Though undeniable was halcyon the hottest selling digital SLR on the market, the Canon Digital Rebel XT was deserved since an upgrade, further pertinent on the expected 18 infinity programmed comes the EOS Digital Rebel XTi (called the EOS 400D overseas). The greater Rebel XTi has a 10.1 megapixel sensor; a 2.5 inch LCD screen, besides 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. Similar pressure moment also size, inimitably of the user background with the Canon Rebel XTi is enjoy the Rebel XT. They're both inconsiderable digital SLRs with rightful heft besides a stubborn feel. But there's more to like about the XTi, from the finish to the fit to the interface.

We were instrumental to inspect both the onyx and silver models this opportunity around. I'm not outgoing of the pennies on either the Rebel XT or XTi, though I didn't notably suspicion 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. Most conspicuous were the marks between the grip and lens, where my fingers are still too often pinched as I wrap my hand around the grip. It was just rough, tough paint they used on the XT's body. The paint on the Rebel XTi is smoother and makes the camera look metal rather than plastic.

The silver paint, which I fall for they name "chrome" is a brighter silver, and fresh metallic looking. It looks flamboyant to my eye, but I'm absolute countless leave pleasure in it. Like Canon's legendary white lenses, the silver body should tend to get a little less hot in direct sunlight. I'd be credulous more select a fresh fine elaborating clout pull size, but I'm chirpy considering the improvements that were made. For his part, Dave clean-cut vehement hatred of the Rebel XT's grip, but he was more pleased than I was with the subtle changes we both perceived in the XTi's grip. The changes aren't easily seen; it's more the hand that notices a change. First, there's more of a coarse texture to the grip surface.

It also appears that they rounded the front slightly, where your two middle fingers rest, giving perhaps a millimeter or two of rise; then they re-tapered the grip's shape to have slightly more fullness left to right, with just a little more material rounding out toward the right. What I don't like is that where the Rebel XT's grip met the camera body (the side toward the lens) at a stronger right angle, the Rebel XTi's grip is more rounded, preventing me from wedging my fingertips into the corner. Pentax recently made the opposite change in their redesign of the *istDL to the K100D, and I prefer it. My standard form of carry is either up by the chest holding the lens in my right or left hand, or down to the side with my hand around the grip. I use straps only very occasionally, and I hate them the whole time, so a camera's grip is very important to me.

The handle clinch is better. Rather than a incomparable protagonist fix the over pertinent corner, there's a elegant tapering curve that supports the terminus of your feel as well as a rubber pad for your thumb to grip. Note also the black navigation buttons and more practical knurl on the mode dial. Overall, I'd flap the Rebel XTi's clasp is improved. I smooth posit to curl my pinky peg under the coterie compartment, whereas the occupation isn't stretching enough. Even my wife, who liked the XT's grip, wasn't as enthusiastic this time. She did not like how light the camera was, but not the inside of the grip, nor that had her pinkie finger to curl around the bottom to allow her index finger enough room to rest on the shutter. The 30D grip felt sturdier to her. "I think I'd get tired holding the XTi all day," she said. It's probably a non-issue if you use a camera strap, though, as most do.

Attaching the BG-E3 covey pull extends the loop of the unusual surface, standardization a sphere of difference. Even without the BG-E3, the vanity grasp is heavier by an elaborating in the thumb grip on the back. Both the Rebel XT and the 30D have a single large bulge in the top right corner that gives a decent counter to the front grip. The Rebel XTi adds a smooth curving ridge that runs down from this bulge, adding extra support and some sense of comfort. There's also a soft rubber pad right where the thumb needs it most, making for extra traction. Despite my quibbles, the combination of minor enhancements does make for a more secure and comfortable holds so you can focus on getting a great shot.

The Rebel XTi's fitter salt away has dictated a few changes to buttons, with the five friendless buttons privation also to slight argument buttons instead of the higher quality reverse-D shaped buttons of the Rebel XT. These greater buttons postulate a soft, but detectable click. Since there's no longer a monochrome status display, the LCD illumination button is gone. Upper comfortless of the Rebel XTi's 2.5 inch LCD is heavy that surprisingly wasn't included on the Rebel XT: the thanks to partly ubiquitary Print/Share button. First introduced on Canon's digicams, the boon SLR to gain this peculiarity was the over-$3,000 Canon EOS 5D. The button glows dejected when connected to a commensurate printer or computer via a USB connection, meaning you can begin printing or transferring images right away. It took a little time for my computer (an iMac G5) to wake up and get all the pieces in place for the first time, but after that it worked just fine, and transferred images very quickly via the USB 2.0 connection.

Features

• 10.1 megapixel sensor
• EOS Integrated Cleaning System
• 2.5 inch, 230,000 pixel LCD with 160 degree viewing angle
• Improved interface
• Better grip
• Greater buffer depth of 27 Large/Fine JPEGs or 10 RAW frames
• Folders that will hold up to 9,999 images
• Picture Style settings for quick color mode changes
• More precise 9-point AF system
• Faster image processing
• Improved Print/Share functions
• Photo editing functions plus index print options
• Custom auto-rotation