It might be short on exciting extras but the Canon EOS 1100D's ability to take gorgeous photos is hard to fault

While most manufacturers update their consumer SLRs more often that their higher-end models, Canon has waited almost three years to upgrade the EOS 1000D.

Picture quality up to 3200 ISO; Responsive for day-to-day use; Pleasant to handle and use; Simplified modes for beginners (Custom Auto mode

Low-def screen; Less responsive in Raw mode; Room for improvement in the camera's build (slippery; Kit lens isn't stabilised (unless there's a 18-55 mm IS kit; Awful sound in video mode

It seems at odds with these hard times that new cameras are released more frequently than ever, with people seemingly having enough cash to splash out on new camera kit. One section of the camera market that is particularly busy and competitive is that of the entry-level DSLR.

Joshua Waller puts the Canon EOS 1100D through an expert test to see how this new camera performs.

Excellent image quality; Excellent colour reproduction; Extremely low noise; Excellent battery life; Brilliant JPEG output; Easy to use menu system

Only 2fps continuous shooting when set to RAW; Basic kit lens is not image stabilised; IS version costs more; Value for money could be better; Lacks sensor cleaning technology

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...

These days it's hard to tell the entry level cameras apart from the fully geared up models. The Canon Rebel T3 (EOS 1100D) sits between the EOS 1000D and EOS 550D models, looking and feeling like any Canon DSLR, from the lofty 5D Mark II all the way down.

If you're considering getting into dSLR photography, the Canon EOS 1100D could be a good choice. It offers great value for money and an easy way for users of compact cameras to push their photo skills further.

Great value; Beginner-friendly; Optical viewfinder; Comparatively light

Looks disappointingly cheap

The Canon 1100D offers a good shooting experience for a great price, with enough features and functions to satisfy SLR beginners. Compared to the competition though, the 1100D falls behind the pack in terms of top-line specifications and overall build quality.

Comes in a range of colours; Bracketing; Great image quality on default settings

Can feel a little plastic-y compared to other entry-level cameras; Only a 2.7-inch LCD screen; No AF lock button; No external microphone input

Improving on the 1000D, the Canon 1100D features a larger 12.2Mp APS-C 12.2Mp CMOS sensor and a 1.6x crop factor, meaning the 18-55mm kit lens is equivalent to 28.8-88mm in film terms.

Kelly Lynch tries out Canon's new entry-level offering.

Good low light shots; Easy access to most controls; Competitive price; On-screen feature guide

Metering options not on camera back; No spot meter; Memory card a little difficult to extract