Canon EOS Rebel XS

Model Design / Appearance (6.00)
The Rebel XS is almost identical to the XSi in terms of design, with many of the same advantages and disadvantages. One improvement comes as a result of having a slightly smaller screen than the XSi. The added real estate allows for larger labels and buttons, as well as more space between them. This helps prevent the somewhat cluttered look of XSi.

The XS is constructed of light plastic, making it feel slightly less sturdy than one would hope for. It also has its predecessor’s tendency to rattle when shaken, which is a bit worrying.

The XS grip is also on the small side, and will suit those with delicate hands, but anyone with large or long fingers may have trouble. The XS grip has also changed from the traditional rubber to textured plastic. Over the course of our review, we found this less comfortable than previous models, and slightly more prone to slipping.

Size / Portability (7.75)
The XS is 5.8 inches wide, 3.8 inches high and 2.4 inches deep (126.1 x 97.5 x 61.9 mm) without a lens. The body weighs 15.9 oz  (450 grams), ever so slightly less than the XSi. As with all SLRs, this is not a camera you can casually throw in a purse or pocket. However, it is on the small side for its class, and has a lightweight body, which makes it slightly easier to lug around.

Handling Ability (5.50)
The Rebel XS has a petite grip for an SLR, lending itself to those with smaller hands. However, because it’s so light, it doesn’t require as much pressure to hold securely as some other cameras, so the grip is large enough.  The shift from rubber to textured plastic is saddening, as the plastic doesn’t offer nearly as firm a handhold. One new addition is a strip of textured plastic along the left side of the camera. This seems to be designed to help hold the camera when using the Live View mode.

The XS grip is more suited to those with small hands

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (7.25)
In contrast to some other brands, such as Nikon, the XS primarily uses a system whereby each major function used in shooting is assigned to a unique button, rather than navigating an on-screen menu. This equates to a button for ISO, AF point, exposure compensation, white balance, shooting mode, metering, auto focus mode, picture style, playback, delete, menu and display options. Pressing these bring up the appropriate sub-menus, which are navigated with the four-way pad and the Set button. While this leads to a slightly more cluttered body than some of the competition, it also allows for fewer button presses to control each setting.

Canon’s entry-level SLRs put their single control dial just behind the shutter trigger, so you use your pointer finger to change aperture, shutter and exposure settings. This can take a bit of getting used to if you’re used to Nikon and Olympus’ method of putting the control dial by your thumb, but it is entirely up to personal preference whether one position is better than the other. The control dial on this model suffers from the same problem as some of the other Canons, namely it feels flimsy .

The mode dial turns quite easily, but not so easily as to make choosing the correct setting difficult. The dial does not rotate a full 360°, instead only turning  three quarters of the way around. The disadvantage to this system  is that, if you’re at one end of the mode dial, you have to shift all the way back to get to other end, whereas Nikon’s preferred method allows you to rotate in a full circle. The advantage lies in being able to identify your position on the dial by touch alone, as you know your absolute position on the continuum of settings.

Controls are clearly marked and easy to use.

Ease of Use (5.25)
The Canon menu system is straightforward to navigate, clearly labeled and easy to read. The tabbed menus are grouped logically for the most part, and each one is only a single screen long, which handily avoids having to scroll through pages of settings. However, some settings that are quite important are buried deep in the labyrinthine Custom Functions menu. Options like noise reduction or Live View auto focus are tucked away where new users will fear to tread. Luckily, these can be added to customizable My Menu tab, which lets you get to them far more easily.