anything else you can tell us about the grip? from the pics, it doesn't look a whole lot bigger than the xti grip

They're about the same size—the diff is in the build quality and materials mostly. There's a new separate ISO button on top.

Is it still all plastic?

I'm trying to make a decision on a dslr camera the next few weeks-- are you guys planning on doing a Nikon vs Canon Sizemodo comparison. Please do. I'm burnt on toggling from tabs on camera websites. Giz to my rescue!

Soooo hot. Damn, and I just bought an XTi. The body material is a major plus.

If size is your requirement in an SLR, you should probably get to a store.

But you should probably know that there are a lot more to photography than the size of a camera body.

how bout.. a.. you know... contest for one of these?

being a student to become a professional photographer, i was debating on waiting on this one since i have a really shitty first gen rebel...i walked into our local photography store here in santa barbara and asked for the release date for it, dude had no clue but i actually ended up walking out of there with a refurbished 30D with vertical grip and a fixed 50mm 1.8 lens for 1100$..after getting familiar with the 30D more the only downsize is the live view and .5 smaller screen lol but it looks like a great camera but 30D is good for me. i will give it to canon though because they're doing something very good

rebel - pinto
-0D - 997 Turbo
-D - Lamborghini Reventon

My Xti is indeed junk, but my L series glass isn't :D

is this that much better than the xti? i was waiting for the xsi so the xti prices would drop

I'm getting a bit lost with the names here as you have different names for these in the States... is this a revision to the 400D, does anyone know?

I have a 300D (the original Digital Rebel stateside, I think), so I'm behind the times either way...

This is the 450D in Europe.
The kit-objective is also supposed to be of much higher quality than the 350/400-kit, from what I've read in other reviews.

Great, thanks. One to keep an eye on then - the LCD on mine is like a postage stamp.

I think before one is allowed to review cameras, one should first know how to set the white balance on one's own camera!

I just bought a 40D to, but Its speced a little higher. Wish it had Live View with the AF though like the XSi

I am shaking my fist at Canon! Why, why, why must they always tempt me with new and improved goodness? I wish I was still a renter with disposable income...I'd snatch up this bad boy in a minute.

Anybody know where I can get last year's models for, uh ... cheapo? Or get the displays? That would be sexeriffic.

Can't you learn how to use the white balance??? (rant) Why can't these blog sites (engadget, gizmodo,...) get a decent camera along with someone that can take pictures that look good (and not blurry, tinted, out of focus, shaken...)???

ARRRGGH! manufacturers: your new item looks like a turd!

@Weihovah: my question exactly. watching XTi prices dwindle away making it about 1/2 the cost of this thing. Is this worth paying the MSRP for the differences in features? The price difference offers the ability to snatch up a Lumix TZ5 for a nice (720p - NICE!!!) out-of-pocket companion!!!

My XTi has put some serious miles in the last 2 years (www.flickr.com/photos/ashwinmudigonda) I am going to get this one whenever its price tanks to 25-50% MSRP.

Canon's website shows the release date as APRIL! WTF? I already know I'm getting this bad boy asafp.

I'm looking forward to the moment I find the site that has a comparison of this and the 400D.
Maybe then I'll find a way to convince my wife that I should be allowed to buy one. (Not that I'm whipped in any way...)
But by the time I buy it, they probably launches the 500D, that in addition to take pictures also massages your eyebrows while you photograph or something.

I just bought my XTi like 4 months ago, WTF!

On the white balance issue, Expodisc makes white balance quick and easy, especially in situations like live events.

[www.expoimaging.net]

Which leads to the question: Has Canon reversed their position over the "warmness" of their Tungsten and Auto Balance settings yet?

(Love my Rebel XT, hate the orange.)

damn, I knew this was going to happen. Right after I got my XTi...

If you shoot in RAW format you'll never worry about white balance again.

Here is how you never worry about WB again:

[www.flickr.com]

Now I'm torn, I along with others have been waiting for this camera for months so the XTi prices would fall. However, now I want this for all the new cool features.

Note to those who just bought the XTi's. Canon refreses line-up on these about every 18 months or so, it was a very good assumption that the new version would be announced at this time. Sorry.

@iomatic:
Yes.

Also: the new Pentax is 1200 and it has weather sealing, a 14mp CMOS chip that has been shown in lab tests (probably biased) to have a useable 6400 ISO, with Very Good at 3200. It also has live view, isn't made of plastic, and has a decently sized grip, not to mention lenses sealed supersonic lenses that are typically cheaper than Canon L's series but just as good.

I think I just had a geekasm

Hey Canon, I want a firmware upgrade for my new damn 40D with contrast based focus in Live view!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FTW!

@Weihovah: you can grip it by the husk.

The previous generation is NOT junk. In fact, it's more costefficient to get every other generation of camera, if you insist on upgrades, but even though Nikon's top of the line non-100% pro camera is now the D300, there's plenty of people out there still shooting with D70s that work great.

I own a D200, skipped the D300, and if the D400 has significant advantages over the D300/D200, I might buy it, or might wait for the D500. But even if I never upgrade, that doesn't mean my (fantastic) D200 is junk.

@GoatMonkey: What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

The only thing i like in this version is the apparent clarity at high ISOs, but that could just be a lucky picture. I always seem to be taking a lot of super-low light pictures on my xti, but unfortunately my lens budget is also super-low. The live view mode is a nice little gimic, for those who come from the point and shoot world and now think they are photographers, but i still love the feel of a camera against my face.

@NarPhoto: wow $1100 for a used 30D? you do realize you could have gottan a new 40D at places like amazon for $1150 out the door... i understand u got a lens with it, but thats a $80 lens...

live view comes in handy big time for macro shots and manual focusing... i don't know why people make such a big deal out of the 40d not having contract detect auto-focus... you shouldn't even be using auto focus during live view