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- Review: The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi (400D)
Review: The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi (400D) - Performance (p3)
Canon Digital Rebel XTi Performance
The Canon Digital Rebel XTi performed well to moderately well on nearly all our standard tests. In general, it doesn't have the speed of its closest rival, the Nikon D80, or the more expensive Canon EOS 30D, but it does eek out very similar or slightly better performance in a few areas.
The XTi starts up fairly quick, in about 0.25 to 0.30 seconds. This is nearly on par with the Nikon D80. At nearly one second, the shutter lag was noticeable under low-light conditions. Under normal conditions, the shutter lag was much was considerably less; only 0.3 seconds. This, however, is still slower than the 0.1-second shutter lag claimed by Canon. The Nikon D80 posted similar results, with a normal shutter lag of 0.4 seconds and a low-light shutter lag of 0.8 seconds. Both cameras fall significantly behind the more expensive Canon EOS 30D and Nikon D200.
In continuous shooting mode, the camera faired quite well, though slightly behind the Nikon D80 in speed. As Canon claims, the XTi can shoot 27 JPEG and 10 RAW images in a row at a maximum of 3 frames per second. Once this number has been reached, however, the camera begins to slow considerably. Also, there is a considerable lag of several seconds between continuous shooting sessions. The JPEG+RAW mode can handle up to 8 photos in a row, and although slower than shooting in either mode separately, it is a nice option to have.
The standard kit lens is a relatively unimpressive EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6. Unless you are new to digital SLRs, you may be inclined to think that this particular lens feels a little slow - and we would have to agree. Under low-light conditions you will probably want a lens with a maximum aperture less than 3.0. Luckily, Canon has a wide variety of lenses to choose from, including the popular EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 standard zoom lens (below).
The Canon Digital Rebel XTi represents a relatively small advancement over its predecessor, the Digital Rebel XT. The overall size and design of the camera is very similar to the XT. And like the XT, the XTi is one of the smallest and lightest dSLRs in its class, which may be a problem for some people with larger hands. Also, the camera lacks a robust stabilization system to reduce camera shake, like the one found on the new Sony Alpha. Despite these limitations, the Canon Digital Rebel XTi is clearly a well-built camera capable of taking breathtaking high-resolution photos without a great deal of effort on the part of the photographer. For those on a very tight budget, however, the original Digital Rebel XT will probably do the trick.
Dimensions: 5.0 x 2.0 x 1.0 inches, 2.0 pounds
Price: $799 body only and $899 with EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens.
Key Features:
The Canon Digital Rebel XTi performed well to moderately well on nearly all our standard tests. In general, it doesn't have the speed of its closest rival, the Nikon D80, or the more expensive Canon EOS 30D, but it does eek out very similar or slightly better performance in a few areas.
The XTi starts up fairly quick, in about 0.25 to 0.30 seconds. This is nearly on par with the Nikon D80. At nearly one second, the shutter lag was noticeable under low-light conditions. Under normal conditions, the shutter lag was much was considerably less; only 0.3 seconds. This, however, is still slower than the 0.1-second shutter lag claimed by Canon. The Nikon D80 posted similar results, with a normal shutter lag of 0.4 seconds and a low-light shutter lag of 0.8 seconds. Both cameras fall significantly behind the more expensive Canon EOS 30D and Nikon D200.
In continuous shooting mode, the camera faired quite well, though slightly behind the Nikon D80 in speed. As Canon claims, the XTi can shoot 27 JPEG and 10 RAW images in a row at a maximum of 3 frames per second. Once this number has been reached, however, the camera begins to slow considerably. Also, there is a considerable lag of several seconds between continuous shooting sessions. The JPEG+RAW mode can handle up to 8 photos in a row, and although slower than shooting in either mode separately, it is a nice option to have.
The standard kit lens is a relatively unimpressive EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6. Unless you are new to digital SLRs, you may be inclined to think that this particular lens feels a little slow - and we would have to agree. Under low-light conditions you will probably want a lens with a maximum aperture less than 3.0. Luckily, Canon has a wide variety of lenses to choose from, including the popular EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 standard zoom lens (below).
The Canon Digital Rebel XTi represents a relatively small advancement over its predecessor, the Digital Rebel XT. The overall size and design of the camera is very similar to the XT. And like the XT, the XTi is one of the smallest and lightest dSLRs in its class, which may be a problem for some people with larger hands. Also, the camera lacks a robust stabilization system to reduce camera shake, like the one found on the new Sony Alpha. Despite these limitations, the Canon Digital Rebel XTi is clearly a well-built camera capable of taking breathtaking high-resolution photos without a great deal of effort on the part of the photographer. For those on a very tight budget, however, the original Digital Rebel XT will probably do the trick.
Dimensions: 5.0 x 2.0 x 1.0 inches, 2.0 pounds
Price: $799 body only and $899 with EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens.
Key Features:
- 10.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 18 x 24-inch prints
- Large 2.5-inch LCD display; includes Canon's EF-S 18-55mm, f3.5-5.6 zoom lens
- New self-cleaning dust function, plus Dust Delete Data Detection in included software
- DIGIC II Image Processor provides fast, accurate image processing; Picture Style settings for added creative control
- Stores images on Compact Flash (CF) memory cards; powered by battery pack NB-2LH
