New info display items

The large LCD screen has enabled 8 new items to be added to the info display compared with the Digital Rebel XT: ISO speed, Dimmer offset, AF frame display, White

balance adjustment, White balance bracketing, Beep, Camera side in effect External flash side in effect Red-eye reduction mode, and Shooting display mode.

The least obvious of these, and perhaps the most clever, is Dimmer offset. One line down from the top on the far right hand side of the display, either of two icons may appear. The first is a standard lightning bolt with +/- after it. When this symbol, and a number such as –2/3 appears, the display indicates that the built-in flash is set for an exposure reduction of 2/3 stop. The other icon is a picture of a Speedlite, followed by the same +/-. If that symbol is displayed, followed by, say, + 1 1/3, the display is indi- cating that the external flash attached to the Digital Rebel XTi is set for an increase in exposure of 1 1/3 stops.

When exposure correction is applied, the exposure correction display in

the center of the second row on the LCD screen changes color for easy

Full power

reference. The screen also displays error and warning messages and their solutions.

Low power

A change to the info display is that the battery power remaining indicator now has 4 levels, rather than 3. The EOS 30D also offers this useful feature.

Battery almost dead

Viewfinder

The viewfinder has two additions, both brought from the EOS 30D: an FE lock indicator on the left side, and white balance adjustment, +/-, on the right. The red-eye reduc- tion mark is displayed on the LCD screen, so it is not included in the viewfinder. Viewfinder blackout time is approximately 170 ms at 1/60 second or faster shutter

speeds. A dioptric adjustment range from -3.0 to +1.0 Viewfinder dpt. is possible and an excellent Precision Matte focusing screen is standard.

The Digital Rebel XTi has a depth-of-field preview feature, a welcome surprise at the new camera’s price point. The button is located near the lens mount, under the left thumb when the XTi is held horizontally. The feature is enabled in the Creative Zone modes.

SET button, cross keys, DISP.

The SET button is for selecting Picture Style directly. This is its default function. It pro- motes the use of Picture Styles, clearly differentiating the XTi from its rivals. Also, the Picture Style logo is imprinted below the SET buttonas a reminder of this capability. The

III. FEATURE DISCUSSION

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Canon EOS manual New info display items