Top D-SLRs Under $1,000

It was just five years ago that Canon introduced the original EOS Digital Rebel, which became the first digital SLR to sell for less than $1,000. That was a big breakthrough, and today there are more than a dozen models selling for less than that, including some models selling for half the price.

Here are the newest models to fall under the $1,000 mark. The best part about these new models is that they’re very capable cameras, delivering excellent image quality and performance and providing a host of versatile features found in pro-level D-SLRs.

CANON EOS REBEL XSi
The EOS Rebel XSi is the fourth generation of the original price barrier-busting EOS Digital Rebel. Despite its very compact size and low price, the 12.2-megapixel XSi sports a number of features found in Canon’s pro D-SLRs, including a 3.0-inch LCD monitor, a Live-View mode, the EOS Integrated Cleaning System to keep dust off the image sensor, the DIGIC III image processor, 14-bit A/D conversion (which can provide 16,384 gradations, as opposed to 4,096 for 12-bit images), E-TTL flash control, various Picture Styles and more.

In Live-View mode, you can focus manually or use phase-detection or sensor-contrast AF modes. You even can route the Live View to a computer and control it using the supplied EOS Utility software. The Picture Styles allow you to start with one of six “looks” (Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral, Faithful or Monochrome) and then tweak the sharpening, contrast, saturation and color tone (in Monochrome, filter effect and toning, rather than saturation and color tone). You also can save and recall up to three User Defined Picture Styles.

Canon offers more than 50 lenses for EOS cameras, and the XSi can use them all, including the EF-S types, which can’t be used on the pro D-SLRs. Focal lengths range from a 10-22mm wide zoom to an 800mm super-telephoto.