canyon pretty much produce the entry - degree Digital SLR market in 2003 with the spillage of the Canon EOS 300D , otherwise know as the Digital Rebel ( ) . Since then , Canon has upgraded the Rebel to the Rebel XT ( ) , a smaller , faster , gamey - resolution camera . The novel EOS Digital Rebel XTi is a mostly XT - like camera that offer a 10.1 - megapixel sensor , a larger LCD covert , and a handful of Modern features .
Priced at $ 899 , including an 18 - 55 millimeter crystalline lens , the XTi is right in descent with its chief competitor , the Sony Alpha DSLR A100 K ( ) and the Nikon D80 ( ) . At first glance , it may be unmanageable to notice a deviation between the XTi and the XT . The tv camera ’s body has undergone a hatful of subtle modeling change , and you may or may not think that these make a departure in the feel and handling of the camera . Like the XT , you ’ll either discover the XTi extremely comfortable to concur , or passing brainsick and cramped — depending on the size of your bridge player .
Cosmetic changes
A look at the back of the photographic camera expose the most important decorative change over the XT . canyon has increase the size of the camera ’s LCD covert to 2.5 in and eliminated the dedicated position LCD . The main LCD is now used as the status presentation , just as it is on the Sony Alpha A100 K and the Pentax K100D ( ) . Normally , I would bump this very annoying , but , as on the Sony Alpha , the XTi admit a proximity detector near the viewfinder , which automatically activates and inactivate the LCD concealment as you move your eye up to and away from the viewfinder . Still , I much favor the consecrate status exhibit of the XT as oppose to the XTi ’s offering .
Looking through the camera ’s viewfinder reveals a few other changes . The XTi now shows flash exposure curl and white balance readjustment in the view finder ’s status ginmill – both welcome additions .
Overall , the control and interface on the XTi is indistinguishable to the XT ’s . All critical shooting functions are easy approachable through the four - means button and LCD screen on the back of the camera . Exposure recompense , program shift , drive mode , picture ringlet , and focalise gunpoint selection all have consecrated button . In this market , only the Nikon D80 offers an tantamount level of consecrate controls on the television camera body .
The XTi ’s menu scheme has been improved over the XT ’s , offering simpler menus and easier seafaring . Pulling a characteristic from its EOS 30D ( ) and its EOS 5D , Canon has summate Picture Styles to the XTi , which offer predefined trope parameter sets for shooting in particular place . For example , you might take the Portrait style , which provides custom contrast and saturation configurations that are well suited to reproducing skin tones .
Enhanced XT features
The XTi keep back several features from premature versions of the Digital Rebel , but they have been raise and updated . For deterrent example , you may opt to consider the histogram exhibit in monochrome , RGB , or luminousness ( brightness ) ; there are new recollective - exposure noise step-down selection ; and there are improvement in the Auto Rotate During Playback mode . In the image review that appears immediately on - silver screen after you shoot , you’re able to now magnify and trash around the image .
Under the cowl , the camera now has a new 10.1 - megapixel sensing element . While this is not a huge cost increase over the XT ’s eight megapixels , it does put this newfangled translation in line with the competitor , so it is a welcome change . canyon has also implemented a three - tiered sensor cleaning system . First , the sensor is coat with an anti - static , dust - repelling coating . Second , a percipient element in front of the sensor vibrates whenever you turn the television camera on or off to throw off lax any debris . And finally , you could create adust referenceshot that can be used to digitally take out rubble spots later .
The vibrating clean cycle occurs both when you power on and off , but Canon has sagely made the power - on clean hertz interruptible . A half - pressure of the shutter kibosh the cleanup cycle so you could frivol away right away . Dust is a problem for any SLR , so these changes are worthful .
As with the XT , the XTi yields excellent image quality , with very little noise up through ISO 400 , and minimal noise at ISO 800 through 1,600 , the maximum speed available . An growth in resolution can sometimes result in noisy photos , but Canon has managed to increase the solvent on the XTi ’s sensor without increasing the noise . As such , the extra two megapixels are welcome , and furnish much more output and cropping flexibility .
performance
graduated table = Superior , Very serious , Good , Fair , Poor
specifications
The effigy - quality rating of the camera is base upon a panel of judges ’ view in five categories : photo , color , keenness , distorted shape , and overall . Battery animation testers follow a accurate script , including scene with and without flash , until the assault and battery dies.—Tested in conjunctive with the PC World Test Center
Macworld’s buying advice
You need to get your manpower on the Digital Rebel XTi before you’re able to make an evaluation as to whether it ’s right for you . If you like its size of it and palpate , then you ’ll find it to be a full - featured camera that yields excellent image calibre at a very fairish Mary Leontyne Price .
[ Ben Long is the writer ofComplete Digital Photography , tertiary Edition(Charles River Books , 2004 ) . ]
