Digital Camera News
Canon Announces New Low-Cost SLR
June 10, 2008 - Cost-conscious consumers have another camera to consider with the impending introduction of the entry-level Canon Rebel XS digital SLR, announced today in Japan and due to ship in the U.S. sometime this summer. The XS is a slightly stripped-down version of the XSi, which shipped in April and scored well versus similarly-priced models in its Digitalcamerainfo.com review. 'The XS is essentially about a clone of the XSi physically, especially from the front,' according to Chuck Westfall, technical information advisor for Canon USA. Significant differences arise in four key areas.
Take a photo tour of the new Canon Digital Rebel XS
• Resolution: The XS offers 10.1-megapixel resolution versus 12.2 for the XSi.
• LCD: The rear screen measures 2.5 inches on the XS; it's 3 inches on the XSi.
• Autofocus: The XS uses 7 autofocus points, the XSi offers 9.
• Price: While the exact price won't be revealed until the official U.S. product announcement July 8, Westfall says it will be 'about $200 lower than the XSi.' The XSi currently lists for $780 (body only) and $830 with the 35-70mm kit lens – that puts the XS at approximately $580 body only, $630 with lens.
Like the XSi, the XS will offer Live View on the rear LCD while shooting, though our reviewer was less than thrilled with the performance of this feature on the XSi. The new camera also shares support for SDHC memory cards, but lacks spot metering and the Display-Off sensor featured on the XSi.
One XS feature is actually a step up from the XSi. In what Westfall describes as 'a first for EOS cameras,' the XS supports an unlimited burst rate of 3 frames per second until the memory card is full. The XTi was limited to 27 sequential shots, and even the XSi is capped at 53.
The precise ship date for the U.S. launch will be announced on July 8, though we're told it's likely to arrive earlier rather than later in the hot summer sales season. As for the existing Rebel XTi, it should disappear from store shelves at about the same time the XS arrives.
Comparing the new XS with the XTi it's replacing, the image resolution and LCD screen stay the same, but the XS gets an image-stabilized lens (the same kit lens as the XSi), while the XTi kit lens didn't offer image stabilization. The XS processor steps up to the DIGIC III, which should translate into improved image quality and faster processing than the XTi, which uses a DIGIC II chip.
The XS offers Live View on the rear LCD while shooting, a feature the XTi lacks. It also delivers 50 percent better battery life than the XTi, which is not surprising, since the XS battery is twice the size of its predecessor. Even with a bigger battery, though, the XS weighs 2.5 ounches less than the XTi.
The combination of bargain price (particularly with an IS lens) and fast DIGIC III processing make this a camera to watch. Until we get it into the labs, though, we won't know if it represents a terrific deal or wretched XS.
UPDATE: Canon has clarified its timing for release of the XS in the US. No official ship date has been announced. This information, along with final pricing, will come in July. While we expect to see the XS on store shelves during the summer months, it could ship as late as the second half of the year.
Latest News
& Reviews
-
09-Feb-2012
Panasonic Lumix ZS15 First Impressions Review
Even the lesser of the new Panasonic travel zooms, the ZS15 could be a great value. Even without hot-button extras, it has almost all of the elements we look for in a travel zoom. Read More...
-
08-Feb-2012
Nikon D800 First Impressions Review
We’ve taken the Nikon D800 for a spin here at CP+ 2012 in Japan, and we came away impressed with the camera’s capabilities, especially at a sub-$3000 price point. Read on for our full impressions of Nikon’s latest DSLR. Read More...
Top Rated Digital Cameras
-
Digital SLRs
Point & Shoots
-
$1,049.951Canon EOS 60D
The Canon EOS 60D is a top-notch camera in terms of performance, handling and flexibility. However, the performance of the kit lens leaves something to be desired. Read full 7-part review
$1,049.95
$462.251Panasonic Lumix FZ150
Excellent image quality, speedy performance, and a great design add up to the best superzoom that has ever graced our labs. That distinction seems to change hands every week, but trust us when we say that the FZ150 is a truly great camera. Read full 16-part review
$462.25 -
$589.952Nikon D5100
The D5100 is the latest entry-level DSLR from Nikon, with full 1080/30p video, an articulated LCD, and the same image sensor as the D7000. It lacks an internal focus motor, but we found it produced some of the most accurate colors we've seen yet. Read full 7-part review
$589.95
$378.892Canon PowerShot SX40 HS
Canon's SX30 got a CMOS makeover that resulted in the SX40 HS, an impressive ultrazoom that captures beautiful shots in almost any scenario. Read full 16-part review
$378.89 -
$1,329.953Canon EOS 7D
The 18-megapixel Canon 7D delivers high resolution stills and full HD video in a well-built camera designed for serious photographers without the desire (or budget) for a full-frame model. Read full 7-part review
$1,329.95
$428.003Sony Cyber-shot HX100V
This professionally-geared ultrazoom offers some of the best color accuracy we've ever seen. It's a shame the other scores weren't quite so strong. Read full 16-part review
$428.00 -
$1,199.004Nikon D7000
The Nikon D7000 is a powerhouse camera at an excellent price. It offers a huge range of features that will make shooting quicker and easier for the experienced shooter, with lots of customizable options and quick control access. Read full 7-part review
$1,199.00
$362.594Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ47
Panasonic resists the urge to cram more megapixels and more focal length into their latest ultrazoom. The FZ47 instead focuses on image quality and features, resulting in an incredibly strong camera that we loved shooting with. Read full 16-part review
$362.59 -
$699.005Sony Alpha SLT-A55V
The SLT-A55 is a well performing SLR, with a wide ISO range, good color and relatively low noise. . Read full 7-part review
$699.00
$429.005Canon PowerShot S100
Canon's PowerShot S100 improves on the popular S95 and takes its place at the top of the point-and-shoot food chain. Read full 16-part review
$429.00
Find the right digital camera for you.
