Description: The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi offers an unbeatable combination of performance, ease-of-use and value. It has a newly designed 10.1 MP Canon CMOS sensor plus a host of new features including a 2.5-inch LCD monitor, the exclusive EOS Integrated Cleaning System featuring a Self Cleaning Sensor and Canon's Picture Style technology, all in a lightweight, ergonomic body. The Digital Rebel XTi is proof positive that Canon continues to lead the way with their phenomenal digital SLRs.
Summary: I bought the camera for one reason, to have a light body for a four month trip to Europe. On a day when I thought it might be useful I could haul the XTi and three lenses (10-22mm, 17-85mm IS and 70-300 IS) in a Domke satchel bag with backpack straps and not break my back.
Most days I just carried the camera and 17-85 with image stabilization which proved very useful, indeed. I mailed my monopod back home after two weeks.
The Camera worked flawlessly and the silver-finish plastic body survived two hard falls to concrete without the slightest problem (but a Kirk Enterprises body QR plate absorbed the shock and had some scratches). The dust removal system worked perfectly. If I did my job properly, all images were outstanding.
Being an old Canon freak, I didn't have any problems with controls other than forgetting to switch ISOs when going from inside to outside.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this camera to anyone, amateur or pro, needing a lightweight camera.
Strengths: Auto dust removal
Lightness
Weaknesses: Still hard to view back screen even with a shade in bright sunlight
Supposedly the shutter has a maximum life of 50,000 exposures, but some are saying it can fail before it reaches 25,000.
Summary: Firstly this is an entry level camera & I am reviewing it on that basis. I really wanted the 5D but couldn't get my wife to let me spend the money !
So I compromised. Just ike many of the other reviewers did.
I like this camera ! at the end of the day It delivers good quality pictures. This is my first digital SLR & I am happy with all the benefits of the medium compared to film ( which I loved ).
To be fair to Canon, this camera was never intended to be used professionally. They make several other good cameras for that. You just have to find the extra cash. I couldn't, so here goes....
Strengths: Despite reports of the camera being flimsy I was pleasantly surprised to find that it isn't. Plasticy yes, flimsy no. In fact it feels better than my EOS Elan. size wise, I like the compact feel. Compared to my compact digital camera it's a giant.
Ease of use; just fine. I read the manual & I was good to go. I changed the custom functions to suit my needs & never looked back. I suggest everybody else do likewise.
I paid extra for the 17 to 85 IS lens. Works great. I don't have to lug a monopod. Consider an upgrade lens if you're trying to use this camera professionally, the kit lens is for point & shooters.
My old faithful 50mm f1.8 is now a great, fast portrait lens.
I find that the burst rate/write speed to be fine for what I do. If you're going to shoot sport etc... you'll have to bite the bullet & spend more on the 40D or higher.
My last cameras were a variety of Canon film SLRs. Compared to them this baby feels & performs just great.
Colour accuracy is fine by all accounts. White balance is easy to change & also tweek afterwards. If this a concern then always shoot RAW.
Weaknesses: My only disapointment was the viewfinder. Smaller than I was used to. I'm now used to it & don't think about it anymore.
Zoombrowser has it's annoying little ways but I'm learning to work with it.
Some people say the battery life is too low but I don't have a problem with it, yet. However I always carry a spare battery !
My 17 to 85 IS didn't come with a hood. The ( non Canon ) hood I bought vignettes. I find this miserly on Canon's part. This was not a cheap lens.
Some people complain about functions such as flash compensation being too hard to access. I simply moved flash comp. to the back "set" button.
MLU is hard to find but then entry level camera users were never meant to need it much anyway ! ( if you don't know what MLU is, then you've proven my point ).
From reading other reviews, it seems that this camera's biggest weakness is not being a 40D.
If you want a sports car then you'll never be happy with a station waggon.
Similar Products Used: Canon film SLRs & a Canon digital compact.
Customer Service: Don't know yet. Hope I never will !
Summary: There are quite a few of mixed opinions on this camera. What i believe is canon has made a superior DLSR for this price range. The 18-55 mm kit lens is garbage. Most of the people who review here use this lens to judge the camera. I can tell you that i have a 24-70mm F2.8L on this and the images are on par with my 30D. I rather take the extra 2 MP for cropping. There is no way you can get a good DSLR and a good lens for a cheap price, there must be a trade off. So canon gave us the cheap lens and bunched everything else into the camera. This is a good move by canon because we will now buy their L series lens. =) The 17-85 IS is a very good lens to start of with. Its sharp and IS works great. While the 30D is better in its own regards, through numerous test, the IQ is the same. Those of you looking to save a few hundred bucks to get good pictures, this is the camera to get. You dont get 5 FPS or metal frame, but thats just one of those things some of us are picky about. It serves no purpose for everyday photography. For this camera to really shine, get a L lens or the 17-85. The 17-55 is also a good choice as that has L qualities. Yes, it would be pointless to spend more on the lens than the camera itself, but if you had the 30D, you would be doing the same. Lens is the MOST important part to IQ.
Strengths: 10 MP
Light and small, easy to carry
Excellent IQ, on par with 30D
Good battery life >500 shots no flash
Sensor cleaning, but i have found it useless
9 point AF
Weaknesses: No ISO 3200
More noise at ISO 1600 than 30D
Sometimes putting big lens makes it feel unbalanced, ie. 24-70mm F2.8L, 70-200 F2.8L
Get rid of that 18-55 lens!!!
Has less exposure control than 30D
Build quality doesn't feel rugged, then again, we are just picky people
I wouldn't call any of these weaknesses, just a comparison to the 30D
Summary: This is a great overall camera for beginners and people looking for great photography in an affordable package in general. This camera, I have found, is perticularly useful for people looking for the possabilitie of professional quality pictures. Aditionally, the compact size of this camera (for a digital SLR) makes it ideal for the average joe traveler looking to take some good photographs. I found the strength of this camera to really make it stand out, enough to the point of purchasing, and I'm glad I did buy this camera. Anyone looking for an affordable digital SLR, an extra dSLR camera, or a beginner looking to try out their skills before putting down thousands on a professional camera should buy this camera! I consider this camera to be one, if not the, best buy for many people. Dont let the weaknesses get to you! The strengths are incredible, not to mention the added flash, although not great, it helps in a pinch.
Strengths: The Canon XTi does incredibly well for a low price "entry level" digital SLR. With auto settings such as sport, portrait, and landscape it helps provide beginners with options to learn how to use their camera. The programs this camera comes with are also fantastic! Everything you need is provided with you, such as the editing software which is super easy to use and helps in batch editing on your awsome new photos. With the program, people who are new to computers can easily look at photographs and compare the EXIF data of photos and see what settings work best on the camera. The manual is also very good, providing step-by-step information on the camera and several different types of photography. My selling points on this camera, as a sports and out door photographer, were the high shutter speed (1/4000), high megapixels to tinker with photos digitally (10 mega-pixels), small size, and large LCD screen. The shutter speed works very well in well lit situations from my experience, and even in some low light with the propper ISO. The mega-pixels also are very clean on the computer, and allow maximum cropping posabilities. Small size of the camera helps with storing in a small backpack and provides alot of room. And the large LCD screen makes it really easy to review images and check to make sure your properties are correct, not to mention how crystal clear the review is.
Weaknesses: Many people complain about the plastic body, and honestly, when compared to cameras such as the Canon 20D, and 30D for example, the plastic body is a major let down. Although plastic is seen on most of the market cameras, metal on an expensive SLR camera would be very nice since it isnt as prone to wear or melting. The size is an often complaint by adult men, and larger people, so its a good idea to check the size of the camera in your hands before purchasing. However, for my skinny teenager hands, I manage just fine. But again, its not too fun having your pinky hanging off the camera body.
Summary: Compact and light weight, great if you need to carry a SLR all day. I was going to buy the 5D with the full size sensor but decided to wait for Mk2 and bought this instead because of the following features: 1) Able to take over 8 shots consecutively before the buffer fills up, 2) Auto sensor cleaning, 3) Large display for previews. The body itself is small but when used wiith 17-55mm F2.8 IS USM lens, it becomes bulky to carry due to the size of the lens. I have problems focusing on fast moving objects and when using focusing points other than the center sqare. Images it produce is rather soft (compared to slide films) but can be compensated to certain degree with various RAW conversion softwares. Cost performance is high.
Strengths: 10M CMOS sensor with dust removal feature. Compact and light weight. Large buffer for taking consecutive pictures. Large display for previewing. Usable images at ISO1600 compared to earlier models. Low cost.
Weaknesses: Small and dark finder, nearly impossible for manual focusing. Slow writing time for pictures taken at longer exposures. Loss of accuracy when focusing point other than the center grid is used. Slow on focusing and hard to keep up with moving objects. No sync terminal.
Similar Products Used: Contax RX, Aria, Nikon F80 (in 135 films)
Customer Service: Took 3 weeks to fix IS on the lens which was done under warrantry.
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