Canon's Digital Rebel XTi is Top in Class

Thinking of Upgrading?

Canon's newest digital SLR camera, the EOS Rebel XTi, mixes an easy to use platform with Canon's industry-leading digital image quality. Stepping up from its older brother, the Canon EOS 350D, the Rebel XTi offer shutterbugs incredible 10 mega pixel resolution for under $1000.

I was using a very limited point and shoot Sony digital camera and started to look around for a DSLR. Nikon released the D80, and Canon the Rebel XTi last autumn. After much research I selected the Canon. Nikon or Canon is an endless debate in photography circles, and not an easy decision to make. Once you pick you are virtually married to the company. So far, my relationship with the Canon EOS Rebel XTi has been a good one.

The camera offers a full automatic mode, similar to a point-and-shoot models. The camera processes light conditions and adjusts to take the best photo possible. A built-in pop-up flash is automatically brought into play in low-light conditions. A number of preset modes, for portraits, landscapes, and sports, are also available, and allow newer users to focus on composing their photographs without having to worry about exposure settings.

For the serious amateur the Rebel XTi offers an assisted programmable mode, and a fully manual mode, as well as aperture priority and shutter priority settings. ISO settings range for 100 to 1600. White balance settings for six common situations are preset, with an option to program your own. The auto focus on the Rebel XTi is the same 9-point system used on Canon's more costly EOS 30D DSLR.

The Rebel XTi's ability to shoot a burst of continuous shots is very useful in a number of photographic situations. Up to 27 JPEG or 10 RAW images can be recorded in a single burst, at 3 frames per second. The 2.5 inch LCD on the body's back allows for large previews of taken shot and the ability to quickly change camera settings.