July 17, 2005

Canon EOS 350D review (Digital Rebel XT)

Canon, I use their camera’s already for years. It started with the Canon EOS 5, and now the Canon EOS 350D. Earlier I asked myself if it was worthwhile to exchange the Canon EOS 350D for the Canon EOS 300D, and of course a little later I did. I could sell the 300D to a friend (cheap!), and I ordered the Canon EOS 350 D Rebel XT from the south of Bali.

Its small, the 350D. At first I was afraid it would be too small to have a “good feel”, but the size of the camera is no problem at all. Since I am used to the Canon 300D, controls where in the right place too

First thing that strikes is the speed of the camera, its much faster then the 300D, in all respects. And that alone is already a very big improvement over the EOS 300D. I saw a test somewhere and it seemed that the 350D writes about 3 times as fast to a CF card then the 300D.

Second thing that I found rather amusing, is the “old style” program selector turn knob, it looks a bit old fashioned on this camera.

Another thing, funny at first, but later a bit annoying is the artificial film winding sound of the 350D. My guess is that the little shriek sound has no function but to imitate. And while you can turn off the focus beep, this noise of the Canon cannot be turned off…..

While using the Canon EOS 350 D Rebel XT, I found another big improvement over the 300D, exposures. They are much more accurate. With the EOS 300D, I had some bad shots, just because the exposure was off, but not with the EOS 350D.

I am not a technical photographer, I am not going to set manual white balance, or do bracketing exposures and such, for me speed and exposure accuracy are important and Canon has improved this with their 350D quite a bit, and therefore for me exchanging the new Canon for the “old” 300D was worth it, what doesn’t mean that the 300D is a bad camera, the EOS 350D is just better.

For the Canon 350D I use two Sigma Lenses, the Sigma 12-24mm 4.5-5.6 DG USM CANON (at the time I bought this Sigma the Canon 10-22mmwas not on the market yet) and a Sigma 24-135mm 2.8-4.5 24-135 Canon Zoom Lens.

I am satisfied with both lenses, although the 12-24 Sigma under certain conditions seems a bit unsharp (I think its a flare problem), but I need this wide angle for interior shots, for which it is great. Nice thing about this Sigma is the almost non existent distortion, this makes stitching panorama’s easier.

The Sigma 24-135 zoom is a nice lens, no USM or HSM, so a bit noisier, effectively a 38-216mm zoom, 35mm wise spoken. The focus ring rotates while auto focusing, so you have learn not hold the lenses there. The 2.8 aperture at 24 mm is a pro.

Choosing the right lenses for your camera can be quite difficult, and I think the internet helps, but doesn’t make it much more easy. There are plenty of reviews, but user reviews, are, well, user reviews. Some are ecstatic, others seem negative. Just buying it gets you the best reviews…

Soon I will post some EOS 350D Sample Pictures, they are plain ordinary shots, no pre-meditated controlled condition sample shots, just pictures you and me would make everyday. I took the pictures with the Sigma EOS lenses. They are the originals right out the 350D. No tripod.

You can see some sample pictures from others here: Canon EOS 350 D Rebel XT Sample Pictures

Some pictures, but in very low resolution, you can find on one of my sites here: Bali Expat Pictures

In all I find the Canon EOS 350 D a really great camera, and I am very very happy with it, fast, and most important, I don’t have to think so much. Point and shoot

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