It's official: Canon Rebel XS announced

A month's worth of speculation was confirmed tonight with the announcement of the new entry-level Canon Rebel XS.

The Rebel XS, which wears the EOS 1000D moniker in European markets, is slated to replace last generation's Rebel XTi as Canon's true entry-level DSLR. Positioned just below the Rebel XSi, the new XS derives its sensor and display from the XTi but builds heavily on the XSi platform otherwise.

Nearly identical in appearance to the XSi, the XS uses the previous generation 10.1 megapixel CMOS sensor, the XTi's smaller 2.5-inch LCD, and seven AF points in place of the XSi's nine. In addition to upgraded DIGIC III processing, many may be surprised to learn that the new XS will also bring over live view from the XSi.

Improved battery life courtesy of Canon's latest li-ion pack and the new 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS kit lens round out the list of technology the XS grafts from its big brother. Even more impressive is the fact that the XS does away with the XSi's 27-shot continuous shooting limitation, allowing shooters to capture an unlimited number of full-res JPEGs at 3 fps.

As always with Canon's consumer-grade DSLRs, the Rebel XS will come in either black or silver.

In larger terms, the XS represents a shift in strategy for Canon, with the manufacturer bringing a second simultaneously developed and supported DSLR to the bottom-tier consumer market. Traditionally, Canon has demoted its previous-generation Rebel into the entry-level spot with each new announcement. The decision to target two new cameras to the same large-level segment of the market recognizes the rapid expansion of the entry-level/consumer DSLR space since the arrival of the original Digital Rebel several years ago.

Official U.S. pricing was not set in this announcement: look for price and retail delivery information to come with the official American-market XS announcement in early July. According to early information from Canon, however, expect suggested prices for the XS to run around $200 less than the XSi, putting the cost of a Rebel XS kit somewhere around the $700 mark from all indications.

Canon Rebel XS Specifications: