Don't discount the Xti, biggest problem with the Rebel series is the small viewfinders. My first camera, an Xt, has a viewfinder less than half the size of a traditional 35mm film camera
These shots were taken a few years ago with my Xt. The butterfly was taken with an old Mamiya Sekor m42, 55mm f1.8, with an adapter. It was a "lucky" shot. And I don't do these very often!!!! I've got lots and lots of discards
The birds were shot with the Xt, and my Canon 100-400L lens