Canon EOS Digital Rebel SLR Camera

Why another Digital Rebel review?

Do a search on Google, Yahoo, or other search engines out there, you will find a dozen Digital Rebel, 300D, and Kiss Digital reviews on the first page. Take a look at the "Related Links" below if you feel too lazy to do a search. So, why bother with another review?

Tip
Digital Rebel, 300D, and Kiss Digital are all the same camera, if you don't already know. Kiss Digital is the marketing name in Japan, 300D in Europe, and Digital Rebel in North America.

Voice my strong opinions, for one. But really, I found most reviews to be general highlights and overviews of the product they review. Many of these reviews are just glorified versions of the product specification sheet provided by the manufacturer. But what about the ambiguity that is pointed out by the spec sheet or the subtle detail that is uncovered during daily use? Who would report those issues?

My reports tend to focus on the little things that matter to the everyday photographer. I generally rave and rant about features, usability, convenience, and capability. But the bottom-line reason: I just want to point out the good and bad designs, so when Canon engineers (or their rival *hint* *hint*) read the article, they can use it to produce better cameras in the future. Photographers win, manufacturers win.

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Automatic Image Rotation

The Digital Rebel has a cool new feature called Automatic Image Rotation. When the camera senses that a vertical image has been taken, it automatically rotates the final image and shows the rotated image on the LCD screen. This function is indispensable, because I used to spend a lot of post-processing time rotating the picture by hand. I shoot mostly vertical pictures, so this feature saves me a lot of time. My only gripe is that it also rotates the image on the LCD screen. When it does, vertical image takes up only half of the screen, which renders the image smaller and harder to review; approximately 1/2x smaller. This display rotation is unnecessary because it is easy to turn the camera vertically for review. I do it all the time on the D30. Nevertheless, I still keep this function turned on (it can be disabled through the menus), because the post-process time saving is tremendous. But Canon, if you are listening, please give us the option of not rotating the thumbnail on the LCD, while this function is turned on!

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RAW + JPEG

Canon introduced a cool new feature in the Digital Rebel that allowed the camera to store both RAW and JPEG at the same time. That is a great idea because RAW requires post-processing on the computer. RAW may be overkill if you just want to use a picture on the web, yet you might still want to capture the RAW data in case you will ever need it in the future.

The idea is excellent. Except Canon implemented it in a bad manner. The Digital Rebel stores both the RAW data and the JPEG data in the same CRW file! This means that you will have to use the included software to extract the JPEG data. This implementation practically defeats the purpose of storing both RAW and JPEG at the same time, because you would have to do post-processing anyway. And if you are going to do post-processing anyway, you might as well process the RAW file to get the JPEG image. The included JPEG just makes the CRW file much bigger.

[Placeholder for adding time comparison between JPEG extraction vs. JPEG conversion.]

Sure, the included JPEG might be faster to extract than doing a RAW conversion. But I don't believe that the swiftness in extraction out-weights the bigger CRW file size and the hassle of working with the included software. The ideal implementation would be to store RAW and JPEG in separate files. This solution allows the user to decide if they want to open the JPEG directly or convert from RAW. A supplemental suggestion is to allow the user to store RAW only without JPEG. In addition, give user the ability to pick the JPEG quality and size stored in the CRW file would be nice.

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Real World Experience

So far, I have been relying on the Canon EOS D30 as my primary camera. But I have finally gotten the Canon BG-El vertical battery grip for the Digital Rebel, turning it into a serious contender to the D30. See, I believe that every camera should have a vertical shutter release. A vertical shutter release allows you to keep your right elbow beside your torso for a steady shot. And I shoot vertical photographs at least 75% of the time. Now that I finally have the vertical shutter release, I took the Canon EOS Digital Rebel on my San Diego trip as my primary camera this past weekend. I wanted to see how the Digital Rebel performs in real world conditions.

Viewfinder Rubber Eye Cup

The viewfinder rubber eyecup is made for consumers. It doesn't belong on the Digital Rebel. The eye support is made out of a very soft rubber compound that is fitted over the plastic eyecup. One rub to the eyecup could pull the rubber piece is off the plastic eyecup track.

It's normal for me to carry my camera by my side with my right hand; camera strap wrapped around my right wrist. My index finger is never far from the shutter release. Whenever I see action, I can instantaneously bring the viewfinder up to my eye and snap off a frame. It even works with one hand. This habit is many times faster than fumbling for the camera that is hung from the neck.

This habit means that the SLR is always by my side as I walk. It means that the viewfinder may rub against my clothes. For the Digital Rebel, it means that I'm constantly fighting with the rubber coming off the viewfinder cup.

I haven't had this problem with the D30, the Elan IIe, the IX, nor any of the film Rebels. Why am I fighting with the Digital Rebel viewfinder rubber? Upon closer examination of the D30 viewfinder eyecup, I realized that Canon used a harder rubber compound on the D30 eyecup that is also stiffly held to the plastic. Canon needs to make the Digital Rebel, and its other entry level digital SLR cameras, far more robust for them to be serious contenders.

If I were to carry the Digital Rebel out to the field again, I'd have to superglue the viewfinder rubber, or even get another D30 viewfinder eyecup to put it on the Digital Rebel. The D30 and the Digital Rebel eyecups are interchangeable on the camera bodies. However, the D30 eyecup is quite a bit bigger than the Digital Rebel eyecup.

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LCD Buttons

The LCD buttons that are on the left side of the rear LCD are not protected from accidental press. Several times, I'd walk with the camera by my side. When I look down, the menu would be showing on the screen. Sometimes it was the last photo that I shot being shown. I was surprised to see these occurrences because these symptoms have never occurred on my D30 before.

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Upon closer examination of the D30, I realized that the LCD buttons on the D30 are fully surrounded by the case to prevent accidental depression. On the Digital Rebel, the left side (the side that needed the most protection) had no protection at all. Whenever the buttons rubbed against my side, one of the buttons would get activated.

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ISO 3200

The ISO 3200 (not available on a stock Digital Rebel, but available through the Wasia firmware hack) is a true blessing. In dark situations, many times I was still able to shoot at 1/30 or 1/50 at f/5.6. These speeds are amazing when used along with image stabilization. If I had f/2.8 lenses, then I can get shutter speed in 1/125 range. It's like shooting in daylight! Other than 6 MP, I feel ISO 3200 is the only feature on the Digital Rebel that surpasses the D30.

Wasia Firmware Hack

Wanna know more about this incredible hack? Check out the Hacking Digital Cameras book. Chapter 6 of the book is titled, "Improving Your Canon EOS Digital Rebel". It talks about the Wasia firmware hack in great detail. Details include guiding you through find the hack, installing it on your Digital Rebel, instructing you on how to use each one of the features, and explaining how to return your camera back to the original condition (if you so desires). Setting it up is a lot easier than you think.

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In the Field

The Digital Rebel digital camera really disappointed me in the field. I have always been a fan of the Canon Rebel series. I started with the Canon Rebel G 35mm film camera. It had always served me well. Even with its plastic lens mount, it had never failed when I tracked egress and ducks in grasslands with my white L-series lens. The Digital Rebel, with its metal lens mount gave me the impression that it will hold up to all sorts of abuse in the field. Little did I know that the Digital Rebel is really only targeted for home use, parties, and get-togethers.

I've had the Digital Rebel for two years now. But I usually on carried my trusty D30 out in the field. Using the rotating command dial on the back of the D30 for exposure compensation is just so much easier than Digital Rebel's finger-twisting exercise. However, recently, I've decided to try the Digital Rebel as my primary camera. I figured it's time to move up to 6 MP. And the photo review functionality is so user friendly on the Digital Rebel.

So far, I have only brought the Digital Rebel out in the field three or four times, and I have already decided that it cannot serve as my primary field camera. It's just not durable enough. The rubber or the viewfinder is very loose. It detaches when I am walking around with the camera in my hand. The first few times, it would detach and dangle from one corner of the viewfinder. I was able to put it back. The last time I went to the carnival, I lost it completely.

I have since then, replaced it with the Canon Eyecup EF (see Related Links below). It came with a much tougher rubber frame. And so far, doesn't seem to detach. So maybe Canon fixed the problem in its production.

Later, I took it to the Willow Springs International Raceway. And I was mounting and un-mounting my telephoto lenses, the plastic lens release button launched itself off the camera body. I recovered both the button and the spring. But the button is broken, so there is no fixing it.

I don't know what it is about the Digital Rebel that makes it so unreliable compared to the older film Rebels. It seems that Canon doesn't make the Rebel line as they used to. I'd suggest moving up one series in Canon's DSLR product line.

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