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The Canon Digital Rebel is a lightweight (1-1/2 lb.), comfortable, 6.3 megapixel picture machine capable of taking 300 highest-resolution (3072 x 2048) photos on its card. You aren't likely to run out of capability or, for that matter, battery power unless you are on a rather long shoot. If you do anticipate needing more than the 300, it's a good idea to have a backup battery and memory card. You know your own needs best.
There are a couple of disadvantages: The built-in flash has features but little muscle, and the camera’s light weight is due |
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largely to the liberal use of plastic parts. Plastic parts means breakable parts. If you are going to take your photographs in a war zone or where you are likely to get jostled, perhaps you might wish to invest in a more costly, heavier camera. If you are big on black and white, you should probably stick with film.
But if you want fine shots that are fully manipulatable with PhotoshopTM, and you are not going to shoot in the rough and tumble of the zone, then this camera deserves a hard look.
Comfortable to hold, it has a fully automatic setting that will do all your left-brain work for you. If you don’t wish to do the thinking for a particular shot, punch the little green symbol and you can now function as right brain photog in this cyber marriage of human and machine.
The camera handles very nicely and, if you are proficient with PhotoshopTM, can help you realize your most creative visions. Now, here is where we must discuss differences in camera types. Why, for instance, invest over $1000 in an SLR-format camera when you can buy even 6 megapixel units for hundreds less?
Because it feels good, handles big blowups, and allows you the freedom to create striking photos with features at your fingertips that many other cameras just do not have.
The Rebel's viewfinder is adjustable, allowing focusing without glasses for most people.
Of course the main advantage of any digital camera is that you see your photograph immediately and can save or delete it on the spot.
So why buy a midrange digital camera in the thousand-dollar range rather than a less-expensive point-and-shoot model or a higher-end professional model? All three give you the ability to see your shots on the spot so you really don’t miss any good ones. All three save you the expense of purchasing film and the time of waiting for the lab to return your pictures.
One answer is that the point-and-shoots don't have interchangeable lenses. Anyone who takes photography the least bit seriously understands the value of having the capacity to put a real telephoto or a real wide-angle lens to use. Most point-and-shoots come with a zoom lens, which is the best everyday choice, but it's a very real advantage for the serious hobbyist or professional to be able to click in a fisheye or macro.
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