Canon EOS 1000D - Digital Rebel XS review

 

Here, you can see the 2 buttons which reveal the ‘expert’ aspect of this low-cost SLR: the button to correct exposure and the one to select the autofocus collimator. The latter is going to be very useful because Canon had the good idea to give the EOS 1000D a nice 7-point wide-area AF. The Nikon D60, with its 3 small collimators gathered in the middle, doesn’t measure up in this respect. Winged, the EOS 1000D surprised us by its general reactivity and especially by that of its autofocus. Good point for the 1000D.

 

Always useful, the wheel allows to quickly define speed, aperture, ISO sensitivity, etc. It isn’t great to handle though: its operation seems quite rough. You can also see that the control ring shows the traditional programmes for portrait, landscape, sports etc. but along with the manual and semi-manual (PSAM) modes, and the mode that Canon had already used on the ‘silver-based’ EOS cameras: A-DEP. With this mode, you focus on the closest point that you want to be sharp, then on the farthest sharp point desired, and it calculates the necessary aperture for the desired depth of field. The shutter is quite noisy. In fact, the whole mirror up mechanism misses the shock absorbers which can be found on other cameras, so the EOS 1000D isn’t exactly discrete.

 

Video output, USB in mini USB (USB 2.0) and an outlet for the ‘wired remote control’ – a camera compatible with a wireless remote control would have been nice...

 

Because this SLR is designed for novices, Canon gets rid of the second coding wheel, too bad. It is replaced by a tulip-shaped control with 4 buttons + 1 validation button, to directly access the frequent settings such as white balance, continuous shooting mode or self-timer (with self-timer AND continuous shooting mode!) or else Picture styles, because even this small EOS 1000D offers Picture styles.

 

An ISO-dedicated button, great! Indeed, thanks to the flexibility of digital technology, today sensitivity is as important as the other 2 essential parameters: aperture and shutter speed. A button dedicated to ISO settings allows changing sensitivity very easily.

 

The trap door which hides the connections is well made. Like on the EOS 450D, everything is rather plasticky, everything is quite light, but it remains very sturdy with use. Regarding the EOS 1000D, don’t rely on its ‘plasticky’ aspect. However the wheel for mode selection, in plastic as well, doesn’t inspire trust. A wheel in steel would have been nice... but let’s keep in mind we’re talking about a low-price camera.

 

No 3-inch screen here, but a 2.5" one. Its resolution is fine though with 230 000 pixels. It is pleasant and its angle of view is so that the screen can be viewed from any angle of inclination: you’ll be able to take pictures with the arms up in the air and frame via the screen.

 

It is indeed a 1000D. You can see the button of the depth of field tester, which could have been forgotten on the 1000D – it is a good surprise. However, will the viewfinder really allow to judge the depth of field once it is darkened by the closed diaphragm?

 

So what’s our final thought after trying the Canon EOS 1000D? In this respect we were not convinced, but at least it is light. However, being light, it is not as compact as a Nikon D60 or an Olympus E-410 (thanks to the 4/3 system!).

 

Yes, the standard mount on the 1000D is EF-S. EF-S is the range of lenses optimized for digital photography. The EF-S lenses cannot be mounted on other SLRs which are not compliant with EF-S, such as full frame cameras. Here, the EOS 1000D is displayed with the very excellent EF-S 10-22mm wide angle.

 

 

The controls are positioned in a very classical way. We really liked the 2 big buttons in the top left-hand corner: "Menu" and "Disp". The screen can display in direct view such as LiveView. LiveView here has a dedicated AF which will focus without losing the image on the screen (as one chooses), and the direct view can be accessed via the menu.
 

This is not handy. The LiveView system for Canon is made to help out and to authorize some types of framing, but not to be used systematically. Besides, the LiveView mode can only be accessed in PSAM modes; it is not available for the results programs. The Sony Alpha A350 is made for that.

 

 

The Canon EOS 1000D is launched at the same time as the new flash Speedlight 430EX MKII. Very well-designed, its head swivels and offers optimum freedom.

 

The new thing with the 430EX MKII is the closing system: no more wheel that must be screwed on, here comes a latch that must be locked. It is fast and secure. Its sole is made of steel: solid.

 

Shortened recycling times, advanced functions etc.: the Speedlight 430 EX MKII reminds us of a little computer per se.

 

Canon announces a battery life for 500 to 600 photos on the EOS 1000D with its Lithium battery.

 

Hop ! Just push the top button and you can choose your mode for exposure metering.

 

Same thing for the autofocus mode: the AI Servo mode is for view-by-view but if it detects a moving subject, it switches to active mode with subject follow-up and AI Focus focusing is anticipated. The 7-point AF of the 1000D is really convincing.

 

The main settings and parameters are repeated on the back screen.

 

Before showing you the various menu screens of the Canon EOS 1000D, here is the smart function of the 1000D, inherited from the 450D: the self-timer with continuous shooting. Indeed, to save us from running between the camera and the place we want to take on a group photo, the EOS 1000D allows taking up to 5 pictures in a row in an autonomous way. You set the self-timer on 5 pics and continuous, then push the trigger, go to your place and the camera takes the 5 pictures by itself. Handy!