For those wanting to break the glass ceiling between consumer and prosumer digital cameras, we at Global Phoenix offer this guide for the wary on buying Canon Digital SRL's.  Below you will find a comparison between three popular models of Canon SLR's: the Canon Rebel XT, Rebel XTi and the EOS-20D. 

A consumer camera does most of the work of taking pictures for you.  A prosumer camera does part of the work, and a professional camera forces you to do all of the work.  If you are just starting out in the world of digital photography and have next-to-no experience taking pictures, please see our PowerShot series , also by Canon.

Canon's SLR line of digital cameras are user-friendly and produce magnificent photographs.  The main difference between digital cameras is the amount of megapixels - the number of individual points that the camera's onboard sensor can detect and image.  The more megapixels your cameras has, the cleaner your pictures will look.  The Rebel XT and the EOS-20D have 8.0 megapixels, while the Rebel XTi has 10.1.  The difference is obvious from the first picture you shoot.  Below is a table of a few of the more prominent features characterizing these three cameras. 

                               Rebel XT                          Rebel XTi                             EOS-20D
Megapixels                    8.0                                     10.1                                        8.2
LCD Display Size         1.8"                                     2.5"                                        1.8"
AF Points                      7                                         9                                              9
Exposure Modes           14                                      14                                           14
ISO Range                 100-1600                         100-1600                               100-3200
Flash                           Built-in                              Built-in                                     Built-in
Compatibility               All EF/EF-S Lenses         All EF/EF-S Lenses               All EF/EF-S Lenses

The above cameras all have pretty standard features that match evenly: Various white-balance settings, auto-flash, burst-rates, computer hook-ups, auto-focus, AF assist lamp, etc.  There are many more features contained on these devices, but this is just a guide to the basics. 

Canon Digital Rebel XT
The Rebel XT is an easy-to-use, solidly built camera.  There is more to this camera than the weekend photographer really needs, but the features are great when you decide to step up your level of picture-taking to make full use of this device. 
The white balance settings are very useful.  Their sensitivity is high, and the end result is of great quality.  If this is a

feature you don't want to tinker with, the Auto setting is highly capable, but you can choose to do your own white balancing with the Custom option if you prefer.  I recommend learning how to do a custom white balance.  It is an early step in becoming a more skilled photographer.

This camera comes with a lens, which the EOS-20D does not, and it is a very capable lens indeed.  If you are a casual photographer, you have little need in upgrading the included lens.  It makes full use of all eight megapixels and will give you beautiful images.  The auto-focus is smooth and quick as well.

If price is an issue, this is a less-expensive version of the Rebel XTi, and the differences only show if you know what you are looking for.  This makes a perfect gift for a budding photographer, or for someone who wants to take a small step up from basic point-and-shoot photography.

Canon EOS-20D
A different style camera than the Rebel XT, this is another eight megapixel camera that has fine features, and is very accessible to amateur photographers.  Though this camera is designed for people with more of a passion for picture-taking, it can be used successfully by anyone wanting to take good, clean pictures for the family.

Starting with the outside construction of the camera, you can see that it is more rugged than the Rebel XT or XTi.  It's exterior is magnesium alloy, as opposed to the plastic of the Rebels.  And while the Rebel cameras are very durable, this camera can easily become your "field" camera what with it's sturdy outer shell.   

This camera has roughly the same basic features of the other two discussed on this page, (nine AF points, 14 shooting modes, etc.) with two interesting differences: a white balance setting for Kelvin, and an ISO range that goes to 3200.  These are aimed at pleasing more seasoned photo bugs, but can also be used to great effect by those willing to learn more about the art of photography through tier cameras' abilities.  A greater ISO range is useful for situations involving low-light areas, and an adjustable Kelvin scale of white balance means you can adjust to nearly any light source, be it the sun or a room full of florescent lamps. 

The viewfinder window on this camera has more information that the Rebels', but if you're setting your shooting mode to auto, most of it will be unnecessary for you.  Once you get more acquainted with your camera, and begin to experiment a little, you'll find it very useful to have in-depth information on your shooting modes/styles readily at hand.
This camera is for those who want to transition slowly from prosumer to professional, without paying a professionals' price.  It should be said that this camera is not sold with a lens included, but it compatible with all EF/EF-S lenses provided by Canon.  If you are serious about developing your photography skills, please consider this camera as a way to do just that. 

Canon Digital Rebel XTi
A distinct improvement over its predecessor, the Rebel XT, the Rebel XTi has 10.0 megapixels, a sensor cleansing system, 9 AF points instead of 7, and a larger display screen.  Other differences only matter to more expert photographers, but this is a camera that will show you the difference from frame one. 

Some time ago, the only way to clean out your camera was to send it back to the manufacturer.  Dust can get inside the components and wreck havoc on your shooting.  Dust motes on your sensor plague every digital camera owner.  Canon has included a dust-cleaning system that shakes dust off of the sensor after every use.  It can be set to manual too, if you want complete control over when it will activate.  Another feature concurrent with dust-cleansing is the dust mask.  You simply take a picture of a white object, like a wall, then use that as a reference point for the camera to "remove" unwanted dust specks from future pictures.  PhotoShop also has this feature in its latest versions, but now you don't need it to clean up your photos. 

Just like the Rebel XT, the ISO range on this camera is 100-1600.  It's more than enough when shooting outdoors, but gives you something to play with if you're in low-light conditions. 

Auto-focus is a feature intrinsic to all digital cameras.  The auto-focus on the Rebel XTi is very good considering that it was nine AF points instead of the Rebel XT's seven.  Auto-focus works through contrast on whatever it is you're shooting.  The more AF points there are, the better your chances of getting the shot set up and in focus the way you want, without having to rearrange your frame to put an AF point in a specific place.  (Just to give you an idea of how important this is, in higher-end cameras there are upwards of 50 AF points.)

The Rebel XTi is a definite upgrade from the Rebel XT and well worth the extra money.  It comes with it's own lens and is easy to use as soon as you get the battery charged up.  Anyone with experience shooting pictures can use this camera as it's functions are easy to access, and its layout simple to navigate.  If you are serious about becoming a quality photographer, this is the model for you.  There are many many more functions and features that are waiting to be
discovered, and are clearly described in the accompanying software and manuals.

Feel free to examine any of these cameras, and others, at our eBay store online.  Online pages offer more complete information on specifications, included items and of course, prices.