12-01-2003, 06:00 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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I'm in Love With a Rebel, and Her Name is EOS
Long-time PPCT readers will know that I have a digital media bug (video, audio, and photography), and I'm constantly hunting for the best gear I can get my hands on (without re-mortgaging my house that is). I enjoy carrying digital pictures with me on my Pocket PC, and using Pocket PC software to work with digital photos. I'd like to introduce you to a camera that I purchased recently, and why it's so dear to me: the Canon EOS Digital Rebel.  pclove:
If you're not familiar with my lusting for this camera, go read this first. So, did it live up to my expectations? It surpassed them! After shooting purely with digital cameras since 1999 (with a then "cutting-edge" Kodak DC-265 :lol , I had adapted my shooting style to make up for the one of the biggest limitations of mid-range digital cameras: shutter lag...
Speed, Speed, Speed
I had gotten used to holding down the button halfway for minutes at a time, anticipating the moment, and trying to get people to hold poses and smiles so I could capture them. When I picked up the EOS Digital Rebel and snapped a picture, I nearly fell over in shock. The camera actually took the picture exactly at the moment I wanted it to! 8O You might not think that's a big deal, but every digital camera I've ever owned has always had a lag between pressing the button and taking the picture, and however slight, it can really throw off the moment. The Rebel's rapid autofocus and instant shutter speed make taking pictures a delight. I forgot how much I enjoyed the speed of 35mm photography! I no longer have to regret that aspect of digital photography - the Rebel gives me exactly what I need.
Speed in photography isn't just about pressing the shutter - being able to take shots in rapid succession is also critical. The Rebel surprised me here too - I can easily take one picture a second, with a flash each time, for four seconds in a row before needing to pause to let the first photo get written from the buffer. That pause only needs to be about 1-2 seconds, and then I can start shooting again. Nice!
Quality & Richness of Tone
Beyond that, the Rebel excels in every other area that's important to me: colour trueness, low noise level, and a solid 6.3 megapixels of information (nice, big prints!), capable of capturing impressive levels of detail. So what level of detail am I talking about? Check this out 8O (the image has been cropped). I'm not a professional photographer, but I've found the colour cast of the images it takes to be wonderful - very true to life, rich tones, but not over-saturated and fake looking like some digital images. In fact, of all the cameras I've owned, the images that come off the Rebel are closest to 35mm tones. Which, I suspect, is the whole point.  Of course, it has taken some time for me to adjust - somehow the tones look "wrong" because I'm so used to a more "digital" image. Full circle indeed!
Size & Battery Life
The size is something I'm still trying to get used to - it's a big camera. When I'm used to slipping a small S-series Canon into my pocket for most occasions, this was a big adjustment while I was walking around Las Vegas. I also purchased an add-on bundle that gave me a 55-200mm lens, and never having owned a lens that big, I'm still getting used to that. :-) Having the interchangeable lenses is both a blessing and a curse - it's great to be able to snap on a telephoto lens and get closer to the action, but all of a sudden I need much bigger bag to handle all that great. Even the mighty Podzilla isn't big enough for the Rebel, my external Flash, and my big lens. It might be time to drop an email to my good friends at Roadwired...
The battery life on this camera is simply awesome - I shot over 1300 photos in a span of four days (not all of them with a flash of course), and I only needed to recharge the camera battery once. I purchased an extra battery just to be sure, and it takes the same type of battery as my Canon G2, so I now have three batteries and 2 gigs of CompactFlash storage (1 GB x 1, 512 MB x 2). I'm loaded to bear - just point me at an event and I'll start snapping! :lol:
Specifications
This camera falls firmly into the prosumer range in terms of specifications. There are cameras out there that trump it in terms of resolution and manual control features, but for someone like me who loves photography but doesn't earn a living from it, this camera is a good blend of performance and value. Some of the quick specs:
� 6.30 Megapixel Digital SLR, 3072 x 2048 resolution images
� EF-S 18 - 55mm Lens (28-90 mm 35mm equiv.)
� 1.8 inch TFT LCD, 118k Pixels
� Auto Pop-up E-TTL autoflash
� ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
� Enhanced 7-point AutoFocus
� JPEG and RAW Image Formats
� Rechargeable LiIon Battery
� PictBridge Direct Printing
� 1 Year Manufacturer Warranty
If you're interested in reading the most thorough review I've ever read on this camera, go take a look at this dpreview.com article. I can't begin to match a review like that, so this quick glimpse at my experience with the camera is meant to be anecdotal in nature. The dpreview.com article has all the gory technical details, and much of it is over my head. :worried: I just know that I love this camera, and for the first time since using my original Rebel 35mm camera, I feel like I'm not making any compromises by shooting digital. That's a nice feeling to have!
Where to Buy
The price point of the Rebel is simply amazing - I paid $1300 CAN for my Canon G2 a little over a year ago, and for only $300 CAN more you can buy a Rebel from a local store - not that I did mind you, because it was cheaper for me to order it when I was in the US. :wink: The Rebel's MSRP is $999 USD for the camera plus a 18-55mm lens, or $899 for the camera body alone. It's a no-brainer to get the body+lens package, because the lens is worth far more than $99 USD alone. Interested in buying a Rebel Digital EOS? State Street Direct [Affiliate] has competitive pricing, and you'll be supporting this site if you buy from them.
And That's a Wrap!
I sound like a giddy school girl whenever I talk about my Rebel - I haven't been this pleased with a purchase I've made in a very long time. I've taken it with me to show to my friends when I go out, which is something I'd normally only do with Pocket PCs. :roll: If you've ever wanted to step up to a prosumer-level camera, I heartily recommend the Canon Digital Rebel EOS - it's one of the best technology purchases I've ever made.
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12-01-2003, 06:09 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 450
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I use this camera's daddy, the 10D, and absolutely love it. (The 10D and Rebel share alot of their guts, if I'm not mistaken.) Absolutely no comparison to the "consumer" level devices that are out there. I too have been amazed at the life of Canon's BP-511 battery packs. I spent a week driving through New England this fall for vacation, so I purchased an extra battery and packed my charger too. I never even had to change the battery, and I took a TON of photos.
- Aaron
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12-01-2003, 06:15 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 41
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I have had my Digital Rebel since late Septmeber and echo Jason's thoughts completely. This is at least the 7th digital camera that I have owned in the last few years and it comes very close to my 10D in image quality and features, but has much more bang for the buck. Cobined with a new Canon i9100 photo printer, I can get better 13x19 prints after a few minutes in Photoshop than I ever could spending hours in the darkroom. Hats of to Canon on another great camera... :clap:
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12-01-2003, 06:31 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,186
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Very interesting camera. One question - can this thing take lenses from a Canon 35mm SLR? I bought my wife an Elan II with a 75-300mm lens a few years ago, and it would be nice if I didn't have to buy a new one...
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12-01-2003, 06:34 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 268
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Ahh, I wish I had money. Looks awesome. Too bad I blew my last $1,000 on an XDA II.
Maybe I'll put it on my Christmas list. Yeah..right. 
-arebelspy
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12-01-2003, 06:34 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,041
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I first want to get an S50 for those situations where an SLR is overkill, then probably the 10D. I'm not sure about the plastic body of the Rebel though I've heard great things from people who own them.
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12-01-2003, 06:46 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 450
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Surgical Snack
One question - can this thing take lenses from a Canon 35mm SLR? I bought my wife an Elan II with a 75-300mm lens a few years ago, and it would be nice if I didn't have to buy a new one... |
It uses the same lenses as all the Canon EOS cameras. (The Elan II is an EOS series.) So yes, it will use the same lens.
- Aaron
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12-01-2003, 06:49 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 147
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Surgical Snack
One question - can this thing take lenses from a Canon 35mm SLR?
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I believe that this is in the EOS line of cameras, and I believe that all of their lenses are interchangeable. I could be mistaken, however.
Edit: Apparently I am a hair too slow on the responses with Fitaly. I guess some practice is in order.
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12-01-2003, 06:56 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,060
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I realize that it's pretty hard to compare traditional film to megapixels, but is there a rough comparison between the print resolution you can get with 6 megapixels? Would you say that's roughly equal to 400ASA film?
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12-01-2003, 06:58 PM
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Linear Mode
