Canon Digital SLR cameras - circa 2006

You might ask, "why Canon, what about Nikon?". This is a perfectly reasonable question, and I believe Canon and Nikon are entirely in the same league. No doubt each has areas where they excel, and I think it is fairly pointless to argue that one or the other is superior (though there are those people who find this kind of thing very important). Once you choose one or the other, it is very hard to switch (typically you will have a substantial investment in lenses for one or the other), so make your choice and then press on and take pictures. I discuss Canon because that is what I know and use.

You also might ask, "what about point and shoot cameras, why spend all that money for a DSLR". The answer is that you get a DSLR because of the lenses it gives you access to. There is certainly a place in the world for point and shoot cameras, both super compact snapshot cameras, and high end point and shoots like the Canon G10 and G11.

Canon really has 4 "lines" of digital cameras:

The rebel cameras have APS-C size sensors, light plastic bodies, and offer amazing capability for the money.

The 20D series also have APS-C sensors (1.6 crop factor), but are more sturdily made than the rebels for a bit more money.

The 5D series have a full frame sensor in a sturdy body like the 20D series.

The 1D cameras are a world unto themselves. They have massive bodies with dual grips, and are designed to have the same control layout and interfaces as their professional film camera, the EOS-1V (which is still in production by the way). They are shockingly expensive. If you are used to the controls on a 5D or a 50D, you will be baffled by one of these. The bodies are sturdy, heavy, and carefully weather sealed. They are, in particular, designed for rapid (like 12 images per second) image capture. If you are a professional sports photographer, you will want one of these. Note that there are two series within the 1D cameras. Cameras with the designation 1Ds are full frame cameras. Cameras without the "s" (plain old 1D) are 1.3 crop sensor cameras.

Just to confuse everyone, Canon recently introduced (Fall of 2009), the Canon 7D. This has an APS-C (1.6 crop) sensor, 18 megapixels, and in particular a movies mode. The last thing I would want, but it is clearly an answer to similar product offerings by Nikon.

EOS by the way stands for Electro-Optical system, but can also be interpreted (perhaps wrongly so) as a reference to Eos, the greek goddess of the dawn. USM stands for Ultrasonic Motor, (some, but not all lenses have a USM focusing mechanism, those that do are very smooth and quiet, but non-USM lenses can be just fine). EF stands for electrofocus, virtually all EOS lenses are EF lenses, one noteable exception being the MPE 65mm macro lens, which is manual focus only.
See:

So, what camera should you buy? A common approach is to buy the camera with the most megapixels (and this often seems to be the first question asked by people about any camera that they aren't familiar with). If this was all that mattered, the only thing to do would be to buy the current high end camera in the rebel series. When I was deciding between a rebel and a 20D, I found it very useful to go to a store and handle both cameras. The rebel felt awkwardly small in my big hands. On the other hand, for hiking and backpacking, a rebel body would save some weight.

You have to ask yourself what kind of photography you do. If you shoot landscapes, a camera like the 5D with a full frame sensor will let your wide angle lenses be as wide as they can be (but the 10-22 S series lens on a rebel or a 50D solves this problem in a different way). If you shoot sports and can afford it, the 45 focus points and rapid shooting capabilities of a 1D would serve you well. Of course, you also have to ask yourself how much money you can and want to spend.

Canon 20D (no longer in production)

This is first because it is the camera I own. It has served me very well for over 3 years, and I really cannot justify the expense to upgrade to something else. What really tempts me (as of late 2009) by the 50D is not more megapixels, but two features: above all the ultrasonic sensor cleaning feature of the 50D, but also the live-view capability for tethered extreme macro photography. I don't feel an urgent need for more megapixels or a bigger LCD display, though both would be nice. An 8.2 megapixel sensor (APS-C 1.6 crop). It takes EF-S lenses. Price in 2006: $1100 (you paid $400 more than the rebel XT to get a more sturdy camera).
introduced in August, 2004

Canon 30D (no longer in production)

A mildly improved 20D, with a bigger 2.5 inch LCD and a spot metering ability. Same 8.2 megapixel sensor as the 20D. I decided it wasn't worth $400 to me to get a spot meter and a bigger LCD. Accepts EF-S lenses and has a 1.6 factor. Price in 2006: $1500
introduced in Winter, 2005

Canon 40D (no longer in production)

This camera is interesting in many ways. A big 3 inch LCD display, a 10.1 megapixel sensor. The Digic III chip. Ultrasonic sensor dust elimination. 14 bit adc (previous cameras had 12 bit data in their raw files). Generates RAW or sRAW (sRAW is a smaller RAW file with 1/4 the resolution and about half the size).
Selling (in early 2008) for $1150 without a lens.
introduced in October, 2007

Canon 50D

A 15.1 megapixel APS-C sensor. 14 bit conversion, DIGIC 4 processing chip. Offers ISO 12800. 3 inch LCD. Ultrasonic dust elimination.

Older midrange cameras

First there was the D30, then the D60, then the 10D, then the 20D, 30D, 40D, and now the 50D.

Canon 400D

The Rebel XTi, a 10 Megapixel rebel.

Canon 350D

Also known as the Digital Rebel XT. A fine camera and an amazing deal for the money (around $700). An 8 megapixel CMOS sensor (not the same as in the 20D, contrary to popular opinion). The plastic case makes it lightweight and combined with its compact size this makes it handy and portable. On the other hand once you have handled something like a 20D, it can seem flimsy, although everyone who owns one seems entirely satisfied. An upgrade from the 300D (the original Digital Rebel). Accepts EF-S lenses and the sensor size is smaller than full frame by a factor of 1.6.
Spring, 2005

Canon 5D

This is the 12.8 megapixel full frame camera. When introduced in 2005, it sold for $3300, but now (early 2008) the price is down to $2200 which makes it quite interesting. It will not take EF-S lenses.
November, 2005

Canon 1D Mark IIn

A giant professional camera. Sensor has a 1.3 factor. 8 megapixels. $4000.00
June, 2004

Canon 1Ds

Another giant professional camera. Full frame. 11 megapizels $5000.00
December 2002

Canon 1Ds Mark II

Another giant professional camera. Full frame, 16 megapixels $7000.00
Fall, 2005

Canon 1Ds Mark III

The latest giant professional camera. Full frame, 21 megapixels $7000.00

Obsolete cameras

I label the following cameras as obsolete because they are not in current production (as of spring 2006), NOT because they are technologicaly retarded.
These are all fine cameras and plenty of them can be found in useful service.

Canon 300D

Obsolete, but still available for $550 in early 2006. The original digital rebel. A 6 megapixel camera that sold for $900 Replaced by the 350D.
August, 2003

Canon 10D

Obsolete, but still available for $800 in early 2006. A 6 megapixel sensor. Originally sold for $1500. Replaced by the 20D.
February, 2003.

Canon D60

Obsolete. A 6 megapixel version of the D30. Sold for $2000 Replaced by the 10D
February, 2002

Canon D30

Obsolete, not to be confused with the 30D. This was Canon's first digital SLR with a 3 megapixel sensor. If you have a modern Canon digital SLR (like the 20D), this will feel immediately familiar. It has a 1.6 factor sensor, but will not take EF-S lenses. Originally sold for $3000. Replaced by the D60.
April, 2000

Canon 1D

This is the original giant professional camera. Sensor has a 1.3 factor. 4.2 megapixels. Shoots 8 frames/second. The sensor is not CMOS, so it goes through batteries quickly.
November, 2001
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Uncle Tom's Digital Photography Info / tom@mmto.org