< A href="http://www.usa.canon.com/html/canonindex.html">Canon USA announced Thursday the long-rumored isuccessori to the EOS Digital Rebel -- the EOS Digital Rebel XT.
The update includes a large number of improvements including a jump in resolution of 27% from six to eight megapixels, 13% lighter in weight, 9 custom settings menus with a total of 24 settings, a switch to Canonis DIGIC II image processor that saves battery life, and a start-up time of just 0.2 seconds.
Other new features include a burst speed and depth improvement from 2.5 frames per second for 4 JPEG/RAW frames on the original Rebel to 3.0 fps for 14 JPEG frames or five RAW frames on the new Rebel XT, and a switch to saving files in Canonis new CR2 RAW format which lets the user save in RAW, or a RAW and Large JPEG simultaneously.
The EOS Digital Rebel XT is expected to begin shipping next month at US$899 for the body only, or for $999 as part of a kit with a EF-S 18-55 millimeter lens. The original Rebel will remain in the product family at $799, including lens.
The EOS Digital Rebel XT will debut at the Photo Marketing Association tradeshow in Orlando, Florida next week, but already itis getting high marks from photo professionals who see it as a formidable competitor to similar digital cameras from Nikon, Fuji and Olympus, to name just a few.
The EOS Digital Rebel XT .
(Photo courtesy of Imaging Resource)