S$1339
Product Summary
8
out of 10View score
The bad: Lightweight plastic body isn't ergonomically satisfying; no spot meter; limited continuous-shooting mode, unimpressive kit lens; 1.6x lens-conversion factor.
The bottom line: The Canon EOS 350D is an exceptionally small and lightweight camera designed for amateur dSLR owners, but it delivers the responsiveness and image quality you'd expect from a semipro model.
Read full review of the Canon EOS 350D »
Average User Rating
from 14 users
CNET Asia Review
The Canon EOS 350D represents a leap forward from its predecessor, the original EOS 300D, offering more than one might expect from the addition of a couple consonants to the name. The 350D is a zippy performer. It offers more creative control than its predecessor and boasts an 8-megapixel CMOS sensor and Canon's Digic II processing engine. Canon touts its smaller, lighter body as well; it's nearly as small as you can get in a digital SLR. But while that might appeal to the small handed and nimble, the 350D's compressed, lightweight, and slightly chintzy-feeling frame will be a hindrance to others who prefer a solid grip and a balanced camera body--particularly if they're using a lens any heavier than the mediocre 18mm-to-55mm f/3.5-to-f/5.6 unit included in the kit. In terms of image quality, the 350D is a bargain, delivering wonderfully detailed and colorful images for a competitive price. While the 350D lacks some features found on the more solid and slightly pricier Nikon D70, the 350D is the clear winner when it comes to resolution and dynamic range.
Design
The all-plastic Canon EOS 350D is extremely lightweight for an SLR. Without a lens, it weighs only about 490g. It also comes in your choice of a traditional matte-black or brushed-silver finish. The body is quite small, too, about a half-inch narrower than the EOS 300D. The only dSLR that's more compact is Pentax's *ist DS.
The mode dial, single control dial, power switch, and shutter release are the only camera-top controls.
All of the controls for adjusting shooting settings are concentrated on the right side of the camera back.
While the camera's size and weight make it wonderfully portable for travel, we found it a little uncomfortable for prolonged shooting. The hard plastic and only slightly textured grip aren't ergonomically designed for average-size hands, and the limited real estate makes it too easy to accidentally trip buttons while shooting. That's particularly true of the autoexposure-lock button on the upper-right side of the camera back, which sits where your thumb needs to be to keep the camera balanced. These quirks become much more noticeable when you're using a Canon EF-mount lens other than the very lightweight zoom included in the kit.
To the left of the main and status LCDs, you'll find the menu access button and playback controls.
The two buttons on the upper-right corner of the camera back let you select focus points and lock exposure.
Most controls are laid out well. There isn't enough space on top of the camera to display camera status, but a status readout appears above the rear LCD monitor. The power switch is secure and out of the way alongside the top command dial, which is logically labeled with standard exposure abbreviations and six scene-mode icons (although one of those "scenes" is Flash Off, the only flash adjustment you can make without menu surfing). On the back, there's a pad of four-way directional buttons designed to enable quick adjustments of ISO, autofocus, white balance, and metering mode. While you must make these adjustments within the LCD menu system, pushing the buttons brings you directly to them. The control dial located on top of the grip primarily changes aperture, shutter speed, and when used in tandem with a button on the back, exposure compensation.
Rate It Now
User Reviews
great camera
Feb 27, 2008Rating: 9 out of 10 (Spectacular)
Pros: very good pictures low noise , fast startup ,compact
Cons: No spot metering
Opinion:
i love it and I was amazed by the lightness and versatility of this camera , It's also great with ISO up to 800 so a high ISO is useful
Perfect picture quality, easy to use and compact .
Could Be Better!
Feb 12, 2008Rating: 6 out of 10 (Good)
Pros: + Ultra low noise, even at ISO 1600, + Excellent battery life, + Huge range of compatible lenses
Cons: - No spot metering, - No matrix grid to achieve level horizons, - Small view finder & LCD display, - Ongoing dust problems on sensor
Opinion:
Takes good photos for beginner or weekend shooter, but do not consider if you are a fastidious photographer or professional.
It is difficult to shoot small wildlife in heavy canopies, without dedicated spot metering.
Impossible to shoot level horizons, such as sunsets etc. with no grid frame display and a small view finder and small LCD display, doesn't help much either.
I have had ongoing dust problems on the sensor, even having the same lens on at all times. Possible dust in camera since new, or other wise a quality problem, with dust getting in.
It might pay to wait for the new Canon model 450D XSI, coming in mid 2008, which will possibly address some of the short comings of this model. Cheers!
5 out of 10 camera i wouldnt really go for this one ! i may prefer a nikon( BATTERY LIFE GR8)
Apr 22, 2006Rating: 5 out of 10 (Average)
Pros: extensive manual controls nice handling, good qual screen
Cons: BAD quality in auto, wasnt completely satisfied for the price i payed ( even though got a good deal)
Opinion:
was an ok camera as i hav said would only giv it 5 out of 10 wasnt realy impressed with the image quality for a 8 megapixle CANON i hav found that a 6.1 megapixle nikon seemed to be a much better quality camera also only 3 quaters of the price i would really recommend u shop around first before buying this camera ESPESCIALLY look in the nikkon range p.s do NOT think that a 6mp slr is not going to be good quality as i do know from experience that depending on the brand a 6mp slr can be very good qual e.g nikon d50,d100.
BUT ....
DEFNITLY ask for samples of image quality before u buy ! "always try before u buy" (some reviews can be not at all accurate)
GOOD LUCK! :)
User Discussion
