Simple review of Canon Rebel XTi / 400D

Lemming51 wrote:

Mr Low Notes wrote:

Good camera for it's time. Not perfect. No spot metering. S L O W flash recycle time. Missing info LCD found on the back of previous two Rebel Cameras. Large (2.5") color LCD. 10mp.

Photos would sometimes be dark for no reason. Built in Flash exposure compensation never worked right even in manual. It would always tone down the flash to keep from blowing out the highlights no matter what the settings. This was a problem when something reflective was in the shot that you knew would be blown out to get the correct exposure elsewhere in the frame. Even with exposure lock *. Manual.... It didn't matter. Not a problem with an external flash.

Some comments:

• All EOS bodies with built-in flash have slow flash cycling. Not unique to the 400D, I think (could be wrong) it's by design to protect the tiny flash from overheating and not draw power from the camera's image and other processors working at the same time.
• ETTL I metering was overly sensitive to "hot spots" where ever they occurred in the frame. ETTL II (2004 and later bodies like the 400D/XTi) was not so sensitive. Still the flash auto exposure metering of the 400D could be changed to Average to avoid that (C.Fn-8, p. 105)
• The built-in flash is pretty weak. Dialing in additional FEC doesn't do anything if the flash is already firing at its maximum level. Could explain why external flash (much more powerful) could be seen to respond to +FEC.

From Mr. Low Notes:

• I do agree with you for the most part on flash recycle time. And it was slowest when it fired at full power which is to be expected. The 60D and 70D are noticeably recycle faster with a full discharge. Almost twice as fast. And Canon states the upper models do recycle faster. The battery capacity is much more too. The Xti was rated at 550 or so shots and the 60D over 1500... 1700 or so I think. Without the flash used.
• Thanks for the other info. It's nice that modern cameras have so many options on them. The XTi was a very good camera and I got a lot of use out of it.

Good camera other than that. Used it several years before getting the 60D. Sold it to a friend who still uses it as far as I know.

Untouched full size (10mp) JPG with kit lens (18-55mm) & built in flash.

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Unapologetic Canon Apologist