Canon EOS Rebel XTi

Model Design / Appearance (7.0)
Canon's other DSLRs – the 30D through the 1D series – have a very streamlined, smooth look. The 1Ds Mark II and the look-alike 1D Mark II n both show the most design discipline – it's as if all the corners and edges were sandblasted off. The 5D is just about the same. The 30D has a few extra bumps and edges, notably to accommodate its integral flash, but it's clearly in the same family. Unfortunately, the Rebel XTi designers fell off the wagon. Though it's curvy, it has a jumble of extra edges, lines and surfaces that detract from the smooth style that's very appealing on the other Canons.

Front comparison: Canon EOS Digital Rebel  XTi (left) and EOS 30D (right) 

Our sample had some fit-and-finish issues that detracted from its appearance. The seams between the pieces that make up the top and sides of the body didn't fit together consistently, so there were gaps between them, and the gaps varied in width. In some places, it was easy to slip a piece of paper between the parts, and in other spots, it wasn’t possible. The Rebel XTi is a plastic camera, and it is not well-sealed against dust and moisture. We don't take cameras apart, so we can't say if the gaps guarantee that the XTi won't last. We shook the XTi, and noticed it rattled even without the lens attached. That's unusual for a DSLR.

Based on what we can see (and hear), it is much less sturdy than the more expensive Canons, and less sturdy than the entry-level DSLRs from Nikon or Olympus.

Size / Portability (8.25)
At 5 x 3.7 x 2.6 inches and 18 ounces, the Rebel XTi body is small among DSLRs. Most of the super-zoom compacts are smaller than the XTi including its lens. But users who switch from a compact to a DSLR will notice a big difference in portability when they add accessories, and start to carry them along as well. A second lens or an external flash – either of which would make a huge difference in the kind and quality of pictures possible with the Rebel XTi – might double the size and weight of the user's gear.

Side comparison: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi (left) and EOS 30D (right)

Handling Ability (7.25)
The Rebel XTi is comfortable to hold, though it would probably be cramped for someone with very large hands. The grip surfaces aren't slippery at all. The displays are big and laid out clearly. The "Display Off" sensor, that shuts the LCD off when the camera is at eye level, is an excellent handling feature particularly because it automatically turns the display back on when the user pulls the camera away from the face.

Users who appreciate every option to gain sharpness will be disappointed to see another Canon camera that buries mirror lockup in the custom settings menu.

The Rebel XTi's handling limitations are concentrated in its controls, which we review in the next section.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (6.75)
The Rebel XTi's controls are a disappointment. Canon obviously cut corners on them. The 4-way controller is a set of five buttons, rather than a single concave disk (as it is on many current cameras) or the small button on the 30D. The five buttons are set in a wide circle, and are slower to use for navigation than the single control selectors. The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi also lacks the Quick Controller, a large dial set flat on the back of Canon's more expensive models. Without it, the Rebel XTi's "Main" control dial has to serve multiple functions, which slows down operation and means that the user has to hold down a button while turning the dial to make some adjustments.

The control dial and the mode dial both wobble and turn stiffly. It's too bad that the mode dial only turns 270 degrees rather than a full 360. In addition, the buttons are lightweight. Wobbling the exposure lock button also makes the AF point button move, indicating that they share a single mechanism. The shutter is better than the others, and has a clear half-way point for activating focus along its short travel. It's set directly in the surface of the body, though, with no ring or bezel around it. When it's pressed all the way down, the edge of the hole is exposed and it feels unfinished.

Menu (8.0)
The Rebel XTi's menus are clear and simple. The menus follow the same pattern as those on other Canon cameras, but given the simplicity of the camera, they are shorter than those on other DSLRs. Even some of Canon's compacts have longer menus. The menu appears with 5 tabs in its interface. It isn't necessary to scroll down to see all the entries on any tab. Customization options are a sub-menu under Set-up. Shooting options and Set-up options are each split into two tabs. 

Setup
Auto power off	Set interval before Rebel XTi will shut off, if unused, from 30 seconds to 15 minutes. Can also be turned off
Auto rotate	Set to display vertical images upright, save them upright, or leave them sideways
LCD brightness	Set LCD brightness
LCD auto off	Set to shut off LCD when the Rebel XTi is at eye-level
Date/Time	Set date and time
File numbering	Control how files are numbered
Format	Initialize Compact Flash memory card
Language	Set interface to display in English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean or Japanese
Video System	Set video output to PAL or NTSC
Custom Functions	Customize the interface
Clear settings	Clear all settings to defaults, or clear just the custom settings to defaults
Sensor Cleaning: Auto	Clean now, clean when the camera powers up, clean when the camera powers down, or don't clean automatically
Sensor Cleaning: Manual	Flip up mirror and open shutter to allow manual cleaning
Firmware version	Update firmware

Customization
Set button/cross keys	Set the behavior of the "Set" button at the center of the 4-way controller, and the left and right keys. In shooting, the Set button can control Picture Style, Picture Quality, Flash Exposure compensation or Playback. The left and right keys can control the autofocus sensor site.
Long exposure noise reduction	Set to remove noise from exposures of at least 1 second. Process takes as long as the original exposure.
Flash sync speed in Av	Fix shutter speed at 1/200, or allow camera to set it  for ambient exposure
Shutter/AE lock button	Set to allow AE lock button to lock focus, shutter to lock exposure in various combinations
AF-assist beam	Set behavior of focus-aid light
Exposure level increments	Set to 1/3-stop (EV) or 1/2-stop (EV)
Mirror lockup	Set to lock mirror up so that it doesn't shake the camera.
E-TTL II	Set flash metering pattern to evaluative or averaging
Shutter curtain sync	Set flash to go off at beginning or end of the shutter's exposure
Magnified view	Set to allow magnified view during post-shoot image review. Requires pressing the print/download button and the enlarge button simultaneously
LCD display when power is ON	Set to turn on camera without turning on the LCD display

Playback
Protect	Prevent image from being deleted
Rotate	Manually rotate image 90 degrees
Print order	Create a DPOF print order
Transfer order	Transfer images to a computer
Auto Play	Create a slide show
Review time	Set time for images to display immediately after they're shot
Histogram	Select brightness or RGB

Ease of Use (7.5)
The Rebel XTi is not a complicated DSLR. Features are where experienced users will expect them. Users of other Canon cameras will find it particularly easy. That said, the limitations of the mechanical controls are frustrating. We don't like that a button-plus-dial combination is required to adjust aperture in manual mode. The Nikon D50 also has the same problem. Some of the control drawbacks are clearly matters of economics – Canon's Quick Control dial, present on its other DSLRs, is clearly a more expensive item than any of the Rebel XTi's controls.

Other problems are just baffling: it's easier to set the Rebel XTi to shoot without a CF card than it is to lock up the mirror. Does Canon expect more XTi users will want to click its shutter without taking a picture, than will want to get the most out of the camera on a tripod?