Slipping neatly into the company's dSLR product line between the XSi and the 40D, the Canon EOS Rebel T1i (aka the 500D elsewhere in the world) pushes the XTi off the edge of the bed into discontinuityJoined by models like the Nikon D5000 and the Olympus E-620 in that $800-to-$900-with-lens market segment, it's not quite a budget model; more for the entry-level buyer who wants higher resolution and a better AF system, and perhaps video, than you can get for $700

In addition to the kit with the veteran f3.5-5.6 18-55mm IS lens, Canon is shipping a body-only version for those of you who already have a lens or two lying around

Since the body is almost identical to the XSi, including the 1.2-pound weight, the shooting experience is unsurprisingly similarOn that camera, I complained that the plastic body felt a bit cheap and I wasn't crazy about the grip, but I suppose I've gotten used to it for this class of camera in the year since that reviewOverall, it's comfortable and feels solid enoughIt keeps the same large, fixed 3-inch LCD; more models in this class are offering smaller but articulated LCDs, which is starting to make this seem like a competitive disadvantageAlmost all the buttons lie under your right hand, and each feels slightly different so that you can grope them without lookingNone requires two-handed operation: when you push the button to change ISO, white balance, metering, and so on, the menu persists while you navigate the options