Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi 10.1 Megapixel

Before I write a review, first let me run a short history of Digital Rebel series since some of you may not know much about Canon DSLR.

As some of you already know, Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi(AKA EOS 400D) is 3rd generation of Digital Rebel series. First one was introduced back in August of 2003 and it had 6 mega pixels with sub $1000 price tag.

Last year, on February 2005 they brought Digital Rebel XT with 8 mega pixel which was an excellent upgrade to 1st generation camera with extra pixels, instant up time, faster image process with Digic II image processor, increased buffer, E-TTL II Flash to name a few.

Canon Digital Rebel XTi(I personally like 400D name better though) is the 3rd version of Digital Rebel and it's got some cool features that you might want to consider when purchasing. I've listed 10 best here.

1. 10 mega pixel CMOS sensor with improved micro-lens array, and lower noise.
2. EOS Integrated Cleaning System ++++ GOOOOOOD ++++
- Anti-static coatings on sensor surfaces
- Separate low pass filter with ultra-sonic vibration
- Software based dust mapping and removal
3. Nine point Auto Focus sensor (Same as its big brother EOS 30D)
4. Continuous shooting burst up to 27 JPEG and 10 RAW images. (up from 20 & 6)
5. Bright 2.5" LCD monitor with 160° viewing angles (Horizontal & Vertical)
6. Camera settings and adjustment on LCD monitor
7. New viewfinder view includes 9 AF points as well as EOS 30D style status bar
8. Improved user interface
9. Improved print/share/direct print features
10. Lower introductory list price

The most exciting feature on XTi is probably the Integrated Cleaning System. No matter how careful you use your camera, eventually the dust will make its way into your sensor somehow. I'm sure you've had same situation where dust got into the sensor and had to find a way to clean it off without damaging the sensor. If you shoot a white paper that covers entire screen and if you see small blurred dark spots here and there - THAT'S THE DUST ON THE SENSOR. It appears to be not noticeable when shooting textured, busy scene, but it definitely shows when shooting solid color such as clear blue sky or white backdrop. I had same issue and I've tried blowing can-air several times, but it only removed a few and sometimes created more dusts. ARRRRR!!

This New cleaning system is a heaven's call. To fight the dust problem, Canon has done these to address this issue.

1. Used materials in the mirror box and shutter chamber which are less likely to generate dust.
2. Improved the body cap, again to not generate dust.
3. Used anti-static coating on the sensor surface.
4. Created a new separated anti-alias filter which vibrates to shake off dust.
5. Added a Dust Delete Data(DDD) feature which can map stubborn dust to be removed in software.

I believe this feature is going to be present on all future Canon EOS lines from now on.

My review space is almost out, so I'll make final comments.

The XTi in my opinion is a very good entry camera and if you are thinking of upgrading point-n-shoot camera or from 1st generation Digital Rebel, I'd recommend this camera without any hesitation. Current XT users might want to wait for the upcoming 30D upgrade. XTi is great for Amateur, Semi-pro, or even some of the pros out there and as Pro myself, I am thinking to purchase this camera for back up/2nd camera to my 5D. Price you should expect is between $850~$900. Good luck and Happy Shooting!!!

It's very seldom that I will write a review and give a 5/5, however the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi 10.1 Megapixel Digital Camera deserves the best review score. It truly IS the biggest bang for your buck of the Top Five 10.1 Megapixel Digital Cameras that are in competition for your purchase. And best of all, Canon offers the lowest price of the Top Five and also offers the lowest price when you combine it with a great Canon lens too. The camera body is really worth one thousand dollars or slightly less, however Canon was able to crank a great 10.1 Megapixel Digital Camera out at somewhere near $700. Even with the lens, you're still at less than most all of the competitors like Nikon, Sony, Pentax, and Samsung.

I will honestly tell you that I am a semi-professional photographer with a collection of mostly Canon EOS products. However, when looking into the purchase of a new 10.1 Megapixel Digital Camera, I was prepared to leave the Canon family and buy a Nikon or a Pentax-both of which ended up coming in very close in my research. And I hope my review helps you as it is very honest, from the heart, and based on truth. I am the type of person to do 50 or more hours research online, visit local camera stores to ask questions and see and feel the different cameras, and purchase popular Photography magazine that offer extensive reviews. I just wanted to let you know that when I say that all of the Top Five are very competitive and great-that's the absolute truth. But the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi stood out far enough for me to make the purchase.

I did narrow my review down to the Canon XTi (around $700), the Nikon D80 (around $950), the Sony Alpha 100 (close to Canon at about $700), the Samsung GX-10 (around $910) and the Pentax K100 (its body priced around $940). They are all 10.1 or 10.2 Megapixel and are all great cameras. Every camera has its fortes and some shortfalls, but you have to be really picky to find anything wrong.

You'll find great descriptive details about the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi online, however my personal review was to help you make a decision with another photographers personal and semi-professional opinion. It's a great camera in every possible way and I was able to get the body and the 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 lens for just under $800.00. I hope and pray that this review helped in some possible way as it was a great pleasure to take the time to write it for you.

Cheers!

Peter V. Cannice
Scottsdale, Arizona

Horsepete@aol.com

Ok, this is a great camera. I'm not going to cover the features of this camera, other reviewers did that well. Let me point out a few things to watch out for.

*****LOUSY LENS KITS**** The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi is a fantastic camera, but lots of sellers will try to getcha by bundling a $550 camera body with one or more really mediocre lens. If you're going to spend that kind of money on a camera, don't get seduced by these horrible lens kits.

First, decide if you are planning on using a camera bag everywhere you go or not. This is important. Unless you are planning on taking a camera bag with you everywhere, you do NOT want 4 lenses -- 3 of the 4 will just stay home 95 percent of the time. What you will need in this case is ONE REALLY GREAT LENS.

The most common lenses offered with this camera is an 18-55mm lens followed by a 17-85mm lens. Now that is a really nice wide angle lens down at 17/18mm. However, you really get very poor (55mm) to extremely mediocre (75mm) telephoto capacity with either of those lenses. If you're looking for a great all purpose lens, avoid both of these.

Next, you'll see the 70-300mm lens. That's a great telephoto zoom and gives you lots of pretty nice range. But keep in mind that 70mm is NOT wide angle. That means you'll struggle to shoot close-ups of anything. No wide-angle shots of buildings, landscapes, mountains, or even large groups of people at the dinner table. A great second lens, but not a great single all-purpose lens.

Any lens kit that mixes up 2 or 3 of the above lenses are still leaving you short of ONE GREAT all-purpose lens.

The best all-purpose lens out there is the 28-135mm zoom. 28mm is plenty wide-angle enough for anyone. And 135mm gives you enough zoom lens to shoot the kids soccer game close-up from across the entire field. With 10MP, you can still crop down for a nice close-up and get great high-quality prints. With this lens, you won't need a camera bag for 90% of you who are buying this camera for non-professional work.

Next, a lot of sellers advertise four lenses, but really give you two lenses and then two "over" lenses that give you extra wide-angle or telephoto capacity. Avoid these lens correctors that screw into the end of your lens and give you more or less "magnification". These lenses are uniformly lousy.

Also, the "bonus" items in these kits, like the tripods and camera cases are cheap, cheap, cheap. Lowepro makes good camera bags. If the camera bag is not a name brand bag, it is the bottom-of-the-line junk. Better to buy these components separately. Same goes with the tripod.

On the whole, I recommend buying the camera body and 18-135mm lens and THAT'S IT. Buy your memory cards, straps, cases, tripods, filters and other accessories separately and as you need them. 99 percent of people won't carry around all that stuff anyhow.

Last, there's a great product out there called "Camera Armor" I know they make it for the EOS 30D. As soon as its available for this camera, I would recommend it. It is a custom made rubber housing that fits like a glove over the camera's body. It does a nice job of keeping your camera from getting banged up or badly scratched.

***PLEASE VOTE for my review if you found it helpful***

Love the speed of this camera! Bought this to take pictures of sons football games and WOW can we get great close-ups WHEN THEY HAPPEN, not 6 seconds after the fact. Very good clarity and ease of use. Was a litte intimidated by all the different parts and details, as it clearly is a lot more camera than a basic "point-n-shoot".

One problem...this camera does not perform well in the cold. I found nothing in any of the paperwork warning me of this potential problem, so automatically thought that this big investment I had made was a piece of garbage. Missed the whole last half of sons game dinking with camera.
After a little research, turns out it is due to the BATTERY getting cold, causing the camera to perform sluggishly when the temperature drops. Luckily, we had included an extra battery with the purchase of our new camera (which I highly recommend). I found that carrying an extra battery in an inside pocket, close to your body to keep it nice and toasty is all that is needed. At the first sign of a drag, just swap batteries. Continue doing this as necessary.

All in all.......I love this camera and what it can do!

Canon Digital Rebel XTi (aka 400D) is a great camera, even for the ones that are only used to use point-n-shoot cameras.

My previous camera was the Canon Digital Rebel (300D), and the image quality difference between both cameras is very noticeable. Maybe not that much is you compare it to the 350D, but 4MP is indeed a big difference.

The auto focus was also improved, and the 9 AF points is a very nice feature.

The buffer is quite large, and can handle 27jpgs and 10raw images, and has a great data write speed.

Regarding the sensor cleaning system, it works fine, but it is not flawless. You can still notice dust in your sensor, but that is almost impossible to avoid, and won’t affect image quality if you don’t have lots of dust.

Okay lets see,

Before this camera I had a Canon G3 for mor than 4 years. That camera is still working, my father uses it now, so it wasn't a question to by a Canon again.

About 1 year ago I wanted to buy a 350d, my friend who has one said "wait" a little and the 400d will come out, it will have 10MP, cleaning system etc. I said why not, I have a good camera I can wayt a little more, and I tell you it worth it.

I have only made about 2000 pics, because of my studies but the camera is excelent. I had beautifull pictures with my G3 but with this :) I feel like a pro :)

I bought it at Sunshine Electronics, ordered from Hungary. Shipping address was in the US :) I have called them twice, they were kind, and everything was as they said. Payed with wire-transfer, it took 9 days for the money to arrive, after that the shipping took 2 days.

What I like:
- the camera is heavy and robust enough
- has a well feel, grip for me
- the 10MP is more than enough
- battery is strong, but I had 2 for my G3 as wells so... ;)
- little noise at ISO1600
- other told as well, it is easy to use, my mother can use it :)

It is a pity:
- no wire on the lens cap
- no LCD protector
- in bigger rooms the internal flash is weak

What I recomend:
- minimum one 2GB CF is a must
- another lens maybe a 70-300 is a must
- buy some LCD protector foil
- get another battery
- get a good external flash (I must get one also)
- UV and Polarize lens

This camera is a great buy. It's cheap for a SLR digital, but that doesn't mean it's bad. It rivals the Canon 30D, a more upscale Canon model that is used by higher-end photographers ($600 vs $1300ish).

The 10megapixel count is more than you'll ever need, plus allows you to crop part of the photo and still maintain high resolution. With the 9point auto focus, it's easy to get anything in the frame focused. 3 frames a second for a continuing time is great too for sports. The dust cleaning system works well. Having all the settings on the screen is a major plus, allowing you to see everything the camera is doing. The camera is programmed to reach anything you would need to change while shooting (ISO, WB, Shutter speed, Color/B&W, etc...), and can be changed with a single click.

For lenses, the EF-S 18-55 lens that comes with the kit is a decent lens. EF-S means something along the lines of a short back on the lens, and will only work with the Rebel, Rebel XT, or Rebel XTi (or any Canon camera with the white square on it around where you screw the lens on). The advantage of Canon is that any EF lens is compatible with the camera, leaving the door wide open. For the 18-55 lens, it's a good all-around, and is very good for scenery or wide-angle shots. If you don't know, lens that go into 70+ range are zoom lens, and under 50ish are wide angle lenses. If you have the money, the Canon 28-135 IS USM is a good buy for all around wide angle and medium telephoto (zoom). IS means Image Stabilization, which means that the camera compromises camera shake and allows zoomed-in shots to be easier taken, plus helps in low light situations. USM means ultra-sonic motor, which is an upgrade off the stock lens and allows for faster focusing. If you want a zoom lens for sports to get real close, the Canon 75-300 lens is good. There's an IS, USM, and regular version, all of which are on eBay usually. This lens is good for getting the up-close shot with a blurred background, which looks great for sports and portraits. If you really have the money ($1000+), a good lens is the Canon 70-200 L lens. L stands for "luxury," which means Canon puts nicer glass in the lens, plus it's the off-white color that you see pros with at sports. Filters are glass things that screw on the front of a lens. UV ones are most common, and keep outdoor colors true and serve as protection. Lens hoods also screw on the end, and are good for keeping stray light from blurring out the picture, as well as protection for the lens (plus it looks cool too - Canon has a thing on their site where it shows the appropriate hood for each lens). Another investment, if you have the money, is the BG-E3 battery grip. It holds two batteries or AAs. It screws on the body and allows you to hold the camera vertically with the shutter release and the two smaller buttons conveniently placed, almost as if you're shooting regularly. Retail price for the 28-135 is $400ish, $350 for the 75-300, $150 for the battery grip, but eBay is cheaper for everything. Remember, lenses make the camera though.

I got this camera after owning a Canon Digital Rebel with the stock lens. On eBay, I bought the Rebel XTi with a stock lens, the 28-135 and 75-300 lenses described above, carrying bag, hoods and filters, and cleaning tools. I simply love it. It's a great advantage over the Digital Rebel I owned. It's sturdy and has a nice shutter sound to it, fits well in your hand, and is awesome. This camera won't disappoint.

This is great step up from point and shoot or manual focus 35mm cameras. The kit I bought came with flash, tripod, wide angle lense, 4GB card plus the two lenses EFS18-55 and EF 75-300. You can select portait, landscape, close up, or let the camera decide. It was a wide range of manual adjustments too. I purchased a corded bulb and took some great night shots. I even set up a tripod (not the flimsy one that came with it) in the back seat of the helicopter I fly and took some night shots. They turned out GREAT, lights moving in the background but the instuments were fairly clear. Can't wait to shoot lightning with it, just waiting for a storm. I tried the macro and that works great too. I tried to take some photos from the helicopter of another plane, I selected 1600 ISO, I developed one to 8X10, it was good, but somewhat grainy. Next time I'll try a lower ISO. My biggest regret with buying this camera was the 75-300mm lense, I wish I didn't buy it with the camera and bought the 70-300mm IS (image stabilized lense) instead. It's about $500, but it cuts down on hand shake, probably not for most people, but I do a lot of arial photography so I need it. I checked out some of the sites that posted photos taken from the XTi and the photos are all crisp. They were using the L-series lense. The lenses that came with it are good, but the L-series photos looked sharper. I'd like to see a comparison to be sure. The flash is nothing great, but I don't take a lot of portraits, so it suits me. I can't complain about the software, but on some sites people were complaining. Downloading is easy, you can hook the camera up directly or pull the card out and use the USB. I tried it on a computer without the software installed and I could still pull the pictures off.
I picked this model for the price/features. You can't get a better camera for the price. The next model up is about twice the price if not more. I wanted one that I could use a variety of lenses.
If I did it again, I would buy everything seperate. The package deals are packed with the cheapest of stuff. The leather bag, the velcro needs to be stitched on again. The lenses are plastic and feel cheap, but L-series lenses are 10X the price, probably not worth it for this camera. I think the camera body is very good, only downside is the plastic feel and hand grip is for small Japanese hands, but I've gotten used to it. For most people, these lenses are probably all they will ever need. I have some Cokin filters that I use to enhance the sky colors, red and blue, great for sunsets, etc.
I'm having a lot of fun with it and hope to go to the Grande Canyon this summer to really use it.
When I purchased it, I had to pay by phone, they talked me into buying another battery for about $100. I found the one with the camera takes a lot of pictures and probably didn't need the other, except when I go hiking it will come in handy.
I hope this helped. Just for background: I'm not a professional, just self taught amature. I had a Canon AL-1 manual focus. I was going to stay with 35mm, but decided I've wasted enough film on poor shots, and didn't find out until after I developed it. Digital is environment friendly and you can tell instantly if your shot was bad. I glad I went the digital route.
Wish I could post a photo. Enjoy.

I think The Rebel XTI is your best "first SLR" Camera if you want to start taking "better" pictures hands down! Easy to Use,(just read the book) Solid, awesome available Lens, love the auto sensor cleaner & produces great quaility pictures.
I purchased one for daughter working in Africa and another XTI for other daughter who is an Art/Fashion major. I have taken over 10,000 pictures on my XTI in the past 8 months, even though I have "better" Canons, this is the one I use most and always goes with me. Use it for Sports action, (football, track, soccer)Portraits and catolog pictures for web sites and Ebay listings. I can't think of any cons. Some great value Camera/Lens/Odds bundles are offered on Ebay and I have looked everywhere & bought 3! My only suggestion, get Canon Lens with camera, it is cheaper with other lens but it is cheaper for a reason! You can not go wrong buying an XTI....And you rarely ever see used ones for sale, so other people love them too! Good Luck Durga Garcia

After being a die hard fan of Canon 35mm film cameras, I finally broke down a month ago and went full digital. This past weekend, I had an opportunity to put the camera through it's paces at an air show. I am no longer a skeptic!

What's good? With 4 gb of memory, I took 1072 photos over two days, including an air-to-air photo shoot where I shot over 200 photos in half an hour, without ever having to stop and change the film! The first accessory I bought was a battery pack/handle grip, which really improved the balance of the camera and gave lots of reserve battery power. The camera body is very compact and the battery pack just made the camera fit the hand so much better, especially with a 70-300mm lens attached.

The camera has more features than I will ever use, but it is quite user friendly and experience will improve the versatility of this fine camera. I have been a Canon user since the 70's, so my brand choice was already made. The XTi seemed to be the best value for the money, boasting many features of its more expensive siblings.

Problems?...Yes a couple were noted. Firstly, the large screen is virtually useless in bright sunny conditions. It would be nice if the camera makers could develop a non-glare screen that automatically adjusted screen brightness to the surrounding lighting conditions ie: dims for nightime viewing, full brightness for daytime sun etc.

Secondly, a minor irritation was the pop-up flash popping up and hitting the viser of my hat, causing the camera to go into a non-functioning mode, from which to reset to normal ops, you have to turn the camera completely off and then on again before resuming shooting. I need to explore that a bit more in the manual perhaps.

Overall, I recommend this camera without reserve or hesitation. Canon makes one of the finest photo processors available, the Digic II. The Canon family of cameras and accessories is extensive and the XTi falls right in the middle, providing exceptional features at a cost most can afford.

I bought it for my wife for our anniversary, she has been wanting one. She had a canon rebel 35mm, that she used for many years. It was a nice camera but it finally got to the point that the repair shop said it would cost a lot to fix it. So i got her the digital canon rebel Xti, we are still learning sbout it, but we like it. It takes very good pictures and is easy to operate. I would recomend this camera if you are serious about photography, my wife uses it as a hobby. But she has taken wedding pictures and individual pictures for people.

I am only an amateur photographer. In theory, I know what I want and what it takes when I take pictures. In practice, well, I just need more practice! I had been wanting to upgrade from an advanced point-and-shoot for some time. My wife and I had the opportunity to travel to Belgium and Paris at the beginning of December. We felt that if we were going to upgrade in the next year, this was the time to do it. Granted, it was rather foolish on my part. After all, I only had a week or two to learn how to use this camera before I left. You can imagine how busy I was during this time, which meant that I had only had, maybe, 6-10 hours with this camera before the trip. This leads to my first pro: this camera was so easy to use. Despite my lack of experience with it, I had no trouble at all. My wife is by no means a photographer on any level other than "which button takes a picture". Even she found this camera simple to use. This was something that had me worried prior to the trip, especially since some reviews said the opposite.

I also loved the self-cleaning sensor, lightweight, quality of photos, and number of options available at a seconds notice. But one of the greatest features that sold me on this camera was the speed at which it takes pictures. Both actual shutter delay time, but also from off to ready to go. I was so disappointed in digital cameras because I had missed so many awesome shots to the curse of shutter delay. I thought I was going to have to lug around several cameras. A 35mm (for faster shooting) my XTi, and my old camera (for my wife). Once I got this camera, I was shocked at how fast it is. I thought that the reviews I had read were exaggerated. I am pleased to announce that they are not.

As I stated, I am an amateur trying to learn. A good camera won't give you professional results. But this camera will help prevent some mistakes and gives you a step in the right direction. In a way, it is a good camera to learn on, as long as you are not to dependant on the preset modes.

There is no other camera I would have rather had on our trip. I took over 900 pictures with excellent results. I once read that an amateur takes twenty pictures and gets one or two good ones. A professional will take five and get one or two good ones. I am in the upper half of that equation and feel that this camera helped get me there.

If you are a professional photographer, yeah, there is something better out there for you. If you are a hobbyist or just trying to learn and improve, you can't go wrong with this camera. When I buy something, I try to get the best out there, usually buying more than I need. I knew that this was an entry level DSLR for the most part. But I don't think I could have gotten a better camera for me and my skill level, and that is the most important thing to consider when buying things like this.

I did my homework; I knew what features I was looking for and the Digital Rebel XTi is the complete package. I am very impressed with the ease of use and the end results. Purchasing the Digital Rebel XTi is the logical next step for the person who is ready to make the move beyond the "Point & Click" comfort zone into some serious photo opportunities without sacrificing the fun!

Great price for the camera (plus kit), be sure to read the entire body of the auction, though- it is not new, but a refurbished unit, and not stated as such in the title, but about 1/2 way through a VERY long auction body (knowing all people won't take the time to read through it all, thereby overlooking the blurb about the camera being a refurbished unit, I'm certain). Also, the auction stated a manufacturer 90 warranty card/info would be sent with the camera- no warranty information whatsoever was sent with the camera, and I was subsequently offered protection by squaretrade at an additional cost (which I didn't purchase). I received no reply from the seller when I asked about the manufacture warranty information that was supposed to be included with the camera, but was not there upon delivery. Camera has performed well, no problems after a couple of months of average use (taken maybe 500 or so shots with it so far). The camera does function and appear as new- and so I am not dissatisfied- I belive I got a great deal; but do feel that the seller does have deceptive auctions, even though I'm sure they fall within the rules of ebay. Just be sure you read the entire auction novel (oops= I mean, body) before you bid.

i really dislike to purchase with the seller!! the camera came with a problem, and after 2 weeks i had sent him back the camera, that he said he was gonna change, he said the camera never got there!
and i lost $700 dollars

When my Canon EOS Rebel XT350D with two Sigma lenses was stolen or moved to a parallel universe, I replaced my equipment with the Rebel XTi, with Canon lenses. I like the lighter body weight, the 2.5-inch LCD monitor, and the Self Cleaning Sensor. I read many lens comparison reviews before choosing the Canon lenses over the Sigma lenses, and in my experience, the Canon lenses win hands down. I realize the megapixel upgrade from 8 to 10 makes a difference in image quality, but for me, the Canon lenses focus sharper and faster, and the point of focus is more accurate than with the Sigma lenses. Overall, the Canon EOS Rebel XTi works for me.

I bought this cameara on ebay as a package deal extra lenses,cases,tripod you name it this had everything you could need.

This camera is wonderful takes incredible pictures and so fast too compared to the delay on my past cameras.

I never miss a shot and with the wide angle lens shots not possible before are now a dream come true.

The color and clarity is absolutely amazing not to mention the options and canons support online which has tutorials to be a real pro photogropher or to help out those who want to try.

If you are a knowledgeable 35mm photographer you will like this camera because it allows you to control the aperture opening and f-stop without complications. The display monitor has an illuminated white background that uses black letters which makes it very easy to read. I also like the in-the-viewfinder display. When you are composing your image the exposure settings are visible in the viewfinder and to adjust them you simply turn a dial near the shutter release button. AMAZING! Compared to a Nikon SLR, and two different Kodak SLR cameras I've used this camera rates a 10 while those rate about a 3. The bottom line is, this camera is easy to use!

I purchased this camera in February of this year. I was immediately impressed with the ease of use and all the peripherals that came with the camera. This camera is absolutely awesome. I purchased the camera for it's ability to take action sports shots of my grandsons baseball and football games. The action shots are clear, no blurring, it is a really great camera.

After trying to purchase the Canon Rebel XTi 400D on ebay for days now... time and time again I'm surprised by those outbidding me for prices far above the going price for this camera.

Note: As of 1/1/07 this camera -silver body only- can be purchased, brand new, in an actual sealed box (unlike on ebay where they say sealed box but the pictures often show the sticker seal is removed) for around $690. at Amazon.com. Prices go up and down at Amazon all the time within a small margin but mostly down the longer an item is on the market. The lens that comes with the XTi kit is not great. However if you don't have a lens and you are a beginner photographer, I say start with the lens in the kit and then move up from there. Cheaper this way. With the lens, the black XTi (which usually sells for a couple dollars more than the silver, retails at Amazon for around $790. Thats abt $100. difference.

When you see sellers offering lenses and memory cards as part of a kit, the deals aren't always bad, especially if you don't already own a full-size tripod, table top tripod and camera case. But keep in mind, most of the lenses offered in these bundles are not always great lenses. Be careful, do your homework. As an Amazon prime member, I get free shipping on items purchased there. The cost of this membership was abt $6.50/mo. and I do purchase a lot of items there, so is a savings for me. I would still pay sales tax, tho. But I'd be assured of getting a brand new sealed box, warranty (plus a receipt) AND an initial 30 day money back guarentee from Amazon. Btw, some warranties are only good with the receipt. Keep this in mind.

I'm writing this because, I see a lot of people are paying more than I think they should for this camera on ebay. They are raising the price for all of us. Sellers see that 20 people paid $900. for this camera and they think they should be able to get the same - even if these sales are from two months ago (prices always come down after christmas and cameras do not hold value because of market saturation and new models). I feel if I'm buying a camera from ebay, and I can't be assured the warranty will be mine, it needs to be a better deal than I can purchase from a retailer. If purchasing from a Canon dealer on ebay, then I'm going to shop around and right now Amazon is offering a better deal than I've seen from ebay retailers (those registered Canon dealers who have an actual store (not virtual) and can offer a receipt).

Anyway, goodluck and don't forget to do your research when bidding on ebay.

Before I write a review, first let me run a short history of Digital Rebel series since some of you may not know much about Canon DSLR.

As some of you already know, Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi(AKA EOS 400D) is 3rd generation of Digital Rebel series. First one was introduced back in August of 2003 and it had 6 mega pixels with sub $1000 price tag.

Last year, on February 2005 they brought Digital Rebel XT with 8 mega pixel which was an excellent upgrade to 1st generation camera with extra pixels, instant up time, faster image process with Digic II image processor, increased buffer, E-TTL II Flash to name a few.

Canon Digital Rebel XTi(I personally like 400D name better though) is the 3rd version of Digital Rebel and it's got some cool features that you might want to consider when purchasing. I've listed 10 best here.

1. 10 mega pixel CMOS sensor with improved micro-lens array, and lower noise.
2. EOS Integrated Cleaning System ++++ GOOOOOOD ++++
- Anti-static coatings on sensor surfaces
- Separate low pass filter with ultra-sonic vibration
- Software based dust mapping and removal
3. Nine point Auto Focus sensor (Same as its big brother EOS 30D)
4. Continuous shooting burst up to 27 JPEG and 10 RAW images. (up from 20 & 6)
5. Bright 2.5" LCD monitor with 160° viewing angles (Horizontal & Vertical)
6. Camera settings and adjustment on LCD monitor
7. New viewfinder view includes 9 AF points as well as EOS 30D style status bar
8. Improved user interface
9. Improved print/share/direct print features
10. Lower introductory list price

The most exciting feature on XTi is probably the Integrated Cleaning System. No matter how careful you use your camera, eventually the dust will make its way into your sensor somehow. I'm sure you've had same situation where dust got into the sensor and had to find a way to clean it off without damaging the sensor. If you shoot a white paper that covers entire screen and if you see small blurred dark spots here and there - THAT'S THE DUST ON THE SENSOR. It appears to be not noticeable when shooting textured, busy scene, but it definitely shows when shooting solid color such as clear blue sky or white backdrop. I had same issue and I've tried blowing can-air several times, but it only removed a few and sometimes created more dusts. ARRRRR!!

This New cleaning system is a heaven's call. To fight the dust problem, Canon has done these to address this issue.

1. Used materials in the mirror box and shutter chamber which are less likely to generate dust.
2. Improved the body cap, again to not generate dust.
3. Used anti-static coating on the sensor surface.
4. Created a new separated anti-alias filter which vibrates to shake off dust.
5. Added a Dust Delete Data(DDD) feature which can map stubborn dust to be removed in software.

I believe this feature is going to be present on all future Canon EOS lines from now on.

My review space is almost out, so I'll make final comments.

The XTi in my opinion is a very good entry camera and if you are thinking of upgrading point-n-shoot camera or from 1st generation Digital Rebel, I'd recommend this camera without any hesitation. Current XT users might want to wait for the upcoming 30D upgrade. XTi is great for Amateur, Semi-pro, or even some of the pros out there and as Pro myself, I am thinking to purchase this camera for back up/2nd camera to my 5D. Price you should expect is between $850~$900. Good luck and Happy Shooting!!!

With the Rebel XTi, we are seeing the final evolution of the old-style SLR in digitalmform. This is mostly a good thing. The Rebel XTi is vey capable, Canon has refined their CMOS sensor technology to the point where attractive, sharp, predictable results are guaranteed.

First the plus-points. The Rebel XTi sports a great sensor, sharp and it handles highlights very well. Auto-focus is vastly improved, the XTi borrows the same autofocus sensor as the Canon 30D. The new buffer is generous, with 9 RAW and 25-30 JPEG shot sequences now being possible. The LCD status screen is great, and sensor dust cleaning is a welcome addition.

When comparing the Rebel XTi to the Sony a100 however, the Rebel does come out seeming a bit less than rebelious. Anti-shake built into the a100's sensor elevates the Sony well above the Rebel for handheld shooting... not to mention that the Rebel's hand grip is not at all comfortable.

However if you put the Rebel on a tripod and tether it to a computer, the tables are turned. Canon has by far the most robust software options for tethered shooting, and rhe Rebel XTi takes full advantage of that fact. One could hardly ask for more in a studio camera. Even when not tethered, the Canon provides more manual control than the Sony. The Rebel is much more at home on a tripod, in a studio. For handheld work, the Sony is simply superior.

Case-in-point: With my Sony a100 and a 18-50mm f/2.8 lens, I have a rig that costs $1500 and serves up that 18-50 at a constant f/2.8, with anti-shake. To do the same thing with the Rebel... well, Canon's f/2.8 IS lens at that focal length costs $1100. Start adding lenses and a Sony system with the same capabilities starts to cost much less. But again none of this matters if you shoot on a tripod, where the Rebel is king.

Canon really improved on a good thing with the Rebel XTi, adding resolution and functionality... but short-changed build quality, innovation and ergonomics. The anti-dust feature is a nice addition, but that's still playing catch-up. The real reason to buy a Canon is the near universal support in terms of software that their (Canon's) dominance has created - oh yeah and also because it sports a great 10MP sensor at the lowest price.

This camera has the major features I was looking for in D-SLR with high pixel quality and lens variety. The fact that lens from my Canon EOS 35mm SLR are fully compatible with the D-SLR make for an added bonus. I chose this over the 30D because of price.