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Canon 10D vs XTi

The Canon EOS 10D and the Canon EOS Rebel XTi (labelled Canon 400D in some countries) are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in February 2003 and August 2006. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The 10D has a resolution of 6.3 megapixels, whereas the XTi provides 10.1 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Canon 10D
versus
Canon XTi
Canon 10D   Canon XTi
Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses Canon EF mount lenses
6.3 MP – APS-C sensor 10.1 MP – APS-C sensor
no Video no Video
ISO 100-3,200 ISO 100-1,600
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
1.8" LCD – 118k dots 2.5" LCD – 230k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
3 shutter flaps per second 3 shutter flaps per second
500 shots per battery charge370 shots per battery charge
150 x 107 x 75 mm, 850 g 127 x 84 x 65 mm, 556 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 10D and the Canon EOS Rebel XTi? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Canon 10D and the Canon XTi are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Canon 10D vs Canon XTi
Compare 10D versus XTi top
Comparison 10D or XTi rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon XTi is considerably smaller (34 percent) than the Canon 10D. Moreover, the XTi is substantially lighter (35 percent) than the 10D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 10D nor the XTi are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the 10D gets 500 shots out of its Canon BP-511 battery, while the XTi can take 370 images on a single charge of its Canon NB-2LH power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 10D 150 mm 107 mm 75 mm 850 g 500 n Feb 2003 1,999ebay.com
2.
 
Canon XTi 127 mm 84 mm 65 mm 556 g 370 n Aug 2006 799ebay.com
3.
 
Canon T5 130 mm 100 mm 78 mm 480 g 500 n Feb 2014 449ebay.com
4.
 
Canon SL1 117 mm 91 mm 69 mm 407 g 380 n Mar 2013 549ebay.com
5.
 
Canon T4i 133 mm 100 mm 79 mm 575 g 440 n Jun 2012 849ebay.com
6.
 
Canon T3 130 mm 100 mm 78 mm 495 g 700 n Feb 2011 449ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 7D 148 mm 111 mm 74 mm 860 g 800 Y Sep 2009 1,699ebay.com
8.
 
Canon XS 126 mm 98 mm 65 mm 502 g 500 n Jun 2008 449ebay.com
9.
 
Canon 40D 146 mm 108 mm 74 mm 822 g 750 n Aug 2007 1,299ebay.com
10.
 
Canon 30D 144 mm 106 mm 74 mm 785 g 750 n Feb 2006 1,399ebay.com
11.
 
Canon XT 127 mm 94 mm 64 mm 540 g 400 n Feb 2005 899ebay.com
12.
 
Canon 20D 144 mm 106 mm 72 mm 770 g 700 n Aug 2004 1,499ebay.com
13.
 
Canon Rebel 142 mm 99 mm 72 mm 649 g 400 n Aug 2003 899ebay.com
14.
 
Canon D60 150 mm 107 mm 75 mm 855 g 620 n Feb 2002 2,999ebay.com
15.
 
Nikon D100 144 mm 116 mm 81 mm 780 g 370 n Feb 2002 1,999ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The XTi was launched at a markedly lower price (by 60 percent) than the 10D, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the XTi is 4 percent smaller. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.6. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, the XTi uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC II) than the 10D (DIGIC), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Canon 10D and Canon XTi sensor measures

Despite having a slightly smaller sensor, the XTi offers a higher resolution of 10.1 megapixels, compared with 6.3 MP of the 10D. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 5.71μm versus 7.38μm for the 10D). However, it should be noted that the XTi is much more recent (by 3 years and 5 months) than the 10D, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.

The resolution advantage of the Canon XTi implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the XTi for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 19.4 x 13 inches or 49.4 x 32.9 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 15.6 x 10.4 inches or 39.5 x 26.3 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 13 x 8.6 inches or 32.9 x 21.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 10D are 15.4 x 10.2 inches or 39 x 26 cm for good quality, 12.3 x 8.2 inches or 31.2 x 20.8 cm for very good quality, and 10.2 x 6.8 inches or 26 x 17.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS 10D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS Rebel XTi are ISO 100 to ISO 1600 (no boost).

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

10D versus XTi MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the XTi has a markedly higher DXO score than the 10D (overall score 5 points higher), which will translate into better image quality. The advantage is based on 1 bits higher color depth, 0.1 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.2 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon 10D APS-C 6.3 3072 2048none21.110.957157
2.
 
Canon XTi APS-C 10.1 3888 2592none22.111.066462
3.
 
Canon T5 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.911.372463
4.
 
Canon SL1 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.811.384363
5.
 
Canon T4i APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.711.272262
6.
 
Canon T3 APS-C 12.2 4272 2848720/30p21.911.075562
7.
 
Canon 7D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.011.785466
8.
 
Canon XS APS-C 10.1 3888 2592none22.010.971962
9.
 
Canon 40D APS-C 10.1 3888 2592none22.111.370364
10.
 
Canon 30D APS-C 8.2 3504 2336none21.510.873659
11.
 
Canon XT APS-C 8.0 3456 2304none21.810.863760
12.
 
Canon 20D APS-C 8.2 3504 2336none21.911.072162
13.
 
Canon Rebel APS-C 6.3 3072 2048none21.010.854455
14.
 
Canon D60 APS-C 6.3 3072 2048none20.39.830147
15.
 
Nikon D100 APS-C 6.0 3008 2000none20.49.939448
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Neither the 10D nor the XTi offer Live View, so that they cannot project the live image that the sensor receives onto the rear screen. Moreover, both cameras are still-image focused and cannot record videos.
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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 10D and the XTi are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (95%), but the viewfinder of the 10D has a higher magnification than the one of the XTi (0.55x vs 0.49x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon 10D and Canon XTi along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Canon 10Doptical Y1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
2.
 
Canon XTioptical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon T5optical n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
4.
 
Canon SL1optical n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.9/s Y n
5.
 
Canon T4ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
6.
 
Canon T3optical n2.7 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
7.
 
Canon 7Doptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 8.0/s Y n
8.
 
Canon XSoptical n2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
9.
 
Canon 40Doptical Y3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 6.5/s Y n
10.
 
Canon 30Doptical Y2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n
11.
 
Canon XToptical n1.8 / 115 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
12.
 
Canon 20Doptical Y1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n
13.
 
Canon Rebeloptical n1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
14.
 
Canon D60optical Y1.8 / 114 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
15.
 
Nikon D100optical Y1.8 / 118 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding

One feature that is present on the 10D, but is missing on the XTi is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the 10D and the XTi write their files to Compact Flash cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 10D and Canon EOS Rebel XTi and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon 10DY- / ----1.1---
2.
 
Canon XTiY- / ----2.0---
3.
 
Canon T5Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
4.
 
Canon SL1Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
5.
 
Canon T4iYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
6.
 
Canon T3Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
7.
 
Canon 7DYmono / -Y-mini2.0---
8.
 
Canon XSY- / ----2.0---
9.
 
Canon 40DY- / ----2.0---
10.
 
Canon 30DY- / ----2.0---
11.
 
Canon XTY- / ----2.0---
12.
 
Canon 20DY- / ----1.1---
13.
 
Canon RebelY- / ----1.1---
14.
 
Canon D60Y- / ----1.1---
15.
 
Nikon D100Y- / ----1.1---
padding

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Canon 10D (unlike the XTi) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the 10D and the XTi have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The 10D was replaced by the Canon 20D, while the XTi was followed by the Canon Xsi. Further information on the features and operation of the 10D and XTi can be found, respectively, in the Canon 10D Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon XTi Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon 10D and the Canon XTi? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.


Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS 10D:

  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.55x vs 0.49x).
  • Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (500 versus 370) on a single battery charge.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2003).


Advantages of the Canon EOS Rebel XTi:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (10.1 vs 6.3MP), which boosts linear resolution by 27%.
  • Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (5 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC II vs DIGIC).
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (2.5" vs 1.8") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (230k vs 118k dots).
  • More compact: Is smaller (127x84mm vs 150x107mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 294g or 35 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (2.0 vs 1.1).
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (60 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Reflects 3 years and 5 months of technical progress since the 10D launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the XTi is the clear winner of the contest (10 : 5 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

10D 05:10 XTi

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 10D and the Canon XTi place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the 10D or the XTi. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 10D......+ +.... Feb 2003 1,999ebay.com
2.
 
Canon XTi..+ +..+ +o4/5 Aug 2006 799ebay.com
3.
 
Canon T53/5+....4/54.5/5 Feb 2014 449ebay.com
4.
 
Canon SL14/5+..78/1004/54/5 Mar 2013 549ebay.com
5.
 
Canon T4i4/5+ +..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2012 849ebay.com
6.
 
Canon T3..80/100..69/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2011 449ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 7D5/5+ +..84/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2009 1,699ebay.com
8.
 
Canon XS..82/100..+ +3.5/54.5/5 Jun 2008 449ebay.com
9.
 
Canon 40D..+ +..+ +4.5/54.5/5 Aug 2007 1,299ebay.com
10.
 
Canon 30D..+ +..+ +o.. Feb 2006 1,399ebay.com
11.
 
Canon XT..80/100..+ +o.. Feb 2005 899ebay.com
12.
 
Canon 20D......+ +.... Aug 2004 1,499ebay.com
13.
 
Canon Rebel......+ +.... Aug 2003 899ebay.com
14.
 
Canon D60......+ +o.. Feb 2002 2,999ebay.com
15.
 
Nikon D100......+ +o.. Feb 2002 1,999ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Canon 10D vs Canon XTi

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Canon 10D Canon XTi
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Canon EF mount lenses Canon EF mount lenses
    Launch Date February 2003 August 2006
    Launch Price USD 1,999 USD 799
    Sensor Specs Canon 10D Canon XTi
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 22.7 x 15.1 mm 22.2 x 14.8 mm
    Sensor Area 342.77 mm2 328.56 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 27.3 mm 26.7 mm
    Crop Factor 1.6x 1.6x
    Sensor Resolution 6.3 Megapixels 10.1 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 3072 x 2048 pixels 3888 x 2592 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 7.38 μm 5.71 μm
    Pixel Density 1.84 MP/cm2 3.07 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability no Video no Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 3,200 ISO 100 - 1,600 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC DIGIC II
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 57 62
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.1 22.1
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 10.9 11.0
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 571 664
    Screen Specs Canon 10D Canon XTi
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.55x 0.49x
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel no Top Display
    Rear LCD Size 1.8inch 2.5inch
    LCD Resolution 118k dots 230k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Canon 10D Canon XTi
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s 3 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium CF cards CF cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    Connectivity Specs Canon 10D Canon XTi
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket no PC Sync
    USB Connector USB 1.1 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port no HDMI no HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Canon 10D Canon XTi
    Battery Type Canon BP-511 Canon NB-2LH
    Battery Life (CIPA)500 shots per charge370 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 150 x 107 x 75 mm
    (5.9 x 4.2 x 3.0 in)
    127 x 84 x 65 mm
    (5.0 x 3.3 x 2.6 in)
    Camera Weight 850 g (30.0 oz) 556 g (19.6 oz)
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