Cheap Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Lens (Black) and Digital Camera Reviews

Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Lens (Black)

This Merchant Will Go The Extra Mile 2008-10-09

I had some problems with the order because I gave the wrong adress, I contacted the merchant and he gave me a top notch service, he went the extra mile for me and I really appreciate this.

A great SLR for a beginner or anyone really 2008-10-01

I got this about 4 months ago as a present. I must this camera is amazing. I still have yet to master or even start to use 80% of its features. This camera is great for a beginner or really anyone who wants a wonderful yet reasonably priced camera.

But you might just want to spring for a black one. I am not to crazy about the silver. But hey I am not looking a gift horse in the mouth.

Getting old, but a really great camera 2008-09-26

I've taken more than 30,000 pictures with my XT and the biggest problem is that it does such a good job that I have a hard time justifying an upgrade. The images are great up to ISO 400 and very good at 800 and 1600. For the price it's hard to beat, but I'd probably recommend going for a newer camera with the ISO displayed in the viewfinder and a better auto focus system. Also, the included lens is so-so. I use a Sigma 17-70 which is excellent. The 3fps it captures is not quite fast enough for sports, but fine for kids. The grip is a bit small, and the camera can be hard to hold if you have a flash, large lens, and large hands.

My first DSLR. Love it! 2008-09-15

Comfortable, lightweight, and easy to use; with a wealth of options available as I work my way up the SLR food chain. Great photo quality, my only complaint is that in low light without flash the EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 gets a lil' bleary. Still, I expect that the IS version of the lens when I get it will help alleviate that difficulty. Crystal clear pictures under normal lighting conditions and the automatic flash will take care of low-light conditions until I get the lens with image stabilization. Professional-looking photos (with my graphic designer background) right out of the box. Easy enough to use that I had no qualms in sending it with my mom to a wedding she was attending and she's STRICTLY point and shoot.

Better than what I expect 2008-09-14

It gives you enough as it shows. Sometime it has problem with focus if you use manual focusing, but I think it is caused by myself not the machine.

Perfect . . . Almost. 2008-09-01

I bought this camera nearly a year ago, and I've liked just about everything about this lens. Its size, its image quality, everything. In fact, for my money, it's superior to the XTi since its image quality is better in low light situations. As to why, well, with the XTi, you're fitting 10 megapixels on the same-sized image sensor as the XT, which will create a noisier (grainier) image. The XSi has some advanced hardware that counteracts this tendency.

Having said this, however, there is ONE item I wish the XT had--3200 ISO. In fact, neither the XT nor XTi nor XSi, have this high ISO (they all go up to 1600). I like to take pictures with natural light, and having a 3200 ISO will be helpful in extremely dark situations, like the wedding I just went to recently where the dance floor was essentially without light (and I was shooting with a f/1.8 lens). So, if you see yourself taking a lot of photos in low light, you might as well get the Canon 30D body for $650 (the price as of now--Sept 2008). One final item: I have NO idea why this camera as of Sept 1, 2008 costs $698 with the 18-55mm lens. I bought mine almost a year ago for $450 for the exact same combo! If the price doesn't go down, buy a Nikon D60 (cheaper) or Canon XSi (same price as the XT and way more advanced). Or, best yet, buy a Canon 30D and buy the lens separate. With a Canon 30D and a Canon 50mm f/1.8 or f/1.4 lens, you can essentially handle anything short of pitch-black scenes.

Great camera for the price 2008-08-29

I bought this camera couple months ago, got a great deal on Amazon.com at that time - camera, len included and 2GB memory card for under $450. After months of using it, I would say this is a great camera. I primary use it to capture my newborn daughter pictures and this camera does a great job, I catch lot of 'Canon' moments of my daughter, I love the speed of SLR camera.
One little complain is the attached flash pretty weak, but I still give it 5 stars because I know I can't ask for more at this price and an external flash is an easy solution. The included len is good but not great. It's not a big deal since I am expecting it.
If you come from point-and-shoot world, this camera definitely is a good start and Canon XT camera lessons on Canon website are very helpful.

Decent camera for the price. 2008-08-27

This was my first DSLR camera. It was great! However, I found myself outgrowing it rather quickly, and upgraded to the 40d.

My first SLR 2008-08-25

And wow, what a difference it is from point-and-shoot cameras. We were looking for an SLR to take good in-motion pictures. With our point-and-shoots, they came out terrible, and with kids, they never hold still! After reading many reviews, both here and cnet, we decided to purchase the XT. And we're not disappointed one bit! We're both very much amateurs when it comes to photography, but the manual was easy enough for us to understand how to take pictures OTHER than just on auto. We love being able to take 10+ shots in a row. And this does a wonderful job of freezing the action. Pictures are no longer blurry. We're very pleased. And for the price (we found it brand new on ebay for under $500 with the kit lens), it can't be beat.

Great Entry Level DSLR 2008-08-25

The was my first DSLR and I LOVE the pictures!!!! Very fast to capture those instant moments of your 2 or 3 year olds face. Great out door pictures and versatility with interchangeable lenses.

VERY GOOD 2008-08-17

This camera body is light so it is easy to use . I am satisfied with this camera.

Good Job 2008-08-16

This is my first digital SLR and its a doosie, the change from digital to SLR requires some study but the camera is so cool that the learning curve is actually fun. The quality and the modes live up to the hype. it seems to be a camera made for creating good pictures. My only complainant with this model is that the flash doesn't function at its best in some of the modes but that aside its a great camera

Perfect First Time D-SLR Camera 2008-07-28

I began using this camera as the editor-in-chief of my high school yearbook, and I couldn't have asked for a more reliable camera. It withstood a large amount of handling (including several drops) yet never had any technical malfunctions. It was also great for staff members who had never before used an SLR camera. Now, several years later, I have purchased one on my own and have not been disappointed. I decided to buy the body alone so I could purchase a mid-range lens that I would not have to change between every shot. I highly recommend this camera for amateur photographers looking for affordability and high quality.

Canon repair, Hope you don't need it!! 2008-07-18

When I received this camera I took a lot of test shots, they were quite impressive. I didn't use the camera for about a week and found it didn't work because of a dead battery, even though it had been fully charged.

I bought a spare battery thinking it may have been defective, same thing even though I made sure the battery was fully charged and the camera was off.

I then searched the online forums and found that this was a fairly common problem. When I called Canon support they first tried to blame it on something I had done. I told them that there were numerous people with the same problem and canon should be aware of it and asked if they had a download that could fix it.

Their reply was to remove the battery except when I was using the camera. I said: "That is was not acceptable as too often once in a lifetime shots would be missed while fumbling to install a battery."
It was agreed that I should RMA the camera and although it was still under warranty it cost $$ to insure and ship it.

When it was finally returned (I missed all the holiday pics) they claimed to have re-soldered a circuit board and replaced the tripod socket.

I don't believe they did anything and now the little latch that holds the battery in place is worn out and I use a rubber band to hold the battery in. It still takes good pictures though.

Canon has made another excellent camera 2008-07-11

The Rebel XT is an excellent base digital SLR. It is easy enough for a beginner photographer to use, but it allows more advanced users the freedom to express themselves with manual controls. It takes great photos and the battery lasts a long time. I've taken over 500 photos (without the flash) on a single charge. An excellent camera.

camara buena pero el lente no tanto 2008-07-03

la cámara es increíble, pero el lente al ser un Zoom no es muy luminoso, por lo que hay que compensar con el iso de la cámara, incluso 1600, pero ahí la imagen pierde nitidez aparece el grano.

excellent value 2008-06-26

excellent value for price. Clear sharp images, good color. the camera is easy to use with a short learning curve. It is small and light. there is a wide variety of lenses available both from canon and third party vendors. the only drawback is the view finder which should be extended slightly further from the body of the camera.

Works like a charm! 2008-06-21

This is my first digital SLR camera and I was a bit hesitant at first to spend almost $500 on a camera. However, it was well worth the amount. I've had a lot of fun with this little camera and I've already taken some pretty amazing shots. It's real user friendly. A real small body so it's easy to travel with and the battery power is outstanding. I will purchase a different lens soon. The one that comes with the body is alright if I had to rate that I'd probably give it three and a half stars. I've had a real hard time with trying to focus on people with that lens when trying to take portraits. Other than than that it creates sharp images. I suggest this to anyone who is new to the digital SLR cameras.

enjoy!

[...]

happy BUT>>>>>> 2008-06-21

happy happy happy happy BUT I have a hardware problem, the flash lid is not popping up and give an error sign. So, I sent it to Cannon and they were absolutely wonderful about fixing the problem in a timely manner. Got my camera back,......same problem. POO POO I still love my camera. It takes awesome pictures. I am sure my malfunction is a fluke and I would definitely buy the camera again.

Very nice transaction 2008-06-21

Though this camera is not as good as the 30 which I have since upgraded to it is a great starter camera. The review is a bit slow through pictures and I feel the camera is a bit small in my hands other than that it was wonderful.

Saving lots of $$$ 2008-06-19

I am saving a lot of money by learning how to take professional photographs of my son instead of paying a "professional" and spending a load of money on half-decent pictures. This camera is definitely paying for itself and I'll be looking into purchasing lenses in the future as my skills and knowledge grow.

Canon Digit Rebel XT 2008-06-19

Great camera. I bought this as an entry level SLR. The pictures are phenomenal. A fun camera to use for every day photography.

Don't forget the memory card 2008-06-16

Great Camera. It meets all my expectations. The only fault I find is the lack of a memory card in the kit. You can't just take it out of the box and start using it. You have to purchase a memory card separately.

Truly and honestly....Not Worth IT!! 2008-06-15

Only if you are a point and shoot photographer who is making a jump from the crappy "put em in your pocket" no control for the photographer type of camera to this will you be happy with this camera and then only if you keep using the automatic function. If you have used any of the upper class point and shoots (e.g. Panasonic's FZ line) don't buy this camera. This thing only qualifies as an SLR, in my opinion, because you can put different lenses on it. Otherwise it is no better, if not worse, than most of the high end point and shoots these days.

simple machine, easy to use, produce excellent photos. 2008-06-14

a simple photo machine, love the easy controls and shoting is a breeze especially for people coming from 35mm world. Never like to do live review and check every photo. fast response and no unwanted features. Canon's gem to create a revolution in the digital photography world. defined the standard of a DSLR. Another A++ product.

Excellent Camera 2008-06-13

The biggest reason I bought this camera was to save money in my conversion from 35mm to digital. I use my two rebel x lenses and they work fine with the new camera.

The pictures are great, and I love it

I was leary of how long the delay was going to be, but there is virtually none, in fact I am taking pictures faster then my old rebel x.

I am extrememly satisfied with this camera and would recommend for anyone to purchase it.

Excellent Camera 2008-06-13

This is an excellent camera. It takes great pictures and it is easy to learn how to use. I would recommend this camera to anyone!

Excellent DSLR 2008-06-09

This is just the camera I was looking for. I was tired of the slow shutter speeds of non DSLR cameras and wanted a DSLR. I was going back and forth between the XTI and the XT. I felt that it wasn't worth the extra money for me (due to my lack of experience with this type of camera) to get the XTI so I settled on the XT. I have been very happy so far. I am still discovering everything this camera can do. Great camera!

Not professional, but a very nice camera. 2008-06-09

This is a nice camera. It is not a professional camera and you may not get professonal results, but it is still a very nice camera and I am extremely satisfied with the camera.
I cannot say as much about the 18-55mm lense. As with any optical device such as cameras, telescopes, etc., the view is only as good as the glass. The 18-55 has its place if you need a lense that you can beat up on. Take it from someone that already bought this product. Buy this camera witout the lense and use the difference to purchase a nice lense separately. I purchased a f/1.8 50mm lense for $100 and the difference between it and the kit lense is amazing.
The camera has done everything I have asked of it so far. Nearly professional quality shots are possible with this camera given you have the right lense/glass and know how to use this type of camera. If you want to buy it and don't know anything about Digital SLR cameras, buy a book and learn.......you'll be glad you did.

yet another postive review 2008-06-07

I already had so I was already predisposed to getting a Canon Digital camera. I love my Elan but it's the digital age!

The Digital Rebel works with all my Canon lenses without a problem. It took a little time getting different to the behavior due to the size of the sensor versus the film but not too long.

The unit is well made and has stood up he test of time.

Color response is accurate enough for me. It's clearly not film but I can live with it.

Cannon Rebel XT 2008-06-06

The camera is wonderful, and it takes great pictures. The only thing that I do not like is the small LCD screen for viewing pictures, but otherwise it is easy to use.

Not what I expected. 2008-06-05

I've owned this camera for about two months now and it doesn't live up to what I thought it would be like. I've taken well over 1,000 pictures and I've only gotten about 40 good pictures out of all of them. My point and shoot camera has produced better crisper photos than this camera has.

I only used the lens that came with the camera, so I'm not sure if it's just the lens that comes with the camera that's making it so bad, or if it's the camera itself. I'll probably update this later if it's just the lens.

Pros: You can switch out the lenses, it's pretty lightweight, it has a pretty good layout of buttons and everything is pretty easy to use.

Cons: Won't let you get up really close to something to take a picture, even on macro, It won't take a picture at night time (I've tried several times and it hardly ever takes the picture and when it does it takes about 5 mins to even focus on a street light), sometimes it won't focus on what I want it to focus on, it already has dust on the censor and I've never changed out the lens.

I gave it a 3 because I'm not too impressed with the camera, but I'm also not sure if it just needs a better lens. So, it might be the lens, it might not, but if it's the lens, then it makes all the difference with this camera.

GREAT FOR FIRST-TIME SLR 2008-05-31

This was a great buy...it was selling for $540 at Best Buy--saved $80 by buying it here!!! Came in 3 days! this was my first DSLR and I have been so pleased with it...this is great for a starter!

Cons: I wished the LCD screen could be used for a viewfinder when shooting, but it's just something you have to get used to. the LCD screen is a little small, but nothing major.

great entry level digital SLR 2008-05-31

This camera was given as a gift for a person who was interested in the next level of photography. This features of this camera were easy to learn. She quickly learned (within a day) to take very good action shots with this camera without blurry or distorted motions.

Benefits of an SLR 2008-05-31

It is so nice to have an SLR camera again. It took about 5 seconds to get used to looking thru the view finder and off we go. We just received prints from Costco of our first pictures. What I can say is money well spent on the camera.

A great value for money 2008-05-30

I got this one just for fun as I'm a very amateur photographer and I can only praise the EOS350D (which is the EU name for this camera)

Excellent Choice 2008-05-29

I'm a beginner in photo scenario so it has a very good relation in performance price. Not so complicated in features and has the automatic set if you need a little help.

LCD Screen fails after one year. Costs $239 to repair! 2008-05-28

The LCD screen stopped working after a little over a year. It looks like static on the screen. It costs $239 and four weeks to get fixed. What a piece of junk! I am very, very disappointed and will not buy another Canon.

Canon Rebel XT 2008-05-26

We absolutely love this camera. Great photos, good speed, You can use it on auto or do everything manually. So flexible. We got a great price on this one and when you buy the compact flash at the same time it is super cheap. Fast delivery, very happy.

Awesome 2008-05-26

Excellent camera, has all the features for taking photos manually. Very nice and quality photos. I recommend this to anyone.

More Than I Could Wish For!!! 2008-05-22

I have used many different point and shoot cameras. My father owned a photo studio and has many film SLR's laying around the house, several of which I shot with from time to time. I always looked to make the upgrade to a DSLR but couldn't afford it. Finally, I started making some money and a DSLR was one of the first things on my wish list, though I still have a fairly low income.

This camera has been amazing. I have owned it for one month now and every day I get better at shooting with it.

Pros:
8 Megapixle sensor is high resolution but no so high as to kill your computers hard drive
The camera is light weight and fairly small
The kit lens is suprisingly good
For the beginning DSLR shooter the price is unbeatable considering the quality of camera
Canon EF lenses are an investment worth making because they fit the entire range of Canon DSLRs
Manual functions are fantastic
Dedicated settings screen
Great battery life

Cons:
The 8MP sensor isn't the highest on the markets (see Rebel XTi)
The cameras light weight body feels slightly cheap
No spot meter
Small viewing screen on rear
Slightly out of date (for price this is a plus)
Slightly slow burst of 3fps with a total of 9 burst shots on full res.

One last note: I bought the Amazon Warehouse "refurbished" model. I saved around 50 clams from "new". I can see no difference between it and a "new" one. Everything is perferct.

Amazing 2008-05-21

This was the best 400 plus dollars I have ever spent. Read every review, I doubt you can find something negative about this.

Rebel XT - A No-Brainer for Entry-Level DSLR 2008-05-20

Purchased at the end of April and took it with me on an early May trip to Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies. The landscape pictures that come out on my Dell Ultrasharp 2007FP monitor really blow me away. There are poster-quality shots taken at the Butchart's Garden, Lake Louise, Lake Emerald and on top of the Banff overviewing Bow Valley. This DSLR model is the least expensive currently only offered at Amazon, if you like to take your photography experience to another notch while not busting your pocket, this is it. Since DSLR cameras depend primarily on the lens, you can always start off with the kit lens, and gradually migrate into other pro lens given your shooting habits. Sure there are other newer models available from Canon as well, but $400 saved for an investment of a much better lens make this one a no-brainer. In essence, I highly recommend this camera, it is a Canon DSLR at $450 with future upgradability, I love every bit of it.

Very Good product and working pefectly 2008-05-20

I bought this for my personal, family use and this camera takes excelent pics. i dont miss any pic with this as it takes very fast and accurate to the object. i have 18-55mm lens this has bit less range to zoom, i may have to go for bit longer one. i am using cam from past 6months and it works great.

canon rebel XT w. lens 2008-05-20

i enjoy it a ton! works like a charm. i purchased the XT because it would be alot cheaper then buying a higher model. i am happy with it, and am i glad i made that choice.

Canon Digital Rebel XT 2008-05-14

As a new user of digital cameras, I bought this unit kinda on a whim. I'd purchased its 35mm film-based cousin last month and when my wife's Minolta point-and-shoot started acting up, I figured it was time for an upgrade; and since most of my former camera work was done with 35mm SLRs with real glass lenses, I opted for something that looked familiar. Only after I bought the Rebel did I find out that it was a fairly well-rated camera.

Two things that caught me off guard: 1) it doesn't come with a memory card, and 2) it doesn't support video recording. Neither of these are deal breakers, but for a $500 camera a $1 memory card should have been in included. And the non-video capture ability just surprises me as I see this feature in lower priced units.

I'll update this review after spending some time using the camera.

Great camera for beginners 2008-05-14

Great camera for the great price. It's a good choice for beginner who still doubt if SLR toys are for them. Actually, it's a big step from SLR-like cameras, the picture quality is much better, especially in low-light conditions. It's not a brand new model, if you are not on budget, take a look to successors Canon Rebel XTi 10.1MP or newest Canon Rebel XSi 12MP or, if you don't want Canon, try other brands like Nikon and etc, which I believe also provide the same quality (for the same price).

Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Lens (Black) 2008-05-12

Love this camera! It takes wonderful pictures, easy to use, & great price. You can't go wrong with this one.

Great Camera, Great Value 2008-05-11

This camera is an amateur photographer's dream. It's compatible with all current generation lenses (unlike the higher-dollar Canons). The kit lens is quite good quality but you may not be happy with its performance indoors. Make sure you also look into getting one of the inexpensive prime lenes (prime = non-zoom). The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II is an excellent value.

Papaw K 2008-05-08

My camera arrived in Great shape. This camera is so fool proof! Having a great time using it and showing it off. Looking to purchase a larger zoom lens now. It's very user friendly. Thanks Amazon for guiding me to this EOS XT!

Awesome 2008-05-08

This is a wonderful camera. Great price, well worth the price. Would definitely recommend to friends and family.

Jealous 2008-05-05

I bought this camera for my daughter as a birthday present. I am going to steal it back. What a terrific camera!!! I have to have one

delighted 2008-04-27

The price was great the camera has performed just wonderfully. The features and ease of use is fantastic.

Good "beginner" D-SLR 2008-04-23

The people at Canon have really done a beautiful job making a very beginner-friendly D-SLR. Right out of the box, I was able to take beautiful, frame-worthy photos of my children. The value was amazing. Compared to other brands, the Rebel XT far outshone the rest at this price.
I generally use this one as a "point-and-shoot." I really like the fact that it takes the photos of my two small children (just turned two, and ten months old) INSTANTLY. Digital point-and-shoots take so long that the girls have moved by the time the camera takes the picture!
Overall, great value for the price, great beginner camera all around. I'm impressed.

Canon Digital Rebel XT 2008-04-23

I purchased Canon Digital Rebel XT because of my previous use of a
Canon Rebel 2000. I particularily liked the idea of being able to use
my existing lenses. I am extemely pleased with the Digital Rebel XT.
The quickness in being able to take pictures without a delay makes this
camera a real plus for me. I would recommend this model to anyone
who loves to photograph especially children, who do not sit still for
long. This camera is a winner.

very light 2008-04-23

This is my first SLR. I am very happy with it, easy to use and very light compared other Canon's.

Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP 2008-04-15

My Canon is now 2 years old, and I would now term it, broken in. I have taken more than 10,000 photos, and each year I notice my pictures get better. Having begun my road in photography only 3 years ago, I am still vested in my Canon. I appreciate the ease of use, the quality of 8MP, and the various lense. Having cut my teeth on this Canon Rebel XT, it will always be my first love. Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 Lens (Black)

Great SLR for the masses 2008-04-13

I have 3 other Canon Digital cameras and wanted to try slr to see if it was a good step. I have to study and practice, but the low light pictures of childern and grandchildren with no flash and nice color and tones is worth it.I still use the smaller cameras for ease of carrying and use, but this really gives versitility I cant get from the lower end Canon Cameras. The Rebel XT is in a great price range now that the XTi is out, but if you don't need the latest and greatest in an SLR, the you can't go wrong with this one.

Very easy to learn on 2008-04-10

This is my first dSLR and I was kind of intimidated by all of the features on this camera, but I figured the best way to learn was to just jump right in. As soon as I had read the manual on how to connect the lens I started taking pictures on the automatic setting and WOW I was amazed at the quality of pictures I was getting with no real photography experience. I know that this will be a good camera to go from beginner to intermediate level with. I definitely recommend this camera and I also recommend amazon as I couldn't find any other place that could compete with this price.

Finally 2008-04-05

I owned a canon rebel film loading camera for years and my pictures were always perfect. When everyone went digital I could not afford the digital canon rebel (4 year ago cost $1,200!!) so I purchased MANY many small digital camera around $300 and I kept getting bad picture, after bad picture and was very disappointed in the picture quality by digital cameras. I bought a return about 7 digital cameras

The only digital camera that came close to my film load rebel quality was canon sd600 elph but even with that some picture would be hazey in very dark rooms, and lots and lots of red!!

When I saw the digital rebel came down on price to $450 on Amazon, I bought one and every picture I have taken has come out prefect with the digital rebel!! I was able to attach my old flash and old lens (from my film loader rebel) onto the new digital rebel and all my picture are prefect again, no more red eye!!!

The canon elph is great for your pocket if your going on bike ride or hikes it does take a good picture; the digital rebel is a little too big to stick in your purse. But for family pictures at home in low light rooms the rebel makes you feel like a professional photographer because the picture comes out PERFECT every time (with the right lens & flash attached).

I will not be buying another camera again ever unless this one break which I dought will happen because I've had my film loading rebel for 10 years now and it still works!! You will not be disppointed with this camera

Great camera fantastic service 2008-04-05

After already owning the Canon Rebal 35mm camera. I was ready for the digital world. researched the Canon Rebal Digital and was sold on it.
Did some price research and came to Amazon. Decided to go with High Tech Savings as my supplier for price reasons. Received my order way faster than expected, and everything was complete and as described.
Great Job Amazon and High Tech Savings gets my big gold star!

Don't believe the "Want it by ....?" Buy it within the next X hours 2008-04-02

Amazon has a nice little business of promising things that they can't deliver on time. Don't fall for it.

My Canon 2008-03-31

I think it's really great. The pictures are crystal clear and for an amateur, it's wonderful. It's simple to use; very user friendly. Would recommend this camera to my friends.

Love my camera 2008-03-30

I have been interested in getting a digital SLR for some time and decided to jump on this one. I bought the camera, 4gb of memory and purchased a zoom lens and a macro lens, still looking for the remote control.

I love what this camera can do, and even though its bulky, that's to be expected. I am very pleased with its performance and learning how to use it has been very simple. The instructions included with the camera make it easy (not to mention the photography classes I took light years ago when it was not digital).

Love it 2008-03-29

I had high hopes for this product and it has delivered. This is my first SLR, and I am no expert. That being said, this camera is light years ahead of my Canon point and shoot cameras. The pictures are fabulous, both crisp and colorful. The construction seems solid; more so than I was anticipating after reading several reviews. Furthermore, my wife has a medical condition called benign essential tremor (ETS) which makes her hands shake which has compromised her ability to use other cameras. Between the cameras weight and the lens' ability to compensate, she takes perfect pictures with this camera.
The battery life is also a positive. I love the LED screen, which give me the information I need (battery life, nubmer of pics, etc.) without having to used the LCD. The camera DOES NOT come with a CF Card. I think that this would have been included, but it is not.
Overall, I love this camera and would recommend it to anyone.

Money WELL spent 2008-03-29

I have to say that as a fledgling photographer i was very unsure of what camera to buy, but after reading a lot of reviews and talking to a lot of pros i was directed to the Canon Rebel as a phenominal camer ato start with. Easy to use, simplistic design, sturdy, reliable, and still produces professional quality pictures. I must admit that the options and settings that are available are a bit much for me but the cameras auto selection takes excellent pics until you figure it all out.
I HIGHLY recommend this camera to anyone that is looking to get started in photography.

Great product 2008-03-28

It is the best SLR camera for entry-level user. Easy to use, great quality. I was struggling between a cheap DV or good camera. I am very happy with my choice.

A Good Value & A Nice Place to Start 2008-03-27

Out of the box ready to use with the option and flexibility to grow with you. I purchased this camera as a novice user wanting to learn more. I have found, what I already knew, too big for the purse, so it won't replace my point and shoot but when I really want a nice picture I love what it has to offer. I find that I use manual mode and auto equally in order to make sure I have the picture. I have been able to learn about settings, shutter speeds and lighting and for website publishing I have had great success. I am loving the camera and the ability learn more about photography. It's easy to change lens but it is more work than a point and shoot. Great price for body & lens. Nice shutter speed and option for multiple pictures instantly. Makes you feel like you know what your doing. With a little more experience I probably would want to pay a little more and get the upgraded version of the Rebel Xti and beyond. For my needs, it is a nice choice.

Very good, inexpensive dSLR 2008-03-27

This is my first dSLR camera. While most stores display the XTi and eventually the XSi, the XT is adequate for my needs. I believe I do not need the potentially ineffective sensor cleaning feature, live view, eye proximity detector, extra focal points, or the extra resolution. I ordered the XT with the EF-S 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 IS lens for only around $180. After buying the 4 GB Sandisk CF card I spent less than $700 total. A few years ago, I would only be a able to buy a high-end point and shoot camera. In the near future, I plan to buy the EF 50mm 1.8 II prime lens as well.

Pros:
-Inexpensive
-Compact; great for traveling, even fits in my backpack with my 18-55mm IS attached.
-Very good ISO performance from 100-800. 1600 is OK
-Handy back-lit monochrome LCD display
-Built-in flash for starting out in dSLR photography and hot-shoe for future external flash
-Very fast response
-Shutter, aperture, and focus point display in viewfinder.
-Custom functions allow some tweaking.

Cons:
-Changing white balance, ISO, AF mode, and light metering requires use of the color LCD screen that is hard to see in sunlight. I wish the shortcut buttons just toggle through the settings and that I could see the resulting changes on the monochrome LCD.
-No spot metering
-Thumb wheel is too firm to easily rotate
-CF pins may be easy to bend resulting in expensive repairs

Fantastic!!! 2008-03-26

I absolutely love this camera!!! Takes great pictures and is very easy to use.

great camera 2008-03-26

We are very pleased with this camera and the pictures are great. Easy to use and downloading the pictures to the computer was fast and easy. This is the first digital camera after using a Canon SLR Rebel for years. The 75/300 lens from our old camera works on this new Canon which is a big savings. Buying the CF card on Amazon is much cheaper then your local stores.

Great Camera!! 2008-03-24

I think this camera is great. I love it. The pictures come out very crisp and clear. Its even great in low light.

Bargain digital SLR 2008-03-23

Fantastic photos, the color quality and automatic light adjustmnet (the camera's best features) gives superb pictures, more true to life than any other "regular" pocket digital camera. 8 megapixels actually looks better than 10 megapixels - something to do with just the right amount of detail for the human eye compared to too much "microscopic" detail. Versatile for other types of photography too - we use it for medical documentation photos - can be adjusted like any true SLR to capture close-ups with macro lens & flash. Compatible with medical software. 2 GB CF card more than adequate for literally hundreds of photos. Smaller than equivalent Nikon and more compact, and personally, I think a little bit faster too between shots.

wonderful value 2008-03-11

I am so excited to receive this product. I am very much into scrapbooking and thought if I was going to put that much into scraping I needed a great camera to take my photos with. I feel this is the perfect camera for me. It has all the features I have been looking for and at a great price. I had been looking for a long time.

Great camera to start with. 2008-03-07

There is no right or wrong choice when it comes to DSLRs, before going for this specific camera I consulted myself with couple of friends - pro photographers, one said Olympus the other Canon. It's purely a matter of taste when choosing between the four major players (Sony & Nikon). I went with Canon because of the great lenses they offer.

Pros: Great package, enough resolution, built-in flash, vast selection of Canon and 3rd party lenses and accessories to choose from.

Cons: Plastic body, no image stabilizer, cannot access directly ISO, metering or white balance (could get a bit annoying running through menus).

Other: I don't regret getting this camera, and since added some very nice fixed focus lenses to my bag - looking into buying the 40D.

Great SLR camera for beginners 2008-03-04

This is a great digital SLR camera for beginners and for travel. It has gone all over the world with me (Japan, Singapore, Mexico, US, London, Germany, etc.). Through those travels it has withstood some rough times but still takes great photos.

Great Camera 2008-03-01

Fell in love with this camera first time I tried it. Easy to use, colors are great! Ordered telephoto lens to get the really great pictures. Love it!!! Amazon is great too, always a pleasure to deal with !!

Daughter liked it. 2008-03-01

My daughter rated it at four stars. Used it once and its okay so I give the same rating.

Love It! 2008-02-29

I love my new camera!...I'm having a hard time putting it down...I'm not a pro but I love to take pictures and have been wanting a good digital camera for a while...decided to treat myself and for the price, the quality is second to none!...I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for good quality at a great price...

Love it!!! 2008-02-27

I bought the camera for my trip to Palm Springs. The clarity of the pics...wonderful.The desert landscape was awe inspiring and this camera captured beautiful memories.

canon digi-slr/8mp 2008-02-24

great camera for low light (indoor) and motion shots....ie good for photos of active, younger children.....great camera at a great price...

GREAT CAMERA 2008-02-24

I wanted this camera forever, when I had the money I snatched it up as fast as I could, never have I made a better choice! I haven't found anything I don't like about this camera. I'm not a pro or anything, but I do LOTS of photoshoping and the resolution that this camera puts out makes photoshop easier than ever, overall great buy!!! I will recommend this to anyone I see.

Excellent camera at a bargain price! 2008-02-23

I am new to the SLR world and have quite a bit to learn;however, I have to say that this camera is easy to operate and learn about from the booklet that comes with it. I am very happy with the pictures I have taken so far. I think that one of the best features is that you can take so many pictures, so quickly. The macro feature has been fun also (taking close ups of flowers or of lemons on the tree). I still have a lot to learn but this is the perfect intro to the SLR world I think and it won't cost you an arm and a leg to do so. The camera does not come with a memory card so you do have to buy that separately---Just know that so you can get that before your camera arrives. Overall, excellent value!

No CF card included 2008-02-23

Nice product, great price, but does not come with a CF card. So no, you can not use it right out of the box, unless you happen to have a CF card on hand. I recommend you buy one through Amazon, along with the camera, so you will not have to drive down to the local mall to get one.
This annoyance can be easily prevented by Canon by including one with the camera.

Buenisima Camara 2008-02-22

Compre la rebel xt primero por el precio, soy diseñador gráfico y trabajo con webs, y esta camara tiene suficiente poder para dedicarme solo a la fotografia profesional. He usado antes camaras canon y son muy buenas pero esta es una buena opcion para quienes inician en la fotografia profesional o fotografos mas avanzados. Tiene 5 puntos de enfoque que se pueden manipular para lograr efectos muy buenos, y una rafaga de disparos continuos de unos 12 disparos en unos 2a3 seg. Como detalle tambien les aclaro que el lente ef-s 18-55 que trae se queda corto para hacer acercamientos entonces tengan por seguro que tendran que adquirir otro lente. Otras baterias tambien son otra buena opcion para comprar puesto que si usan mucho el screen para revisar las fotografias se consumen bastante rapido. Bueno, la verdad yo si la recomiendo.

Good, but We cannot use LCD screen for taking pictures. It is only for review 2008-02-20

Good, but We cannot use LCD screen for taking pictures. It is only for review

Best Choice Starter DSLR 2008-02-19

I bought this camera for a college level mass communications photography class-it fits the needs very well, and people that rent the school's cameras are pretty jealous that I have a "big fancy camera". I've made some really cool photographs so far, especially after learning the advanced settings (which really aren't that hard, especially if you practice). I've only used point and shoot cameras, and this camera is a great way to get into "actual" photography-where you actually have to do something to make the pictures turn out well, as opposed to just taking pictures and accepting the mediocre images. The lenses available are awesome, and some aren't too outrageously priced. I'd suggest the Canon 50mm f/1.8 of f/1.4, because with the kit lens you really won't be able to do much indoors. The kit lens isn't the best, but is leaps and bounds better than even the best point-and-shoot (I have a Canon SD1000, and from what I've used/seen friends use/read about, I don't know how much better point-and-shoot cameras get).

Canon Digital Camera 2008-02-17

We have enjoyed our new camera and have taken on several trips and the quality has been excellent. So far it has shown us the best in picture taking.

Canon Digital Rebel XT 2008-02-16

It's been a great camera so far. Noticed the sharpness of the images right away after using our 2 MP canon. Have not had time to get into the fine points of using the camera yet, but looking forward to getting into it.

GREAT Beginner DSLR 2008-02-15

I purchased this camera on a whim, because I thought that I'd like to dabble in photography a bit. I have to say, this is the best 500 bucks I've ever spent. It has launched me into a career that I had no idea I was talented in.
I WILL say, that I do like the the color quality of the Nikon DSLR better, but for the money, you can't beat the quality you will get with this Rebel. The Nikon DSLRs that I shopped around for were in the 800+ range, and I couldn't afford that, and the Rebel delivers all the quality anyone needs for semi-proffesional and will exceed your expectations if you are looking for a little higher quality of a camera for basic photographs or family snapshots.
I will say, if you are trying to use this for semi-pro to pro photography, invest in a decent lens, because contrary to some opinions, I think the kit lens provided sucks if you need to use it in lower light conditions. There will be much blurring or digital noise involved.
Also, consider shooting in RAW format for you budding photographers, because then you can go into Photoshop and really see the full potential of a photograph.
Also, check out: http://www.usa.canon.com/content/rebelxt_tutorial/rebelxtlessons.htm
For all the basic info on F Stops, Exposure, White Balance, and much more.
It significantly helped me learn about my camera since I couldn't afford lessons.
Hope this review helped a little!

if there was a god, it would be this camera. 2008-02-15

it's a great camera. my one complaint (this can probably never be fixed, so i'm cool with it) is that the lense it comes with is standard. telescopic ones cost more, and after buying a 500 dollar camera with a 60 dollar memory card and a 100 dollar tripod, i'm kind of wiped out.

Great camera, great price 2008-02-11

I've wanted to purchase the Canon Digital Rebel XT for more than 6 months, and had been keeping my eye on the prices from both local and web stores. I was amazed when I found it on amazon for such an affordable price. The camera arrived on time, and in new, unopend condition, as advertised. I'm very pleased with the camera and the price.

Rebel XT - excellent value 2008-02-09

My Rebel XT was stolen in December, and I've upgraded to the Canon 5D. But I purchased another XT to replace my wife's camera, which was a Canon 570. For the difference in price (about $200) the XT is vastly superior, and my wife is delighted with its performance and picture quality. Canon has reduced the construction quality somewhat - more plastic - but for the price, this is a great machine. I paid Can $ 1100 for my XT body in May of 2005, and now you can buy it with 18-55 lens for $450! Great value. Buying it from Amazon was really easy. It came in days.

Awesome 2008-02-09

This is just a great camera, especially at this price point. It is easy and fun to use if you are in a hurry, or if you want to be more advanced you can start digging into the features.

I bought this with a 2Gig memory card and have more than enough memory. If you are thinking about a digital SLR, this one will be a great choice.

This is a great product. The battery life is astounding. 2008-02-08

If you are on the fence about this product (like I was), then you should not hesitate any longer. In the description, it definitely underestimates the battery life. I bought this camera about month and a half ago. The battery took an hour to charge. I have taken at least 1000 pictures with it. Flashes, long exposures, you name it. Just today, the battery life indicator showed one third full. I plugged it in, and a half an hour later, it was fully charged.
Also, it takes great all around pictures. The image quality is very good. The 18-55 lens works fine for me. I don't think I would need another lens anytime soon. It is good for zoom, close ups, etc. I might want a macro lens soon, but other than that, there is really no need to get more lenses. I would recommend a remote (for bulb exposures, etc.), and a UV filter. Also, a tripod is a necessity. The xti is no better, so don't waste your money when all it does is use up battery faster.
Anyway, this is worth the money, and Amazon is the place to buy it from. Buy it. You'll be glad you did.

Excellent Camera 2008-02-08

I have owned the Digital Rebel XT many months ago and have been mostly pleased. The various modes give great control over subjects and the size makes it easy to carry around to the various locations. The camera started giving "Error 99" and eventually ended up sending it to Cannon in California. They fixed the problem quickly, and because I had my original Proof of Purchase information and warranty card, did not charge me, and sent it back mostly fixed. The meter still acts up at random times highlighting multiple instances in the meter display when it gets an light source on it. It is still an amazing camera, much lower in price now than when I purchased in new, though it would be good to explore your options.

Canon XT....better than expected! 2008-02-08

The camera was so easy to use and the quality of the pictures were amazing! The night shots were easy to take and looked great!

Love this Camera!!!! 2008-02-08

My wife and I bought this camera to get ready for the birth of our daughter, and have been seriously impressed. We own two film Rebel SLR's and our experience with Canon products continues to be great. It was a huge relief to not have to buy new lenses since we can use the same lenses we had for the film versions of this camera. The images are pristine, the on-board menus are intuitive, and shooting with this camera is just hands down fun! I strongly recommend this product if you are considering a DSLR.

Excellent choice! 2008-02-08

We are very happy with the Rebel XT.

Most digital cameras, in my opinion, seemed to still have an artificial or "cold" quality, but the Rebel XT has an organic feel to the quality and "warmth" of analogue photography, but has the convenience of digital.

It has very high quality, but a low price!

Canon Rebel xt 2008-02-08

The camera arrived in good shape. There was one problem, they asked for a signature to deliver.This is understandable, but with out prior notification and the fact that I work away from home I kept missing fedEx. I spent one night, after work tracking the package down in a town 20 minutes away. It would have been nice to talk to a real person on the Fedex end and to have had prior knowledge of a required signature so I could have made arrangements.

First SLR camera, and loving it 2008-02-06

Not much to say here other than we love like this camera. There is a lot to it. I had to order one of those cd's on learning more about the camera. Great camera for someone that like hands on experiments.

ONE BIG ADVICE.

If you are going to use this as a point and shot camera then you are wasting your money. Ever since we got this camera I have only used the auto setting on a few occasion, other than when I first got it it's always been on the custom mode. I find that I have more of a control on what my pictures are going to look like. Sometimes they come out good and sometimes they don't, but that's all about learning.

Great camera. Can't wait to upgrade my lens.

My first Digital SLR 2008-02-05

This is my first Digital SLR. I've owned 35mm SLR's but have been waiting for the an affordable quality Digi SLR. This is it! I don't know how this camera could be better for the money, other than a larger veiwing screen. That's it. The package lens is OK at best. I'd probably buy this camera without it and save the money. You can get the 50mm prime lens for about $80. It's a much better lens. It's amazingly sharp for $80.

Be advised Canon is no longer offering updates to this camera's firmware. Not that it needs it... I assume from that, that canon has discontinued this camera.

8 megapixel is all I need or I may have looked at the XTi. However, if I had it to do all over again, I'd buy the XTi with the 2 1/2 inch sceen without the kit lens. Add a nice Sigma zoom and the Canon 50mm prime and I'd be in business.

All in all, you can't go wrong for $450 buying this camera.

Canon Rebel has a cause 2008-02-05

I received this camera as a Christmas gift. I was heming and hawing for over a year on whether to transition from film SLR to digital, and if digital, compact or SLR. Well, I asked Santa for this bad boy. What a camera! Impresively light weight, sufficiently rugged, great flash, quick turn on and shoot, very log lasting battery pack. I love this camera and highly recommend it.

Good but dated. 2008-01-31

The Digital Rebel XT is a pretty fantastic camera if you just look at the unit itself. Anyone migrating from the Digital Rebel (300D) as I did will pick up the camera with no problems. They're functionally identical. The pictures are crisp, even with the kit lens though you'll soon want to upgrade to get the full use out of the dSLR. I bought this camera even though the XTi was out because the dust reduction and larger LCD didn't seem to justify an additional $175. That's a personal choice though as the XTi is a great camera as well.

Unfortunately, the XT is becoming dated quick. Canon released information about the XSi which includes a new battery type and SD cards instead of CF. Basically this means that the extra card, extra batteries, and battery grip pack I bought won't be sticking around when I upgrade my body again. I don't regret this purchase but I probably would have been a bit more calm about my accessories if I had known about the XSi earlier.

Amazing camera 2008-01-29

After owning several P&S cameras and a film SLR, this camera is no comparison. Even with the limited knowledge I have of using a dslr I am able to get some great pictures and they just keep getting better.

great camera! 2008-01-28

i got this camera prior to a trip overseas as well as to capture my 2 year olds faces. i was sick of "digital delay". it is awesome. it went around the world with me and held up great. at home, it works magic in getting the perfect snapshot.

i love this camera. i wanted a nicer model- not a pocket camera. and i tried the tweener models at the store- the ones that dont have the delay in taking the picuture - but the manufacturers just moved the delay such that it takes a second or two to "save" to the memory card. this camera takes photos in quick succession so you can see them almost as if you were looking at a flipbook. it is awesome and just what i wanted.

Exactly what I was looking for... 2008-01-28

I was looking for a great beginners SLR and got it! I would recommend this product to anyone looking to get into SLR photography at a beginners level.

This camera Rocks! 2008-01-27

I am an ammeter photographer and take about 3000 photos a year. I have owned this camera for 2.5 years and could carry it with me 24x7. I know that there are better cameras but for the money you will have a hard time proving that this is not the best. I had some off brand lenses and do not like them as much as the Canon equipment and am looking to invest in my first image stabilized lens. You can get the XTi (10M pixel) but the cost vs. pay off is not as good as the XT. Each photo is about 2.5M and with a 2 Gig card you can take about 500 photos before you have to off load. At that resolution I can print 8.5X11 photos and you will have a hard time believing that the picture did not come from a 35mm camera. The only bad thing is that you may have to by a new hard drive to fit all your new data. This camera is very good for the beginner who wants to learn or just point and shoot.
Happy shooting

Great camera! 2008-01-27

This is a quality camera at a great price. It is my first SLR so I'm still learning to use all of its capabilities, but it is still simple enough to use as a point and shoot camera.

Great Camera and Sellar 2008-01-24

The camera is everything that was promised. I spent alot of time reading reviews, and for a starter SLR, they all pointed to this one. The pictures are the best I've ever seen from a home camera, although that's compared to the point and shoots family, friends and myself have used through the years. Adorama Camera (via Amazon) had by far the best deal, and they delivered on time with no problems. I am very happy.

EXCELLENT! 2008-01-22

the canon rebel xt 8mp is GREAT! it is easy to use and put into operation. inculding a cf disk would have made it better from the start. i had to shop around to get one at a good price.

Love it! 2008-01-22

This is my first digital SLR and I love it. The book is easy to understand and the functions on the camera are easy to use.
Issues
1. I wish I could switch parameters more quickly. (B&W settings and color settings are 3 menus in.)
2. LCD screen is small.

I knew this when I bought it so it's obviously not a bad issue. The XTi has a larger screen so if that's an important issue for you, spend the extra $ and get the10 mp XTi.

For point and shoot users stepping up to SLR, if you like macro photography I suggest buying a macro lens for this or any SLR. You can't focus close enough with the stock lens.

All in all I am very happy with it.

exactly what i ordered 2008-01-20

a very good camera at a very good price can't find one like this at this price and got here quickly like it a lot

From new to DSLR :) 2008-01-19

I am really happy that I decided to switch from point-and-shot to DSLR camera... you can see the difference instantly!!! If you have professional camera first time in your hands (like me), you will also want to find some good literature to help you understand and use your camera to the maximum of its possibilities... (the manual witch comes with the camera will not be enough) otherwise it is waste of money to only use the Auto mode. I am still testing it and playing with it, but this camera has already proven how great your photos can be. I just want to warn you that you will become addicted to it :) and it is good to get a big memory card, so you don't have to stop too often to change the card or empty the old one... you will also be happy with the battery life - I am telling you, you can take you time!
So give your CANON a try and learn a little about professional photography and I promise you... You will get amazing results!

Rebel XT is the bomb! 2008-01-19

I researched the Rebel XT in depth before my purchase. I decided on the XT as opposed to the XTI due to the price. I found the very best price at Amazon however, I was a little concerned when it arrived. The camera was shipped along with a cookbook that I ordered without any additional packaging materials within a large box. The camera was in perfect condition and I began taking pictures. The best feature of this camera is that I can use the auto settings or manual settings when I want/need to get creative.

AAAAAAAAAAA++++++++++++++++++++ 2008-01-18

We absolutely love this camera!!!!! It's easy to use and a takes fantastic pictures. Would buy again and would highly reccomend to anyone.

Perfect beginner SLR 2008-01-18

Perfect camera for those wanting more than just a point-and-shoot. Too many features to list, but definitely usable right out of the box, even by those intimidated by SLR's.

v. good camera 2008-01-18

My Canon gives me great time, my family is v. happy. It is affordable and light. May fit any canon lense not like Nikon D. Good quality and pictures are great recent 8x12 inch very good details. I do strongly recommend it.

Very nice camera. 2008-01-18

Bought this for my 16 year old son who got bitten by the photography bug while taking a class in HS. It's easy to operate right out of the box. Automatic features work well. Great pictures with good color. I think its a great deal at $449.

Maybe I got a lemon 2008-01-17

Maybe I got a lemon. I bought this camera based on the previous reviews. I was so dissapointed with the very first shots I took. I was expecting sharp clear pictures and all I got were slightly fuzzy ones. This camera was supposed to be an upgrade from my Kodak 740 5mp. My Kodak takes amazing pictures! You can see every hair and every eyelash on my grandsons with the Kodak 740 and I was expecting to be blown away by the picture quality of the Canon by moving up from a 5mp to an 8mp. I tried different settings manual and auto but my old Kodak 740 takes much better pictures. I'm sending this back to Amazon and upgrading to the Kodak 8.2mp Easyshare. Hopefully the new Easyshare will fix the complaints I had with the 740 - the lag time between pictures and with image stabilization I can't wait to see what kind of pictures I can get with it.

A must have 2008-01-15

This camera is simply an excellent photographic tool. I think it is a camera each photo amateur should have. The image quality is superb, providing you use other lens. The kit lens is ...ok. And OK is an overstatement. But is you use it with the 80$ 50mm 1.8 the image quality is unbelievable. The controls are good and very simple to use.Battery life is excellent too. Maybe the viewfinder could be better but for this price I do not think you have any other camera that is better than this one. It is a great camera to learn on and if you invest in better lenses you will unleash the potential of that sensor and image processor.
Buy it with no hesitation but I would recommend buying it without the lens (body only) and buy the 50mm 1.8 lens.

Amazing Hi-Def Photos, Speed, Quality @ a Great Price! 6-Stars!!!! 2008-01-11

- As one of my X'mas Gift's, my GF purchased the Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Black 'body'.
Some of you might have come across some of my other product Reviews and might recall that I use exclusively Canon & Nikon Digital & 35mm cameras.
I still own several 35mm models from each manufacturer, and have some very
expensive lenses that were in storage. This is one of the main reasons my GF, bought this particular Rebel XT model, so I can continue to use some of my extra lenses. And just to throw some info into the mix, is that this model has a plastic body, which is the reason, it's so light & small.
I would Highly-Recommend this Rebel XT perhaps as a great option for those people that would like to 'Transition-Up' from the typical 'point-n-shoot' consumer cameras, and more towards the ~ 'Pro-sumer' Level. By establishing a new 'Learning Curve' on this one, will Pay you back great Dividends, when you make your way up to the Mark III, which is one of the top-of-the-line Canon Digital SLR's, period!
I'm not going to list every possible Pro & Con issue with the Rebel XT, as some of the other Reviewers, have already done a magnificent job.
What I will repeat here is that my GF (and the past ones), all know that
I have always attempted to Select only those Product Lines that have been defined by their High-Quality & Features, & have been Rated near the top of the curve, and are also Unique or have an interesting Style. BTW, I also received the Canon 2400 Gadget bag (read all my reviews).
The only other add-on item that I would recommend for this camera is the
BG-E3 Battery Grip. You won't be disappointed!

Much different, but not necessarily better, than a good point and shoot 2008-01-09

Pros: Very sharp contrast & detail even in low light; built in flash has good range; smaller & lighter than other DSLRs including the original rebel; zero shutter lag or shot to shot delay; uses compact flash cards which are inexpensive and easy to handle; can be upgraded to handle AA batteries; compatible with all EOS film camera EF lenses; lots of menu choices including customizing scenes; great Black/white mode.

Cons: Kit lens results in underexposed pictures when using flash and automatic settings(which can be compensated for by using manual settings); automatic white balance not as good as many point & shoot cameras; can not effectively focus on two objects that are different depths even in aperture priorty or A-DEP modes (as many point and shoots can); much larger and heavier than almost all point and shoot cameras; good lenses are expensive; no image stabilization without special (expensive) lenses.

Other thoughts: I think many people buy a DSLR because they think the image quality is much better than a point and shoot. This is not necessarily true especially when using a cheaper lens (ie the kit lens) compared to a great point and shoot cameras such as the canon SD700, fuji f31fd, olympus C-7000 or panasonic DMC-FZ5. I found a better lens than the bundled 18-55mm kit lens that sells very cheaply (especially used), the canon ef 28-80mm 1:3.5-5.6 which results in more realistic color and brightness especially in automatic mode. A good point and shoot is much more practical for carrying around and really does as good a job for image quality under most situations and better in some others (such as photographing objects at different distances simultaneously and trying to keep all in focus). The real advantages of this camera over a point and shoot are that almost every conceivable setiing can be changed manually; the availablility of so many lenses (though the really good ones are very expensive); the feel of a professional camera and much better flash range. I believe that most people that buy this camera will also own (and use) a small point and shoot camera. If you have no desire to use manual settings, consider this purchase carefully. You may be better of with a good point and shoot (The DMC-FZ5 and SD700 are my favorites)

Great camera 2008-01-08

I researched DSLRs for the last year before choosing the Canon; I own a Fuji finepix that I love, but it was only 4 megapixels and I wanted something more advanced now that I know what I am doing with a digital camera. I also wanted speed; my son plays soccer and football and the regular digitals are too slow for fast-moving bodies. So far, I am extremely pleased. I have yet to take any sports photos, but I have taken some great family pictures and fantastic ones of the dogs also; the detail is amazing. The camera is also very simple to use; I can switch from portrait to sports mode with just the turn of a dial and the auto-focus button on the lens is an added bonus. I showed some friends and family how simple it was to use and the detail of the photos and many are now seriously considering buying one. Overall, very pleased so far.

Great Buy! 2008-01-08

Overall this camera is a great buy. I have seen what others have said about the auto focus, it tends to focus on the wrong things in the seven point mode. You can bypass this in the P mode by choosing the central point focus, but then you lose out on the other Auto features. The only other problem I have had is that the flash sometimes seems out of sync. Some of my shots you can actually see the flash on the left side of the picture, that it hasn't made it across in time.

But don't let this slight irritations stop you from buying it! Compared to the point and shoot models out there this slr camera for the price is superior.

Great beginner's camera 2008-01-07

Great camera to use. If you know what you're doing, there is great image potential from this product. It is light weight and not bulky at all. Battery life is better than expected, and image quality in all modes is very impressive.

Canon Rebel Xti 2008-01-03

This camera for the money is a very good digital slr. Quick and easy to learn.For someone who owns slr cameras i am really enjoying this camera. small and light weight,quick on shots. for the money it,s great.having digital convenience with small size and not the heavy mess i.m use to carrying around

Excellent product and Price 2008-01-02

Excellent product at best price. quick shipping. Have already ordered more items. Very happy with transaction.

Great service, better price! 2007-12-31

I spent a lot of time online searching for the best price on this camera, and this was it. It arrived in a few days and was perfect. I purchased it as a Christmas gift for my 17-year-old daughter, and she is thrilled. Just remember to purchase a memory card separately as no card is included with the camera kit.

Great upgrade from my canon SLR 2007-12-31

Finally made the switch from my Canon Elan 7e to a digital SLR. Good speed and features for the price. I love it!

Great Camera for Beginners (and I Assume Pros) 2007-12-31

I love this camera! I don't know a whole lot about professional photography, but I love to play and have gotten some great shots over the years with my Canon Sureshot. This is my first SLR, and for the first time, I feel like the quality is comparable to film. I've had this camera a week, and have already figured out how to take great pics. You can do as much or as little creatively as you want to with this camera. The kit lens has been fine for what I use it for (mostly family/baby shots), but the zoom is a little lacking if you're wanting to use it from a distance (such as a sporting event). It's great if you have young children in the house who don't hold their cute expressions very long. I took 200 photos in no time, not realizing how many I had and still had plenty of room on the 2GB card. I've had to recharge the battery twice - using the viewfinder eats the battery up, so I'm weighing the pros and price of a spare, but it only takes an hour or 2 to recharge. (I did find the battery dead after not using the camera for a couple of days, when previously it had partial charge). There is a digital battery indicator on the screen, however, it only has two settings - fully charged and "half" charged, which can mean "about to die," so if you do imporant shoots on a timetable, I'd have a fully charged spare. It does take a little longer to load onto the computer compared to my Kodak Easyshare, but it's really not bad - not as bad as I was expecting after reading other reviews. We ordered the 8 megapixel and have been very satisfied.

Canon Rebel EOS XT 8mp 2007-12-29

I am a novice photographer, but really feel in love with the abilites that this camera has! I have owned several other digital cameras including the Sony Mavica & the Canon Sureshot. This camera is clearly a step above, and I am very happy that I purchased it!

I just recently purchased a Tamrom Lense which provides me with slightly better zoom, and substantially better clarity and colors!

Hope this helps - Good Luck

Wonderful Camera 2007-12-29

My wife and I bought this camera in the Summer of '06. We wanted to get a camera that we'd never have to replace. We got our wish.

I'm an amateur amateur photographer. Zero training. Picking up this camera, practicing with it's settings, and reading the manual has done wonders for my family photo albums. Photography used to frustrate me because I didn't understand the lingo and the numbers. I still don't really understand them, but I know what settings to plug into my camera to produce clear, amazing photographs. And because this camera is fun for this amateur to use, it makes it fun to learn the specifics of photography. I've since added a telephoto lens and a wide angle lens to my camera bag, and it's a breeze going back and forth between them. You'll enjoy photography with this camera.

One drawback that is worth mentioning is that the built-in flash is not the greatest in many situations. This can be solved by adding a flash (not cheap, but well worth it). Is this reason enough to not choose this camera? Not at all.

If you're considering a digital SLR camera, go with this. The cost/performance ratio is what you're looking for.

low end, but great SLR 2007-12-24

This camera doesn't come with a memory card... I guess I didn't realize that before buying it. Otherwise I might not have thought this was such a great deal. Look into their XTi. I'm pretty sure the shutter speed is significantly faster. Also do research on lenses you might want before you buy. There are some kits that might come with more than one lens.

I'm in love 2007-12-23

This is probably the best non-breathing thing I have. I absolutely love this thing!!! To be frank I did not compare with Nikon counterparts or other Canon cameras, I also have never used another SLR before so I went with what most reviews said about the XT. Almost bought the XTi but price difference at the time was $200. Plus I love the information screen on these cameras and dont mind the small LCD screen. XTi seems a better deal now as the price difference has shrunk (bye bye XT). Anyways, this is a GREAT camera. Pictures are way way better than a conventional digital camera. Even at ISO 1600 pictures look great. Bought a Canon 50mm 1.8, and Tamron 17-50 F2.8 + Tamron 70-300 lens. Great combo, stored kit lens in the closet (ok lens but kind of boring). I feel like a pro now and plan to learn about photography seriously. Canon 30D and 40D are way sexier, might upgrade later after I build a nice lens collection.

May be a good product, but service is bad 2007-12-19

The company that sells this camera is not customer friendly,they asked if you have any questions, or concerns, and when I did give a response my order was cancelled, they did not try to fix the problem at all, and I needed this for a Christmas gift for my daughter, I would not use this company, the product may be great, but the service is awful.
Angie Smith

LOVE IT,LOVE IT,LOVE IT 2007-12-15

What else can i say but i love my camera it is by far the best present i have gotten. It takes amazing pictures and quickly gets you addicted to taking pictures ..i find myself taking pictures of everything just to see how the settings all work.Anyone you buy this for will love it. You will need at least a 2gb card and highly recommended to buy a camera bag oh and a tripod. Have Fun

ONE DOWNSIDE THAT I WOULD WARN YOU ABOUT 2007-12-12

I ordered this exact camera from Amazon.com back in May of 2007. I love this camera, the quality of its picture taking and how very EASY it is to use. For a photography novice like me using a professional grade digital camera like this it is super easy to use. Canon makes great cameras.

HOWEVER....the CFS cards (which is basically the term they use for memory cards) plug into a slot inside the side of the camera. The cards have a series of holes that align into tiny copper prongs inside the camera. It does not take magnetized memory cards like a lot of digital cameras do. Twice I have run into the problem where since I use multiple memory cards and am VERY careful when removing and inserting them-at some point one of the delicate prongs that the card plugs into gets slightly shifted and therefore it would not plug in correctly and completely prevents you from taking or saving pictures unless you get it fixed (You will get a message on the screen saying "CFS error." At first I thought I had purchased a faulty memory card-but soon learned from a representative at Canon that unfortunately it was not the card but when inserting and removing these cards a lot of people have run into this problem--SO I just wanted to warn you all that it can become a MAJOR inconvenience to you if this happens as it can take some time to fix (although it's a simple problem to fix.) The first time it happened to me, I sent it in to Canon's repair center and they had it fixed just as new for FREE because it has a warranty, but it took six weeks. The second time it happened, I took it to a local authorized Canon technician who also fixed it for free since it is still under warranty.

My advice and what I am going to do is buy a memory card that holds the largest amount of gigabytes possible and just never remove the card so that the prongs will not get compromised. Once the memory card is full-there is no need to take it out to upload the digital images-that is done through an adapter/usb cord. So....I am just going to keep this new memory card inserted indefinitely-upload the photos onto my computer or a CD when it gets full (which takes forever because it takes loads of photos on the 2.0 GB cards even on the highest quality picture taking setting) TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN.

Other than that, I'm in love with this camera and the user guide makes everything so simple and I learn new techniques every time I use it, because it has so many amazing features.

Awesome camera...okay battery 2007-12-11

I'm a complete amateur, but I love this camera. It's relatively easy to use and the manual is WAY easier to understand than the one that came with my Powershot S2IS. The only problem I have with it--which I admit could be owner malfunction--is the battery life. It says that it uses relatively little power when the camera goes to sleep but it seems like my battery drains super fast. I use it for 10-15 minutes and then turn it off. I can do that 2-4 times before the battery shows that it's almost gone. Am I doing something wrong? I'm ready to get a spare battery, but I'd love to know if there's a way to conserve battery power.

Excellent Camera 2007-12-07

Bought the Canon Rebel XT primarily to take pictures of grandkids' sporting events. I'm not an expert photographer, but am able to take great pictures in both outdoor and indoor settings. (I also bought a telephoto lens.) I especially like the ability to take rapid shots to later review to choose the best ones to save and print. The Rebel XT is easy to use and with the accomopanying software one can efficiently crop, enhance and print various size pictures. This is the 4th digital camera I've bought and is by far the best (but not the most expensive) one I've owned.

Great Camera for the money 2007-12-01

I am far from a professional photographer but I think anyone can take great pictures with this camera. I did alot of research before deciding wether to replace a privious pocket digital with the Rebel and I am glad that I got the Rebel. The picture quality is great and the fact that the camera is very user friendly is also obviously a major plus. I've always been one to take and share pic's and most people have noticed the change in quality of the pic's from my old camera to Rebel. I still havn't used all of the features but have played around with some nighttime photography as well as daylight and indoor and have been very pleased. Some of the features I don't know that I will ever use but I figure that if I ever decide to pursue them they are there. The only down side to this camera that I can think of is, if your looking for an pocket size camera then this is not for you. The Rebel is much bulkier but, in my opinion, the inconvienence is well worth the quality and flexibility that this camera offers you.

Good Camera 2007-11-27

I love it. I am still figuring out all the wonderful things it can do!

Great set of features for an unbeatable price 2007-11-27

I've been using this camera for about a year and a half and have previously owned multiple point and shoot digital canon cameras. This camera allows a level of creativity unavailable with the other cameras. I have taken numerous pictures that people have asked "Where did you get that print?" It is easy to use but has all the power you would expect from a SLR. I didn't buy the kit lens and opted for some higher quality lenses that have served me very well.

Since others have listed pros and cons very well here are the highlights for me:

Pros:
SLR
400+ shots on a single charge
Fast shutter release
Expandability

Cons:
Doesn't fit in your pocket

Great 2007-11-26

great camera, very responsive and fast, after using many point and shoot and advanced point and shoot cameras, this was definitely a step up for me. The only problem i have is the stock lens delivers some soft images, i would recommend buying the body and another lens

Great Camera Body at a Great Price 2007-11-23

I am deeply invested in Canon EOS film and digital cameras. The Rebel EOS 350D XT 8MP black body is a great addition. It will easily pay for itself in photo sales.

My first ever camera 2007-11-23

I've never owned a camera, film or digital, before. So as a first time-camera owner, I'm more than thrilled.

First the bad (and they aren't that bad):

1. As you start using it more you want to buy more accessories, like filters, lenses, and tripods, oh, and a bigger bag every few months for all the growing stuff. Okay, not really a negative, but something you should watch for.

2. The 'Kit' lens that comes with the camera is great for most shots within 50 feet or broad landscape shots. For people new to SLR's (digital or not) the kit lens is a good starter lens to feel out SLR's potential, but if you have even a few months of SLR experience, I would suggest buying the body-only and selecting the lenses you know you'll want. Because anything more than 50 feet or if you're trying to capture a specific element of a landscape shot, you'll find the kit lens lacking.

3. Manual settings are a little difficult to figure out. Okay, when I bought this camera I knew nothing of f-stops or shutter speed and any combination of these. I am still closer to confused than comprehending, but I've found I want to start trying out these seetings and it isn't obvious how to set these yourself. For those who want to just take a picture the cheat-sheet at the top (a wheel you turn to tell the camera what type of combination of f-stops/shutter speed/etc you want) is more than adequate (and I've had no problems using it). But after starting to learn what you can do by modifying f-stops and shutter speeds, I have started to yearn for a more newbie friendly process. Again, though, this is really dependent on the type of person you are. I like lots of control so this has started to gnaw at me some (though no where near enough to rate less than 5 stars)

The good (and I think they're real good):

1. I've never had any of the pictures developed (I bought a digital camera for a reason), but image wise, the pictures are great quality. As I take pictures with the highest resolution the camera allows I find I'm often disappointed by a picture until I remember that the picture is 3x larger than what my monitor displays, and when I view full size the detail is incredible. I had a chance to shoot some tidepools, and I'm not sure the urchins and starfish looked that good in person.

2. Lots of high-quality pictures. I bought 2, 2GB memory cards and I can fit 566 highest quality JPEG pictures on them. With two cards I've never had to worry about being selective with my shots. Professionals might find this untrue, but as a budding hobbyist, I'm extremely happy.

3. Battery life, I read somewhere that you should have 2-3 times as many batteries as you think you'll need. Well I'm a little curious about that one. I have 1 battery and I've never been concerned about losing a charge. I've virtually filled both of my 2GB cards up on the same battery (800+ pictures) and it still showed a nearly full charge. Now I may be less demanding than most because:
a) I don't review pictures, I do that when I return home
b) I don't take many pictures with the camera's flash

But even when I've forgotten and left the camera on for a few days after taking a few hundred shots, it still shows a nearly full battery. Now you probably should have a few extras just in case, but if you aren't away for extended periods, battery concerns are quite minimal.

4. Ease of use - The Canon is VERY forgiving. Even right of the box, if you leave the settings on automatic and let the camera decide the settings you'll be very happy with the shots. Knowing how to adjust the settings will give you an incredible shot, but for the rest of us, we can let the Canon select the settings and come out with a very good shot that more than meets our hopes.

*****

Summary: This 8MP is a greaty starter camera and looks to be able to scale upward. It is very forgiving of your ignorance, allows you ample ways to upgrade as your understanding grows, and is a joy to use.

Even if you plan on becoming a pro, this is a great camera to cut your teeth on without breaking the bank. I'd recommend this camera to any beginner or non-professional.

My first SLR 2007-11-19