Reviewed by: Allen Harkleroad

June 1, 2005

The latest "Pro-sumer" Rebel camera from Canon is a 8.2 megapixel camera with quite a few enhancements over the first Digital Rebel (6.0 mega pixel) that Canon produced a year or so ago. I originally purchased the 6 mega pixel Digital Rebel last year and enjoyed the camera immensely but it lacked several features that at the time were only available in the pro series of camera. I recently purchased the Rebel XT and found the additional features in the camera to be quite nice. Once of the reasons why I like the Rebel series of cameras is that I can swap the lens from my Rebel 35mm film camera with both the Rebel and the Rebel XT, and of course the price range of the Rebel Series.

Out of the box the XT is smaller than the original Digital Rebel and to be honest initially I wasn't too happy with the size of the camera. After using the camera for several days I have become to appreciate the size and weight of the camera. It is indeed compact (for a Digital SLR) and non-burdening to carry around your neck all day.

One of the features of the Rebel XT that I fell in love with is the white-balance settings. The camera has several presets ((Auto, Preset (Daylight, Shade, Cloudy/Twilight/Sunset, Tungsten light, White fluorescent light, Flash), Manual (Custom: read off photo quality gray card or white subject)) as well as a programmable whitespace feature.

The only detraction that I can find is that the Rebel XT uses a new CR2 RAW format that many image editing and processing application do not yet support. However Adobe Photoshop CS2 has a Camera RAW update available for download that can read and write CR2. Also Raw Shooter Essentials 2005 also has CR2 support. I imagine in the next couple of months more applications will provide support for the CR2 RAW format. The included Canon software has no problems with reading the CR2 format. I personally prefer the Adobe Photoshop RAW plug-in (Camera Raw 3.1 update) to work with CR2 files. It is more of a preference of having a familiar application to work with RAW images than anything else.

All-in-all the Rebel XT is a great camera and is perfect for aspiring photographers as well as professionals. I personally enjoy using the camera and look forward to shooting many photos with it.

Pricing under $800.00-$1000.00 (with or without lens)

Buy the Canon Rebel XT with lens at shop.designertoday.com (Black)

Buy the Canon Rebel XT with lens at shop.designertoday.com (Silver)

Buy the Canon Rebel XT Body Only at shop.designertoday.com (Black)

Buy the Canon Rebel XT Body Only at shop.designertoday.com (Silver)

Website

Canon website for Canon Rebel XT

Specifications

• Type: Digital AF/AE SLR
• Recording Medium: CF card Type I and II
• Image Format: 0.87 x 0.58 in./22.2 x 14.8mm
• Compatible Lenses: Canon EF Lenses including EF-S Lenses (Focal length conversion factor: Equivalent to approx. 1.6x indicated focal length compared to 35mm format)
• Lens Mount: Canon EF mount
• Image Sensor Type: High-sensitivity, high-resolution, single-plate color CMOS sensor
• Pixels: Approx. 8.0 Megapixels - Total Pixels: Approx. 8.2 Megapixels
• Aspect Rati 2:3 (Vertical:Horizontal)
• Color Filter System: RGB primary color filter
• Low-pass Filter: Fixed position in front of the image sensor
• Recording System/Format: Design rule for Camera File System 2.0
• Image Format: JPEG, RAW (12bit) Simultaneous Recording: Possible
• File Size: JPEG: (1) Large/Fine: Approx. 3.3 MB (3456 x 2304), (2) Large/Normal: Approx. 1.7 MB (3456 x 2304), (3) Medium/Fine: Approx. 2.0 MB (2496 x 1664), (4) Medium/Normal Approx. 1.0 MB (2496 x 1664), (5) Small/Fine: Approx. 1.2 MB (1728 x 1152), (6) Small/Normal: Approx. 0.6 MB (1728 x 1152); RAW: Approx. 8.3 MB (3456 x 2304)
• Folders: Automatic setting
• File Numbering: (1) Continuous numbering, (2) Auto reset
• Image-processing Parameters: Standard parameters plus up to three custom processing parameter sets and monochrome can be set
• Interface: USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
• White Balance Settings: Auto, Preset (Daylight, Shade, Cloudy/Twilight/Sunset, Tungsten light, White fluorescent light, Flash), Manual (Custom: read off photo quality gray card or white subject)
• Viewfinder Type: Eye-level SLR (with fixed pentamirror)
• Coverage: Approx. 95% vertically and horizontally (against JPEG Large)
• Magnification: 0.8x (-1 diopter with 50mm lens at infinity)
• Eyepoint: 21mm
• Dioptric Adjustment Correction: -3.0 - +1.0 diopters
• Focusing Screen: Fixed
• Mirror: Quick-return half mirror (Transmittance: reflection ratio of 40:60, no mirror cut-off with lenses up to EF 600mm f/4)
• Viewfinder Information: AF points, AE lock, FE lock, AEB in progress, Flash ready, Improper FE lock warning, High-speed Sync, Flash exposure compensation, Red-Eye reduction, Shutter speed, Bulb, FE lock, Processing data, Built-in flash recycling, Aperture, Exposure level display (Exposure compensation, Manual exposure level, AEB level, Flash exposure compensation, Red-Eye Reduction lamp on time display), Max burst during continuous shooting, AF/MF focus confirmation, CF card full, CF card error, no CF card
• Depth-of-Field Preview: Enabled with depth-of-field preview button
• Eyepiece Shutter: None (provided on strap)
• Autofocus Type: TTL-CT-SIR with AF-dedicated CMOS sensor
• AF Points: 7
• AF Working Range: EV 0.5 - 18 (at ISO 100)
• Focusing Modes: One-Shot AF, Predictive AI Servo AF, AI Focus AF (Automatically selects One-Shot AF or AI Servo AF selected according to shooting mode), Manual Focusing (MF)
• AF Point Selection: Automatic selection, manual selection
• Selected AF Point Display: Superimposed in viewfinder and indicated on LCD panel
• AF-assist Beam: Intermittent firing of built-in flash, effective range: approx. 13.1 ft./4m at center, approx. 11.5 ft./3.5m at periphery
• Exposure Control Metering Modes: Max. aperture TTL metering with 35-zone SPC. (1) Evaluative metering, (2) Partial metering at center (approx. 9% of viewfinder), (3) Center-weighted average metering
• Metering Range: EV 1-20 (at 68° F/20° C with 50mm f/1.4 lens at ISO 100)
• Exposure Control Systems: Program AE (shiftable), Shutter-priority AE, Aperture-priority AE, Automatic Depth-of Field AE, Full Auto, Programmed Image Control modes (Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, Flash Off), E-TTL II Autoflash Program AE, and Manual
• ISO Speed Range: Equivalent to ISO 100-1600
• Exposure Compensation: Up to +/-2 stops in 1/2- or 1/3-stop increments (1) Manual exposure compensation (2) AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing)
• AE Lock: Aut Operates in One-Shot AF mode evaluative metering when focus is achieved; Manual: Enabled with AE lock button (No AE lock in Basic Zone modes)
• Shutter Type: Vertical-travel, mechanical, focal-plane shutter with all speeds electronically-controlled
• Shutter Speeds: 1/4000 to 30 sec. in 1/2- or 1/3-stop increments, bulb, X-Sync at 1/200 sec.
• Shutter Release: Soft-touch electromagnetic release
• Noise Reduction for Long Exposure: Set with C. Fn-02
• Self-timer: 10-sec. delay
• Remote Control: Remote control with RS-60E3 Terminal or Wireless remote controllers RC-1/RC-5
• Built-in Flash Type: Auto pop-up, retractable, built-in flash in the pentaprism
• Guide Number: 13 (at ISO 100 in meters)
• Recycling Time: Approx. 3 sec.
• Flash-ready Indicator: Flash-ready indicator lights on in viewfinder
• Flash Coverage: Up to 17mm focal length (equivalent to 27mm in 35mm format)
• External Speedlite: EOS External Flash or Dedicated Speedlites
• E-TTL II autoflash
• Drive System: Drive Modes - (1) Single, (2) Continuous, (3) Self-timer/Remote Control
• Continuous Shooting Speed: Approx. 3.0 fps (with Battery Pack NB-2LH, at Tv=1/250 sec. for all recording qualities)
• Max. Burst During Continuous Shooting: 14 shots (Large/Fine)
• LCD Monitor Type: TFT color LCD monitor
• Screen Monitor size: 1.8 inches
• Pixels: Approx. 115,000 pixels (Displayed pixels)
• Coverage: Approx. 100% (for JPEG images)
• Brightness Control: 5 levels (settable with menu's "LCD brightness")
• Playback: Image Display Format - (1) Single image, (2) 9-image Index, (3) Magnified Zoom, (4) Auto Play, (5) Auto Play right after shooting
• Highlight Alert: In the single image with information display mode, the highlighted portions containing no image information with blink
• Image Protection and Erase: Protection - A single image can be protected or unprotected - Erase - A single image or all images stored in a CompactFlash card can be erased if they are unprotected
• Menus: Menu Categories - (1) Shooting 1 [6 items], (2) Shooting 2 [7 items], (3) Playback [5 items], (4) Setup 1 [7 items], (5) Setup 2 [7 items]
• LCD Monitor Language: Any of the following 15 languages can be selected: English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Italian, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified/Traditional Chinese, Korean, Russian, and Japanese
• Firmware Update: Enabled by the user
• Power Source: Battery - Battery Pack NB-2LH (x1)
• Dimensions and Weight: Dimensions (W x H x D) - 4.98 x 3.71 x 2.63 in./126.5 x 94.2 x 64mm
• Weight: 17.1 oz./485g
• Operating Environment: Operating Temperature Range 32-104° F/0-40° C - Operating Humidity Range 85% or less

Copyright (c) 2005, Allen Harkleroad, All Rights Reserved