Canon EOS Rebel XT

Model Design / Appearance
The Rebel XT looks like a slightly shrunken regular SLR. At 4.98 x 3.71 x 2.63 inches (48.6 in³) and 17.1 oz, it's significantly smaller and lighter than the original Rebel and most digital SLRs on the market; it's almost small enough to be mistaken for a compact. The Rebel XT appears miniature when contrasted with the 5.7 x 4.2 x 2.9 inch (69.4 in³), 24.3 oz EOS-20D and the Nikon D70, which spans 5.5 x 4.4 x 3.1 inches (75.02 in³) and weighs 21 oz. Although the XT is crafted to be lightweight and easily transportable, the camera retains an SLR feel. Some users with exceptionally large hands may find the camera a little small for comfort, though this can be rectified by adding the BG-E3 battery grip, which offers extended battery life as well as added stability and substance.

The Rebel XT is shaped into a condensed SLR form that will come across as delicate or frail to some users accustomed to dense SLRs. Shipping in both black and silver casings, the polycarbonate chassis includes some stainless steel elements but remains largely a plastic composite. While I certainly wouldn't call it a 'professional' feel, I wouldn't call it "cheap" either.

Size / Portability
While some question the durability and feel of the Rebel XT, portability is an area where the camera shines. Measuring 4.98 x 3.71 x 2.63 inches and weighing just 17.1 oz, the Rebel XT is ideal for the traveling user or vacationing enthusiast. 15% smaller and 10% lighter than its predecessor, the XT is designed to provide prosumer imagery in a portable package, setting a new standard for mobility within the compact SLR ranks. The camera’s versatility is expressed with added surface area and substance provided by the additional battery grip. The compact "base with additional parts" design philosophy used by Canon seems ideal for the frontrunner in the expanding consumer SLR genre.

Original EOS-300D Digital Rebel - EOS-350D Digital Rebel XT

Handling Ability
For control and handling, more casual users will appreciate the camera’s lightweight feel, condensed form, and comfortable grip, although SLR traditionalists and professional photographers accustomed to shooting with a 20D or 1Ds Mark II will certainly feel a bit of a void. Other than the Pentax *istDS, the Rebel XT seems to be the only DSLR on the market that can be controlled with a single hand (though obviously not recommended, the potential is always welcome). The minimized shape and sloping curves of the XT’s body are comfortably sculpted, producing an organic form that is easily manageable by any level user and effortless to control. With the application of additional manual features and an approachable, simplified interface, users can shoot "right out of the box" or grow into the full extent of control.

Menu
All menu settings are visible on the 1.8-inch LCD panel on the rear of the camera. Buttons for activating them are logically organized. Despite my experience with the very different EOS-20D, I was able to quickly discern their proper functions. The major difference in the XT from the EOS-20D is that there is no LCD panel on the top of the camera body. Settings that are in the top panel in the EOS-20D are in the top display of the XT, just above the main LCD screen on the back of the camera. I find this to be a significant advantage. When I'm working with the camera, especially when it's on a tripod, it's the back I see. I often have to angle the camera to view the top. No such problem with the Rebel XT. I could live with that - very happily. Contents of the menu are categorized into 5 generalized sections: 2 shooting divisions, 2 setup groupings and a playback subsection.

Ease of Use
Although much of the transformation in the Canon Rebel XT has been applied to enhance performance, Canon has made the decision to keep the model grounded in consumer accessibility. Initially designed as a virtual "point-and-shoot SLR," a majority of the EOS Digital Rebel’s original configuration was centered on automatic assistance and an intuitive interface. With the popularity and success of the original Rebel, it makes sense for Canon to continue to appeal to that group of users. Fortunately, additional user control has been incorporated to broaden the camera’s appeal without sacrificing the Rebel‘s simplistic interface and "casual consumer" audience. In the XT, Canon has successfully fused two traditionally disparate elements, blending ease of use with manual control. The result is a truly versatile, introductory DSLR that can help users grow and develop photographically.