The 1000D will replace the 400D and slide in beneath the 450D in Canon's lineup. Like the 450D, this camera is based around the DiGIC III image processor. It's a 10.1-megapixel model. Compared to the 450D's 12.2 megapixels, 2 million pixels sounds like a huge drop, but in reality that's not enough difference to notice.

The new 1000D is about two M&Ms and a dime lighter that the 400D it replaces, while adding the "Live View" feature purists once said would never go on DSLRs. If you've stocked up on CompactFlash cards (I have around 4GB sitting in my camera bag), you're out of luck. The new memory du jour is SD/SDHC. Luckily, memory is really cheap right now.

Whether it's the change of memory form factor or more sophisticated in-camera processing, Canon claims, "continuous shooting until the SD or SDHC memory card is full - with the number of shots limited only by the size of the card."

Canon couldn't imbue the 1000D with 450D sophistication and expect the higher-end model to continue to sell. The specs have been lowered a notch. The rear panel LCD is 2.5 inches instead of 3 inches. The focus system is 7 point versus 9. Photos are rendered with 12 bits of color precision, while the 450D handles 14-bit precision. These are significant differences, but only when taken in the aggregate.

It's entry-level gear, for sure. But for Canon, the level of entry has never been this high! With the available EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Image Stabilized lens, there are going to be a whole lot more parents walking around the soccer field this fall with a DSLR hanging from their necks.