Canon Digital Rebel XTi Review
The Canon Digital Rebel XTi is an upgrade of sorts from Canon's Digital Rebel XT. The Canon XTi is known as the EOS-400D in some countries and comes with a lightweight, ergonomic body. This is Canons answer for an entry level digital SLR camera but it comes out of the box with many features and benefits of digital cameras costing hundreds more.
If you're in the market for a digital SLR, then the Canon Digital Rebel XTi may be the digital camera for you.
For starters, the Canon Digital Rebel XTi comes either with the frame only or with a 18-55 mm lens.
Here's a list of some of the many features you'll get from the Canon Digital Rebel XTi;
- High performance digital SLR with 10.1 Megapixel Canon CMOS sensor and DIGIC II Image processor.
- Large 2.5-inch LCD monitor with new user interface and wide viewing angle. Fast 3 frames-per-second shooting with 27-frame burst and a 0.2 second startup time. High precision, wide area 9-point autofocus system.
- Picture Style settings for a broad range of control over color, contrast and sharpening. Print/Share button featuring advanced camera direct capabilities for greater user control while direct printing.
- EOS Integrated Cleaning System featuring a Self Cleaning Sensor Unit
- Fully compatible with over 60 EF and EF-S Lenses and a wide range of EOS System accessories
- No more LCD info display (the main LCD is used instead)
- 9-point autofocus system (versus 7-point)
- Can now take more shots in a row in burst mode (27 vs 14 JPEG, 10 vs 6 RAW)
Pretty impressive!
The Digital Rebel XTi uses the same battery NB-2LH. The battery life is reported to be down 10% over previous Canon models. This may be due to the Digital XTi's larger LCD viewing screen.
The Review at DCRP had this to say about the Canon Digital Rebel XTi:
The Rebel XTi has all the features you'd expect from a D-SLR, plus a few more. The XTi's resolution has been bumped up to 10 Megapixels, which is actually more than the "superior" EOS-30D -- I imagine a 40D can't be too far away. A more interested addition to the XTi is a dust reduction system, which attacks this annoyance from many angles (described earlier). In terms of shooting modes, you've got several scene modes, plus full manual exposure controls. While it won't let you set the color temperature, the XTi will let you do custom white balance, WB bracketing, and WB shift. Canon bundles a fairly complete software package with the camera, including a capable RAW editor and a remote capture program, both of which are options on the Nikon D80.
The folks at TrustedReview stated this about the Canon Digital XTi;
The EOS 400D is up against some very accomplished competition, but it gets off to a running start by being a third-generation product, with a design that has evolved over several years. Physically it is very similar to the 350D, with a lightweight and compact body made of tough polycarbonate plastic over a stainless steel chassis, although it is in fact a completely new body. Build quality is very good, with none of the cheap and flimsy feeling of the 300D. The battery and card hatches have metal hinges, and although the port cover is a rubber plug it fits well and will keep dust at bay.
However, not all reviewers were happy with every single thing about the Digital XTi. Some did not like it's small size, saying that handling was a bit clumsy with the small frame.
While the reviewers at CNET liked the Canon Digital Rebel XTi overall, they had a beef with these items;
Second status LCD has been eliminated
Slow kit lens
No spot metering
Poor exposure of backlit subjects
The folks over at HardwareZone probably summed it up best with this;
...the Canon EOS 400D is the most affordable DSLR camera among the three commanding a price of only US$799 (Body only) and US$899 (with 18-55 mm lens). It is about US$200 less than the Nikon D80 and Sony A100 thus winning our Most Value for Money award in the 10-megapixel DSLR category.
Try out the Canon Digital Rebel XTi if you're looking for a sub $1000 digital SLR camera or are looking to get into professional photography. You can't go wrong with the Canon Digital Rebel XTi!
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