Canon EOS Digital SLRs Shop All Canon EOS Digital SLRs Online Canon EOS Digital SLRs Feature Comparison Chart Click on model number in the chart below to see photo and detailed features. Click on any underlined feature on this chart for a more detailed explanation. Video Direct also sells Canon High-End PowerShot Digital Cameras and Canon PowerShot Point-and-Shoot Digital Cameras.

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Canon EOS Digital SLR Feature Explanations:

1 - CMOS Sensor

Canon's CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) sensor captures images with exceptional clarity and tonal range. The Canon APS-C size sensor measures 22.2 x 14.8mm, and there's an effective 1.6x increase in the lens's marked focal length when attached. CMOS sensors can also be fabricated to full-frame 35mm dimensions, an important consideration for photographers who wish to use their lenses without a conversion factor. Lauded by the best in the business, Canon's CMOS sensors deliver outstanding resolution and signal purity, making them ideal for the most critical photographic applications.

Taking advantage of its own proprietary technologies, Canon develops and produces its own CMOS sensors. Unlike CCD sensors, CMOS sensors convert and amplify signals before they are transferred to the image processor, enabling them to produce exceptionally clean image data and reduce power consumption by as much as 90%. Data transfer speeds are increased by using multi-channel signal paths that dramatically improve the camera's responsiveness. Canon's CMOS sensors incorporate a unique on-chip noise reduction technology to deal with both fixed pattern and random noise. In addition, a multilayer low-pass filter is placed in front of the sensor to isolate false colors that the sensor may detect. Then, the DIGIC Image Processor processes the image to eliminate those colors while retaining full detail.

2 - Memory Card Image Storage

The EOS Rebel XSi and XS use popular SD and SDHC memory cards. Tiny, inexpensive and available in increasingly large capacities, these cards are a perfect complement to the EOS Rebel's compact design.

The Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR accepts both CompactFlash type I and II cards, giving you plenty of flexibility in recording media size. The camera automatically formats the CF card for either FAT16 or FAT32 according to the maximum storage capacity, choosing FAT32 for capacities higher than 2GB.

3 - High-Speed USB Connection

The pace of image transfer is accelerated (when used with a USB 2.0 compatible computer, printer or other peripheral) thanks to the inclusion of a High-Speed USB 2.0 port. The USB 2.0 port is backwards compatible (at no increased speed) with computers featuring standard USB 1.1 connections.

4 - Canon EF Series Lens Compatibility

Compatibility with over 50 lenses in Canon's celebrated EF lens lineup, from ultra-wide-angle to super-telephoto, is a major advantage of owning these EOS Digital SLRs. Canon's professional L-series lenses have received worldwide acclaim from professionals. Like other EOS Digital SLR cameras, the EOS Rebel XSi and XS are compatible with Canon EF lenses, plus Canon's EF-S series lenses that are manufactured specifically for APS-C sized digital sensors such as the one in the EOS Rebels.

5 - LCD Monitor

The EOS Rebels have large, bright TFTs LCD monitor with 230,000 pixels and a viewing angle of 170 degrees. It's perfect for Live View Function composition or viewing camera settings like AF, ISO, Metering, AF Point selection and flash options.

6 - DIGIC Image Processor

Developed to maximize performance between capturing and recording stages of digital photography, Canon's DIGIC 4 and DIGIC III chips use advanced signal processing technologies to dramatically enhance image quality and deliver a more intuitive, responsive camera. The DIGIC 4 and DIGIC III Image Processors work in concert with Canon's CMOS sensors to achieve even higher levels of performance. Signal processing algorithms work with the multi-channel signal from the sensor and the high-speed DDR-SDRAM buffer to deliver significantly improved camera response. Power consumption has been further reduced for even longer battery life. Color reproduction, noise reduction in low light situations plus reproduction of fine detail also have been significantly improved.

In addition, the latest DIGIC 4 Image Processor speeds up all operations making a number of intensive features possible, such as Face Detection Live mode, HD movie recording and lighting and lens peripheral optimization.

7 - Live View Function

Canon's spectacular Live View shooting is now available through most of the EOS Digital models. Live View Function, where the photographer can compose and shoot directly from the camera's LCD is an indispensable feature for creative photography in any number of situations. It enables the photographer to zoom in and navigate the composition 5x or 10x normal size, while enabling critical focus and allowing more attention to detail. Users can even choose a grid overlay, perfect for architectural photography. In the studio, Live View Function can be used remotely (via a computer) through the camera's USB connection, or wirelessly if the optional Wireless File Transmitter is used.

8 - E-TTL II Flash Compatability

Compatibility with the E-TTL system is a major advantage for advanced amateurs, because it opens a world of creative options. E-TTL stands for Evaluative Through-The-Lens flash exposure control, and requires the use of an EX-series dedicated Speedlite. E-TTL uses a pre-flash fired in the instant between the depression of the shutter button and the raising of the reflex mirror. The system uses the camera's own evaluative metering sensor to analyze and compare ambient light exposure values with illumination reflected from the subject by the pre-flash. With this data, it calculates and stores the flash output required for optimum exposure of the main subject (according to the AF-point that has been selected), while maintaining a subtle balance between the foreground and background. Flash photography is consistently natural and properly exposed, despite less-than-perfect lighting situations.

Though still compatible with all EX-series Speedlites, the smarter E-TTL II captures the subject as a plane and ensures that images containing various colors and levels of reflection are captured accurately and optimally. The system compares the ambient light with the reflected pre-flash off the subject reported in all metering zones and selects the areas with a small difference to be weighted for flash exposure calculation.

This system also eliminates or under weights areas with large difference recognizing them as an extremely reflective object in the background or as a highly reflective subject, smartly ensuring it by considering the distance information data provided from compatible EF lenses. The system similarly prevents over-exposure when photographers lock focus and recompose the shot by considering the flash output level calculated according to the broader distance. The camera also allows users to select an average metering pattern by using its customs function settings.

9 - EOS Integrated Cleaning System

Canon has designed an Integrated Cleaning System with a Self Cleaning Sensor Unit customized to each EOS Digital SLR camera that combats stray dust that can enter the camera when changing a lens or when out in the field. The front surface of the sensor's IR-cut / Low-pass filter cleans itself automatically with ultrasonic vibrations every time the camera is turned on or off. Removed dust adheres to material around the filter to ensure it stays off. With DPP, dust missed by the cleaning unit is captured by Canon's Dust Delete Data Detection and can be erased from the image file.

10 - Selectable Light Metering

The Canon EOS Rebel XS offers 35-zone evaluative metering, partial metering and center-weighted average metering. The EOS Rebel XSi features a spot meter, which analyzes 4% of the composition, plus center-weighted average metering and partial metering for accurate exposure no matter the situation.

11 - Auto Lighting Optimizer

The Auto Lighting Optimizer automatically corrects image exposure to ensure accurate brightness and contrast. It can actually brighten areas of the composition while maintaining highlight details and accurate exposure in others, or darken areas of composition while maintaining brightness and shadow details in others. This remarkable feature is available as both an automatic feature in Full Auto and Creative Auto shooting modes, and can be used and fine-tuned in other modes. This feature can be applied to RAW images in-camera with 4-level settings.

12 - Picture Style Technology

With the myriad features and settings available, even the best photographer might occasionally have doubts as to whether all of the camera settings are optimal for the shot. Canon's ingenious Picture Style feature comes to the rescue, providing a number of user-friendly presets, including standard, neutral and landscape, giving the ability to fine-tune the images the camera produces. They enable the photographer to make optimal choices based simply on the type of shooting. These presets can be used in much the same way one would use different types of film, and more can be created using Canon's included Picture Style Editor Software. Individual camera settings -- such as sharpening, contrast, color tone, and saturation can be overridden if need be.

13 - Full HD Video Recording

The EOS Rebel T1i shoots brilliant movies, even in full high-definition. By simply selecting Movie mode on the EOS Rebel T1i's mode dial, the EOS Rebel T1i's 3.0-inch screen lights up and it's ready to go. The benefits of shooting video with the EOS Rebel T1i are enormous: thanks to the EOS Rebel T1i's high-sensitivity sensor, movies shot at night appear crisp and detailed. And thanks to the broad range of EF and EF-S lenses compatible with the EOS Rebel T1i, not only are a vast range of focal lengths available, but beautiful effects like blurred backgrounds are easy to make with the large aperture lenses that can be used without compromise. Playback modes are easy to access, and all live-view AF features can be used when shooting video.

14 - Rugged Magnesium Alloy Body, Stainless Steel Chassis

The EOS 50D is a durable, dependable camera. The top, front, and rear covers of the body are made of magnesium alloy, known for its outstanding strength and lightweight. Furthermore, by integrating the camera grip with the front cover, Canon engineers have achieved excellent body rigidity. The body's basic chassis is constructed of stainless steel for superior durability and long-term mechanical reliability.

15 - Wireless File Transmitter Option

Originally designed for use with the EOS 40D camera, the Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E3A is also compatible with the EOS 50D, providing advanced functions and capabilities, such as both wireless (802.11b or g) and wired (100Mbps Ethernet) LAN connectivity. Its powerful transmitter with high-performance internal antenna deliver extended wireless range -- up to 492 feet (150m)* from the computer or a network access point. You can connect a compatible third-party GPS device via USB, enabling location information to be added to each image's EXIF data. Or, you can connect a USB v.2.0 hard drive to the transmitter for expanded recording media options. The WFT-E3A integrates perfectly with the EOS 50D body and provides a second set of the most often used camera controls for vertical shooting.

* With no obstructions between the transmitting and receiving antennas, and no radio interference. With a large, high-performance antenna attached to the wireless LAN access point.