Canon EOS 300D (EOS Digital Rebel / EOS Kiss Digital)

Opinion: This replaces a Minolta 7HI which it absolutely blows away in
picture quality. While the plastic case lacks a high end "feel", it is
as good in this respect as the 7HI. Very satisfied with my results so
far, and looking forward to the creative flexibility of additional
lenses in the future

Opinion: I have taken over 400 pictures with my EOS Rebel digital in the last week.
The build and finish are excellent and the included lens is sharp and useful. I purchased a Tamron 75-300 zoom for the camera and it works great in most picture taking circumstances. Neither lens focuses well in dim light, but manual focus is easy to use.
The battery life is outstanding and recharges within 90 minutes.
Being able to set a USEFUL ISO was a big factor for me. There is no noise at ISO 400 and not much at ISO 800. I can get shots in lighting situations that was impossible before. My "prosumer" camera would not allow anything over ISO 100 without noise.
The depth of field preview is also useful but takes getting used to. I recommend setting the aperture and letting the camera set the shutter speed.
The viewfinder has all the info you need amd is bright and large enough to focus accurately.
Price was a big factor also, If Nikon had a product in this price and feature range I would have considered it as I have some good nikon lenses.
I highly recommend the Canon Digital Rebel/300d. I don't think I could do without it! Here is a link to one of my fav pics: http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=1787156&size=lg

Opinion: Good overal Camera that would make you happy with the picture quality.

Opinion: crippled meetering, crippled focusing...

No flash compensation made me downgrade this camera for the features rating. The camera focuses very fast even in low light and the flash is quite accurate. I understand that there is some occasions when a flash compensation would be needed but it is not available Shame Canon for removing such basic founction!

The LCD is very soft and does not show the photo as it is. It shows the photo much more blurred that it is really so it's hard to judge if the photo is really sharp or not...they all looks very soft on the LCD, magnified to the maximum.

meetering need some getting used to as it is linked to the focusing method...WIERD.

As update to my previous rating..I found situations where the camera simply cannot work. I did not managed to get a correctly exposed photos when taking constraty subject like a black and white lemur. focus on the black fur and you get an overexposed photo..focus on the white fur and you get an underexposed photo. Only way is it lock the exposure on some neutral color or to use the histogram and exposure compensation. either way it is not a convenient solution for shooting that perfect moment!

The AI focus is very very temperamental and easily kick from camera shake...but it failed to activate for a flying bird..even when the bird was close enough to fill in the frame completely. The AI focus also kick in when you are trying to use the full-time manual focusing with this feature not usable on the 300D.

To my opinion, the AI focus and the meetering linkage to the focusing method are a total flop and a real design flaw.

Image quality is incredible. There is no doubt that the camera is a good value for the money, but the 10D is well worth the difference in price and has a lot less anoyance and limitations. There are situations where the 300D will just fail to make a correct exposure or AI focus decision..wehreas a simply 300$ point and shoot will expose the same subject perfectly.