Highly
recommended Canon digital cameras
Canon
EOS 350D / Digital Rebel XT
8.2 Megapixels digital camera
Press
Release:
Canon
upgrades world’s best selling digital SLR (from
Canon EOS 300D to EOS 350D)
Amstelveen,
The Netherlands, 17 February, 2005
- Canon, a leader in photographic and imaging technology,
today upgrades the EOS 300D with the 8.0 Megapixel, 3
frame per second EOS 350D Digital.
The launch completes a refresh of the entire digital EOS
line-up and confirms Canon’s commitment to digital
SLR research and development.
“The
EOS 300D kick started the digital SLR revolution, becoming
the best selling model of all time, ” the EOS 350D
Digital will now take over, playing a major role in Canon’s
digital SLR strategy,” said Mogens Jensen, Head
of Canon Consumer Imaging Europe. “Canon predicts
the D-SLR market will double in size by the end of 2006.”
The
EOS 350D Digital features a newly developed, second generation,
extremely low noise APS-C size 8.0 Megapixel CMOS sensor
– the fourth new CMOS sensor from Canon in just
twelve months. It is powered by the same DIGIC II image
processor found in Canon’s professional series D-SLR
cameras, and features 3 frame per second, 14 frame burst
operation, USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface, simultaneous RAW
and Large JPEG writing and 0.2 second start up time. The
camera is more than 10% lighter and 25% smaller by volume
than the EOS 300D. It is available in both black and silver
finishes.
“The
camera combines ease of use with many of the same compelling
technologies found in Canon’s professional series
EOS cameras, chosen by more than 70% of pro photographers
at the 2004 Athens Olympics, ” observed Jensen.
“For the first time, every camera in the EOS digital
range now incorporates a Canon original CMOS sensor and
Canon DIGIC II processor.”
In
terms of speed and resolution, Canon now has the leading
performance camera in every D-SLR segment; all launched
since January last year:
EOS-1Ds
Mark II - 16.7 Megapixel full frame 35mm sensor, 4 fps
EOS-1D Mark II - 8.2 Megapixel APS-H size sensor, 8.5
fps
EOS 20D - 8.2 Megapixel APS-C size sensor, 5.0 fps
EOS 350D Digital - 8.0 Megapixel APS-C size sensor, 3.0
fps.

Target
user
With
plain language menus, intuitive controls and default settings
chosen to reflect general every-day use, the EOS 350D
Digital is designed to appeal to digital still compact
users looking to expand their creativity, and film SLR
users who have been waiting for 8.0 Megapixel performance
at this price point. It will be available as body only
and in kit form with the new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II
lens.
Improvements
over the EOS 300D
The
new CMOS sensor and high performance DIGIC II performance
lead a number of improvements to the EOS 300D. Other advances
include E-TTL II distance-linked flash metering for easy,
consistent and precise flash exposures. Users can now
select between three focus modes: One-Shot AF, AI SERVO
and AI Focus. Writing to memory card is 3.5 times faster
and the interface is upgraded to USB 2.0 Hi-Speed for
fast image downloads. Mirror lock-up and 2nd curtain flash
have also been added.
The
camera now features the same Monochrome mode found on
the EOS 20D, allowing users to shoot in black & white
with a range of filter effects. White Balance correction
of both blue/amber and magenta/green bias is available
to ±9 levels and WB bracketing is extended to include
the magenta/green bias direction. Digital Photo Professional
RAW image processing software – the same professional
workflow software supplied with Canon’s €8,000
EOS-1Ds Mark II, has been added to the standard supplied
software.
Low
noise sensor and precision optics
The
CMOS sensor features redesigned pixel sites, with improved
capacity to isolate any residual charge remaining after
the pixel site is reset. This is then subtracted from
the exposure to suppress any random pattern noise. Improvements
in image quality are particularly noticeable with long
shutter exposures and high ISO settings, and result in
more even rendering of uniform surfaces, such as blue
skies. The low noise of the second generation CMOS sensor
delivers clean images from ISO 100 through to ISO 1600.
The
APS-C size sensor gives the camera a 1.6x magnification
compared to 35mm cameras. The camera’s EF-S lens
mount works seamlessly with all of the more than 60 Canon
EF lenses – the world’s largest interchangeable
lens system. It is also compatible with the four EF–S
lenses developed for Canon’s APS-C format digital
SLRs (the EOS 20D and EOS 300D) including the new
EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens.
Faster
processing for better results
Underpinning
the camera's performance is Canon's high-speed DIGIC II
(Digital Image Core) processor, as found in Canon’s
professional series EOS-1D Mark II and EOS-1Ds Mark II.
DIGIC II is Canon’s second generation image processor,
purpose built to handle the complex algorithms required
for maximum image quality; optimally processing functions
such as white balance and colour rendition. By integrating
key functions onto a single processor, DIGIC II delivers
superb quality images without trading camera responsiveness.
"Digital image quality is dependent on three factors:
lens quality, sensor performance and image processing
capability,” said Jensen. “Canon is a developer,
designer and manufacturer of the key components in each
of the three critical technology areas: lens, CMOS sensor
and image processor. It is the leadership position in
each of these core technology areas that gives the EOS
350D Digital its edge.”
Better
focusing
Focus
can now be selected between One Shot AF (for single shot
focusing), AI SERVO AF (for predictive tracking of subjects
approaching at up to 50kph up to 10m away ) and AI Focus
AF (switches automatically between One Shot AF and AI
SERVO AF when subject movement is detected). This improves
on the EOS 300D by providing direct selection of the three
focusing modes. For more flexible focusing, AF point selection
is now possible with the cross keys as well as from the
main dial. Full time manual override is available with
all EF Auto Focus lenses, while a new Precision Matte
screen gives a brighter viewfinder image for easier, more
accurate manual focusing.
Improved
flash
The
pop-up flash has a guide number of 13 and sits even higher
(95.5mm) above the optical axis than on the EOS 300D,
helping suppress red eye effect and reducing the possibility
of lens barrel shadow. Angle of coverage extends to support
wide lenses to 17mm. Flash compensation of ±2 stops
in 1/3- or 1/2- stop increments is available with both
the built-in flash and with all EX-series Speedlite flash
units.
Print
and review
Lab-quality
prints can be produced without the need for a computer
by directly connecting the EOS 350D Digital to any PictBridge
compatible photo printer via the supplied USB cable. The
new USB 2.0 Hi-Speed connection improves computer upload
times, and is also compatible with USB 1.1 and Picture
Transfer Protocol (PTP) for driverless transfers.
The
1.8" LCD is used to select and review photographs
to be printed and set print variables. During image playback,
it is possible to jump forward or back by date, by single
image, or by groups of 10 or 100 images. Review display
modes have been extended, making it possible to review
an image without overlaying any information.
High-end
exposure control
The
EOS 350D Digital retains the accurate 35 zone TTL metering
of the EOS 300D. The three metering modes (evaluative,
partial, and centre weighted average) are now manually
selectable and both exposure compensation and exposure
bracketing are available in 1/2 stop increments as well
as the 1/3 stop increments of the EOS 300D. The EOS 350D
Digital retains the popular Programmed Image Control modes
of the EOS 300D, such as Night Portrait, Sports, Close-up,
Landscape, Portrait and Flash OFF.
Shooting
adaptability
Shutter
speeds extend from 30 sec to 1/4000 sec, plus bulb and
high-speed x-sync at 1/200s. The memory card slot supports
2GB and higher CompactFlash Type I and II cards. Optional
wired or infra red wireless remote control is available.
Seven preset White Balance settings (such as cloudy, tungsten,
fluorescent, etc.) plus custom White Balance and ±3
stop White Balance Bracketing (WB-BKT) ensure that image
colours match the photographer’s recollection of
the scene.
Comprehensive
accessories, software and online access
The
EOS 350D Digital comes complete with NB-2LH battery pack,
charger, USB cable, video cable, wide embroidered anti-slip
neck strap. A new optional Battery Grip BG-E3 gives the
camera a solid and balanced pro feel, particularly when
the camera is fitted with longer lenses, and includes
a shutter release and main dial for vertical/portrait
shooting. It comes complete with one magazine that takes
6 AA batteries and another that takes two NB-2LH Li-Ion
rechargeable batteries.
Purchase
of the EOS 350D Digital entitles photographers to membership
of the CANON iMAGE GATEWAY with a 100 MB online photo
album for image uploads. As well as Digital Photo Professional
RAW image workflow software, ZoomBrowser EX 5.1 (Windows)
and ImageBrowser 5.1 (Mac) are included for handling image
file transfers between camera and computer, managing and
printing files, and preview and conversion of RAW images.
PhotoStitch is included for seamless merging of panorama
shots. Arcsoft PhotoStudio software allows artistic and
creative manipulation of images.
The
Canon EOS 350D / Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT is in Japanese
named: Canon EOS Kiss Digital N .
See
full review of Canon
EOS 350D / Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
at Digital
Photography Review (Opens in new window).
Canon
Digital Rebel XT: Compact But Full-Blooded SLR!
By Rika Susan
The
popular Canon Digital Rebel XT - the second generation
of the Rebels - is such a small SLR camera that it can
possibly be mistaken for a compact digital!
However,
once you look at some of the specifications, it is clear
that it fits squarely into the SLR league.
Apart
from actually being an SLR, there is the small (or not
so small) matter of the image sensor! Even though the
Canon Digital Rebel XT has the same megapixel rating as
the 8MP PowerShot Pro-1, its sensor is much bigger.
A
bigger sensor for the same number of pixels indicate bigger
and better pixels, promising an expanded dynamic range
and less visible noise.
How
does the Canon Digital Rebel XT compare with the original
Rebel? To start off with it is much smaller and lighter,
and its start-up time is reduced to 0.2 seconds. Similarly
the shuttter lag has been reduced, and pixels increased
by 20%.
The
Rebel XT also records at 3fps, compared to the older Rebel's
2.5 frames per second, and it has a highr pop-up flash
which should reduce the incidence of red-eye.
Of
course, what is ultimately important is the quality of
the images it produces, and in this regard the camera
has received excellent reviews. At various ISO settings
- even up to 800 or 1600 very little noise has been found,
and virtually no fringing. Daylight shots have produced
vivid color with very clear detail.
As
a consumer digital SLR it allows novices to take excellent
pictures in most basic situations on Full Auto, and in
specific situations using the scene modes such as Portrait,
Landscape, Close-up, Sports, and Night Portrait.
The
camera package includes a good manual - something often
lacking with even excellent cameras! An example: Canon
devotes a full page to the differences between the two
auto modes provided, with many answers to the questions
you may have when using a camera with so many features.
Finally,
advanced enthusiasts have access to many manual controls
and pro-level features, and will be especially pleased
about the number of interchangeable lenses available for
the Canon Digital Rebel XT.
In
fact, if your budget allows, this camera gives you the
option of more than 50 EF and EF-S Lenses and most EOS
System accessories including a dedicated Battery Grip!
For
more information visit http://www.Best-Digital-Photography.com.
Rika
Susan researches, writes, and publishes full-time
on the Web. Copyright of this article: 2005 Rika Susan.
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