Today has been officially announced the launch of the new EOS 500D (Rebel T1i in the USA market or Kiss x3, name try to seduce (!) the japanese market. 14 months have passed since the release of its precedessor, the EOS 450D (Rebel XSi). Canon makes a step ahead in the evolution line of the very first entry level DSLR ever, the EOS 300D (2003).
The new camera takes many features from the mid-level 50D like the 15MP sensor and, as a plus, the ability to record videos at 1080p HD (for the first time in an entry level) in a slightly reshaped body of its precedessor. It sports a new generation anti-reflection coated TFT LCD monitor of 3.0" diagonal and 920,000 pixels that features live TTL display of scene from CMOS image sensor. The image processor implemented is the Digic 4 that powers both the 50D and 5D Mk II.
ISO sensitivity range is 100-3200 (expandable to 12800). It has a 3.4 frames per second continuous shooting with max. 170 large JPEG images in a single burst.

The EOS 500D (body only) is available from early May 2009 priced at £869.99 / €999.99 RRP inc. VAT. The EOS 500D EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Kit is 2009 priced at £969.99 / €1139.99 RRP inc. VAT. The EOS 500D EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Kit is available priced at £1399.99 / €1639.99 RRP inc. VAT.