trenta200's Full Review: Canon Digital Rebel XT / EOS 350D Digital Camera w...
Before I start my review I would like you to know that I try not to focus on the features, capabilities, etc. of the object I am reviewing since it can be readily found in other reviews or in the details tab of the object. For example, if I review a printer, I assume that you know whether it has pictbridge capabilities or a card reader, since that is covered in the details tab as well as well as the website of the respective printer. I will tell you, however, if there is something wrong with the feature or if it I have not used it. If I don’t mention it that means that it works without problems and does not need mentioning. This does not apply to a product with little or no reviews.
Before I start ranting, I would like to say that I am an amateur photographer and decided to buy an SLR camera because my ultra compact’s quality wasn't enough any more.
When I started looking for an SLR camera, I will admit that this wasn't my first decision. I was actually going to get a Nikon D80, but after seeing that it came out to over $1500, I did more research and came to the Rebel. At first, I was thrown off by the reviews saying that it's hard to get a good grip on this camera, it being so small, and that the body lacks ruggedness. I'm a 6 foot male and I'm able to grip this camera comfortably with no problems, and have not pressed any buttons accidentally so far. As for the ruggedness, it does feel less sturdy than the D80 (which is the only other SLR that I've tested), but not so much that you think it will break if you shake it around a bit.
Image Quality:
Unfortunately, I am not qualified to comment on this part of the camera. My opinion is that the camera has amazing image quality, and is able to easily produce 8x10 photos. However, this being the first SLR camera that I have really used, I have nothing to compare it to. For all I know, this may be the worst or best image quality ever seen on an SLR. Therefore, if you are looking for a review on image quality, then you will have to look elsewhere.
Software:
I am not a fan of editing my photos after I have taken them, and transfer them to iPhoto after I take them, so I never tried out the software. I also didn't do any research on the software for the same reason. I'm afraid you will have to look elsewhere on a review for that.
Price:
I bought this camera from Best Buy, and the kit package (with the 18-55 lens), 2GB CF card, 4 year insurance, and a camera bag came out to just over $1000. That's a pretty good price compared to everything else that I've seen, except for the D50, which I didn't even bother comparing.
Weight:
This thing is really light, so light that it surprised me the first time I picked it up. That's a good thing for me, since I carry it around my neck and it doesn't cause much strain. Some people will not like that though, since it makes the camera feel more fragile. I've never dropped my camera or subjected to anything other than the normal usage, so I can't comment on that.
Size:
It's quite small, smaller than most cameras available now, which is obviously why it weighs less. Clearly, this has its advantages if you're into sports shots or other shots where moving constantly is required. The downside of this is that it is hard to find a bag that this will fit in nicely. My bag is a little too big, and the camera moves around a bit inside, while the next smaller size makes it feel like the camera is being crushed, which is quite annoying. Canon offers a specially made case, but it only holds the camera and the lens, which means that you'll need another case for any extra things you might take along (spare cards, batteries, filters, etc.).
Battery Life:
Officially, you'll get 600 shots without flash and 400 shots with flash on fifty percent of the time (according to the instruction manual). You can expect to get less than that. I don't really know how long it lasts since my only CF card gets filled up before the camera dies, which makes it more than enough for me. Compared to other cameras, however, it's not all that great (I don't know the exact numbers so I won't list them, but I believe the Nikon gets at least double that).
Shutter Lag:
This is the main reason as to why I bought the camera. There is extremely little shutter lag, on par with cameras more than twice it's cost (according to test data from Cnet and other places), which is perfect for night shots and action shots. Don't think that it's instantaneous, though. I was taking a picture of a bridge on a cold night in January, and I couldn't get a perfect shot until I used my tripod, due to my shivering hands. I'm not saying that the pictures were horrible, but in an 8 by 10 photo, you'll notice the shake if you get close enough, although from 8 inches or farther away, it's practically invisible. You have to really try to get camera shake during a daytime shot.
Confusing at first:
I switched from a point and shoot ultra compact camera to this, and so I expected to be confused when I first tried it out. It wasn't too bad, although for the first week, it took getting used to, partially because i have never used an SLR interface before, and partially because I was used to a Nikon interface (I had an S6). The really confusing part wasn't the interface, but figuring out which letters stood for which modes. The "M" mode was easy enough (manual), but I had a hard time remembering the difference between "Av" (aperture adjustment), "TV" (shutter lag), and "P" (Program AE). You get used to it in a week or two and it becomes second nature. My biggest problem was getting the neck strap on, which took me close to 30 minutes, but it's only a one time thing, so I didn't really care.
Flash and Lens:
The flash isn't great, but that's exactly what I expected and it can easily be remedied with a hot shoe flash (screws onto the top). Don't get me wrong, it'll work fine if you're taking pictures of people several feet away, but any further and it falls short. The lens isn't too great either, but it only shows it's faults when it's pushed to it's extremes. Using it for wide angle shot is a big no-no, since it creates a shade of purple at the corners (I forget the name of this phenomenon). It works fine if you're not doing anything too demanding.
Compact Flash:
There's nothing about it that makes the images worse quality than an SD or the likes, it's just bigger and more expensive, which is never good. An SD slot would have been better in my opinion, although some people told me that CF cards are more resistant to shock and vibration, although I haven't done any research on it, so I can't deny or verify that.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1015 This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Flexible Enough for Enthusiasts
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