Windows Phone Thoughts: Full Circle: The Canon EOS Digital Rebel

Back when I was in college, I took a photography class. I had always enjoyed taking photos with the family cameras, but had never had a camera that I could call my own. For that photography class, I purchased a Canon Rebel, an entry-level 35mm SLR camera. I had a lot of fun with the camera, because it let me experiment with manual settings, or just point and shoot if I felt like it. After the Rebel, I moved on through a series of digital cameras (Kodak DC 265, Canon S110, Canon G3, Canon S400), but I've always had a soft spot for the manual feel of an SLR camera and zoom. The problem was always the price: I just couldn't justify dropping 3K+ on a pro level SLR, especially since it's a hobby, not something I can make money at.

So it was with great delight that I learned that Canon was going to revolutionize the world of digital SLR photography by releasing a sub-$1000 USD digital SLR camera with a removable lens. My camera buying habits have come full circle: I now want a digital Rebel as my primary camera. You can check out all the details on the Rebel on the Canon Web site, but suffice it to say that Canon has dramatically changed the camera market forever with the release of a six mega pixel SLR camera at this price range.

You can buy the body only (no lens) for $899 USD, or the camera body and a EF-S 18 - 55mm Lens for $999 USD. $100 seems like a great deal for that lens, so between the two packages I'm going to go for the latter. Anyone else as excited as me about this release from Canon? [Affiliate]