This is a fantastic camera. Super fast, takes great pictures, and is more than 99% of picture takers will ever need. Don't chintz on the lenses though: the bundled one is NOT good.

This camera is an excellent choice for just about anyone that enjoys taking pictures. While I was researching it over a year ago, I came accross two complaints.

1. The optional bundled lens is not great. 18-55mm f/?
- My response was to buy a different lens, 28-105 f/2.5-3.5. Aside from the reviews the lens got, I wanted something that had a longer zoom capability...which I was grateful for many times over. A friend bought the camera with the bundled lens and I will admit that the wider angle was nice to have if you don't have a wide-angle lens...but, at the same time, he had a 100-300 f/4 lens to couple with the bundle. He was fine with the bundled lens.
I also have a 10-22mm EF-S wide-angle which is amazing!

2. The body is too small. / The body feels "cheap".
- My response was that I don't have huge fingers so I loved the fact that it wasn't large for a few reasons. If we are going out, I can easily throw it into one of my g/f's purses. I like having my camera with me just in case. I don't have the dimensions w/ me, but I'd guess 5.5"x4.5"x2.5".
- While the body has a platic feel to it, I must admit I was not impressed, but nor was I put off by it. It is very light (body only). I chose black and feel that the silver does in fact look cheaper.

3. It's not "professional" enough.
- At the time, many were spending the extra few hundred for a D20. I weighed my options and could not fathom a few hundred extra dollars for zero more megapixels, 1/8000 shutter speed, and 3200 film speed. The money didn't seem to go anywhere useful.

4. Another swing vote for me was that several people I know that work for newspapers say that their photographers all are switching from Nikon to Canon, which was confirmed when I talked to a few. The Canon lenses have just become far superior.

Good luck!

I had Nikon D50 for almost 6 months and then traded that for this one.. I like this camera but only thing is that the pictures are too soft for me. When I compare my D50 photos, the difference becomes all the more obivious. I have to take help of photo shop for making the photos sharper.. and that's a time consuming job!

Pretty good product although I am missing some features. But it's a good choice in overall for most of the people.

Stephen - great comments and I may even be convinced to make my next camera an SLR.
How much do you think you would normally pay for one and where would the best deals be?

I have been using film based SLR “old school� cameras for a long time and have always been a fan of the ELPH series from Canon for digital, which I have been using for over 7 years. (And still do for just simple stuff like parties, etc.)

I decided that it was time to get a SLR since I was getting frustrated with the view finder in the smaller models and the optical zoom limitations. I was going on some special vacations and wanted more control and have given up on film. So I got the XT since I was a big fan of the ELPH. I have been using the XT for about a year now. I have dragged it around the world over the last year. I am very pleased with it.

A buddy of mine has the similar Nikon and I have to say I like the XT better. Nikon seems more geared to professionals and is just a little too geeky. The XT has all the features you would want, including an automatic override, so my girlfriend can use it too. (She could not be bothered by the aperture and shutter speeds.) I can also use just about all of my lenses from my Canon film SLR.

It is the size of any normal SLR body and can take a wide array of Canon lenses. Before I went to China on holiday I got a wide angle lens and a nice zoom. (Try to buy the camera without a lens, that is where the money is, so whoever sells it to you will sell you it with a crummy lens. I gave the lens mine came with to my dad to use a spare on his old school film based SLR.)

Don’t get this camera if you are just looking for good photos. The lower end view finder camera are just fine for that. Get this camera if you want the SLR features (which of course will lead to great photos!)

Luxal - looks a bit big man - what is the size?

Brought the camera a couple of weeks ago and it arrived just in time for a trip to the Spanish fire festival. Coming back I found it had improved my photography no end, totally recommended!!