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 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.

With the introduction of the T3, Canon lists no fewer than six Rebel cameras in their total DSLR pool of thirteen models. The T3 fits into this hierarchy near the bottom of the pile with an MSRP of only $50 more than the cheapest model, the Rebel XS.

Good image quality; Nice JPEG burst mode; Great at high ISO

No video continuous AF; Smaller monitor; AF times not class-leading

The EOS Rebel T3, or 1100D, is Canon's latest entry-level DSLR. Announced in February 2011, it comes no less than two and a half years after its predecessor, the EOS Rebel XS / 1000D; indeed it's such a long time in the digital camera industry, especially for Canon, that many wondered if the company...

Good image quality that's similar to modern 14 Mpixel rivals; Quick and easy access to many settings; Live View and HD video recording (albeit at 720p only); Supplied with decent RAW and remote control software

Plasticky body with no rubber surfaces - feels cheap, Continuous shooting buffer small; Slows down for RAW, Relatively small 2.7in screen, Weaker popup flash than many rivals

The Canon EOS 1100D is well worth a look for users wanting to step up to the digital SLR market. It's affordable, offers a good range of features and is easily capable of shooting amazing photographs.

Canon has long catered well for the entry-level digital SLR market. Canon's EOS 300D was the first digital SLR available for under £1000 and as technology has advanced, its cameras aimed at this market have been made cheaper and more compact, whilst still sporting a decent array of features.

The EOS 1100D follows on from the 1000D as Canon's budget digital SLR aimed, like the Nikon D3100 , at those trading up from a compact camera for the first time.