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
A Closer Look
From the front there is very little to tell you that you are looking at an XS instead of an XSi. Both cameras ship with the same kit lens and the size is all but the same. As in past Digital Rebel models you can purchase the XSin either black or silver.
The rear of the entry Canon XS is laid out more like the XSi than the older XTi. The XS uses a 2.5” screen just like the XTi, but there are no push buttons to the left of the screen as there are on the XTi. Canon XSi users will feel totally familiar with the controls when they pick up an XS.
Comparing the rear of the two cameras the XSi stands out with the larger 3” LCD display. However, the 3” and 2.5” displays both have 230,000 dot displays. The Canon 3”, used on the XSi and 40D, is no higher resolution than the smaller screens they replaced. The larger size does make things easier to read on menus.
You can also see the sensor just below the viewfinder on the XSi that is missing from the XS. The sensor is present on the XSi and XTi and turns off the LCD display when you lift the camera to your eye. That feature is not present on the XS.
You can also see the sensor just below the viewfinder on the XSi that is missing from the XS. The sensor is present on the XSi and XTi and turns off the LCD display when you lift the camera to your eye. That feature is not present on the XS.
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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 ?