Compared to...

On paper the EOS 400D / Digital Rebel XTi has the same basic feature set as the other two ten megapixel cameras here. The biggest difference is that both the Nikon D80 and Sony DSLR-A100 offer some kind of advantage for their premium. The Nikon D80 has a much wider range of camera control, a larger and brighter viewfinder, better ergonomics, a bigger battery, faster USB, spot metering and surprisingly useful customizable automatic ISO. The Sony DSLR-A100 also has better ergonomics, spot metering, a bigger battery, faster USB and built-in CCD-shift Anti Shake (although we don't believe this to be as effective lens image stabilization). The EOS 400D's 'on paper' advantages are listed below, not a huge list and quite a surprise to see how the competition have not just caught up with Canon but have overtaken them.

Canon EOS 400D / Digital Rebel XTi advantages

• Between $100 and $200 cheaper than the competition
• Three part dust reduction system (with high frequency shake of low pass filter)
• Six preset PictureStyles and widest range of image parameter control
• Better software bundle (ZoomBrowser, Digital Photo Professional, Remote, PhotoStitch)
• Smallest and lightest sub-$1000 ten megapixel digital SLR

	Canon EOS 400D	Nikon D80	Sony DSLR-A100
Price (body only)	US: $799 [check price]	US: $999 [check price]	US: $899 [check price]
Body material	Plastic	Plastic	Plastic
Sensor	• 22.2 x 14.8 mm CMOS • 10 million pixels	• 23.6 x 15.8 mm CCD (DX) • 10 million pixels	• 23.6 x 15.8 mm CCD • 10 million pixels
Dust reduction	• Anti-dust materials • Low pass filter vibration • Dust reference image	• Dust reference image	• Anti-static coatings • CCD-shift 'shake'
Native image size	3888 x 2592	3872 x 2592	3872 x 2592
Lens support	• Canon EF mount • Including EF-S lenses	• Nikon F-mount • Includes DX lenses	• Sony Alpha lenses • Minolta A-type bayonet
FOV crop	1.6x	1.5x	1.5x
Body shake reduction	No	No	Yes, CCD-shift
File formats	• RAW (comp. lossless) • JPEG (3 levels)	• RAW (compressed) • JPEG (3 levels)	• RAW (comp. lossless) • JPEG (3 levels)
Auto focus	• 9 area TTL • Range: -0.5 to +18 EV	• 11 area TTL • Range: -1.0 to +19 EV	• 9 area TTL • Range: -1.0 to +18 EV
AF illuminator	Flash strobe, must be raised	Built-in lamp	Flash strobe, must be raised
Color space	• sRGB • Adobe RGB	• sRGB (2 modes) • Adobe RGB	• sRGB • Adobe RGB
Metering sensor	• 35 zone sensor • 1 - 20 EV working range	• 420 pixel RGB sensor • 0 - 20 EV working range	• 40 segment sensor • 1 - 20 EV working range
Metering	• Evaluative • Partial • Center-weighted average	• 3D Color Matrix Metering II • Center-weighted average • Spot	• Multi-segment • Center-weighted average • Spot
Exp. comp.	+/- 2.0 EV	+/- 2.0 EV	+/- 2.0 EV
EV steps	1/3 or 1/2 EV	1/3 or 1/2 EV	1/3 EV
Sensitivity	• ISO 100 - 1600	• ISO 100 - 1600 • ISO 3200 with boost	• ISO 100 - 1600
Auto ISO	Auto (100 - 400)	User definable maximum ISO and minimum shutter speed	Auto (100 - 800)
Custom ISO NR	No	Yes, four settings	No
Shutter speed	• 30 - 1/4000 sec / Bulb • 1/200 sec Flash sync	• 30 - 1/4000 sec / Bulb • 1/200 sec Flash sync	• 30 - 1/4000 sec / Bulb • 1/160 sec Flash sync
Continuous shooting	• 3 fps • 27 JPEG/Fine frames • 10 RAW frames	• 3 fps • 23 JPEG/Fine frames • 6 RAW frames	• 3 fps • Unlimited JPEG/Fine frames • 6 RAW frames
White balance	• Auto • Six presets • Manual preset • Kelvin temperature • Fine tunable	• Auto • Six presets • Manual preset • Kelvin temperature • Fine tunable	• Auto • Six presets • Manual preset • Kelvin temperature • Fine tunable
Image params	• Six preset picture styles • Three user sets • Sharpening: 8 levels • Contrast: 9 levels • Saturation: 9 levels • Color tone: 9 levels • B&W filter/tone: 5 of each	• Six preset looks • Sharpening: Auto, 6 levels • Tone: Auto, 5 levels, Custom • Color: 3 modes • Saturation: Auto, 3 levels • Hue: -9° to +9°	• Seven preset looks • Sharpening: 5 levels • Contrast: 5 levels • Saturation: 5 levels
Embed comment	Owner name set via software	Comment set in-camera	No
Flash	Electronic release pop-up	Electronic release pop-up	Manual release pop-up
Viewfinder	• Pentamirror • Eyepoint 20 mm • Frame coverage 95% • Magnification approx 0.8x • Laser matte screen	• Pentaprism • Eyepoint 21 mm • Frame coverage 95% • Magnification approx 0.94x • B-type Bright View Clear Matte II • Optional grid lines	• Pentamirror • Eyepoint 20 mm • Frame coverage 95% • Magnification approx 0.83x • 'Spherical acute' matte screen
LCD monitor	• 2.5 " TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels	• 2.5 " TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels • Removable protective cover	• 2.5 " TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels
Status LCD	No, utilizes main LCD	Yes, top of camera	No, utilizes main LCD
Mirror-lockup	Custom function	Partial, 0.4 sec optional delay	Automatic with self-timer
Other features	n/a	• Multiple Exposure • Wireless flash control • In-camera retouching	• Eye-start Auto Focus • Auto-orientation status display
Custom settings	11	32	12
Storage	Compact Flash card	SD/SDHC card	Compact Flash card
Battery	NB-2LH (7.4 V, 720 mAh)	EN-EL3e (7.4 V, 1500 mAh)	NP-FM55H (7.2 V, 1600 mAh)
Battery status	Battery life (3 stage)	• Remaining charge (%) • No. of shots since last charge • Battery life (5 stage)	Battery life (5 stage)
USB	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (WIA only) (approx. 3.2 MB/sec)	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (approx. 8.8 MB/sec)	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (approx. 8.7 MB/sec)
Vertical grip	BG-E3 (option)	MD-D80 (option)	No
Software	• Canon DPP • PhotoStitich • Canon ZoomBrowser EX • EOS Utility (Remote Capt.)	• PictureProject • FotoShare • Capture NX (trial)	• Picture Motion Browser • Image Data Converter SR
Dimensions	127 x 94 x 65 mm (5.0 x 3.7 x 2.5 in)	132 x 103 x 77 mm (5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0 in)	133 x 95 x 71 mm (5.2 x 3.7 x 2.8 in)
Weight (no batt)	514 g (1.1 lb)	585 g (1.3 lb)	545 g (1.2 lb)