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Details at a glance
Megapixels: 8
Lens Mount: EF/EF-S
FPS: 3
LCD screen:
Storage: CF
Size: 126(w) x 94(h) x 104(d)
Weight: 485g
We clicked with
Exceptional functionality in a small package
Plenty of scope for your money
Shots in the dark
Lack of weight can compromise integrity for those with less nimble fingers
Links
More Canon information
www.canon.co.uk
Price Comparison:
Canon EOS 350D
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When I first saw this camera it was a bit like seeing nouvelle cuisine for the first time - 'ok where's the rest of it?' For an 8meg Digital SLR camera it's tiny and when you first hold it, it's as light as a bag of marshmallows. However if you want a camera to forget about, this is ideal hand-luggage fodder.
The Canon 350D may be lacking in the weight department but it's got a great spec, a lovely 1.8inch lcd provides instant gratification, there's a built-in flash and more metering modes and exposure settings than you can shake a stick at.
Easy Rider
A centrally-located dial allows you to easily select a variety of modes including portrait, landscape, macro or sports. Underneath is the main on/off switch and as it's a flick-type lever it's fast & easy to use. When you take an image there's a pleasant-sounding clunk accompanied by a brief a high-pitched whiz, rather like a small fly with a sneeze. Focusing is fast and the standard zoom (18-55 3.4-5.6) has a very sexy macro indeed.
The main shutter button activates auto-focusing and auto exposure and behind this is a single dial that allows you to alter various functions- menu operations can be set using buttons adjacent to the LCD. Everything is very simply laid out; and after a few hours you'll be cruising- it's no surprise that in the US this camera is called the "Digital Rebel"- it really is an easy rider.
Flexible and agile
The AF modes cover all eventualities - evaluative, partial and centre-weighted and there's also a handy focus lock. But as the 350D is so lightweight it lacks the stability you may find with heavier models. I happily clicked away but sometimes you need something with a little weight, especially when shooting moving subjects. You get 3 frames per second: not the fastest, but at this price and for an 8-meg camera, asking for more would be like asking for jam.
The ISO selection gives you a wide range to choose from (100-1600) and you're given full flexibility with exposure control and the opportunity to manually select white balance. That said, if you're new to digital photography, don't panic because you really can just get it out of the box and play, you don't have to get knee-deep in all the technicalities to achieve some quite fulfilling results. Take it on a few dates and go slowly!
Images can be protected from accidental erasing, the playback mode will rotate vertical images, there's also red-eye reduction and a self-timer - Canon haven't missed a trick.
8MP quality
Image quality, as you would expect from an 8-meg product is pretty awesome. If you're using a 512MB card you can write up to 145 large jpeg images (great if you 'shoot first and ask questions later') or around 58 RAW images. Output to prints utilising PictBridge technology is a doddle and successful output to A3 and larger should be expected.
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Ease of use 
Functions 
Value for Money
Overall 
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Pound for pound the Canon 350D is light in body but heavy in features, it's the perfect first entry point into the wonderful world of Digital SLRs. For amateurs and semi-pros who want fast results but plenty of room to learn and improve, this is a great choice, plus it's compact enough to become a seasoned travelling companion. |
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