Canon EOS Rebel SL1 Digital SLR with 18-55mm STM Lens

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Im a casual photographer, who travels a lot and wanted a SLR to take with me. I also want to enhance my photography as a hobby, although I dont plan on ever being professional. Ive owned several compact digital prior to this camera. Size: Even though I knew what I was ordering, I couldnt get over the size. Its so small for an SLR and so lightweight. Ive checked multiple times because I didnt think it was loaded in my bag, it felt empty. No kidding, its that light weight. But still has all the buttons you need, well placed and easy to operate. It also feels tough and durable, so dont be dissuaded by the light weight or small size. Im not sure about the concern some voiced about it being "too small" to hold. Its very comfortable. If you are going to shoot for 2 hours straight and/or have shot with a larger camera for 5 years, then maybe this would take some getting used to. But its very easy to manage, comfortable to hold and feels solid in my hand. Performance: Ive been experimenting for a couple months now with various settings, different creative shots and I love the camera. Any failures are certainly mine as an amateur. Its easy to shoot, fast enough (Im not shooting for the NHL) and takes accurate, colorful pictures that are only limited by my creativity. Ive shot macro, landscape, architecture, pets and portraits. I love it. It has a deep, feature rich set of custom options, menus and settings. Im almost addicted to loading my amazing photos into a post photo software (name omitted) and playing with them to see how incredible they can get. That being said, they look incredible (when composed properly) straight from the RAW image. Also remember, this is a canon, so you can use virtually any lens ever created by them. Video: The improved AF Focus and STM lens is evident when shooting video. Video is amazingly clear, the AF does a good job keeping up with most subjects (again not shooting NHL or nocturnal animal scenery). The touchscreen, nearly silent lens combo is a huge improvement over prior versions. All but the most demanding professionals will find it does a remarkable job. Cons: Not many, seriously. No built in stereo mic..(minor issue use an external) No built in wifi (use an eye fi card) I kept this simple as there are some more technical reviews out there. I thought simple usage from a consumer standpoint would be most helpful. My advice, be very careful hanging your hat on some of the Amazon reviews that are overly technical. Some of the reviewers dont know as much as they pretend and quote erroneous facts, like the fact that this camera uses "contrast phase detect" for its auto focus. Wrong, older canons did, not this one. If you really need the technical details read a review by dpmag, dppreview, camera labs etc. They will be spot on accurate and not a pseudo professional opinion. Happy hunting... If you found this helpful, please click yes! Thank you.

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I love this camera! I bought it to replace my Canon xTi (purchased in 2008), which still worked but I wanted a new camera because both the technology and my photography skills had gotten better in 7 years. When I was doing my research on new DSLR cameras, I had a hard time deciding which camera to buy. It was between the t5, sl1, and t5i. I chose this one because it had a better light sensor than the t5 and t5i, but the price wasnt as high as the t5i. At first, I thought I needed a camera with more umph to increase my skills more (like the 70D). I was worried because this camera is advertised as a beginners camera, and hoped that I would be bored with it. I am definitely NOT bored! I feel like its easy enough for a beginner but there is so much to learn with photography that it will propel you forward for quite awhile. I love how its a rebel series, and I knew how to use it out of the box because it was so similar to the xTi. Of course there are a lot of similarities between the xTi and the SL1, like the ISO can go much higher than the xTi, but I usually stay under 400 as much as I possibly can, but in the higher numbers the pictures look better compared to the same ISO as the xTi. Everything looks better with this camera! The first thing I noticed about this camera is how small and lightweight it is. I can take 800 pictures in an hour and at the end of the shoot, I dont have as much of a camera shake problem from having a tired hand. The quality of the pictures are fantastic. The pictures are coming out so super clear that there is almost too much detail and I find myself photoshop-ing the crust off my babys nose! In reality though, I dont spend nearly as much time fixing the photos as I used to. Most of the images I submitted are original and untouched. Additionally, the SL1 is a super fast camera and can keep up with toddlers very easily. A few things that I love that I didnt know I would love is the touch screen. I also love the super quiet auto-focus on the STM lens. And I love how I can use all my old Canon lenses and gear that I have collected over the years. This camera is quickly becoming my go-to camera because of the pictures that come from it. In the two weeks Ive had it, Ive already taken several thousand pictures, and at the end of my shoots, I have a higher % of good pictures compared to the other cameras I own and tested before buying this one. Bottom line, I would make this purchase again in a heart beat, and this time I wouldnt take to long to decide on this camera!

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This camera is amazing! I bought it used- like New for a small discount. Its a fantastic camera I originally bought it for YouTube but its amazing for all uses. If the camera not having a flip out screen bothers you, I strongly suggest downloading the software that comes on one of the cds. One of the things you can download is called EOS Utility and it allows you to see whatever your camera sees when your camera is connected to the computer. Its even better than a flip out screen for size and you are able to use the laptop to focus and take photos. This also allows photos and videos to go straight to your computer saving camera space. The photos attached have no editing done to them.

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Im not going to go too in depth with a review because there are several other professional photographers who know what theyre talking about. Im just a beginner, photography enthusiast, obsessive photo taker, and first time DSLR user. In my opinion: this camera is AMAZING. Ill review the ergonomics and leave out the tech specs and photo quality to the professionals here. :) Let me preface that Im a petite female, 51 with small hands. What is comfortable for me may not be comfortable for you. INTERFACE: - Tons of settings, features and options. I still have so much to learn on how to utilize all the functions! - Very friendly and intuitive interface. Ive picked up other DSLRs and have found the menu and options to be quite intimidating. But Ive been able to navigate around the menus on this camera very easily! - The camera display provides a lot of helpful tips and short explanations of what certain functions are (you can hide these tips in the menu option) - The touch screen is AWESOME. It doesnt seem prone to finger prints or scratches, which I find very appealing! SIZE/WEIGHT: I was really intrigued by the whole "Worlds Smallest and Lightest DSLR" claim (reminder: Im a petite 51 female). - Holding this camera is VERY comfortable for me. The hand grip is perfect and my hand doesnt hang off the bottom of the camera. Theres also enough room for MY fingers (Ive read other reviews say its too small for their hands so I emphasize my). - As an obsessive photo taker, I bring my camera with me EVERY where.. thus mobility is really important for me. This camera is incredibly light, and Ive noticed an obvious difference when holding this camera to other Rebels or Nikon DSLRs. Its really easy for me to carry around; when Im traveling or hiking I normally just keep it around my neck cause its so light and convenient. Ive held up my camera for long periods of time and Ive never had an issue with feeling tired or my hands cramping. - The lens that comes with this camera is a good size.. but if you upgrade to a larger telephoto, the lens will definitely outweigh the camera body itself. Itll cause an uneven weight distribution and may become a little more uncomfortable to hold up with one hand. But since Im still a beginner, I dont plan on upgrading my lens any time soon. If youre upgrading from a P&S, and want a great beginner DSLR, I HIGHLY recommend this camera. If you want a small, light, and convenient-to-carry-around DSLR, I HIGHLY recommend this camera. Love love love it!

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This was my first DSLR camera, and I love it so far. I purchased it about 3 weeks ago before a vacation to Dubai and my pictures were amazing. After only a few weeks I still do not know how to use all the features but Im learning. The camera itself is very user friendly with many automatic settings and pre-set settings. The size is also nice, not to heavy to carry around all day and fit nicely in my crossbody purse. Overall I am very happy with it.

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I bought mine 3 years ago off of Amazon and Im still using it and still have a lot to learn. Once you dive into learning all you can about this camera (and Ive still only scratched the surface) you find you begin learning so much about cameras and photography in general. I, per my usual style, skipped right over basic camera knowledge and was shooting in RAW with no time to spare. It probably wasnt the wisest approach but Im impatient to the hilt and I tend to learn in fits and starts, often taking several steps backwards before moving forward. But this camera gives you a lot of latitude for user error and delivers serviceable images despite the photographers blunders. I have not had technical issues with camera , it seems fairly bomb-proof, though Ive never seriously dropped it (always onto a forgiving surface, not pavement or any other firm ground). But its been to the beach and cities and been used while raining and in the serious cold weather of Chicago on a windy day. Ive shot several images with the kit lens, but then purchased the 50 mm lens and the 55-250 IS lens, the one without the STM feature. I also purchased Lightroom 5and process all my photos with that, Raw or JPG. I think its a great camera to learn on and you will be pleased with your purchase. Hopefully it will be much cheaper soon, given the SL2 out. Ive included some of photos in this review- The first few are of Chicago and were shot in 2015. Then some beach photos from 2017- All of these were shot with the kit lens and processed in Lightroom.

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Great little camera.. I was looking for a cheap back up to my full frame Canon 6D.. found this refurbished for $350.. my 1st impression was wow this is small, even smaller than I thought, too small really for my size hand (I didnt take any stars off for this because its advertised as the smallest SLR).. I gave it 5 stars because the still images are fantastic.. Ive had a T2i and T3i, and the photos that come off this little monster are better IMHO.. It definitely handles high ISOs better.. I was surprised how well it handled 3200 and even 6400 ISO.. Video images are also excellent and, as advertised, it stays in focus MUCH better than any other DSLR Ive tried to shoot video with.. Like I said I got this to throw in my bag in case something happened to my main camera at an event or wedding. I wouldnt hesitate to use this in any situation and I cant imagine that a client looking at the results would be able to tell I was using a $350 refurbished and not my $2,000 full frame

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The Rebel series is target-marketed to beginner photographers; however, this camera shares many of its parts and features (sensor, DIGIC 5 processor, advanced auto-focus system, etc.) with much more expensive Canon models. All these turn to very powerful tools in the hands of a capable photographer. The photo quality is amazing; the LCD is extremely useful both in display and in touch screen capability. Superb ergonomics mean the user can concentrate on making photos versus fiddling with the controls. Canons wide range of lenses is a big plus. Yes, the smaller, crop, sensor may cause more noise in low light conditions, but you can shoot in RAW format and use the included Canon software to remove most of it. Above all, the camera is very light and small (much more usable that the big bulky "full frames", although long lenses will somewhat negate this advantage). This means you will carry it with you more often and get more photos ; as someone said : The best camera is the one you have with you! My opinion: If you choose to get this superb camera, consider buying it in kit form (with the excellent kit lens). Then spend some time and a little money on photography education. Learn to use the manual mode, shoot in RAW and convert/edit with the very capable, and unfortunately under-rated, Canon DPP software. As next steps, slowly acquire useful accessories, like a powerful flash, a good tripod, light reflectors, a remote release and filters (like a circular polarizer). Finally, graduate to some prime lenses, like the amazing Canon 40 mm f2.8 with STM. You may be generously rewarded

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Know your expectations before purchasing. This camera is not designed to carry the 3 -4 lb lens that others complain about with this camera. It is not designed to replace your high end full frame camera. It is not advertised as a pro camera for wildlife and sports. But then again, it costs 1/3 to 1/4 the cost of the high end cameras, we cant expect it to behave the same. It is from the Rebel series, designed for ease of use, great image quality and lightweight portability. If you buy this camera for the right reasons, you will not be disappointed. I have a full frame Canon camera with heavy lens. Due to size/weight, I sometimes leave it at home and wish for something smaller to capture the moment. I started looking at point & shoots and a high end P&S cost the same as the SL1, if not more. And the SL1 is more capable than any P&S out there. It is a little bigger than a P&S, but not nearly enough to deter you from purchasing or using. Love all the automatic settings and scenes. I dont normally shoot with the auto settings, but find this Rebel knows it stuff and does a pretty good job picking all of the right settings for whatever you ask it to shoot. It also offers lots of manual settings, allowing you to pick sharpness, saturation, contrast, ISO maximum, flash, etc. All the control you could possible want. And it produces some darn good images, no matter if you are using auto or manual. As for this lens, the newer STM lenses now included with the Rebels are great choices. The price with purchase is so low, you cant pass them up. I got both the 18-55 and 55-250 STM lens with my camera and was very pleased for the price of this "kit" and what it is capable of. If you want to use the Canon 100-400mm lens, get a camera that can support it. If you want easy, lightweight and excellent results, this is the one for you.

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This is my first DSLR. I bought this camera because of its small size, touch screen, and the ability to be every bit as powerful as its bigger brothers in the Rebel series. So far, I am thoroughly blown away by the images this camera can produce. Granted, I dont use the kit lens, so an upgraded lens will add to the cameras potential. For those interested, I use the Canon 40mm f/2.8 - great lens, by the way. As for the cool touch screen, I never use it. Literally, never. I just havent had a need to, but its there if I ever want it. At times, I wish the screen flipped out for low-to-the-ground shots, but the loss of this feature is a small price to pay for the compact size and image quality of this camera. Never have I thought it was TOO small, and I see its small size as a bonus, as it makes the camera less imposing when doing street photography of people and whatnot. Very highly recommended.

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