Rumors: Canon to release sibling dSLR to Rebel XSi?

We're back on the digital camera beat this morning, as news is ruminating 'round the interwebs that Canon may be preparing a younger, potentially cheaper sibling to its popular EOS Rebel XSi.

Crack detectives at 1001 Noisy Cameras (by way of Bob Atkins and dpreview, both respected digital camera sites) note the appearance of the name "Canon Digital Rebel XS (1000D)" in the latest company software update.

As far as these name appearances go, this could be anything from, yes, a new Canon DSLR, or simply a fictitious camera name used for internal testing and development that accidentally made it into the public release. But often, it ends up being the "leaky marketing" that has definitely happened before.

Of course, Canon fanboys/girls are biding their time for news of a 5D Mark II, 3D, 7D, 50D or full-frame X0D camera, so a new even more entry-level Digital Rebel isn't exactly the next thing expected around the corner (I swear, these people have it down to a science).

But with cheaper, brand-new dSLRs pushing the low price points (~$500 and dropping), from Canon's point of view, it's hard to peddle an old camera body while risking your market share.

Let the battle for the dSLR begin.

(What do you think the new name means? Tell us your guesses -- and hopes --in TalkBack.)