Canon's EOS Rebel XS / 1000D DSLR hits the test bench

With all the DSLR noise going on, the EOS Rebel XS managed to sneak in without too many people noticing. The proper entry-level replacement to the XTi / 400D recently took the time to cave to Camera Labs' every request, and when all was said and done, critics didn't find too many negative points to harp on. The all-important image quality ranked very highly, and the built-in live view was obviously a boon. Granted, the fixed screen and 7-point AF system (versus the 9-pointer on the XTi) were slight bummers, but it still managed to secure an 82% (Highly Recommended) rating. Care to see how it stacked up against Nikon's D60, Sony's A200 and a Polaroid 80B Highlander? Two of the three comparisons await you in the read link.

[Via DigitalCameraInfo]

[bartoron @ Aug 20th 2008 8:43AM]

I hate to say it, but Canon's product naming is beginning to remind me of the EEE's product naming. They're both incredibly confusing.

[j_g_puff @ Aug 20th 2008 9:12AM]

It's simple:

The names are generated using px10^n, for n = {0, 1,2} and integer p. N defines product bracket ranging from professional (n=0) to consumer (n=2). Within each bracket models are numbered chronologically with increasing p. Numbers are followed by 'D' denoting 'digital' and occasionally roman numerals, denoting model revision (i.e. 'mark III'). An additional 's' denotes full-frame sensor.

Note, this convention applies only to european models. Non-european models substitute this logical system for names including stupid words like 'kiss' and 'rebel', in honour of the painted rockers and David Bowie respectively.

[eiki @ Aug 20th 2008 9:56AM]

I prefer to use pr10^n, but I see your point

good one engadget, the 80B, lol

[eiki @ Aug 20th 2008 10:07AM]

I prefer to use pr10^n, but I can see your point ;)

nice polaroid reference engadget!

[Matt @ Aug 21st 2008 1:10PM]

The naming scheme is actually not too complex.

A "D" at the end means digital.

All xxD, xxxD, and xxxxD bodies have ~16x24mm sensors.

EF-S lenses work on all xxxxD, xxxD, and xxD bodies. EF lenses work on every single EOS camera ever made.*

EOS xxxx is for the lowest-end bodies, mostly meant for beginners or the "soccer parent" crowd. There are tons of film bodies in this class, and the XS (the 1000D) is the first of the digitals.

EOS xxx is for bodies with the size, weight, and control layouts of the xxxx series, but most of the features and performance of the xx series. The Rebel Ti (film) and the Rebel XTi (digital) fit into this category.

EOS xx is for heavyweight advanced amateur bodies, such as the film Elan series and the digital 40D.

EOS x (except for the 1's) vary wildly in features, but all are meant for high-end "semi-pro" use of some kind. The 5D is a xxD class camera with a ~24x36mm sensor; the 3 is a rugged and fast film body; the 5 is "poor man's 3"; almost as fast, almost as rugged, but good enough for many professional situations.

EOS 1 cameras are the professional bodies; extremely rugged, fast and reliable. They're the kind of cameras you take into warzones or hurricanes. If it has "Ds" at the end it means it has a ~24x36mm full-frame digital sensor (the "s" stands for studio); "D" on its' own means a ~28x19mm sensor. Anything else is a film camera (1, 1N, 1V).

( *The old manual-focus-only EF-M film body is the sole body exception, but you'll never run into it in real life. )

[216 @ Aug 20th 2008 8:51AM]

now that they've dropped the price of the Rebel XSi, there's no real reason to get the XS. (I was planning on getting the XS, but ended up getting the XSi)

XS is $700, XSi is $800

[Michael @ Aug 20th 2008 10:07AM]

Already another one. I lost track after the 400D. So this 1000D is the replacement to the XSi which was the replacement for the 400D right?

[flo21 @ Aug 20th 2008 11:02AM]

Yea which is better, the xsi or xs?

[Tumbleweed @ Aug 20th 2008 1:04PM]

No - this is the lowest-end DSLR Canon makes, and is NOT a replacement for the XSi (which replaced the XTi). This is newer than the old XTi, so even though it's a lower-end model, it does a few things the XTi doesn't. The current line up is, from low to high:

XS (1000D)
XSi (450D) (replaces the XTi - 400D)
40D
etc.

The XSi is good enough in feature set now that if you don't know why you should get a 40D instead, you probably shouldn't.

The neat thing about the Canon DSLR cameras is that they can all use the same lenses, unlike the low-end Nikon cameras, which can *only* use lenses that are designed for *digital* SLRs. That can make a big difference, and is reason enough to stay away from the low-end Nikons (though this certainly does not apply to the other Nikons).

FYI.

[Razor @ Aug 21st 2008 2:28AM]

Tumbleweed, I hate to say this but you are dead wrong about Canon mount compatibility, Nikon as well. Canon EF-S lenses (made for digital with the white quare to align) will not function, period, on a full-frame camera like the 5D or 1D. Only EF (one's with the red align dot) lenses work with both systems. All Nikon DSLRs can use either DX or FX lenses. The full frame cameras will mask for DX lenses automatically; Canon has no such system.

As for the Nikon low-end cameras (D40 and D60 series) the can use lenses that are not designed for digital (DX). The compatibility issue arises when using a lens that does not have it's own focusing motor, which all the modern Nikkors do. So Nikon's full-frame (designed for film) lenses work fine on the D40 and D60, but if they are missing the focusing motor you will be forced to use manual focus. This is far from your claim that they simply do not work.

Those that don't believe it are welcome to visit their local camera store and be amazed how a Nikon 70-200mm 2.8 IF VR works just dandy on the D40, despite it not being a DX lens.

[www.esturismo.eu @ Aug 20th 2008 11:09AM]

i just want one of them!!!!!!!!

[Matt @ Aug 20th 2008 11:38AM]

The XS is a major disappointment for those of us who want a compact camera with good raw performance. My 3-year-old Rebel XT, with 6 shots at 3fps in raw, is better than this new camera which has a top rate of 5 shots at 1.5fps. Even the original Digital Rebel almost matches this "latest, greatest" body with its 4 shots at 1.5fps.

Canon clearly has a good engineering staff, so I'm forced to conclude that they're deliberately crippling their compact cameras (as with Nikon and the lack of in-body autofocus motors in the D40/D60 series, and artificially crippled light metering in the entire Dxx range) to push sales of the bigger bodies.

And no, I am not going to switch to a xxD-class body. They are too big and too heavy. A decent raw buffer is just a RAM and firmware upgrade away, neither of which takes up any more physical space, and both of which are dirt cheap these days. There is no need or excuse for this gutting of features, except in the minds of bean counters and marketing suits.

[Razor @ Aug 21st 2008 2:30AM]

Unfortunately it is the bean counters and marketing suits that run the operation, not the engineers =(

[efua @ Aug 20th 2008 12:34PM]

The xsi is a way better camera than the xs. the xsi has gotten a price drop recently which makes their prices almost the same. I ended up getting the xsi two weeks ago. The image quality is AMAZING!

[scodka @ Aug 24th 2008 6:19PM]

i bought an xti this time last year for $500. i don't think it's worth the money to buy one of these cameras as soon as they come out. spot metering would be nice in the next model.