Digital Camera Review: Canon's Rebel Xt Takes a Step Up

In actuality, the Canon Rebel XTi is an update of an already superb camera - the Canon Rebel XT - with Canon's latest and best innovations to make digital SLR photography more like you remember from film days, but more versatile. In spite of being being the hottest selling digital SLR on the market, the Canon Digital Rebel XT was due for an upgrade, and right on the expected 18 month schedule came the EOS Digital Rebel XTi.

Similar in weight and size, much of the user experience with the Canon Rebel XTi is like the Rebel XT. But there's more to like about the XTi, from the finish to the fit to the interface. The paint on the Rebel XTi is smoother and makes the camera look metal rather than plastic. On the Black version, all buttons are now black, including the shutter and navigation buttons, to give the black Rebel XTi a more professional look. The Rebel XTi's larger screen has dictated a few changes to buttons, with the five left buttons shrinking again to small round buttons instead of the larger reverse-D shaped buttons of the Rebel XT. The overall design of the Rebel XTi is very similar to the XT, but its lines are slightly more organic, looking more mature and sturdy.

Current Canon EOS owners will be relieved to know their existing supply of compact flash cards will work in the Rebel XTi. Since most recent consumer SLRs are switching to SD cards, it was expected Canon would follow suit by switching to SD in the Rebel XTi, but instead you will see a nice large compact flash door in place. Like many other consumer SLRs, the Rebel XTi's color LCD stays on to serve as a status display. On the XT model, you must look through the viewfinder to set the AF point, or use a number display on the monochrome LCD; however with the XTi, you need to press only the AF point selector button, check the back of the LCD, or look through the viewfinder, then use the four-way buttons to choose your AF points. On the old XT and the new XTi, all buttons are on the back, with the display, and most options can be changed with the Five-way Navigation buttons. When in AI Servo autofocus mode, the Rebel XTi doesn't need to lock focus like the XT and 20D did before the shutter will fire. With the XTi, you can keep shooting more rapidly if you're satisfied that the focus is just fine. The Rebel XTi can also shoot more pictures than its predecessor in continuous mode. The XTi's battery is the same as the XT's, the NB-2LH, but because of the larger display, its function as a status display, and the new self-cleaning system, battery life is reduced.

Seemingly, the greatest improvement to the XTi is the addition of the 30D's autofocus array. More pixels, a bigger LCD, and dust reduction are welcome, but faster AF is the true benefit to the Rebel XTi, because you can get shots that you couldn't with the XT. Despite the grip or other negative elements, there's no question that the Rebel XTi is the one you want along when the image really matters. The Canon Digital Rebel XTi is an excellent take-anywhere all-purpose digital SLR that can serve as a second camera for owners of Rebel XT, 20D, 30D, and 5D cameras who want to keep a second body with a different focal length strapped around their neck. Serious photographers would do better with an EOS 30D for its stronger build and greater manual adaptability, but for just about everyone else, the Rebel XTi offers everything you need and more.