Canon EOS Digital Rebel (EOS 300D) Offers; December 2004

Digital Rebel Offers

• Canon Mail-In Rebate: Canon are giving a $100 rebate on the Digital Rebel. If you also buy a qualifying lens (sorry, the 18-55 isn't eligible), you get a $200 rebate plus a double rebate on the lens. If you buy two qualifying lenses you get a $300 cash rebate plus a triple cash rebate on the lenses! So you can end up with a Digital Rebel with an 18-55/3/5-5.6 for $582.94, plus between $45 and $300 rebate on two extra lenses (depends on the lens). Even if you don't buy any extra lenses, you still end up getting the Digital Rebel with the 18-55/3/5-5.6 lens for $782.94. Offer good through January 31st 2005. Here's a link to the full details of the rebates

• Amazon/Canon printer Mail-In Rebate: You get a Visa gift card worth $50 to $100 with the purchase of a Digital Rebel with 18-55/3.5-5.6 and a qualifying printer (Pixma ip4000, ip4000R, ip5000, i80 or i9900). Both the ip4000 and ip5000 are under $200 and are excellent quality 5-ink photo printers. I haven't tested them myself yet, but I have seen them in operation at PhotoExpo Plus in NYC this fall and I was impressed with the quality of the output. Offer good though January 31st 2005.

• Amazon/Epson printer Mail-In Rebate: You get between $75 and $175 back after mail-in rebate when you purchase a Digital Rebel with 18-55/3.5-5.6 and an Epson Stylus Photo 1280, 2200, R800, or RX600 inkjet printer. Purchase these products and a Lexar Media 1 GB CF80x card for an additional $30 back. Offer valid through January 31, 2005.

It seems to me that a 6MP Digital Rebel with 18-55/3.5-5.6 lens (which gives the same view as about a 28-90mmm lens on a 35mm canera) for $780 (after rebate) is a much better deal than most high end digicams. With a couple of lenses the price drops to $580. The much larger sensor in the Digital Rebel gives much higher image quality, especially at high ISO settings (the Digital Rebel goes to ISO 1600, most digicams go no higher than ISO 400 and show more noise at ISO 400 than the Digital Rebel does at ISO 1600!). You also get a LOT more control than with digicam, plus the ability to use an external flash system and any one of over 30 different Canon lenses and probably 100 different 3rd party lenses from Tamron, Tokina and Sigma.

If you're at all serious about photography and want to go digital, but you have limited funds, the Digital Rebel is a great buy right now - even better if you want an extra lens or two and a printer. Small, pocketable digicams are very convenient for snapshots, and if you want a camera you can put in your pocket they are great, but the truth is that if image quality is your primary concern, a digital SLR like the Digital Rebel will give much better results. The kit lens isn't a bad. You can read all about it in the EF-S 18-55/3.5-5.6 review

If you're interested, you should also read my full, hands on, review of the Canon EOS Digital Rebel (300D) to learn more about it.

The following links will take you directly to the Amazon.com website. Make sure to read the information on all the available rebates and offers which are listed on the product page. If you really want to save every dollar, you can get an extra $30 off if you take out an Amazon Visa card to pay them with! Shipping is free and you have a 30-day return option.

Rebel + 18-55mm

Rebel Body only

Battery Grip

Semi-hard Case

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