I bought the Rebel EOS Digital XTi 400D to upgrade my almost 3-year old Rebel EOS Digital 300D (which, by the way, is still a great camera). I won't go into the technical differences between the two cameras, but I will say this: the differences between the two cameras are worth the cost of the upgrade for me. Here's why.

Although too much can be made of additional pixels, the upgrade from 6 mega-pixels to 10.1 mega-pixels simply means that more data is available to process pictures. I shoot in RAW mode, so I'll take all the additional information I can get.

The larger LCD screen on the 400D is much, much, much better than that on the 300D. I really like a) the much larger view of each picture taken, and b) the clarity of the camera settings when displayed on the screen. I also really like the feature that automatically turns off the screen when the camera is raised to the eye for composition. I honestly didn't realize how tiny the 300D LCD is until comparing it to the 400D. Thank you, Canon, for the bigger screen!

I also like that the 400D comes with new, selectable Picture Styles (Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Neutral and Faithful) that automatically make small corrections to things like sharpness, contrast and color.

The camera start-up time on the 400D is also significantly quicker than that of the 300D. I once missed what I now think is the shot of a lifetime because I couldn't get the 300D to start up fast enough. I believe the 400D would have gotten the shot.

It's also much easier to select the type of Auto Focus mode on the 400D. When your camera is set to shoot in One Shot mode, but you find yourself in the middle of movement and action, the 400D makes it easy and fast to switch to AI Focus or AI Servo - essential for sports shots.

For those who have come to appreciate and rely on the histogram to determine proper exposure, you now have the choice between Brightness and RGB.

I also like the increased continuous shooting speed of almost 3 frames-per-second. A very nice feature when shooting the dog, kids playing or outdoor events.

Finally, for those who are concerned about dust on the sensor, the new automatica sensor cleaning capabiltiy is a very nice to have.

On the downside, the 400D camera grip is a bit too small for larger hands. It's manageable, but not as comfortable as the grip on the 300D. However, I mostly solved this problem by attaching an Opteka battery grip, which enlarged the grip surface.

Also, the smaller battery size on the 400D means that you can't interchange batteries between the 300D and the 400D. It also means that the (optional) battery grip that worked on the 300D does not fit on the 400D.

BOTTOM LINE

Am I happy that I upgraded from the 300D to the 400D? You bet. I'd do it again in a heart beat.

Would I recommend this camera to the serious amateur? Absolutely. It's worth every penny to someone getting his or her first Digital SLR or upgrading from the 300D.

I am an advanced amature. For me, the quality of professionally done prints is the biggest measure of a camera or lense. I will be brief and to the point:

1. Do not use the kit lense. This camera deserves high quality lenses. If tight on budget, buy the 50mm 1.8 EF MK II. It is a cheap but very high quality lense. This is the lense I use with my XTi.

2. I just received my first set of prints (4x6). I have never taken pictures as good as this. My previous gear was Rebel (film) and the same 50mm lense. So, I can make a decent comparison between 35mm film and digital. The prints from XTi are stunningly better than anything I ever managed with film. The sharpness and perception of depth in the prints are nothing short of dazzling.

3. Do not worry too much about how the pictures look on screen. XTi produces very high fidelity colors which may look a bit dull on the monitor. Your natural tendency might be to tweak the images to increase the color saturation. Do not do it (unless you wish to display the images on screen only). Prints are absolutely stunning in color accuracy and more vivid than screen.

If you are waiting for digital to catch up with film, do not wait any longer. The battle between 35mm and digital is over. Having said that, incredible things are still coming down the technology pipe. If you are really serious, you may want to wait for these:
- Built in High Dynamic Range (HDR) photography.
- Resolution that matches medium format film (15mp).
- More affordable image stabilization. This may not have been important for 35mm films, but will make a difference at such high resolutions.

(I'm in the UK where it's called the 400D, not the XTi, but they are the same camera.)

On and on and on they moan in the forums and reviews that the XTi is too small and not comfortable to hold. They also say that it has a small, dark viewfinder that's like a tunnel.

But of course all this depends on your perspective. I'm moving up from using my little pocket camera and my Canon Pro1. The last thing the XTi feels is small, and I reckon a lot of people moving to their first digital SLR will agree. I find the grip perfectly comfortable (if you have giant hands, buy a giant camera like the Nikon D80) and also find that the buttons fall easily to hand, and perhaps more importantly, I'm not pressing any of them by mistake (easy on my other cameras).

Set the camera to Auto and you won't have to worry about most of the settings and controls, but most people will want to at least try. And if you do, you soon realise that it's about more than just shutter speed and aperture, it's about ISO too. ISO 1600 looks better than ISO200 on my Pro1, so it's something you really can use. And need to. So it's a shame there isn't a second wheel (under the thumb would be nice) to set this. Or at least some indication in the viewfinder of the ISO setting so you could do it by feel and be reminded of the ISO setting.

Remembering to put back things you've changed will become a major feature of the way you use this camera, because you don't get that much information in the viewfinder and (perhaps it's worse if you wear glasses) the information you do get is slightly low in the viewfinder so you don't always see if something's flashing a warning. Otherwise, I liked the viewfinder and it's a million times better than any compact camera. The big screen is right where your nose goes though and we all know what that means... just buy the Acme velvet nose shield.

Another moan you hear is that there's no spot metering. True. But what they don't mention in the XTi's defence is that it does have `partial metering', which is like a big `spot' and mostly does the job spot metering would've done. So it's no big deal.

And the other moans are about plasticky construction. The silver one does look a bit plasticky. The black one only feels it, but it's once again no big deal. The camera has a businesslike look and feel, not the finish of a piece of jewellery. It feels tough to me and has nice grippy surfaces in important places.

And there's no 2-second self timer for no good reason.

But what about the good stuff?

Well, that's just about everything else. I can't compare it to other SLRs since this is my first, but compared to my Pro1 it's almost scarily fast. It snaps into focus like a thing possessed. And there's no shutter lag. It can track moving objects with servo AF, which is great for cats that rush towards you when you get your camera out. Action shots suddenly become a possibility. This really is a big difference. A big wow really.

Control over depth of field is a good excuse to buy yourself an SLR. Don't we all want those pro-looking blurry backgrounds? It's dead easy with the XTi (though it depends on the lens you get). Te downside, until you get used to it, is that focus is more critical, but luckily, the XTi can focus pretty well, in all light. You can choose any one of the nine focus points if the camera gets it wrong. Handy if you're using a tripod and don't want to move the camera.

I've used Canon cameras for years and the menu system is very familiar. They've refined it over the years so it's nearly perfect, and using the big screen makes everything super clear. The main things you'll want to change (white balance, metering etc) are one button away and you can change the setting with the dial on the top too. In fact, the dial near your shutter finger lets you change many things, and you can use it to scroll through images in playback mode too, without having to zoom back out if you've zoomed in.

You get a nice package with the camera: a wide strap, all the leads, charger of course, plus (at least in the UK) vouchers for money off lenses and other accessories, a chunky instruction manual just in English, a quick guide to the main functions that folds up really small, lots of software including DPP for processing RAW images (works on Windows or Mac) and a DVD to persuade you to buy more lenses.

There's a lot to learn. Coming from a compact camera you may be daunted at first, but it will be obvious straightaway that this is a camera that means business. It may be the only camera you'll ever need.

Since two years I own the Canon EOS-1, which I bought for my book (available on Amazon - nudge, nudge, wink, wink) research trips. You will find my EOS-1 review on Amazon too. With the Rebel XTi (or 400D in the rest of the world) there is now a high quality camera with the same resolution at the tenth of the price. I bought the XTi on Amazon and have used it now for some time. I bought a Sigma DC 18-200mm zoom-lens, which is like a 27-300mm because of the smaller CCD than the EOS-1. I can highly recommend the Sigma lens because it makes the XTi an amazingly small, light but complete package that I carry around in my rucksack, which I could never do with my EOS-1.

The picture quality and ease of use it absolutely amazing! In everyday conditions I cannot see a difference between the EOS-1 (which was $9000 when I bought it two years ago) and the XTi. The software is much easier to use and the camera works really well in fully automatic. The in-built flash is very good and battery life is excellent, given the small battery. I will post a few images I shot with it. I did virtually no editing on those except clipping to make them smaller. I did also buy the Canon EF 10-22mm because I need a lot of wide-angle and I will review that seperately. It is a great lens to go with the XTi.

Does that make the EOS-1 obsolete? No. Mostly because it has the high quality AF lenses and a full size CCD for much better colour quality and sensitivity. There is now a EOS-1 Mark2 and I will have to think about upgrading to the next model a year down the line. Sigh!

I've been using the 400d/XTi for about 2 weeks now, and I love it. Shutter response is very fast, and the LCD is easily readible, even in very bright conditions. The 9 point AF is far superior to the 7 point AF offered on the 300 and 350d models, and the added resolution (10.08 MP) is a nice bonus. The anti-dust protection, particularly the automatic sensor cleaning, is great as I change lenses quite often.

I'm sad to say that the 400d has replaced my (more expensive) 30d for most applications. The 30d clearly has a better build quality, but that's the only advantage I can see at this point. If you want a lightweight, moderately inexpensive prosumer-grade camera, the 400d is about as good as you can get for the money.

PLEASE NOTE: if you are new to digital photography, the camera is important, but lenses are FAR MORE IMPORTANT. If you want to get great results with the 400d, you're going to have to buy good lenses. The kit lens (18-55, NOT USM) sucks -- it makes a good paperweight, but that's it. If you're a beginner I'd recommend the 50mm f/1.8 MK II (or the f/1.4, if you can afford it) to start. The f/1.8 MK II is cheaper than the kit lens, and while it's a prime (doesn't allow you to zoom) it's much sharper in low light conditions (and the f/1.4 is even sharper than the f/1.8).

Overall, I give this camera a 9 out of 10. For the price, it's the best you can get. Just remember, lenses are more important than the camera. A 300d with L-series lenses will outperform a 400d with low/consumer grade lenses in all settings. If you already have a 300 or 350d, save your money and invest it in better optics. If you don't already have a dslr, this is perhaps the best entry-level model on the market.

Canon's Digital Rebel XTi (a.k.a., EOS 400D) is primarily designed for first-time DSLR photographers. If you are coming from a regular-sized (not ultra compact) point & shoot such as Canon PowerShot S3 IS, the XTi may feel instantly familiar. Measuring just 5.0" by 3.7" by 2.6", it is about as large as the largest point & shoots and one of the smallest DSLR camera bodies on the market. Its small size is the source of both popularity and criticisms. If you have larger hands or heavier lens, the XTi can feel a bit unwieldy. On the other hand, if you are moving up from point & shoot, have smaller hands, or prefer portability (e.g., for travel), you will appreciate its size and weight. On occasions where XTi is not substantial enough, an optional battery grip can help. I recommend visiting a nearby store to determine how it feels for yourself.

The package includes XTi camera body with a cap over the lens mount, NB-2LH battery and charger, a printed manual and an assortment of lens and accessory catalogs, neck strap with an "eye cup", USB and composite video cables, and CD-ROMs with software and drivers for Windows and Mac. You will need a lens and CompactFlash memory card to get started. In addition, I recommend a bag that can hold and protect the body, several lenses, extra battery, and memory cards. Tip: There may be static energy within the packaging. When initially removing the lens cap to attach a lens, go to a dust-free environment such as the bathroom. Doing so will reduce the chance of dust entering the camera's image sensor. Although XTi's much touted lens cleaning system helps, it's better not to get any dust in there in the first place.

Canon sells 4 versions of XTi: in black or silver finish and with or without EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens. Black or silver is largely a personal preference, but considering all but low-end DSLR camera bodies, most lenses, and most accessories are black, I recommend black. As for the kit lens, the price difference between "body only" and "lens kit" is about $100. The kit lens can be a good introduction to DSLR zoom lens and is a capable performer if used exclusively at f/8 or f/11 apertures. At other apertures, its images take very soft appearance -- it is not ideal for anything but favorable lighting conditions. Keep in mind that a decent zoom lens with similar focal length costs AT LEAST twice and many excellent performers cost 4 times or more.

If you don't have to get a zoom lens, many will recommend starting with Canon's EF 50mm f/1.8 II. It is famous for top-notch optical performance at a ridiculously low price. It will outperform zoom lenses costing over ten times as much. Due to XTi's 1.6x crop sensor, 50mm becomes 80mm in 35mm equivalent (or 2.3x zoom). If you desire zoom, there are many goodwalkaround lenses to choose from -- at well over 70 lenses, Canon has the widest lens selection. Some of the popular walkaround zoom lenses include Canon's EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM, and EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM; Sigma's 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC and AF 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC macro; and Tamron's SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF).

Canon's EF 17-40mm f/4L USM is attached to my XTi most of the time. This combination complements my personal shooting styles -- capturing people set against landscape or buildings as well as family and friends indoor. Under more limited lighting, I use Canon's EF 50mm f/1.4 USM. For telephoto needs, I use Canon's EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM -- a superb image stabilized lens (up to 9.1x zoom). And that is the beauty of DSLR -- carry whatever lens(es) optimized for your needs and wallet.

You will soon learn that lenses are far more important than the body. An XTi armed with a top-notch lens will blow EOS 5D with a cheap lens out of the water. Even when both are armed with the same lens, it will be hard to tell much differences. Performance wise, there's very little to criticize. The XTi embodies Canon's trademark "smooth, high contrast, saturated, and low noise" image quality. Even at ISO 800, the noise remains pretty low and well controlled. If you shoot using the RAW format, you can still maintain usable details with acceptable noise at ISO 1600. Some users have reported underexposure. I checked mine and it does not have such defect.

Thanks to 10.1 megapixels image sensor, XTi benefits from sharper lenses. Although increasing the resolution over same image sensor area adds noise while decreasing the dynamic range, Canon has improved the sensor technology to maintain low noise floor and excellent dynamic range. If you are coming from the point & shoot camera, the XTi will feel super fast. Flick the switch and it starts up quickly, ready for first shot in about a second (a tad longer if sensor cleaning is activated). As with most DSLR, there's virtually no shutter lag to speak of (around 100 ms.) and it auto focuses in a split second. In continuous shooting mode with fast memory card, it can take 11 RAW or 33 JPEG (best quality) at 3 frames per second.

Once boot up, you will be greeted by superb high resolution 2.5" LCD with bright LED backlighting. Gone is the dedicated info display -- LCD is used for displaying camera settings, photos in buffer and memory card, and menu. Removing the dedicated info display is both good and bad. On the plus side, the extra real estate affords XTi a larger 2.5" LCD without increasing the footprint. In addition, it can show more information than the info display strip, provide superior interaction, and looks nicer than the "alarm clock" font on the info display or viewfinder. On the minus side, it reduces the battery life by 10%. I think XTi should use higher capacity battery or perhaps adopted more power efficient DIGIC III processor. Get an extra battery and enjoy the LCD. Even more important than LCD is the optical viewfinder, since XTi, like almost all DSLRs, does not show live image preview on the LCD. As with the predecessor, XTi implements 95% crop 0.8x optical viewfinder. The viewfinder displays 9 auto focus points, shutter speed, aperture, exposure, auto exposure lock, flash, image buffer space, and more. Solely missing from the viewfinder is ISO speed. Overall, the viewfinder is more than adequate but pales in comparison to Nikon D80's larger and more comprehensive viewfinder.

Some DSLR bodies have in-body image stabilizer, implemented at the image sensor. Canon's XTi isn't one of them. According to Canon, it was done for 2 reasons: (1) lens is more effective location for implementing the image stabilizer (especially telephoto) and (2) the effects of in-body image stabilizer are not reflected on the viewfinder. Excuses aside, it would've been nice to have. On the plus side, the XTi has mirror lockup that reduces any vibration caused by the mirror movement. And there are wide range of image stabilized lenses to choose from, although they tend to cost more.

Some have criticized XTi for "plasticky" build. Except for the metal lens mount, the XTi's exterior is composed of high quality engineering plastic with rubbery paint. If you drop it, it will probably crack or break, but it's not built like a toy. In addition, XTi improves its predecessor with larger grip with rubber where your fingers rest.

I use the memory card reader to upload images to Mac. I played with included software briefly and found it to be fast and capable. But I am spoiled by more advanced workflow that Apple Aperture offers (recently updated to support XTi). Each RAW image file is about 10 MB, so 2 GB memory card can store only about 200 RAW images. Since RAW is larger, it will take over twice as long to write to the memory card. Get one of the faster memory cards like SanDisk Ultra II.

Pros:
- Takes great looking photos.
- Very portable for DSLR.
- Great LCD with intuitive user interface.
- Lots of great lenses to choose from.

Cons:
- No spot metering.
- Below average battery life.
- Maybe too small for some.
- Small viewfinder.

I've considered other, higher priced digital SLRs, such as the Nikon D80 and Canon 30D. However, I decided that I probably won't be using some of the more advanced features offered by those cameras, and would rather spend the money saved on a better lens. In terms of picture quality, all these SLRs are capable of equivalent quality.

Currently I have 3 lenses, the kit 18-55mm, the 50mm f/1.8, and the 85mm f/1.8. I don't use the kit zoom lens anymore because I favor the faster, prime lenses. I mostly take pictures of my children, and the 85mm f/1.8 is an excellent portrait lens. It is sharp, fast, and produces beautiful background blur. Zoom lenses unfortunately are not as sharp or fast, unless you're willing to pay much more than the cost of the camera body.

I think all novice SLR owners should buy the cheap Canon 50mm f/1.8, to discover what a fast lens can do when you set the aperture to 1.8, and take some portraits. You too can have professional-looking results!

This is my first dSLR, and I must admit that I'm totally impressed and entirely happy with it. Not only is it a great value for the money, but it also takes GREAT photos (with the right lens, naturally). The re-designed interface is intuitive and easy to change-up in the midst of shooting. The build quality is solid (as solid as plastic can get, that is), and unless you're a pro who shoots all day long, this thing will hold up for years. The only "downside" is its size: this camera is pretty small compared to most dSLRs. This is easily remedied by buying the Canon battery grip, however. It's pretty much a necessity if you have medium to large hands.

A couple lens suggestions for those on a budget:

- Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens --> fast, sharp, awesome[...]
- Tamron Autofocus 28-75mm f2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) --> speedy, sharp, and a great walk-around lens

In sum, if you're looking to get into the world of dSLRs and want a quality camera that won't break the bank, BUY THE REBEL XTi. You won't be sorry.

I took pictures with this camera with artificial light, natural light, and when it was almost dark and all of my images came out sharp. I'm only using the cheap 18-55mm lens, which does not have image stabilization. As long as I use a tripod, or brace against something to hold the camera still, the images are perfect. I shot landscapes, portraits, animals, moving traffic, the sky, the moon, and everything I could think of and it all came out right.
I was going to buy a 5D, but so far I'm satisfied with this camera and the price is way lower. Now I wonder what my pictures would be like with an IS lens... hmmmm :)

Well, I've had my Rebel Xti for about 6weeks now, and all i can say is wow!!! I did have the Rebel Xt, which was an awesome camera. I'm not a professional, but i do take pictures of what ever it may be outside or inside, youth or adult events as a hobby. This camera is not for the person who wants to just point and shoot or to have a camera to stuff in your pocket. This camera is for the creative person who wants control of the pictures they are taking. The sensor cleaner and wide LCD are just a few of the wonderful advances from the XT to the XTI. The camera for me is easy to use and takes great pictures in auto mode or in my mode.
I hope this helps you in your decision whether to buy or not.

XTi is feature laden, but takes fantastic "point and shoot" photos. Seems to be a significant improvement on Canon's Rebel XT, a wonderful camera. For the money, the best SLR going!

I had the Rebel XT and about 8 lenses and was thinking of getting an upgraded second camera body. So when it came out the 30D was a logical choice, but it was not really much of an upgrade from the 20D, which I resisted, so I was not really sure what to do. Then I had all but decided to just take the plunge and get the 30D when I heard the first rumblings about the XTi.

Then I started to learn the details about the XTi, more mega pixels, same auto focus, same screen, picture styles, dust cleaning! The only areas that the 30D won in my opinion were build quality, spot meter, and estimated shutter life. Those 3 categories were not enough to convince me that the 30D was worth $300-$400 more than the XTi especially since the XTi had won or tied in most categories. The way I look at it is that the camera bodies are not nearly as important as the lenses, they change so fast that it is not worth it to me to spend more for longevity when it will be outdated in a year anyway. Spend $1,500 on a lens, use it for a lifetime, spend $1,500 on a camera body, regret it in a year. I fully expect the upgrade to the 30D to be released within a year, and now that I have saved by getting the XTi I will have all that much more to put towards it when it comes out.

So basically what I am saying is that, in my opinion, the XTi is just as good, if not better than the semi-pro 30D, so why pay more? Switching from the XT to the XTi was very simple, I can use them both now without any problems. The batteries, battery grips, remote shutter release, and most of the other accessories are also compatible with both, which is nice to keep the amount of gear you need to carry to a minimum.

Unless you want to move up to a full frame sensor, I can't see any reasons why you would not want to go with this camera. If you read books on photography from just 1 or 2 years ago you will realize that this "entry level" camera has features that were not even available on top of the line ($5,000+) camera bodies. With the speed that camera bodies advance you might as well buy the entry level body every year instead of making a huge investment in the pro level bodies and then being shown up by something 10% of that price in a year or two. Not that there are not reasons to buy one of those bodies, I just don't seem have any of them.

Canon's Digital Rebel XTi is primarily designed for first-time DSLR photographers. Measuring just 5.0" by 3.7" by 2.6" and weighing 1.1 lbs., it is about as large as the largest point & shoot cameras and one of the smallest DSLR camera bodies on the market. Its small size is the source of both popularity and criticisms. If you have large hands or a heavier lens, it may feel small. An optional battery grip can help, but some will want something more substantial. Visit a store nearby to find out for yourself. If you have smaller hands or prefer portability (e.g., for travel), you may appreciate its size and weight.

The package includes XTi camera body with a cap over the lens mount, battery and charger, manuals and catalogs, neck strap, USB and composite video cables, and CD-ROMs. You need to add lens and CompactFlash memory card. There may be some static energy in the packaging, so remove the lens cap in a dust-free environment such as the bathroom. Although much touted sensor cleaning system helps, it's best not to get any in the first place.

Canon sells 4 versions of XTi: black or silver finish with or without EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens. Considering most lenses, most accessories, and all but low-end DSLR camera bodies are black, I recommend black. The kit lens can be a good introduction to DSLR and capable if used exclusively at f/8 or f/11 apertures. It is not ideal for shooting under low light. A higher performance zoom lens costs AT LEAST twice as much.

If you don't have to get a zoom lens now, start with Canon's EF 50mm f/1.8 II. It is famous for top-notch optical performance at very low price. Due to XTi's APS-C image sensor, this lens becomes 80mm at 35mm equivalent.

At well over 100 lenses, Canon has the widest lens selection. Some of Canon's popular walkaround zoom lenses include EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM, EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM, EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, and EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM. If Canon lenses seem too pricey, third party vendors such as Sigma and Tamron make Canon-compatible lenses for less. Popular examples are Tamron's SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD and Sigma's 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC and AF 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC macro.

My walkaround lens is Canon's EF 17-40mm f/4L USM, used for capturing people set against landscape or buildings as well as indoor shots (ISO 400 for flash-free). For more demanding flash-free low light photography, I depend on EF 50mm f/1.4 USM. For telephoto needs, I use EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM. I carry whatever lenses optimized for certain task. In fact, you will soon learn that lenses are far more important than the DSLR body. An XTi armed with a top-notch lens will blow EOS 5D with a cheap lens out of the water.

Performance wise, there's very little to criticize. It embodies Canon's trademark "smooth, high contrast, saturated, and low noise" photos. Even at ISO 800, the noise remains low and well controlled. If you shoot in RAW (instead of JPEG), you can still maintain usable details with acceptable noise at ISO 1600.

With a 10.1 megapixels image sensor, the XTi can benefit from sharper lenses. Although increasing the resolution over same image sensor area typically adds noise, Canon has improved the sensor technology to maintain low noise floor and high dynamic range. An increasing number of DSLR bodies have in-body image stabilizer. This isn't one of them. According to Canon, lens is more effective location for image stabilizer (especially telephoto) and the effects of in-body image stabilizer are not reflected on the viewfinder. I think the feature would've been nice to have. It does have mirror lockup that reduces vibration caused by the mirror movement.

Some have criticized XTi for "plasticky" build. Except for the metal lens mount, the exterior consists of high quality engineering plastic with rubbery paint. Turning on the power switch, it boots up almost immediately ready for use. Auto sensor cleaning kicks in during power up and power down, but it can be bypassed. As with most DSLRs, there's virtually no shutter lag and it focuses in a split second. In continuous shooting mode, it can take 11 RAW or 33 JPEG (best quality) at 3 frames per second. RAW images are 10 MB each, so get a speedy 2 GB or larger memory card, such as SanDisk's Ultra II.

Replacing the dedicated info display is a brilliant 2.5" LED-backlit high resolution LCD. It displays current camera settings, photos in memory, and menu. Compared to info display, it shows more information, provide superior interaction, and looks nicer. On the other hand, it yields 10% lower battery life. Get an extra battery and enjoy the LCD.

Perhaps even more important than LCD is the viewfinder, as most DSLRs (including XTi) do not show live image preview on the LCD. It has 95% crop 0.8x optical viewfinder that displays auto focus points, shutter speed, aperture, exposure, image buffer, and more. Solely missing is the ISO speed. Overall, the viewfinder is more than adequate but pales to Nikon D80's larger and more comprehensive viewfinder.

Although I use Apple's Aperture, included applications are fast and capable (Windows and Mac OS X Universal Binary). The EOS Utility lets you control the camera via USB connection. ImageBrowser (Mac) and ZoomBrowser (Windows) are lightweight and easy to use applications. For more power, included Digital Photo Professional lets you to use XTi's dust delete data feature.

Pros:
- Takes great looking photos.
- Very portable for DSLR.
- Great LCD with intuitive user interface.
- Lots of great lenses to choose from.
- Very capable included software.

Cons:
- No spot metering.
- Below average battery life.
- Maybe too small for some.
- Small viewfinder.

With emphasis on portability, Canon's Digital Rebel XTi is designed for first-time DSLR photographers and travel enthusiasts. Measuring 5.0" by 3.7" by 2.6" and weighing 1.1 lbs., it is about as large as the largest point & shoot cameras and one of the smallest DSLR camera bodies on the market. Its size is the source of both popularity and criticisms. If you have large hands or a heavier lens, it may feel too small. An optional battery grip can help, but some will want something more substantial. Visit a store nearby to find out for yourself.

The package includes camera body with a lens cap, battery, charger, manual, catalogs, neck strap, USB and composite video cables, and CD-ROMs. You will need a lens and CompactFlash memory card. There may be some static energy in the packaging, so remove the lens cap in a dust-free environment such as the bathroom to prevent dust entering the sensor. Much promoted sensor cleaning system helps, but it's best not to get any in the first place.

Canon sells 4 versions of XTi: black or silver finish and with or without EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens. Black or silver is largely a personal preference, but most lenses, most accessories, and all but low-end DSLR camera bodies are black. As for the kit lens, it can be an affordable introduction to DSLR and capable if used exclusively at f/8 or f/11 apertures (soft at other apertures). In other words, the lens is not ideal for shooting under low light. If you don't have to get a zoom lens now, start with Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II. It is famous for top-notch performance at very low price. Due to XTi's APS-C image sensor (compositions are multiplied by 1.6x), this lens becomes 80mm at 35mm equivalent.

If you have the budget for a good zoom lens, at over 100 lenses, Canon has you covered. Some of Canon's popular zoom lenses include EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM, EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM, and EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. If these are too pricey, third party vendors such as Sigma and Tamron make Canon-compatible lenses for less. Their focus is not as nice as Canon's USM but they generally outperform Canon's lower-end lenses.Tamron's SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) and Sigma's 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC and AF 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC macro are popular among budget-minded photographers.

With 10.1 megapixels image sensor, the XTi can benefit from sharper lenses. Although increasing the resolution over same image sensor area can increase noise, Canon has improved the sensor technology to maintain low noise floor and high dynamic range. Performance wise, there's very little to criticize. Great example of Canon's trademark smooth, high contrast, saturated, and low noise. Noise remains low even at ISO 800. If you shoot in RAW, which will give you an extra exposure (1.0 EV), you can maintain usable details with acceptable noise at ISO 1600. Low noise gives XTi a bit of an excuse for missing in-body image stabilizer. According to Canon, lens is more effective location for image stabilizer, especially telephoto. That's true but I think the feature would've been nice to have. On the plus side, the XTi has mirror lockup that reduces vibration caused by the mirror movement. My sole performance criticism is the metering mode. It includes only partial and not spot metering mode (very useful when shooting high contrast scenes such as candlelit birthday cake). Perhaps more problematic is the evaluative metering mode, which occasionally underexposes images by 2/3 EV.

Some have criticized XTi for "plasticky" build. Except for the metal lens mount, the exterior is largely made of high quality engineering plastic with rubbery paint. If you drop it, it will probably crack or break, but it's sturdy and well made. Flipping on the power lever, it starts up almost immediately ready for use. Much promoted auto sensor cleaning kicks in when powering up and down. As with most DSLRs, there's virtually no shutter lag and it focuses in a split second (especially when using a USM lens). In continuous shooting mode with a fast memory card, it can take 10 RAWs or 27 JPEGs at 3 frames per second. RAW images are 10 MB each, so get a speed 2 GB or larger memory card, such as SanDisk's Ultra II series.

Replacing both 1.8" LCD and info display is 2.5" high resolution LCD with LED backlighting. It displays current camera settings, photos in memory, and menu. Thanks to greater real estate and more refined user interface, XTi is very intuitive and pleasure to use. The minus is 10% lower battery life, which was merely adequate to begin with.XTi has 95% crop 0.8x optical viewfinder that displays 9 auto focus points, shutter speed, aperture, and more, but misses ISO speed, white balance, and metering mode. Overall, XTi's viewfinder is more than adequate but pales to Nikon D80's larger and more comprehensive one.

Highlights of software package are ImageBrowser (Mac OS X Universal Binary), ZoomBrowser (Windows), and Digital Photo Professional (Mac OS X Universal Binary and Windows).ImageBrowser and ZoomBrowser are easy-to-weight lightweight applications for managing JPEG and RAW. Digital Photo Professional is considerably more powerful and lets you use XTi's dust delete data feature for removing dust its sensor cleaning hardware couldn't remove.

I'll keep this short,as I assume most of the tec stuff has been covered.I sold a 350D to get the 400D(XTi).The 400D focuses better,has better ergonomics,is the same size/weight,and takes GREAT photos.I tried a Nikon D80,but it loses way too much detail at iso 400 and up.Plus the Canon line of lenses fits my needs better,are cheaper,and are available.The Nikon costs $300 more (with the Canon being discounted),and the Nikon Raw converter adds another $150.So the true cost difference is $400-450.
I'd buy the Canon over the Nikon at the same price due to image quality,especially if you shoot jpeg.
BTW,if you can afford Canon L lenses(the 25-105L and the 70-200L-any of the 4) are amazing.
One caveat,as with ANY dslr,these cameras are not p/s and do best with some post processing and with knowledge of how a camera meters/exposes,etc.I can't emphasize this enough.

I've shifted from my previous Canon Powershot G2 to this wonderful DSLR, the Canon EOS 400D (or Digital Rebel XTi) and so far I have all praises. Though my G2 took great pictures, there's a mile of a difference a DSLR can deliver. The quality and clarity of each shot instantly makes your pictures look like they have been taken by a professional. The Rebel XTi's handling is deja vu for me because I used to have a Canon EOS 300 (or a Rebel). But its a big leap for me in terms of the plethora of functions and features as compared to my camera of the past. I always bring along my camera just in case I see a moment worth capturing. You can see some of my pictures at [...]

This is my first SLR and I love it, so many things to learn. This body is definitely a good starting point for beginners like myself before we upgrade to something higher (like 5D) while still continue to able to use our collection of lenses. Canon definitely has a good marketing strategy to strengthen its penetration for SLR camera line.

Pros: Good user-interface, affordable, light-weight, good for beginners, compatible with EF & EF-S lenses
Cons: Battery is relative weak, viewfinder is somewhat small

I finally moved up to a DSLR and am very pleased with the quality of this particular camera. A friend has a Pentax DSLR (older) and the pictures the XTi produces are much nicer than his. The Canon is much sharper. I was missing something out of the box and called Canon and was on the phone with a live person within 30 seconds. My missing part was at my door in 4 days. Their customer service is top-notch. I was leary at first purchasing this camera because of the price but I plan keeping it for a very long time and so far so good...it does everything I want and then some. I've read some negative comments about the included lens, but I see no issues so far with that either. It takes some getting used in hand because of its smaller body than other DSLR's I held, but that seems better now as well (after about 40-50 shots).

Bought directly from Amazon, and I swear by them.
Low price, reliability and fast delivery.
I am an old emulsion guy, went from film SLR's (ME Super, AE-1)
to point and shoot digital (A-620). I decided to plunge
into the DSLR field. I can tell you with sincerity, the
images that this camera produces is amazing. I shoot in RAW
and JPEG.

Two reccomendations:

1. Buy the body only. The kit lens is a toy.
Purchase the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8, great glass!
It will be the best 70.00 that you will ever spend.
Build quality does not equal "L" lenses, but the
optics are superb.

2. Buy the Canon Battery Grip if you have large hands.

If you shoot in RAW, a CF card of 2GB is mandatory.

If you purchase this camera, you will not be disappointed.

The Polish Prince.
Green Bay, WI

After a little more than a month reading reviews I finally decided to go for this camera (Canon Rebel XTi). And I think I made the right choice. This camera has not disappointed me. Every picture I take comes out with outstanding quality. It's just amazing.
Some people complain about the fact that Canon got rid of the small lcd screen. I've used the previous model (Rebel XT) and not having the little lcd screen doesn't bother me at all. All the information needed is displayed on the big lcd and it's great.
One more thing, this camera performs great under low light conditions. Check some of the images that I uploaded here.
Okay! In conclusion, this is an awesome camera, and although some might find it not so comfortable, I totally recommend it.

Am I so dumb that I didn't realize the camera is useless without a CF card... and the CF card is not included (not even a 20MB one)? Who would think that Amazon would include the CF card with the million other accessories that they suggest? Instead, it's listed with other things people bought with this camera.

Well now, I feel like an idiot after giving it as a gift - a wonderful feeling after spending $800. Am I asking too much?

This Christmas I asked Santa to get me a good DSLR.
I owned a Fuji S5200, while it was good, after a month of use I found the camera gets in my way, I wasn't able to achieve the shots I wanted to get. So Fuji went off eBay and I faced a dilemma, which camera to buy :)

I was looking at Nikon 80D, Canon 20D and Rebel XTi. My budget was $1300, and I also needed bag, flash card, UV filter (good one), and card reader.

My search started from the lenses, and not from the body as many people do. The logic behind it is simple: body gets upgraded almost every year and prices go down, while lenses are to keep and transfer between the bodies. Also no matter how good the body is, if lenses are cheap, photo will turn bad, and might take lots of time to fix in Photoshop, if at all. And all the bodies today provide virtually equal quality of picture.

Since my budget limitation, I decided to get a wide angle/zoom lenses
~10-70mm, as a first set of lenses and spend no more then $500.
I looked for wide angle lenses since photo can be cropped later, if needed. But there is no way to "widen" it, if it's not wide in the first place - so some important details will be lost.

I looked at the Nikon lenses. The kit lenses were good, but nothing special. There were no comprehensive reviews of third party lenses for Nikon and Nikkor lenses cost over $1000 and were out of my budget. So as much as I loved the body, without good lenses it worth nothing, so I turned to Canon.

The Canon brand lenses went of my list almost immediately. They kit lenses are completely unusable (IMHO), and they $500 range lenses while had all those nifty features (image stabilization and silent motor), didn't provided any good image - and image is why I buy lens. I loved Canon L series lenses (professional), but they started over $1000 and were out of my budget.
So I looked at third party lenses. Tamron SP 17-50 was an immediate winner. High quality image, fast lenses, virtually no image distortion and $450 price made it a no brainer choice.

Next I was looking for a body. Canon 20D would be a nice to have, but it would cost me at least $850 new (I afraid to buy used electronics) and would put me out of my budget.
So I left with Rebel XTi (I was thinking about Rebel XT, but since I plan to keep this body for at least two years, I decided to pay extra $150, though to not to be sorry later).

I guess there is not much new to say about Rebel XTi, there are tons of reviews available. All I can say it was very easy to learn and operate, and I found the controls are easy to access and use. The pictures are superb. Those whining about battery life, should try to turn off the sensor cleaner (it drained battery heavily), and turn it on manually as needed.

I'm very happy with my Canon, and highly recommend to everybody whose budget is not allowing anything more expensive. After all there is always better thing just around the corner.

I owned a Canon Rebel 300D. The 400D performs much much better than the 300D. The light meter seems more accurate. The color is much more balanced. It is also much easier to see camera settings on the big LCD. The frame rate is also improved from the old 300D. From what I read, the electronics is probably better than the more expensive Canon 30D; the 30D has better mechanical parts, but I am a casual shooter, I am much more likely to replace the 400D way before the mechanical parts become an issue. I also like the smaller body of the 400D. Would be nice if it has image stabilization in the body and if it has built in wireless.

The EOS Digital Rebel XTi or EOS 400D is one of the best DSLRs on the market.

The camera features Canon's new EOS Integrated Cleaning System, which shakes off dust on the sensor. If any dust cannot be removed, it can be removed with the bundled software.

The resolution is good, upgrading from the XT's 8.0 megapixels to 10.1 megapixels. However, that is slightly less than the Nikon D80 or the Sony a100, which both have 10.2 megapixels, 0.1 more megapixels.

There are so many other things that are upgraded.

But there are some disappointments.

First of all, the camera is not as comfortable as a Nikon or a Sony. Many critics often highly recommend this camera, but prefer Nikon or Sony over Canon.

The AF could sometimes be slow, bt this is normal.

The package with the lens is rather disappointing, so I bought a body only package.

Overall, I recommend the body only package, and buy another lens. If you are happy with the package with the lens, sure, buy it. But I would prefer buying a body only kit and then buying a separate lens (mine is a Sigma 18-200mm 1:3.5-6.3).

We purchased this camera for Christmas and it instantly took over as the camera of choice for group family photos. We love it. You can't use the camera right out of the box, though, as it does not come with a CF card (compact flash card). A CF card is required for image storage and they aren't very available on Christmas day. Add about $[...] to the total price for a 1GB CF card.

The camera does it all -- fully automatic, fully manual, bracketing, macro, etc, etc, etc. The packaged software does some really interesting things with RAW images. If you use the RAW image medium, you can alter the image per different camera settings after you download them to your computer. It is a great way to see exactly what all those settings mean.

It does not do movies, but this is a still camera -- and it does stills very well.

I am very pleased with this purchase. Canon has a way of making advanced photography techniques easy for me to use. I upgraded from my Canon S1IS to the Rebel and I am very pleased with everything the Rebel can do and how simple it is for me to grasp the features and use them. The quality of my amateur photography has leaped into realms I never dreamed of. I could get technical and reel off numbers, stats and stuff but this purchase was not like that for me. I just read a lot of reviews and rolled the dice. Glad I did. No regrets.

This product far surpasses my expectations as an industry pro. Easy to use, hard to take a bad shot. No downside. I bought one for my business and family.

....but still thrilled with the purchase. we'll never scratch the surface regarding the capabilities of this camera, but we're very happy with the purchase. Extremely good for sports photography. The rapid fire shooting is great.

I decided to take the plunge and try a DSLR and I love this camera. I took it on a photo trip this fall where a bunch of guys had bigger more "pro" style gear - I could hardly lift some of their cameras. For me, this is perfect. The grip fits my girly hands well, and it's comfortable to carry all day. The only downside to the light weight is that when I put my biggish zoom lens on it, it feels unbalanced, especially on a tripod. I've taken just over 2000 pictures with it, and I've not yet had any problems. I splurged on the Canon Zoom Telephoto EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 image stabilized lens and it's super for nature photography. The image stabilizer lets me hand-hold it with acceptable-to-me results down to about 1/30 sec - better with a tripod of course but that's not always an option.

If you're considering jumping to SLR for the first time, it's well worth looking into a class or a beginner's book or video. You'll need to wrap your mind around the aperture/exposure/depth of field relationships to really get the most out of the camera and make good lens purchase decisions for the type of photography you want to do. I had used film SLRs ages ago, but I took a one-day class at a local camera shop right after buying the camera and it was really helpful.

Wow, is Amazon going to be sorry that they asked me to write a review on this product!! This camera is such a disappointing piece of junk that we returned it. Upon further research on the internet, we found that we were one of many people whose XTi produced photos that were incredibly dark and underexposed, even though we bought and used the Canon EX430 Flash with it. Sent some photos to Canon, and they confirmed that camera was defective. We then went to [..]and bought another XTi, only to have the same results. Sent some of that camera's photos to Canon, and they again said the camera was not working correctly! Their tech supervisor told us that the "green box" fully automatic setting is just a marketing ploy and this model is really incapable of taking a good photo when set on full automatic settings. Why could my film SLR take an excellent photo on auto focus, auto shutter, auto aperature, etc.? Don't buy this piece of junk!!

I bought the camera for my wife -- it is her third in the successive generations of Digital Rebels. She thinks the camera is fantastic. Each has been an enhancement to the prior, with the base model having been quite good to begin with.

I got the XTi to replace my XT (just wanted to upgrade) and loved it until I discovered one major flaw I could not overlook. We were trying to take a family Christmas portrait of my husband, myself, and our 5 month old daughter. I asked my mom to take the pictures one after the other while my dad tried to get our daughter to laugh. After 20 shots (using flash)the camera locked up completely with a constant "busy" signal and she was only able to take one picture every 10 or so seconds. I can't count how many great shots we missed because she was pressing the shutter and the camera wouldn't respond. I duplicated this issue over and over, confirmed in the manual that this is how it operates normally, and even communicated with Canon to confirm that this is normal.
Considering I usually take many pictures at a time to try to capture a smile or a cute expression this major flaw rendered this camera useless to me. The old XT does not have this issue so I very sadly and reluctantly returned the XTi. I am so disappointed in the XTi. The major purpose is to take pictures so if there is some "flash recycling feature" that prevents me from doing that - what is the point?

I've had this camera for going on 4 months, and I absolutely love it. This is my first digital SLR camera, and I'm really pleased with it. The image quality is really sharp, and it's very easy to use. I happen to have a background in photography, so it may be a bit easier for me than it is for a complete novice. However, I find the controls to be very convenient, and I lovve the resolution and size of the LCD display on the back of the camera.

I've read that the camera is a bit harder to handle for people with larger hands, but I don't have that problem. It's relatively lightweight and easy to handle.

I purchased this camera together with the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens. I was interested in starting my rig with a good prime lens that would perform well under low lighting and be appropriate for head-shoulder portrait photography. I have had this camera and lens for four months now and I must say that this combination suits my needs perfectly. Perfect for anybody getting their first D-SLR camera. Even for anyone wanting to point and shoot, this camera in the auto mode is easy enough to not intimidate you. And for the more advanced photographers, it gives full control to be able to photograph in any shooting situation. I strongly recommend that you pass the kit lens and get the body only option together with the lens that best fits your budget and needs. Even the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 (about the same prize as the kit lens) would give you better results than the kit lens. Bear in mind that the kit lens doesn't even have an ultrasonic focusing motor. The only oddity I can think of is the small size that makes it difficult to hold this camera. But after some time, the body "grows" into your hand (you adjust your grip in a way that it is comfortable to shoot with this camera and you end up forgetting the small size). Excellent first D-SLR camera and worthy second body for professionals.

Awsome camara. Super shots, clean crisp and very easy to use. A tad heavy for my wife but she has gotten used to it. Great value.

Area for improvement is more clarity around the CF card. Would have been nice to know that it was not included in with the camera nor assessory packet. Would also have been good to know specifically what size CF card was need. Spun wheel getting this info on line and ended up going to Best Buy.

Long ago I shot a Pentax K-1000. Soon after I was shooting the digital APS cameras. Now the DSLR's are affordable; I saw what my father was shooting with his EOS XT and now the XTi is out. I bought an XTi along with the EF 24-105mm lens, image stabilized (IS), L-glass. After a month of shooting I can only say "wow"! Spend the money on the lens. Depth of field and color is excellent. This more than blows away my old point and shoot digital camera. Every time I download pictures there are at least a couple where I say wow, I can't believe how good that is... I'm just a hobby shooter, I dabble in photography, but this camera makes me feel like a pro.

I would also highly recommend the Cannon EX580 external flash. Again like the lens, a little bit of cost, but in many of these pics using a bounce flash I can almost not tell I was using a flash at all.

We are just moving into the world of SLR Photography and this camera is fantastic. It is easy to use and takes amazing photos. Beyond impressed.

"Black Body Only" is almost jargon. I totally misunderstood that this did not include a basic lense. Had to return and re-order. The company that shipped the camera is great to work with.

This XTi is a solid entry level digital SLR. It is many auto features for a novice like my self to use. As my abilities increase the camera has potential as well. After using the quick start guide I have been able to use this camera almost immediately. It is versatile in that you can mount EF-S and EF model lenses with the camera. It is a good starter SLR. I do recommend buying the lens separately from the standard 18-55mm lens. The kit lens lacks the USM and the IS, but features add to the camera.

My hat is off to Canon on the body, sensor, processor, and feature set on this camera. It's great. It takes beautiful pictures that I'm very pleased with. There is definitely a sticker shock when you start piecing together your DSLR kit. I know that I've spent about $2300 on the camera and 4 lenses. It's unfortunate that you still have to spend that to get a precision photography experience, but that's how it is. You can't go wrong with this DSLR.

My only complaint would be that I'd trade the 2.5" LCD back to the XT for the smaler LCD and the monochrome LCD info screen. The 2.5" LCD info screen on this XTI doesn't work like I'd like it to. It's a small complaint though and a small price to pay for a 10 megapixel sensor.

I am now using this camera for almost 2 months. Its been a great experience working with this camera. The 18-55 mm wide angle lens itself has capture brilliant photos whether it is night or day. I also have the Canon 100-400mm IS Telephote lens which I used to take the far images is the exact match for this mate. I have been highly overwhelmed to work with this.

I've been using the camera for about two month now. It's a decent buy although you might want to consider the body only and get a better lens. I spent the first couple of weeks struggling with the kit lens. It might not have anything to do with the kit lens but I did get a lot better pictures with Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS lens. One problem I'm having is the 9-point AF. Canon may think it a good feature, quite often it focuses on the wrong thing. And even it focuses on the "right" thing, in most cases the image is not sharp. So I use the single point focus most of the time. But this gives me another problem. If I pick the non-center focus point, AE might not be accurate as the metering doesn't follow the AF point (I could be wrong on this). So in tricky condition I have to lock the AE first then reposition and shoot. Again this only happens in tricky situation. I'd say 90% of the time AE is ok. High end camera body may have better feature but I'd rather spend more on lens as you can take equally good pictures if you know the body well enough, and I'm still discovering.

The product performs as advertized. It is more camera than the average user needs but has completely automated features for those who don't want to know the ins and outs of professional photography to take quality photos. I highly recommend. Choose the lenses that fit your requirements and you will be "good to go".

This is an easy to use digital SLR. I was amazed at the many professional quality images that I obtained during a recent visit to San Diego Wild Animal Park. However, beware of vendors who may try to substitute a gray product (400D) for the U.S. version (XTi). It is light handling even with the telephoto. The 9 autofocus points make it easy to use this on full auto with sharp images.

I've only had this for a few days but I love it! I upgraded from the Digital Rebel 300d and I had the D30 before that so I was already very familar with how this camera works. The only thing I was disappointed was that it took a different battery, battery grip, and charger from my 300d.

The biggest reason I upgraded was to get the bigger burst capacity but the better focus system, bigger screen, and of course added megapixels definately made it worth every penny of the upgrade. Another thing is that the body is smaller than the 300d which was smaller than the d30. I miss the heft of the d30 but plan to get the battery grip which will add some weight back to it. Its smaller size and lighter weight will probably be much better apreciated after I travel some with it.

If you have had digital PS cameras, you know they take good pics of average scenes, but sometimes they try to be too smart and get in the way of what you really want to achieve. If you are familiar with 35mm SLRs, you really miss the ability to control things.

The new generation of DSLRs are now as good as 35mm for enlargements, and modern storage media (flash cards and hard disks) allow for storage of a lot of images even at maximum size and quality. The Canon is the best value of a very good set of contenders from Nikon and Sony. The sensor in the camera is 24 mm (larger is better -- we will soon see a 35 mm sensor). This camera can use legacy Canon lenses as well as the new EFS (short focus in the back specifically for digital EOS). Because the sensor is not 35mm, you have to multiply lens length by a conversion factor, in this case 1.6, to get 35 mm equivalent (example: a 50mm lens will give the same result as an 80mm on a 35 SLR).

The kit lens is ok but not great. I got a Tamron 28-75 f2.8 which is my primary lens. I may splurge and get one of the Canon "L" series lenses in the near future.

The camera is compatible with iPhoto on the Mac (I have yet to encounter one that is not), and comes with its own image browser and photo editing software. On the Mac, I am using the Canon image browser and iPhoto for picture management, but still prefer Photoshop elements when I need more image manipulation. iPhoto albums are effectively folders that can be loaded into the navigation window of Image Browser.