Price Price Price. The Canon Digital Rebel XTi can be had for around 0 today including a lens kit. That's enough to make me sick, when I consider that I paid around 00 for my first point and shoot digital about six years ago. This is a great price to enter into the world of SLR photography.
There is a ton of third party lenses that can be used on the Rebel XTi. The Sigma 70-300 APO DG Macro is just one good example. You may even be able to buy the Sigma used, if you look around a bit. You can buy the Digital Rebel without the kit lens from Canon. Which is great, as it gives you the option to shop around for deals on different lenses like the Sigma model mentioned above.
Even though the XTi is the bottom of the Canon SLR model line, you can still use most of the Canon lenses manufactured. When and if you decide to move up to a new SLR, those lenses can move up with you.
This is a very popular camera, and has been since it was released. This gives a new purchaser plenty of advantages including lots of online forums discussing pros, cons, and tips. Plus, Canon has had plenty of time to fix any problems with the camera. There are also lots of used Rebel XTi's for sale now, as their owners move up to more sophisticated machines.
At 10.1 mp, the Rebel provides plenty of resolution to allow for more cropping. Plenty more resolution than some of it's competitors like the Nikon D40 6.1MP model.
The Rebel is a good entry level SLR for doing sports photography. Especially, if you use the money saved on the camera body for some good lenses. Something like the 135mm f2 L for indoor shooting, and the Sigma 100-300 f4 for outdoor shots.
The Canon Xti is a much faster shooter, and better in low light conditions than any point and shoot camera.
