Canon EOS 1000D / Digital Rebel XS

Model

FOVCF

Sensor

Pixel Size

Pixels/Megapixels

Viewfinder

1000D

1.6x

22.2 x 14.8mm

5.7µm

3888 x 2592

10.1

.81x

95%

Model

fps

Max JPG

Max RAW

Startup

1000D

3 / 1.5

n/a

5

.1s

The EOS 1000D, or Digital Rebel XS as it’s known in North America, is Canon’s latest entry-level DSLR. It’s the true successor to the best-selling EOS 400D / Rebel XTi and positioned below the EOS 450D / Rebel XSi which was launched six months earlier.

The new EOS 1000D / XS shares several key specifications with its predecessor. It has the same 10.1 Megapixel resolution using a CMOS sensor, the same 3fps continuous shooting rate (for JPEGS anyway) and the same sized 2.5in 230k pixel screen round the back (although it’s now brighter and sports a wider viewing angle). So far so similar, but Canon has of course made a number of changes.

Physically speaking the new EOS 1000D / XS is a slightly different shape to its predecessor, and closer to the recent 450D / XSi; indeed it also shares the same battery pack as the 450D / XSi along with its optional grip and a swap from Compact Flash to SD memory cards. Canon’s additionally shed further weight from the new model and at 450g, it’s officially the company’s lightest DSLR to date – 25g lighter than the 450D / XSi and 60g lighter than the 400D / XTi.

Canon EOS 1000D / Rebel XS verdict

When Canon first announced the EOS 450D / Rebel XSi in January 2008, most assumed it would be the natural successor to the best-selling EOS 400D / Rebel XTi, but the older model was kept on as an entry-level proposition. Then in June 2008 Canon announced the EOS 1000D / XS as its new entry-level DSLR and the true successor to the 400D / XTi.

The EOS 1000D / XS shares several key aspects in common with its predecessor, most notably the 10.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor which continues to deliver excellent results – indeed in our tests with the default settings, the output was sometimes preferable to the 450D / XSi. The screen on the new body is also the same size as the 400D / XTi, although now brighter with a wider viewing angle. The body shape has additionally been refined and it’s now the lightest DSLR from Canon to date, while also adopting the 450D / XSi’s switch to SD memory and a new battery. But the major improvements over the 400D / XTi are support for Live View and the standard bundling of an Image Stabilised lens.