| Great camera, one of the best low(er)-end | | | | shooting with the right thumb, thereby minimizing |
| DSLRs on the market | | | | the interruption to shooting. |
| My journey with DSLRs began back in 2003 with | | | | The battery life seems very good. I've shot |
| the original Digital Rebel. DSLRs changed my | | | | about 500+ shots on a single charge and the |
| photography for the better like nothing else. Five | | | | status monitor is still showing charge at full. |
| years and some 25,000 shots later, it's still going | | | | I'm using Transcend 8GB Class 6 SDHC card with |
| strong. Along the way I upgraded to the Canon | | | | it. At ISO 100, the camera reports it can fit 396 |
| 30D, which is a fantastic camera as well. When | | | | RAW+JPG (highest quality) on it, but in reality it |
| the 40D was announced, I decided to wait until | | | | can probably fit about 420-450 (the camera's |
| the 50D sometime in 2009, but wanted a newer | | | | always conservative when estimating). With RAW |
| backup/second body for my photography needs. | | | | only, it can fit 507. With highest quality JPG, it can |
| So when the XSi/450D was announced, it | | | | fit 1,822. Note that as ISO increases, so do the |
| sounded like a perfect fit for my needs. | | | | file sizes and thus you can store less images per |
| I got it from three days ago, and have given it a | | | | card. For example, on ISO 1600, the same card |
| pretty good workout since then, having shot | | | | can only hold 323 images, compared to 396 at |
| about 650 shots under a variety of shooting | | | | ISO 100. |
| conditions and with a number of different Canon | | | | My only gripe, and this is more about me than the |
| and third-party lenses. The following are my | | | | camera, is the RAW+JPG buffer. I always shoot |
| impressions. | | | | RAW+JPG, and the buffer will only hold four |
| The build feels very good. The camera feels | | | | images at that speed (this is a limitation that's built |
| wonderfully light yet well built. I'm 6ft tall with | | | | into the camera's memory buffer system, and |
| average size hands, and the camera feels good in | | | | thus using a fast memory card doesn't help--see |
| my hand. The battery grip, to me, defeats the | | | | p.64 of the manual). When the buffer's full, you |
| purpose of having a small, light DSLR, so I opted | | | | can take two additional images at about a frame |
| for a Hakuba/Opteka grip (it's a plate that screws | | | | a second, then have to wait until the buffer |
| into the tripod socket that enables you to use the | | | | empties (finishes writing to the memory card). |
| excellent Canon E1 hand strap with it) and I | | | | When shooting RAW only, it's 6 images. When |
| couldn't be happier. I'm not a fan of neck straps, | | | | shooting JPG only, then it's no problem at more |
| so this works well for me (see the uploaded | | | | than 50 frames. I've found myself switching the |
| photo for the configuration). | | | | mode dial to Sports mode when I'm shooting a |
| Most of the menu buttons on the back feel | | | | fast-moving subject and the buffer simply can't |
| different from the ones on the original Digital | | | | keep up with it. Well, that's why Canon produces |
| Rebel and the 30D; the XSi buttons feel more | | | | different grades and ranges of DSLRs. |
| tactile and have a definite "click" to them when | | | | I've uploaded some photos that I shot of the local |
| you press them. The exception are the Exposure | | | | wildlife. Most if not all of those were taken with |
| Lock (*) and AF selector buttons, which have | | | | the EF 70-200mm f/4 L lens. |
| retained the deeper, softer feel of the older | | | | All in all, it's a fantastic camera. Pretty amazing to |
| cameras. Just different, not better or worse, for | | | | see how far the entry-level DSLRs have come in |
| me. | | | | just a few years in terms of features, interface, |
| The LCD is now 3" with 230K pixels. The playback | | | | ergonomics, and quality. I'm very pleased with my |
| images look great, and probably because of the | | | | purchase and intend to have lots of fun shooting |
| higher resolution of the sensor, there's a very | | | | pictures with it. |
| slight delay when you zoom in to 10x while the | | | | Great camera, amazing battery life, now the |
| image loads and displays properly. People coming | | | | perfect price! |
| from other cameras or brands might not even | | | | I have had the XSi for about 3 months now and I |
| notice it--I only did so because of the difference | | | | am thouroughly impressed with it. This is my first |
| between it and my two other Canon DSLRs | | | | DSLR and I was a little wary about going with a |
| (which have lower resolution sensors). The | | | | brand-new and untested camera, but I have |
| viewing angle of the LCD screen (how clearly you | | | | always like Canon (I used an ELAN II in High |
| can see the screen from side and up and down) | | | | School and I bought a SD600 about 2 years ago |
| is excellent; you can still see the screen holding | | | | to take snapshots of my son). Overall, I have not |
| the camera almost straight up for an overhead | | | | been disappointed with the quality of the photos |
| shot (more on this later). I'd estimate the viewing | | | | that the XSi produces. The IS lens works great |
| angle is about 160-170 degrees both horizontally | | | | and I have taken some pretty amazing photos |
| and vertically. | | | | (for me at least). I do have just a couple of |
| The Digital Rebel has a separate status screen | | | | issues, both good and bad, that I think those who |
| above the main LCD screen, and the 30D had | | | | are looking at buying this may want to know. |
| one on top of the camera, so I wasn't sure if I | | | | Battery life -- Great battery life. I should say, |
| was going to like the big LCD acting as the status | | | | AMAZING battery life. I have taken over 5000 |
| screen and no top screen. I'm happy to say that | | | | photos and I have only had to charge the battery |
| this arrangement works well, at least for me. The | | | | twice. |
| back screen makes it really easy to take all the | | | | Live View -- LiveView is not for beginners. It is |
| settings at a glance. The viewfinder is much larger | | | | not a replacement for your Point-and-Shoot. You |
| and brighter than that in the Digital Rebel. A | | | | can't use it in the AUTO mode (Green Square). |
| humongously welcome feature for me is the | | | | This isn't that big of a deal for me, I prefer full |
| always displayed ISO value in the viewfinder. | | | | manual myself, but the whole point of this |
| The camera is only 1/2 of the image quality | | | | feature, I thought, was to make it more user |
| equation, the other being the lenses being used. | | | | friendly for the Point-and-Shoot photographer. My |
| Coupled with my favorite lens, the Canon EF | | | | wife can't use Live View in it's current form (I |
| 70-200mm f/4 L telephoto lens, the XSi turns out | | | | specifically bought a DSLR with a live view |
| fantastic images. The supplied kit lens is very light | | | | function so she could still use the camera). So, if |
| and compact for being an image stabilized lens, | | | | Live View is a big selling point for you, You may |
| and turns out good performance. The IS is | | | | want to look at some others (If it isn't that big of |
| certainly very useful. | | | | a deal to you, then this is still an amazing camera |
| Two features that used to be missing from the | | | | -- added 4-23-2008). If you do studio work, |
| Digital Rebels and found in the more expensive | | | | though, you can hook the camera up to your PC |
| DSLRs are now featured in the XSi: spot-metering | | | | and use it as a remote viewer. But it is not a |
| and flash exposure compensation (these may | | | | point-and-shoot camera in Live View. In my earlier |
| have been available in the previous Digital Rebel | | | | review, I said that it would be nice if Canon fixed |
| model, the XTi, as well). The inclusion of those | | | | some of the Live View issues with a firmware |
| two features make the camera a much more | | | | update, I was mistaken. Live View is a nice |
| complete and compelling photographic tool. The | | | | feature once you figure out it is not meant for |
| timer function now has a custom mode, where it'll | | | | beginners. Studio and landscape photographers will |
| count down from 10 seconds then take a number | | | | find Live View a great tool. |
| of shots (specified by you) in succession. No more | | | | Image Quality -- I have had some great success |
| running back and forth to reset the timer after | | | | shooting in a studio setting as well as some great |
| each shot! There's also the traditional 2-second | | | | outdoor shots. In the studio, I used tungsten "hot" |
| timer. | | | | lights with the subjuect against a white |
| Let's talk for a minute about sensor and the ISO | | | | background. The photos turned out great. Skin |
| values. XSi/450D has five ISO values you can | | | | tones are perfect and there is very little, if any, |
| choose: 100 (best image quality), 200, 400, 800, | | | | chromatic abberation at the edges. It shoots |
| and 1600. Higher ISO increases the camera | | | | great outdoor shots as well. We just got into |
| sensor's sensitivity to light, thus you can achieve | | | | beekeeping and I was able to get some |
| faster shutter speeeds for a given lighting | | | | AMAZING shots of our bees up-close outdoors. |
| condition. However, the trade-off is that the | | | | The bees looked dirty and not very interesting |
| sensor "noise" (think grain for film photography) | | | | from a distance, but the macro photos I got up |
| increases with higher ISO, so you get a degraded | | | | close are beautiful and full of wonderfully crisp |
| image quality in return for less blurred photos | | | | details. The lens is a little short, the image quality |
| from hand shakes (thanks to faster shutter | | | | you get from it is pretty good considering it only |
| speed). This may come in handy in situations | | | | costs $100. I do plan on buying a longer lens in the |
| where flash photography is not permitted, such as | | | | near future. |
| a museum or a concert or theater. HOWEVER, | | | | Overall, the camera is solid and feels nice in the |
| compared to point-and-shoot digital cameras, the | | | | hand. It isn't too heavy, yet still feels sturdy. If |
| larger sensors of DSLRs, including the XSi, means | | | | you can afford the higher price, I don't think you |
| that even at ISO 800 and 1600 you get very | | | | will be disappointed. If you can't, the XTi is still a |
| usable images right out of the camera. Running | | | | great camera. And if you can afford to wait a |
| the images shot at those ISO settings through | | | | few months for the price to drop a little (LIKE IT |
| any number of third-party noise reduction | | | | ALREADY HAS!!) I would. I was able to work a |
| software will improve them even further. | | | | few extra weekends so I could afford to get this, |
| This ties in to another very useful feature of the | | | | and I can tell you, I don't mind it a bit, because |
| XSi/450D that makes life easier for the | | | | the quality of photos I am getting has been totally |
| photographer: The Auto ISO function. By default, | | | | worth it. |
| Auto ISO sets the ISO (the sensor sensitivity to | | | | --- Update --- |
| light) between 100 and 800 (by using custom | | | | I was incorrect when I said you couldn't use the |
| functions, this can be changed to 200-1600). If | | | | 9-Point autofocus in Live View. You can use the |
| you are, for example, shooting your kid's indoor | | | | 9-point autofocus while in Live View, but the |
| basketball game and you know that you need a | | | | mirror flips down and focuses so you can't see |
| shutter speed of at least 1/200 sec to "freeze" | | | | what you are trying to focus on until after the |
| the action, then you can set the camera to Tv | | | | camera has actually gone through the autofocus |
| (shutter priority mode) and set the value to 1 | | | | process. |
| 200, and set the camera to Auto ISO. Then the | | | | --- Update #2 --- |
| camera will match the aperture and the ISO to | | | | I have now had this camera for almost two |
| achieve proper exposure at that shutter speed. | | | | months and I am happy to report that the more |
| With my other DSLRs, setting the camera to | | | | I use it, the more I love it. Once you learn the |
| shutter priority only allowed the camera to adjust | | | | layout of the camera and you load the MyMenu |
| the aperture value; ISO setting had to be | | | | with the tools you use most often, the camera |
| adjusted manually. With the XSi/450D, the ability | | | | becomes an absolute delight to use. I have taken |
| for the camera to adjust the ISO value | | | | over 5000 photos with it so far and now I need |
| automatically makes it one less thing for you the | | | | an extra hard drive to put them all on. |
| photographer to worry about. | | | | I was able to rent a Canon EF 24-105 IS L lens |
| I've only tested the Live View function to see | | | | and a 580 EX II Speedlite for my sister's wedding. |
| how it works, but I can already see how useful | | | | WOW! What great photos. The camera interfaced |
| it's going to be in studio and macro shootings. Just | | | | with the flash flawlessly and I am more convinced |
| a note, you can't half-press the shutter to | | | | than ever that much of the quality of your |
| autofocus while in Live View mode. You can either | | | | photos comes from the glass you use and not as |
| manual focus, or use one of the two autofocus | | | | much from the camera itself (I think it is about |
| methods, quick (the mirror flips up, the LCD goes | | | | 65% lens to 35% camera body give or take a |
| dark for a short while, and flips down with focus | | | | few points-- I know there will be those who |
| locked) or live (the camera uses the LCD's | | | | disagree, but that is my take on it, and I am sure |
| contrast detection to achieve the focus--this | | | | if I had a 1Ds MkIII I would think that there |
| method is slower than the quick method), both by | | | | wasn't a peice of glass good enough for my |
| pressing the exposure lock button (*) while in the | | | | camera). |
| Live View mode. Using either the RS-60E3 wired | | | | This is a great beginner dSLR and a great camera |
| remote or RC-1 wireless remote in Live View | | | | all around. I am very happy with my purchase and |
| mode will ONLY trigger the shutter, and has no | | | | I have had no regrets whatsoever about spending |
| bearing on focusing. | | | | the $900 to buy such a great tool. Amazon now |
| Some people seem to be under the impression | | | | sells it for $799, you can't go wrong at that price! |
| that the inclusion of the Live View feature will | | | | Wonderful digital camera! |
| enable them to use the XSi/450D as they do | | | | This camera is impossible to beat at this price. I |
| point-and-shoot digital cameras, to compose their | | | | won't write a lengthy review, but, you can set |
| shots. That is not the case. You can't really make | | | | this camera in fully automatic mode and hand it to |
| a functioning use of the Live View feature unless | | | | a "point and shoot" person, and they will obtain |
| the camera's securely mounted on a tripod or on | | | | fantastic results. For the amateur photographer, |
| a flat surface. Both Live View focusing modes, | | | | this has all of the bells and whistles, what I love is |
| while precise, are too slow to be used for | | | | I can reset the camera rapidly for multiple shots |
| hand-held shooting. | | | | of the same scene on very different settings. |
| Having said that, there is one use of Live View in | | | | Married with a decent photo program on your |
| hand-held shooting that I've come to value. When | | | | computer, it is possible to achieve professional |
| shooting overhead or over an obstacle, I can, | | | | results. |
| with the same hand holding the camera, trigger | | | | Many reviews say, get this with the stabilization |
| the Live View, compose the scene through the | | | | lens.... I wholeheartedly agree... the extra $100 is a |
| LCD monitor (even if it's out of focus, it's easy to | | | | bargain price for this lens... It is almost (and I do |
| get the general framing right), disable Live View, | | | | say almost) like having a tripod. I set the camera |
| and take the photo normally. With a little practice, | | | | for 1/10th second exposures with no support, and |
| this can be accomplished very quickly. Very handy | | | | obtained steady pictures with it, slower than this, |
| when you're just holding the camera overhead | | | | and the stabilization did not fully correct for any |
| and hoping for the best. | | | | unsteadiness. |
| The Direct Print button that's been much ridiculed | | | | We'd buy it again in a heartbeat, and I wish I |
| and maligned in most Canon cameras now double | | | | could get one for everyone I know!! Best photos |
| as the white balance menu button. The Set | | | | that I have ever taken and a joy to use! |
| button in the middle of the four-direction arrow | | | | Connecting it to the computer and downloading |
| keys can be programmed for a number of | | | | photos takes a matter of seconds. |
| different functions: Change image quality, flash | | | | Get the largest SD card you can afford with it... |
| exposure compensation, LCD monitor on/off | | | | We have a 2GB card with it, and it fills fairly |
| (same as Display button, but can be triggered by | | | | rapidly. 1GB is far too small for this camera |
| the same hand holding the camera), and Menu | | | | (primarily because you will take numerous shots |
| display (again, can be triggered by the same hand | | | | with it, not because the pics take up a great deal |
| holding the camera). | | | | of memory), I'm guessing 4GB would be near |
| There is a dedicated ISO button, which is also | | | | perfect (or a couple of 2GB cards, but one 4GB |
| very welcome. It can easily be accessed during | | | | is safer, the cards are too easy to misplace). |