see a litany of problems just like mine. I have been buying on line for years, but never had such a horrible experience. To sum it up, you do your internet order. Then they send you an email telling you to call. You call and they do a high pressure sales pitch to get you to buy a package, including extended warranty, extra bits and bobbles (all for MUCH HIGHER than you would pay at a decent retailer). If you don't accept these things, they dont send your camera, but never tell you that it will have to be back ordered. If you do buy the stuff, they send you only what you purchased via internet, then deny that they offered you the extra package stuff. It is horrible. PLEASE PLEASE, Be WARE! I have had good experiences buying photo equipment on line, and would highly recommend Cameta Camera. For one thing, shipping on a bunch of lenses was something like $15. AMPHOTOWORLD.COM charges $99 plus a 3-5% fee. AND you cannot return anything. The big problem was this - I decided that since it was all wrong I was going to return my package, but unfortunately when I made the initial call to complain, they said they would send out my stuff (never did), and by the time I called back to find out where it was, the SEVEN DAY RETURN PERIOD had ended!!! So I was screwed. Then they treated me like crap and told me to sue them.

Jerks!

[myron @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Hello everyone. I have been wanting a DSLR for as long as I can remember (probably since I saw the first Nikon D1). Last year I finally got my hands on a 300D. This was a must for me because I had already been shooting Rebel's before and had aquired lenses. Now, for those of you whom dislike the camera that have never used it...give it a chance. It may be made out of "plastic" as you call it but I seem to recall reading there was a little more to the construction. Image quality - Someone mentioned that there was too much noise or whatever. I've only found that when I'm shooting in low-light with a high ISO set. As far as the image sensor, I like the fact that it is smaller than a 35mm frame because that gives me 1.5 times the glass on my 300mm zoom lens. Now, before you flame me -> I understand the implications...I'm just saying that I've had very good luck. Overall, this (300D) is a wonderful camera and it has survived some stupid mistakes (drops etc...). Just give this camera a break before you rip it up.

[M. Kadri @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Hi,
I recently bought an XT, and was wondering what trick I have to use for night photography? The camera has a hard time focussing the on landscape and I had use the manual setting. Is this typical? I was trying to capture a picture of cresent moon over a hill at around 8:45 pst yesterday and all the pictures turned out bad. Any tips will be very helpful.

[M. Kadri @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Hi,
I recently bought an XT, and was wondering what trick I have to use for night photography? The camera has a hard time focussing the on landscape and I had use the manual setting. Is this typical? I was trying to capture a picture of cresent moon over a hill at around 8:45 pst yesterday and all the pictures turned out bad. Any tips will be very helpful.

[jana Flaskova @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

Hi everybody...
does anyone know any place to buy this camera cheap and that is a place yo could recommend?
Thanks a lot!!

[Saro Mardirosian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:10AM]

To me nothing get even closer to the Olympus E-1 system. All of the recent digital cameras manufactured by either Canon or Nikon have been made in China, Malaysia or Taiwan. Not that there is anything wrong with those contries, but Sorry, I am NOT paying $1000 to use a third-world contry product. At least the Olympus E-1 claims what they sell (a true Japanese product from the inside out), and for that reason alone, I do not mind spending even $2000.