Canon XS: 10.1 Megapixels, Live View, and a Lower Price
by Wesley Fink on July 8, 2008 5:00 PM EST- Posted in
- Digital Camera
Canon’s answer is the Canon XS which was announced today in the US. With a shrinking world it was a bit of a surprise to see Canon introduce the European version, called the 1000D, almost a month ago on June 10th. Perhaps it is an indication of the increasing power of the Euro and the decline of the Dollar that Canon chose to launch this model first in Europe.
The new Canon XS draws heavily on the current XSi – more so than the previous XTi. It is not just a relabeling of the XTi, since it uses the same new battery as the XSi and stores images on SD cards instead of Compact Flash. The XS can also be fitted with the BG-E5 Battery Grip which was introduced with the XSi.
The table below compares just the items that differ among the XS, XSi, and XTi. If a specification is not listed you can assume it is the same among the entry models.
|
|
Rebel XSi EOS 450D Kiss X2 |
Rebel XS EOS 1000D |
Rebel XTi EOS 400D Kiss Digital X |
|
LCD Screen |
3” |
2.5” |
2.5” |
|
Sensor |
12.2 MP CMOS |
10.1 MP CMOS |
10.1 MP CMOS |
|
AF Points |
9 |
7 |
9 |
|
Image Processor |
Digic III |
Digic III |
Digic II |
|
Live View |
Contrast & Phase Detect |
Contrast & Phase Detect |
no |
|
Metering Modes |
Spot, Evaluative, CWt, Partial |
Evaluative, CWt, Partial |
Evaluative, CWt, Partial |
|
Auto ISO Adjust |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Continuous Speed |
3.5 fps |
3 fps |
3 fps |
|
Dynamic Range Expansion |
Auto Lighting Optimizer, Highlight Tone Priority |
Auto Lighting Optimizer |
No |
|
Remote Release |
Wireless Remote, Cable |
Cable |
Wireless Remote, Cable |
|
Storage |
SD/SDHC |
SD/SDHC |
CF |
|
Viewfinder |
.87x, 95% |
.81x, 95% |
.80x, 95% |
|
High ISO Noise Reduction |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
ISO in Viewfinder |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Battery |
LP-E5, 1080mAh |
LP-E5, 1080mAh |
NB-2LH, 720mAh |
|
Battery Life (23C) |
500 |
500 |
360 |
|
Battery Grip |
BG-E5, Optional |
BG-E5, Optional |
BG-E3, Optional |
|
Size |
129x98x62mm |
126x98x62mm |
127x94x65mm |
|
Weight |
524g |
502g |
556g |
|
Kit Lens |
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS |
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS |
18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 |
|
Price with Kit Lens |
$899 |
$699 |
$699 |
The Canon EOS XS is expected to ship in August at a selling price of $699 with an image-stabilized 18-55mm lens. This is about $200 less than the price of the XSi model. The XS will compete directly with the Nikon D60, Olympus E-520, and the Pentax K200D.
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nigham - Thursday, July 10, 2008 - link
I tend to compare only Canon and Nikon, like many people I know.The Nikon D60 has autofocus only for AF-S and AF-I lenses -- so anyone who thinks long term (and would like to have the option to buy, say, a 50mm f/1.8 prime lens) will simply have to go for the XS.
twistedlogic - Friday, July 11, 2008 - link
Sigma makes a 50mm f/1.4 as well as a 30mm f/1.4 with HSM.ivan2 - Thursday, July 10, 2008 - link
I don't know why anyone will choose these (XS) considering a near new 30D body can be have for less than 600 (with MS live rebate, 480ish) on ebay and various forums.That 7 point AF is just not good enough, it's the main reason I jumped from XT to 30D (and probably 40D later).
For the XSi, I can understand if someone want a light package with the performance of the 30D (they have the same kind of AF, 9 point with a cross type in the middle).
slashbinslashbash - Thursday, July 10, 2008 - link
I am glad that Canon was competitively forced into creating an IS version of the 18-55 kit lens, with better optics to boot. It is a huge upgrade over the original kit lens and good enough to make me swear off purchasing the 17-55 f/2.8 IS. Now Canon needs to get on the ball with other lens upgrades:- Update all Prime lenses > $200 to use Ring USM (*cough* 50mm f/1.4 *cough*)
- Update all L Zoom lenses to have IS, at least as an option like with the 70-200 f/4L and f/2.8L zooms (*cough* 17-40 f/4L *cough*)
- Update all existing IS lenses to use the latest-generation "three or four stop" IS technology (*cough* 28-135 IS USM, 70-200 f/4L and f/2.8L *cough*)
The next version of the high-end Rebel and maybe the prosumer model (40D successor, although the 40D will be around for a while) needs to have a swing-out LCD. The Digic III processor is a champ at high speed image processing; Digic IV will feel like overkill with anything less than 15MP images. They are making progress in the higher ISO numbers; thank God for Nikon forcing their hand in this arena. Sony and others with in-body IS are forcing Canon to put IS into more of the low-end lenses. Now they just need to start putting it into the more expensive lenses with the same sense of urgency.
shinpickle - Wednesday, July 9, 2008 - link
the pitiful camera coverage here is a disgrace to Anand name. why do you put amateur-hour camera reviews/previews/whatever along side in-depth technical IT hardware analysis, bumping down the articles done by skilled, experienced reviewers who do actual benchmarks & analysis. the bar is very high with dpreview, etc.. what on earth are you guys thinking.Dennis Travis - Wednesday, July 9, 2008 - link
This is a preview and not a review. The camera is not even on the market as yet.melgross - Wednesday, July 9, 2008 - link
Are you sure Sony is producing the D3/D700 sensor? That's a question that is being asked around the industry.Wesley Fink - Wednesday, July 9, 2008 - link
We are not 100% certain that Sony manufactures the D3/D700 sensor, but several respected experts have claimed this. Sony is also the most likely partner, since Sony and Nikon do have development agreements with Nikon exclusive marketing rights in place.Samsung and Sony hold joint patents on much of the technology on recent advancements on CMOS manufacturing, and Samsung is supposedly close to producing their first full-frame sensor, according to recent leaks in their R&D. This leak more or less confirms Samsung is not the manufacturer for Nikon, although it is an outside possibility.
Panasonic/Leica would undoubtedly use any full-frame Panasonic manufactured in new Leica models, and Canon certainly didn't produce the sensor for Nikon. That leaves Sony and Kodak as the likely partners, and the long-term relationships and exclusive marketing agreements on joint development point toward Sony being the more likely.
Wesley Fink - Wednesday, July 9, 2008 - link
We are not 100% certain that Sony manufactures the D3/D700 sensor, but several respected experts have claimed this. Sony is also the most likely partner, since Sony and Nikon do have development agreements with Nikon exclusive marketing rights in place.Samsung and Sony hold joint patents on much of the technology on recent advancements on CMOS manufacturing, and Samsung is supposedly close to producing their first full-frame sensor, according to recent leaks in their R&D. This leak more or less confirms Samsung is not the manufacturer for Nikon, although it is an outside possibility.
Panasonic/Leica would undoubtedly use any full-frame Panasonic manufactured in new Leica models, and Canon certainly didn't produce the sensor for Nikon. That leaves Sony and Kodak as the likely partners, and the long-term relationships and exclusive marketing agreements on joint development point toward Sony being the more likely.
yyrkoon - Tuesday, July 8, 2008 - link
Does not look like a bad camera for the price point, but if IQ is not as good as the competition we all would probably be better off with a $300 P&SNow where is the rest of the review ?