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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT digital SLR camera

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Excerpt courtesy of "DCVIEWS Digital camera and photography news" RSS feed.

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT digital SLR camera
The Canon EOS Digital Rebel camera that rocked the world of consumer digital SLRs little more than a year ago now has a new, faster, even smaller, big brother. Sibling rivalries aside, the 8.0 megapixel Canon EOS 350D / Digital Rebel XT, adds resolution, speed, an extra dollop of creative control and enhanced comfort in the hand, to one of the smallest and lightest digital cameras in its class. Despite its advancements the XT still retains the sub-$1,000 price point...

I am quite impressed at the rate that Canon is releasing new digital SLR cameras. I don't think in the history of the EOS line-up Canon has ever released film SLR cameras as quickly as they are releasing digital SLR cameras. Canon released the Digital Rebel only two years ago. And last year, it released a black version. Now it has released the Digital Rebel XT.

Nevertheless, I am quite interested in how Canon's new Digital Rebel XT is going to beat the Digital Rebel in performance now that the Digital Rebel has some cool firmware hacks. Let's reviews the specs at DPREVIEW.

The Digital Rebel XT has an 8 megapixel (MP) digital sensor rather than a 6 MP digital sensor . . . not bad . . . but what about the other features? As I have always said, MP isn't everything in a camera.

Based on the specs, Digital Rebel XT can output RAW without JPEG! Awesome . . . This is not configurable on the Digital Rebel, which I had complained about in my review.

Digital Rebel XT allows you to change the AF mode: AI Focus, One shot, and AI Servo. Awesome! Even the Digital Rebel firmware hack couldn't get the AI Servo mode to work correctly. AF mode had never been enabled on Canon's Rebel-series cameras. I wonder if the firmware hack changed Canon's mind.

Digital Rebel XT allows you to change metering modes: Evaluative 35-zone, Partial 9% at center, Center-weighted average. This is generally available on higher-end cameras. Amazing that Canon is providing advanced features on its lowest end digital SLR model.

I wasn't quite surprised that the Digital Rebel XT supported AE Bracketing, Exposure Compensation, shutter speed, and aperture in 0.5 or 0.3 EV increments. This feature was unlocked in the Digital Rebel firmware hack. If Canon had not enabled this mode, there would be one less reason to upgrade.

Digital Rebel XT does NOT support ISO 3200! Its highest ISO speed is ISO 1600, like the Digital Rebel. However, through the firmware hack, Digital Rebel can shoot at ISO 3200 . . . hmmmm . . . is the Digital Rebel XT worth upgrading to without the higher ISO speed?

The Digital Rebel XT has a B&W mode . . . I have always wondered why Canon's digital SLR cameras do not support other imaging modes. Sony's digital cameras and camcorders all have very cool modes, like black-and-white, sepia, negative, and many others. It's about time Canon stepped up to the plate.

Digital Rebel XT has mirror-lockup feature . . . This is another Digital Rebel firmware hack feature. Good thing Canon hasn't done away with it in the new digital SLR camera. However, the Digital Rebel firmware hack allows you to change the time during mirror lockup, before releasing the shutter. Digital Rebel XT does not allow you to change that time.

Digital Rebel XT has flash exposure compensation . . . another Digital Rebel firmware hack feature. It feels like the new Digital Rebel XT is supporting almost all of the features uncovered in the firmware hack. Coodles to Ravil and Wasia for doing us a great service.

The Digital Rebel XT supports two new languages: Russian and Korean. Perhaps this is Canon's salute to Ravil and Wasia. I salute them as well. But when is Chinese (Traditional) going to be implemented??? It turns out that the Chinese (Traditional) is listed on the Menu page. Perhaps DPREVIEW has a typo on the specs page.

Digital Rebel XT uses a new NB-2LH rechargeable battery pack. Although 50% lighter, it is different than the current BP-511 battery pack used in its siblings! So if you already have a D30, D60, 10D, 20D, or Digital Rebel, then you have to maintain two sets of battery packs.

Digital Rebel XT has 9 custom functions with 24 settings! The Rebel-series of cameras never had custom functions . . . they are always on the higher-end models. Has Canon really decided to advance its line of camera offerings by embedding the prototype function in the Digital Rebel firmware? Or do we have Ravil and Wasia to thank for waking Canon up? Either way, I am happy to find these great features being offered to us.

From a high level, it seems that the Digital Rebel XT supports almost every hackable function on the Digital Rebel and the some. The only major omission is ISO 3200 . . . which I am quite disappointed with. It is also missing a few minor hackable custom functions. The Digital Rebel XT also added a few minor features that are not available on the Digital Rebel. I will do a more comprehensive comparison between the two cameras that cover these minor omissions later.

Chieh Cheng
Mon Feb 21 12:55:55 PST 2005

I have written up the technical comparison here:
Digital Rebel XT vs. Modified Digital Rebel vs. Digital Rebel

Chieh Cheng
Mon Mar 7 16:22:26 PST 2005

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