Professional newspaper photographer loves this camera
Written: Mar 10 '05
Product Rating:
Ease of Use:
Durability:
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Photo Quality:
Shutter Lag
Pros: Maximum bang for the buck: Versatile lens, compatible with major computer systems/all Canon accessories
Cons: Depth of field won't go quite as shallow as I'd like (although goes plenty deep)
The Bottom Line: For truly professional-quality photos, the Canon Digital Rebel with 18-55mm lens is the best value available -- but you'll need an additional flash for really good quality.
nativegirl's Full Review: Canon Digital Rebel / EOS-300D Digital Camera with...
My husband and I are professional food columnists. We style the food, too -- everything but click the shutter, until now. We got tired of hiring out the photography simply because we didn't have professional-quality equipment.
We researched several brands and models, but the Canon Digital Rebel (the kit that includes the 18-55mm lens, which can only be purchased as part of this kit) consistently stood out from the crowd. It offered everything we need for our work -- excellent image quality, compatibility with all major computer systems and software, compatibility with every lens and flash Canon makes, and a starter lens that offers the shallow depth of field we need for our specialized photography (but which also goes plenty deep enough for ordinary hobby photography).
Quite simply, the quality of the images -- the focus, depth, light, everything -- is better with the Canon Digital Rebel than it has been during the years we have had experienced professional photographers shooting with much more expensive professional Nikons, lots of lenses and studio lights. It's amazing, but true -- and the photographers agree! (By the way, we don't use the built-in flash, but instead invested in a Speedlite 420 EX flash for $190 that swivels 180 degrees. By using natural light and bouncing this flash, we have beautifully lit photos.)
The Digital Rebel is marketed as a "starter" digital camera, but we have yet to find many limitations on what you can do with it. (The included lens has a nice range of depth of field -- not *quite* as shallow as would be ideal for our purposes, but more than I ever would have asked from a single lens.) If you want truly professional-quality images, the additional flash is mandatory. But still, after buying a memory card (Sandisk 256MB, $35 with shipping) the whole setup cost just over $1,100. (Canon offered a $115 rebate on the camera and flash, and Amazon kicked in a $150 gift certificate, so it wound up being even less.) That's more bang for the buck than any other digital camera on the market.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 899 This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Solid Enough for a Professional
Outstanding Image Quality: 10.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor with DIGIC III Image Processor. Auto Lighting Optimizer: The EOS Rebel XS's Auto Lighting Optimi...More at Amazon Marketplace
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