Canon’s new EOS Rebel XS is a new budget digital SLR designed to compete with Nikon’s D60 and other sub-$700 digital SLR cameras by Pentax, Olympus, and Sony.

To meet the lower price point, the Canon XS includes fewer of the features of the Rebel XSi /eos 450 D, but it shares some features with the Rebel XTi - a 10.1-megapixel image sensor and a 2.5-inch LCD; from the Rebel XT it has the 7-point AF sensor, 12-bit processing.

Most notably, Canon Rebel XS has a live view mode with phase-detection or contrast-detection autofocusing, magnification and a histogram. The Canon XS kit includes an excellent image-stabilized 18-55mm lens that offers better corner sharpness, better chromatic aberration control, and sharper images overall.

Canon Rebel XS features full manual controls, performs fast in most respects, supports RAW format and provides a very good photo quality, with minimal noise – all in quite a compact body by D-SLR standards

What does it compare to: Canon EOS Rebel XSi (of course!), Nikon D60, Olympus E-420, Pentax K2000, Sony Alpha DSLR-A300.

Canon Rebel XS – Specifications and Features:

• 10.1-megapixel CMOS sensor
• Maximum Image Size: 3,888×2,592-pixel
• Focal length multiplier of 1.6x as compared to a 35mm camera
• TTL optical viewfinder with detailed information display, diopter adjustment, and depth-of-field preview
• 2.5-inch TFT LCD with 230,000 pixels
• Shooting Modes: Automatic, Program AE, Shutter & Aperture Priority, Depth-of-Field AE, and Manual exposure
• Programmed modes: Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, and Flash Off
• External hot shoe supports E-TTL II metering, FEL, and FP (high speed sync) flash with Canon EX Series Speedlight
• Flash exposure lock function (FEL)
• Metering: 35-zone Evaluative, Center weighted average metering, or Partial (10%) central-area metering; metering range of EV 1 to 20
• Auto exposure bracketing
• Shutter speed: 1/4,000 - 30 seconds, Bulb
• Image storage SD, SDHC memory cards
• Live View mode includes two focusing modes: Quick, phase-detect mode, and Live, contrast-detect mode
• Dust reduction and automatic sensor cleaning
• Continuous Shooting mode: 54 images at 3 fps (with shutter speeds of 1/250 second or faster)
• Built-in E-TTL II retractable-type flash
• Topside hot shoe for external flash connection of EX Speedlite flashes
• E3 remote control socket
• Red-eye Reduction via pulse flash

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Back in August 2005 Canon has presented new DSLR category with the EOS 5D. This ‘full frame’ sensor camera was the first with a compact unlike the chunky EOS-1D. Canon clearly believes it’s time for a refresh.

So here is the 5D Mark II highlighting 21megapixels, 1080p video, 3.0″ VGA LCD, Live view, higher capacity battery. The new CMOS sensor which employs an improved output amplifier, a more advanced colour filter with superior light transmission: Canon claims the result is the highest quality seen from any EOS DSLR to date. Also the impressive ISO range up to 25600 on the Mark II is the highest sensitivity seen on a Canon DSLR so far.

In comparison with the original 5D, the new Canon EOS 5D Mark II:
- almost doubles the Megapixels
- extends the tonal depth to 14-bits
- accelerates continuous shooting by a third
- increases the sensitivity by three stops
- greatly improves the screen
- adds Live View
- broadens the coverage of the viewfinder
- adds environmental sealing

Its two competitors are: the Nikon D700 and Sony DSLR-A900.

Canon EOS-D Mark II Key features:

• 21 megapixel 36 x 24 mm CMOS sensor
• Full 35 mm size frame
• Maximim Image Size: 5616 x 3744 (21.0 MP)
• Sensor dust reduction by vibration of filter
• Mirror: Quick-return half mirror (transmission:reflection ratio 40:60)
• ISO 100 - 6400 calibrated range, ISO 50 - 25600 expansion
• Auto ISO (100 - 3200) in all modes except manual
• Shutter speed: 30 - 1/8000 sec, Bulb
• 3.9 ftps continuous shooting
• File format: RAW, (.CR2; 14-bit) JPEG, RAW + JPEG, sRAW1, sRAW2
• Auto focus: 9-point TTL CMOS sensor
• Metering: TTL full aperture metering 35 zone SPC
• DIGIC 4 processor
• Canon EF lens mount (does not support EF-S lenses)
• Highlight tone priority
• Auto lighting optimizer
• High ISO noise reduction
• Lens - vignetting correction
• RAW / JPEG selection made separately
• Creative Auto mode
• Image copyright metadata support
• Viewfinder: Eye-level pentaprism, 98% frame coverage
• Dioptric adjustment: -3.0 to +1.0 diopter
• 3.0″ LCD monitor with ‘Clear View’ cover / coatings, 170° viewing angle
• Face detection
• No mirror-flip for exposures in Live View if contrast detect AF selected
• Movie recording in live view (1080p H.264 up to 12 minutes, VGA H.264 up to 24 mins per clip)
• Two mode silent shooting (in live view)
• UDMA CompactFlash support
• New optional WFT-E4 WiFi / LAN / USB vertical grip
• Water resistance: 10 mm rain in 3 minutes

See full Review at: dpreview.com, cameralabs.com, photographyblog.com.

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The second camera in the SX ultra-zoom series, the Canon PowerShot SX110 IS is a successor to the SX100 model. This new 9 megapixel digital camera features a 10x zoom lens covering a versatile focal length of 36-360mm.

Other standout features of the SX110 IS include a larger 3 inch LCD screen, optical image stabilizer, DIGIC III image processor, and Face Detection with Face Selector button and new Face Select & Track mode.

The SX110 IS has 20 shooting modes including the new Easy Mode for complete beginners and full manual control for more experienced photographers, various My Colors settings, a high ISO setting of 1600.

Like its forebear the SX110 IS is compared with the average point and shoot, pitched at enthusiasts. There are no higher end features here such as a hotshoe for additional flash, no optical viewfinder or EVF. But nevertheless it has a full set of manual exposure controls, aperture&shutter priority.

Overall this camera is above average. There were no areas where it really struggled and many where it did very well, for instance it has excellent macro mode. And colours look vivid and natural, images being bright and clear with plenty of definition – unless you raise ISO above 400. Sample images at cameras.co.uk

There are a few smaller compacts with longer lenses to choose from. A camera with a similar size and features is the Sony DSC H10.

The SX110 IS - Specifications:

• IMAGE SENSOR: Type 1/2.3 CCD
• Effective Pixels: Approx 9.0M
• IMAGE PROCESSOR: DIGIC III with iSAPS technology
• Focal Length 6.0 - 60.0 mm (35mm equivalent: 36-360mm)
• 10x Zoom
• Shift-type Image Stabilisation
• AF System / Points Face Detection, 1-point AF (fixed to centre or Face Select and Track)
• AF Assist Beam Yes
• Manual Focus
• Closest Focusing Distance : 1cm
• Metering Modes: Evaluative (linked to Face Detection AF frame), Centre-weighted average, Spot (Centre)
• ISO: AUTO, 80 - 1600
• Motion Detection Technology
• Shutter Speed : 15 - 1/2500 sec (total range - varies by shooting mode)
• 3.0 inch LCD Monitor with 100% Coverage
• Full Manual Controls
• Maximum Image Size: 3456 x 2592
• Movies 640 x 480, 30fps up to 4GB or 1 hour
• Red-Eye Correction - during shooting and playback
• Sound Memo Up to 60 sec per image
• Intelligent Orientation Sensor
• Histogram

Full reviews at digitalcameratracker.com, photographyblog.com

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