Canon EOS 1000D

Review summary: The 1000D does just about everything it needs to do, and everything it does, it does well. It can produce great images at any of its ISO settings and, viewed as a whole, makes a great first DSLR. Canon seems to have gently toned-down the specification ...

Review summary: Canon's Digital Rebel XS is an excellent entry-level digital SLR, but advanced photographers may find its features too basic.

Verdict: Priced at $575 including a kit lens, the XS is cheaper than the XSi--and fortunately, very few of the features we loved in the XSi have not been compromised. The XS comes in a single-lens kit with an 18mm-to-55mm IS lens (f/3.5 to 5.6), which provides ...

Review summary: Canon's most recent SLR may cause some alarm among owners of the EOS 450D, the company's previous entry-level SLR.

Pros: Great image quality and professional-level functions; uses SD and SDHC cards; good live view mode

Cons: Some keys are tricky to use; the flash pops up too often in auto mode; the 18-55mm lens is passable but not great

Pros: Very good image quality, Fast focusing and shot-to-shot speeds, Automatic sensor-cleaning system, Intuitive interface

Cons: Relatively small LCD, Fewer manual options than other entry-level DSLRs, Live View settings difficult to access, No ISO 3200

Verdict: Like other cameras in its class, the Rebel XS' Live View created a four-second shot-to-shot lag, including a pause as the screen goes dark. Without Live View, there was virtually no shutter lag.