Model Design / Appearance (7.0)
The shape and size of the Canon EOS Digital Rebel is similar to other film and digital film cameras on the market. The biggest difference, and the target of the most criticism, is the widespread use of plastic in the body. The Canon EOS Digital Rebel feels quite a bit lighter than most digital SLRs. Many consumers find this a positive thing in a digital camera, but those in the SLR market are more concerned with having a substantial camera to hold on to. With this in mind, the Digital Rebel has a greater appeal to both professional and general consumer markets than other SLR cameras. It has the control and quality of a professional camera, yet its sleek silver body and affordable price are attractive to the non-traditional SLR user. This style is not entirely new for Canon; the Rebel Ti film camera has a similar design.

The bottom line is that if I were trying to convince a group of people that I was a hot photographer, I would probably not choose Canon’s Rebel. Unfortunately, its cheaper appearance (though not an indicator of poor performance) doesn’t have the kind of wow effect that a chunky black SLR does.

Size / Portability (7.5)
Weighing 560 g and measuring 142 mm (w) x 99 mm (h) x 72.4 mm (d), Canon’s EOS Digital Rebel is slightly smaller than other Canon models in the EOS line. I assume that Canon did this with the aim of appealing to a slightly more general market. This size difference isn’t going to change the minds of those who are looking for a really portable camera, but it will certainly be appealing for those who are looking for an SLR but don’t want the bulk. Additionally, one must take into consideration the fact that you can remove the lens and fit the body into a narrow space if need be. This is a feature unavailable on some other high-end non-SLR cameras, such as the Fuji FinePix S7000 or Fuji FinePix S5000.

The Canon EOS Digital Rebel Kit comes with the specialized 18-55mm EF-S lens, which is surprisingly lightweight and flimsy. Compared to other Canon lenses, which are notably dense and heavy, the EF-S kit lens made me feel at times like I was playing with a toy. This is not a problem with the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5 lens that comes with the Nikon D70 kit. That said, I saw no difference in image quality from the Canon EOS Digital Rebel. In terms of portability, the kit lens is small and easy, but the delicate frame is not likely to withstand a great deal of knocking about.

Handling Ability (8.0)
The compact size of the Canon EOS Digital Rebel is very appealing in terms of handing. For someone who wants a high quality digital camera that is also quick and easy to maneuver, this one is the leader of the pack. Compared with other digital cameras on the professional end, such as the Canon 10D, Canon 1D, Nikon D100, or Nikon D70, the Canon EOS Digital Rebel is an easy camera to manage. It would also be a good choice for someone just starting to use SLR cameras. It is not obtrusive and would be the best camera to ease you into more advanced camera use. I would not classify it as a “starter” camera; its performance and quality are competitive on all levels. The overall comfort level with this camera was pretty good. It has evenly distributed weight that makes it easy to handle and hold still in many different shooting situations. In general, with a digital SLR camera you want the handling to be so good that you don’t think about it. This was the case for me with the Canon EOS Digital Rebel.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (8.5)
The control button scheme on the Canon EOS Digital Rebel is quite clever. As with any camera, ease of use will increase as one starts to really know the camera, but the Rebel is easier than many digital cameras in its class. The buttons are all slightly raised, making them easy to locate and operate quickly. The positioning of the buttons aids navigation and prevents awkward fumbling.

Although some features on the Canon EOS Digital Rebel feel rather cheap, I don’t feel the control buttons suffer from cost cuts. Although they are plastic, the buttons on the Rebel are strong and not easily knocked out of place.

I was pretty pleased with the control layout of the Canon EOS Digital Rebel. Instead of the large navigation dial used on the Canon EOS 10D, the Rebel has the four-way navigation button system (cross keys) used on many other digital cameras, which I find easier to control. Although Canon made some drastic changes to the actual body of the Rebel, Canon stuck with the tried-and-true positioning of the main control buttons and dials. The shutter button and main dial are located at the crest of the right-hand grip, allowing for quick shooting. The mode and On/Off buttons are located on the top right-hand side of the base of the Rebel, easily reached using the thumb or index finger. The buttons on the back of the camera are positioned in a way that allows you to slide your thumb around to access the buttons while still maintaining your strong grip.

The feature that I liked the most on Canon’s EOS Digital Rebel is the location of the Control Panel. With many cameras, including the Canon EOS 10D and Nikon D70, the panel is on the top of the camera, requiring you to pull the camera away and turn the nose in order to check your settings. The Control Panel on the Canon EOS Digital Rebel (called the LCD panel) is directly above the LCD screen so you can look at images and settings without moving your camera.

Menu (8.0)
The Main Menu on the Canon EOS Digital Rebel has four tabs: Shooting, Playback, Set-up 1, and Set-up 2. Shooting menu lets you adjust Image Quality (RAW, small, medium, large), Red-Eye reduction (on/off), Auto exposure Bracketing, White Balance Auto Bracketing, Beep (on/off), Custom White Balance, and Parameters (Parameters 1, 2, Adobe RGB, Set 1, 2, 3, and Set-Up). Playback menu allows you to protect and rotate your images, choose print order, auto play, review, and select review time. Set-up 1 lets you choose the number of minutes before the camera automatically shuts off (1-30 min.) and gives you the ability to Auto rotate (on/off), change the LCD Brightness (5 levels), set Date/Time, set File numbering (continuous, auto reset), and Format your CF card. Set-up 2 allows you to select one of twelve languages, choose a video system (NTSC or PAL), choose communication (Normal, PTP), clear all camera settings to default, clean the sensors, and display version information. The menus on the 300D Digital Rebel are pretty easy to navigate, making the camera friendly to both low- and high-end users.

Ease of Use (8.0)
The Canon EOS Digital Rebel falls in a gray area between hardcore digital SLR and amateur camera. It doesn’t have the hard-edged ruggedness of an SLR that you could take around the world and return with still unscathed, but it’s not going to break your arm either. For someone who is coming from Film SLR Land, this is a good camera with which to transition. Its controls and design are similar enough to both film cameras and point-and-shoots that you wouldn’t have to read the manual cover to cover to get the general idea. It would be a more difficult jump to go from a Sony DSC-P100 to the Canon EOS 10D than to the Canon EOS Digital Rebel. It’s designed to be easier, cheaper, and lighter — three features that are attractive to a broad variety of people. The ease of use on the Nikon D70 is pretty similar to the Canon EOS Digital Rebel. Both digital cameras are laid out nicely, have evenly distributed weight, and are compact enough to shoot comfortably and hold against your face. These are all qualities that many consumers look for in a solid SLR camera.