2. NB: The Construction Of The Article

You heard it here first, the EOS 300D has won us over. Because it overturns received wisdom, it was difficult to deal with it in just a few pages. So we have had to expand on it a little. The first few pages put it in the present context. What is the competition like, what are its limitations, what are the differences between the Rebel and a professional digital reflex model, with a compact or with a bridge camera?

After reviewing its ergonomics, it's time for the tests. These deal with speed, battery life, image quality, vignette problems, etc. We've looked at everything from the optics to the sensitivity, as well as the limitations of the camera.

We thought it would be indispensable afterward to reconsider certain technical points, such as the CMOS and CCD sensors, optical conversion coefficient, physical format of the sensors, etc.

Finally, we left plenty of room to discuss the photographs themselves. They have been used throughout to illustrate the article, and we can show you more than 20 of them at the end. The shots were taken in all types of situations in order to explore the possibilities of the camera. There's something of everything, photos taken with the macro lens, views from a helicopter, interiors shot without flash, tests at 100, 200, 400, and 1600 ISO, night photos, etc. So there's plenty to consider.

A Real Digital Rebel?

Apparently, yes, and for a number of reasons. The first thing that hits you is the price: $899 in the US and 1100 euros in Europe.

For film cameras, the flagship models generally cost around $2000 (3000 Euros). The positioning of the "Digital Rebel" is thus very shrewd. It isn't at the top of the range of film cameras, but is ideally placed to be in regular use by professionals and a realizable dream for the amateur.

In this context, the EOS 300D Rebel forges a middle road between manufacturers who would like the digital SLR to be considered as equivalent to the very top of the range in film cameras, although the finish and "basis" of the device is more suited to the amateur than to the professional photographer. A potential buyer is thus not keen to shell out $2000 (3000 euros) to obtain a piece of kit which may be digital, but is sometimes a little cheap-looking ... With the EOS 300D, Canon is aiming just right, with a technology and resolution that are perfectly comparable to the higher range represented by the EOS 10D, but with not as superior a finish, in a less superior casing, and for a price that is - lower. Unbeatable. Especially when you realize that the actual image quality itself is identical.

Click for original image. (2 mb)

This type of image is generally unforgiving with a lower-range camera. The white of the sky usually overlaps the red of the flower and the whole thing regularly has problems of over- or underexposure, the final rendering of the photo generally looking something like a badly shot video.

The EOS 300D avoids all these traps, and although the image could not be said to be impeccable (the border between the flower and sky is often problematic), it is nevertheless very impressive!