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First look at the New Canon EOS Rebel XSi (EOS 450D); Lightweight And Easy 12.2Mp D-SLR
The Canon Digital Rebel series draws on a long tradition of Rebel cameras, going back to the 35mm SLR days, with cameras that were always companionable, easy to use, lightweight, and “simplified” for the general user. That simplification does not mean unsophisticated; to get simple to work there has to be lots of tech in the background. That was true with the Rebel film cameras and has become more so with the Digital Rebel series. The XSi sports a 12.2-megapixel (effective) sensor and DIGIC III processor, which allows for some new tricks up the Rebel’s sleeve.
In a number of ways the Rebel is sort of a junior EOS 40D (for a complete review of the 40D see our December 2007 issue or online by typing Canon 40D in the Search box at www.shutterbug.com). The 40D, oddly enough, drew some inspiration from the previous Rebel and its pro siblings; now the circle becomes complete with the new Rebel model. This circular migration of technology benefits buyers of lower-priced models (the XSi runs about $899 with kit lens and $799 body only) and sometimes the borders between the advanced and amateur models get fuzzy. But in the end, it shouldn’t matter what niche the camera gets placed in by marketers; what really matters is how it performs in the field.
The first thing that strikes you about the XSi is the weight, or should I say lack of it. At 16.8 oz without lens and an additional 7.1 oz with the kit EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens, it hardly gets in the way. It is also wonderfully “packable,” something that will become more and more appreciated as airlines get more stringent about carryons. The XSi is the first Rebel to use SD cards, it being compatible with the higher capacity SDHC format, plus there’s a new battery (and charger form) that adds to the shooting time and capacity over the previous model. The charger does not use a cord and plugs right into a wall socket, another plus for packing efficiency. One of the most noticeable changes is the 3” LCD screen, which is nicely set flush to the left-hand side of the body, thus buttons and toggles are not cramped as they sometimes can be when the screen is set dead center. Other items of note are a depth of field preview button placed nicely on the front lower left; a well marked mode dial atop the camera (no LED read-out screen); and a set of buttons that bring you right to the menus on a very well lit LCD screen. And there is Live View, with numerous options.
The first thing that strikes you about the XSi is the weight, or should I say lack of it. At 16.8 oz without lens and an additional 7.1 oz with the kit EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens, it hardly gets in the way. It is also wonderfully “packable,” something that will become more and more appreciated as airlines get more stringent about carryons. The XSi is the first Rebel to use SD cards, it being compatible with the higher capacity SDHC format, plus there’s a new battery (and charger form) that adds to the shooting time and capacity over the previous model. The charger does not use a cord and plugs right into a wall socket, another plus for packing efficiency. One of the most noticeable changes is the 3” LCD screen, which is nicely set flush to the left-hand side of the body, thus buttons and toggles are not cramped as they sometimes can be when the screen is set dead center. Other items of note are a depth of field preview button placed nicely on the front lower left; a well marked mode dial atop the camera (no LED read-out screen); and a set of buttons that bring you right to the menus on a very well lit LCD screen. And there is Live View, with numerous options.
Custom Functions (CF) are clearly explained when accessed on the Menu, a sort of Help menu that goes along with the item itself. These CFs can be used to have the Set button bring up one Menu option or another; set the functioning of the shutter release and exposure lock buttons for AF or AE or any combination thereof; set AF during Live View; and set Noise Reduction and Highlight Tone Priority, among others.
Another bonus is the information display during playback. Press the Display button on the camera and you get all the shooting information plus a histogram and a small screen displaying “blinkies,” as they have affectionately become known, in highlight areas. I would very much like to see the blinkies available right after the shot on the instant review or simply as an option on playback without having to go through the Display button and options. Like almost every camera the playback on the raw+JPEG is the JPEG image, but I don’t think you should make judgments based on screen playback alone anyway. Speaking of the screen it is quite good in playback in the field; more importantly the graphics and options read very well even in bright daylight. There’s a “sensible” font and the aforementioned excellent coordination between graphic and body control configurations.
Another bonus is the information display during playback. Press the Display button on the camera and you get all the shooting information plus a histogram and a small screen displaying “blinkies,” as they have affectionately become known, in highlight areas. I would very much like to see the blinkies available right after the shot on the instant review or simply as an option on playback without having to go through the Display button and options. Like almost every camera the playback on the raw+JPEG is the JPEG image, but I don’t think you should make judgments based on screen playback alone anyway. Speaking of the screen it is quite good in playback in the field; more importantly the graphics and options read very well even in bright daylight. There’s a “sensible” font and the aforementioned excellent coordination between graphic and body control configurations.
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