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Gadgets Canon Announces Digital Rebel XSi D-SLR
Brandon Hill (Blog) - January 24, 2008 12:00 AM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 35 comment(s) - last by wetwareinterfa.. on Jan 26 at 8:48 PM
Canon's new Digital Rebel brings a 12.2MP image sensor and 3" Live View LCD

When it comes to D-SLR cameras, Canon and Nikon are usually the first companies to come to mind. Both companies trade blows back and forth year after year as they release new models with more advanced features.

In late 2006, Canon introduced its Digital Rebel XTi to much fanfare. The XTi brought a 10.1MP image sensor, 2.5" LCD screen and the EOS Integrated Cleaning System (ICS) to the Digital Rebel line.

Today, Canon is going one step further with the Digital Rebel XSi. The XSi brings a new 12.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor, 3.0" LCD screen with Live View, a 9-point autofocus system, DIGIC III image processor, larger viewfinder, higher-capacity battery and a 3.5 FPS burst mode (53 JPEG or 6 RAW). Canon also made the move to SD/SDHC memory cards with the XSi -- it is the first Canon D-SLR with this capability.

"The EOS 450D bears the fruits of more than 20 years of ongoing investment into EOS," said Canon's Mogens Jensen. "This camera continues Canon’s policy of taking technologies proven in the professional arena and putting them within reach of a wider market of amateur photographers."

The new XSi measures 5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4" and weighs one pound without the battery. Dimensionally, the XSi is slightly larger than its XTi predecessor.

The Canon Digital Rebel XSi will be available soon for $799 in a body-only version. The kit version of the XSi with an 18-55 mm IS lens will cost $899.

Digital Photography Review has a hands-on preview of the Digital Rebel XSi for those who want to take a closer look.

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Should have seen it coming
By InternetGeek on 1/24/2008 12:26:31 AM , Rating: 2
just after i got my 400d (xti) just recently from Amazon.

Anyeone knows if they would change it for the newer model given that I just recently got it?




RE: Should have seen it coming
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 1/24/2008 12:29:36 AM , Rating: 2
I think that Amazon will take a return if it's under 30 days no questions asked. You just have to pay return shipping.


RE: Should have seen it coming
By InternetGeek on 1/24/2008 12:32:43 AM , Rating: 2
This is true. Let me find out as I had it shipper to Oz and I already paid taxes.

One thing though: Correct the model in the last line of the article. The hands-on is about the XSi not the XTi.


RE: Should have seen it coming
By InternetGeek on 1/24/2008 12:48:17 AM , Rating: 2
And while you're still correcting (hopefully you didn't close the CMS window):

---
Digital Photography Review has a hands-on preview of the Digital Rebel XSi for those who want to take a closer look.
---

Now back into the article, after reading the hands on I decided to keep my 400d. The differences are not worth the hassle and money of sending it back.

Maybe in 5 years when cameras are 20megapixelor more I will get the rebel of the moment...


RE: Should have seen it coming
By jhinoz on 1/24/2008 1:24:29 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
Maybe in 5 years when cameras are 20megapixelor more I will get the rebel of the moment...


Well if you've got a spare $31,000 you can already get 39 megapixels.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/11/hasselblad-h2d-...

So many pixels...


By therealnickdanger on 1/24/2008 8:09:46 AM , Rating: 3
... so little time.


By MasterTactician on 1/24/2008 9:55:50 AM , Rating: 3
quote:
Well if you've got a spare $31,000 you can already get 39 megapixels.
http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/11/hasselblad-h2d-...

So many pixels...


...And for only $44,414 you can have 160 MP

http://www.gearfuse.com/seitz-160-mp-camera-is-an-...


RE: Should have seen it coming
By KitKat06 on 1/24/2008 3:49:10 PM , Rating: 2
Ah dude, I feel for ya.
Im pretty sure that they do have the return policy though, so hopefully that works out for you.
Put the money to a little bit better use with the XSi :)


RE: Should have seen it coming
By InternetGeek on 1/24/2008 4:55:34 PM , Rating: 2
Nah, I'll keep it. I would have to pay to ship it back on top of the difference when the newer model is available. The camera is good, is all about the lens. For the moment I'm just sticking to the 17-85mm I got. It's a good lens. Once I learn my way around with it I'd try a L f2.8 or better.


Proper lenses
By Bekali on 1/24/2008 1:45:33 AM , Rating: 2
The problem with high MP cameras is that the lenses are not good enough. A friend have 8MP with Canon EF-S 17-85mm 4-5.6 IS USM, and that zoom barely match the sharpness necessarily for that sensor in the centre of image. The rest of the image is too soft...Good for portrait photos, but not for landscapes.

What next, over 1000$ for proper lenses ?




RE: Proper lenses
By therealnickdanger on 1/24/2008 8:15:24 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
What next, over 1000$ for proper lenses ?

Actually... yes. Don't buy anything but Canon L-glass and you'll see the benefit. Of course, the best equipment in the world can't help you if your composition is poor and your settings are wrong. I've even seen some remarkable shots taken with pro-sumer level cameras that blow away DSLR images taken by noobs.


RE: Proper lenses
By Pneumothorax on 1/24/2008 9:27:47 AM , Rating: 3
Ahh, but I hope the noobs stay that way. The minute they start realizing you have to take pictures at sunrise and sundown instead of high noon, I'll have a much tougher time taking my landscape pics without a tourist in it.


RE: Proper lenses
By Pneumothorax on 1/24/2008 9:28:48 AM , Rating: 2
Nice upgrades, but I wish they used a hi-res screen and hopefully upgraded the AF. I was less than pleased with my Xti on fast action shots.


RE: Proper lenses
By guy007 on 1/24/2008 10:11:12 PM , Rating: 2
funny name, a buddy of mine had a spontaneous bilateral pneumothorax...you a cardiothoracic surgeon?


RE: Proper lenses
By Fnoob on 1/24/2008 9:49:09 AM , Rating: 2
Amen.

One of the best pro's I've ever met shot with a $10 point and shoot 35mm POS. The way she worked a subject was amazing - she could get the 'glow' out of anyone. Would she have benefitted from real hardware... mmmmmaybe. That might have intimidated some of her subjects though. The inobtrusive little POS seemed to put them at ease.


RE: Proper lenses
By ksherman on 1/24/2008 12:44:09 PM , Rating: 2
Yeah, that lens is crap though. Sounds like you are describing the $100 kit lens. Lame. And yes, you do need to spend close to $1000 for a proper lens, though you can get away with some great lenses in the $500 range. I highly recomend the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 which is only a smidge over $400.

IOW, ditch the kit lens.


RE: Proper lenses
By spluurfg on 1/24/2008 3:48:35 PM , Rating: 2
Agreed... I own the 17-85 IS and it is an overpriced, under-performing lens. It's never on my camera, while my Tamron 17-50 f2.8 is almost always on. You can find it for around $350 these days.

I'm waiting till Sigma makes their 18-50 f2.8 HSM in a Canon mount, which may be never.


RE: Proper lenses
By KitKat06 on 1/24/2008 3:51:05 PM , Rating: 2
I'm stuck with a 35-90 right now... I'm not gonna lie, it sucks pretty bad. Although, i dont have the funds to upgrade it yet, but i agree with the portrait/landscape deal. Luckily I dont have too many problems with it, and I can work around it. I'd rather just take photos of what I want to, instaed of working around things.


shake reduction
By xsilver on 1/24/2008 1:55:13 AM , Rating: 2
Is in body shake reduction something that canon users would really appreciate? canon wont do it of course because they need to make $$ on their IS lenses.




RE: shake reduction
By bigfatron on 1/24/2008 3:15:37 AM , Rating: 2
Having it in-body rather than in the lens is also a technically inferior system, especially so with longer lenses.


RE: shake reduction
By spluurfg on 1/24/2008 5:43:46 AM , Rating: 2
I think I have to agree here. Not that I enjoy having to buy more expensive lenses, or that I would complain if a Canon body came with a built in image stabilizer, but I believe optical systems are slightly superior -- perhaps by one stop or so.

While having a built in system is a great value for non-pro's who don't need professional level systems, at least Canon (and Nikon as well) is now putting out some cheaper image stabilized lenses like the kit 18-55.


RE: shake reduction
By xsilver on 1/24/2008 6:29:27 AM , Rating: 2
well that would lead me to my second question..

is it technically impossible to have SR/IS on both the lens and the body? Or the fact that two gyrating mechanisms wont be able to co-operate with each other?

I have been reading that the new sony a700's mechanism works really well so i am just curious as to future possible developments