The reduction in size and weight is commendable and results in a camera that fits well in the hand and still has all controls sensibly sized and spaced around the body. Operation of the Canon is as near to intuitive as a complex piece of equipment is likely to be.

The lens that Canon supplied for testing is not the usual kit lens but one of their superb image stabilised USM lenses. This lens focuses quickly and silently and the image stabiliser makes hand holding an acceptable option even at relatively slow shutter speeds. Contrast and colour are exemplary. The bad news is that it is so much better than the kit lens but will add $1100 to the price of entry.

Canon’s Digic processing, as always, delivers well exposed, correctly coloured images and the extra pixels add just a whisker to the image resolution -- but not 33 per cent more as you might think.

Like this: The Canon EOS350D has a lock-up mirror, a boon for long exposures and a facility that the competing Nikon D70 doesn’t have.

Dislike that: There are two small issues with the 350D. Canon has retained the plastic body material [in silver or black] from the 300D and it looks and feels flimsy. And there is still no spot metering.

Parting shot: For anyone with a collection of Canon lenses the issue is pretty clear cut -- this is a perfect reason to cross from film to digital. Those contemplating digital without any lenses in the bag still have to choose between a number of cameras and in particular between the Canon 350D and the Nikon D70. Nikon has a replacement for the D70 due for release in the next few weeks. No doubt it will raise the bar even higher.

MacWorld reviews the Canon EOS350D/Canon Digital Rebel XT
Let'sGoDigital reviews the Canon EOS 350D
Steve's Digicams reviews the Canon Digital Rebel XT
DP Review gives it 4.5 stars.
CNET has a brief video of the Canon Digital Rebel XT.