After last year's disappointing Rebel XTi--a solid camera--but one that didn't improve significantly over its predecessor, the Canon EOS Rebel XSi comes as a welcome change, and a model worthy of upgrading from your old Rebel XT. It may have a typical, uninspired body design and a modest feature set, but where it really counts--performance and image quality--the XSi manages to stand out from the crowd.
Canon offers two body designs for the XSi, an attractive solid black and a less-attractive two-tone silver and black. Each comes in a body-only or single-lens kit with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens. This is a bit unusual, since most manufacturers also offer a dual-lens kit for this market. We tested the kit, as well as tried it out with the new EF-S 55mm-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS lens.
Slightly larger than the XTi, the XSi shaves a couple of ounces of the weight to 1 pound, 2.5 ounces. Its smooth plastic body still feels a bit on the cheap side, and I'm not crazy about the grip. I can't quite put my finger on the reason why: it's not especially shallow, and Canon improved it over the XTi's with a more rubbery-feeling cover. Still, I don't find it as comfortable to hold as most other dSLRs. The larger 3-inch LCD necessitated some changes to the control layout from the XTi's, and I prefer the new over the old. Almost all the buttons lie under your right hand, and each feels slightly different so that you can grope them without looking. None require two-handed operation: when you push the button to change ISO, white balance, metering, and so on, the menu persists while you navigate the options. (For more on the camera design, click through to the slide show.)
The biggest operational advantage the XSi offers over competitors is My Menu, which it inherits from older models. With My Menu you can build a go-to list of the most frequently accessed menu settings--in my case, for instance, Format and Live View settings. However, the menus can be, irritatingly, a bit inconsistent and sometimes dumb. For instance, you can change ISO sensitivity with either the dial or the navigation buttons, but can only navigate metering choices via the nav. Also, in some cases when you have two columns to navigate, as with Picture Style settings, it doesn't let you move to the right or left. It requires you to move all the way down the first column to get to the settings in the second column.
On some counts, the XSi offers some pretty nice specs, highlighted by the 12-megapixel APS-C size CMOS sensor (for Canon's traditional 1.6x focal-length multiplier) and 9-point user-selectable autofocus system. The latter wouldn't be much of a standout if Nikon hadn't dropped to three-area AF in the D60. I also mark the switch from CompactFlash to SDHC in the plus column. The camera also includes the same Highlight Tone Priority mode found in the 1D Mark III, which helps preserve detail in the brightest portion of a scene. Also, the XSi includes Canon's Auto Lighting Optimizer, which automatically adjusts contrast and brightness in case the image you captured isn't quite perfect. Introduced last year in the 40D, the Auto Lighting Optimizer is now available in all exposure modes and employs face detection to prevent the underexposure of backlit faces I complained about in the XTi (it works). Remaining specifications are in line with the previous Rebel. For example, shutter speeds range from 30 seconds to 1/4,000 second with a flash sync speed of 1/200 second and the camera employs a 35-zone TTL metering system. Canon also offers the BG-E5 battery grip.
On the other hand, it lacks common perks Sony, Pentax, and Olympus include in their cameras, like in-body mechanical stabilization and a wireless flash controller in the body, a feature I occasionally find quite useful. The inclusion of an image-stabilizing kit lens doesn't quite compensate, since additional optically stabilized lenses tend to cost more in the long run. The XSi's sensitivity range also tops out at ISO 1600, when others routinely reach as high as ISO 3200, and a spot meter that uses a whopping 4 percent of the viewfinder--that's even larger than the 3.8 percent I complained about for the EOS 40D. Though it offers a Live View shooting mode with contrast-detection AF, Live View's usefulness is limited without support from an articulating LCD. Furthermore, all the manufacturers seem to incorrectly think the equivalent of Canon's Picture Styles, custom contrast, sharpness saturation, and color tone, are more important in this market segment than the ability to save groups of custom exposure, white balance, metering, drive mode settings, and so on.
Overall, in CNET Labs' tests the XSi just edges past its competitors for shooting speed. It goes from power-to-photo in a hair more than 0.2 second. At 0.5 second in good conditions, the XSi's JPEG shooting lag is a bit longer than the rest; its 1.2-seconds duration in dim conditions, while not very zippy, is about average for its class. Once focused, shot-to-shot time typically takes about 0.4 second for RAW or JPEG, and adding flash recycling time bumps it to only 0.7 second, which is very good for any class. It's also the fastest burst shooter among entry-level dSLRs, snapping 3.4 frames per second, for more than 60 JPEGs in testing. The buffer maxes out at six RAW frames, however, so you'll have to move to another class of camera if you take shooting your children's soccer games really seriously.
Regardless of the other entries in the XSi's pro and con columns, it delivers hands-down, best-in-class photo quality, surprising given the higher-resolution sensor. It does tend to underexpose--I rarely use exposure compensation, but bumped it up a stop for many of my shots with the XSi--and you might need to kick the sharpness settings up a little to your taste. But its color accuracy, dynamic range, and consistently good noise profile up to the maximum ISO 1600 clearly put this model in front of the pack. With both built-in and external flash, as well as without, it delivered even exposures, and the lenses rendered extremely good edge-to-edge sharpness.
Though it'll run you a few bucks more than competitors such as the Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 or the Nikon D60, the Canon EOS Rebel XSi will deliver slightly better performance and noticeably better photo quality in return, making it a worthwhile trade-off.
Shooting speed (in seconds) (Shorter bars indicate better performance)
10 out of 10 - Perfect Excellent Camera & Kit Lens
Compared to the Rebel XT and XTi, this new XSi with the new 18-55 IS kit lens is superior in ...
Compared to the Rebel XT and XTi, this new XSi with the new 18-55 IS kit lens is superior in every way. The focusing is faster and more accurate. The exposure is right on. I found the spot metering to work well too. Wish the spot area was smaller to be more accurate, but for this price range it is acceptable. The camera has many customizable features that can make your pictures sharper. I am having fun experimenting its many advanced features, and my pictures are superior to the previous models. The new 55-18 IS lens is a fantastic bargain as a kit lens. Grab it, it takes unbelievable sharp pictures. I took a hand-held picture of my dog at 1/8 of a second, and I couldn't believe how sharp it came out. The len's IS feature works great, give you about 3 F stops cushion. I am very impressed with this new camera kit. I highly recommend it for both advanced shutter bugs as well as beginners.
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by JohnUSA (see profile) -
May 7, 2008
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
8 out of 10 - Excellent Good Camera
Good camera but I prefer the A200.
"The reviewer said Though it'll run you a few bucks more than ...
Good camera but I prefer the A200.
"The reviewer said Though it'll run you a few bucks more than competitors such as the Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 or the Nikon D60, the Canon EOS Rebel XSi will deliver slightly better performance and noticeably better photo quality in return, making it a worthwhile trade-off."
I don't know what to say about that. I did some extensive comparisons on line at various web sites that had photographic samples and for the life of me I can't see a significant difference in IQ between this camera and the A200 (or the D60 for that matter) even at 100%. For that reason I like the Sony for the built in image stabilization and better overall handling (and lower price). Looking for insignificant differences in IQ at the pixel level has no practical value.
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by tbcass (see profile) -
April 8, 2008
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Perfect Camera for the Old as well as Young!
This is my 3rd.DSLR, first one being Nikon D200, then Canon 350D and now 450D (Xsi in USA). Vast ...
This is my 3rd.DSLR, first one being Nikon D200, then Canon 350D and now 450D (Xsi in USA). Vast improvement over the previous 350D model. Kit lens doesn't look cheapy anymore, decent engineering and good looks with a bonus of Image Stablizing system. I use kit lens along with EF 28 -135 IS USM lens. Excellent resolution and sharpness. No wonder it's selling like hot cakes here in Thailand!
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by Mike Toon (see profile) -
June 13, 2008
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Great SLR for everyone from beginner to Pro
This is my third SLR (xi, Nikon d60 and this xsi) and this is by far the best camera I ...
This is my third SLR (xi, Nikon d60 and this xsi) and this is by far the best camera I have ever purchased. The kit lens is ok, but you're going to want one with a little more zoom and clarity almost immediately. That said, you're only paying an extra 100 for it, so I guess it's kinda worth it.
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by Miamifan1354 (see profile) -
May 30, 2008
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
8 out of 10 - Excellent Great photos.. but not the most comfortable.
The xsi, being my 3rd dSLR, is a nice camera with many features. I find that the color reproduction in ...
The xsi, being my 3rd dSLR, is a nice camera with many features. I find that the color reproduction in my pictures are more to my liking than with my old D70(personal preference). I love the larger 3 inch LCD display. 12MP is probably over kill unless you do a lot of cropping or extremely large prints. If you have big hands the camera will probably be a bit uncomfortable to hold, as I have smaller hands and I find it could use a tad bit more on the height. The menu layout is good and easy to navigate. Pictures are written to memory quickly(using Extreme III). The live view is about worthless, to me anyways. Its slow and the auto focus doesn't responded well. The kit lens will be fine if you are a novice or just like to point and shoot. Although this does have improvements over the xti, you'll have to decide if it's worth the extra $$ for the few extra features. The xti can be had for much less and you can get a nice lens with the $$ you save. If you are an hobbiest or experienced photographer I would definitely consider the 40D for not much more.
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by rjblt (see profile) -
May 30, 2008
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Awesome camera for the price.
I would highly reccomend this camera mostly because of the great pictures it takes. CNET has rated this as a ...
I would highly reccomend this camera mostly because of the great pictures it takes. CNET has rated this as a 7.8 on a 1-10 scale, but they gave the XTI a 7.8 rating also while the XSI's video review seemed to say that it was better than the XTI. So it appears to me that they should have rated it higher than a 7.8. Anyway, I believe I have a great camera, and I don't think you can go wrong with Canon.
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by hotzeug (see profile) -
May 23, 2008
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Best DSLR for the money.
My XSi is only a few days old, so I haven't had a chance to put it through it'...
My XSi is only a few days old, so I haven't had a chance to put it through it's paces. I have the original Digital Rebel and the Sony F717 for 5 years, but I have been using my friend's XTi for the pass year. With the few shots I have taken with the XSi I am already impressed with the image quality at all settings. I had no problem navigating my way around the buttons and menu right out of the box and the IS feature on the lens is a plus. I am dying to try it with the 55-250mm EFS IS lens.
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by chineyrasta (see profile) -
June 28, 2008
9 out of 10 - Spectacular great entry level dslr
this was my first digital slr. came down to either the canon 450d xsi and the nikon d80... it seems ...
this was my first digital slr. came down to either the canon 450d xsi and the nikon d80... it seems there are nikon people and there are canon people, i was always a minolta guy, so when it came time to buying my first dslr, i did a lot of research. there are pros and cons to both the canon and the nikon. my brother is a canon guy and my sister is a nikon girl, they both presented their case and in the end i agreed with my brother. a few of his arguements stuck with me, one was that the canon is able to use nikon lenses while the nikon cant use canon lenses. second the canon is 2 mega pixels more. third, while you're able to take amazing pictures with both cameras, both are entry level dslr, neither one is going to make you a professional photographer. that being said, the first picture i took with my new canon 450d xsi is probably the most beautiful picture i've ever taken. the colors and shadows are so vibrant and the detail is sooo incredibly sharp. i cant say enough good things about it.
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by moosenic (see profile) -
June 21, 2008
8 out of 10 - Excellent Excellent pic quality. awkward feel
Great camera! Fantastic Pics. Slighly slower than 40D. The Handle does not ergonomically feel right. I almost need a third ...
Great camera! Fantastic Pics. Slighly slower than 40D. The Handle does not ergonomically feel right. I almost need a third joint in my fingers to be able to grab the camera comfortablly. as a result after a while my hand gets really sore. i do not have this problem with 40D which is bulkier just enough to fit righ in my hand. And i do have pretty average size hands.
also it autofocus sometimes has problem finding the right focus in low light photography.
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by seal9327 (see profile) -
June 13, 2008
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