"I have read many reviews about this camera, and in many of the reviews, the reviewer have either criticized the Rebel XT for it's small size, or said the Rebel XT must not be a professional level camera because it's too cute, or too small, WTF?

Fughettaboutit! ridiculous! I just happen to like small and lightweight cameras, and I bet many people do too. Does anybody remember the classic film cameras of yore (from at least 5 years ago)? Remember how lightweight and small they were? How about a Leica rangefinder, is that not a "professional" level camera?

I hate this SUV mentality that big is better. Big is definately not better; what matters are the features on the camera that will help you take better, and more efficient photos. and this review will help shed some light on it....

I began researching this camera by reading a lot of reviews and opinions. I was set on purchasing either the Nikon D70, the Nikon D70s, or the Canon Rebel XT (EOS 350D). I was able to test out a Nikon D70, and an original Canon Rebel (EOS 300D) at an Apple store, and a Canon Rebel XT somewhere else.

I really liked how the Nikon D70 handled, and how the buttons were placed on the camera. I hated the original Canon Rebel, the menu system, and the arrow like buttons located in the back of that camera. What sold me on the Canon Rebel XT was 1) the new model Nikon D70s was only going to be a slightly upgraded model. 2) the Nikon D70s wasn't gonna be available for several months, and I didn't have time to wait. 3) Canon digital photo quality is excellent right out of the camera, and you don't need to do too much to it in photoshop--improved workflow. 4) Canon digital cameras are years ahead of Nikon. 4) the feel of the Canon Rebel XT in my hands (important).

I have been using the Rebel XT continously now for four months shooting bars, and restaurants for a magazine, as well as street stuff. Traveling as light as possible is a must for me. I really liked how this camera handles and feels. I purchased only the Rebel XT camera body as I didn't hear too many good things about the lens that came in the combination (camera and starter lens) package.

I will simply list the likes and dislikes I have with this camera.
"

    "I have read many reviews about this camera, and in many of the reviews, the reviewer have either criticized the Rebel XT for it's small size, or said the Rebel XT must not be a professional level camera because it's too cute, or too small, WTF?

Fughettaboutit! ridiculous! I just happen to like small and lightweight cameras, and I bet many people do too. Does anybody remember the classic film cameras of yore (from at least 5 years ago)? Remember how lightweight and small they were? How about a Leica rangefinder, is that not a "professional" level camera?

I hate this SUV mentality that big is better. Big is definately not better; what matters are the features on the camera that will help you take better, and more efficient photos. and this review will help shed some light on it....

I began researching this camera by reading a lot of reviews and opinions. I was set on purchasing either the Nikon D70, the Nikon D70s, or the Canon Rebel XT (EOS 350D). I was able to test out a Nikon D70, and an original Canon Rebel (EOS 300D) at an Apple store, and a Canon Rebel XT somewhere else.

I really liked how the Nikon D70 handled, and how the buttons were placed on the camera. I hated the original Canon Rebel, the menu system, and the arrow like buttons located in the back of that camera. What sold me on the Canon Rebel XT was 1) the new model Nikon D70s was only going to be a slightly upgraded model. 2) the Nikon D70s wasn't gonna be available for several months, and I didn't have time to wait. 3) Canon digital photo quality is excellent right out of the camera, and you don't need to do too much to it in photoshop--improved workflow. 4) Canon digital cameras are years ahead of Nikon. 4) the feel of the Canon Rebel XT in my hands (important).

I have been using the Rebel XT continously now for four months shooting bars, and restaurants for a magazine, as well as street stuff. Traveling as light as possible is a must for me. I really liked how this camera handles and feels. I purchased only the Rebel XT camera body as I didn't hear too many good things about the lens that came in the combination (camera and starter lens) package.

I will simply list the likes and dislikes I have with this camera.
"

    "Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT Digital camera is JUST like the 35 mm SLR I had many years ago. The shutter speed is awesome! I also love how you can use other lenses with it as well. Great camera and great price!"

    "With this model, you must use the viewfinder as there is no feature for using the screen on the back of the camera to preview your potential shot. The information given on the website did not indicate enough detail about features. It is a complete package, except for cardreader. Everything else is fantastic and balances the need to put your eye to the viewfinder. It operates very well in autofocus, so anyone may use the camera for general shots. It is very quick and easy to manipulate for the more experiened photographer or the beginner who is open to learning. The quality of image the camera captures is astoundingly clear and translates easily into either print or computer bound uses - making it perfect for those who desktop publish and maintain web. All non-profits should own one.
"

    "Pros: Image quality is good, Good camera for its price.

Cons: No image stabilization on the kit lens.

Summary: This camera is great for beginners like myself. I get fairly good photos at higher ISO.
As a beginner I would have liked it better if the kit came with a booklet that teaches SLR photography, since this is a camera so suitable for SLR. The manual assumes that you are a pro.
When you want to get night shots, I recommed the use of a tripod. The kit lens does not have any image stabilization at all. The slightest shake tends to blur images.
The shots come out excellent.
The LCD is small, but I don't mind since all I do with the display is view image information and check settings.
Overall a good camera. "

    "I lived with taking pictures with my canon powershot for about two and a half years and I was really looking into getting a professionals camera. I was torn between which one I should get: a nikon or canon. After researching and asking around, I chose the Canon Rebel XT. I couldn't be any happier. It is so easy to use and I learned quickly on how to use it. I recently bought a lens for it to take sports pictures and I enjoy it. Every weekend I'm out taking pictures of wildlife, landscapes, portraits, or sports pictures. The only thing I don't like about it is the shutter noise can get annoying. It's not loud but it's not quiet either. I would recommend this to anyone that wants to go into the field of photography or just wants an SLR camera. Also, it's hard to take pictures at night where there isn't enough lighting, but to fix this all you have to do is set the lens from automatic to manual. I feel like I've made a lot of stupid purchases in life, but this isn't one of them! You will find out that the money was worth it and that it is easy to use!

"