Dream Toy of the Month -
Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP
Digital SLR Camera

 

My Dream Toy for the month of August is the Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP Digital SLR Camera. The latest digital, single-lens-reflex camera from Canon, the Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP has an amazing 8 megapixels for outstanding detail in your digital pictures. The return to "through-the-lens" view-finding is a big help. Gone are the parallax errors of separate viewfinders. Gone is the inability to see the digital viewfinder display because of sunlight. This is back to the world of

Major Features

• High-performance digital SLR with 8.0 Megapixel CMOS Sensor and DIGIC II Image Processor
• Smallest and lightest EOS Digital SLR to date (as of February 2005)
• Fast 3 frames-per-second shooting with a 14 frame burst and 0.2 second startup time
• High-speed, Wide-area 7-point AF with superimposed focusing points
• User-selectable metering patterns, AF modes, custom functions and flash exposure compensation
• Direct Print support with PictBridge compatible printers
• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface for quick downloads
• Compatible with more than 50 EF and EF-S Lenses and most EOS System accessories including EX-series Speedlites and a dedicated Battery Grip

Image Recording

• Recording Medium: CF card Type I and II
• Image Format: 0.87 x 0.58 in./22.2 x 14.8mm

White Balance

• Settings: Auto, Preset (Daylight, Shade, Cloudy/Twilight/Sunset, Tungsten light, White fluorescent light, Flash), Manual (Custom: read off photo quality gray card or white subject)

Image formats

• Image Format: JPEG, RAW (12bit), Simultaneous Recording: Possible
• File Size JPEG: (1) Large/Fine: Approx. 3.3 MB (3456 x 2304), (2) Large/Normal: Approx. 1.7 MB (3456 x 2304), (3) Medium/Fine: Approx. 2.0 MB (2496 x 1664), (4) Medium/Normal Approx. 1.0 MB (2496 x 1664), (5) Small/Fine: Approx. 1.2 MB (1728 x 1152), (6) Small/Normal: Approx. 0.6 MB (1728 x 1152); RAW: Approx. 8.3 MB (3456 x 2304)

Viewfinder

• Coverage: Approx. 95% vertically and horizontally (against JPEG Large)
• Magnification: 0.8x (-1 diopter with 50mm lens at infinity)
• Eyepoint 21mm
• Dioptric Adjustment Correction -3.0 - +1.0 diopters
• Focusing Screen Fixed
• Mirror Quick-return half mirror (Transmittance: reflection ratio of 40:60, no mirror cut-off with lenses up to EF 600mm f/4)
• Viewfinder Information AF points, AE lock, FE lock, AEB in progress, Flash ready, Improper FE lock warning, High-speed Sync, Flash exposure compensation, Red-Eye reduction, Shutter speed, Bulb, FE lock, Processing data, Built-in flash recycling, Aperture, Exposure level display (Exposure compensation, Manual exposure level, AEB level, Flash exposure compensation, Red-Eye Reduction lamp on time display), Max burst during continuous shooting, AF/MF focus confirmation, CF card full, CF card error, no CF card
• Depth-of-Field Preview Enabled with depth-of-field preview button

Drive Systems

• Drive Modes (1) Single, (2) Continuous, (3) Self-timer/Remote Control
• Continuous Shooting Speed: Approx. 3.0 fps (with Battery Pack NB-2LH, at Tv=1/250 sec. for all recording qualities)
• Max. Burst During Continuous Shooting 14 shots (Large/Fine)

LCD Monitor

• Type TFT color LCD monitor
• Screen Monitor size 1.8 inches
• Pixels Approx. 115,000 pixels (Displayed pixels)
• Coverage Approx. 100% (for JPEG images)
• Brightness Control 5 levels (settable with menu's "LCD brightness")

Physical size

• Dimensions (W x H x D):   4.98 x 3.71 x 2.63 in./126.5 x 94.2 x 64mm
• Weight 17.1 oz./485g

The Bottom Line

The latest digital, single-lens-reflex camera from Canon, the Canon Digital Rebel XT has an amazing 8 megapixels for outstanding detail in your digital pictures, fast "continuous" mode, and interchangeability of lenses. When you outgrow the point-and-shoot digital models, when you are ready to put your photography knowledge and experience to work, pick up a Canon Digital Rebel XT.

 

 

 

Copyright © 2005 Terry A. Stockdale