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| Click to see more views of the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi. |
Canon has thrown us plenty of surprises with Rebel intro-ductions, and the latest, the XTi, showed up with a leapfrog to 10.1MP, lots of performance inherited from the EOS 30D, and some new tricks.
System Flexibility: If you can think of a lens or photo accessory, Canon probably makes it. The company has a sophisticated TTL flash system, special-purpose optics like tilt-shift lenses, and the biggest lineup of image-stabilized lenses. (We should note, though, that the sensor-based stabilization in the Sony and Pentax/Samsung twins works with any lens you can put on those cameras, not just a selection of pricey optics.) And while the lightweight XTi is no hockey puck, it does have a stainless-steel chassis strong enough to allow the use of big, heavy superteles. Rank: 1 tie
Control: The XTi has the nine-point diamond-pattern autofocus system of big brother EOS 30D, and it tested out even faster and more sensitive -- down to "available darkness" of -2 EV. The burst rate for JPEG capture has doubled. The XTi also inherited the Picture Styles menu and other image-tuning controls from higher-end EOS cameras. But there are still some curious throwbacks to the Rebel's entry-level roots. White balance, for example, can't be set in Kelvin degrees, and the lack of a second command dial slows down manual exposure and exposure compensation. The included Digital Photo Professional 2.2 software, though, provides a fine RAW converter with an uncluttered interface. Rank: 3
Ease of Use: The latest Reb is just about the same size and weight as the previous model, the XT -- that is, very small and very light -- with improved ergonomics. The XTi loses the top LCD control panel and gains a big, wide-viewing-angle 2.5-inch monitor, which doubles as a very readable control panel with auto shutoff. Menus are far more legible as a result. The XTi's four-way jog buttons can be custom-programmed for quick setting of ISO, meter pattern, white balance, and AF mode. But, frankly, we'd prefer a full-fledged rear command dial -- the XTi, in fact, is the only camera in Canon's lineup to lack a second command dial. Rank: 4
Image Quality: Slightly warm, but very pleasing skin tones and excellent color accuracy overall. Red flowers were just slightly orange in appearance, but yellows were bold. Slightly lower contrast softened the image very slightly and dropped color saturation in purples, but it helped improve shadow and highlight detail. Resolution and image detail were the least of all cameras in JPEG setting, improved in RAW. Rank: 3
What's Missing: The XTi's spotmeter, at 9% of the frame area, is really a "fat spot." Continuing Canon tradition, the custom WB setting takes five -- count 'em! -- steps. And the XTi, unlike the Nikon and Sony models, cannot control off-camera flashes with the built-in unit.
Nice Surprises: The XTi has scrupulous attention to dust control, with both ultrasonic removal of dust and software removal of dust images via mapping.
Best For: Any and every kind of shooting that doesn't require a heavy-duty camera body. The AF system and ample burst rate will be a boon for both low-light work and action shooting.
Bottom Line: Complaints we have a few, but image quality and autofocusing trump the quibbles, particularly given the Reb's screaming-bargain price.
Test Results: Excellent image quality up to ISO 400; at ISO 800 and 1600, increased noise (ranked Moderately Low) dropped overall rating to Extremely High. Autofocus was equal in sensitivity to the Nikon D80, and at least as fast as the Nikon at all light levels. Only the Sony's AF was faster, and only at EV -1 to 3. Price: $710, body only; $780 with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 EF-S lens. CIPA battery rating: 500 shots no flash, 360 shots with 50% flash. Size/weight: 5.0x3.7x2.6 in., 1.3 lb, body only, with card and battery. Card: CompactFlash Type I and II. Info: www.canoneos.com; 800-652-2666.
Click here to read PopPhoto's full test of the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi.
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