CameraFly

Camera Reviews from Amazon.com

• July 23, 2010
  Very good camera

  

  For as many reviews as there are for this camera, there isn't a lot that I can add. The only feature that perplexes me a bit is the inability to "erase all" by using the delete button. Other models allow for this but for some reason, using the delete button gives you the option of deleting only one picture at a time.

• July 21, 2010
  Works GREAT!

  

  This is a great camera. I would recommend it to anyone. It is professional quality and MACRO pictures come out great. There are also MANY, MANY Accessories and different kits you can buy for accessories. The best camera I have ever used. Also its great quality and amazing design.

• July 16, 2010
  This is the entry-level d-SLR you're looking for.

  

  My first experience with Canon cameras was several years ago when I was working at a photography studio that had gone digital. I was impressed with them then, and they continue to impress me now. A year or so after leaving the studio, I was in the market to buy my first d-SLR camera. I compared several different brands and models, and I finally settled on the Rebel XS. I hate to use a cliché, but it really is "more bang for your buck". The Rebel XS just has so much more to offer than its similarly-priced Nikon counterpart (the 3000D). Most of the time, you can get this camera bundled with a Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS SLR Lens, which is a really good starter lens.
  
  If you're looking to go pro, then you'll probably want to buy a more upscale d-SLR (the Canon EOS 400D is a typical model), but if you just want a well-rounded, entry-level d-SLR, the Rebel XS (any camera from the Rebel series, really) is the one you want. This camera gives you the freedom of a d-SLR with the ease of use of a compact ("point-and-shoot"). The camera is highly customizable, and most accessories you buy for this camera will be compatible with other Canon SLR models, as well - in case you ever want to move to a more upscale model in the future. The nice thing is, however, that you don't HAVE to buy accessories. If you have a camera, a lens, and a memory card, then you're good to go. One thing you will need with this camera, as I mentioned, is a memory card. It uses a standard SD Card, but I would recommend a high-speed card (for fast shooting) such as this one: SanDisk Ultra II SDHC 4GB SD Memory Card (SDSDRH-004G-A11, US Retail Package).
  
  Getting started with this camera is very easy; the user's manual is very clear, and the camera itself is not complicated. The camera has a variety of shooting modes which serve everyone from the newbie amateur to the seasoned pro. One nice thing about this camera is its ability to shoot RAW images, which means you can edit your pictures more without sacrificing image quality (an unfortunate drawback of JPG format). If you're used to JPG, however, this camera still saves images in that format.
  
  Compared to many d-SLRs, this camera is lightweight and versatile. It has a built-in flash, but a more powerful flash can still be attached and synched if necessary. If you're using it for portrait photography, it has the ability to shoot tethered (meaning it is connected to a computer/software and its images go directly into the computer instead of to the SD card). It has a lightning-fast startup; just flip the power switch and it's turned on. The battery lasts a long time before needing to be recharged. One of the only drawbacks I've noticed to this camera is that it won't run on AC power without a special adapter (which must be purchased separately), but since the battery lasts a long time (and since additional battery packs for this model are relatively inexpensive), that isn't a large problem (I was taking 200-300 pictures per day and went about three weeks before needing to charge the battery). A huge advantage that I should mention is that the camera's sensor is self-cleaning. This means that there is no complicated process of removing the sensor and cleaning it (although manually cleaning it every so often is a good idea).
  
  I could go on and on with praise for this camera, but no one wants to read a book-length product review. I'm not going to say that this is the "last camera you'll ever need," but it is an excellent model for both snapshots and for shutterbug experimenting. It's also good for semi-pros like myself who just want a good, dependable camera that is relatively inexpensive but takes professional-quality images.