A 10.1 megapixel Canon developed CMOS sensor and DiG!C III Image Processor combine to deliver the high image quality for first time DSLR users. LiveView offers the familiarity of a compact camera, enabling the photographer to preview images in real time and to compose images in confined spaces or over crowds. The EOS 1000D will take first time DSLR users to the next level of photography.

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Reviews

Canon EOS 1000D (Rebel XS / Kiss F) Review – July 2008, Richard Butler by DPReview.com

Having helped create the ‘affordable’ DSLR, Canon has taken a while to respond to the latest, comparatively wallet-friendly offerings from the likes of Nikon and Sony. The 1000D is a pretty convincing response – it 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 EOS 1000D / Rebel XS – Gordon Laing, August 200 by CameraLabs.com (Comparing Canon 1000D with Canon EOS 400D, Canon EOS 450D, Sony A200 and Nikon D60)

Canon’s new EOS 1000D / Rebel XS represents a modest upgrade over its predecessor and in some feature respects an actual downgrade. But Canon knows new entry-level DSLR buyers highly value the presence of Image Stabilisation and Live View, both of which are now crucially offered here. And unlike arch rivals Nikon and Sony, it also means Canon now offers both Live View and stabilisation on all its consumer DSLRs.

It’s also important to realise the reduced number of AF points and slow continuous shooting in RAW mode will have little if any impact on its target audience. Indeed the AF performance was fine in our tests and if you’re recording JPEGs, you can keep shooting until you run out of memory.

So while it may be annoying for enthusiasts to see features removed from a previous model to cost-cut and provide greater product differentiation, few 1000D / XS buyers will be really bothered. The changes certainly don’t have the same impact of Nikon removing the lens AF motor from its entry-level DSLRs, and hey, at least the depth-of-field preview button’s still there on the new Canon.

Once you’ve made your peace with these downgrades, it’s easy to like the 1000D / XS. It’s a decent performer and sports all the features most new buyers will look for. The only real problem is its launch price, which at the time of writing in mid-2008 was higher than most rivals, and too close to the 450D / XSi for anyone to seriously consider it.

The 1000D / XS will find itself discounted to a more competitive price in the near future, but until then, it makes more sense to go for one of its rivals, or spend a little more on the 450D / XSi. Once those discounts kick-in though, the 1000D / XS will become a real contender in the entry-level market. There’s certainly some very strong competition you should also weigh-up, but by delivering all the features budget DSLR buyers look for, the 1000D / XS looks set to be another best-seller for Canon.

Canon EOS 1000D Review by PhototographyBlog.com

I tested the EOS 1000D with the new EFS 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS kit lens, which offers the same focal range as the standard lens that shipped with the previous 400D model, but crucially adds image stabilisation. This is important for Canon, as competitors like Sony, Olympus and Pentax all offer image stabilisation in their DSLRs. The difference between Canon (and Nikon) and the others is that Sony, Olympus and Pentax have opted for stabilisation via the camera body, rather than the lens, which therefore works with their entire range of lenses. Canon’s system is obviously limited by which lenses you choose, but it does offer the slight advantage of showing the stabilising effect through the viewfinder. Canon and Nikon also claim that a lens-based anti-shake system is inherently better too, but the jury’s out on that one. Note that both the 1000D and 450D ship with the same kit lens, so you aren’t losing out in this respect by opting for the cheaper camera.