Canon EOS Rebel XSi

The Canon EOS Rebel XSi continues to bring radical technology to photographers with a price that always permits users to buy an additional lens or two. This 2008 release added a significant number of features to the EOS camera system, exceeding the abilities of the semi-pro Canon EOS 40D.

Design

The Canon EOS Rebel XSi is a petite, lightweight digital SLR camera which has a slightly taller frame but lighter weight as compared to Canon’s regular Rebel lineup, despite its larger rear LCD and heftier image-stabilized lens. Its weight and small size make this camera convenient to carry around.

Together with a taller frame is a taller and more rubbery, leather-textured grip and rear thumbpad which certainly provides users a better and more comfortable grip. The diopter wheel and lens release button are also slightly larger for easy access. Canon has also made a real effort to give its users a comfortable shooting experience by setting the shutter release button at a more aggressive angle than before. This perhaps non-significant move does make a big difference when pressing the shutter release.

In the rear, a couple of buttons were shifted around to encompass the larger and brighter 3.0-inch LCD, resulting in a much neater arrangement and the Canon EOS Rebel XSi has been given a better and brighter viewfinder with 0.87x magnification which displays the ISO setting permanently.

Features

The Canon EOS XSi boasts a 12.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 3.0-inch rear LCD, an improved 9-point AF sensor, DIGIC III processor and a continuous shooting rate of 3.5fps on top of the regular Live View mode and EOS Integrated Cleaning System which were already seen in its predecessors.

The DIGIC III processor which is also seen in Canon’s Mark III professional camera lineup, allows 14-bit analog-to-digital image processing as well as 14-bit RAW files, giving users smoother and more flexible tone curves in their shots. With the DIGIC III processor, highlights and shadow details are contained with the Auto Lighting Optimizer mode, especially when taking pictures of faces in backlit situations. The Canon EOS XSi also features a continuous shooting rate of 3.5fps for up to 53 JPEGS or 6 RAW images and an ISO range of 100 – 1600.

Actual user review:
“This camera is impossible to beat at this price. You can set this camera in fully automatic mode and hand it to a “point and shoot” person and they will obtain fantastic results. For the amateur photographer, this has all the bells and whistles, what I love is I can reset the camera rapidly for multiple shots of the same scene on very different settings. I set the camera for 1/10th second exposures with no support, and obtained steady pictures with it, slower than this, and the stabilization did not fully correct for any unsteadiness. Get this with a stabilization lens! We’d buy it again in a heartbeat, and I wish I could get one for everyone I know!! Best photos that I have ever taken and a joy to use! Connecting it to the computer and downloading photos takes a matter of seconds.” – J.Korkow (USA)

Performance

The Canon EOS Rebel XSi is a dream to shoot with, with its ergonomic build and logical button arrangement, what more with a larger LCD for Live View mode. Also, the image-stabilized lens is perfect, presenting users with top quality shots even in very low light conditions. As compared to its predecessor, the Canon EOS Rebel XTi, this digital SLR camera outshines it in more areas than one. The Canon EOS Rebel XSi is on the overall, a faster camera, be it shutter speed or in AF mode. Moreover, even at its maximum ISO of 1600, the Canon EOS Rebel XSi churns out excellent image quality with great detail. The quality of the images is so impressive that it could very easily be compared to more high-end cameras available on the market. Photos are crisp and sharp and the colors are accurate.

Bottom Line

The Canon EOS Rebel XSi is most likely one of the best Rebel digital SLR cameras to be released by Canon. With its features and excellent performance, the Canon EOS Rebel XSi makes for the perfect take-anywhere, all purpose camera, as a primary or secondary camera for pros. If you have not come to a conclusion yet, maybe by saying that the Canon EOS XSi is undoubtedly the best DSLR camera that hit the markets, you will change your mind. There is no doubt that the Canon EOS Rebel XSi is a camera with excellent performance catered to photography professionals. But, considering its very reasonable price tag, whether you are a professional or an amateur, this would be the ideal camera for you. This is one investment you will treasure for the rest of your life and the best part of all is that you don’t have to be a professional to own one of these.

Average User Rating:

• “A lot of first time DSLR buyers deciding to get this camera. I am one of them. After years of Point and Shoot, I came to realize I wasn’t happy with most of the pictures I took. I love all the features of this camera for the price, especially the dedicated ISO button on top and the menu system is very easy to figure out, and the 3 inch LCD screen. There is also the switch to SD memory cards which are apparently easier to use than CF. It is so easy to take the card out and return the card to the camera. If you are contemplating buying your first DSLR you must remember that the camera is just the start. You will need to invest in a quality external flash and various zoom lens that now utilize Image or Optical Stabilization. I was happy to do all this and I am absolutely satisfied with this camera, Canon lens and flash. I now am very happy with carrying a bigger but absolutely superior camera.” – A.Aganad (CA,USA)
• “I’m a professional photographer. I shoot editorials and advertising. I own a Canon 1Ds Mark III. That being said, I wanted a small compact camera to take around with me. I first purchased a Sigma DP-1, but found it limiting and too slow. I sold it and decided to purchase the Canon XSi and I am simply amazed at the functionality and speedy feel of the camera. It may not be as small as a DP-1 but compared to a 1Ds Mark 3, it’s tiny. Every feature of this camera is well thought out and they loaded it with as much current technology as possible. I can’t think of a single thing to complain about. It’s not a professional grade camera by functionality and build. But the image quality is on par. I would feel very comfortable with the image quality of this camera to do a editorial shoot (non-sport) with it.” – P.Eng (NY,USA)

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