The 1100D can also shoot at a handy 3fps useful for capturing everyone looking and smiling in a big group of family members or for capturing a fast moment without the possibility of potentially missing the shot.

The Canon EOS Rebel T3 is a mixed bag. In cameras, you really do get what you pay for. The T3 doesn't deliver what it should, even for the low price.

Responsive; good quality 12.2-megapixel DSLR; 720p HD Videos at 30 fps; 3fps burst mode

No front AF Assist lamp (uses built-in flash; Images not super sharp; Awkward control placement

As the entry point to Canon's DSLR range, the 1100D sits below the older yet still available 550D and the more recent 600D as a sort of bare-bones version of these more advanced entry-level models.

Image quality; Relatively user-friendly; Cheapest entry-point to Canon DSLR system

Plastic finish feels a bit cheap; No rubberisation on grip; Contrast-detect live view AF is slow

Canon's EOS 1100D enters the market as a stripped down version of its more expensive siblings, the 550D and 600D. Banking on its genetic lineage, it hopes to stand on its own with less perks and a matching lower price tag.

: Image quality; Relatively user-friendly; Cheapest entry-point to Canon DSLR system : Plastic finish feels a bit cheap; No rubberisation on grip; Contrast-detect live view AF is slow

: Plastic finish feels a bit cheap; No rubberisation on grip; Contrast-detect live view AF is slow

With Micro Four Thirds models and other mirrorless digital cameras growing in popularity, the digital SLR market has gotten some stiff competition. The category continues to push forward, though, and Canon, which has not yet manufactured a compact interchangeable lens camera, offers up the EOS Rebel...

Very fast; Good low-light performance

Body feels underbuilt; Similarly priced Micro Four Thirds cameras offer better performance in smaller bodies; Live View LCD suffers from painfully slow focus; Poor focusing in movie mode

(1 items) Canon's entry-level EOS Rebel T3 is a step up from Canon's popular XS DSLR, adding a bump up to a 12 megapixel sensor, a DIGIC 4 processor, longer battery life, higher ISO capabilities, improved autofocus and metering systems and the now ubiquitous video capture-a feature missing from the

Beginner friendly Feature Guide; Superior image quality; Superior low light/high ISO performance; Solid but basic feature set

Video limited to 720p (no 1080; no VGA; Video mode must be set via mode dial; No spot metering; No dust removal system

As it stands, the 1100D is a good camera to buy for upgraders from a 1000D, or even Nikon shooters with a D60 who want to change over. If you are using a compact camera and looking to upgrade to a dSLR, the 1100D will expand your shooting possibilities, but remember that investing in lenses is a...

Crisp & clear sensor; Decent kit lens

Only 720p HD video recording; Smallish viewfinder

For a long time, Canon has been focusing on DSLR cameras aimed at the prosumer target audience. However, the trend has slowly changed with Canon launching competitive DSLR cameras for the lower price segment. The EOS 400D and then, the EOS 1000D were all designed for this market.

The EOS 1100D is Canon's budget model and it shows in the comparatively simple specification and cheapish look and feel of the camera body. However, the camera gets all the important stuff, such as metering and focus, right most of the time, and the targeted user group should be perfectly happy with...

Decent resolution and detail at base ISO; Consistently reliable metering and good AF accuracy; Useful highlight tone priority mode; Intuitive user interface; Beginner-friendly 'Basic+' control Screens; On-screen Q-Menu offers good access to shooting settings; Good battery life; Comprehensive...

Plastic body has a cheap feel to it; no rubberized grips; Very simple video mode (no manual controls; only one resolution setting; no external mic; Very slow contrast detect AF in live view and movie mode; Comparatively small viewfinder; Combined battery/card compartment can make tripod use a little...

This 12.2-megapixel DSLR upgrades the 1000D and slots in at the start of the EOS range, where it does battle with Nikon's equally beginner-friendly D3100. As this is supposed to be Canon's most affordable DSLR, it unsurprisingly features a plastic, grey outer shell which makes it appear a little toy...

Affordable; simple to use; long 700-shot battery life; crammed with auto and manual shooting options; one-touch HD video recording and HDMI output

Plasticky and a tad bulky; manual focusing required when shooting video Price: £419 body only or £499 with 18-55mm zoom lens