Digital Camera Reviews

The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi offers an unbeatable combination of performance, ease-of-use and value. It has a newly designed 10.1MP 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 DIGIC II Image Processor employs sophisticated signal processing algorithms and works at greater speeds, all while consuming less energy.

 
The EOS Digital Rebel XTi (called the EOS 400D overseas). The new Rebel XTi has a 10.1 mega pixel sensor, a 2.5 inch LCD screen, and a new dust cleaning system; and like its EOS brothers, the Rebel XTi will work with a vast system of over 50 lenses and a wide array of accessories. It borrows a lot of other recent innovations from recent EOS cameras, including PictBridge printing enhancements, Picture Styles mode settings, and it and comes in at $100 less than its predecessor. More importantly, the Rebel XT maintains the high image quality we’ve come to expect from Canon’s SLRs, from the Rebels to the 1D-series.

Most people won’t be surprised to learn the 400D / XTi now features a larger 2.5in screen and Canon’s Picture Styles, but following the earlier EOS 30D, many equally expected the new entry-level body to employ the same sensor as its predecessor.

Canon is the only D-SLR brand to own and manufacture the sensor, processor and lenses in house. “EOS photographers benefit from 20 years of ongoing research investment into EOS,” said Jensen. “EOS photographers have the great advantage of owning a system camera in which every element is designed at a very fundamental level to work as a balanced, integrated whole. It is one reason why more than 70% of registered photographers at the Athens Olympics shot on EOS.” With EOS, Canon aims to provide consumers with the widest and most expandable camera system available, including over 60 EF lenses and Sedulity flash units. 

The Canon EOS 400D (Digital Rebel XTi) is a clear improvement over the 350D (Digital Rebel XT). The sensor has been upgraded to 10.1MP, though users shouldn’t really see a dramatic difference in image sharpness. The buffer size has been increased, the LCD size is larger, there are more AF points, and an RGB histogram mode has been added as have picture styles. There is now an ultrasonic sensor cleaning mode to remove dust from the sensor. I think the update from the 350D to the 400D is more significant and worthwhile for users than the 20D to 30D update was. Currently (02/07) selling at around $700, it’s pretty competitively priced too and it’s the lowest priced 10MP DSLR currently available [the Nikon D80 is around $930, the Sony Alpha A100 is around $750 and the Pentax K10D is around $920).

We were fortunate to see both the black and silver models this time around. I’m not fond of the silver on either the Rebel XT or XTi, though I didn’t much mind the silver on the original Digital Rebel. Both black and silver finishes have been changed from the XT. The black finish is smoother and more of a satin black. It gives an impression of painted metal rather than bare plastic, as the Rebel XT’s finish did. The XT tended to collect what looked like scratches on its surface, but they were very often fingernail dust, abraded from my nails when they rubbed against the paint.

New features:-

* 10 mega pixel CMOS sensor

* Separate low pass filter with ultra-sonic vibration to remove dust

* Anti-static coatings on sensor surface, software based dust mapping / removal  

* Nine area Auto Focus sensor (same as EOS 30D)                    

* Picture Styles, larger range of image parameter adjustment (same as EOS 30D)

* Faster image processing

* Removal of control panel LCD display now uses main LCD monitor

* Proximity sensor below viewfinder eyepiece to disable main LCD during   composition

* Camera settings made on main LCD (such as metering, white balance, ISO, AF area etc.)

* Setting adjustment saved with half-press of shutter release

* Continuous shooting buffer up to 27 JPEG and 10 RAW images

* Large 2.5″ LCD monitor with 160° viewing angle

* Image magnification available in record review

* Histogram available as brightness (Luminance) or RGB (Red, Green, Blue)

* Traditional Chinese language (in addition to Simplified Chinese)

* Up to 9999 images per folder on storage card

* Lower introductory list price ($100 lower) 

Canon EOS 400D Digital Rebel XTi Reviews:-

# cameralabs Review:- These features make the 400D / XTi a more significant upgrade than many expected, and also places Canon’s entry-level digital SLR above its own higher-end EOS 30D, in terms of resolution and dust-elimination anyway. It’s even inherited the 30D’s nine-point AF system.

# imaging-resource Review:- Ultimately, the Canon Rebel XTi is an improvement of an already superb camera — the Rebel XT — with Canon’s latest and greatest innovations to make digital SLR photography more like you remember from the film days and more versatile to boot. For my money, the greatest improvement to the XTi is the addition of the 30D’s auto focus array. More pixels, a bigger LCD, and dust reduction are welcome, but faster AF is the true benefit to the Rebel XTi, because you can get shots that you couldn’t with the XT. Now I can say that Canon’s flagship consumer camera has it where it counts: fast, accurate auto focus and the best imager you can get for the money. All the rest is gravy. The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi is a fine digital SLR, an obvious Dave’s Pick, and an excellent choice for anyone wanting to improve their photography.