Review: Canon Digital Rebel XTi EOS 400D
Canon Digital Rebel XTi EOS 400D
10MP Digital SLR (Single Lens Reflex) camera
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The obvious question: “Is this upgraded Rebel XTi worth $200 more than its predecessor, the XT?” The benefits are not substantial, but from where I’m sitting, they make it worth the price. My brother is a freelance newspaper photographer and aside from a few quirks, it works for him.
Like it’s younger brother, the Rebel XT (EOS 350D), this camera can be purchased in a kit with a cheap lens, battery and charger, Compact Flash memory card, and a carrying strap. It would be a shame to spend this kind of money on a body and use the Canon 18-55mm (f3.5-5.6) kit lens. I’d buy one with higher quality optics and image stabilization, though these cost a lot more. Bear in mind, however, that you can use any Canon auto focus lens on this camera, including all those made over tte past twenty years for thier film SLRs!).
When considering this camera for purchase there are a few things to think about:
- 10 MP image resolution is not a whole heck of a lot better than 8 MP (offered by the XT).Image quality has much more to do with optics and image sensor/processor than it does with the number of megapixels. Unless you’re shooting RAW, a 5 MP JPEG image is not going to look a lot different from a 10 MP image (all things equal).
- The body has no Vibration Reduction or Image Stabilization. If you want this, you must buy a lens with this feature. For what it’s worth, having this feature in the lens is supposedly more effective than having it in the body. I find that some lenses are better than others in this regard. Try them before you buy!
- The problem with lenses that have built in Image Stabilization: Such lenses have moving parts and motors. While anti-static coatings can help, such lenses are prone to acquire dust on the inner glass elements. This is expensive to remedy, not to mention a major nuisance as it creates spots on your image.
- The ‘EOS Integrated Cleaning System feature.’ If you expect to change lenses much, this feature may be beneficial. Dust can find its way onto the sensor when you take off the lens. Spots then appear on your image. The older model XT required you to remove the lens, lock up the mirror, and blow the dust off the sensor. The newer XTi vibrates the sensor to shake off the dust! (Um, so then where does it go…?). It also employs a Dust Delete Data feature which can detect such dust and remove its effects with software.
- Error 99. This seems to be a generic error code that plagues many models of Canon DSLRs. The indicator pops up when something is awry; however, it doesn’t tell you specifically what’s wrong (sort of like the notorious “check engine” light on your car!). My Rebel XT does this and it’s a great nuisance because the camera won’t function–you have to power down then back on. The XTi under test has not exhibited the Error 99 problem, but you can find enough postings on the internet to make you question its reliability. Canon apparently takes no responsibility for the problem which appears to exist with both old and new models.
My brother’s been using the XTi with two AF Sigma lenses for photojournalistic work. I’ve discussed its performance with him at length over the past six months and have played with it a bit myself. In my opinion, these are its high and low points:
The Good
- The XTi has a 2.5 inch LCD display (much larger than the XT’s 1.8 inch). This larger, brighter screen is used to display shooting parameters in addition to menu navigation and image playback. It’s much more convenient and easier to see than the XT’s small LCD with its even smaller, dimly lit auxiliary LCD above it (which displays shooting parameters).
- Sensor Image sensor cleaning system
- Has a very versatile monochrome mode
- Color rendition is better than XT. This may be a result of Canon replacing the “Parameter” menu of the XT with something called “Picture Style.” Here, you can make such color choices as Standard, Neutral, and Faithful.
The Bad
- Other than the Error 99 problem (its too early to tell how common or widespread this is), I really like this camera. It’s a better choice than the XT (350D) if you’re looking for a good consumer grade Canon DSLR.
Category: Cameras and Gear, Featured, Reviews
About the Author (Author Profile)
Ed lives in the Philadelphia area and works as a clinical engineer in a local teaching hospital. He has been making photographs for the past 30 years. His early work- color landscape photography –has been shown in New York and Philadelphia galleries. His current work has been shown in New York, Philadelphia, and New Orleans. Buy a copy of his book, Stone Angels: A celebration of the Mourning Arts.
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Brand new Rebel XTi. 50 or so pics and err99 shows up. Tamron “non-digital” 28-200 lens.
Removed batt couple times but code kept appearing. Changed lens to Canon 28-80 “non-digital”. 20 or pics and no problem. But I don’t like this lens.
Have yet to confirm firmware version but I suspect it’s current (1.1.1)
Will also try cleaning lens contacts.
Thanks for your comment. The blogs seem to point to cleaning the lens contacts, or Canon talking about a lens/body mismatch. As I mention in the article, My brother’s been using the XTi with two AF Sigma lenses for about a year and has never had the Err99 problem.