Canon EOS 350D Digital RebelCanon makes an impressive update to their wildly popular "Digital Rebel."!<<User Report :(Previous) | (Next): CMOS Versus CCD & What's It All Mean?>> Page 4:DesignReview First Posted: 3/23/2003, updated: 6/4/2005 |
Design
Following in the mighty footsteps of the previous Canon EOS Digital Rebel (300D), the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT (350D) offers the same excellent capabilities as its predecessor, but with increased resolution and more detailed user control. The EOS 350D boasts a large 8.0-megapixel (effective) CMOS sensor, which captures image resolutions as high as 3,456 x 2,304 pixels. Like the original Digital Rebel, the Rebel XT offers the same EF lens mount compatible with the full range of EF and EF-S lenses. The EOS 350D looks a lot like the film-based EOS models with which it shares its name, with just a few design tweaks here and there. Photographers already accustomed to EOS film cameras will find the transition to digital much easier with this model, as the camera's control layout is very similar. With a weight of some 19.7 ounces (552 grams) or so with the battery, flash card, or lens, the EOS 350D is a hair lighter than the 300D. The EOS 350D is also smaller than the 300D, measuring 5.0 x 3.7 x 2.5 inches (127 x 94 x 64 millimeters).
The front of the camera features the EF and EF-S compatible lens mount. On the outside edge of the lens mount is the red dot for lining up standard EF lenses, as well as a white square, corresponding to the same alignment icon on the new EF-S lenses. There's also the lens release button, a depth of field preview button (on the lower left of the lens mount as viewed from the rear), and the redeye reduction lamp (the frosted window at upper left in the view above). On the front of the hand grip is the sensor for the IR remote. From this view, you can also see the camera's Shutter button, which angles down from the top panel.
The top of the camera features the Shutter button, Mode dial, Main dial, and Power switch. The pop-up flash compartment is just behind the lens. The top of the camera also contains a hot shoe for mounting an external flash unit. The hot shoe has the usual trigger terminal in the center, as well as four other contacts for interfacing to Canon EX Speedlite flash units, and a hole for a locking pin to prevent rotation of the speedlight. Fixed neck strap eyelets are located on both sides of the top panel as well.
On the hand grip side of the camera, toward the rear of the handgrip is a large door which slides back and swings out to reveal the CompactFlash slot (which supports Type-I and Type-II cards, including the IBM MicroDrive, as well as the latest memory cards that use the FAT32 file system). Inside the compartment, underneath the CompactFlash slot is a small, black eject button for removing the card. At the bottom of the panel is a slot for the DC coupler cord (for the optional AC power adapter), beneath a small plastic cover.
The opposite side of the camera features a hinged rubber flap covering the digital (USB), Video Out, and Wired Remote Control sockets. This picture also shows the Depth of Field Preview button (bottom) and Flash Pop-up button (top) on the side of the lens mount a little more clearly.
The rear panel of the EOS 350D is home to the bulk of the camera's controls, as well as the large, bright LCD screen and smaller LCD data readout panel. Lining the left side of the LCD monitor are several buttons related to menus and playback, including the Menu, Info, Jump, Playback, and Erase buttons. To the right of the LCD monitor is the Four-Way Arrow pad and Set button, for navigating through menus. A small LED (labeled "CF") rests below the arrow pad, and illuminates whenever the camera is accessing the CompactFlash card. Just above the Four-Way Arrow pad are the AV/Exposure Compensation, Drive Mode, and LCD Illuminator/DPOF buttons. On the top right corner of the optical viewfinder is the diopter adjustment dial, recessed slightly to minimize accidental changes. Finally, the top right corner of the rear panel features the AE/FE Lock / Index and AF Point / Enlarge buttons. The rear-panel data readout conveys a wealth of information about the current status of the camera and its settings. It has been changed to match some of the new settings, like drive mode options, metering mode options, and Custom Functions.
The very flat bottom of the camera reveals the metal tripod mount, as well as the main NB-2LH Lithium Ion battery chamber cover. The main battery compartment cover is removable, necessary when installing the optional portrait grip on the camera. A small latch lever at the outside edge of the battery chamber cover unlocks it so that it may be opened. Also inside the compartment is the slot for the CR2016 3V battery that keeps the camera settings in memory when the main battery dies. The battery compartment cover is far enough from the tripod socket that you should be able to swap batteries without removing the camera from your tripod mount. The large surface area of the camera's bottom provides a stable mounting surface for use with a tripod, even with fairly large lenses attached.
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