Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi Digital SLR Camera Review
By Richard Baguley
Reviewed.com Editorial Staff
Published on September 05, 2007
The update to the popular Rebel XT ups the ante in the digital SLR market. For the impressive price of $599.99 for the body only (or $699.99 with an 18-55mm lens), the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi was the cheapest digital SLR at the time it was introduced. The XTi is an impressive camera for the money. It shoots 10.1-megapixel images with accurate color and has an easy-to-use interface.
Like all SLR cameras, it is larger than the typical point-and-shoot; with the 18-55m kit lens, it weighs 18 ounces. But it is somewhat smaller than most SLRs and fits comfortably in the hand, with the large grip on the right providing a firm handhold. The grip has a sandpaper-like texture that keeps it from slipping in a sweaty hand. But while the design is utilitarian, it is overly busy, lacking the clean lines of other Canon SLRs such as the 30D. The case also feels more fragile than other Canons, and there are some small gaps in the casing that could let in dust and dirt. However, the image sensor itself includes a self cleaning feature, where an ultrasonic vibration knocks dust off the sensor. Dust can be problematic for SLRs, as it can easily get trapped in the camera body when you change lenses. For this reason the self-cleaning feature is very useful. The Sony DSLR-A100 is another model that includes a handy dust reduction system, although its initial retail price was about $899.
The controls are well-placed, with the shutter and control dial falling under the index finger. Most buttons are properly labeled, and they provide quick access to the settings. To change the ISO setting, for instance, you hold down the top button on the 4-way controller and turn the control dial. This is much simpler than having to dig through the on-screen menu. One nice physical feature is the “Display Off” sensor below the viewfinder; when users look through the viewfinder, the LCD screen turns off so extraneous light doesn’t enter the eye.
The 2.5-inch LCD screen is excellent: clear, bright, and with a wide angle of view. It has decent resolution at 230,000 pixels, which is up to par with competitors’ monitors. Like most SLRs, you don’t get a live preview on the LCD; that only comes with the viewfinder. The XTi’s viewfinder is small, but bright and accurate.
The pop-up flash unit casts good and even light, except at the widest angle setting of the kit lens. The Rebel XTi’s flash pops up automatically in the full Auto and many Scene modes. There is a basic selection of six Scene modes, but most users will opt for the more Manual modes: Program, Aperture and Shutter Priority modes, plus a full Manual mode. The XTi's full Manual mode is a little awkward. You have to hold down a button and twist a dial simultaneously to change the aperture. If you are planning on using Manual mode a lot, you might want to consider a camera with two control dials, like the Nikon D80.
The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi has the wide range of exposure settings you would expect from an SLR. There’s an ISO range of 100-1600 and a shutter speed range of 1/4000-30 seconds. The included 18-55mm kit lens has an aperture range of f/3.5 (wide) and f/5.6 (telephoto) to f/22. That’s not a great aperture range, but it underlines one of the benefits of the SLR - you can take the lens off and replace it with a better one.
The XTi's images are impressive. When using the camera’s accurately named “Faithful” parameter under tungsten lighting, the colors are almost perfectly reproduced. The images also had plenty of detail and minimal noise, which remained the case even up to the maximum ISO setting of 1600 – this is one of the XTi’s characteristics that makes it a tempting choice even when compared to more expensive models. The XTi also shot good-looking images with accurate colors in low light situations.
The Canon XTi is quick to respond. It's ready to go just over half a second after powering up, and the lag between pressing the shutter and taking the image is a speedy 0.18 seconds. It captures 69 images at a rate of 2.7 per second. This exemplifies another advantage of SLRs -they focus and shoot quicker than compact cameras.
The Digital Rebel XTi is a great camera. It shoots sharp, attractive images and is easy to use. But it isn’t a point-and-shoot and thus requires some thought and experimentation to get the most out it. Our only reservation is that the camera’s housing doesn’t feel robust; the gaps in the case could let in dust and water. But this is a relatively minor reservation in a competitively-priced camera that is flexible and shoots great images.For a more in-depth review, visit the Canon EOS Rebel XTi Review at our partner DigitalCameraInfo.com
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