Most people agree that the Canon EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT boasts excellent image quality, especially for its price point. However, the jury is still out on its small size. You either love it or you hate it. One of the criticisms that I share focuses not on the smallness of the grip, but on the hard (make that very hard) rubber that covers the grip handle.

The problem with the grip surface is that it is slippery. If Canon had just coated the handle with the softer faux leather rubber found on the XT’s cousins (the 20d and 30d), then I think there would be fewer complaints about size.

I have the Canon Battery Grip BG-E3. The weight, dimensions and nice rubber surface of the battery grip make the XT a lot easier to handle (especially with larger lenses). However, I still wish that Canon would upgrade the body’s grip material. If not, then I hope that an aftermarket accessory company comes up with a replacement grip handle. There is always egrips, but who wants something sticky on their camera?

I am in the market for a new walk around lens. Right now I have a prime 28mm lens and the 18-55mm kit lens that came with my Rebel XT. I like the size, weight and wide angle of the kit lens, but I want to reach a little further out on the other end. Below are the lenses that I am considering.

Obviously, there is a huge price difference between the top and the bottom. About the only way I could possibly swing the Canon “L” glass is to sell both of my current lenses, as well as my Konica manual and Konica Hexanon lenses. I do not use them very much at all, plus I also have a Minolta manual for times I want to go retro.

After much research my thoughts on each lens are as follows (please comment if you have any advice).

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