just got my camera...

editing post for removal.

I would take it back immediately. Nothing should be rattling. Did you buy it used out of warranty, or new? If new, send back and ask for an exchange for one that doesn't have so much personality.

We really should have sticky for this.

Two possible sources of the rattle both AOK

1) The onboard flash support brackets are sloppy i.e. they have some movement in them when the flash is closed so they rattle a little.

2) There is apparently and orientation switch/sensor for 'telling' the camera whether it turns portrait (on its end) or landscape ('normal' way up). This is mechanical switch with a moving part hence the rattle.

HTH

PS The search here is very good hint, hint

I seem to recall reading something about this in my Digital Rebel's manual, and how this is part of the orientation sensor and that a small 'rattle' inside the camera body is NOT a defect. I don't remember seeing this in my 40D's manual, and that too has a slight rattle.


Ahh, Box Brownie beat me to it by a minute He's absolutely right - my DRebel's flash also rattles a little.

tomdlgns wrote in post #3956719
when the flash opens it doesnt rattle anymore...maybe the flash housing is just a little loose?

As I said it is nothing to do with loose, there is slack in the support brackets and it is not a design flaw but (apparently) intentional. Fret not and show us some pictures

tomdlgns wrote in post #3956950
i have been reading through the manual...i cant figure out how to get the LCD to show what i want to shoot and not the settings.....

Tom, you'd be referring to Liveview. Unfortunately, the XTi doesn't have that feature. You need to look through that little view finder on top

NO live view. This camera does not do that. You have to look thru the view finder.

As far as I know, the XTI doesn't have Live View which is what you are looking for. I think Canon only just introduced that with the EOS 40D (not EOS 400D, which you have) and maybe one of their more advanced pro cameras... Sorry!

Darnit. Beaten again by one minute. Must... Type... Faster...

tomdlgns wrote in post #3956950
i have been reading through the manual...i cant figure out how to get the LCD to show what i want to shoot and not the settings.....

It doesn't...

The XTi doesn't have live view...

In regards to the rattle, my XTi also has it...it's the flash that rattles. I've sent it in for servicing because of that, but it's nothing serious, so I just left it there.

In almost every case of jiggling and hearing rattling it is the bracket for the built-in flash.

tomdlgns wrote in post #3957485
well, so far i am pretty happy with this camera...

i still need to take a ton more practice pics, but i think i am getting the hang of it.

Pretty soon you'll start getting accessories and look at buying more lenses... Then you are officially doomed, LOL!

the flash bracket thing rattles in my 30d. scared me when i first took delivery of my 30d as well.

hi my 400d rattles to a lot but when i open the on board flash it stops

JJ

I would recommend the Lowepro Computrekker AW. There are two versions, the "Plus" and the non-Plus. The Plus is much larger than the non-Plus (I have the latter).

It fits all of the gear listed in my signature with ease (and there's still room to spare). I especially like it because it has a padded compartment for a laptop as well. It's very well built, comfortable and has padding everywhere to protect your gear.

If you don't need the laptop compartment, you should look at www.lowepro.com for the other camera bags they have (I think they have a version of the Computrekker without the laptop compartment - can't remember what it's called though.)

My recommendation still applies.

Though it's a backpack, it has a huge padded front compartment with adjustable Velcro dividers. You can adjust it to suit your needs such that (for example) you can have your camera body at the top of the bag, resting against the dividers, and each of your lenses (each in it's own little "section" or slot) also resting against those dividers (but not touching each other or your camera body). It's about as safe as your camera and lenses can be.

Have a look at the photos on the Lowepro web site, e.g.:

http://www.lowepro.com …rekAW_left_stuf​fn_1_n.jpg

You will most definitely not just be "throwing" your gear into a bag. You will be organising it yourself with dividers to match number of lenses and lens sizes. As I said, the Computrekker is just one style of bag that Lowepro makes. There are many, many other options that you can look at which would be smaller and suit your needs better (e.g. a shoulder bag). However, since you say you want to grow into your bag, I think it's best to start off with a backpack. I outgrew my shoulder bag:

http://www.lowepro.com …_Bags/classic/E​X_140.aspx

very quickly once I got my third lens (and second camera body).