If you learned to shoot with a 35mm single-lens reflex camera, Canon’s EOS Digital Rebel will make you feel all fuzzy and nostalgic — while producing crisp, clear digital images. In fact, the Digital Rebel is a true SLR, so the image you see through the viewfinder is exactly what’s going to land on the image sensor. This offers a crisper, more detailed image than you’ll ever get from an LCD, but on the other hand it provides no visual feedback when you change settings that are dependent on the camera’s electronics, such as white balance or exposure.
The SLR construction also means the Digital Rebel gives a satisfying, tactile click when you press the shutter button — no fake shutter sound effects here. It’s fast, too, with subsecond shutter lag and recovery times, and a very capable burst mode.
The menus and controls are straightforward. You make most of the adjustments to photo settings using a control wheel just behind the shutter button.
The Digital Rebel body accommodates any Canon EF lens (there are dozens) as well as standard flashes, and it’s also got a small pop-up flash of its own. The 18mm to 55mm zoom lens included in the kit provides fine image quality, a wide angle of view, and good macro shots. The Canon’s color fidelity is excellent, and it won the highest ratings for outdoor photography in our tests. If you’re looking for a true SLR digital camera, it’s hard to go wrong with the Digital Rebel. -Dylan Tweney
Best Feature: True SLR performance in a traditionalist package
Worst Feature: LCD operates only for image review, not live preview
SPECS:
Canon EOS Digital Rebel
$1,000
Weight: 1.1 pounds
Size: 5.5 x 4 x 5.4 inches
Specs: 6.3 megapixels; 3x optical zoom; 1.8-inch LCD; accommodates Canon EF lenses; pop-up flash; flash hot shoe; CF slot; USB 1.1; video-out port; lithium-ion battery
www.canoneos.com
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Link: Canon EOS Digital Rebel
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