Canon Rebel XS previewed, Canon's lightest DSLR ever

Canon's aiming for an all-new, entry-level DSLR class with the Digital Rebel XS / 1000D, so don't expect to have your mind blown by the specs here, but that said, Canon isn't just pussyfooting around in this market segment. LetsGoDigital calls the XS the XSi's "twin brother" on the outside, with only minor differences between the two like the smaller 2.5-inch screen on the XS. On the inside, the XS is fairly similar to the XTi, with a 10.1 megapixel resolution, but Live View, DIGI III and auto ISO to keep things interesting. The 17.7 ounce weight is the lightest ever for a Canon DSLR, with a tiny battery and only SD card memory, and the price should be similarly miniscule when the XS lands this July.

[grewell912 @ Jun 19th 2008 10:13AM]

I've been jonesing over a couple of dslr's lately and today I open my favorite tech blog and what do I see, a dslr. Why engadget do you have to cocktease a man!

[Dave @ Jun 19th 2008 10:18AM]

Sounds interesting... I've been looking for an entry level DSLR for a while now. This looks like a contender although for a while now i've been told Nikon D40 is the way to go. Now i'm confused.

[husky @ Jun 19th 2008 10:20AM]

Here I've just found a deeply preview session... the website is in Italian, but u can undestand easily all the images.. cheers
http://www.techup.it/articoli/canon_eos_1000d_prime_impressioni-0600

[natels @ Jun 19th 2008 10:22AM]

I am definately interested in this camera.. Can anyone speculate a price? Sub 500?

[charlotte @ Jun 19th 2008 10:27AM]

It's sub £500 in the UK, but that's body only - it's £589 with the 18-55 IS kit lens. It's a good little camera!

[hugh @ Jun 19th 2008 10:40AM]

surely thats for the d450

[charlotte @ Jun 19th 2008 10:55AM]

Nope - I'm a photography journo and we had the 1000D in the office yesterday.

[Leoedin @ Jun 19th 2008 12:00PM]

Tell me, why would this camera cost *more* than the 450D? I could pick up a 450D with the IS kit lens for £515. Why would I pay more for a worse camera? This camera will sell for considerably less than that.

[holycow @ Jun 19th 2008 10:29AM]

oh well time to return the one i just bought!

[polvadis @ Jun 19th 2008 10:37AM]

@Dave

Same thing here. I really want to get my first DSLR soon and price is definitely a big factor so D40 was first, Sony Alpha was second since there's a lot of bang for just a little more, but since I like Canon's and their user interface I would prefer to stick with them (I've had A520, and now A570is). I'm not in a hurry so I'll wait to see how this model does against the rest of the pack.

[Temple @ Jun 19th 2008 10:51AM]

I wish Canon didn't handicap the Rebel XS to only shoot in 1.5 fps in RAW (compared to 3 fps JPEG). Which basically makes it as slow as a point-and-shoots when shooting in RAW.

[jekoln @ Jun 19th 2008 12:47PM]

for this being a light, low-end camera, shooting in raw isn't a priority of its targeted market. probably why.

[Brian @ Jun 19th 2008 11:58AM]

Of course it's the lightest ever...there's no lens!


Seriously, very cool...my wife would love this thing.

[Joshua Walters @ Jun 19th 2008 12:50PM]

Of course, your lens weighs like 3x that, so it wont really matter.

[Dan @ Jun 19th 2008 3:49PM]

The one thing its got over the D40, which I personally own and love. is an auto-focus drive pin, the one thing that would make my D40 perfect. It could be the decision maker for some entry level photogs.

[Jon Doe. @ Jun 19th 2008 5:49PM]

On behalf of the literate public I want to thank Paul, and Engadget for not using EVAR in the title.

[NICK @ Jun 19th 2008 8:25PM]

I shoot with a D200 but frankly, wouldn't even bother recommending Nikon's entry level models after Canon's release of the 450D and 1000D. The Canon's of late feature superb high-ISO performance, live view (it does, in many cases, come in handy) speedy performance (no, an entrylevel model will never feature the 10fps speed of the D3, but in terms of shutter lag, shot to shot time, and startup time, it fares very well against the competition) and, of course, the oft-forgotten AF screw drive - which allows you to use the camera with nearly all of Canon's AF lenses; L models included.

It's actually a little ironic now that I think about it: Canon's been building USM motors into its lenses for well over 15 years (including primes), yet its entry level model feature an AF drive pin, whereas Nikon, who's entry level models obviously lack a screw drive motor, has only recently begun overhauling its zoom lineup to incorporate ultrasonic motors; and 90% of its primes are still AF-D only.

[Phil @ Jun 20th 2008 2:55AM]

Big whup. The Olympus E-420 is way smaller, way less cheap looking, and has better specs.

[james @ Jun 20th 2008 6:21AM]

Yeah the Olympus E-420 may have better specs on paper but.....well its an olympus. The four thirds lens system just cant compete opticallywith larger systems, ok its small but small = rubbish light handling, you'll end up with a small camera with a small number of poor quality lenses as opposed to a larger camera that has a bigger sensor with a big range of good to exellent lenses made by at least 4 manufacturers.

As to the 1000D itself its purley a marketing exercise to combat Nikon and Sony.

Just hurry up and make a damn 5D replacement already we've been waiting for almost two years now.

[amit @ Jun 30th 2008 3:51PM]

Yes, if you're only looking at one-time buy (one camera body, one lens) then the Olympus E-420 may be a better choice. Canon of course wins with the vast selection of lenses, speedlights, and accessories in general.

Rebel XS (p)reviews:
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/Canon_1000D/
http://www.dprguru.com/?model=829021622&ref=eg
Oylmpus E-420 review:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/E420/E420A.HTM