Canon Rebel Sets the Bar for High-End Consumer Digital Cameras
Early digital cameras had low resolutions which produced grainy photos. These were fine for emailing to friends but didn’t look very good as prints, and they looked even worse if they were blown up to 5×7 or larger. There were a few high-end digital cameras, but they were expensive and much more complicated to use.
Professional photographers still used 35mm single lens reflex (SLR) cameras, and amateurs who wanted pro-level cameras without pro-level prices used SLRs like the Canon Rebel. Canon Rebel cameras set the bar for consumer level single lens reflex cameras with the original Canon Rebel. It combined a tough, sturdy camera body with a wide range of interchangeable lenses for a lot less than the $1,000 body price of most professional level SLRs.
The Rebel was easy to use, took fast, clear photos, and was supported by a great range of lenses from wide-angle fisheyes to long-reaching telephoto lenses.
As digital cameras got more advanced, more and more professional photographers began shooting in digital instead of 35mm. Some even switched completely to digital photography for the ease of use of the cameras, the quick and easy ability to digitally remaster their photos, and the ability to take hundreds of photos and delete all but the very best. The technology caught up as well, with professional-level digital SLRs providing over ten mega pixel resolution - enough for just about all but wall-sized enlargements.
The Canon Rebel camera series answered with the Canon Digital Rebel which, like the original Rebel, brought professional-level technology down a half step for the consumer. The Digital Rebel offered eight mega pixel resolution, high enough for just about any conceivable amateur use, and a host of new, high-quality Canon lenses. Not only that, the Digital Rebel also supported all of the lenses the original 35mm Rebel accepted. Many enterprising amateurs who already had 35mm Rebels bought Digital Rebels as well, since their lenses could interchange easily between the two camera bodies.
Canon Rebel cameras have set the bar and established the high-end range of cameras for consumers (both in 35mm and digital formats), between the high-end professional cameras and the lower-end point and shoots. Not surprisingly, the Digital Rebel has become the best-selling digital SLR, and the 35mm Rebel is one of the best selling 35mm SLRs. As of this writing, there are two Digital Rebel models available - the 6.5 megapixel EOS Digital Rebel, and the 8 megapixel Digital Rebel XT.
