The EOS 1100D is Canon's budget model and it shows in the comparatively simple specification and cheapish look and feel of the camera body. However, the camera gets all the important stuff, such as metering and focus, right most of the time, and the targeted user group should be perfectly happy with...

Decent resolution and detail at base ISO; Consistently reliable metering and good AF accuracy; Useful highlight tone priority mode; Intuitive user interface; Beginner-friendly 'Basic+' control Screens; On-screen Q-Menu offers good access to shooting settings; Good battery life; Comprehensive...

Plastic body has a cheap feel to it; no rubberized grips; Very simple video mode (no manual controls; only one resolution setting; no external mic; Very slow contrast detect AF in live view and movie mode; Comparatively small viewfinder; Combined battery/card compartment can make tripod use a little...

These days it's hard to tell the entry level cameras apart from the fully geared up models. The Canon Rebel T3 (EOS 1100D) sits between the EOS 1000D and EOS 550D models, looking and feeling like any Canon DSLR, from the lofty 5D Mark II all the way down.

If you're considering getting into dSLR photography, the Canon EOS 1100D could be a good choice. It offers great value for money and an easy way for users of compact cameras to push their photo skills further.

Great value; Beginner-friendly; Optical viewfinder; Comparatively light

Looks disappointingly cheap

The Canon 1100D offers a good shooting experience for a great price, with enough features and functions to satisfy SLR beginners. Compared to the competition though, the 1100D falls behind the pack in terms of top-line specifications and overall build quality.

Comes in a range of colours; Bracketing; Great image quality on default settings

Can feel a little plastic-y compared to other entry-level cameras; Only a 2.7-inch LCD screen; No AF lock button; No external microphone input

Improving on the 1000D, the Canon 1100D features a larger 12.2Mp APS-C 12.2Mp CMOS sensor and a 1.6x crop factor, meaning the 18-55mm kit lens is equivalent to 28.8-88mm in film terms.

Kelly Lynch tries out Canon's new entry-level offering.

Good low light shots; Easy access to most controls; Competitive price; On-screen feature guide

Metering options not on camera back; No spot meter; Memory card a little difficult to extract

Verdict: Although the EOS 1100D looks and feels its budget price tag, it is a capable SLR that offers great photographic results.

The Canon T3/1100D entered life as an entry-level DSLR with basic features including an entry-level basic feature that everyone can love - a low price . That feature, low price, is indeed the primary reason to buy this DSLR over the rest of the Canon EOS DSLRs - including the announced at the same...

The EOS Rebel T3, or 1100D, is Canon's latest entry-level DSLR. Announced in February 2011, it comes no less than two and a half years after its predecessor, the EOS Rebel XS / 1000D; indeed it's such a long time in the digital camera industry, especially for Canon, that many wondered if the company...

Good image quality that's similar to modern 14 Mpixel rivals; Quick and easy access to many settings; Live View and HD video recording (albeit at 720p only); Supplied with decent RAW and remote control software

Plasticky body with no rubber surfaces - feels cheap, Continuous shooting buffer small; Slows down for RAW, Relatively small 2.7in screen, Weaker popup flash than many rivals

As the entry point to Canon's DSLR range, the 1100D sits below the older yet still available 550D and the more recent 600D as a sort of bare-bones version of these more advanced entry-level models.

Image quality; Relatively user-friendly; Cheapest entry-point to Canon DSLR system

Plastic finish feels a bit cheap; No rubberisation on grip; Contrast-detect live view AF is slow