The
Canon EOS Digital Rebel/EOS 300D is the firstaffordable
digital SLR camera; and this is something of which Canon ought to be very
proud.
Sold as a kit that includes an 18 to 55mm lens, the EOS Digital Rebel
is priced under $1,600 CDN, between $900 and $1,000 in the United States,
and at approximately 1,200€ in Europe; a price lower than any other
digital SLR camera.
The
Canon Digital Rebel, or EOS 300D — its European name — provides
most functions and modes found on non-professional digital SLR bodies.
The Digital Rebel's has smooth curves and is obviously very well finished.
The camera feels quite durable; and is lighter to carry than most digital
SLRs. Similarly, it also has simpler external controls.
The
grip of the Digital Rebel is topped by the shutter release, which
is tilted towards the front of the camera, and by the Main Dial,
a control that serves to select apertures, shutter speeds, ISO (sensor
sensitivity), white balance and AF point.
Nearby is the Mode Dial, the Power Switch; and a round button
that is used to choose the Drive Mode:
Single
shooting mode captures 1 photo every time the shutter release is
pressed.
Continuous
takes up to 4 shots at 2.5 frames per second at shutter speeds faster
than 1/250 second. After the burst, the images get stored on the
memory card and shooting isn't possible until there is enough space
for at least 1 more photo in the camera's memory buffer.
Self-timer/Remote
Control activates the Self-timer which provides a 10 second
delay; or allows the use of the optional Remote Control unit
(RC-5) to release the shutter from a distance of up to 5 m (16.4
ft) from the front of the camera.
As is usual
with Canon cameras, the Mode Dial is composed of 2 distinct areas
separated by the Full Auto shooting mode:
The
green rectangle on the dial identifies the Green Mode, the
Digital Rebel's fully automatic shooting mode. Set to this mode,
the camera handles everything, including popping up the flash if
needed. Similarly, the menus are simplified, limiting the complexity
of the camera. ISO, exposure compensation and white balance are
set automatically, and only the JPEG image format can be used.
Below the
Auto mode is the Basic Zone which encompasses a variety of scene
modes that operate much like the Auto mode:
Portrait
mode selects a wide aperture to blur the background of the subject.
The pop-up flash is automatically controlled.
Landscape
mode selects small apertures to maximize depth of field. Prevents
the release of the flash.
Close-up
mode works to balance the depth of field and the shutter speed,
but with an overall preference for depth of field. This mode also
controls the release of the pop-up flash.
Sports
mode tries to optimize for the fastest shutter speed possible to
freeze action. The pop-up flash cannot be released, and the continuous
shooting mode is activated.
Night
Scene mode uses a longer exposure and flash to capture
a well-lit foreground and a visible background. The flash is automatically
opened and only the Single or Self-timer/Remote control drive modes
are available.
Flash
Off mode prevents the flash from being opened automatically
and can be used for interior shots, or long exposures.
The modes
above the Auto mode are part of what Canon refers to as the Creative
Zone:
Set
to Program AE the Digital Rebel selects the aperture and
shutter speed. However, the user can choose alternative combinations
of aperture and shutter speeds by turning the Main Dial next to
the shutter release. With this mode, all camera settings (ISO, white
balance, exposure compensation, focus point, etc.) can be accessed.
Similarly, the flash is manually controlled, and released if needed
using a small button on the front left side of the camera.
Shutter
Priority AE lets the user choose the shutter speed while the
camera selects a matching aperture. In the viewfinder display, the
aperture value blinks until an appropriate shutter speed is selected,
indicating a correct exposure.
Aperture
Priority AE lets the user select the aperture to use, while
the camera matches the aperture to an appropriate shutter speed.
Here again, the shutter speed displayed in the viewfinder will blink
on and off until the aperture coincides with the shutter speed.
A depth of field preview is available by pressing on a button located
on the lower left side of the lens mount of the body, beneath the
larger lens release button.
The
Manual mode gives control over both aperture and shutter speed.
Shutter speeds are selected with the Main dial by itself, and apertures
with the Main Dial while holding the exposure compensation button
down. An exposure scale (±2EV) is displayed to indicate over
or under exposure.
Automatic
Depth of Field AE works to achieve the greatest depth of field
by measuring focus at all 7 focusing points available to the camera,
and selecting aperture and shutter speed settings that will capture
a sharp image for both the nearest and farthest selected points
measured in the frame.
The
back of the Digital Rebel provides a 1.8 inch, 118,000 pixel LCD monitor
and an LCD information display directly above it, while the camera controls
are arranged on both sides.
On the right side, the Digital Rebel has an exposure compensation button
near the top (± 2EV in 0.3EV increments), the same button that
serves to change apertures in the Manual mode, and the compensation is
indicated on the upper LCD display.
The
LCD display serves as the primary interface between the user and the Digital
Rebel.
The display
shows all the current settings of the camera, including settings for aperture
and shutter speed, white balance, image format and size, exposure compensation,
ISO, etc., in addition to indicating the number of photos that can be
captured, the battery state and the shooting mode.
Moreover,
the display can be illuminated at the touch of a button to its right,
and the light stays on for 5 seconds. The LCD display is also used to
see adjustments made to the exposure compensation, the white balance,
and the sensitivity of the camera.
ISO and
white balance controls are both part of the 4-direction control to the
right of the LCD monitor. White balance is selected by pressing the down
arrow while rotating the Main Dial; ISO with the up arrow in combination
with the Main Dial.
At the centre of the 4-direction control the SET button is used to select
specific menu items, and confirm settings. While to the lower right of
the group of buttons, a small red LED is used to indicate memory card
activity.
Completing
the controls located on the right side of the LCD monitor, 2 buttons (labelled
and
on the back and
and
on top) provide functions in both the recording and playback modes. In
playback, these provide control over the way images are displayed on the
screen; while in the recording modes, they serve for AE and FE Lock (Exposure
or Flash exposure Lock), and Focus point selection, respectively.
Calls
up the menus that correspond to the shooting mode in use. (See
the Characteristics section of the review for more information).
Displays
major camera settings on the LCD monitor, as shown at left.
Serves
to jump groups of 10 images displayed as thumbnails on the monitor.
Starts
the Playback mode.
Erases
one or all images on a memory card.
The
viewfinder of an SLR camera is of critical importance. The Digital Rebel
provides a bright TTL viewfinder with 7 focus points marked as black rectangles.
As the camera auto focuses, small red LEDs flash at the centre of the
areas that have been selected by the system as focus points.
Below the image coming through the lens, the viewfinder provides information
for shutter speed (125), aperture
(5.6), exposure compensation —
or in the manual mode the exposure resulting from the current selection
of aperture and shutter speed — the number of photos that can fit
in the camera's buffer (4) and focus
lock.
Clearly,
although the Digital Rebel offers fewer features than considerably more
expensive digital SLRs, it still has the excellent ergonomic design of
most SLR cameras, including an optical TTL viewfinder that allows precise
manual focusing — something that still eludes electronic finders
— and offers access to Canon's range of lenses. Simply put, the
Digital Rebel is a breakthrough camera for amateur photographers.
Introduction
and 
on the back and 
and 
on top) provide functions in both the recording and playback modes. In
playback, these provide control over the way images are displayed on the
screen; while in the recording modes, they serve for AE and FE Lock (Exposure
or Flash exposure Lock), and Focus point selection, respectively.
