Digital Lifestyle > Reviews > Budget DSLRs group test > Canon EOS 1000D

Canon EOS 1000D

Canon EOS 1000D
  • Manufacturer: Canon (http://www.canon.co.uk)
  • Pros: Good quality consistent results using kit lens; easy to use and solidly built; fair value when bought with image-stabilised zoom
  • Cons: Live View initially buried; max ISO could be higher; no in-body stabilisation
  • Min specs: 10.1Mp CMOS sensor; up to 3fps; 7-point wide-area AF; Self-Cleaning Image Sensor; 2.5in LCD with Live View mode; DIGIC III processor; SD/SDHC card slot; Picture Styles processing; Compact and lightweight; Compatible with EF/EF-S lenses and EX Speedlites; 126.1x97.5x61.9mm; 450g
  • Price: £370.32 inc VAT
  • Star rating: 4

The compact, lightweight 10-megapixel 1000D is the most affordable route into the Canon EOS system, which offers the unmatchable advantage of over 60 compatible lenses. It may be longer in the tooth than the others here, but with street prices well under £500 for a body and an image-stabilised 18-55mm lens – extremely useful for avoiding blur when shooting handheld or in low light without flash – this one’s practically a steal.

The 1000D is quick to power up, and is ready for the first shot in a second – though the 2.5in LCD display takes a further second to warm up. As we’d hoped, the 1000D demonstrates little shutter delay and saves JPEGs rapidly. Large, chunky dials and buttons aid operation and it feels solid, despite its plastic build. The zoom is commendably high-quality for a kit lens, producing even sharpness across the frame.

Shooting from awkward angles is made easy with Live View, which enables the screen to be used for composition as you would on a compact or cameraphone. Users will have to hunt to activate it, though, as irritatingly the LV setting is initially buried within menu screens.

Other grumbles include light sensitivity that tops out at a ‘mere’ ISO 1600, as on an average point-and-shoot; and the lack of in-body anti-shake, which you’ll find on competing models here. That said, the level of detail is good using the supplied lens, and image colours are rich – while remaining on the right side of naturalistic – when used at the default settings.

However, if you want HD video shooting but still want to use the Canon system, look to the EOS 500D model, which is similarly user-friendly but costs almost £400 more. Otherwise there’s the 450D, which for another £100 offers 12.1-megapixel resolution, 3.5 frames per second (fps) continuous capture, 9-point auto-focus (AF) and a 3in LCD. Sure, the 1000D ticks most of the boxes for the photo enthusiast, but we’re left with the impression that it was introduced more to claw back market share from rival Nikon than to be innovative in its own right.

This product is part of our Budget DSLRs group test group product review. Other products in this group are:

 

Nikon D3000

  • Star rating: 4

 

Olympus E-600

  • Star rating: 4

 

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1

  • Star rating: 4

 

Pentax K-x

  • Editors ChoiceStar rating: 5

 

Sony A230

  • Star rating: 3

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