Canon EOS Rebel XTi

Front (7.25)
The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi appears very similar to its predecessor, the Rebel XT. Our "silver" sample has a dark plastic grip that is just slightly resilient, and textured like very fine sandpaper. The self-timer light is flush with the front of the grip, under the shutter release. The autofocus assist light is a small, round window between the grip and the lens mount, which is a narrow area, and perhaps too cramped for large or long fingers. The EOS lens mount is large and wide – which is necessary for some of the great lenses Canon makes, but not for the flimsy and dim kit lens. On the right side of the mount – positioned at about 3 o'clock - is a large and prominent lens release button. At about the 1:30 position, there is a small, nearly flush-mounted flash activation button. Below those, at about the 4 o'clock position, is a small depth-of-field preview button. The built-in flash overhangs the lens mount, and is part of the viewfinder assembly.

Back (7.0)
The black rubber eyecup at the top of the Rebel XTi is much larger than the viewfinder. The viewfinder is small compared to the more advanced Canons. A diopter control dial peeks out from the upper right of the eyecup. It's small and stiff, so it would be hard to accidentally change the setting, although intentionally setting it is convenient. The "Display Off" sensor is a long, rectangular window below the eyecup. When the sensor is covered – typically by the user's face – the LCD display turns off. The 2.5-inch LCD shows shooting data, menus or images for review, replacing both the small monochrome display and the 1.8-inch LCD on the earlier Rebel XT.

The button layout resembles the XT and other Canons. A column of buttons runs along the left side of the LCD. They are labeled Display, Menu, Jump, (Review) and (Trash) - the last two buttons are labeled with icons. The direct print/download button is just above the column and to the right. The exposure compensation button is at the upper right corner of the LCD. The burst mode/self-timer button is below that, and the 4-way controller is below that. The 4-way controller is made up of five buttons, set widely apart. Each has a separate function. Clockwise from the top, they are ISO, autofocus, white balance and metering pattern. The "Set" button is in the middle. The exposure value lock and autofocus point selector buttons are in the upper right corner of the back, just as they are on other Canon DSLRs.

There's a bulge running down the right side of the back, tapering from wide and deep at the top to narrow and shallow at the bottom. Along with a large patch of rubber above the 4-way controller, it forms an effective thumb grip.

All together, the features will be familiar to Digital Rebel and Rebel XT users, and to Canon shooters in general. The grip is more comfortable than previous Rebels, and the display is better, but the Rebel XTi still lacks the control refinements of Canon's higher-priced cameras.

Left Side (7.0)
The ports for corded control and data exchange are under a rubberized door on the left side of the Rebel XTi. The door presses snugly into a dark plastic panel that is made of the same textured plastic on the hand grip. An indent makes it easy to get even a close-clipped fingernail under the door to open it. The door appears to offer a good seal against dirt and moisture. The strap lug is a wide piece of stamped metal set in an indentation at the top of the left side. It's both rugged and out-of-the-way.

Right Side (6.5)
The memory card door takes up a large part of the Rebel XTi's right side. Two rows of small bumps form a grip to slide it open and closed – after it slides back, it swings open on a wide hinge. A large, flat spring holds the door closed when it is snapped shut. The door does not seal well against dust or water. The strap lug is like the one on the left side of the camera, and just as well-situated. It's not in the way of any controls or hands when properly holding the camera. A small, gray tab of rubber near the bottom edge of the side can be bent out of the way to admit a DC power cord into the battery compartment on the bottom of the camera.

Top (6.75)
The Rebel XTi's hot shoe sits on top of the viewfinder hump, and is compatible with Canon's EX series of dedicated flashes. The pop-up flash housing makes up most of the rest of the hump. A focal-plane indicator is to the left of the hump. The Rebel XTi's mode dial is to the right. The dial turns about 270 degrees, allowing the camera to be set to full auto mode, 6 scene modes or 5 manual modes. The large power switch is next to the mode dial. The control dial – Canon calls it the "Main Dial," even though there isn't another control dial – is set vertically, and pokes up between the mode dial and the shutter release. The shutter release is chrome and doesn't protrude much above the surface of the camera.

Bottom (6.25)
The Rebel XTi has a sturdy-looking metal tripod socket set directly under the lens axis, which tends to make it more convenient to line the camera up on a tripod or other mount. There is a small hole to the left that probably fits an alignment pin on the accessory battery grip. The battery compartment door is on the right. It can be completely removed to make way for the accessory grip. The door is not well-sealed, and the sliding latch is less secure than the memory card door.