Anyone prefer the Rebel smaller body sizes?

It seems like whenever any of the Rebel series is reviewed, their size is always listed as a "con". Does anyone out there actually prefer the smaller body size (and secondly, it's button layout) to the larger xxD bodies?

That new T2i is looking mighty tempting to me right now in feature set and size, over my 20D. I take my 20D hiking & biking a lot and sometimes it's just so cumbersome to deal with. I'm wondering if a smaller body would be easier to lug around, and since my 20D is pretty "old" now I'd welcome HD video, larger screen, etc . Trying to review shots in that tiny screen is near impossible, esp. in the open daylight.

Not trying to turn this into a "20D vs T2i" post, so who out there likes the size of the Rebels?

Hobbits do!!

I like the size of a Rebel, but only if it has a grip on it. I prefer the size of a xxD with no grip, but use one as necessary.

I liked the size of the old 300D but not the smaller Rebel line. They don't fit my hand(s) comfortably.

Actually I selected the T1i because of its size. I am a 56 year old female with small hands, plus I have RA, so this was a factor for me. Recently I added the Canon 15-85mm f/3.5 lens and the weight and size of the combination just seems to fit perfectly.

I use a 40D and a 400D. With the 400D I quite like the size, but I certainly like the weight. I don't like the smaller/dimmer viewfinder that seems to be inevitable with the small size/weight. Control layout is not an issue either way for me.

(I'm a guy with fairly large hands, by the way).

scantron wrote in post #9929894
who out there likes the size of the Rebels?

Not me - I grip my XD and XXD bodies.

I have a 1D, a 40D and a Rebel T1i. Often I like the Rebel but other times I prefer the greater size and heft of the others. For travel the Rebel is nice, I can put it and a couple of light EF-S lenses in a small bag plus a flash etc. and it takes up very little space. The 1D is better for portrait orientation and for use with a big lens where the T1i makes the setup front heavy. I don't like the screw-on grip for the T1i, I tried it in the store but didn't buy it.

Yes I do. I am average height with hands of average size yet I definitely prefer Rebel bodies vs XXD. I bought 40D a couple years ago and I returned it, with bulk & weight being one of the major deciding factors (that and the fact that it had same IQ as my XTi). I use camera on the go and small size and weight of Rebel makes it a perfect travel companion. I am willing to live with fewer controls and I really don't care about weatherproofing. There's a couple of features that XXD series have that I would like to have (better AF and microadjust) but on the other hand after taking a 4hrs long trip to the Zoo with kids, or running around Manhattan for two days non stop, I would probably come to regret getting one. My next upgrade is going to be T2i.

DStanic wrote in post #9930004
I like the size of a Rebel, but only if it has a grip on it.

That's me. I have to have a grip on it, because I have large hands, and the thing felt very awkward, like it was going to fall out of my hands at any moment. The grip made it much more secure.
Now, I just got the 7D, and it feels more secure in my hands. I will be getting a battery grip, just out of habit.

From a different technical perspective, I like the smaller body of my XT because I can affix it to things more easily, like car mounts, bike mounts, and any other mount I need to create.

Im an average size male. I find my 500d with grip feels fine. I have handled the larger models and like them to. None feel to small really. Im not fussed by either button layout either. Both allow you to easily change all settings without taking your eye off the view finder.

If i upgrade my body it would be for af abilities more than anything. Weather sealing and micro adjust would be nice but im fine without either.

This view is different from person to person tho.

lack of seperate controk for shutter and aperture pretty much kills it for me. having to use the back LCD panel to check the settings because the one on the top is missing also sucks. then there's the plastic bodies which are just frail compared to the weather-sealed rubberized magnesium frames of the larger cameras. i do like that a rebel with a 50 or 18-55 lens is super light. perhaps too light. the camera doesn't fit in my gigantic hands, tho.

I grew up using an Olympus OM-1, so I have no issue with the size of the Rebel cameras. I'd rather have an XXD series because of the control layout, pentaprism viewfinder, etc.

not at all.
Theres nowhere for my pinky.
:/
But I should be upgrading to the 7D this summer.
But to tide me over untill then, Im buying the BG-E5 Battery Grip.

Nope, not at all.