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!!!

Canon XTi 10.1 Megapixels with a Canon EF 17-85 mm IS USM lens (NOT the standard lens 18-55mm). It is a real good camera ! I did 2500 photos in one month (OCT-2006). Results = very good.

What I recommand, from hardware point of view:
- Canon XTi (main body only).
- LENS: Canon EF 17-85mm IS USM = 5x optical zoom, IS=image stabilizer, USM = fast focus.
- CF memory 2 Gb 120x = you need a fast CF and big enough to store lots of photos.
- UV filter (Kenko) - to protect the lens.
- Circular polarizer filter (Kenko) - reducing glare and increase the saturation in landscape photos
- DSLR bag (Roots) - I got one special designed for DSLRs = triangle shape with space for filters, extra battery, cleaning kit.
- extra battery !!
- cap retainer cord self adhesiv - (Optex).
- tripod.
- USB 2 card reader/writer = I DONT like to use the camera's USB port.
- picasa2 (free from google: http://picasa.google.com ) as photo organizer and minimal post processing as well. The software provided by Canon is a joke.


Pro (what I like):
- easy to use (if my mother like to use this camera means is really easy to use)! To change ISO is just one-click. Only one dial (front wheel).
- the whole camera is very well balanced (even with that not from the kit lens - EF 17-85 mm is much longer and heavy than standard).
- ISO 1600 with very little noise - good for low light indoors - think about museum where you are allowed to do photos but without flash. So with ISO 1600 was ok.
- not so heavy as you think for an DSLR.
- the AI mode for AF - kind of smart automatic continuous focus.
- the battery charger is compact and good from 110V - 240 V, 50-60Hz = good for North America, Europe as well.
- sensor self cleaning system = good ideea from Canon !!!!


Cons (what I dont like):
- tendency to underexpose !! - you must double check the automatic exposure.
- the lens cap has no cord - you can loose the cap so I added a sticky cap retainer cord from Optex.
- no histogram in real time. You can check the histogram after you doing the photo.
- the software provided by Canon just sucks !!! picasa2 from google is much better !!

Overall: - Good DSLR camera. NOT excellent because of that tendency to underexpose!!! Results printed in 8x10 (8x12) with no post processing was great !

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***