Full review completed for Canon Digital Rebel XT
By
Dave Etchells
(Monday, June 6, 2005 - 19:07 EDT)
We've finally posted our full review of the Canon Digital Rebel XT, based on a full production model.
The good news for those of you who've been waiting to place their orders is that this is one fine little camera! (Although its tiny handgrip still leaves me infuriated every time I pick it up.) In terms of functionality and picture quality, our testing revealed a camera that is a significant upgrade from the original Digital Rebel in virtually every parameter, yet Canon managed to bring it out at the same original list price as its predecessor. (The original Rebel remains in the line at a reduced price, making it an even better bargain that it was to begin with.) Despite its advanced feature set, the Canon Rebel XT manages to span the full range of user needs, from the pure point & shoot user interested only in "green zone" operation to the professional looking for an inexpensive second body. As such, it's a nearly ideal option for families or other situations in which users of greatly varying experience levels need to share the same camera.
While I found shooting with the camera an infuriating exercise in frustration and crunched fingertips, women who picked up the Rebel XT immediately loved how it felt in their hands. My advice to ham-handed shooters like myself would be to pick up the optional battery grip. While not doing much for horizontal-format shooting, the battery grip makes for a very comfortable experience when shooting vertical-format images, and generally gives the camera a better sense of balance, at least in my experience.
All in all, the Canon Digital Rebel XT is a technological tour de force, delivered in a tiny, attractive package, and with a set of user controls that are equally approachable by novices and professional shooters. Highly recommended, and a shoo-in as a Dave's Pick. Read our full Canon Digital Rebel XT review for all the details!
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