Digital Photography
Digital Trek 2009
Review of the Canon EOS Rebel
The Canon EOS Rebel is a great Prosumer camera-that is, it is an appropriate selection for photographers whose skills can best be described as somewhere along the spectrum from Professional Photographer to Average Consumer; when the Rebel initially hit the market in 2003, it retailed for $800 and up. There are a number of very enticing features on the original Canon Rebel. For example, Canon offers a number of easy to remove and attach lenses which can be purchased at any point in time. These lenses’ offer an enlarged range of zoom and telephoto capabilities and can create other cool effects. Manual zoom lenses are available with all different magnifications. Also, this Rebel model shoots at 6.3 megapixel (MP), which provides a very clear printed picture up to 11” by 17”. Furthermore, the Rebel offers a user-friendly design with many of the controls located on external knobs and dials; thus, it is easy to quickly adjust a shot. In addition, the shutter delay is less than 2 seconds and often it appears to be non-existent; this feature allows the photographer to quickly shoot a number of images without being forced to wait for the shutter to reset. An example of the benefits of a minimal shutter delay is evident in the photo (below) of the boy on his bicycle. I was able captured a series of images of the boy in mid-air because the shutter delay did not impede my shooting speed. An additional outstanding feature of the Rebel is that it offers both automatic and manual photographic capabilities-in fact, there are a total of 12 preset options-and the ISO speed can be set as high as 1600. Flash attachment capability is an additional feature on the Rebel. Another important and helpful feature is the depth of field button. This feature assists the photographer to view and create a blurred background or figure. Examples of can be seen below in the second and third images. On the Rebel there is a viewfinder lens feature that can be used instead of the LCD screen which is approximately 1½ inches. Below the viewfinder is an information bar which supplies details about the cameras current settings (this includes the lighting, image quality, as well as the current space left on the memory card). The Rebel requires a SanDisk memory card; the popularity of this memory card is diminishing with the development and growing popularity of the SD memory card. The Rebel requires a Canon lithium-ion, CB-5L, battery. The battery life on the Rebel is camera can be substantial and it can be optimized by setting the LCD screen to the “off” position. Users can easily recharge the battery or purchase extra back-up batteries.
The ergonomics of the Rebel are impressive. First, there is a comfortable spot for the photographer’s right hand to firmly grip the body of the Rebel. Second, although the Rebel weighs about 1.4 lbs with the battery attached, this weight can serve as a positive feature for the professional photographer who may need the weight to assist them in maintain a steady shot.
The camera has no blunt constraints or affordances. However, one major weakness is that when a consumer inserts the memory card in the incorrect direction, which is very easy to do, the pins that read the card can be crushed and cause detrimental damages.
This product should only be recommended to a consumer who has at least a basic knowledge in photography. Over the years, updated models of the Canon Rebel have been developed and they are available at various price points-in fact, a number of the newer Rebel models, like the XS and the XTi retail for less than $700.
As for its usability factor, the camera is very nice but not recommended for someone who looking for a good, lightweight camera to carry along on a night out on the town. It is also not recommended for use by children since it could prove too heavy and too difficult for small hands.
This camera takes very clear and neat images as seen below. Overall, it is a great camera and I would rate it a 4.5 on a scale of 5.
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