Take your glass eye out!

Everyone has gone digital these days, so big whoop, right? But if you're old school and you miss the sound of a real shutter closing--O, that satisfying tunk!--not to mention full manual controls for that artful depth of field or selective focus... well, the new Canon Rebel XTi is one heck of a camera.

Do you print any of your photos? Do you print 'em BIG? Then you need to worry about pixel gain. You want a camera with resolution that can push up to 10 megapixels. That way, when you take the file to your printer and ask them to make a billboard out of Uncle Ted's nose, you'll have the rez to back it up.

When all is said and done, the Rebel XTi gives you all the refinement, resolution, and features of Canon's top-of-the-line pro models at a fraction of the price: $1000 should get you set up with camera, lens, and memory card. (And Canon, by the way, remains at the top of the field. Go ahead and lust for that new digital Leica. But know that at five times the price, you're still getting less of a camera. Is the name worth it? Not anymore!)

We bought ours from the fine folks at West Photo, and we suggest you do the same. But we hear National Camera Exchange is also a worthy place to take your custom. Either way, you're heading downtown.