Canon has today announced the sucessor to the EOS 300D / Digital Rebel, the new smaller, lighter, eight megapixel EOS 350D / Digital Rebel XT. This new camera incorporates many new features introduced with the EOS 20D and also enables control of settings as requested by EOS 300D owners. The default body color is now black, although a silver body will be available. Key points: 8mp CMOS, 3fps 14 frames, DIGIC II, smaller, lighter, custom functions, selectable metering & AF mode, USB 2.0 Hi-speed, lower introductory list price (US: $899 body only, Europe: €899 body only).

DP Review Link

 

Nice work again by Canon, at least on what they are offering for a D-SLR Body. That kit lens still needs to step up a notch or two though.

Also it's nice they are releasing it in black and silver. I'm not sure who would buy it in silver with the black one available though.

If the new 350D is going for $900 for the body, I suppose this means the current Digital Rebel is going to be pushed down to the $500 to $600 range.

 

The 300D has been available in black and silver for months as well. I bought silver because I liked it better than black. I got it for $800 (kit with lens) before rebates. Body alone is $700, so yes it should fall a couple hundred.

 

I just sold my 300D for $600 used. Not bad since my after rebate price ended up being about $425. I kinda wish now that I waited for the 350D (I hadn't heard anything on it in Jan when I upgraded to the 20D). I'm actually glad I went Canon since it seems like they are pretty committed to good price/performance bodies. I agree that the 18-55 EF-S lens is not so great. Then again, it is a $70 lens making it hard to complain about.

 

Yeah, kind of like a $100 50mm F/1.8. :smile:

 

I like the 50/1.8 for what it is, but man there is no comparison to the 50/1.4! Looking at the specs I expected them to be very similar, but they are night and day. I have the 1.4 and my buddy got the 1.8 (didn't want to spend the extra $300). The 1.8 has less than 1/2 the lens diameter, is all plastic, focuses slower, and yes you really do notice the extra .4 at night, I was amazed! The 1.8 still takes very nice, sharp shots though, a bargain at $100. I can't say the same about the kit lens. It's certainly good enough for the average consumer, using it as a point and shoot camera. But it's almost useless to me, especially after dusk. If there is a lot of light and I can use f7-f11, and don't need to drift too far from it's center zoom, it takes nice shots. But I end up using my 70-200/f4 a lot more often.

 

I dunno, I paid like $79 for the 50/1.8. Sure it isn't the 1.4, but not too shabby for the price. Then again I'm not a perfectionist, and I really enjoy having extra money in my pocket. I guess that's why I went for the tamron 28-75/2.8.

Patrick

 

Has anyone purchased a Canon XT yet? I see they are available at B&H. Any impressions or images to show?

I'm not thinking of switching, but my cousin is going to get a D-SLR. She is looking at the Rebel, so naturally, I'm also trying to get her to look at the XT.

 

I'm considering selling my 2 month old 20D for one. As this semester in law school has gone on, I've had little time to get out with it. I figure it might be worth it to sell the 20D, buy an XT and not have all that money stuck in a camera that I'll never use.

If anyone wants a 20D 2 month old with <1.5k pictures on the clock, with the EFS 18-55mm lens, extra canon battery, and I dunno, maybe a Canon camera bag thrown in for like $1310 shipped (continental US), let me know. Perfect shape since it really hasn't been used much.