(Credit:
Josh Goldman/CNET)
About 6.5 years ago, Olympus announced the E-Volt E-410, which at that point became the smallest dSLR ever. In the years since, I don't remember anybody attempting to match it for size. But given that it used a Four Thirds-size sensor -- smaller than the traditional APS-C size sensor that's used by consumer dSLRs -- that was pretty unsurprising. Now Canon's rolling out its EOS Rebel SL1, which manages to outdo the E-410 for lightness and compactness, at least in two dimensions (the E-410 was thinner), becoming the smallest dSLR available.
Canon EOS Rebel SL1 photos
Essentially a shrunken version of the T5i -- the "SL" stands for "super lightweight" -- there are a few notable differences between the SL1 and its big brother. For one, it incorporates an updated version of the company's hybrid CMOS, which Canon claims offers a larger area dedicated to the contrast AF system for better autofocus outside the center area during Live View shooting and movie capture. (And it makes me wonder why they didn't use this sensor in the T5i.)
The SL1 next to the T5i for size comparison.
Other differences include a fixed, rather than articulated, version of the touch-screen LCD, a slightly slower continuous-shooting capability, and mono audio. The battery life is also weaker, as it uses the same battery pack as the EOS M.
For your comparative enjoyment:
| Canon EOS Rebel SL1 | Canon EOS Rebel T5i | Nikon D3200 | Sony Alpha SLT-A58 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor effective resolution | 18MP Hybrid CMOS II | 18MP hybrid CMOS | 24.2MP CMOS | 20.1MP Exmor HD CMOS |
| 22.3mm x 14.9mm | 22.3mm x 14.9mm | 23.2 x 15.4mm | 23.2mm x 15.4mm | |
| Focal-length multiplier | 1.6x | 1.6x | 1.5x | 1.5x |
| Sensitivity range | ISO 100 - ISO 12800 | ISO 100 - ISO 12800/ 25600 (exp) | ISO 100 (expanded)/ 200 - ISO 6400/12800 (expanded) | ISO 100 - ISO 16000 |
| Burst shooting | 4fps n/a | 5fps 6 raw/22 JPEG | 4fps n/a | 5fps 6 raw/7 JPEG |
| Viewfinder (mag/ effective mag) | 95% coverage 0.85x/ 0.53x | 95% coverage 0.85x/ 0.53x | Optical 95% coverage 0.80x/0.53x | Electronic OLED 0.5 inch/ 480,000 dots 100% coverage 0.88x/0.59x |
| Autofocus | 9-pt AF center cross-type; 31-point contrast AF | 9-pt AF all cross-type; center cross to f2.8 | 11-pt AF center cross-type | 15-pt phase-detection 3 cross-type |
| AF sensitivity | n/a | -0.5 to 18 EV | -1 to 19 EV | -1 to 18 EV |
| Shutter speed | 1/4,000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/200 x-sync | 1/4,000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/200 x-sync | 1/4000 to 30 secs; bulb; 1/200 sec x-sync | 1/4000 to 30 seconds; bulb; 1/160 x-sync |
| Metering | 63-zone iFCL | 63-zone iFCL | 420-pixel 3D color matrix metering II | 1200 zone |
| Metering sensitivity | 1 to 20 EV | 1 to 20 EV | 0 to 20 EV | n/a |
| Best video | H.264 QuickTime MOV 1080/30p/ 25p/24p; 720/60p/ 50p | H.264 QuickTime MOV 1080/30p/ 25p/24p; 720/60p/ 50p | 1080/30p/ 25p/24p; 720/60p/50p H.264 QuickTime MOV | AVCHD 1080/60i/ 50i/25p/24p @ 24Mbps |
| Audio | Mono; mic input | Stereo; mic input | Mono; mic input | Stereo; mic input |
| Manual aperture and shutter in video | Yes | Yes | Yes | n/a |
| IS | Optical | Optical | Optical | Sensor shift |
| LCD size | 3 inches fixed touch screen 1.04 MP | 3 inches articulated, touch screen 1.04 MP | 3 inches fixed 921,000 dots | 2.7 inches tilting 460,800 dots |
| Memory slots | 1 x SDXC | 1 x SDXC | 1 x SDXC | 1 x SDXC |
| Wireless flash | n/a | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life (CIPA rating) | 380 shots | 440 shots | 540 shots | 690 shots |
| Size (WHD, inches) | 4.6 x 3.6 x 2.7 | 5.2 x 3.9 x 3.1 | 5.0 x 3.8 x 3.1 | 5.1 x 3.8 x 3.1 |
| Body operating weight (ounces) | 14.4 (est) | 20.8 | 17.6 | 17.4 (est) |
| Mfr. price | $649.99 (body only) | $749.99 (body only) | n/a | n/a |
| $799.99 (with 18-55mm STM lens) | $899.99 (with 18-55mm STM lens) | $699.95 (with 18-55mm lens) | $599.99 (with 18-55mm lens) | |
| n/a | $1,099.99 (with 18-135mm STM lens) | n/a | n/a | |
| Release date | April 2013 | April 2013 | April 2012 | April 2013 |
Basically, when you look at the camera head-on, the front is pretty much all lens; it's got a grip, though not a deep one, and it's almost dwarfed by Josh's big man hands. Canon expects it to be popular among the more petite-handed upgraders from point-and-shoots, namely us womenfolk.
It does shave a few tenths of an inch here and there, as well as a few ounces, over the Nikon D3200, but I don't know if that size difference is significant enough to overcome the slightly higher price in this very price-sensitive segment. (Has anyone studied size- vs. price-elasticity for digital cameras? If you've seen a study like that, please tell me.) Yeah, it looks pretty small compared with other Rebels, but they're some of the bigger consumer dSLRs on the market. And I find the depth dimension a meaningless one to shave, since most people will be using a zoom lens that sticks out way past the grip; thus, you lose the big grip for little return.