Canon EOS Rebel SL1 (aka Canon Rebel 100d)

Canon EOS Rebel SL1 - really small

Canon has done it again, this time with a smaller version of the DSLR than the world has ever known.

That's right, the new Canon EOS Rebel SL1 (outside the US it is known as the 100D) is allegedly the smallest DSLR known to mankind.

Now, I don't own every DSLR known to man, but I do own 3 Rebels (including the SL1) and a Canon 30D. I can report that this camera is, indeed, tiny and light.

So far, I like it. And, additionally, I really like the new kit lens. It's still a 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens, but it has been improved. It now has the STM attached to its name. Can I tell you that the image quality is pretty amazing, especially compared to the older kit lens I got with my T3i.

If you are familiar with the history of Canon Rebel cameras, you know they are the first DSLR camera priced under $1000, and I have owned a Rebel since the very first 300D. I have always gotten great pictures with them. When the T3i came out, I decided it was time for an upgrade because the folks at Canon had done some really good engineering to get the video up to snuff. That was no mistake. I really love my T3i.

And I love my T4i, as well. Don't ask me why I have both. I'm still trying to figure that one out. I had intended to try it out and sell my T3i if I liked it, or, if I was not too impressed, send it back. But, alas, I still have both.

And now I have the baby brother 100D along with them. I have not decided yet which one to part with.

Click here for the best price on the tiny new Rebel.

The new Rebel has the same 18 megapixel sensor and processor, but in a much smaller body. The light weight is nice, but not absolutely a game changer for me.

I also have gotten used to the swivel LCD panel, which is not present in the new model. However, I will admit that the LCD is crisp and clear, and it has touch screen technology similar to the T4i (but absent on the T3i).

Canon Rebel XSi has a new Rival - Nikon D3000

The Canon Rebel XSi continues to draw lots of traffic and sales. The main competitor to the Rebel has always been the two Nikon entry level DSLRs, the D40 and the D60. The Nikon D40 has been extremely popular right from its original release. Now, Nikon is pulling the manufacturing plug on the D40. The replacement is the Nikon D3000.
I'm guessing that the D3000 is going to take over right where the D40 is leaving off. Nikon has purposely brought their new "cheap" camera in at a price point below the Rebel XSi. The D3000 with the 18-55mm kit lens is being advertised at $599 while the Rebel XSi continues to sell for about $650.
Of course there is still the age old Canon/Nikon debate that will keep many of the proponents of either Nikon or Canon from jumping ship to go over to the "other side", no matter how good the newest release is.
Personally, I struggled with that decision before buying my first Rebel, but I am in no way a naysayer of the Nikon brand. Some of the world's best photographers are using Nikon (Moose Peterson is my very favorite) while others use Canon, and yet others use some of the less popular brands of cameras and still manage to come up with great photos.
Much more info at www.digital-photographic-resources.com/blog.

What's the Highest Rated Prosumer Compact Camera

What is a Prosumer camera?, you might ask.
Prosumer is the highest you can go without actually getting into the DSLR cameras.
You can expect to pay more for a prosumer digital camera than you would for a mid-range compact camera. But you get so much more. Prosumer cameras are for photographers who want to take more control of their shots, rather than letting the camera select the settings.
So, with that said, the Highest Rated Prosumer Compact Camera is... drum roll please... (and, yes, I know this is a blog titled Canon..., but, hey, I calls 'em like I sees 'em)

Panasonic DMC-LX3

Here's the formula for determining the highest rating:

• Check DPReview.com Camera Ratings (this could take a while - there are lots)
• Check Imaging-Resource.com Camera Reviews
• Narrow choice down to Canon G10, Nikon P90, Panasonic Lumix LX3 (trust me, I want the Canon to win)
• Check User Ratings at DPReview, Amazon, B&H Photo
• Enter all these numbers into my computer brain for analysis.

Voila, my brain spits out the winner!
(The Canon G10 came in a close second)
I spent lots of time compiling these results, not just for Prosumer Compacts, but for other categories, as well. I posted them on a Squidoo lens and on my website: www.digital-photographic-resources.com.

What's the Highest Rated Mid-Range Digital Compact Camera?

I'm thinkin' the highest rated mid-range digital camera might be the Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ5.

The ratings I'm referring to are from those who have actually purchased and used the camera on a day-to-day basis.

I value the input of users like me and you. OK, I value the camera geeks' ratings too, but they are not every day users who have trouble figuring out how to change settings away from total camera control to, let's say, a higher Aperture. Don't know what an Aperture is? See, that's what I'm talkin' about.

So, I look at the user ratings at places like Amazon, B&H Photo, and DPReview to see what the real users think of a camera. If there are no ratings, I pretty much steer clear of that product. Or, if there are a bunch of folks who didn't like the way the camera handled, I might think twice about making the purchase.

But the Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ5.. practically everyone who ordered it (and took time to post a review) LOVED it!

And, I'm just gonna throw in my personal favorite here. It's the Canon Powershot SX110 IS.

Research shows that the family that takes pictures of each other while enjoying fun activities stays together. (I just made that up, but it must be true.)

I have been finding out so much about digital cameras of late, that I'm compiling all this information on a new web site: digital-photographic-resources.com. It has a nice ring to it, huh? Hope you stop by.
Wayne

Top Rated Compact Digital Cameras

Which is the absolute best digital camera on the market?

That's kind of like asking which is the best vehicle on the road, isn't it? What do you want the vehicle to do?

Same question for a compact digital camera... what do you want it to do?

"Take pictures, of course," you respond.

I know that, but there are too many people with different requirements to nail down one camera as the best for everyone.

So, I began thinking about the reasons for folks buy a digital camera. Then I sought out the best possible digital camera a person with those requirements could purchase.

My method of research was to find the cameras that are recommended by the most respected digital camera reviewers on the Internet. I looked at sites like www.dpreview.com, www.steves-digicams.com, and www.imaging-resource.com.

Then, armed with that information, I went to the places that sell the cameras and looked at the user reviews on those sites. Users are usually very honest about whether they think they get value for their money. Sometimes is a review mixed in where the buyer either did not get a good camera (it happens), or the buyer's expectations for the camera were not realistic, but for the most part, the users' reviews are quite helpful. These reviews can be found at Amazon.com, dpreview, and B&H photo.

These sources were pretty consistent with each camera I reviewed.

OK, so here are the results (drum roll, please):

• Best Budget Compact Digital Camera: Panasonic DMC LZ8
• Best Mid-Range Camera: Canon SX110 IS and Panasonic DMC FZ5
• Best Pocket Compact Camera: Canon SD 790 IS and Panasonic DMC FX37
• Best Over-All Digital Camera: Panasonic DMC TX3

Take a closer look at the stats on these cameras before making your choice. This is a big purchase, so you can also see much more information about each of these cameras HERE.
Happy imaging!

Canon Digital Rebel XSi (450D) - a great choice

Let me start by saying that the Canon Digital Rebel XSi is a great camera as an entry level DSLR.

Did you know that Canon comes out with newer, replacement models every couple of years?
It's true. Most camera manufacturers do it. Especially if the camera has a fantastic track record, as the Digital Rebel certainly does. It was my very first DSLR, and I took many many wonderful photos with it. This woodpecker is one of them.

But I digress.

This year, Canon came out with a replacement for its Rebel series after only 1 year.
They did it to incorporate some features, such as video, so they could keep up with the Joneses (the "Joneses in this case are other camera manufacturers).

OK, so what does that have to do with anything?

It has a lot to do with price. All of a sudden the price of the Rebel 450D (aka Rebel XSi) dropped $200!

Has the feature package been upgraded enough for you to pay an additional $200 to get the latest model?

Only if you must have video. The video package is pretty good on the newer Rebel 500D (aka Rebel T1i).

Now, there are a couple of other upgrades in the newest release, and you can see the comparison at www.squidoo.com/canon-rebel-xsi-x1i. But the features on the Rebel 450D were already awesome, and the camera had only been on the consumer market for a year. When you consider the price difference and the quality of the camera along with its photographic output, I think you may agree that the 450-D is a fabulous deal.

The Canon Digital Rebel SXi really rocks!

More information about the two cameras is available HERE. Do yourself a favor, if you are interested in a truly great entry level DSLR and check it out.

Canon Powershot SX200 IS with Face Detection Self-Timer

I find this feature extremely impressive. Not only does the Canon Powershot SX200 IS have some fairly common (for newer releases) features, such as 12.1MP resolution, 12x wide-angle optical zoom (28-336mm equiv.), optical image stabilization, 3.0-in. LCD , HD movie (1280×720) @ 30fps, Smart AUTO, Intelligent Contrast Correction, Motion Detection, Blink Detection, and Face-Detection, just to name a few, BUT there is also a feature called Face Detection Self-Timer.

The Face Detection Self-Timer automatically detects an increase in the number of faces and makes the appropriate adjustments. For instance, to include the photographer’s face in a group shot, there’s no need to rush in. Just put the camera on a stand or tripod, specify Face Detection Self-Timer, and the camera will wait for the photographer’s face to get on-camera before it takes the shot. Now is that cool or what?

I continue to be in awe of the Canon advances in technology.
Get your Canon Powershot SX200 IS at Amazon (great price; good service; strong reputation).

For more about this fantastic camera see my review at www.squidoo.com/canon-powershot-sx200-is.

Canon Powershot SX200 IS - News

The Canon Powershot SX200 IS has been named the most popular camera on DigitalCameraReview.com for the month of April!

This is amazing, because the SX200 was not even on the list the month before.

What does this mean?

I'm only guessing, but I think it's because buyers are realizing the value for money you get with the Powershot SX200 IS.

When you consider 12 megapixels and 12x zoom, AND 30 minutes of HD video recording capability... the list goes on.

Did I mention Image Stabilization?

Let me give you a hint about buying. Amazon has the Canon Powershot SX200 IS for $332.44 with FREE shipping. (Everywhere else I checked, it was selling for $349)

CLICK HERE to jump on this deal.

The Newest Canon Digital Camera Offering

Are you aware that March 3-5 is when the annual PMA (Photographic Manufacturers’ Association) show? This is when all the newest products in the photography industry are announced. I am particularly interested in Canon’s two newest Powershot models, the Powershot SX200 IS and Powershot SX1 IS.

When I first discovered the digital camera, I spent over $300 for my little Olympus point-and-shoot. Now I can get a 12.2 megapixel Canon Powershot SX200 IS with many features that once were only available on the pro DSLR models for about $399. And if I want to go up another level to the Powershot SX1 IS, it will cost only another $100. I have done a comparison of the two models at squidoo.com. You can check them out for yourself at www.squidoo.com/canon-powershot-sx200-is. And if you are in the market for a new digital photography precision instrument, consider one of these.