The most nerve-wracking part of buying a tech gadget is worrying that a newer model will come out tomorrow. Companies keep product announcements a secret until the last moment, lest they hurt their own sales while you cool your jets.

That's what makes a recent discovery so tantalizing. Bob Atkins was taking a look at an upgrade to Canon's Digital Photo Professional software when he discovered this:

"Interestingly, the compatibility information in the DPP 3.4 help file mentions that it's compatible with the Digital Rebel XS/1000D. This is interesting because there currently is no Digital Rebel XS/1000D!"

Stuff like this creates a feeding frenzy, as photo cognoscenti scour for more clues.

Over time, Canon has shown a propensity to give higher model numbers to lower-end cameras, and single-digit numbers to its pro lines. So this Rebel will probably land somewhere below the entry-level DSLRs with model numbers in the hundreds. With the Rebel XT currently selling for around $400, can this really cost less?

When will it get here? Back to Bob Atkins who speculates that it's this month.

Post by Geoff Fox