43 out of 43 people found this review helpful.
Canon 400D Digital Rebel XTi Camera: Great Entry Level SLR
Date of Review: Nov 17, 2008
The Bottom Line: Great digital SLR camera for beginner to intermediate-level photographers
I’m reviewing the Canon D400 Digital Rebel XTi predominately for those thinking about upgrading from a digital point and shoot camera or for those who are switching from a 35mm SLR camera. I am not a techie by any means, so I will describe the camera’s features from my experience and from what I have recently learned in my beginning photography class (which has been extremely useful to me). I am a step above a past beginner-level photographer and while I feel I have a very clear and thorough understanding of this camera, I have no experience with other camera brands and therefore won’t include comparisons in this review. I have briefly used the Canon 350D Rebel XT, so I am familiar with some of the upgrades that Canon has put into the Rebel XTi. I am including the technical specifications and features, but for the most part, this review focuses on my non-technical experience using this camera.
This past summer I decided that it was time to replace my four-year-old point and shoot digital camera with a digital SLR in hopes of improving the quality of my photographs. I purchased the Canon 400D Digital Rebel XTi for a few reasons. First of all, I already own a Canon Elan 7 35mm (which I never learned to use) and was hoping to utilize my existing EF lenses (more on that later). Second, Canon has a good reputation of making quality cameras (both 35mm and digital). Third, the features of the Rebel fit my needs as did the price.
The Canon D400 Digital Rebel XTi is Canon’s entry-level digital SLR camera. This model is appropriate for beginner and intermediate amateur photographers. I, personally, am a beginner with no experience using a SLR (single reflex lens) camera except in full automatic mode...until recently! I am currently taking a beginning photography class that requires me to learn and use new camera skills on a weekly basis. This has helped me use and appreciate some of the features of my Digital Rebel and keep me from using my SLR as a point and shoot camera!
--- What You Get for the Price ---
The Canon D400 Digital Rebel XTi is the third generation Digital Rebel. Canon introduced the first digital version of its popular 35mm Rebel camera in 2003 to meet the consumer need for a digital SLR. Since then, it has been upgraded three times with the most recent version now available (as of fall 2008), the 12 megapixel Rebel XSi. Even though a newer version is available at the time of this writing, the XTi is not obsolete, being sold along side the XSi as a less expensive option.
The price for the XTi camera body can range from $550 to $700 depending on where you purchase the camera and what promotions are being offered. The XTi model is also available as a kit with an 18-55mm lens for roughly $100 more. Now that the Canon XSi (450D) model has been released, the XTi (400D) is still widely available, but can often be found for a more competitive price. I purchased a factory-refurbished model for $310 on eBay in which the seller also included an extra battery and a 4GB high speed CF card. Comparison shopping can really pay off when shopping for this particular camera.
Here is what comes in the box in the body only kit:
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The XTi 10.1 megapixel camera body
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rechargeable battery pack (NB-2LH li-ion)
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Battery charger
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Neck strap
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Eyecup
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Body cap
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USB cable
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Video cable
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Software CD
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Instruction manual
This camera requires a Compact Flash Card (CF card) on which store your photos. This is NOT included with the camera. These can be purchased in various capacities. I would recommend at least two 1GB cards.
Also, one battery is included (which lasts for about 450-500 shots), but having a backup is always a good idea, so I would recommend purchasing a second battery. It is a proprietary battery, so you can’t just pick it up in the battery section at Wal-Mart or Target. In addition, it takes about 90 minutes to charge the battery, which isn’t bad, but when you want to take pictures of your son’s soccer game, you can’t wait 90 minutes!
--- Quick List of Features ---
Here is a rundown of some of the features that the Canon 400D Rebel XTi has to offer:
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10.1 megapixel CMOS sensor (8 megapixels on previous model--350D XT)
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Compatible with 60 Canon EF and EF-S Lenses (also compatible with many third-party lenses)
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EOS Integrated Cleaning System
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Anti-static coatings on sensor surfaces plus anti-dust materials in the camera body
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Nine point Auto Focus sensor (same as EOS 30D) with F2.8 support (previous model utilized 7-point Auto Focus)
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Continuous shooting burst up to 27 JPEG and 10 RAW images
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ISO speeds from 100 to 1600
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Single large, bright, 2.5” LCD (1.8” on previous model)
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Eye proximity sensor that turns off the LCD monitor when you look through the viewfinder
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New Picture Styles feature, first seen on the EOS-5D and 30D
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Three settings for long exposure noise reduction
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Additional custom functions (magnified view in record review, LCD display at power on)
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Automatic storage of setting adjustments (no longer requires a press of the SET button)
--- Summary of Technical Specifications ---
I’m including a list of the technical information for reference. These technical specs are taken from Canon website (please skip to next section if not interested). The complete list of technical specifications for each of Canon’s cameras can be found on Canon’s website: CanonUSA.com
Image Sensor:
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Image Sensor Size: 0.87 x 0.58 in./22.2 x 14.8mm (APS-C size sensor)
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Type: High-Sensitivity, high-resolution, single-plate, CMOS sensor
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Pixels: Approx. 10.10 megapixels
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Total Pixels: Approx. 10.50 megapixels
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Aspect Ratio: 3:2 (Horizontal : Vertical)
Recording System:
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Recording Media: CompactFlash (CF) Card Type I & II
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Recording Format: JPEG, RAW, and RAW+JPEG simultaneous recording provided. The RAW and JPEG images are saved as separate files in the CF card.
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Image Type: JPEG, RAW (Canon .CR2)
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File Sizes:
(1) Large/Fine: Approx. 3.8MB (3,888 x 2,592)
(2) Large/Normal: Approx. 2.0MB (3,888 x 2,592)
(3) Medium/Fine: Approx. 2.3MB (2,816 x 1,880)
(4) Medium/Normal: Approx. 1.2MB (2,816 x 1,880)
(5) Small/Fine: Approx. 1.3MB (1,936 x 1,288)
(6) Small/Normal: Approx. 0.7MB (1,936 x 1,288)
(7) RAW: Approx. 9.8MB (3,888 x 2,592)
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Interface: USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, mini-B port. NTSC/PAL for video output
Viewfinder:
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Type: Eye-level SLR with pentamirror
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Magnification: 0.8x (-1 dpt with 50mm lens at infinity)
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Built-in Dioptric Adjustment: -3.0 to +1.0 diopter
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Mirror: Quick-return half mirror
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Viewfinder Information: AF (AF points, focus confirmation light), Exposure (shutter speed, aperture, exposure level, AE lock, exposure compensation, AEB level, bulb), Flash (flash ready, red-eye reduction lamp on, high-speed sync, FE lock, FEB shooting, flash exposure compensation, insufficient flash warning during FE lock), White balance correction, Maximum burst, CF card full warning, CF card error warning, No CF card warning
Autofocus:
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Type: TTL-CT-SIR with CMOS sensor
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AF Points: 9 AF points
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Metering Range: EV -0.5-18 (ISO 100 at 73°F/23°C)
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Focusing Modes: Autofocus: One-Shot AF, Predictive AI Servo AF, AI Focus AF (automatic switching between One-Shot/Predictive AI Servo AF); Manual Focus (MF)
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AF Point Selection: Automatic selection, Manual AF point selection
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Selected AF Point Display: Superimposed on viewfinder and LCD monitor
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AF-assist Beam: Intermittent firing of built-in flash (Emitted automatically when necessary under low light, and linked to all 9 AF points. Not emitted in the Landscape, Sports and Flash OFF modes)
Lenses:
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Compatible Lenses: Canon EF and EF-S lenses
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Lens Mount: Canon EF mount
Exposure Control:
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Metering Modes: Max. aperture TTL metering with 35-zone SPC
(1) Evaluative metering (linked to all AF points)
(2) Partial metering (approx. 9% at center of viewfinder)
(3) Center-weighted average metering
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Metering Range: EV 1-20 (ISO 100 at 73°F/23°C with EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens)
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Exposure Control: Program AE (shiftable), Shutter-priority AE, Aperture-priority AE, Auto Depth-of-field AE (non-shiftable), Full auto (Program AE, non-shiftable), Programmed image control modes, Manual exposure (including bulb), E-TTL II autoflash program AE
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ISO Speed: (Recommended Exposure Index)
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Basic Zone: automatically set by the camera
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Creative Zone: equivalent to ISO 100-1,600
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Exposure Compensation: (1) User-set with multi-controller (2) AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing)
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Bracketing range: +/- 2 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments
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AE Lock: Auto: Applied in One-Shot AF mode with evaluative metering when focus is achieved; User-set: Applied with AE lock button
Shutter:
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Type: Vertical-travel, mechanical, focal-plane shutter with all speeds electronically controlled
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Shutter Speeds: 1/4000 to 30 sec. (1/3- and 1/2-stop increments), X-sync at 1/200 sec.
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Shutter Release: Soft-touch release; shutter “lag time” approx. 100 msec.
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Self-timer: 10 sec. delay, 2 sec. delay with C.Fn-7-1 (mirror lockup)
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Remote Control: Remote control with Remote Switch RS-60E3 or Wireless Remote Controllers RC-1/RC-5
Built-in Flash:
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Type: Auto pop-up, retractable, built-in flash in the pentaprism
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Flash Metering: E-TTL II autoflash
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Guide Number: 43 ft./13m (ISO 100)
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Recycling Time: Approx. 3 sec.
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Flash-ready Indicator: Flash-ready indicator lights in viewfinder
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Flash Coverage: 17mm lens focal length (equivalent to 27mm in 135 format)
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FE Lock: Provided
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Flash Exposure Compensation: +/-2 stops in 1/3- and 1/2-stop increments
External Speedlite:
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EOS Dedicated Speedlite: E-TTL II autoflash with EX Series Speedlites
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Zooming to Match Focal Length: Provided
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PC Terminal: N/A
Drive System:
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Drive Modes: Single, Continuous, Self-timer/Remote control
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Continuous Shooting Speed: Approx. 3 fps (at shutter speed of 1/250 sec. or faster)
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Maximum Burst: JPEG: approx. 27 frames (Large/Fine), RAW: approx. 10 frames, RAW+JPEG: approx. 8 frames (Large/Fine)
LCD Monitor:
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Type: TFT color, liquid-crystal monitor
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Monitor Size: 2.5 in. diagonal with a viewing angle of approx. 160°
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Dots: Approx. 230,000 pixels
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Brightness Adjustment: 7 levels provided
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Interface Languages: 18
Compatible Battery:
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Battery Pack: NB-2LH
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Recharging Time: Approx. 105 min.
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Rated Input: 100 - 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz
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Rated Output: 8.4 V DC
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Working Temperature Range: 0°C-40°C/32°F - 104°F
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Working Humidity Range: 85% or less
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Dimensions (WxHxD): 91 x 56 x 22.5mm/3.6 x 2.2 x 0.9 in.
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Weight: Approx. 68 g/2.4 oz.
---Here is Some of What the Canon Digital Rebel XTi Can Do---
Easy To Use
The Digital Rebel XTi is very user friendly. Even though my previous camera was a simple point and shoot model, it was still a Canon, which still made it easy for me to navigate through many of the controls. That said, I still think the controls are fairly intuitive. I feel that Canon has done a good job of organizing the controls and placing the buttons in logical places. I now find myself zipping through the controls very quickly without making too many errors. When I’m not quite sure what a button is for, I do occasionally consult the instruction manual, which is small and fits easily into a pocket or any camera bag.
Print Quality
The prints of my photos have looked great so far. I usually get standard 4 x 6 prints from my desktop printer (Epson R300), a basic photo lab like Walgreens, or an online lab like Winkflash. The detail and color in my prints looks great. I rarely have to color correct anything. I have on occasion printed my photos at 8.5 x 11" with excellent results. The 10.1 megapixel resolution of this camera allows me to print high quality 300 dpi (dots per inch) 8.5 x 11" prints with no image loss. Because of the great detail in my photos, I have found that even increasing the image size slightly (up to 15-20%) shows very little image degradation in my prints. Overall, I am very pleased with how my photos are printing!
Shooting Modes
Full Automatic Mode I love that I was able to use the Digital Rebel straight from the box with no prior experience by setting it on automatic. Of course I wanted to learn how to use the more advanced features, but at least I was able to use my brand new camera right away. The automatic mode allows the user to use this camera as if it were a point and shoot camera. The camera determines the “best” aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance, and flash.
I have to admit that even in automatic mode, my photographs look much better using this camera than my point and shoot (Canon Powershot A75). The color looks great, the highlights and shadows are balanced with no obvious loss of detail, and the exposure looks good in most instances. My indoor photos using the pop-up automatic flash in this mode look pretty good as well. I have not had a single photo with red eyes and the automatic flash usually fires appropriately with good results.
Other Automatic Modes
The other automatic modes on the Canon Rebel, and most other digital cameras, are portrait, macro, landscape, fast motion (sports), and night. These “creative” automatic modes are still fully automatic meaning that the camera still determines the exposure. The are just selected by the user for specific situations. The portrait mode will adjust the focal length so that the background is blurrier making for a more desirable portrait. The macro mode is selected when taking extreme close-up shots. The landscape mode will adjust the aperture to maximize the depth of field to allow the entire image to be in focus. For the fast motion mode, the fastest shutter speed possible will be chosen, allowing the moving subject to be captured. Night mode requires a slow shutter speed to allow for a longer exposure.
Semi-automatic Modes
The semi-automatic modes are just what the name implies--the user controls some of the settings and the camera does the rest. These modes are great for users that want to get past the point-and-shoot fully automatic mode, but don’t have the skills for the fully manual mode (like me!). These modes are also great for very specific purposes like photographing waterfalls or fast moving subjects.
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P (Program Mode) - This mode works much like the automatic mode except that it allows the user to change the ISO (simulated film speed of 100, 200, 400, 800, or 1600), determine the flash and the white balance. The camera will determine the correct exposure.
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TV (Time Value) - This mode allows the user to choose the shutter speed. The camera will choose the best aperture to get a proper exposure. This mode is great for fast moving subjects.
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AV (Aperture Value) - This mode allows the user to choose the lens aperture. The camera will select the shutter speed that will achieve a proper exposure. This mode is best for stationary subjects where depth of field is of importance. This mode works well for photographing waterfalls (so I am told).
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A-DEP (Auto depth of field) - This mode allows the photographer to get two subjects that are at various distances both in focus.
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M (Manual) - This mode puts all of the camera’s controls into the hands of the photographer.
---Some of My Favorite Things About the Rebel XTi---
Lens compatibility
Canon’s EOS cameras, whether film or digital, use a standard EF mount which means that all of Canon’s EF lenses are compatible on all EOS cameras. Canon’s Ultrasonic (USM) technology has not changed, which for me, means that the lenses I used on my five-year-old Canon 35mm Elan 7 are still perfectly usable on my new Rebel XTi. The camera will automatically “know” what lens is on the camera it should work seamlessly--with one small catch. On lower level digital SLR cameras, the sensor is not full frame, it is an APS-C sensor. This is a sensor that is smaller than the size of a frame of 35mm film. Full frame means that the sensor size is equal to the frame size on 35mm film. This affects the focal length on the lens since most EF lenses were designed to be used on 35mm cameras. Many higher end Canon digital SLRs like the EOS 5D Mark II ($2700) and better have full frame sensors. Low to mid-range digital models like the Rebel XTi, use the APS-C sensors and the standard EF lenses are not designed for this sensor which means the effective focal length must be adjusted by multiplying by 1.6. For example, if you are using an EF 70-300 zoom lens on the Rebel XTi (or other APS-C size sensor), your effective focal length is actually 112-480. This is not a bad thing if you are looking for a longer focal length, but it is something to keep in mind especially when shooting at shorter focal lengths because your wide-angle shots will not seem quite so wide angle. I have found this useful when photographing birds. I am able to get nice shots that appear much closer, so I personally haven’t found this to be a problem yet.
Self Cleaning Sensor
This is a great feature. While I have never personally had to clean the sensor on a digital camera, I have heard from others who have had great difficulty in doing so. I also know that my film camera got very dirty from its limited use and needed to be professionally cleaned. The sensor of a digital SLR camera is exposed to dirt and dust every time a lens is removed or attached. On previous models, you would have to put the camera in sensor cleaning mode, and use some type of blower to try and dislodge the dust. If this worked, great. If not, you had to use a swab and some cleaning fluid, which could damage the sensor or leave streaks if not done properly, or may still not get all of the dirt and dust off of the sensor/mirror. The last option is to bring the camera in to get it cleaned professionally, which will set you back $80 to $100!
The Canon Rebel XTi now has integrated sensor cleaning that automatically cleans the sensor every time you turn off your camera (or on, depending on your preference). In addition, there is an anti-static coating on the sensor surface to reduce dust, as well as materials used within the camera that are less likely to generate dust.
Large, bright LCD monitor
I really love the large LCD monitor. I have used the Rebel XT (previous model) and its 1.8” screen seems small. I was used to the miniscule 1.25” screen on my point and shoot camera, and this 2.5” monitor seems huge! This camera does not have live view, which does not bother me. I prefer the viewfinder anyway. The LCD monitor is used to review and delete images as well as viewing all camera controls. There is not a separate screen for camera settings like on previous Rebel cameras. I find that the color and brightness of the screen is outstanding and is easy to see even outdoors in bright sunshine--even when viewed from an angle. The brightness and contrast can be adjusted if necessary.
Compact size
I like that this camera is rather compact and weighs about a pound (camera body). This truly is a personal preference. I am of average size, but I do have fairly small hands and this camera feels great to me. I can easily grasp it and reach all of the necessary controls with ease. I also like that it is not very heavy. I tend to get headaches and muscle aches in my neck easily from any extra weight hanging around my neck, so the light weight of this camera (as long as I am using a short lens) is terrific.
Some users may not like the Rebel XTi’s compact size. Some students in my photography class, as well as my instructor prefer a larger camera. To accommodate this, and to assure that they will never run out of battery power, they use a battery grip. This attaches to the bottom of the camera and gives the camera a larger grip.
--- In Conclusion ---
So far I am very pleased with this camera. I think it is a good enough camera for me to get a good two years of use out of it before I feel the need to upgrade. The Canon D400 Digital Rebel XTi is truly easy to use for a beginner, but offers enough features for an intermediate user. Its relatively low cost, and easy-to-find compatible lenses and accessories make this camera a great value! I am happy with my purchase, and best of all, my photographs are improving!
