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Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera (Black Body Only)




  • 017 4  My husband and I bought this camera for our 35th anniversary because we wanted to take a driving tour through the redwood forests of California and the ocean along the Oregon coast . We figured the trip would be a warm up and review of what the camera could do . We are so pleased with the photos taken with this Canon Rebel TSi 12 Megapixel Camera . It came with an 18 - 55 mm lens and we purchased a 75 - 300 mm lens also . Neither of us are pro's with a camera but I loved the feature that lets you take multiple pictures one after the other . We had also purchased a High-speed SD memory disk and were able to get fantastic photos of waves as they crest , curl , and crash on shore . I was even able to get photos of sea gulls flying and with the larger lens they look wonderful . We also toured the lighthouses along the Oregon Coast and the camera took great pictures of those too , no mater what the distance was . I cannot wait to go on another whale watch cruise this summer here in Seattle . This time I think I will actually be able to capture the Orca pods and not have photos of the water only because my old camera took too long to focus before the picture would shoot . I was afraid that the bigger camera would be a pain to carry around but it really was not . Although bigger than my smaller digital camera , it is lightweight and was not really the problem I thought it would be . We both love this camera .
    • 176 4  I use my camera for taking pictures of our one year old mostly . It is a great camera for small children because it can take a picture so fast you don't miss out on a good smile . I am disappionted in the live view mode . It is very hard to use and you can not use it in the auto modes . They don't tell you that up front . If you want to take pictures mostly with your LCD screen in live mode this is not the camera for you . If you enjoy using the view finder this is a great camera for the price .

  • 058 4  I am a pro shooter who got this camera to use for fun and trips were i would be mad if i damaged my high end $ $ $ body . ( like skiing ) Any way i love the camera so far . I have not had the problems that i have read about with the auto focus or image quality . You however can not take this camera out of the box and get the best pictures it can take . they will be ok but you need to take the time and set up your camera . READ the book if you dont know what your doing . I got the kit camera with the 18 - 55 IS lens and it is ok . The camera takes much better pictures with my 35 - 350 72mm L lens on it , as will any camera , spend your money on the glass not the body . If you want a good camera for the price this is the one for you . If you have older EOS cameras your old lenses will work with the new camera . I also use my 430EZ flash that is from my A2 EOS film camera , it is way over powering in the auto mode ( as it is not a E-TTL flash only a TTL ) but it works if you manual set it , for inside i use 1 / 16 or 1 / 32 ( up to 10 - 15 feet works great ) out side i set it to full power and i can light up a subject 100 feet away ! ( it is great for that ) If you have used a EOS before this works about the same . even from my old film EOS to this one , the basic-mid advance functions are the same . BEWARE were you but from online . do not buy from a company who dose not have a good reviews ( reviews not rating , and read the bad ones too ) . Personally i will not buy from 17st photo out of NY , to many nightmare stories . i try to buy from amazon directly and will do a lot of review reading if my item is supplied by anyone other than them . Spend a few extra $ $ to make sure you can send it back it their are any problems . you will get what you pay for .
    • 027 4  I just got this camera and am beyond delighted with it . The quality and clarity of the images it captures are no less than mind-blowing . However I would like to warn you all of something ; If you are plannning to buy this BECAUSE of the live-screen feature , DON'T ! In buying this , I could do without the live-screen feature , but I fear that there are people planning to buy this camera on the merits of this feature alone . The truth is , using the live-screen feature greatly diminishes the quality of your photos , and the feature is not available in all shooting modes . If the live-screen feature is a large reason of yours to buy this camera then , I repeat , DO NOT ! If , however , you are purely looking for a very good camera that is worth its price ( around $800 now ) and can do without the live-screen than go ahed and buy !
    • 037 4  The XSi is a great step-up from the high-end point & shoot . The learning curve was fairly short when moving from the S3 IS to the XSi . Some functions are actually easier to use on the XSi than on the S3 . The camera size & weight is still reasonable , I carry the XSi with an attached Sigma 18 - 200mm zoom lens , in an M-Rock Glacier bag attached to the handlebars of my bicycle . Some of my photos may be found on Flickr , where I go by the name Versageek A Fair warning to those moving from point & shoot to DSLR ( applies to most DSLR's not just this one ) : While the 18 - 55mm lens is great for macro shots , if you are used to 10 - 12x zoom on a point & shoot , you'll need to purchase an additional lens costing between $500 - $1000 + . You'll also want an extra battery pack ( ~ $50 ) , a 58mm UV haze filter to protect your lens ( $ ~ 40 + ) , a sturdy camera bag ( ~ $80 + ) & a good tripod ( ~ $120 + ) .
    • 065 4  There really isn't a better deal out there under $1500 , or at least under $1,000 . . . under the canon / nikon lineup . After 7 months of use , I can say that this is one amazing camera . It has many of the functions that you get with the 50D . Unless you care about HD video or care about being able to do some major cropping to your photos , your best best for the $ is the XSi . One thing to take note is that the noise levels are amazing . One step down from this camera and you get way too much noise . The 50D has very comparable noise levels . I shoot in a club at iso 1600 , exposures without flash run into 1 / 2 second . . . noise reduced , they are still excellent quality . . even at 1 : 1 crops . Also a note on buttons : If you care about using your camera quickly and usefully ( unlike a point and shoot ) DON'T buy any lower than this ! Any step down is missing the shortcut hardware buttons . Why buy an slr , only to change settings in menus ? ? Sure it is still missing a few buttons , but you can set your own custom menu to help negate that drawback . Metering is decent , you need to make sure to point at a more neutral object to get a good reading . With using the in-camera spot metering on a lastolite ezybalance gray card to get an exposure reading ( then switching the camera from Aperture Priority , to Manual and inputing those settings read ) , the exposure is quite good . No IR assist lamp , so you will have to use an external flash with flash firing turned off ( assuming you don't want to use flash ) to use its IR assist lamp to focus in the dark . The feature to turn flash firing off , while using the focus assist lamp , is missing on a lot of cameras - so watch out if this is something you are interested in . Quality is great , noise levels are great , auto focus is pretty good , metering is ok , LCD is amazing ( ! ) , no IR assist lamp = ( Well I'd recommend you stop reading user reviews and go read some professional reviews from somewhere like dpreview , the-digital-picture , and steve's digicams . These are more opinion article-esk than factual professional comparisons .
    • 112 4  I think most new users upgrading from a point and shoot ( the Canon powershot G6 in my case ) will be stunned by the improvement in the sharpness of their photos with the kit lens no less . I was a little anxious to find out how much better the photos were actually going to appear on both a computer monitor and on 4x6 prints , and I was just delighted . Even my wife was very impressed and she was very skeptical as to why I would be paying $800 for a camera . This camera is basically very easy to use , and very light weight - important considerations for amateurs . The manual is not so hot , however , and I recommend David Busch'e book , Canon EOS REBEL XSi to avoid the frustration of trying to figure out how to change any settings . To obtain the sharpest photos , I found it important to use the default auto exposure and focusing modes . When I tried manual focusing , spot focusing , or an exposure mode other than evaluative , the results were disappointing .

  • 075 4  I wanted to put a few words in review about my recent Amazon purchase of the Canon XSi . I am not a hardcore amateur and consider myself more interested in documenting the growth of my two daughters with quality photographs then I am about the techinical art of photography . Throwing it up and there , shooting , and having a reasonable outcome is my primary objective . I am also fully aware that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I certainly do not want to take anything away not from those people who do . I appreciate and respect beautiful photographic work . For my situation however , I looked at several different cameras in this price range and settled on Canon . Primarily because I had a Canon A1 for years and always thought highly of their cameras and lenses . I looked at the Olympus E520 and probably would have bought the D90 if I had wanted to spend that much money . I think the XSi was ultimately the best value . I placed my order through Amazon and eargerly awaited its delivery . I received it in time for Christmas and out of the box was able to figure out enough about the camera to get some great Christmas shots of my two girls . Once I came inside however . . . there were problems immediately . When operating in lighting environments where the flash was required the camera failed alsmost continually . This was manifested by Err 99 messsages in the viewfinder . This as maddening especially with all the nieces and nephews over for Christmas morning gift unwrapping . I finally had to abandon the the XSi and revert back to my wife's point and click . A dubiouos beginning to say the least . Later , a little reserach on the internet and I found that many other XSi customers had similar issues with this camera . There are various remedies posted on various websites but mine was to return the camera to Amazon for a replacement . This part of the experience was outstanding . I requested a replacement on Friday and my new XSi arrived the following Monday . Amazon did not wait for the return of the broken camera and paid for the price of return shipping as well . Out of the box I see now that my new camera works much better . There is slight pause when you fire off multiple frames under flash . The camera will say BUSY but will not lock as the other one did and this passes in maybe 2 seconds . All in all . . I am happy with the experience and was happy that Amazon did such a good job getting a working camera to me . Oh . . one more thing . . . . I bought the Dummies Guide to the Canon XSi . . . . that is a very nice companion to the purchase of this camera and possibly the most beautiful Dummies Guide to . . . . that I have ever seen .
    • 068 4  I'm not new to photography and have tried every adjustment possible to get clear , sharp landscape images . It is not possible with this camera . I'm now reading that I'm not the only one . Amazon's seller won't return my emails . I don't know if Canon will make this right but if you don't want the possibility of the hassle then avoid this model .
    • 090 4  It's difficult to find much wrong with this camera . Sure I would prefer a better quality and faster lens , but for the price of this body / lens combination , the lens was basically free . The picture quality is excellent by any standard . I have a degree in commercial photography , and have purchased 7 digital cameras in the last 2 ½ years . I study them quite thoroughly , and this camera seems difficult to beat , until you are well over the $3000 mark . Ok , it does have a plastic body . But this is also a plus . The camera is quite small and very light weight . You will not be disappointed .
    • 126 4  I'm not a photographer ; I am just a mom who loves to take pictures of her kids in all that they do . This camera does an amazing job . The color is beautiful , the features are easy to use , and it fits my small hands so well . I love how clear my photos can be when I get the lighting just right . I have added a 70 - 300mm lens to my collection as well , and it is great for little league baseball . I also took it to a concert , put it on the right setting , and I got the best concert photos I have ever taken in my life . I highly recommend this camera to people who are beyond the point and shoot but who aren't quite the professional .

  • 131 4  I had this camera sent to me while on deployment to Afghanistan . I understand Amazon.com's policy on sending electronics over seas so I had to have it mailed home to the states so the wife could sent it to me from there . I was using a small Canon point and shoot which was great for taking out on patrols , but I needed something more for back on base , capturing the mountains and the beautiful skyline the way I see them . There's only so much you can manipulate manually on a point and shoot . I'll be attending a photography class when I return home and the Canon XSI allows me to become more camera savvy in preparation for school . I LOVE this thing ! Anyone who wants to get into photography professionally or just as a hobby , I HIGHLY recommend one of Canon's Rebel line . They have one to fit your shooting style no matter what it is . Three other soldiers in this ( very small ) base have a Canon Rebel of some kind and they agree , GO CANON REBEL !
    • 111 4  This is a great camera for me as an amateur enthusiast . I also bought the 55 - 250mm SI ( image stabilized ) zoom lens instead of the popular 55 - 300mm unstabilized zoom lens . I use this lens as my default lens , with the kit lens mainly used for wide angle and scenes . I love the image stabilization feature as this allows me to take handheld telephoto sports and nature shots . I don't care for the APX format sensor , though , with its 3 : 2 aspect ratio . I end up cropping to 8x10 or 11x14 when making prints . This seems like a waste of pixels .
    • 115 4  I am by no means new to photography . I recently made the switch from Nikon DSLR's D200 , D300 . Why did I switch to Canon . Because I find their prime lens to be much more affordable than Nikon , and customer reviews on the prime lens are outstanding . Even with the newly released Nikon D700 , I decided to get the Canon XSI for a backup camera until Canon releases their new pro DSLR in the near future . The Canon XSI takes amazing pictures , is user friendly , and with the 2 prime lens that I already have ; the results have been exceptional . I could not be happier . I looked at this camera for months before deciding to get it . Thanks to Amazon for their great prices and fast delivery on this item . Amazon is by far very competitive with prices . Thanks again , Amazon .

  • 139 4  I bought this camera just before the Canon T1i arrived . At first , I was tempted to wait for the T1i . However , after a less than pleasant experience with the 14.7MP digic 4 in the G10 , I decided to go with the smaller megapixel Digic 3 . Plus , after trying the camera out a bit before buying , it just felt right . The first thing I'll say is to get some good glass . The bundled lens , although adequate for everyday family shots and casual shooting , just don't compare with Canon's higher lenses . I purchased a 50MM 1.8 and this lens blows away the kit lens . Best of all , it's cheap , under a hundred bucks . I'm now working on saving the necessary $1,500 to get the 2.8 zoom I drool over . Yes , that lens costs more than twice what I paid for the camera , but if you're not going to get good glass , you might as well stick to the point and shoot models because you'll get the same results . Okay , lenses out of the way , the camera itself is awesome . Auto-focus performance is good , the camera is lightning fast in burst mode with a good card ( I use the Sandisk Extreme III ) , the menu system is logically arranged and easy to access , and the camera handles like a dream . The body , although not as rugged as some would like , gives the camera a nice light weight , making it easy to lug around all day . The flash is about as good as can be expected for a pop-up built in unit , but it does provide adequate lighting for most situations . RAW mode works good with Photoshop and Canon also bundles pretty decent software for processing and adjusting RAW photos as well as organizing and comparing shots ( now if they could only get their act together with their camcorder software bundles ) . The image stabilization works well without introducing any artifacts or softening the photos in a negative way . One of the major complaints with this camera from a lot of users is front focus issues . Although I have experienced some blurry shots , I can definitely attribute these to user error and a little over reliance on the auto-focus on my behalf . If I take my time and make sure my focus markers are on the right point , I get consistently sharp photos . All in all , I think this is a very good camera for the money . Although the T1i has a few more features , I just can't justify paying nearly $150 bucks more for them . I mean , I've been using SLR and P & S cameras with viewfinders for most of my life . Things like Live View don't phase me and I can certainly live without it . Now , if you're a P & S user making the leap to DSLR , then maybe live view is an important feature . It's just not something I ( nor many others ) need . I'd rather invest that money in better lenses . Plus , as I said , I'm not sold on the Digic 4 processor yet . Maybe it was just the G10 , but besides with my own eyes , I've seen other grumblings online about the Digic 4 . Newer doesn't always necessarily mean better . If you're looking for a great value and can live without the coolness factor of having the absolute latest model available , this DSLR is a great buy .
    • 030 4  I hate this camera because it exposes what a crappy photographer I am . Many of my pictures come out so-so right now and marginally better than my point and shoot . Spending a little time to get off the autofocus and use manual controls yielded pictures that far surpassed my old 7MP Nikon when dealing with moving objects , which was my primary challenge . I am concerned with the 50,000 picture rating for the shutter since I've already shot 800 pictures in just the first 20 days of owning this camera ( you can shoot a lot at a sporting event ) but , for the price , it was unbeatable with a decent , versatile stock lens . I'm now realizing the limitations of the lens and what separates the low from the high but this camera is a learning experience for anyone who doesn't really shoot at a high level . It will require you to invest the time to get excellent pictures out . You'll be disappointed like myself in the same way getting a great HDTV brings out the limtiations of standard cable . But look at it this way - once you start learning about the basics , e.g . the relationship of ISO to aperture to shutter speed and setting the priority mode , etc . you're on your way to pictures that are far superior to your point and shoot and difficult to go back . Apparently it doesn't have all the fine settings of the 40D nor the 100K shutter rating but I'm not sure it matters at this price . If you want a sub - $800 SLR with a decent stock lens , there is no better camera , and I was hoping the Nikon D60 would be my choice . Not so . Learning all the detailed options that are still remaining made me realize now that this camera has far more important features than the competition , all which requires an investment in photography to get great pictures . It's a crime with this camera to even think of using the auto-settings .
    • 083 4  I purchased this camera for my fiancee because she has always liked taking pictures of flowers and plants . I read many reviews before I decided on this camera , and I must say that I think I made the right choice . The camera takes the best close up shots I've ever seen , even compared to other DSLRs that I've had experience with . For the first time user , the full auto mode is perfect to use until you get time to read the manual and understand how to use the more advanced functions . The biggest problems posted by other users seemed to be the noise the camera makes and the weight of the camera . I haven't noticed a problem with either . If you are thinking about trying out a DSLR for the first time , I strongly recommend this camera .
    • 110 4  Having just gotten back into photography after a decades long absence I bought the XSi 4 months ago . It has been an excellent purchase . If you are new to dslr's I would recommend taking a class at your local junior college in how to use one . It helped me understand what one of these cameras can really do and has really improved my enjoyment using the camera . The pictures I've taken with the XSi have been amazing and the kit lens with the IS feature is top notch . Don't get swayed by all the hype you read online about dslr's and invest in one that costs thousands , the XSi is a great camera at a great price that will give you anything you want in picture quality .
    • 135 4  I took photography in college many , many years ago and decided recently that I wanted to start taking quality photographs again so I bought the Canon Rebel based on advice of a professional photographer . I have not been disappointed . If you want to point and shoot the automatic features will allow you to do that . If you don't , but want to make the adjustments yourself ( the way it used to be done ) then you can do that as well . If the latter , the instruction book is very clear on how to do that even if you don't know about f stops , shutter and film speed . The other features are amazing and I am really looking forward to using some of the advanced features . So far , this has turned out to be a great purchase .
    • 159 4  I already own a D90 and just purchased it as a gift item . The camera performs very well in all preset modes . Its a very nice camera if you are just stepping into the SLR photography realm . I specially liked the High ISO performance of the camera . One thing that i was concerned about though was the Av mode which had problems calculating the Shutter speed at low light and the images were blurred . Not sure if the kit lens was the issue or if the issue is with the Av mode itself . Hence i had to use either Tv or M mode . Preset modes are great . Good camera for all starters . . .
    • 172 4  I've had this camera for over a year now and it is still pretty great , in my opinion . Great functions , great controls and a great starter-camera for those learning about photography . However , after learning so much from this little wonder , I want to upgrade to a pro or pro-sumer level Canon body . But for the price , you can't beat it . The pics turn out great ( given the right settings ) . I would suggest buying an external flash and another lens , though . I wish I had just bought the camera body and then purchased a different lens a year ago . The kit lens is okay , but not the best . Still , a wonderful camera . You can't go wrong .
    • 178 4  I ordered this camera for the pending arrival of our first child . I also ordered the complementary 50mm lens so I could get good close up photos . Although I am no expert , I have the camera set to P and put it to Portrait setting with a high ISO which has allowed us to take awesome pictures of our little one , especially in low light without the need for a flash . I loved being able to just set this camera and point & shoot . My mother and husband are perfectly comfortable using it , especially with the 50mm lens - you don't need to zoom and you get great shots every time .
    • 188 4  I loved the photos of my new baby taken with my Canon SD800 point and shoot camera . Once my baby turned about 7 months old , however , good shots became harder to come by since she moved so quickly and her expressions changed with a blink of an eye . I've always hated using flash , because it washes the photos out and you completely lose the background and natural tones . The Rebel XSi at ISO 1600 doesn't have noticeable grain , which allows me to capture more photos of her playing calmly or exploring a new object clearly without having to turn on the flash indoors . My baby is now 10 months old and stumbling around on two feet . Without upgrading my lens , I still have to turn on the flash to catch her ' on the move ' , but the flash on this SLR produces much better results than my point and shoot . I give the XSi 4 stars because it doesn't always pick out the correct focus plane ( my baby's face ) on autofocus - - which of course makes a big difference when your depth of field is more limited . I wouldn't get the XSi just for taking baby photos or if you plan to just use it in auto mode , as it has much more potential than that . I plan on doing more creative work with it . . . as soon as the baby allows me a free moment !
    • 191 4  My very first big girl camera . . . And I absolutely love it ! I was torn between the Nikon D80 and this Canon . I went to our local Costco and tried each . The Canon is much lighter and easier to hold . . . less boxy . It takes wonderful pictures . It's perfect for me as an amateur photographer , it was easy to set up , charge and download from . What a great purchase . . . my next purchase a snappy telephoto lens !

  • 168 4  I love my new Canon EOS Xsi . With the new SLR , it was curious that the new 3 screen was showing you the camera settings rather than the image you were shooting , like with point and shoot cameras . Only with Live View will you see the images on the screen as you photograph . It doesn't matter . Since it's a SLR , you view your shot through the viewfinder , which has elaborate information you can see . Frankly , the screen on point and shoot cameras were impossible to see and you could never tell what you were getting on them anyway . The SLR lets you know exactly what you are getting by looking through the lens that is taking the shot . I got a great deal on my 12.2 mpx EOS at Amazon , and I would urge anyone looking for a more serious camera than a point-and-shoot should jump in and make the plunge with this very excellent DSLR .
    • 108 4  Marvelous feel to this body with the BG-E5 grip . It's now my only body , given its light weight , the quality of its images , and ease of use - - and I've had 30D's and a 1DsMKII . HOWEVER , I can't recommend ordering this type of equipment from Amazon if you care about decent , or at least adequate , packing . There was one strip of 3 deflated plastic air bags in the shipping box , providing no isolation of the camera box whatever . Being that the shipping box was twice the dimension of the camera box , there had to be some serious rattling going on during transit . I feel fortunate the camera is functioning . In the future , I would order an electric toothbrush from Amazon , but I'm through with ordering camera bodies and lenses from them .
    • 164 4  As my first SLR I think this was the best choice I could have made at the time . After a short learning curve you are ready to take great pictures and they only improve as you go . Take the time to learn how to shoot the better modes and stay away from the auto modes . With the release of the T series this may not be a top choice depending on your price range but overall I couldn't be happier .

  • 183 4  This is the best camera in it's price range for an amateur photographer . The reason I gave it 4 stars is because I did have a problem with it . I got the dreaded error 99 . I took a few pictures fine . Then within the first 24 hours of having it , I got this error . I couldn't take a single picture without the error coming into the screen . I did some online research and contacted Canon , but none of the solutions fixed it . Canon said that they'd either fix mine , or send a refurbished one . I didn't want a refurbished one after paying full price . I contacted amazon , and they couldn't have been any more helpful . They replied right away with directions on sending it back and a return label . They sent it with next day shipping , which was what I had my first camera sent with . I waited until I got it to send mine back . I haven't had any problems at all with the second camera . Some knowledge is needed for certain settings , but even a beginner could easily adapt or even use the Auto setting with auto focus , and still get decent photos .
    • 088 4  After countless hours of research and comparisons , I finally decided to purchase the Canon Xsi . I've only had it a month , but in that time I've taken over 3000 photos and am very pleased with the results . Against the Canon S5 IS point and shoot that I had previously , this camera wins hands down . I agree that the kit lens isn't the best lens in the universe , but it is a great starter lens . Also sometimes in low light situations the camera's AF does focus on something other than the subject , but using manual focus fixes the problem . I just recently purchased a converter and attached a spotting scope to the camera , making the scope into a 1000 - 4000mm lens . The camera handled it beautifully and with the bulb function and a tripod and remote switch , I have gotten some excellent moon photos . Overall this is a great camera for those considering a first Dslr , and it is quite a step up in photo quality from even the high-zoom point and shoots .

  • 192 4  I ordered this DSLR after reading a lot of reviews online and going to the store to hold it and compare to Nikons in the same price range . I like the way the Canon felt better when I held it . I like the 9 focus points of this one , and the 12.2 mp . I am just a beginner , but this camera has made it so fun to learn how to use . I highly recommend it ! ! ! It takes amazing pictures !
    • 105 4  I have been waiting for DSLR technology to reach this level : 12.2MP , better than 3 frame / s speed combined with an 8GB memory card which holds 1300 + images at full resolution make this camera perfect , being a Canon with their wide range of lenses makes it the perfect DSLR . I had been watching prices for a while and Amazon not only had the best price , but also delivered the camera to my door on Christmas eve . Good vendor , great camera , and the best price what more could I ask ! !

  • 207 4  As a part-time professional photographer , this is a bargain of an upgrade even from the Canon Rebel Xti which is what I did ! I thought my Xti was a great camera & it is but the Xsi is so much more ! The increased image quality is worth the price alone . ( See images below ) . Then when you add in the benefit of the improved & larger LCD , Highlight tone priority , excellent noise reduction , you have an exceptional value . Many pundits have listed some things as negatives that I feel are advantageous . Namely , the smaller size of the body seems to fit my hand very well & the light weight helps me carry it since I do a considerable amount of hiking & travel . Its easier for me to carry along with all the rest of my gear . I feel like it is a BEST BUY in my book . greenngold1 @ cox.net
    • 097 4  I did a lot of research on dslr's and everyone professional photographer that I spoke to said the the Canon Rebel was the best dslr for a beginner . I did buy the book Canon Rebel DSLR for Dummies and was able to whip thru it very quickly . It really helped me to understand all of the features . I would highly recommend this camera for any beginner and even those with professional knowledge .
    • 143 4  This camera is fantastic ! I had the Canon Digital Rebel XT before and really enjoyed the functionality and ease of use . However , this new Rebel takes the line to whole new levels ! It is very easy to access the controls and shoot manually , the auto-focus is better than before , the picture can be blown up to ( roughly ) poster size without losing quality , the new battery lasts longer , and the new memory card format allows for faster usage . Oh yeah , and if you take photos outside alot like I do , the auto dust cleaning sensor is a godsend . No dots on the photos !

  • Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I am a semi-pro photographer who usually shoots with much more expensive bodies . Every now and then , however , I need to bring a smaller camera with me for whatever reason , and this is the one . Also , like a lot of pros and semi-pros I need to have an APS-C body in order to use the cult-followed Canon EF-S 10 - 22mm lens that only works on APS-C boides such as the Rebels . In fact Rebels have been the one I go to to fill those needs for a few years now . A lot of semi-pros and pros criticize the performance of these cameras and / or the perceived weaknesses in ergonomics , size , and available functions . Is this a $1000 camera body ? No it is not . Is this a $2600 camera body ? No it is not . Is this a $6999.99 camera body ? No it is not . I am hammering that point home because some people insist on comparing the Rebels to cameras like that . The comparisons are fine as long as price is factored in ; if you leave price out of the equation then yes , this camera will likely lose out to a body costing more than a grand . The following are some my random thoughts on this camera ; I am not going to cover everything because others have done that well enough . I am going to address the issues important to me , a semi-pro photographer who sometimes needs to travel light . ISO performance ( this is most important to me in any camera for any price ) : ISO 100 : Outstanding ISO 400 : Great ( and professionally competent ) except for higher than desirable noise in the darkest shadows . Even shooting RAW and carefully post-processing , you will probably need to leave the shadows alone and not bring them out too much . I am nitpicking a little here for the sake of being thorough in the review ; it is not by any means a terrible or deal-breaker level of noise in the shadows . ISO 800 : Usable for sure and better than expected , but noise certainly is apparent at this level - - or rather the effects of noise reduction are apparent - - and the in camera noise reduction is aggressive enough that some detail and sharpness is lost as a result of cleaning out the noise . Certainly usable but best at smaller sizes ( 8x10 or smaller ) when printing and viewing . ISO 1600 : To me it's out of the question . I do have a higher standard than the average consumer as a semi-pro , so keep this in mind . I would use this setting only in such a dire situation that ISO 800 would be completely unusable . The noise reduction in ISO 800 is too aggressive , but it does result in the elimination of a great deal of noise . It seems they didn't even bother in ISO 1600 . There is noise all over the place in ISO 1600 . I haven't used a camera that I can remember that had such a huge difference between ISO 800 and ISO 1600 . So , bottom line , IMHO you should stay away and only use in a pinch . I can't see printing anything larger than 4x6 with this setting . If that's your bag then you will probably be fine . I do want to say regarding my opinions on the ISO handling that I did not buy this camera for high ISO performance . If you are planning on doing that I would think twice . Is it better than the Rebel , Rebel XT , and Rebel XTi ? Certainly . Does that make it a good performer at high ISO ? Not necessarily . I do the vast majority of my shooting between ISO 100 and 400 . I use fast lenses and I typically shoot during the day . This is especially true of the times I am using this camera . I don't go to a camera like this for high ISO performance . For that I grab the 5D . I go to this camera for the few times the 5D is not best for the situation . This camera delivers an outstanding image quality at ISO 100 - 400 and a usable one at ISO 800 . To me this is all that matters . a 12MP DSLR with outstanding image quality for a little over $500 is what this is . You throw a nice Canon lens ( nicer than the kit lens ) on this and you have professionally acceptable results . I wouldn't use this camera if it didn't provide those results . The only way the aforementioned 5D will outshoot this is ( in an image quality respect ) is if you are making enlargements or shooting higher than ISO 400 . If you are using good glass , shooting RAW , and setting the ISO manually ( which is what I do ) this is an awesome camera . I don't care if anyone says otherwise , either . I don't have to - - and won't - - argue that point because I've seen the results . Now , if you have never used a Rebel I do have to inform you that it is much smaller than the 20D , 30D , 40D , etc . bodies that you may or may not be used to . It is much harder for me to keep a good grip on this body than , say , the 40D . Again this is OK with me because I am not buying this for ergonomics . Again , I am buying this for value . Price combined with performance is how this arrives at a place of value . I need to keep repeating that because for some reason people always feel the need to compare cameras that are incomparable . If you are looking for the best performance in a DLSR combined with best price , it is my firm opinion that this is the camera . Lastly , I want to say that if we are talking strictly image quality and nothing else like ergonomics and construction , IMHO the IQ from this camera is just as good if not better than the mildly overrated 40D . Given the vast difference in price of the two - - almost 100% different actually - - unless you are an ergonomics stickler I think the decision is a no brainer . You buy this and save the $500 for better glass , or just save the $500 for no reason other than saving $500 is cool . What I am looking forward to doing down the road is comparing the IQ from this to the IQ from the 50D . Again it equals or bests the 40D if we are talking strictly IQ . I returned the 40D last year after using it for 2 weeks . It just wasn't worth the price . The 40D to me is simply a Rebel XTi ( XTi ; not XSi ) with better ergonomics .
    • 015 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I am a semi-pro photographer who usually shoots with much more expensive bodies . Every now and then , however , I need to bring a smaller camera with me for whatever reason , and this is the one . Also , like a lot of pros and semi-pros I need to have an APS-C body in order to use the cult-followed Canon EF-S 10 - 22mm lens that only works on APS-C boides such as the Rebels . In fact Rebels have been the one I go to to fill those needs for a few years now . A lot of semi-pros and pros criticize the performance of these cameras and / or the perceived weaknesses in ergonomics , size , and available functions . Is this a $1000 camera body ? No it is not . Is this a $2600 camera body ? No it is not . Is this a $6999.99 camera body ? No it is not . I am hammering that point home because some people insist on comparing the Rebels to cameras like that . The comparisons are fine as long as price is factored in ; if you leave price out of the equation then yes , this camera will likely lose out to a body costing more than a grand . The following are some my random thoughts on this camera ; I am not going to cover everything because others have done that well enough . I am going to address the issues important to me , a semi-pro photographer who sometimes needs to travel light . ISO performance ( this is most important to me in any camera for any price ) : ISO 100 : Outstanding ISO 400 : Great ( and professionally competent ) except for higher than desirable noise in the darkest shadows . Even shooting RAW and carefully post-processing , you will probably need to leave the shadows alone and not bring them out too much . I am nitpicking a little here for the sake of being thorough in the review ; it is not by any means a terrible or deal-breaker level of noise in the shadows . ISO 800 : Usable for sure and better than expected , but noise certainly is apparent at this level - - or rather the effects of noise reduction are apparent - - and the in camera noise reduction is aggressive enough that some detail and sharpness is lost as a result of cleaning out the noise . Certainly usable but best at smaller sizes ( 8x10 or smaller ) when printing and viewing . ISO 1600 : To me it's out of the question . I do have a higher standard than the average consumer as a semi-pro , so keep this in mind . I would use this setting only in such a dire situation that ISO 800 would be completely unusable . The noise reduction in ISO 800 is too aggressive , but it does result in the elimination of a great deal of noise . It seems they didn't even bother in ISO 1600 . There is noise all over the place in ISO 1600 . I haven't used a camera that I can remember that had such a huge difference between ISO 800 and ISO 1600 . So , bottom line , IMHO you should stay away and only use in a pinch . I can't see printing anything larger than 4x6 with this setting . If that's your bag then you will probably be fine . I do want to say regarding my opinions on the ISO handling that I did not buy this camera for high ISO performance . If you are planning on doing that I would think twice . Is it better than the Rebel , Rebel XT , and Rebel XTi ? Certainly . Does that make it a good performer at high ISO ? Not necessarily . I do the vast majority of my shooting between ISO 100 and 400 . I use fast lenses and I typically shoot during the day . This is especially true of the times I am using this camera . I don't go to a camera like this for high ISO performance . For that I grab the 5D . I go to this camera for the few times the 5D is not best for the situation . This camera delivers an outstanding image quality at ISO 100 - 400 and a usable one at ISO 800 . To me this is all that matters . a 12MP DSLR with outstanding image quality for a little over $500 is what this is . You throw a nice Canon lens ( nicer than the kit lens ) on this and you have professionally acceptable results . I wouldn't use this camera if it didn't provide those results . The only way the aforementioned 5D will outshoot this is ( in an image quality respect ) is if you are making enlargements or shooting higher than ISO 400 . If you are using good glass , shooting RAW , and setting the ISO manually ( which is what I do ) this is an awesome camera . I don't care if anyone says otherwise , either . I don't have to - - and won't - - argue that point because I've seen the results . Now , if you have never used a Rebel I do have to inform you that it is much smaller than the 20D , 30D , 40D , etc . bodies that you may or may not be used to . It is much harder for me to keep a good grip on this body than , say , the 40D . Again this is OK with me because I am not buying this for ergonomics . Again , I am buying this for value . Price combined with performance is how this arrives at a place of value . I need to keep repeating that because for some reason people always feel the need to compare cameras that are incomparable . If you are looking for the best performance in a DLSR combined with best price , it is my firm opinion that this is the camera . Lastly , I want to say that if we are talking strictly image quality and nothing else like ergonomics and construction , IMHO the IQ from this camera is just as good if not better than the mildly overrated 40D . Given the vast difference in price of the two - - almost 100% different actually - - unless you are an ergonomics stickler I think the decision is a no brainer . You buy this and save the $500 for better glass , or just save the $500 for no reason other than saving $500 is cool . What I am looking forward to doing down the road is comparing the IQ from this to the IQ from the 50D . Again it equals or bests the 40D if we are talking strictly IQ . I returned the 40D last year after using it for 2 weeks . It just wasn't worth the price . The 40D to me is simply a Rebel XTi ( XTi ; not XSi ) with better ergonomics .
    • 020 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I'll start by saying that this is my first SRL and I'm hooked . I liked taking pictures but I never was into photography until I got this camera . My wife used to have a film SRL and kept wanting a digital one , which eventually led to this purchase . No regrets whatsoever . I have had the camera about 9 months now . Uses : I use this camera most frequently to capture moments from get-togethers with family and friends . It's great for taking pictures of children who don't sit still . I've taken lots of pictures of my dogs . It makes them look sweeter than I think they are . : ) The majority of my pictures are indoors but I take a large number outside too . I'm the official family photographer now . Children : It is great for capturing personality and expressions of my young daughter . Often , I just point the camera at her and hold down the shutter release and let the continuous mode capture all the poses and expressions . I have gotten so many priceless pictures that never would have happened with a point and shoot ( P & S ) camera . Family and friends are always appreciative of me taking great quality pictures of their children as well . My pictures with this camera are usually better than what they have taken . VS P & S : Too many times , I would grab my P & S , see a photo op , and take the picture only for the moment to be gone by the time the picture was actually taken . The speed of this continuous shooting mode on this great . The FPS of continuous mode is one of the main points that would get me to upgrade to a nicer camera . Lack of money and time ( to really learn the DSRL ) are really the only reasons to stick with a P & S . VS Video : I think it is a personal preference thing but I prefer great pictures to video . Video is good to capture moments but there is just something very special about a great picture that I do not get from watching a video . There is a reason for the saying a picture speaks a thousand words . RAW vs JPEG : I tried going RAW for a while but every time I showed my wife the RAW I had tweaked in Photoshop Elements vs . the JPEG of the same shot , she almost always picked the dang JPEG so I'm almost always shooting the highest res JPEG these days . I do still plan to do more RAW in the future though . RAW gives you more options but takes more work . Kit lens VS others : Hmm , this is always an interesting debate . I'm a visual guy but I'm not always the most detail oriented . I rarely use the kit lens though I like the focal length it provides for indoor pictures . My most often used lens is the Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM prime lens . I'll be writing a review of that in the future and posting some pictures too . I'm thinking about getting a high end zoom in the next 6 months to a year . Basically , I want the quality and speed of that prime but the convenience of a zoom . That combination costs about a grand . I just have not decided to let go of that much money since I'm not a professional and do not receive any money for my pictures . I got the EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom as part of a package deal when I got the XSi kit . I really like the focal length , especially for outside nature pictures . 250mm on this camera ( 1.6x crop factor ) really reaches out . Having said that , it still makes me want more at times . There are some wildlife ( mostly bird ) pictures that I wanted that needed some extra reach . I got some pretty good zoo pictures with it . This camera's resolution with take advantage of the high end lenses so my wish list has gotten quite pricey . Lens wish list - these are all expensive , maybe even crazy-expensive for an amateur : EF 100mm f / 2.8 Macro USM ( macro photography is just fascinating to me ) EF-S 17 - 55mm f / 2.8 IS USM or the EF 24 - 70mm f / 2.8L USM Standard Zoom ( both have pros and cons ) one of the EF 70 - 200mm L series lenses longer reach 300mm - 400mm lens Ease of Use / Quality of Pictures : I am combining these two qualities because basically , with a DSLR , it comes down to how easily can you take really good pictures . I think it is a combination of luck and skill . You are not going to magically start taking the best pictures of your life just because you buy an expensive camera . It still takes work . I have a couple of coworkers who got a Nikon D90 around the same time I got this XSi . They have taken good pictures , but both have make comments that it is hard to take tons of really good pictures with a SLR unless you spend time learning about the camera , photography concepts , and practice . I think this is a great camera , but that 5 star rating doesn't mean it hands awesome pictures to you . I've seen quotes of the % of keepers that good photographers expect to have from a photo shoot . It isn't a very big number . I just want perspective buyers to know that it takes some effort to get consistently great pictures out of any SLR , especially the more varied the conditions and setting you are photographing . Accessories : I've spent more on accessories than the price of the camera . Is that required , no . But it sure helps . : ) That is a main reason why I'm glad I didn't start out with a more expensive camera . It leaves money for other goodies . I got two lenses in addition to the kit one , a backpack , remote , tripod , several books , Photoshop Elements , and a couple of SDHC cards . Oh yea , I spent a pretty good chuck of change on the Speedlite 580EX II Flash too . It's great but can be harsh and startling to those being photographed if you aren't careful . I'm trying to take more natural light pictures instead of flash , hence some of my lens choices . I hope this long review was helpful . I have really enjoyed this camera and starting photography as a hobby . It has opened up a whole new world to me .
    • 031 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera ( Black Body Only ) ( Electronics ) The XSi is a great digital body , and should probably be bought that way ( i.e . , without a lens ) , so that you can save the money you would have spent on a barely-adequate kit lens to put towards something far better , such as the Canon EF-S 17 - 55mm f / 2.8 IS USM Lens . While this Rebel has been superceded by the newer Canon EOS Rebel T1i , this model still provides excellent bang for the buck , and even exceeds the performance of the T1i in some respects . Others have written at length and in great detail about the features and performance of this camera , so I'll just touch on a few highlights and some important distinctions between this and the newer model , the T1i . This model uses the same size digital sensor ( APS-C ) with fewer megapixels than the newer body . This fact , together with the less agressive noise-reduction implemented by the older DIGIC III processor in this camera , means that the XSi can provide lower noise in lower-light situations than the T1i , while still providing more than enough pixels to print even cropped sections of your photos up to 11x14 . By foregoing the video recording mode , DIGIC IV processor and high-resolution screen found on the T1i , the XSi body leaves more room in your budget for some important accessories , such as the 17 - 55 f / 2.8 lens mentioned above , and one of the must-have Speedlite flashes , such as the top-of-the-line Canon Speedlite 580EX II or the still-very-much-worth-having Canon Speedlite 430EX II . Basically , if you want a compact digital camera body that accepts EF-S lenses and don't want to blow your whole budget before you even get to buy a lens or a flash , the XSi is right in the sweet spot of great performance for a reasonable price .
    • 032 4  The XSi is a great digital body , and should probably be bought that way ( i.e . , without a lens ) , so that you can save the money you would have spent on a barely-adequate kit lens to put towards something far better , such as the Canon EF-S 17 - 55mm f / 2.8 IS USM Lens . While this Rebel has been superceded by the newer Canon EOS Rebel T1i , this model still provides excellent bang for the buck , and even exceeds the performance of the T1i in some respects . Others have written at length and in great detail about the features and performance of this camera , so I'll just touch on a few highlights and some important distinctions between this and the newer model , the T1i . This model uses the same size digital sensor ( APS-C ) with fewer megapixels than the newer body . This fact , together with the less agressive noise-reduction implemented by the older DIGIC III processor in this camera , means that the XSi can provide lower noise in lower-light situations than the T1i , while still providing more than enough pixels to print even cropped sections of your photos up to 11x14 . By foregoing the video recording mode , DIGIC IV processor and high-resolution screen found on the T1i , the XSi body leaves more room in your budget for some important accessories , such as the 17 - 55 f / 2.8 lens mentioned above , and one of the must-have Speedlite flashes , such as the top-of-the-line Canon Speedlite 580EX II or the still-very-much-worth-having Canon Speedlite 430EX II . Basically , if you want a compact digital camera body that accepts EF-S lenses and don't want to blow your whole budget before you even get to buy a lens or a flash , the XSi is right in the sweet spot of great performance for a reasonable price .
    • 034 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) This Camera seems to do it all , quite nicely , I was a little suprised that the Live View feature does not function in the automatic / program modes , but the three inch monitor is a big improvement for viewing the pictures after you take them . So I am still happy , and won't discount my five point enthusiasm . I like the weight and the grip , it just feels right to me . I got some really nice photos with the kit lens . Using it with my 580EX flash was also a breeze . I am a point-and-shoot kinda guy , and this camera gets pro-looking shots in full automatic mode most of the time .
    • 050 4  I have owned a Canon EOS 3 film SLR camera for about 12 years and have loved it . I decided to go to the digital SLR since I am going to have daughter in a couple of months and the cost of film and developing is crazy . The lenses on my EOS 3 were interchangeable with the new digital Rebel lens mounting system . This was one of the main reasons that I stuck with Canon . Keeping the lenses and flash I already had saved me about $1000 . I have the Canon EF 75 - 300mm f / 4 - 5.6 IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon , the Canon 24 - 85 / 3.5 - 4.5 EF USM Black Zoom Lens Canon AF Zoom Lens and a Canon Speedlite 380EX . All of these products work very well with with the new digital system . I have had this camera for about 30 days and have taken around 500 - 750 shots . I mainly take landscape / nature and portraits . The quality is excellent . I have taken a whole lot of photos of my dogs and while hiking in the mountains , I live in Arizona . The camera's automatic shooting modes are pretty good but if you can take the time to learn how to use the manual Av and Tv modes this camera is AWESOME ! I just bought a new portrait lens , the Canon EF Lens - 50 mm - F / 1.8 - Canon EF . It is Canon's lower quality model with the plastic mounting system of lenses but it is very , very good for natural light portraits . As long as you don't need a portrait lens for professional use , this lens is great . This camera picks up every detail and is unbelievable at 12mp . I bought a 8gig SD card to go with it for about $10 shipped . It was the Transcend 8 GB SDHC Class 6 Flash Memory Card TS8GSDHC6 . I found it on Amazon . It holds about 1300 pictures at 12mp . It is a great combo for the Rebel body . I highly recommend this camera . It has very easy to use manual and automatic settings . It has cool features like live view and depth of field preview too .
    • 053 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I agree with all the positive things said and I probably can't offer much more than that . I am extremely pleased with the quality of the images and the flexibility of the camera . But I will say that , after I accidentally left the camera outside during a rainstorm for several hours , it worked fine the next day . I was amazed . I let it dry out and it worked perfectly . Now , you probably won't buy this camera for that , but it is nice to know that it is a quality item .
    • 060 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Ok . This is my first SLR so you'll have to forgive the amateurist way I see things . Overall , this is a great camera . Being a newbie , this was well priced and as easy to use as point and shoot . The pictures come out great even with low light . It really puts the Casio Exilim I have to shame . I definitely recommend this to everyone but there is a downside to this . 1 ) Unlike modern point and shoots , this can't record video . Not really a big deal but it's a nice feature to have while on vacation . 2 ) It took me a very long time to figure out how to get the camera to work in live view mode ( use the screen to shoot ) . Considering it was one of the bigger selling points , it was weird it was so hard to figure out . 3 ) Focus in live view mode isn't by holding down the shoot button 1 / 2 way but you have to push another button instead . Weird . 4 ) Live view mode doesn't work in automatic modes . Like I said . Kind of weird . 5 ) When traveling , it's REALLY big . I do mean REALLY big to carry around . I didn't realize it would be so cumbersome to carry but seriously the advantages of having great clear shots outweighs the man purse you have to lug around . When buying this camera , I do suggest a couple additional items . 1 ) UV haze filter . For $7 , it would protect the camera lense from being scratched . 2 ) LCD screen protector . With such a large screen , don't get it scratched . 3 ) LensePen to keep the camera clean . 4 ) Holster bag to carry the camera and all the toys 5 ) Extra battery . This battery lasts forever but you'll need another one eventually . 6 ) If you like putting yourself in the shots , buy yourself a tripod and a remote control .
    • 080 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Great camera for amateur photographers just starting out . I've always had a digital point-n-shoot for the longest time , but a new cannon point-n-shoot camera and a trip to Niagara Falls changed my mind . I was so impressed by cannon quality of camera and image . I became interested in doing semi-professional photography . So I looked into DSLR's . This camera is a great camera . If you're just getting serious about photography like I am then I would highly recommend this camera . All the bad reviews I read here on Amazon made it seem like the camera had problems . But that's just not true , outside of defected product , the camera is good , it's the lenses you have to be careful about . The camera is comfortable to hold , not that heavy , and a heck of a lot better than the point-n-shoot you had before . It might take a while to get used to where all the setting buttons are , and moving between them quick enough . A lot of things are overwhelming with this camera when you never owned a DSLR or taken any photography classes . Such as where the buttons are , learning where all the features are , and the hardest is learning about aperture , shutter speed , and exposure . But don't let that deter you , if you take the time to learn then you'll be fine . Price was great here on Amazon . It was the lowest price BY FAR that i saw while researching for NEW equipment . For the lens it came with , the 18 - 55mm IS , it's a pretty good lens . When looking through all the reviews on here you'll see a lot of Auto Focusing problems . The thing is , if the lens can't auto focus , just switch to manual focus . You may ask though , how often would I have to do that ? . The answer , not very much . The only times my camera had auto focusing problems is with night shoots without a flash , and pointing it at the open sky . Sometimes you will get some shoots ( depending on the scene and composure ) that the camera wants to focus on something closer than your subject . Such as shooting through tall weeds or grass . Probably just want to switch to MF in that scenario like I do . I mean after all that's one of the primary reasons I got a DSLR , to have control of the focus . It's a good lens . Overall , great camera , great price , great quality . I'm happy I bought it .
    • 082 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I purchased this camera for my fiancee because she has always liked taking pictures of flowers and plants . I read many reviews before I decided on this camera , and I must say that I think I made the right choice . The camera takes the best close up shots I've ever seen , even compared to other DSLRs that I've had experience with . For the first time user , the full auto mode is perfect to use until you get time to read the manual and understand how to use the more advanced functions . The biggest problems posted by other users seemed to be the noise the camera makes and the weight of the camera . I haven't noticed a problem with either . If you are thinking about trying out a DSLR for the first time , I strongly recommend this camera .
    • 084 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) This was my first SLR since converting to digital . I previously had a 35mm Canon Rebel that I loved although it was rather basic and old , then I had a Canon Powershot which was good . I was hesitant to switch to a digital SLR because I thought the Powershot was all that I would ever need ; after all my old Rebel film camera was lacking in features and took average shots - so a point-and-shoot digital was better . Why would I need anything more than a point-and-shoot ? I was so wrong . The Canon Rebel XSi is an awesome camera , loaded with useful features that are easy to figure out . The Rebel line has come a long way in innovation since going digital , and the control and quality of a DSLR cannot be touched with a point-and-shoot . I still like my point-and-shoot because I can keep it in my pocket for easy traveling ; but the XSi is my main camera . If you are new to digital SLRs , or new to SLRs , or new to photography ; or upgrading from a point-and-shoot - - this is the camera for you . If you have the extra money for the T1i , it's a little better with video ; but the XSi is still great for photography . Check out the manual by Ben Long for a great set of instructions on how to use this camera . It took me about a month of steady shooting to really understand it , but now it's like second nature . I highly recommend this camera .
    • 089 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) It's difficult to find much wrong with this camera . Sure I would prefer a better quality and faster lens , but for the price of this body / lens combination , the lens was basically free . The picture quality is excellent by any standard . I have a degree in commercial photography , and have purchased 7 digital cameras in the last 2 ½ years . I study them quite thoroughly , and this camera seems difficult to beat , until you are well over the $3000 mark . Ok , it does have a plastic body . But this is also a plus . The camera is quite small and very light weight . You will not be disappointed .
    • 093 4  This might be a quality control issue but about 50% of my shots are out of focus . I have used a 350D for years and was planning to upgrade to 12 MP - but I am very disappointed . I am always using center point autofocus and have used several different lenses - Canon's 50mm / f1.8 , the Canon 17 - 85mm IS , Sigma 10 - 20mm , Sigma 30mm / f1.4 - with all lenses there are focus issues in many many shots . In addition , I can not attest to the low noise comments . I see lots of chroma noise even at ISO 400 which was never the case with my 8 MP 350D . This one is going back today - I guess Canon has serious quality control issues , though the noise issue can not be explained by that .
    • 094 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera ( Black Body Only ) ( Electronics ) Still figuring out all the specs and how to utilize all the sweet manual settings but other than that it takes amazing pictures ! Great overall camera . Canon all the way ! Also , if you are going to buy it , get it without the kit lens and get something better , you will not regret it . I have a friend that has the kit lens on a different rebel model and I played around with it and the quality and overall specs are not that great . I purchased the Canon EF 28 - 135mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens , well worth the extra investment .
    • 096 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I did a lot of research on dslr's and everyone professional photographer that I spoke to said the the Canon Rebel was the best dslr for a beginner . I did buy the book Canon Rebel DSLR for Dummies and was able to whip thru it very quickly . It really helped me to understand all of the features . I would highly recommend this camera for any beginner and even those with professional knowledge .
    • 098 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera ( Black Body Only ) ( Electronics ) This is an excellent digital SLR oveall , and ( almost ) everything positive that others have written about it is correct in my opinion . The controls are intuitive , and after a little practice you can use them without having to take your eye off the viewfinder - the ISO control , the exposure compensation , the viewfinder is familiar to any Canon SLR user , etc . . . The grip is comfortable , and provides good ' grip ' . The LCD panel is bright , and displays all relevant information in a readable , usable manner . The mode dial allows you to switch on the camera with a gentle flick to the wheel , and the camera itself switches on almost instantaneously . The battery , when fully charged , can take almost a thousand shots before requiring a recharge . Even when using the flash , I was able to take more than a hundred shots before the indicator dipped to the low marker . Since this camera can accept both regular and EF-S lenses , there is a white marker on the body for aligning the EF-S lenses when mounting them on the body , and a red marker for the regular lenses . Nice ! The negatives , in my opinion : - Flash photography results , especially indoors , and with the built-in flash , are not too good . You will have to experiment a lot to get acceptably good results . This may be an issue with most cameras when using the built-in flash , and you may need to go in for an external flash . So this is not necessarily a negative against the Canon XSi , but more an issue with most cameras I think . - The tripod socket at the bottom has the camera's serial number next to it . So , after screwing and un-screwing the tripod head a few times to the camera body , you are very likely to end up scratching off the serial number completely . Also , you will need to swivel the tripod head to open the battery cover . This is also bad for the serial number sticker . This may not matter much , unless you need to get the camera repaired . Bummer . In any case , this is not optimal design . - If you switch on the Long Exposure Noise Reduction custom setting on , it can take 5 , 10 seconds or longer before you are able to take another photo . So be aware of that . This depends on the length of the exposure itself . For 30 second exposures , this post-processing can take almost as long . - The exposure compensation indicator still does not go beyond showing 2 f-stops in either direction . This is supposed to be on account of a patent issue , but it still reduces usability somewhat . On the whole , an excellent camera , but not without its flaws .
    • 102 4  I made the jump from a point and shoot to an SLR . I wanted something where I could take pictures at car races and the like that is just beyond the point and shoot range . I'm not a pro and don't have the budget or the justification for that kind of equipment but I like quality pictures and wanted to get the biggest bang for my buck . I researched everything out there and settled on the Rebel XSi . At 12 MP , the photos can be blown up to poster size and not look pixelated . I'm happy with an 8x10 glossy so that ought to do . Out of the box , it was a little confusing until I set down with the camera and the book . In short order , I was taking pictures . . . No , I was creating art . Man , what a difference from the point and shoot ! This thing takes unbelieveable pictures . The detail is fantastic . There is no doubt in my mind I made the right camera choice . The camera is advanced enough for a pro but has auto setting so it becomes a fancy point and shoot with the bonus of vivid , sharp , detailed photos . I really don't have anything negative to say about the camera . Any time something didn't work right , I found it to be operator error . As I am still learning , when the shot really matters I put it in a program mode and it works every time . Other times , I find myself playing with the settings and coming up with some interesting stuff . When it doesn't work , hey , it's digital . . . delete it !
    • 109 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Having just gotten back into photography after a decades long absence I bought the XSi 4 months ago . It has been an excellent purchase . If you are new to dslr's I would recommend taking a class at your local junior college in how to use one . It helped me understand what one of these cameras can really do and has really improved my enjoyment using the camera . The pictures I've taken with the XSi have been amazing and the kit lens with the IS feature is top notch . Don't get swayed by all the hype you read online about dslr's and invest in one that costs thousands , the XSi is a great camera at a great price that will give you anything you want in picture quality .
    • 113 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSI 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Silver ) ( Electronics ) I've used Canon products for years . . . high end , usually . I decided to try this camera when I got the bug to buy a new one but didn't want to spend a lot . Consumer reviews were high , and with good reason . I have gotten some of the best photos ever with this camera , especially with a nice lens . The lens that comes with this package is decent , but I'd go with the bigger Canon EF 28 - 200mm lens . I finally did , and yep . All the reviews were right .
    • 117 4  I have previously owned the Canon Rebel XT . I liked this camera as an improvement over my previous Powershot . The SLR offered the focusing and lens possibilities I had experienced with my film Elan camera . However , I found the Canon XT did not do well in low-light situations and that it did not handle situations with varied lighting very well . The new Canon XSi is a VAST improvement over the XT and well worth the investment . Photos are much sharper . The XSi easily adapts to all types of lighting situations . Also its new larger LCD screen is much easier to use . This camera feels more substantial in the hand , and I find all the buttons smartly placed for ease of use . I might add that I have added the 55 - 250mm IS lens to the 18 - 55mm IS lens . Both are light and easily used . With 2 lenses I have both fairly wide angle and telephoto capabilities . This is a great lens set up for anyone wanting to use their XSi in travel and hiking situations .
    • 121 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I bought this camera almost a year ago and it has been great ! This is my first SLR , always had a point and shoot and it has served me well with over 2500 pictures taken . Not all of them have been great but I suppose that is me , not the camera ! by the way I used a Canon EF 28 - 105mm f / 3.5 - 4.5 II USM lens instead of the kit lens and highly recommend it also . . . . . . .
    • 123 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I've owned the camera for 1 week now , and WOW ! This camera is simply incredible and the picture quality is outstanding ! ! ! The kit lens that came with it is also impressive when used in bright / outdoor environments . ( Some of my test outdoors pics and indoor pics with my window blinds open have been stunning . ) However , the kit lens is a bit too slow for handheld photography in dark locations unless you use the flash . For those of you new to photography , a slow lens is basically one in which the aperture does not open wide enough to collect the adequate amount of light in darker locations . Therefore , the shutter stays open longer until enough light has been collected . This also means that if your hand shakes , pictures snapped in dark enough settings will come out blurry . This is not exclusive to the XSi as slow lenses on any camera will produce similar results . If blurry indoor pics are not what you desire , you can correct this by using the flash , using a tripod , or . . . BUY A NEW LENS ! The XSi can use ANY Canon EF / EF-S lens on the market . . . and this includes faster ones as well ! ! With faster lenses ( ie , f / 1.8 ) , soon you'll be shooting like a pro indoors also ! In the end , when considering its wide range of features , customizable flexibility , and it's picture quality , I think any rookie or seasoned pro would be delighted with the XSi .
    • 130 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I had this camera sent to me while on deployment to Afghanistan . I understand Amazon.com's policy on sending electronics over seas so I had to have it mailed home to the states so the wife could sent it to me from there . I was using a small Canon point and shoot which was great for taking out on patrols , but I needed something more for back on base , capturing the mountains and the beautiful skyline the way I see them . There's only so much you can manipulate manually on a point and shoot . I'll be attending a photography class when I return home and the Canon XSI allows me to become more camera savvy in preparation for school . I LOVE this thing ! Anyone who wants to get into photography professionally or just as a hobby , I HIGHLY recommend one of Canon's Rebel line . They have one to fit your shooting style no matter what it is . Three other soldiers in this ( very small ) base have a Canon Rebel of some kind and they agree , GO CANON REBEL !
    • 132 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) This camera is a great digital SLR for the price . Coming from regular point and shoot Canons and Sony around 7MP , this camera blows them away in image quality and is just as easy to use as the point and shoots . Make sure to invest in quality UV or other quality lens protection depending on your intended use for the camera . Also , getting the higher zoom lens is a must-have with this camera , although most of your pictures will be taken in the 18 - 55 range with the lens that comes with the camera . Only thing that could improve on this camera would be to be able to see the picture on the LCD before shooting ( like a point and shoot ) , but I suppose that defeats the whole digital SLR camera's history and function .
    • 134 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I took photography in college many , many years ago and decided recently that I wanted to start taking quality photographs again so I bought the Canon Rebel based on advice of a professional photographer . I have not been disappointed . If you want to point and shoot the automatic features will allow you to do that . If you don't , but want to make the adjustments yourself ( the way it used to be done ) then you can do that as well . If the latter , the instruction book is very clear on how to do that even if you don't know about f stops , shutter and film speed . The other features are amazing and I am really looking forward to using some of the advanced features . So far , this has turned out to be a great purchase .
    • 136 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera ( Black Body Only ) ( Electronics ) I didn't give this camera 5 stars but that's only because a couple of personal gripes that might not even bother another buyer . My problems just stem from the fact that I owned the first digital rebel ( 300D ) and I am used to a bigger bulkier body . That was a issue with me but it's something easily overcome with some use . Also , I thought the shutter is a little loud but again , it's not something that is a real issue with performance . The things I am impressed with so far , is the large screen and the easy to see settings . would be good for people with issues seeing the small LCD screens on the other models . the fast 3.5 fps was a factor I considered before purchase , my 300D , had 2.3fps and only for 4 shots . This model can shoot nearly endlessly at 3.5 fps , great for action / sports shots . Ease of use is pretty good for the intermediate user , I found with a brief look at the manual I could use it up to the standard of my old camera . there is much more I can find but at least I can operate to a satisfactory level for now . Live View is something I don't have an interest right now but I see advantages in this with tripod landscapes and group or portraits . Over all I am very happy with the purchase and recommend this camera .
    • 140 4  This Camera is simply a standout . At 12.1 mp there isn't a non-pro camera that can keep up . The only thing better than this is full-frame pro cameras and that is a different desired way of shooting . Functionally , there is nothing flawed at all with this camera . - The screen and menu options are outstanding - I love the placement and functionality of the ISO , Aperture and Shutter Speed button - Easy to understand visuals for manual shooting in both screen and in viewfinder - Nice trigger rest and dial - Grip is a little ' big ' as noted by others but not worth dropping a star So far , pictures with a kit and EF 17 - 40L lens have been amazing . Colors better than the real thing . I've played with a D60 and similar 10mp next-best competitors and they just aren't there . Just around the corner these guys are going to have to break the 12mp and 9 + point AF system to be competitive . With the body price moving every closer to $500 why get anything else . In fact , why even get a point and shoot ? As an aside , the battery is very common and not expensive if you buy an off-brand . You can avoid a battery grip altogether by spending $25 for 2 more drop in batteries . The only downside : this thing kicks so much a * * with Canon lenses on it you're going to quickly want to spend 2 - 3x the camera cost on sexy lenses !
    • 142 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) This camera is fantastic ! I had the Canon Digital Rebel XT before and really enjoyed the functionality and ease of use . However , this new Rebel takes the line to whole new levels ! It is very easy to access the controls and shoot manually , the auto-focus is better than before , the picture can be blown up to ( roughly ) poster size without losing quality , the new battery lasts longer , and the new memory card format allows for faster usage . Oh yeah , and if you take photos outside alot like I do , the auto dust cleaning sensor is a godsend . No dots on the photos !
    • 145 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I absolutely loved this camera . I bought ( and returned ) two . The only problem was the quality of the photos . For portraits , the quality was magnificent . However , for landscape shots the quality was poor and out of focus . The first camera was the worst of the two . I took many pictures that turned out substandard . The one I remember best was a scene overlooking a town . The houses in the town were all a blur . My girlfriend took the same picture , standing next to me , with her [ . . . ] point and shoot camera . The houses were all nice and sharp in her photo . The second camera was better . The portraits were , again , magnificent . However , for distance shots it was slightly inferior to my Canon G9 . I know that this camera had great professional reviews ( see [ . . . ] and great reviews by users ( [ . . . ] I have no doubt this camera has served admirably for many people . However , I can only write about my personal experiences ( I am not a novice photographer and I shot in both RAW and JPEG ) . It is not only me . Google Canon 450d focus problems and see that I am not alone . Or read the few bad reviews on Amazon.com ( many of these are about focus ) or look through the discussion forums on www.dpreview.com . Other Canon cameras ( including other Rebel models ) don't have these complaints . I very much want to give this camera five stars since it is very , very nice , but I can't due to my personal experience . I do not dispute the five star rating other customers have given this camera - if they have had no focus problems , their ratings are correct . For me , I am going to wait for the next generation of the Rebel series .
    • 147 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) This is my first SLR and it only took three years of research and self-justification to finally take the plunge and so far I don't have any regrets ! I went with the 18 - 55 kit lens and the matching 55 - 250 lens to stay within a budget and even my worse pictures in automatic mode are optically better than my late model point and shoot . Moving from a point and shoot to an SLR is a little overwhelming . Concepts like aperture , shutter speed , ISO , and how they relate do take some time to understand but once you get past that hurdle - all of the buttons just seem to make sense somehow . If you don't have a friend that can help you , I definitely recommend studying the basic mechanical concepts and reading up on composition tips - and then go out and shoot a ton of photos [ just for fun ] and try out some different things . Also , I haven't had any problems with the auto-focus issues that some have described - though now that I'm shooting in what's called Av or aperture priority mode , I changed my AF setting to use the center point instead of the all points mode and I get great focusing . P.S . Don't try to shoot flying butterflies , it's not practical : )
    • 149 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) After a lot of research , customer satisfaction posts , reviews , etc I decided on this camera . I am a typical middle class working stiff . I can afford what I can , and wanted a quality camera for a modest price . This is it . Takes great photos with really good battery life . The image stabilizer feature is worth its weight in gold . Its not a miracle worker , but really helps on the camera shake that you get with some shots . But it should be noted that no camera can take great pictures without the taker practicing . While the little purse camera is almost idiot proof , this one is not . You have to play with it and enjoy it . It doesn't use film , has a warranty , and a ton of settings , so why not experiment with it . I take the same photo with a dozen different settings and then see what the photos look like . Practice makes perfect , and it doesn't cost you a penny to do it . There are some great books printed for this particular camera that are a must . Check the reviews here on Amazon and make your choices . As you will find out by checking the various sites , there are accessories that will cost you thousands of dollars if you get carried away . My suggestion is stick to the basics . And one more VERY important aspect to picture taking . A great photo is in the eyes of the beholder . The pro photographer that lectures for an hour about everything that was done wrong when he looks at a photo taken , may be telling that to a person that thinks the photo looks perfect . Great camera with a lot of settings to get you in the ball park .
    • 152 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) this is my first digital slr and the only thing that i wish was different is that i would have purchased it earlier ! ! perfect for beginners , simple to use , great battery life , couldnt ask for anything more for the price !
    • 163 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera ( Black Body Only ) ( Electronics ) As my first SLR I think this was the best choice I could have made at the time . After a short learning curve you are ready to take great pictures and they only improve as you go . Take the time to learn how to shoot the better modes and stay away from the auto modes . With the release of the T series this may not be a top choice depending on your price range but overall I couldn't be happier .
    • 165 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Bought for the holidays and took some amazing quality pictures . Additionally , while it allows for some very advanced settings , it was also easy enough while on AUTO setting for anyone to snap and shoot good looking photos . Highly recommended .
    • 167 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I love my new Canon EOS Xsi . With the new SLR , it was curious that the new 3 screen was showing you the camera settings rather than the image you were shooting , like with point and shoot cameras . Only with Live View will you see the images on the screen as you photograph . It doesn't matter . Since it's a SLR , you view your shot through the viewfinder , which has elaborate information you can see . Frankly , the screen on point and shoot cameras were impossible to see and you could never tell what you were getting on them anyway . The SLR lets you know exactly what you are getting by looking through the lens that is taking the shot . I got a great deal on my 12.2 mpx EOS at Amazon , and I would urge anyone looking for a more serious camera than a point-and-shoot should jump in and make the plunge with this very excellent DSLR .
    • 171 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I've had this camera for over a year now and it is still pretty great , in my opinion . Great functions , great controls and a great starter-camera for those learning about photography . However , after learning so much from this little wonder , I want to upgrade to a pro or pro-sumer level Canon body . But for the price , you can't beat it . The pics turn out great ( given the right settings ) . I would suggest buying an external flash and another lens , though . I wish I had just bought the camera body and then purchased a different lens a year ago . The kit lens is okay , but not the best . Still , a wonderful camera . You can't go wrong .
    • 173 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) This is my step up from point and shoots and I am happy with the ease of use to get decent pictures . I have much to learn yet , but this is not the camera's fault . Battery life is excellent . Much better than my two Nikon P & S cameras .
    • 175 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I use my camera for taking pictures of our one year old mostly . It is a great camera for small children because it can take a picture so fast you don't miss out on a good smile . I am disappionted in the live view mode . It is very hard to use and you can not use it in the auto modes . They don't tell you that up front . If you want to take pictures mostly with your LCD screen in live mode this is not the camera for you . If you enjoy using the view finder this is a great camera for the price .
    • 177 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I ordered this camera for the pending arrival of our first child . I also ordered the complementary 50mm lens so I could get good close up photos . Although I am no expert , I have the camera set to P and put it to Portrait setting with a high ISO which has allowed us to take awesome pictures of our little one , especially in low light without the need for a flash . I loved being able to just set this camera and point & shoot . My mother and husband are perfectly comfortable using it , especially with the 50mm lens - you don't need to zoom and you get great shots every time .
    • 179 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera ( Black Body Only ) ( Electronics ) I've been very happy with this camera , I shoot crime scene photos and as you might guess my cameras get heavy rough use . With all the excellent lenses Canon offers , I have a great number of them , you can shoot some of the sharpest Macro shots imaginable . Sorry I don't have any to load here but take my work this camera never fails me . I have 6 non-brand batteries and haven't had a problem with one of them . I recommend a wrist strap that allows one hand operation , Amazon offers a few models but the one I use everyday has the lower tripod mound screw . I guess my point of this review is that after crashing around , from the case in my trunk to climbing over and into things one NEVER expects , this camera is almost bullet proof , thank God I haven't tested it that far yet . yes its hit the ground and has many scars to prove its hard use but so-far hasn't failed me . Thanks Canon !
    • 189 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Although ANY 35mm camera may seem daunting coming from a point and shoot type camera , this one is straight forward . To start out , just leave it in Full Auto mode and get used to it for a while . When you start getting comfortable where all the bells and whistles are , you can start getting adventurous . Canon supplies a VERY GOOD manual and it becomes your best friend at first . Yet it only took me a good day or two to really become friends . I had owned a 35 film camera ( back in the day ) so admittedly it was easier for me , but even novices will find this camera very appealing . The pictures are beautiful ( I have the 18 - 55mm lens package ) , the colors spot on , focus clean and crisp . I bought the FD / EOS body adapter from Canon and am able to use all my old AE1 lenses , too ! It's been a VERY painless transition for me . HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for anyone .
    • 196 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) This is my first DSLR camera and I have had it for over four months now . I've had a several years of experience with SLR's and wanted to upgrade from a point and shoot digital to a DSLR . This camera is every bit as good as I expected it to be . It's lightweight , takes good pictures on all kinds of lightings and the colors come out very realistic . The lens that comes with it is not the best in the world , but is good enough to get started . My only slight issue is with the camera's autofocus in low light situations , where it sometimes focuses on objects other than the main subject ( s ) . Overall , this is an excellent camera to begin the DSLR journey . It offers lots of controls to the user and its high ISO settings make low-light non-flash pictures come out very nice .
    • 200 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) 7 years with a Canon F1 followed by 4 or 5 P & S digital cameras didn't prepare me for the control flexibility of this camera . When the settings are right , the results are stunning . If you're going to leave it on full auto all the time , you aren't going to get the quality images the camera is capable of .
    • 204 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Just took this on a trip to Europe , and the battery lasted the entire 12 days , pics turned out great , especially in some tricky lighting situations
    • 206 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) As a part-time professional photographer , this is a bargain of an upgrade even from the Canon Rebel Xti which is what I did ! I thought my Xti was a great camera & it is but the Xsi is so much more ! The increased image quality is worth the price alone . ( See images below ) . Then when you add in the benefit of the improved & larger LCD , Highlight tone priority , excellent noise reduction , you have an exceptional value . Many pundits have listed some things as negatives that I feel are advantageous . Namely , the smaller size of the body seems to fit my hand very well & the light weight helps me carry it since I do a considerable amount of hiking & travel . Its easier for me to carry along with all the rest of my gear . I feel like it is a BEST BUY in my book . greenngold1 @ cox.net

  • Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) My journey with DSLRs began back in 2003 with the original Digital Rebel . DSLRs changed my photography for the better like nothing else . Five years and some 25,000 shots later , it's still going strong . Along the way I upgraded to the Canon 30D , which is a fantastic camera as well . When the 40D was announced , I decided to wait until the 50D sometime in 2009 , but wanted a newer backup / second body for my photography needs . So when the XSi / 450D was announced , it sounded like a perfect fit for my needs . I got it from Amazon.com three days ago , and have given it a pretty good workout since then , having shot about 650 shots under a variety of shooting conditions and with a number of different Canon and third-party lenses . The following are my impressions . The build feels very good . The camera feels wonderfully light yet well built . I'm 6ft tall with average size hands , and the camera feels good in my hand . The battery grip , to me , defeats the purpose of having a small , light DSLR , so I opted for a Hakuba / Opteka grip ( it's a plate that screws into the tripod socket that enables you to use the excellent Canon E1 hand strap with it ) and I couldn't be happier . I'm not a fan of neck straps , so this works well for me ( see the uploaded photo for the configuration ) . Most of the menu buttons on the back feel different from the ones on the original Digital Rebel and the 30D ; the XSi buttons feel more tactile and have a definite click to them when you press them . The exception are the Exposure Lock ( * ) and AF selector buttons , which have retained the deeper , softer feel of the older cameras . Just different , not better or worse , for me . The LCD is now 3 with 230K pixels . The playback images look great , and probably because of the higher resolution of the sensor , there's a very slight delay when you zoom in to 10x while the image loads and displays properly . People coming from other cameras or brands might not even notice it - - I only did so because of the difference between it and my two other Canon DSLRs ( which have lower resolution sensors ) . The viewing angle of the LCD screen ( how clearly you can see the screen from side and up and down ) is excellent ; you can still see the screen holding the camera almost straight up for an overhead shot ( more on this later ) . I'd estimate the viewing angle is about 160 - 170 degrees both horizontally and vertically . The Digital Rebel has a separate status screen above the main LCD screen , and the 30D had one on top of the camera , so I wasn't sure if I was going to like the big LCD acting as the status screen and no top screen . I'm happy to say that this arrangement works well , at least for me . The back screen makes it really easy to take all the settings at a glance . The viewfinder is much larger and brighter than that in the Digital Rebel . A humongously welcome feature for me is the always displayed ISO value in the viewfinder . The camera is only 1 / 2 of the image quality equation , the other being the lenses being used . Coupled with my favorite lens , the Canon EF 70 - 200mm f / 4 L telephoto lens , the XSi turns out fantastic images . The supplied kit lens is very light and compact for being an image stabilized lens , and turns out good performance . The IS is certainly very useful . Two features that used to be missing from the Digital Rebels and found in the more expensive DSLRs are now featured in the XSi : spot-metering and flash exposure compensation ( these may have been available in the previous Digital Rebel model , the XTi , as well ) . The inclusion of those two features make the camera a much more complete and compelling photographic tool . The timer function now has a custom mode , where it'll count down from 10 seconds then take a number of shots ( specified by you ) in succession . No more running back and forth to reset the timer after each shot ! There's also the traditional 2 - second timer . Let's talk for a minute about sensor and the ISO values . XSi / 450D has five ISO values you can choose : 100 ( best image quality ) , 200 , 400 , 800 , and 1600 . Higher ISO increases the camera sensor's sensitivity to light , thus you can achieve faster shutter speeeds for a given lighting condition . However , the trade-off is that the sensor noise ( think grain for film photography ) increases with higher ISO , so you get a degraded image quality in return for less blurred photos from hand shakes ( thanks to faster shutter speed ) . This may come in handy in situations where flash photography is not permitted , such as a museum or a concert or theater . HOWEVER , compared to point-and-shoot digital cameras , the larger sensors of DSLRs , including the XSi , means that even at ISO 800 and 1600 you get very usable images right out of the camera . Running the images shot at those ISO settings through any number of third-party noise reduction software will improve them even further . This ties in to another very useful feature of the XSi / 450D that makes life easier for the photographer : The Auto ISO function . By default , Auto ISO sets the ISO ( the sensor sensitivity to light ) between 100 and 800 ( by using custom functions , this can be changed to 200 - 1600 ) . If you are , for example , shooting your kid's indoor basketball game and you know that you need a shutter speed of at least 1 / 200 sec to freeze the action , then you can set the camera to Tv ( shutter priority mode ) and set the value to 1 / 200 , and set the camera to Auto ISO . Then the camera will match the aperture and the ISO to achieve proper exposure at that shutter speed . With my other DSLRs , setting the camera to shutter priority only allowed the camera to adjust the aperture value ; ISO setting had to be adjusted manually . With the XSi / 450D , the ability for the camera to adjust the ISO value automatically makes it one less thing for you the photographer to worry about . I've only tested the Live View function to see how it works , but I can already see how useful it's going to be in studio and macro shootings . Just a note , you can't half-press the shutter to autofocus while in Live View mode . You can either manual focus , or use one of the two autofocus methods , quick ( the mirror flips up , the LCD goes dark for a short while , and flips down with focus locked ) or live ( the camera uses the LCD's contrast detection to achieve the focus - - this method is slower than the quick method ) , both by pressing the exposure lock button ( * ) while in the Live View mode . Using either the RS - 60E3 wired remote or RC - 1 wireless remote in Live View mode will ONLY trigger the shutter , and has no bearing on focusing . Some people seem to be under the impression that the inclusion of the Live View feature will enable them to use the XSi / 450D as they do point-and-shoot digital cameras , to compose their shots . That is not the case . You can't really make a functioning use of the Live View feature unless the camera's securely mounted on a tripod or on a flat surface . Both Live View focusing modes , while precise , are too slow to be used for hand-held shooting . Having said that , there is one use of Live View in hand-held shooting that I've come to value . When shooting overhead or over an obstacle , I can , with the same hand holding the camera , trigger the Live View , compose the scene through the LCD monitor ( even if it's out of focus , it's easy to get the general framing right ) , disable Live View , and take the photo normally . With a little practice , this can be accomplished very quickly . Very handy when you're just holding the camera overhead and hoping for the best . The Direct Print button that's been much ridiculed and maligned in most Canon cameras now double as the white balance menu button . The Set button in the middle of the four-direction arrow keys can be programmed for a number of different functions : Change image quality , flash exposure compensation , LCD monitor on / off ( same as Display button , but can be triggered by the same hand holding the camera ) , and Menu display ( again , can be triggered by the same hand holding the camera ) . There is a dedicated ISO button , which is also very welcome . It can easily be accessed during shooting with the right thumb , thereby minimizing the interruption to shooting . The battery life seems very good . I've shot about 500 + shots on a single charge and the status monitor is still showing charge at full . I'm using Transcend 8GB Class 6 SDHC card with it . At ISO 100 , the camera reports it can fit 396 RAW + JPG ( highest quality ) on it , but in reality it can probably fit about 420 - 450 ( the camera's always conservative when estimating ) . With RAW only , it can fit 507 . With highest quality JPG , it can fit 1,822 . Note that as ISO increases , so do the file sizes and thus you can store less images per card . For example , on ISO 1600 , the same card can only hold 323 images , compared to 396 at ISO 100 . My only gripe , and this is more about me than the camera , is the RAW + JPG buffer . I always shoot RAW + JPG , and the buffer will only hold four images at that speed ( this is a limitation that's built into the camera's memory buffer system , and thus using a fast memory card doesn't help - - see p .64 of the manual ) . When the buffer's full , you can take two additional images at about a frame a second , then have to wait until the buffer empties ( finishes writing to the memory card ) . When shooting RAW only , it's 6 images . When shooting JPG only , then it's no problem at more than 50 frames . I've found myself switching the mode dial to Sports mode when I'm shooting a fast-moving subject and the buffer simply can't keep up with it . Well , that's why Canon produces different grades and ranges of DSLRs . I've uploaded some photos that I shot of the local wildlife . Most if not all of those were taken with the EF 70 - 200mm f / 4 L lens . All in all , it's a fantastic camera . Pretty amazing to see how far the entry-level DSLRs have come in just a few years in terms of features , interface , ergonomics , and quality . I'm very pleased with my purchase and intend to have lots of fun shooting pictures with it .
    • 001 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) My journey with DSLRs began back in 2003 with the original Digital Rebel . DSLRs changed my photography for the better like nothing else . Five years and some 25,000 shots later , it's still going strong . Along the way I upgraded to the Canon 30D , which is a fantastic camera as well . When the 40D was announced , I decided to wait until the 50D sometime in 2009 , but wanted a newer backup / second body for my photography needs . So when the XSi / 450D was announced , it sounded like a perfect fit for my needs . I got it from Amazon.com three days ago , and have given it a pretty good workout since then , having shot about 650 shots under a variety of shooting conditions and with a number of different Canon and third-party lenses . The following are my impressions . The build feels very good . The camera feels wonderfully light yet well built . I'm 6ft tall with average size hands , and the camera feels good in my hand . The battery grip , to me , defeats the purpose of having a small , light DSLR , so I opted for a Hakuba / Opteka grip ( it's a plate that screws into the tripod socket that enables you to use the excellent Canon E1 hand strap with it ) and I couldn't be happier . I'm not a fan of neck straps , so this works well for me ( see the uploaded photo for the configuration ) . Most of the menu buttons on the back feel different from the ones on the original Digital Rebel and the 30D ; the XSi buttons feel more tactile and have a definite click to them when you press them . The exception are the Exposure Lock ( * ) and AF selector buttons , which have retained the deeper , softer feel of the older cameras . Just different , not better or worse , for me . The LCD is now 3 with 230K pixels . The playback images look great , and probably because of the higher resolution of the sensor , there's a very slight delay when you zoom in to 10x while the image loads and displays properly . People coming from other cameras or brands might not even notice it - - I only did so because of the difference between it and my two other Canon DSLRs ( which have lower resolution sensors ) . The viewing angle of the LCD screen ( how clearly you can see the screen from side and up and down ) is excellent ; you can still see the screen holding the camera almost straight up for an overhead shot ( more on this later ) . I'd estimate the viewing angle is about 160 - 170 degrees both horizontally and vertically . The Digital Rebel has a separate status screen above the main LCD screen , and the 30D had one on top of the camera , so I wasn't sure if I was going to like the big LCD acting as the status screen and no top screen . I'm happy to say that this arrangement works well , at least for me . The back screen makes it really easy to take all the settings at a glance . The viewfinder is much larger and brighter than that in the Digital Rebel . A humongously welcome feature for me is the always displayed ISO value in the viewfinder . The camera is only 1 / 2 of the image quality equation , the other being the lenses being used . Coupled with my favorite lens , the Canon EF 70 - 200mm f / 4 L telephoto lens , the XSi turns out fantastic images . The supplied kit lens is very light and compact for being an image stabilized lens , and turns out good performance . The IS is certainly very useful . Two features that used to be missing from the Digital Rebels and found in the more expensive DSLRs are now featured in the XSi : spot-metering and flash exposure compensation ( these may have been available in the previous Digital Rebel model , the XTi , as well ) . The inclusion of those two features make the camera a much more complete and compelling photographic tool . The timer function now has a custom mode , where it'll count down from 10 seconds then take a number of shots ( specified by you ) in succession . No more running back and forth to reset the timer after each shot ! There's also the traditional 2 - second timer . Let's talk for a minute about sensor and the ISO values . XSi / 450D has five ISO values you can choose : 100 ( best image quality ) , 200 , 400 , 800 , and 1600 . Higher ISO increases the camera sensor's sensitivity to light , thus you can achieve faster shutter speeeds for a given lighting condition . However , the trade-off is that the sensor noise ( think grain for film photography ) increases with higher ISO , so you get a degraded image quality in return for less blurred photos from hand shakes ( thanks to faster shutter speed ) . This may come in handy in situations where flash photography is not permitted , such as a museum or a concert or theater . HOWEVER , compared to point-and-shoot digital cameras , the larger sensors of DSLRs , including the XSi , means that even at ISO 800 and 1600 you get very usable images right out of the camera . Running the images shot at those ISO settings through any number of third-party noise reduction software will improve them even further . This ties in to another very useful feature of the XSi / 450D that makes life easier for the photographer : The Auto ISO function . By default , Auto ISO sets the ISO ( the sensor sensitivity to light ) between 100 and 800 ( by using custom functions , this can be changed to 200 - 1600 ) . If you are , for example , shooting your kid's indoor basketball game and you know that you need a shutter speed of at least 1 / 200 sec to freeze the action , then you can set the camera to Tv ( shutter priority mode ) and set the value to 1 / 200 , and set the camera to Auto ISO . Then the camera will match the aperture and the ISO to achieve proper exposure at that shutter speed . With my other DSLRs , setting the camera to shutter priority only allowed the camera to adjust the aperture value ; ISO setting had to be adjusted manually . With the XSi / 450D , the ability for the camera to adjust the ISO value automatically makes it one less thing for you the photographer to worry about . I've only tested the Live View function to see how it works , but I can already see how useful it's going to be in studio and macro shootings . Just a note , you can't half-press the shutter to autofocus while in Live View mode . You can either manual focus , or use one of the two autofocus methods , quick ( the mirror flips up , the LCD goes dark for a short while , and flips down with focus locked ) or live ( the camera uses the LCD's contrast detection to achieve the focus - - this method is slower than the quick method ) , both by pressing the exposure lock button ( * ) while in the Live View mode . Using either the RS - 60E3 wired remote or RC - 1 wireless remote in Live View mode will ONLY trigger the shutter , and has no bearing on focusing . Some people seem to be under the impression that the inclusion of the Live View feature will enable them to use the XSi / 450D as they do point-and-shoot digital cameras , to compose their shots . That is not the case . You can't really make a functioning use of the Live View feature unless the camera's securely mounted on a tripod or on a flat surface . Both Live View focusing modes , while precise , are too slow to be used for hand-held shooting . Having said that , there is one use of Live View in hand-held shooting that I've come to value . When shooting overhead or over an obstacle , I can , with the same hand holding the camera , trigger the Live View , compose the scene through the LCD monitor ( even if it's out of focus , it's easy to get the general framing right ) , disable Live View , and take the photo normally . With a little practice , this can be accomplished very quickly . Very handy when you're just holding the camera overhead and hoping for the best . The Direct Print button that's been much ridiculed and maligned in most Canon cameras now double as the white balance menu button . The Set button in the middle of the four-direction arrow keys can be programmed for a number of different functions : Change image quality , flash exposure compensation , LCD monitor on / off ( same as Display button , but can be triggered by the same hand holding the camera ) , and Menu display ( again , can be triggered by the same hand holding the camera ) . There is a dedicated ISO button , which is also very welcome . It can easily be accessed during shooting with the right thumb , thereby minimizing the interruption to shooting . The battery life seems very good . I've shot about 500 + shots on a single charge and the status monitor is still showing charge at full . I'm using Transcend 8GB Class 6 SDHC card with it . At ISO 100 , the camera reports it can fit 396 RAW + JPG ( highest quality ) on it , but in reality it can probably fit about 420 - 450 ( the camera's always conservative when estimating ) . With RAW only , it can fit 507 . With highest quality JPG , it can fit 1,822 . Note that as ISO increases , so do the file sizes and thus you can store less images per card . For example , on ISO 1600 , the same card can only hold 323 images , compared to 396 at ISO 100 . My only gripe , and this is more about me than the camera , is the RAW + JPG buffer . I always shoot RAW + JPG , and the buffer will only hold four images at that speed ( this is a limitation that's built into the camera's memory buffer system , and thus using a fast memory card doesn't help - - see p .64 of the manual ) . When the buffer's full , you can take two additional images at about a frame a second , then have to wait until the buffer empties ( finishes writing to the memory card ) . When shooting RAW only , it's 6 images . When shooting JPG only , then it's no problem at more than 50 frames . I've found myself switching the mode dial to Sports mode when I'm shooting a fast-moving subject and the buffer simply can't keep up with it . Well , that's why Canon produces different grades and ranges of DSLRs . I've uploaded some photos that I shot of the local wildlife . Most if not all of those were taken with the EF 70 - 200mm f / 4 L lens . All in all , it's a fantastic camera . Pretty amazing to see how far the entry-level DSLRs have come in just a few years in terms of features , interface , ergonomics , and quality . I'm very pleased with my purchase and intend to have lots of fun shooting pictures with it .
    • 008 4  i sold my beloved Nikon D70 after four years of use . I still miss it . I purchased a D40 , but it never felt right . Picture quality was good , better than the D70 , but I had to go through menus to do most everything ( changing white balance , ISO , formatting the card , you name it ) , whereas the D70 had dedicated buttons . That makes all the difference in usability . Besides , the D40 does not even autofocus with my beloved 50mm 1.8 lens . Are you kidding me ? I returned the D40 after 3 days of use . I was lookind at the D80 , 40D , the D300 , the XTI , and this one . All good cameras ( at the end of the day , they all take excellent pictures ) . it's the usability / sweet price / new features factor that counts . 40D and D300 are expensive for me ( not a pro ) . The XTI is getting old ( still good though , and very good price ) . The D80 is very good , a bigger brother of my beloved d70 , but still old : no sensor cleaning , to highlight tone priority , does not ship with a bundled VR lens . You are basically buying a 2006 camera in 2008 . I did not like that . I found this XSI at Circuit City . It felt right in my small hands . It had most of the buttons I need to make changes quickly . I still have to go to a menu to set my custom white balance ( the D70 had a button for that ) . Same thing to format the card ( button combination on the D70 ) . Auto ISO is not as smart as Nikon's implementation . Other than that , the camera is excellent . All the other buttons are there . It has an RGB histogram ( very important ; it lets you see if you are clipping individual colors ) . Picture quality is great . Very little noise ( Canon's CMOS sensor is cleaner than Nikon's CCD on the D80 ) , very pleasing skin tones ( I take lots of pictures of my daughter and wife ) . If the D80 had the same 2008 features as this one ( highlight tone priority , self-cleaning sensor , bundled VR lens ) , I would have gotten that one . It's still a great camera . This one is just a 2008 camera with features found in the semi-pro 40D and the pro 1DS . I'm very happy with it .
    • 009 4  If you do a search on reviews of this camera you will find a lot of first time DSLR buyers deciding to get this camera . I am one of them . After years of Point and Shoot camera use thinking the convenience of carrying them and using them was worth it , I came to the realization that I wasn't happy with most of the pictures I took . They preserved the moment but almost none of them were worth blowing up or printing . Mediocre flash , zoom , megapixels , etc limited me and the pictures . 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 , put it in an SD USB card reader , load the pictures and return the card to the camera , rather than have to fiddle around with opening the little door on the camera and connecting a cable from it to the PC . 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 to improve your flash pictures . And there is the various zoom lens , that now utilize Image or Optical Stabilization , a technology worth the extra cost . I was happy to do all this and I am absolutely satisfied with this camera and the Canon lens and flash as well . I now am very happy with carrying a bigger but absolutely superior camera
    • 016 4  I am a semi-pro photographer who usually shoots with much more expensive bodies . Every now and then , however , I need to bring a smaller camera with me for whatever reason , and this is the one . Also , like a lot of pros and semi-pros I need to have an APS-C body in order to use the cult-followed Canon EF-S 10 - 22mm lens that only works on APS-C boides such as the Rebels . In fact Rebels have been the one I go to to fill those needs for a few years now . A lot of semi-pros and pros criticize the performance of these cameras and / or the perceived weaknesses in ergonomics , size , and available functions . Is this a $1000 camera body ? No it is not . Is this a $2600 camera body ? No it is not . Is this a $6999.99 camera body ? No it is not . I am hammering that point home because some people insist on comparing the Rebels to cameras like that . The comparisons are fine as long as price is factored in ; if you leave price out of the equation then yes , this camera will likely lose out to a body costing more than a grand . The following are some my random thoughts on this camera ; I am not going to cover everything because others have done that well enough . I am going to address the issues important to me , a semi-pro photographer who sometimes needs to travel light . ISO performance ( this is most important to me in any camera for any price ) : ISO 100 : Outstanding ISO 400 : Great ( and professionally competent ) except for higher than desirable noise in the darkest shadows . Even shooting RAW and carefully post-processing , you will probably need to leave the shadows alone and not bring them out too much . I am nitpicking a little here for the sake of being thorough in the review ; it is not by any means a terrible or deal-breaker level of noise in the shadows . ISO 800 : Usable for sure and better than expected , but noise certainly is apparent at this level - - or rather the effects of noise reduction are apparent - - and the in camera noise reduction is aggressive enough that some detail and sharpness is lost as a result of cleaning out the noise . Certainly usable but best at smaller sizes ( 8x10 or smaller ) when printing and viewing . ISO 1600 : To me it's out of the question . I do have a higher standard than the average consumer as a semi-pro , so keep this in mind . I would use this setting only in such a dire situation that ISO 800 would be completely unusable . The noise reduction in ISO 800 is too aggressive , but it does result in the elimination of a great deal of noise . It seems they didn't even bother in ISO 1600 . There is noise all over the place in ISO 1600 . I haven't used a camera that I can remember that had such a huge difference between ISO 800 and ISO 1600 . So , bottom line , IMHO you should stay away and only use in a pinch . I can't see printing anything larger than 4x6 with this setting . If that's your bag then you will probably be fine . I do want to say regarding my opinions on the ISO handling that I did not buy this camera for high ISO performance . If you are planning on doing that I would think twice . Is it better than the Rebel , Rebel XT , and Rebel XTi ? Certainly . Does that make it a good performer at high ISO ? Not necessarily . I do the vast majority of my shooting between ISO 100 and 400 . I use fast lenses and I typically shoot during the day . This is especially true of the times I am using this camera . I don't go to a camera like this for high ISO performance . For that I grab the 5D . I go to this camera for the few times the 5D is not best for the situation . This camera delivers an outstanding image quality at ISO 100 - 400 and a usable one at ISO 800 . To me this is all that matters . a 12MP DSLR with outstanding image quality for a little over $500 is what this is . You throw a nice Canon lens ( nicer than the kit lens ) on this and you have professionally acceptable results . I wouldn't use this camera if it didn't provide those results . The only way the aforementioned 5D will outshoot this is ( in an image quality respect ) is if you are making enlargements or shooting higher than ISO 400 . If you are using good glass , shooting RAW , and setting the ISO manually ( which is what I do ) this is an awesome camera . I don't care if anyone says otherwise , either . I don't have to - - and won't - - argue that point because I've seen the results . Now , if you have never used a Rebel I do have to inform you that it is much smaller than the 20D , 30D , 40D , etc . bodies that you may or may not be used to . It is much harder for me to keep a good grip on this body than , say , the 40D . Again this is OK with me because I am not buying this for ergonomics . Again , I am buying this for value . Price combined with performance is how this arrives at a place of value . I need to keep repeating that because for some reason people always feel the need to compare cameras that are incomparable . If you are looking for the best performance in a DLSR combined with best price , it is my firm opinion that this is the camera . Lastly , I want to say that if we are talking strictly image quality and nothing else like ergonomics and construction , IMHO the IQ from this camera is just as good if not better than the mildly overrated 40D . Given the vast difference in price of the two - - almost 100% different actually - - unless you are an ergonomics stickler I think the decision is a no brainer . You buy this and save the $500 for better glass , or just save the $500 for no reason other than saving $500 is cool . What I am looking forward to doing down the road is comparing the IQ from this to the IQ from the 50D . Again it equals or bests the 40D if we are talking strictly IQ . I returned the 40D last year after using it for 2 weeks . It just wasn't worth the price . The 40D to me is simply a Rebel XTi ( XTi ; not XSi ) with better ergonomics .
    • 021 4  I'll start by saying that this is my first SRL and I'm hooked . I liked taking pictures but I never was into photography until I got this camera . My wife used to have a film SRL and kept wanting a digital one , which eventually led to this purchase . No regrets whatsoever . I have had the camera about 9 months now . Uses : I use this camera most frequently to capture moments from get-togethers with family and friends . It's great for taking pictures of children who don't sit still . I've taken lots of pictures of my dogs . It makes them look sweeter than I think they are . : ) The majority of my pictures are indoors but I take a large number outside too . I'm the official family photographer now . Children : It is great for capturing personality and expressions of my young daughter . Often , I just point the camera at her and hold down the shutter release and let the continuous mode capture all the poses and expressions . I have gotten so many priceless pictures that never would have happened with a point and shoot ( P & S ) camera . Family and friends are always appreciative of me taking great quality pictures of their children as well . My pictures with this camera are usually better than what they have taken . VS P & S : Too many times , I would grab my P & S , see a photo op , and take the picture only for the moment to be gone by the time the picture was actually taken . The speed of this continuous shooting mode on this great . The FPS of continuous mode is one of the main points that would get me to upgrade to a nicer camera . Lack of money and time ( to really learn the DSRL ) are really the only reasons to stick with a P & S . VS Video : I think it is a personal preference thing but I prefer great pictures to video . Video is good to capture moments but there is just something very special about a great picture that I do not get from watching a video . There is a reason for the saying a picture speaks a thousand words . RAW vs JPEG : I tried going RAW for a while but every time I showed my wife the RAW I had tweaked in Photoshop Elements vs . the JPEG of the same shot , she almost always picked the dang JPEG so I'm almost always shooting the highest res JPEG these days . I do still plan to do more RAW in the future though . RAW gives you more options but takes more work . Kit lens VS others : Hmm , this is always an interesting debate . I'm a visual guy but I'm not always the most detail oriented . I rarely use the kit lens though I like the focal length it provides for indoor pictures . My most often used lens is the Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM prime lens . I'll be writing a review of that in the future and posting some pictures too . I'm thinking about getting a high end zoom in the next 6 months to a year . Basically , I want the quality and speed of that prime but the convenience of a zoom . That combination costs about a grand . I just have not decided to let go of that much money since I'm not a professional and do not receive any money for my pictures . I got the EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom as part of a package deal when I got the XSi kit . I really like the focal length , especially for outside nature pictures . 250mm on this camera ( 1.6x crop factor ) really reaches out . Having said that , it still makes me want more at times . There are some wildlife ( mostly bird ) pictures that I wanted that needed some extra reach . I got some pretty good zoo pictures with it . This camera's resolution with take advantage of the high end lenses so my wish list has gotten quite pricey . Lens wish list - these are all expensive , maybe even crazy-expensive for an amateur : EF 100mm f / 2.8 Macro USM ( macro photography is just fascinating to me ) EF-S 17 - 55mm f / 2.8 IS USM or the EF 24 - 70mm f / 2.8L USM Standard Zoom ( both have pros and cons ) one of the EF 70 - 200mm L series lenses longer reach 300mm - 400mm lens Ease of Use / Quality of Pictures : I am combining these two qualities because basically , with a DSLR , it comes down to how easily can you take really good pictures . I think it is a combination of luck and skill . You are not going to magically start taking the best pictures of your life just because you buy an expensive camera . It still takes work . I have a couple of coworkers who got a Nikon D90 around the same time I got this XSi . They have taken good pictures , but both have make comments that it is hard to take tons of really good pictures with a SLR unless you spend time learning about the camera , photography concepts , and practice . I think this is a great camera , but that 5 star rating doesn't mean it hands awesome pictures to you . I've seen quotes of the % of keepers that good photographers expect to have from a photo shoot . It isn't a very big number . I just want perspective buyers to know that it takes some effort to get consistently great pictures out of any SLR , especially the more varied the conditions and setting you are photographing . Accessories : I've spent more on accessories than the price of the camera . Is that required , no . But it sure helps . : ) That is a main reason why I'm glad I didn't start out with a more expensive camera . It leaves money for other goodies . I got two lenses in addition to the kit one , a backpack , remote , tripod , several books , Photoshop Elements , and a couple of SDHC cards . Oh yea , I spent a pretty good chuck of change on the Speedlite 580EX II Flash too . It's great but can be harsh and startling to those being photographed if you aren't careful . I'm trying to take more natural light pictures instead of flash , hence some of my lens choices . I hope this long review was helpful . I have really enjoyed this camera and starting photography as a hobby . It has opened up a whole new world to me .
    • 022 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I waited for months debating on whether to go ahead and purchase the Canon 40D or hold out for the new XSi . I am thrilled that I waited on the XSi . The quality is excellent ! I purchased the XSi with the 18 - 55mm IS lens . The lens is a good walk around lens but I also purchased the 50mm 1.8 and the Sigma 70 - 300mm zoom . I tend to the leave the Sigma on more than any . The XSi has nearly all the features of the 40d at a fraction of the cost . It's features are definitely well above the XTi and totally worth the upgrade . The 3 LCD screen is great for the live view shooting or reviewing . The buttons are placed great and it's very easy to navigate . The body itself is not as heavy as the 40d but also doesn't feel cheap and weak . It's a huge step up from my Canon S3 IS , however , I still love that camera and all it's power too . I have used the camera in numerous situations already and it prevails in all . Of course as with most , it does extremely well outdoors in light . It also exceeded my expectations indoors in low light . Even when I have had to bump the ISO to 800 or 1600 , it performs wonderfully and there is very little noticeable noise . With my former cameras , I was never able to use high ISO settings because they were too noisy to fix with post processing . With the XSi , there is very little if any post processing work needed on the high ISO shots . It's wonderful for low light situations when you don't want that deer in the headlights flash look ! All in all , the XSi was totally worth the wait and the savings . The XSi is a fraction of the cost of the 40D and yet has nearly if not all the pluses of the 40D . I'd definitely recommend anyone debating between the two to go ahead and go with the XSi body and save your money for good lenses .
    • 028 4  I am new to SLR photography and I recognize that this is not considered a true professional dSLR but I don't think you can get much closer to one for under $1000 . Why isn't this considered a true professional dSLR ? Well one big reason is the sensor size . It has what is called a APS-C sized sensor , while the professional ones have a full frame sensor like the 5D ( check out the 5D Mark II , I've read great things about it ) . Another I think is the buffer size in the camera might not be as large so it won't take as many shots in burst mode before needing to stop to save as the professional ones . But other than that , you will basically get all of the important functions that make dSLR cameras so great . First of all , don't get sucked into the megapixel wars . There are several point-and-shoot digital cameras that advertise higher megapixels than 12.2 that might cost less . What people often don't realize is that picture quality has little to do with the megapixels and more to do with the sensor and image processor . The megapixel number is simply the resolution of the image . A crappy image recorded in a very high resolution is just as crappy . Point and shoot cameras have smaller sensor sizes than dSLR cameras . Especially the compact cameras , that's why even when I was using P & S cameras I never bought a compact camera . They are more popular simply because they look sleeker and more stylish . The picture quality is obviously lower than that of a regular non-compact P & S camera AND they cost more , so there's really no real reason to buy them other than for the looks and the convenience . Although I've been able to carry my Canon Powershot A580 in my pocket without a problem . . . This camera takes amazing photos , even with the kit lens , which I highly recommend if you're on a budget BTW . My mother has a friend that is the wife of a pro-photographer . So when I was in the market for a dSLR , my mother referred me to talk with her . Her first suggestion is to not get the kit lens but instead spend more for the 17 - 85mm ef-s lens . Well , I'm glad I didn't take her advice and went with the kit lens because I just read a review of the lens where the pro-photographer writing the review specifically compared it to that very lens and have said that the cheap kit lens is actually a bit better than the more expensive 17 - 85mm lens in terms of chromatic aberration problems which is where high contrast areas show a weird color outline due to the lens not focusing all the color wavelengths correctly . Although my main reason for going with the kit lens was financial , and was because of all of the positive reviews I've read about it . But it still turned out very well . So don't let some pro's or semi-pro's discourage you from getting the kit . They're not wrong though , the kit lenses that came with Canon dSLR's in the past have been pretty bad , it's this specific kit lens that is the exception so be confident in buying it . You can always keep using this while you save up your money for better lenses later . A good addition to it would be the 55 - 250mm ef-s lens . I recommend that over the 75 - 300mm lens for several reasons . I've read worse reviews for the 75 - 300mm lens in terms of image quality , and because with the 55 - 250mm , you don't have a gap in focal lengths . Along with the 18 - 55mm kit lens , you basically have an uninterrupted range of 18 - 250mm . One area where the quality of the sensor really shows is in low light shots with high ISO speeds . I haven't had the need to use any high ISO numbers yet , so I can't say personally , but from what I've read from many professionals who have reviews this camera , that even at the highest ISO setting of 1600 , there isn't too much noise . Which is a very good thing . One complaint I've read a lot about the previous compact dSLR's such as the XTi is the size and shape of the grip not being comfortable . Some say the grip on the right side was too close to the lens and caused their fingers to feel cramped against the lens . Well , let me tell you that isn't a problem with the XSi . I know they redesigned it for this very reason , and from my experience , it doesn't feel very cramped at all . The camera is indeed very light weight and compact compared to the more professional dSLR's so it's a great camera to bring with you on vacations or long hikes or whatever . I find all of the controls to be easy to reach and the settings are real easy to change on the fly . The menu system is great too , it comes with a very useful feature called My Menu where you can actually pick any 6 functions you feel you will use the most and put them into this one menu and you can arrange it any way you want . Then you can make it the default menu so instead of it going to the last menu you were looking at when you hit the menu button , it goes straight to this customized menu of yours . It's a great feature and makes accessing special functions like mirror lock up , AEB , flash exposure compensation , etc . etc . very fast and easy . I would highly recommend anyone looking to buy a sub $1000 dSLR camera to buy this camera with the kit lens . So far the only thing I found that I think needs to be added is interchangeable focus screens . I would have liked to have grid lines in my view finder to make composition faster and less of a guessing game when trying to apply little rules like the rule of thirds or keeping the horizon line straight . I highly recommend reading Ben Long's The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi / 450D Companion if you buy this camera . It will show you the ropes so you can use this camera to its maximum potential . Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure is a very good book to understand the proper use of shutter speed , ISO , and aperture . And when you open the package , within the manual and other cards and what-not , there is a blank white card . Don't discard this , keep it in your camera case , it's a simple tool to use for custom white balance . Read about it in the manual or book if you don't know what that is . It's an essential tool if you plan on taking any photos indoors without a flash . Now stop reading these reviews and buy one of these cameras already , you won't be disappointed .
    • 036 4  Overall , this is a first-class entry from Canon , with a superb 12.2MP CMOS sensor that keeps noise to a minimum , even more so with NR enabled . Paired with good lenses the XSI / 450D can provide jaw-dropping images with incredible detail . Overall shooting speed is very , very good and the viewfinder is generously sized . The LCD is large and bright . As there are a large number of reviews of the Rebel XSI already , I'll attempt to detail the few negative aspects of the camera so prospective owners can decide if any of them are deal-breakers for their specific needs . - Body Construction . The XSI is built almost entirely of high density plastic and feels more flimsy to me than the Nikons . The plastic LCD cover is quite exposed and probably needs an after-market screen protector . Like many entry level SLRs There is no auxiliary settings / metering LCD on the top of the camera ( the viewfinder does give you a good amount of info ) . The battery compartment appears to be relatively fragile when opened . If weather sealing and robustness are paramount , the Pentax K200D is more solidly built at a slightly lower price point . - Auto White Balance . While you can readily correct this issue with custom WB settings , the fact remains that under the fluorescent light setting ( & often Auto ) the XSI is off color balance wise . With Live View it is obvious that there's too much red / yellow under fluorescent . Incandescent is better but not perfect . Tungsten seems very good , and during daylight hours the WB seems excellent . Nikon may have slightly fewer problems with some default settings , but I believe most manufacturers have some WB issues out of the box . - Auto-Focus and AV . The versatile eleven point auto focus is generally very quick , but occasionally freaks out . Distance AF can be inaccurate at times in bright light . Exposure Compensation goes to + or - 2 at maximum . Continuous drive mode has an upper limit of exposures even in JPEG mode . - Hand grip . The XSI grip is relatively short and less secure in my large hands than the Nikons , Pentaxes and Sonys I've tried . While the grip is relatively comfortable , it's small size means I'm gripping the camera with my middle and ring fingers , bracing the bottom with my little finger . A hand strap might come in handy , but the Opteka feels too flimsy for my taste . - Kit Lens . The 18 - 55 EF-S lens is a big step up from a P & S camera , but not especially impressive by SLR standards . By Nikon / Canon kit lens standards it is good , and the image stabilization works quite nicely . Were I to buy the camera today I might forgo the kit lens altogether and jump right in to a 28mm prime , keeping my f1.8 II 50mm . The difference in image quality between the f1.8 II 50mm and the kit lens is noticeable . Remember the 1.6x crop factor ( 50mm effectively ~ 80mm for example ) due to the APS-C sized sensor . - Default JPEG settings . The default JPEG settings are good , but seem a bit less saturated and a bit sharper than typical for Canon . This can be readily adjusted of course . RAW is flawless . - Live View is limited and cannot be used in Auto mode . Live view shuts off the viewfinder entirely ( except during AF ) and is limited in the modes it can use . The Olympus Live View is reputedly better implemented , but the 400 / 500 series viewfinders are smaller . For tripod use , the XSI Live View with image magnification and manual focus could be indispensable . - Proprietary Li-Ion battery . The 450D uses a ( long-lasting ) 7.4V 1080mAH Canon battery and includes a charger ; replacements are not cheap and third-party versions can be inferior . Nearly all other manufacturers also use expensive proprietary packs , with the K200D being one exception . Absent from these small flaws , the Rebel XSI is a truly great camera with good features and a sensor that can really make make use of top-notch lenses . Versatile and compact , the XSI is more than enough camera for almost anyone .
    • 041 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) Ah , the Canon EOS450d . ( Or Digial Rebel XSi , for those who dislike model numbers ) I've owned it for several months now , and have a lot of good experience with it . I purchased the XSi with kit 18 - 55mm IS lens back in the end of February , before a week-long vacation in the Caribbean , thinking I could get some great shots . Now , I'm not going to say it was all perfect . I mean , this is my first DSLR to actually own , and to think I could learn the system that quickly was a little overzealous of me . With that said , the camera and kit lens offered some great quality pictures , with very good color representation , and very good sharpness in most situations . Image stabilization , though I didn't realize it at first , does wonders . The IS on this lens did in fact enable me to shoot at about 2 - stops slower shutter speeds than normal , pretty consistently . The camera itself is great . The build feels quite solid , though not as much as the heavier , higher-level cameras . ( 50d , 5d II , etc . ) The navigation is definitely an easy adjustment to make from a point-and-shoot ( P & S ) camera . I was easily able to scroll through menus using the directional buttons , for instance , as opposed to the wheel used in some other models of Canon DSLR . It isn't necessarily better , but it does make the system much more approachable for someone new to the DSLR game . The screen is great - - since February ( about 5 months now ) I've used the camera for thousands of pictures , and have only noticed an inability to see the screen clearly due to light on a handful of occasions , in extreme sunny conditions . The flash , while not fantastic from a DSLR standpoint , is quite solid , and reaches a decent enough distance . However , with the built-in flash , you are limited to 1 / 200 shutter speed , at its fastest . The recharge time is also a bit longer than I'd like , in general , but it's nothing debilitating . If you need to be capturing any faster , you probably should have spent more money on a higher-end camera , anyway . The menus are quite plain , but clearly laid out in such a way that they are easily navigable and can be learned quickly and simply . You may not even use most of the menus , if you're much like me - - I rarely find the need to use bracketing for my exposure or flash , for instance , though they are simple to set up and use if desired . For a while , I was stuck in the mentality that it is only worth owning a DSLR if you intend to use manual mode . I'm beginning to learn that it isn't ALWAYS the case . I have found myself switching to Auto mode on more than one occasion , either to capture a shot more quickly , or just to see what settings the camera recommends , before re-adjusting in manual mode . Additionally , if you intend to shoot in RAW format , you cannot use Auto . RAW , for those who don't know , is a format not compatible with computers , digital frames , etc . You must first convert RAW to some format like JPG , ( don't worry , Canon includes software which you can use for this ) which can then be printed or viewed at your leisure . RAW does allow more flexibility with editing your photo , but might be a bit over the heads of some people . In either case , it is worth noting that you CANNOT SHOOT RAW IN AUTO MODE ! I frequently use RAW mode and touch up areas of the photo that would otherwise come out poorly . But auto mode is friendly enough for my girlfriend to use the camera , so it makes our lives quite a bit easier when she needs to take over the camera briefly . Live view mode is a fantastic addition , in my opinion . Many have told me that Live View is really a mode made for P & S'ers who aren't quite ready for DSLR . I have to respectfully disagree . That might be the case on occasion , but honestly , for some shots , I've found that when the focus hunts a bit , and I need to manually focus , the Live View mode is absolutely great for getting the sharpest image possible . I tend to use 10x magnification , and rotate the focus ring slightly until I find the sweet spot and focus is tack-sharp . It has saved my photos on more than one occasion , though for a quick or speedy subject ( fast sports , energetic children , pets , etc . ) obviously this is a bit more limited in its viability . I would also like to note that YOU CANNOT USE LIVE VIEW WHILE IN AUTO MODE ! ! ! You have to make adjustments to shutter speed , aperture , and ISO on your own when using Live View , so it does still have a bit of challenge with it . On the software side , I honestly prefer the use of Photoshop , so I have only used Canon RAW and the rest of the photo editing / managing software a little bit . With that said , if you don't feel like shelling out the extra cash for Photoshop , which I completely understand , Canon RAW is very good for its purposes . You can adjust all the RAW settings as needed , convert to JPG , or anything else you need to do . The other software I'd like to point out is Gimpshop , with the RAW editor plugin . ( ufraw is the name , if I recall correctly ) . With all that out of the way , i'd like to say that I was definitely one of those people who debated if I should start low , or advance myself to a higher ( possibly older , for the price ) model to start with . Sometimes I still wish I had purchased the 40D at a comparable price . But I am quite happy I started with the XSi , because it's a very reasonably priced camera and lens for its capabilities , and is very easy to use for a beginner with a DSLR - - though it's still capable of most mid-level features , making it quite a good camera . Some have looked into the new Digital Rebel , with video . That might be an option , but before spending the extra cash , ask yourself how often you'd use the video camera feature - - if you would use it , by all means go ahead . I considered the option , and found that it wasn't worth the extra cash . Nor is the megapixel upgrade - - for most amateurs , you won't be blowing any images up , so while a ~ 15mp camera is technically better than a ~ 12mp camera , you won't see a difference until you blow it up to the size of a computer sheet or greater - - how many photos do you have of that size in your home ? I strongly recommend this camera for any beginner working their way to better photography using a DSLR . If you do decide to take the plunge , don't expect your photos to magically be better - - learning the capabilities ( and limitations ) of DSLR is extremely important as well , or your pictures might wind up coming out WORSE than your P & S photos . Happy photography , everyone !
    • 043 4  I'm a photo enthusiast who's been using the Canon XSi for six months now and here are my impressions . Weight / Handling : First off , the camera is really light . If anyone tells you that this camera is heavy , then they probably never held a full-frame professional DSLR . The light weight makes it a joy to carry around when traveling . However , serious / pro photographers might feel that the small weight and size lend to an unprofessional feel . Also , this is a minor point , but the shutter makes a high pitched noise as opposed to more professional cameras that have a low , unobtrusive noise . This camera doesn't have too many buttons , as opposed to Nikon cameras . Rather , many of the more specialized functions have to be accessed through menus . Some people will find this very annoying . I personally don't mind . In addition , if you have big hands , you will have a hard maintaining a comfortable grip on the camera because the grip is rather small . If this is the case , consider purchasing the optional battery grip . Image Quality : At low ISO settings , the image quality is very good and I actually performed a professional portrait shoot using this camera . The 12 megapixels are enough to get good 8x12inch prints , and in really ideal situations with a good lens , proper lighting , exposure , etc , you might be able to squeeze out 12x18inch prints . At ISO 800 and above , noise does become perceptible and if you use heavy amounts of sharpening , images will appear quite nasty . However , if you stay away from over-sharpening at high ISO's , a small amount of software noise reduction should take care of most problems . Thus , this camera is not very good in situations with low light AND moving subjects , such as parties . For this reason , I am considering upgrading to the 5D for better noise handling . And remember , image quality has more to do with a good lens than it has to do with with a camera's megapixel number . Kit Lens : The kit lens is enough to handle basic photographic needs . My personal copy of the lens is very sharp in the center but you might not be so lucky . The focus ring is REALLY TINY and so if you're a manual focus type of person , you'll want to find a new lens very quickly . Also , if you want to take pictures of your kids playing sports or indoor pictures with lots of moving people , consider getting a faster lens . For sports , I recommend the 55 - 250 IS , 70 - 300IS , or if you can afford it , the 70 - 200 2.8L . For indoor / low-light photography , consider augmenting your kit with a prime lens such as the 50mm 1.8 , 50mm 1.4 , or if you know about the benefits of the L series of Canon lens , I probably don't need to refer you to any more lenses . Other Issues : The on-camera flash is almost completely useless for taking pictures of people in dim lighting . Why ? Because Canon's engineers somehow decided that they should have the flash fire 5 - 10 quick bursts to assist the camera's various sensors . Trust me , your subjects will not appreciate your flash firing off like a machine gun in front of their face . I highly recommend an external flash like the 420ex or 430ex if you're getting this camera to solve that problem . Nikon users will not have to deal with the problem . Overall Impressions : If you're just getting into the world of DSLRs or you're a photo enthusiast strapped for cash ( like me ) , the XSi is a great choice to start out on and with skilled use , its hardware is capable of achieving very good results . Also , by choosing Canon , you have access to the largest selection of lenses . I've taken some great pictures with this camera and I plan to keep it around . However , you might also want to evaluate the Canon 40D and the Nikon D90 .
    • 045 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I initially held off buying a SLR , not so much because of the expense , but because I did not want to be confronted with the complexity of the different control options . I was using a Canon A - 590 , which is an 8 MP point-and-shoot . The A590 is a great camera which gives excellent results . I have had the Xsi for about a month now , and was surprised to find that in the full auto mode its even easier to use than the A - 590 . If you are intimidated from purchasing a SLR by the bewildering complexity of control options , don't be . You don't have to use them if you don't want to . What has really stunned me , though , is the astonishing improvement in image quality with the Xsi . I compared it directly to the A - 590 and found a staggering improvement in detail and resolution . This difference goes far beyond what could possibly be attributed to the slight advantage the Xsi has in the number of pixels ( 12 MP vs . 8 for the A - 590 ) . So , the Xsi is highly recommended for taking stunning photographs , far higher in quality than a cheaper point-and-shoot with the same specified resolution .
    • 047 4  This is my first venture into buying a DSLR and I have a college budget so I made sure I was spending my money on the best camera possible . I had been reviewing DSLRs for months and months before finally deciding on the XSI , and I could not be happier with my decision ! From the moment I took it out of the box I have been taking better pictures than I ever thought I could . I have some photography experience from a black and white photography class my first semester , but I am still quite green when it comes to the finer points of photography . It didn't at all matter with this camera . Right out of the box it didnt take me long to figure out the controls and which buttons did what . I love that there was a dedicated ISO button , white balance button , metering options button , AND shooting mode button . The worst thing is when you have a great shot that wont last long ( think kids , animals , nature ) and you have to dig through menus to get what you want . This camera eliminates that worry . The lens that came with this thing is also much better than I expected in a kit lens . The image quality looks amazing while doing both very close up shots and landscape . I am not an expert on lenses , but I used one of my fathers lenses that cost several hundred dollars and there REALLY was hardly any difference in picture quality . Especially for a kit lens , I was quite impressed . One last thing I love , THE LCD screen ! This thing is HUGE and has very good image quality . It is great for reviewing your shot , right up to the fine details . It really makes it easier to see if you got the shot you wanted before you take it all the way back to your computer and see you screwed it up . As for the live view , I wasnt real sure when I would use it , but I found out the other day . There was a nest of hornets low to the ground and I sure as heck wasnt sticking my face down there . I convieniently used the live view feature to get the camera close and compose the shot while keeping my body in position to run : ) Really the only thing that has annoyed me so far is how you have to smush your nose and face into the LCD when using the viewfinder . I am all the time having to wipe smudges off . But really , after having this camera for a week and all I have to complain about is smudges on the LCD ? That really is hardly a complaint at all . I would recommend it for anyone from complete newbies , to people like me with a smattering of experience , to those that actually know what they're doing . This camera is amazing . Also , to anyone interested . I posted some of my first first pictures on my Flickr account . These are pictures from a guy who has basically forgotten most of his photography class 2 years ago , and has had little time to do much photography at all . The XSI went a long way in covering up my inexperience . At least I think so : )
    • 051 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) The XSi is my first DSLR camera . I have , for many years , been shooting with point-and-shoot ( also called compact ) cameras , so I have a lot of experience with point-and-shoot cameras . But the image quality of the XSi simply blew me away ! The images captured on the XSi is much , much , much sharper than the ones from a point-and-shoot camera ! If you're looking at the XSi , you're probably a budding photographer like myself . The XSi is , debatably , the best entry-level DSLR camera , next to the Canon EOS Rebel T1i / 500D . Highlights - - - - - - - - - - - 18mm - 55mm Kit Lens Included The Canon EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS SLR Lens alone sells for [ . . . ] . You have everything you need to get started right away with taking great-looking pictures ! - Phenomenal Images Alas , I'm unable to show you the images I've captured with the XSi here . But there's alway sample images uploaded by customers on the product page . Alternatively , you can go to the Canon site and see for yourself the official sample images . - Auto Mode Okay , so you're not quite prepared to tinker with the bells and whistles on the XSi . No matter , there's always a fully auto mode ( green rectangle on the selection dial ) you can fall back on . In this mode , you would be using the XSi just as you would a point-and-shoot camera . The auto mode will stifle your creativity , but it will help you take great pictures nonetheless . - Incredible Battery Life I must have taken hundreds of pictures of pictures and the battery indicator bar still shows full battery capacity ( that's with image preview disabled - which is , if I'm not mistaken , the default / factory setting ) . In sum , the XSi does everything your point-and-shoot does , only BETTER . If , like lot of people , you are in a quandary deciding between the T1i and the Xsi / 450D , here are the major improvements of the T1i over the XSi ( at least on paper ) to help you make a decision : - 15.1 MP Resolution - Full HD video at 20 Frames Per Second - ISO range of 100 to 3200 - 920,000 dots VGA monitor vs . the XSi : - 12.2 MP Resolution - No video capability - ISO range of 100 to 1600 - 230,000 dots VGA monitor * T1i vs XSi * - Resolution : 15.1 MP vs . 12.2 MP When it comes to megapixels ( MP ) , I would have to subscribe to the mantra that megapixels isn't everything . Since the T1i has the same sensor size as the XSi ( APS-C size : 22.2 x 14.8mm ) , a higher number of megapixels would mean more pixels packed into same sensor area . Keep in mind that as a general rule , the higher number of megapixels that are packed into a given sensor area , the more noise ( or graniness ) will result in a picture taken in low light conditions . ( I want to be fair , however , and say that I have not noticed perceptible differences in image quality between the two cameras , even in moderately lit or low light conditions . ) - HD Video The T1i frame rate is 20 frames per second ( fps ) , which is low compared to even the low-end camcorders , most of which are capable of 30 fps in Full HD . The XSi has no video mode . - ISO : 3200 vs . 1600 Like they say , there's no such thing as a free lunch . A higher ISO * will * result in more noise in a captured image . As a rule of thumb , set your ISO to the lowest practicable ISO setting . The lower upper range for the XSi isn't , in my opinion , a big restriction . - LCD Resolution : 920,000 vs 230,000 dots There is absolutely no refuting that the LCD on the T1i * is * better than the one on the XSi . The images displayed on the T1i LCD is unquestionably sharper than the images on the XSi LCD . Based on the above factors , you will have to be the one who ultimately decides what works better for you . There are , of course , other considerations , the most glaringly obviously of which is - you guessed it - the price . The price of the XSi is has dropped like a rock since I purchased it a couple of months back . If you're on a tight budget , the XSi is definitely the way to go . - - - The image quality from the XSi is simply phenomenal . It is very affordably priced ( it has gotten much cheaper than what it sold for originally when it debuted in 2008 ) . If you're on a budget , the XSi is , in my opinion , the best DSLR camera to get .
    • 052 4  The XSi is my first DSLR camera . I have , for many years , been shooting with point-and-shoot ( also called compact ) cameras , so I have a lot of experience with point-and-shoot cameras . But the image quality of the XSi simply blew me away ! The images captured on the XSi is much , much , much sharper than the ones from a point-and-shoot camera ! If you're looking at the XSi , you're probably a budding photographer like myself . The XSi is , debatably , the best entry-level DSLR camera , next to the Canon EOS Rebel T1i / 500D . Highlights - - - - - - - - - - - 18mm - 55mm Kit Lens Included The Canon EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS SLR Lens alone sells for [ . . . ] . You have everything you need to get started right away with taking great-looking pictures ! - Phenomenal Images Alas , I'm unable to show you the images I've captured with the XSi here . But there's alway sample images uploaded by customers on the product page . Alternatively , you can go to the Canon site and see for yourself the official sample images . - Auto Mode Okay , so you're not quite prepared to tinker with the bells and whistles on the XSi . No matter , there's always a fully auto mode ( green rectangle on the selection dial ) you can fall back on . In this mode , you would be using the XSi just as you would a point-and-shoot camera . The auto mode will stifle your creativity , but it will help you take great pictures nonetheless . - Incredible Battery Life I must have taken hundreds of pictures of pictures and the battery indicator bar still shows full battery capacity ( that's with image preview disabled - which is , if I'm not mistaken , the default / factory setting ) . In sum , the XSi does everything your point-and-shoot does , only BETTER . If , like lot of people , you are in a quandary deciding between the T1i and the Xsi / 450D , here are the major improvements of the T1i over the XSi ( at least on paper ) to help you make a decision : - 15.1 MP Resolution - Full HD video at 20 Frames Per Second - ISO range of 100 to 3200 - 920,000 dots VGA monitor vs . the XSi : - 12.2 MP Resolution - No video capability - ISO range of 100 to 1600 - 230,000 dots VGA monitor * T1i vs XSi * - Resolution : 15.1 MP vs . 12.2 MP When it comes to megapixels ( MP ) , I would have to subscribe to the mantra that megapixels isn't everything . Since the T1i has the same sensor size as the XSi ( APS-C size : 22.2 x 14.8mm ) , a higher number of megapixels would mean more pixels packed into same sensor area . Keep in mind that as a general rule , the higher number of megapixels that are packed into a given sensor area , the more noise ( or graniness ) will result in a picture taken in low light conditions . ( I want to be fair , however , and say that I have not noticed perceptible differences in image quality between the two cameras , even in moderately lit or low light conditions . ) - HD Video The T1i frame rate is 20 frames per second ( fps ) , which is low compared to even the low-end camcorders , most of which are capable of 30 fps in Full HD . The XSi has no video mode . - ISO : 3200 vs . 1600 Like they say , there's no such thing as a free lunch . A higher ISO * will * result in more noise in a captured image . As a rule of thumb , set your ISO to the lowest practicable ISO setting . The lower upper range for the XSi isn't , in my opinion , a big restriction . - LCD Resolution : 920,000 vs 230,000 dots There is absolutely no refuting that the LCD on the T1i * is * better than the one on the XSi . The images displayed on the T1i LCD is unquestionably sharper than the images on the XSi LCD . Based on the above factors , you will have to be the one who ultimately decides what works better for you . There are , of course , other considerations , the most glaringly obviously of which is - you guessed it - the price . The price of the XSi is has dropped like a rock since I purchased it a couple of months back . If you're on a tight budget , the XSi is definitely the way to go . - - - The image quality from the XSi is simply phenomenal . It is very affordably priced ( it has gotten much cheaper than what it sold for originally when it debuted in 2008 ) . If you're on a budget , the XSi is , in my opinion , the best DSLR camera to get .
    • 061 4  Ok . This is my first SLR so you'll have to forgive the amateurist way I see things . Overall , this is a great camera . Being a newbie , this was well priced and as easy to use as point and shoot . The pictures come out great even with low light . It really puts the Casio Exilim I have to shame . I definitely recommend this to everyone but there is a downside to this . 1 ) Unlike modern point and shoots , this can't record video . Not really a big deal but it's a nice feature to have while on vacation . 2 ) It took me a very long time to figure out how to get the camera to work in live view mode ( use the screen to shoot ) . Considering it was one of the bigger selling points , it was weird it was so hard to figure out . 3 ) Focus in live view mode isn't by holding down the shoot button 1 / 2 way but you have to push another button instead . Weird . 4 ) Live view mode doesn't work in automatic modes . Like I said . Kind of weird . 5 ) When traveling , it's REALLY big . I do mean REALLY big to carry around . I didn't realize it would be so cumbersome to carry but seriously the advantages of having great clear shots outweighs the man purse you have to lug around . When buying this camera , I do suggest a couple additional items . 1 ) UV haze filter . For $7 , it would protect the camera lense from being scratched . 2 ) LCD screen protector . With such a large screen , don't get it scratched . 3 ) LensePen to keep the camera clean . 4 ) Holster bag to carry the camera and all the toys 5 ) Extra battery . This battery lasts forever but you'll need another one eventually . 6 ) If you like putting yourself in the shots , buy yourself a tripod and a remote control .
    • 066 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) This is my first DSLR and I am extremely happy with my purchase . I did a lot of research and had narrowed it down to the Rebel xsi and the Sony A330 . I ultimately went with the Rebel because its shooting speed ( fps ) , my comfort level with Canon cameras ( my point and shoot was a Canon ) , and because of Canon's excellent reputation . What I like most about this camera is how easy it is to operate in manual mode . Being able to adjust the auto-focus selection manually is awesome . A nice bonus is the large LCD screen ( larger than the Rebel xs ) . It was important to me have a quality live view and this does not disappoint . . . although I thought I would utilize this function more , but actually prefer to use the viewfinder ( mainly for the auto-focus points that are only visible in the viewfinder ) . I cannot say enough positive things about the Rebel xsi .
    • 070 4  After using the Nikon D40 for the past 6 months I was in desperate need of a new DSLR camera . Not wanting to break my bank account I had been eyeing up the latest consumer level SLR from Canon , the Rebel XSi , and eagerly awaiting its release date . Compared to other SLRs in this class the Canon Rebel XSi includes the following : - 12.2 Megapixels : They just keep going up ! This alone gives the Rebel XSi an advantage because ( at this point in time ) there is no other consumer level SLR camera with more megapixels on the market . I've even had a few friends tell me they're looking to upgrade from last years Rebel XTi which had 10.1 . - 3.0 LCD Panel : . Just when you thought they couldn't make it any bigger Canon upgrades their LCD screen yet again . Another reason amateur photographers will be happy to either upgrade or flat out purchase the Rebel XSi is because Canon has added an extra half-inch of screen space on the back , making for easier viewing and putting a stop to blurry photos before they get a chance to spread . - 9 - Point AF : The EOS Rebel XSi has a high-precision 9 - point wide area AF sensor for fast , accurate focus even in dim lighting . It has a number of focus modes , including One-Shot AF , AI Focus AF , AI Servo AF and Manual . In Live View Function , the EOS Rebel XSi has two AF modes : Quick mode , which uses the camera's standard 9 - point AF system , and Live mode , which is a contrast-based AF system that reads the sharpness of subjects right from the imaging sensor , and can be overridden by pressing the AF mode selection button . A familiar feature in PowerShot cameras , Live mode AF uses similar technologies to achieve focus , while Quick mode is more appropriate for capturing action or for shooting in low light . - Outstanding Image Quality : Canon's CMOS ( complementary metal oxide semiconductor ) sensor captures images with exceptional clarity and tonal range , and offers the most pixels in its class . It offers many of the same new technologies to maximize each pixel's light gathering efficiency that were first seen with the professional EOS - 1D Mark III model . It's an APS-C size sensor ( 22.2 x 14.8mm ) , and there's an effective 1.6x increase in the lens's marked focal length when attached . Canon's DIGIC III Image Processor dramatically enhances image quality and speeds up all camera operations for intuitive operation . It works in concert with the EOS Rebel XSi's sensor to achieve unprecedented levels of performance in all lighting situations . - 14 - bit A / D Converter : With the EOS Rebel XSi , analog to digital signal conversion is executed by a 14 - bit processor , which generates digital data with incredibly smooth tones . Formerly a feature only present in top-of-the-line pro digital SLR cameras , the 14 - bit conversion gives incredibly smooth transitions from light to dark colors , with far less risk of banding . A sky at sunset is a perfect example . With this rich 14 - bit gradation the EOS Rebel XSi offers RAW images of the highest quality that can be processed with Canon's Digital Photo Professional software . Even JPEG files , which are always finished at 8 - bits per channel , use the full 14 - bit conversion initially to generate the best possible color and tonal detail . Another huge benefit of the 14 - bit conversion is the Highlight Tone Priority option , which allows critical shooters to increase the level of detail in bright areas of a scene up to one stop , without affecting overall exposure . - Auto Optimization : The EOS Rebel XSi's Auto Optimization is yet another image-quality tool that comes to the rescue in tricky lighting conditions . It can actually lighten dark areas of a scene while ensuring that bright areas maintain tonal detail . It's now available in all shooting modes , including P , Tv , Av , and Manual . - Precision Operation : The EOS Rebel XSi operates with such effortless speed that operation is nothing short of intuitive . With instant startup times , speedy autofocus and minimal shutter lag , the EOS Rebel XSi is one of the fastest cameras available today . It can shoot up to 3.5 frames per second , in bursts of 53 JPEGs or 6 RAW files , so you'll never , ever miss a shot . - Advanced Features : The EOS Rebel XSi's 35 - zone evaluative metering system with improved white balance analyzes light based on each zone in the viewing area , enabling the camera to choose the overall best exposure for the entire scene . It now features a spot meter , which reads a tiny area ( about 4% ) of the picture for extremely precise metering . It also provides Center-weighted average metering and partial metering for accurate exposure no matter the situation . The EOS Rebel XSi also has an improved , high magnification viewfinder that provides a larger overall view , and increased brightness and clarity . And the EOS Rebel XSi has a Display-Off sensor that automatically turns the LCD monitor off whenever the camera is at the photographer's eye . All relevant shooting information , including ISO , is displayed right in the viewfinder so it's easy to change settings without moving the camera away from the eye . - Flexible Storage : The EOS Rebel XSi is the first EOS Digital SLR camera to use popular SD and SDHC memory cards only . Compact , inexpensive and available in increasingly large capacities , SD and SDHC memory cards are a perfect complement to the EOS Rebel XSi's compact and lightweight body design . - Self Cleaning Sensor Unit : It's Back ! A key element of minimizing dust is preventing it from clinging to the front surface of the imaging sensor . To combat against this , the EOS Rebel XSi features a Canon-designed Self Cleaning Sensor Unit . The low-pass filter at the front of the sensor shakes off dust automatically with ultrasonic vibrations , removing dust from the sensor assembly . The EOS Rebel XSi has a new coating on the front surface of the low-pass filter , to increase its resistance to dust sticking to the sensor . This is about as good as it gets for consumer level SLRs . Canon has done it again with it's innovation and user-friendly design . Well worth the upgrade from the Nikon D40 .
    • 072 4  The complexity of this camera made me hesitate to take the plunge , but I'm glad I did ! I received it the day before our family vacation in Disneyland . With three young children running all over the place , it doesn't matter how trained you are , there isn't time to fiddle around with the controls . With this camera , I took over a thousand pictures in fully automatic mode , and got fantastic results . Our vacation photos are far better than I could get with a point and shoot . Many of the photos I took were inside the rides , such as Matterhorn , Dumbo , and so forth . The lighting and vibration is obviously a huge challenge , but virtually all of my photos came out with excellent sharpness and clarity . I'm very excited about using this to get other pictures I couldn't get before , like shots of my kids playing baseball , school assemblies , school plays , and other activities that our older cameras just couldn't work in . There are many reasons why the XSi creates better pictures : It's 12.2 MP sensor has much better light sensitivity , so it can be used in darker conditions than a point and shoot camera . In addition , you can use lenses which have many times more light gathering capability . With these large aperture lenses , you can also throw the background out of focus , for better portrait photography . The bundled IS ( Image Stabilization ) lens is the reason why so many of the pictures I took from roller coasters came out sharp as a tack . So , yes , there is a lot of technology here , and learning it makes your photos better , but I get great photographs simply because this is a better camera and it can take pictures that point and shoot cameras can't . A great book to guide you is The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi / 450D Companion . The best technique I've developed so far is to change the focus to use only the center point , and to use the star-shaped button to hold exposure . These techniques are great for photographing people , as you can focus on the eyes , then set the exposure for the composition you want - - in other words , it separates the exposure and focus points . Although I've owned many SLR's in the past , this is my first digital SLR . With today's high capacity cards , the biggest difference is that you can shoot hundreds of pictures without changing ( let alone buying ) film . Photography is much more enjoyable when you can just shoot to your heart's content . I have a lot to learn with this camera , but I've found that doesn't get in the way of taking pictures . My pictures have been getting better and better , and I'm having a blast trying to improve my technique . I ordered the Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras from Amazon , and I'm looking forward to taking the kids to the zoo . The image stabilization feature will be an even bigger help with that lens .
    • 073 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I should preface that I have been exposed to point-and-shoots my entire life , so I am a very fresh amateur when it comes to SLRs . I have found it incredibly beneficial to educate myself before my purchase of the XSi about what SLR cameras are , how they function on a basic level , precisely how they differ from point-and-shoots , and what I can expect to achieve from my new camera . People who do not at least touch on these topics before their submersion into the world of SLRs will find the acclimation much more difficult , if not intolerable ( as some very mislaid one-star reviews illustrate ) . My XSi has helped me reach untapped creative potential that I hadn't deeply considered before . I am an artist , a painter , and my primary reasons for getting an XSi teeter between photographing my paintings for my personal records and for sale on the Internet as well as for my introduction into the realm of artistic , fine art photography . In my first few weeks of use , I can say unequivocally , and rather giddily , that the XSi achieves my hopes and quite a bit more . My first reason for upgrading to the XSi , and to an SLR in general , is image quality . I simply wasn't content with the grain , blur , and poor coloring that most point-and-shoots afford . Aside from using my camera for normal , everyday portrait , indoor , and vacation shots , I also wish to use it professionally , to photograph my artwork and to take artistic photographs . Clarity and integrity of the image are enormously welcomed with the former , average tasks and absolutely essential in the latter , more artistically focused ones . The XSi allows me to achieve crispness , faithfulness with colors , and - - THANK GOODNESS - - far less , or absolutely no , grain in my images when shooting indoors . I am as happy as a bird with a French fry . I have to urge that practice makes perfect for an SLR beginner . There are a plethora of settings , terminology , and camera hardware that require education to comprehend and perfect . I am new , I am learning , and I am enjoying the process of unlocking the powers of my XSi camera . I imagine it will be some time before I can consider myself rather well informed about what the camera can achieve , but even out of the box and into my amateur arms , the camera takes spectacular photographs ! As extremely complex machines go , this camera is insanely easy to navigate and control . The buttons on the camera itself are perfectly placed , and the menus on the large LCD screen are just as easy to maneuver . I am thoroughly impressed with the ease of use . I have zero complaints . One would do well to browse the web for information about the features and functions of the Canon XSi before the camera even arrives . I spent a few hours reading and watching some very helpful videos on sites like YouTube to familiarize myself with the capabilities of the camera before the box arrived at my door . I can tell you without doubt that the information I learned before I laid eyes on my camera helped tremendously . I knew what buttons to push as soon as I had my hands on it ! More specifically , I have no complaints about any elements that came with the camera . The kit lens is superb - and that truly may be the only lens you ever need . I did purchase the f1.8 II 50mm Canon lens at the same time I purchased the camera on Amazon , simply because I was so impressed with the customer photographs that had been uploaded as examples . The clarity achieved with the XSi kit lens is stellar , but I think the 50mm lens is a beautiful accessory to treat yourself to . . . it takes unique images that can only be achieve with that particular lens . I also purchased an extra Canon battery so that I never have any camera downtime spent charging . The extra battery was a pricey $50 more , but I have already enjoyed the ease of having two batteries a great deal since owning my camera . . . well worth the money . I also purchased cheap filters to fit the kit lens of the XSi and I have already noticed higher color saturation in certain instances when using a polarizing filter . It's great fun to experiment ! Out of doors and indoors , the XSi performs masterfully . In low light and in high light , the XSi performs masterfully . I am a student with very little discretionary funding , so I had reservations about spending so much on a camera . I haven't looked back since getting my silver XSi , and there's simply no hint of buyer's remorse here . Put plainly : you get what you pay for here and I wager even a bit more . I am in passionate love . Buy her . Now .
    • 076 4  This camera takes some very beautiful pictures . You can read the other pros because they're all the same and I'm just going to list the few ( small ) cons . 1 . If you switch the colors from RBG to Adobe , the camera will name your pictures _ MG _ 1234 instead of IMG _ 1234 . I don't know why they decided to do this but it makes sorting pictures by filename a difficult challenge . You'll be sitting there going Where the hell is picture 4563 at ? 2 . By default the camera loves the flash . Not on the manual settings but on the automatic settings . It'll pop it up for just about everything . I know it uses the flash for the Autofocus but the focusing works just fine when the camera is on a manual mode and the flash is down . Those are the two minor annoyances that I've ran into . I still would not trade this camera for another brand . If you never plan on changing colors or you're not crazy obsessive over your flash , then you'll love this camera . I know I do . Another thing that I greatly enjoy about it is the BULB setting on Full Manual . It allows some amazing night shots of the stars or landscapes , just be sure to use a tripod and a remote shutter release . I love this camera .
    • 079 4  I previously owned the Canon Digital Rebel . I primarily upgraded to this camera for the additional pixels . Just in pixels alone , I effectively doubled my zoom rate , and it shows in bird closeups I've taken . Compared to my last camera , it's like trading in my 70 - 300 zoom on a 70 - 600 zoom . And picture quality is phenomenal , even when compared to the original Digital Rebel . But the other enhancements to this camera make it worth buying even if it didn't sport a higher density CCD . I purchased an extra battery because the battery on the original Rebel ran down way too quickly and left me without a usable camera a few times . But I didn't need to . The battery on this model lasts forever . Maybe 10 times longer than the original ! This weekend I went on a bike ride with some friends . I was on vacation a couple of weeks ago and forgot to recharge the battery . I brought the extra along , but wanted to see how long the battery would last . I took a lot of pictures , then a friend of mine wanted to check out an image-stabilization lens I have . He spent an hour playing with the thing , taking more pictures and wasting battery power by testing out the image stabilization feature ( something that normally uses a lot of juice ) . The battery still hasn't run down . I can't emphasize enough how bottomless the battery seems to me . Having image-stabilization on the short lens was a nice feature . I didn't really need it because I use the zoom lens almost exclusively , but it's nice to know the feature's there if I ever do . Focus with my 70 - 300 zoom lens is much faster as well . Where the old one took up to a second or so , the new one focuses instantly when there's enough light . Even when there isn't enough light for a fast focus , it's still many times faster than the original . Something else that surprised and excited me : Using the Sport mode , I used to be able to take only 4 pictures in succession before the buffer filled up . With the new camera in the same mode , I can take a lot more pictures in the same amount of time . Instead of only 4 pictures before the buffer is filled , the shutter keeps clicking away forever . I can't imagine any action shot that will be too long for the amount of pictures this thing can take now . I was showing the camera off to my brother-in-law , and I took at least 20 pictures ( maybe 30 or 40 ? ) in rapid succession before the buffer became full and it slowed down . This camera is truly awesome . The friend that was demoing it was trying to justify his previous purchase of a non-SLR . He said , So this is more of a professional camera , huh ? I told him , No - - this is Canon's amateur line . And it is . But right now , I think it's better than their professional camera , which actually has 2 Megabits fewer pixels . In the easy modes , the camera is a better photographer than I am . I'm no pro . But it would be nice to be able to choose when the flash is appropriate , or force a fill-flash when I want to . Other bennies : The screen is larger and brighter , but you can lower its brightness to improve battery life ( I keep it cranked up all the way - - this thing has plenty of battery life as I've said ) . Canon advertises that this thing will let you preview on the LCD now while focusing . If you want to buy this camera just because it's the only SLR you know of with that feature , don't . You might play with it for a couple of minutes , but you'll never use it to take actual pictures , because focus either doesn't work , or is excruciatingly slow . I had a lot of trouble figuring out how to turn this on , as well , and had to consult the manual . There is another ease-of-use item I'd like to mention . You can turn off the flash in the easy modes if you want to . But you have to be in a creative mode to do it . I did that once , and it took me a long time to figure out how to turn the flash back on , because there's no menu item for it in the mode I was in ( which was full-auto ) . I think it's idiotic that you can turn off the flash mode in full-auto from a creative mode , but not from the mode you're using . All in all , I'm very glad I bought this camera .
    • 081 4  Great camera for amateur photographers just starting out . I've always had a digital point-n-shoot for the longest time , but a new cannon point-n-shoot camera and a trip to Niagara Falls changed my mind . I was so impressed by cannon quality of camera and image . I became interested in doing semi-professional photography . So I looked into DSLR's . This camera is a great camera . If you're just getting serious about photography like I am then I would highly recommend this camera . All the bad reviews I read here on Amazon made it seem like the camera had problems . But that's just not true , outside of defected product , the camera is good , it's the lenses you have to be careful about . The camera is comfortable to hold , not that heavy , and a heck of a lot better than the point-n-shoot you had before . It might take a while to get used to where all the setting buttons are , and moving between them quick enough . A lot of things are overwhelming with this camera when you never owned a DSLR or taken any photography classes . Such as where the buttons are , learning where all the features are , and the hardest is learning about aperture , shutter speed , and exposure . But don't let that deter you , if you take the time to learn then you'll be fine . Price was great here on Amazon . It was the lowest price BY FAR that i saw while researching for NEW equipment . For the lens it came with , the 18 - 55mm IS , it's a pretty good lens . When looking through all the reviews on here you'll see a lot of Auto Focusing problems . The thing is , if the lens can't auto focus , just switch to manual focus . You may ask though , how often would I have to do that ? . The answer , not very much . The only times my camera had auto focusing problems is with night shoots without a flash , and pointing it at the open sky . Sometimes you will get some shoots ( depending on the scene and composure ) that the camera wants to focus on something closer than your subject . Such as shooting through tall weeds or grass . Probably just want to switch to MF in that scenario like I do . I mean after all that's one of the primary reasons I got a DSLR , to have control of the focus . It's a good lens . Overall , great camera , great price , great quality . I'm happy I bought it .
    • 091 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I was deciding between a Canon 40D and this camera . For me , the form factor is a big plus , because I plan on lugging this onto an airplane along with my laptop in my carryon . I tend not to abuse my electronics too much , so the whole question of plastic body on the XSi vs . a metal body for the 40D wasn't an issue for me . Two points that favored the 40D : the continuous RAW mode is better ( for baby's first steps , or sports ) and the kit lens for the 40D is more versatile ( a little wider than 35mm and out to 5X zoom , vs 3X zoom on the XSi kit lens ) . For me , it wasn't worth the extra cost ( * edit * : with the instant rebate on the 40D right now from Canon , about $300 difference ) . I decided to splurge on a DSLR over an point-and-shoot because I always got frustrated with sunset and lowlight shots with my point-and-shoot ( I have an Olympus Stylus 400 ) . Either the picture would be blown out or too dark . Also , indoor shots without flash would often be too grainy because of the inferior image processing in my pocket camera . Much less of a problem with a DSLR , where I've been able to twiddle with the ISO and the aperture to get decent shots in all the above-mentioned situations . Overall , I'm very satisfied with this product . 4 stars because Canon doesn't include a SD card in the kit ( c'mon , even my point-and-shoot came with a weenie card ) .
    • 099 4  This is an excellent digital SLR oveall , and ( almost ) everything positive that others have written about it is correct in my opinion . The controls are intuitive , and after a little practice you can use them without having to take your eye off the viewfinder - the ISO control , the exposure compensation , the viewfinder is familiar to any Canon SLR user , etc . . . The grip is comfortable , and provides good ' grip ' . The LCD panel is bright , and displays all relevant information in a readable , usable manner . The mode dial allows you to switch on the camera with a gentle flick to the wheel , and the camera itself switches on almost instantaneously . The battery , when fully charged , can take almost a thousand shots before requiring a recharge . Even when using the flash , I was able to take more than a hundred shots before the indicator dipped to the low marker . Since this camera can accept both regular and EF-S lenses , there is a white marker on the body for aligning the EF-S lenses when mounting them on the body , and a red marker for the regular lenses . Nice ! The negatives , in my opinion : - Flash photography results , especially indoors , and with the built-in flash , are not too good . You will have to experiment a lot to get acceptably good results . This may be an issue with most cameras when using the built-in flash , and you may need to go in for an external flash . So this is not necessarily a negative against the Canon XSi , but more an issue with most cameras I think . - The tripod socket at the bottom has the camera's serial number next to it . So , after screwing and un-screwing the tripod head a few times to the camera body , you are very likely to end up scratching off the serial number completely . Also , you will need to swivel the tripod head to open the battery cover . This is also bad for the serial number sticker . This may not matter much , unless you need to get the camera repaired . Bummer . In any case , this is not optimal design . - If you switch on the Long Exposure Noise Reduction custom setting on , it can take 5 , 10 seconds or longer before you are able to take another photo . So be aware of that . This depends on the length of the exposure itself . For 30 second exposures , this post-processing can take almost as long . - The exposure compensation indicator still does not go beyond showing 2 f-stops in either direction . This is supposed to be on account of a patent issue , but it still reduces usability somewhat . On the whole , an excellent camera , but not without its flaws .
    • 119 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I purchased the Canon XSi with the kit lens , Canon 70 - 300 usm lens , & Canon 2400 gadget bag as a gift for a friend . She loves it and I knew she would because I have the same camera and numerous Canon lenses . Both our cameras got a work out in Yellowstone and we got great wildlife , landscape , and people shots . Love that the large selection of Canon Lenses from our Canon SLR film cameras , also work well with the XSi . We can now just keep expanding our indiviudal lens collections , which will also work with other Canon Cameras if we progress to a newer or upgraded model in the future . Great camera for a decent price . The bag is a perfect fit for the camera , a couple of lenses , and accessories . Purchasing from Amazon , as always , was simple and shipping was fast ( all 3 items shipped directly from Amazon ) . The reviews provided on the Amazon site were very helpful in letting me find the perfect lens to purchase with the camera . Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) Canon EF 70 - 300mm f / 4 - 5.6 IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras Canon Gadget Bag 2400 Digital SLR camera carrying case
    • 120 4  I purchased the Canon XSi with the kit lens , Canon 70 - 300 usm lens , & Canon 2400 gadget bag as a gift for a friend . She loves it and I knew she would because I have the same camera and numerous Canon lenses . Both our cameras got a work out in Yellowstone and we got great wildlife , landscape , and people shots . Love that the large selection of Canon Lenses from our Canon SLR film cameras , also work well with the XSi . We can now just keep expanding our indiviudal lens collections , which will also work with other Canon Cameras if we progress to a newer or upgraded model in the future . Great camera for a decent price . The bag is a perfect fit for the camera , a couple of lenses , and accessories . Purchasing from Amazon , as always , was simple and shipping was fast ( all 3 items shipped directly from Amazon ) . The reviews provided on the Amazon site were very helpful in letting me find the perfect lens to purchase with the camera . Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) Canon EF 70 - 300mm f / 4 - 5.6 IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras Canon Gadget Bag 2400 Digital SLR camera carrying case
    • 124 4  I've owned the camera for 1 week now , and WOW ! This camera is simply incredible and the picture quality is outstanding ! ! ! The kit lens that came with it is also impressive when used in bright / outdoor environments . ( Some of my test outdoors pics and indoor pics with my window blinds open have been stunning . ) However , the kit lens is a bit too slow for handheld photography in dark locations unless you use the flash . For those of you new to photography , a slow lens is basically one in which the aperture does not open wide enough to collect the adequate amount of light in darker locations . Therefore , the shutter stays open longer until enough light has been collected . This also means that if your hand shakes , pictures snapped in dark enough settings will come out blurry . This is not exclusive to the XSi as slow lenses on any camera will produce similar results . If blurry indoor pics are not what you desire , you can correct this by using the flash , using a tripod , or . . . BUY A NEW LENS ! The XSi can use ANY Canon EF / EF-S lens on the market . . . and this includes faster ones as well ! ! With faster lenses ( ie , f / 1.8 ) , soon you'll be shooting like a pro indoors also ! In the end , when considering its wide range of features , customizable flexibility , and it's picture quality , I think any rookie or seasoned pro would be delighted with the XSi .
    • 128 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) pro : faster shutter speed than my high end point and shoot and thats a given although my lx2 cost more than this with lens and kit lol . LONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG battery life . i've taken over 1000 photos and it only consumed half the battery . takes sdhc cards instead of compact flash . non of my computers have those compactflash slots . con : red pixel hot spots ? i supposed this is a gamble but i'm getting it exchanged . doesnt do well in dark area shutter speed becomes much slower when taking those without flash on . it is not a machine gun but 3 photos per second aint bad for the price . i was originally looking at the 7d but ended up buying this instead so i can get some good lens with it .
    • 146 4  I absolutely loved this camera . I bought ( and returned ) two . The only problem was the quality of the photos . For portraits , the quality was magnificent . However , for landscape shots the quality was poor and out of focus . The first camera was the worst of the two . I took many pictures that turned out substandard . The one I remember best was a scene overlooking a town . The houses in the town were all a blur . My girlfriend took the same picture , standing next to me , with her [ . . . ] point and shoot camera . The houses were all nice and sharp in her photo . The second camera was better . The portraits were , again , magnificent . However , for distance shots it was slightly inferior to my Canon G9 . I know that this camera had great professional reviews ( see [ . . . ] and great reviews by users ( [ . . . ] I have no doubt this camera has served admirably for many people . However , I can only write about my personal experiences ( I am not a novice photographer and I shot in both RAW and JPEG ) . It is not only me . Google Canon 450d focus problems and see that I am not alone . Or read the few bad reviews on Amazon.com ( many of these are about focus ) or look through the discussion forums on www.dpreview.com . Other Canon cameras ( including other Rebel models ) don't have these complaints . I very much want to give this camera five stars since it is very , very nice , but I can't due to my personal experience . I do not dispute the five star rating other customers have given this camera - if they have had no focus problems , their ratings are correct . For me , I am going to wait for the next generation of the Rebel series .
    • 151 4  This review is strictly comparison of image quality of these four SLRs , I am completely leaving out ergonomics , features , size of LCD etc . After shooting 100s of shots and pixel peeping images of identical scenes . Color reproduction : 1st : Nikon D60 2nd : Canon XTi and Canon XSi 4th : Olympus E420 D60 has sliglty more vibrant and punchier colors than the Canons . Casual user will be much happier with Nikon over the other three . XSi and XTi and identical in this regard inspite of the former's 14 - bit A / D converison advantage . Upgarding from XTi to XSi will not give any advantage in real world improvements in terms of color reproduction . Image Noise ( at 400 and 1600 ISO ) 1st : Canon XTi 2nd : Canon XSi 3rd : Nikon D60 3rd : Olympus E420 XTi has the least image noise , as it has less megapixels in the same area CMOS sensor when compared XSi . D60 ' s CCD is noisier but it also has more color information at higher ISOs where Canons mutes colors to suppress the noise . E420 smaller LiveMOS sensor has worst of both worlds . It's images are as Noisy as D40 but colors are as muted as Canon's . If you factor in the prices , the best choices are either XTi for D60 . The trade off is between better color and less noise .
    • 154 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I purchased the Canon Rebel XSi about a month ago after much deliberation about when to buy and which Rebel model to select . I decided on a Canon for two reasons . I own a 35mm Rebel Xs SLR ( familiar ) and Canon lenses . The lens is what really makes an SLR shine and there are a vast assortment of canon EF and EF-S lenses available . I particularly like the EF L series lenses which I plan to buy ' used ' as my budget allows . The XSi model allows me to take advantage of these lenses without going to a full frame DSLR or the more expensive APC D series cameras . At the time that I purchased I had four Rebel choices : Rebel XS , XSi , T1i or T2i . I was tempted toward the T2i but cautioned toward the XS or XSi models . The T1 and T2 cameras offer video at high def but neither can auto focus while recording video so until that improves it will not suite me . Ultimately I decided against these because of price and cost of ownership . These cameras are impressive but in order to edit the HD video you will need a computer that can handle the format and also be able to render HD video without taking up half a day . I already own a Standard Def Canon FS - 10 camcorder that I have owned for about a year and have yet to fully exploit it . I ruled out the XS based on resolution , metering and the LCD screen all of which are much better in the XSi . The XSi is a superb camera and with an L lens is awesome . I have the kit lens but have borrowed some higher quality EF ' L ' series lenses and the difference the lens makes is astounding . Ultimately if you must spend money buy a solid camera like the XSi and spend the bulk of your money on the lens . Happy with my XSi .
    • 156 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I've had this camera in my Shopping Cart forever ! I got excited every single time I received a notification that the price of the ' item ' decreased . I finally decided to buy it . I've been researching Canon's DSLR cameras for about 5 months now . The Canon Rebel XSi is amazing-all around . Great price , great camera . I chose this camera over the T1i . I figure , why not save the $200 and invest in other essential accessories . I've recently purchased Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release with Charger , 2 LP-E5 Batteries ) , Wireless Remote , Cleaning Kit , & Mini Tripod and Aktiv PAK Professional All Weather Multi Purpose Photo / Computer Laptop Backpack + Accessory Kit for Canon Rebel XSi Digital SLR Cameras and I basically got the camera & all the needed equipment for the same price as the T1i . The product overall is awesome . I live in Hawaii and I received my package within 3 days . I love Amazon.com ! Free shipping is the best ! ! Cons : This product doesn't come with a bag / case for both the camera and lens for immediate use . No big deal . I'm happy with the one I ordered separately .
    • 157 4  I've had this camera in my Shopping Cart forever ! I got excited every single time I received a notification that the price of the ' item ' decreased . I finally decided to buy it . I've been researching Canon's DSLR cameras for about 5 months now . The Canon Rebel XSi is amazing-all around . Great price , great camera . I chose this camera over the T1i . I figure , why not save the $200 and invest in other essential accessories . I've recently purchased Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release with Charger , 2 LP-E5 Batteries ) , Wireless Remote , Cleaning Kit , & Mini Tripod and Aktiv PAK Professional All Weather Multi Purpose Photo / Computer Laptop Backpack + Accessory Kit for Canon Rebel XSi Digital SLR Cameras and I basically got the camera & all the needed equipment for the same price as the T1i . The product overall is awesome . I live in Hawaii and I received my package within 3 days . I love Amazon.com ! Free shipping is the best ! ! Cons : This product doesn't come with a bag / case for both the camera and lens for immediate use . No big deal . I'm happy with the one I ordered separately .
    • 158 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I already own a D90 and just purchased it as a gift item . The camera performs very well in all preset modes . Its a very nice camera if you are just stepping into the SLR photography realm . I specially liked the High ISO performance of the camera . One thing that i was concerned about though was the Av mode which had problems calculating the Shutter speed at low light and the images were blurred . Not sure if the kit lens was the issue or if the issue is with the Av mode itself . Hence i had to use either Tv or M mode . Preset modes are great . Good camera for all starters . . .
    • 161 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I had this camera for over a year and a half before I bought a Canon 7D . I loved it then and still love it . I reluctantly gave it to a son so that it would continue to get full use and bring joy . The only reason I upgraded was : - - Better high ISO image quality - - Better AF tracking for birds in flight , one of my primary shooting targets I'm glad I did . The 7D is a great camera but the body only is $1600 . Unless those things truly matter to you ( there are other differences too ) , the XSi is terrific . I won't repeat the detailed comments in other reviews but will comment on some other comments : - - Construction , weight , feel - the 7D is definitely heavier but the XSi felt fine in my hands . One of my primary lenses is the 100 - 400mm L which weighs 3lbs . I find talk of an unbalanced feel ( with any lens ) somewhat nonsense at least for my hands . For carrying around , hiking , birding , I wish the 7D was lighter like the XSi . I was too conservative at shooting only at 400 ISO and below . Pushing higher to 800 is ok when needed . Purchased the XSi plus some lenses / accessories at Amazon . Have been very happy with them .
    • 169 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) This was my first SLR purchase . It's a big step up from the standard point-and-shoot cameras , which were starting to seem underpowered and short on features to me . I knew going in that the SLRs had a bit of a learning curve , and that was certainly the case here . But . . . if you want complete control over how you take pictures , you're going to need to put in the time to learn how to use the equipment . I bought the Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens at the same time as the camera , and have been very satisfied . It takes great pictures , and most of the functions are easy to see and use . There are two buttons on the front of the camera that I keep forgetting about during use , but I'm sure that will change as I get more comfortable with it . The only problem I've had so far is taking indoor sports pictures ; they either come out blurry or dark . It's not unexpected ( action shots require a faster shutter speed and don't let as much light in ; but letting in more light requires a slower shutter speed , making moving objects look blurry . ) I'm sure more experience ( or additional lenses / flashes . . . ? ) will sort this out . I also decided to get an additional battery ( Canon LP-E5 ) because it takes about 3 hours to fully charge a battery ; and the fastest SDHC card I could find ( SanDisk 4GB Extreme - SDHC Class 10 High Performance memory card SDSDX3 - 004G-P31 ) so that I wouldn't be waiting for the camera to finish saving the last picture before being able to take the next one . Overall , it's a solid camera with great features and performance .
    • 198 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) I got this camera the day before Halloween , about 3 days before I expected it . I started using it right away . It is wonderful ! I use it EVERYDAY . I have the original film Rebel from the early 90 ' s . This one is even easier to use . Perfect for a beginner or a not-so-beginner , like me . I've had friends who had trouble with the Nikon DSLR - they have all returned theirs - and are now considering the Rebel . Everyone tries my camera and loves it . No regrets on this buy .

  • Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) This is my first digital SLR . Long time ago I had a regular SLR and a strong photography hobby . For the past 10 years I have used various digital point and shoot cameras . Loved digital photography , computer editing , no wasted film , etc , but was not really inspired . I sure am NOW ! My camera came ( as of this writing ) two days ago . I love everything about it . I have small hands and it is easy to hold this camera . Heavier by far than what I have been used to , but I ADORE it . A VIEW FINDER ! Goodbye little screens I can't see in daylight . Hello nose smudges on the screen ( lol . )
    • 078 4  I TRADED IN MY NIKON D60 FOR THE NEW XSI THE FOCUS IS FAST AND SHAPER . THE FEATURES HAS MORE OPTIONS I WOULD RECOMMEND OVER THE D60 THREE TIMES THE FOCUS POINTS ON THE MATRIX GREAT WORK CANON . . . MY FIRST REAL DSLR
    • 086 4  This review is from : Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( Black ) ( Electronics ) This is my first digital SLR . Long time ago I had a regular SLR and a strong photography hobby . For the past 10 years I have used various digital point and shoot cameras . Loved digital photography , computer editing , no wasted film , etc , but was not really inspired . I sure am NOW ! My camera came ( as of this writing ) two days ago . I love everything about it . I have small hands and it is easy to hold this camera . Heavier by far than what I have been used to , but I ADORE it . A VIEW FINDER ! Goodbye little screens I can't see in daylight . Hello nose smudges on the screen ( lol . )
    • 087 4  This is my first digital SLR . Long time ago I had a regular SLR and a strong photography hobby . For the past 10 years I have used various digital point and shoot cameras . Loved digital photography , computer editing , no wasted film , etc , but was not really inspired . I sure am NOW ! My camera came ( as of this writing ) two days ago . I love everything about it . I have small hands and it is easy to hold this camera . Heavier by far than what I have been used to , but I ADORE it . A VIEW FINDER ! Goodbye little screens I can't see in daylight . Hello nose smudges on the screen ( lol . )

  • Once you learn the excellence of SLRs , be ready to spend , spend , spend ! The Canon XSi helps me on my journey big time . Upon purchasing this camera , I had no idea what f-stop meant , why exposure was so important and what the heck was bokeh and DoF . While pondering what in the world I had gotten myself into , I went out and started snapping away . This camera , while intimidating at first easily let me transition from the Auto quickness of P & S into careful planning with Digital SLRs . New to SLRs , I had to learn that live view was something that I as a P & S consumer had gotten used to , not something that truly belonged on a camera . I had no problem whatsoever transitioning to looking in the peephole . Taking pictures gets addicting with this camera . It has an easy-to-understand manual , and tons of digital photo forums / reviews to get one into the groove of using this camera . I mentioned earlier that I tossed the kit lens , but that doesn't mean it's a bad lens . I've seen photos of the kit lens , and I've seen photos of L lens . Depending on the photographer , they are excellent photos ! I first started taking photos on the P mode , not really understanding what it stood for , but just knowing that I could use that mode w / o enabling the flash ( more of the flash later ) . The TV and A modes are also good to use , but for me it's mainly P or Manual . I've attempted to use live view a couple of times , but for me it just gets in the way of trying to take a good photo . I'd rather take a few test shots and then tweak the settings . One thing I've learned on photography is that the actual camera is only a tiny percentage of taking a good picture . Depending on who you ask , it can vary from 1% to 10% . For me , it's about 20% because of my amateur skills . The rest of a good picture depends on the lens used and most importantly , the actual picture taker ! That said , potential new Canon XSi ( D-SLR ) users , please do not purchase this camera thinking you'll become a pro overnight . If you take the time to understand the elements of basic photography ( exposure , depth , etc . ) , then you will most likely be fine with whatever you're using now . If you want to boost your skills and know for a fact that you are limited with P & S , then you are ready to upgrade and the XSi is a likely candidate . A note on equipment . Before you go spending countless dollars on lenses and equipment , figure out what you are going to be using your camera for and what the majority of your photo subjects are . Do your research on the forums and all the reviews and then make your decisions . If you take tons of photos of your babes and are frustrated with the blurriness of low light or washing them out with the built in a flash , then a faster lens is for you along with an external flash . The built-in flash is not great . I plan on adding a tripod and the Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras to my setup . Most of my pics are taken during the day or where plenty of light is because of that very reason . Also , because of the lack of a good flash , the few night shots I do take come out extremely grainy because I have to increase the iso way high . Cool for some photos , but not for every single night shot . I can go on about this camera , but my star rating says it all . I don't plan on upgrading until they come out with another SLR comparable to the Canon 40D that uses SD cards ( my memory of choice ) , so it may be a while . Until then , the XSi will be my new photo road dog . That along with my two lenses , makes this camera the ultimate in beginner SLR photography . Some other good equipment to add to your camera bag ( if you're a true beginner ) : A good intro or how-to digital photo book like Scott Kelby's Digital Photography Boxed Set , Volumes 1 and 2 ( Includes The Digital Photography Book Volume 1 and The Digital Photography Book Volume 2 ) ( Careful of the humor in this one . The author doesn't get it that it isn't really funny . ) Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 ( Mac ) For photo management : Apple Aperture 2.1.1 ( Mac ) Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 ( PC ) Sandisk 8GB EXTREME III SDHC SD Card Class 6 ( SDSDX3 - 8192 , Plastic Case ) I currently use the 4GB and can get 850 odd photos on the highest resolution in JPEG and about 300 photos shooting RAW + JPEG . A good tripod . A good photo bag . Right now I use a certain bag if I'm at work and just an old purse if I'm out and I want to be stylish . I do not prefer camera bags that look like camera bags .
    • 025 4  I received my XSi on April 28th , just two days before I went chaperoned an 8th grade trip to Washington DC . I used the camera for the first time in Washington and it took a bit of time to get used to the controls , but I managed to get some really good shots . I used the kit lens that is included with the camera , as well as my 70 - 300mm zoom lens and my 24 - 70mm lens ( both Canon lenses ) and I got some excellent photos . I subsequently took this camera and lenses with me on a one week vacation to Orlando , Florida and I shot around 1200 photos , and I got lots of excellent shots . The colors are great , and its a big step up from the first generation Digital Rebel which I previously used .
    • 056 4  I've been a frequent user of point and shoots ( Canon ) , and knew I wanted to upgrade . First I thought about the Canon SX200 , switched to the Nikon P80 , but then realized that I truly wanted to upgrade and become the best amateur photographer I could be ! ! ! I purchased this camera out of a local electronics department in April - - surprisingly on sale cheaper than Amazon ! ! ! I knew before purchasing that the zoom on the kit lens wouldn't be enough for me , so I had the Sigma 18 - 200mm f / 3.5 - 6.3 DC AF OS ( Optical Stabilizer ) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras on it's way to me from eBay and also the Canon EF 50mm f / 1.8 II Camera Lens that everyone touts on the digital photo forums . I sold the kit lens to offset the costs . Rule #1 to upgrading to SLRs : Once you learn the excellence of SLRs , be ready to spend , spend , spend ! The Canon XSi helps me on my journey big time . Upon purchasing this camera , I had no idea what f-stop meant , why exposure was so important and what the heck was bokeh and DoF . While pondering what in the world I had gotten myself into , I went out and started snapping away . This camera , while intimidating at first easily let me transition from the Auto quickness of P & S into careful planning with Digital SLRs . New to SLRs , I had to learn that live view was something that I as a P & S consumer had gotten used to , not something that truly belonged on a camera . I had no problem whatsoever transitioning to looking in the peephole . Taking pictures gets addicting with this camera . It has an easy-to-understand manual , and tons of digital photo forums / reviews to get one into the groove of using this camera . I mentioned earlier that I tossed the kit lens , but that doesn't mean it's a bad lens . I've seen photos of the kit lens , and I've seen photos of L lens . Depending on the photographer , they are excellent photos ! I first started taking photos on the P mode , not really understanding what it stood for , but just knowing that I could use that mode w / o enabling the flash ( more of the flash later ) . The TV and A modes are also good to use , but for me it's mainly P or Manual . I've attempted to use live view a couple of times , but for me it just gets in the way of trying to take a good photo . I'd rather take a few test shots and then tweak the settings . One thing I've learned on photography is that the actual camera is only a tiny percentage of taking a good picture . Depending on who you ask , it can vary from 1% to 10% . For me , it's about 20% because of my amateur skills . The rest of a good picture depends on the lens used and most importantly , the actual picture taker ! That said , potential new Canon XSi ( D-SLR ) users , please do not purchase this camera thinking you'll become a pro overnight . If you take the time to understand the elements of basic photography ( exposure , depth , etc . ) , then you will most likely be fine with whatever you're using now . If you want to boost your skills and know for a fact that you are limited with P & S , then you are ready to upgrade and the XSi is a likely candidate . A note on equipment . Before you go spending countless dollars on lenses and equipment , figure out what you are going to be using your camera for and what the majority of your photo subjects are . Do your research on the forums and all the reviews and then make your decisions . If you take tons of photos of your babes and are frustrated with the blurriness of low light or washing them out with the built in a flash , then a faster lens is for you along with an external flash . The built-in flash is not great . I plan on adding a tripod and the Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras to my setup . Most of my pics are taken during the day or where plenty of light is because of that very reason . Also , because of the lack of a good flash , the few night shots I do take come out extremely grainy because I have to increase the iso way high . Cool for some photos , but not for every single night shot . I can go on about this camera , but my star rating says it all . I don't plan on upgrading until they come out with another SLR comparable to the Canon 40D that uses SD cards ( my memory of choice ) , so it may be a while . Until then , the XSi will be my new photo road dog . That along with my two lenses , makes this camera the ultimate in beginner SLR photography . Some other good equipment to add to your camera bag ( if you're a true beginner ) : A good intro or how-to digital photo book like Scott Kelby's Digital Photography Boxed Set , Volumes 1 and 2 ( Includes The Digital Photography Book Volume 1 and The Digital Photography Book Volume 2 ) ( Careful of the humor in this one . The author doesn't get it that it isn't really funny . ) Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 ( Mac ) For photo management : Apple Aperture 2.1.1 ( Mac ) Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 ( PC ) Sandisk 8GB EXTREME III SDHC SD Card Class 6 ( SDSDX3 - 8192 , Plastic Case ) I currently use the 4GB and can get 850 odd photos on the highest resolution in JPEG and about 300 photos shooting RAW + JPEG . A good tripod . A good photo bag . Right now I use a certain bag if I'm at work and just an old purse if I'm out and I want to be stylish . I do not prefer camera bags that look like camera bags .

  • Rebel XS , XSi , T1i or T2i . I was tempted toward the T2i but cautioned toward the XS or XSi models . The T1 and T2 cameras offer video at high def but neither can auto focus while recording video so until that improves it will not suite me . Ultimately I decided against these because of price and cost of ownership . These cameras are impressive but in order to edit the HD video you will need a computer that can handle the format and also be able to render HD video without taking up half a day . I already own a Standard Def Canon FS - 10 camcorder that I have owned for about a year and have yet to fully exploit it . I ruled out the XS based on resolution , metering and the LCD screen all of which are much better in the XSi . The XSi is a superb camera and with an L lens is awesome . I have the kit lens but have borrowed some higher quality EF ' L ' series lenses and the difference the lens makes is astounding . Ultimately if you must spend money buy a solid camera like the XSi and spend the bulk of your money on the lens . Happy with my XSi .
    • 122 4  I bought this camera almost a year ago and it has been great ! This is my first SLR , always had a point and shoot and it has served me well with over 2500 pictures taken . Not all of them have been great but I suppose that is me , not the camera ! by the way I used a Canon EF 28 - 105mm f / 3.5 - 4.5 II USM lens instead of the kit lens and highly recommend it also . . . . . . .
    • 153 4  this is my first digital slr and the only thing that i wish was different is that i would have purchased it earlier ! ! perfect for beginners , simple to use , great battery life , couldnt ask for anything more for the price !
    • 155 4  I purchased the Canon Rebel XSi about a month ago after much deliberation about when to buy and which Rebel model to select . I decided on a Canon for two reasons . I own a 35mm Rebel Xs SLR ( familiar ) and Canon lenses . The lens is what really makes an SLR shine and there are a vast assortment of canon EF and EF-S lenses available . I particularly like the EF L series lenses which I plan to buy ' used ' as my budget allows . The XSi model allows me to take advantage of these lenses without going to a full frame DSLR or the more expensive APC D series cameras . At the time that I purchased I had four Rebel choices : Rebel XS , XSi , T1i or T2i . I was tempted toward the T2i but cautioned toward the XS or XSi models . The T1 and T2 cameras offer video at high def but neither can auto focus while recording video so until that improves it will not suite me . Ultimately I decided against these because of price and cost of ownership . These cameras are impressive but in order to edit the HD video you will need a computer that can handle the format and also be able to render HD video without taking up half a day . I already own a Standard Def Canon FS - 10 camcorder that I have owned for about a year and have yet to fully exploit it . I ruled out the XS based on resolution , metering and the LCD screen all of which are much better in the XSi . The XSi is a superb camera and with an L lens is awesome . I have the kit lens but have borrowed some higher quality EF ' L ' series lenses and the difference the lens makes is astounding . Ultimately if you must spend money buy a solid camera like the XSi and spend the bulk of your money on the lens . Happy with my XSi .
    • 205 4  Just took this on a trip to Europe , and the battery lasted the entire 12 days , pics turned out great , especially in some tricky lighting situations

  • spot-metering and flash exposure compensation ( these may have been available in the previous Digital Rebel model , the XTi , as well ) . The inclusion of those two features make the camera a much more complete and compelling photographic tool . The timer function now has a custom mode , where it'll count down from 10 seconds then take a number of shots ( specified by you ) in succession . No more running back and forth to reset the timer after each shot ! There's also the traditional 2 - second timer . Let's talk for a minute about sensor and the ISO values . XSi / 450D has five ISO values you can choose : 100 ( best image quality ) , 200 , 400 , 800 , and 1600 . Higher ISO increases the camera sensor's sensitivity to light , thus you can achieve faster shutter speeeds for a given lighting condition . However , the trade-off is that the sensor noise ( think grain for film photography ) increases with higher ISO , so you get a degraded image quality in return for less blurred photos from hand shakes ( thanks to faster shutter speed ) . This may come in handy in situations where flash photography is not permitted , such as a museum or a concert or theater . HOWEVER , compared to point-and-shoot digital cameras , the larger sensors of DSLRs , including the XSi , means that even at ISO 800 and 1600 you get very usable images right out of the camera . Running the images shot at those ISO settings through any number of third-party noise reduction software will improve them even further . This ties in to another very useful feature of the XSi / 450D that makes life easier for the photographer : The Auto ISO function . By default , Auto ISO sets the ISO ( the sensor sensitivity to light ) between 100 and 800 ( by using custom functions , this can be changed to 200 - 1600 ) . If you are , for example , shooting your kid's indoor basketball game and you know that you need a shutter speed of at least 1 / 200 sec to freeze the action , then you can set the camera to Tv ( shutter priority mode ) and set the value to 1 / 200 , and set the camera to Auto ISO . Then the camera will match the aperture and the ISO to achieve proper exposure at that shutter speed . With my other DSLRs , setting the camera to shutter priority only allowed the camera to adjust the aperture value ; ISO setting had to be adjusted manually . With the XSi / 450D , the ability for the camera to adjust the ISO value automatically makes it one less thing for you the photographer to worry about . I've only tested the Live View function to see how it works , but I can already see how useful it's going to be in studio and macro shootings . Just a note , you can't half-press the shutter to autofocus while in Live View mode . You can either manual focus , or use one of the two autofocus methods , quick ( the mirror flips up , the LCD goes dark for a short while , and flips down with focus locked ) or live ( the camera uses the LCD's contrast detection to achieve the focus - - this method is slower than the quick method ) , both by pressing the exposure lock button ( * ) while in the Live View mode . Using either the RS - 60E3 wired remote or RC - 1 wireless remote in Live View mode will ONLY trigger the shutter , and has no bearing on focusing . Some people seem to be under the impression that the inclusion of the Live View feature will enable them to use the XSi / 450D as they do point-and-shoot digital cameras , to compose their shots . That is not the case . You can't really make a functioning use of the Live View feature unless the camera's securely mounted on a tripod or on a flat surface . Both Live View focusing modes , while precise , are too slow to be used for hand-held shooting . Having said that , there is one use of Live View in hand-held shooting that I've come to value . When shooting overhead or over an obstacle , I can , with the same hand holding the camera , trigger the Live View , compose the scene through the LCD monitor ( even if it's out of focus , it's easy to get the general framing right ) , disable Live View , and take the photo normally . With a little practice , this can be accomplished very quickly . Very handy when you're just holding the camera overhead and hoping for the best . The Direct Print button that's been much ridiculed and maligned in most Canon cameras now double as the white balance menu button . The Set button in the middle of the four-direction arrow keys can be programmed for a number of different functions : Change image quality , flash exposure compensation , LCD monitor on / off ( same as Display button , but can be triggered by the same hand holding the camera ) , and Menu display ( again , can be triggered by the same hand holding the camera ) . There is a dedicated ISO button , which is also very welcome . It can easily be accessed during shooting with the right thumb , thereby minimizing the interruption to shooting . The battery life seems very good . I've shot about 500 + shots on a single charge and the status monitor is still showing charge at full . I'm using Transcend 8GB Class 6 SDHC card with it . At ISO 100 , the camera reports it can fit 396 RAW + JPG ( highest quality ) on it , but in reality it can probably fit about 420 - 450 ( the camera's always conservative when estimating ) . With RAW only , it can fit 507 . With highest quality JPG , it can fit 1,822 . Note that as ISO increases , so do the file sizes and thus you can store less images per card . For example , on ISO 1600 , the same card can only hold 323 images , compared to 396 at ISO 100 . My only gripe , and this is more about me than the camera , is the RAW + JPG buffer . I always shoot RAW + JPG , and the buffer will only hold four images at that speed ( this is a limitation that's built into the camera's memory buffer system , and thus using a fast memory card doesn't help - - see p .64 of the manual ) . When the buffer's full , you can take two additional images at about a frame a second , then have to wait until the buffer empties ( finishes writing to the memory card ) . When shooting RAW only , it's 6 images . When shooting JPG only , then it's no problem at more than 50 frames . I've found myself switching the mode dial to Sports mode when I'm shooting a fast-moving subject and the buffer simply can't keep up with it . Well , that's why Canon produces different grades and ranges of DSLRs . I've uploaded some photos that I shot of the local wildlife . Most if not all of those were taken with the EF 70 - 200mm f / 4 L lens . All in all , it's a fantastic camera . Pretty amazing to see how far the entry-level DSLRs have come in just a few years in terms of features , interface , ergonomics , and quality . I'm very pleased with my purchase and intend to have lots of fun shooting pictures with it .
    • 002 4  My journey with DSLRs began back in 2003 with the original Digital Rebel . DSLRs changed my photography for the better like nothing else . Five years and some 25,000 shots later , it's still going strong . Along the way I upgraded to the Canon 30D , which is a fantastic camera as well . When the 40D was announced , I decided to wait until the 50D sometime in 2009 , but wanted a newer backup / second body for my photography needs . So when the XSi / 450D was announced , it sounded like a perfect fit for my needs . I got it from Amazon.com three days ago , and have given it a pretty good workout since then , having shot about 650 shots under a variety of shooting conditions and with a number of different Canon and third-party lenses . The following are my impressions . The build feels very good . The camera feels wonderfully light yet well built . I'm 6ft tall with average size hands , and the camera feels good in my hand . The battery grip , to me , defeats the purpose of having a small , light DSLR , so I opted for a Hakuba / Opteka grip ( it's a plate that screws into the tripod socket that enables you to use the excellent Canon E1 hand strap with it ) and I couldn't be happier . I'm not a fan of neck straps , so this works well for me ( see the uploaded photo for the configuration ) . Most of the menu buttons on the back feel different from the ones on the original Digital Rebel and the 30D ; the XSi buttons feel more tactile and have a definite click to them when you press them . The exception are the Exposure Lock ( * ) and AF selector buttons , which have retained the deeper , softer feel of the older cameras . Just different , not better or worse , for me . The LCD is now 3 with 230K pixels . The playback images look great , and probably because of the higher resolution of the sensor , there's a very slight delay when you zoom in to 10x while the image loads and displays properly . People coming from other cameras or brands might not even notice it - - I only did so because of the difference between it and my two other Canon DSLRs ( which have lower resolution sensors ) . The viewing angle of the LCD screen ( how clearly you can see the screen from side and up and down ) is excellent ; you can still see the screen holding the camera almost straight up for an overhead shot ( more on this later ) . I'd estimate the viewing angle is about 160 - 170 degrees both horizontally and vertically . The Digital Rebel has a separate status screen above the main LCD screen , and the 30D had one on top of the camera , so I wasn't sure if I was going to like the big LCD acting as the status screen and no top screen . I'm happy to say that this arrangement works well , at least for me . The back screen makes it really easy to take all the settings at a glance . The viewfinder is much larger and brighter than that in the Digital Rebel . A humongously welcome feature for me is the always displayed ISO value in the viewfinder . The camera is only 1 / 2 of the image quality equation , the other being the lenses being used . Coupled with my favorite lens , the Canon EF 70 - 200mm f / 4 L telephoto lens , the XSi turns out fantastic images . The supplied kit lens is very light and compact for being an image stabilized lens , and turns out good performance . The IS is certainly very useful . Two features that used to be missing from the Digital Rebels and found in the more expensive DSLRs are now featured in the XSi : spot-metering and flash exposure compensation ( these may have been available in the previous Digital Rebel model , the XTi , as well ) . The inclusion of those two features make the camera a much more complete and compelling photographic tool . The timer function now has a custom mode , where it'll count down from 10 seconds then take a number of shots ( specified by you ) in succession . No more running back and forth to reset the timer after each shot ! There's also the traditional 2 - second timer . Let's talk for a minute about sensor and the ISO values . XSi / 450D has five ISO values you can choose : 100 ( best image quality ) , 200 , 400 , 800 , and 1600 . Higher ISO increases the camera sensor's sensitivity to light , thus you can achieve faster shutter speeeds for a given lighting condition . However , the trade-off is that the sensor noise ( think grain for film photography ) increases with higher ISO , so you get a degraded image quality in return for less blurred photos from hand shakes ( thanks to faster shutter speed ) . This may come in handy in situations where flash photography is not permitted , such as a museum or a concert or theater . HOWEVER , compared to point-and-shoot digital cameras , the larger sensors of DSLRs , including the XSi , means that even at ISO 800 and 1600 you get very usable images right out of the camera . Running the images shot at those ISO settings through any number of third-party noise reduction software will improve them even further . This ties in to another very useful feature of the XSi / 450D that makes life easier for the photographer : The Auto ISO function . By default , Auto ISO sets the ISO ( the sensor sensitivity to light ) between 100 and 800 ( by using custom functions , this can be changed to 200 - 1600 ) . If you are , for example , shooting your kid's indoor basketball game and you know that you need a shutter speed of at least 1 / 200 sec to freeze the action , then you can set the camera to Tv ( shutter priority mode ) and set the value to 1 / 200 , and set the camera to Auto ISO . Then the camera will match the aperture and the ISO to achieve proper exposure at that shutter speed . With my other DSLRs , setting the camera to shutter priority only allowed the camera to adjust the aperture value ; ISO setting had to be adjusted manually . With the XSi / 450D , the ability for the camera to adjust the ISO value automatically makes it one less thing for you the photographer to worry about . I've only tested the Live View function to see how it works , but I can already see how useful it's going to be in studio and macro shootings . Just a note , you can't half-press the shutter to autofocus while in Live View mode . You can either manual focus , or use one of the two autofocus methods , quick ( the mirror flips up , the LCD goes dark for a short while , and flips down with focus locked ) or live ( the camera uses the LCD's contrast detection to achieve the focus - - this method is slower than the quick method ) , both by pressing the exposure lock button ( * ) while in the Live View mode . Using either the RS - 60E3 wired remote or RC - 1 wireless remote in Live View mode will ONLY trigger the shutter , and has no bearing on focusing . Some people seem to be under the impression that the inclusion of the Live View feature will enable them to use the XSi / 450D as they do point-and-shoot digital cameras , to compose their shots . That is not the case . You can't really make a functioning use of the Live View feature unless the camera's securely mounted on a tripod or on a flat surface . Both Live View focusing modes , while precise , are too slow to be used for hand-held shooting . Having said that , there is one use of Live View in hand-held shooting that I've come to value . When shooting overhead or over an obstacle , I can , with the same hand holding the camera , trigger the Live View , compose the scene through the LCD monitor ( even if it's out of focus , it's easy to get the general framing right ) , disable Live View , and take the photo normally . With a little practice , this can be accomplished very quickly . Very handy when you're just holding the camera overhead and hoping for the best . The Direct Print button that's been much ridiculed and maligned in most Canon cameras now double as the white balance menu button . The Set button in the middle of the four-direction arrow keys can be programmed for a number of different functions : Change image quality , flash exposure compensation , LCD monitor on / off ( same as Display button , but can be triggered by the same hand holding the camera ) , and Menu display ( again , can be triggered by the same hand holding the camera ) . There is a dedicated ISO button , which is also very welcome . It can easily be accessed during shooting with the right thumb , thereby minimizing the interruption to shooting . The battery life seems very good . I've shot about 500 + shots on a single charge and the status monitor is still showing charge at full . I'm using Transcend 8GB Class 6 SDHC card with it . At ISO 100 , the camera reports it can fit 396 RAW + JPG ( highest quality ) on it , but in reality it can probably fit about 420 - 450 ( the camera's always conservative when estimating ) . With RAW only , it can fit 507 . With highest quality JPG , it can fit 1,822 . Note that as ISO increases , so do the file sizes and thus you can store less images per card . For example , on ISO 1600 , the same card can only hold 323 images , compared to 396 at ISO 100 . My only gripe , and this is more about me than the camera , is the RAW + JPG buffer . I always shoot RAW + JPG , and the buffer will only hold four images at that speed ( this is a limitation that's built into the camera's memory buffer system , and thus using a fast memory card doesn't help - - see p .64 of the manual ) . When the buffer's full , you can take two additional images at about a frame a second , then have to wait until the buffer empties ( finishes writing to the memory card ) . When shooting RAW only , it's 6 images . When shooting JPG only , then it's no problem at more than 50 frames . I've found myself switching the mode dial to Sports mode when I'm shooting a fast-moving subject and the buffer simply can't keep up with it . Well , that's why Canon produces different grades and ranges of DSLRs . I've uploaded some photos that I shot of the local wildlife . Most if not all of those were taken with the EF 70 - 200mm f / 4 L lens . All in all , it's a fantastic camera . Pretty amazing to see how far the entry-level DSLRs have come in just a few years in terms of features , interface , ergonomics , and quality . I'm very pleased with my purchase and intend to have lots of fun shooting pictures with it .
    • 003 4  I have had the XSi for about 3 months now and I am thouroughly impressed with it . This is my first DSLR and I was a little wary about going with a brand-new and untested camera , but I have always like Canon ( I used an ELAN II in High School and I bought a SD600 about 2 years ago to take snapshots of my son ) . Overall , I have not been disappointed with the quality of the photos that the XSi produces . The IS lens works great and I have taken some pretty amazing photos ( for me at least ) . I do have just a couple of issues , both good and bad , that I think those who are looking at buying this may want to know . Battery life - - Great battery life . I should say , AMAZING battery life . I have taken over 5000 photos and I have only had to charge the battery twice . Live View - - LiveView is not for beginners . It is not a replacement for your Point-and-Shoot . You can't use it in the AUTO mode ( Green Square ) . This isn't that big of a deal for me , I prefer full manual myself , but the whole point of this feature , I thought , was to make it more user friendly for the Point-and-Shoot photographer . My wife can't use Live View in it's current form ( I specifically bought a DSLR with a live view function so she could still use the camera ) . So , if Live View is a big selling point for you , You may want to look at some others ( If it isn't that big of a deal to you , then this is still an amazing camera - - added 4 - 23 - 2008 ) . If you do studio work , though , you can hook the camera up to your PC and use it as a remote viewer . But it is not a point-and-shoot camera in Live View . In my earlier review , I said that it would be nice if Canon fixed some of the Live View issues with a firmware update , I was mistaken . Live View is a nice feature once you figure out it is not meant for beginners . Studio and landscape photographers will find Live View a great tool . Image Quality - - I have had some great success shooting in a studio setting as well as some great outdoor shots . In the studio , I used tungsten hot lights with the subjuect against a white background . The photos turned out great . Skin tones are perfect and there is very little , if any , chromatic abberation at the edges . It shoots great outdoor shots as well . We just got into beekeeping and I was able to get some AMAZING shots of our bees up-close outdoors . The bees looked dirty and not very interesting from a distance , but the macro photos I got up close are beautiful and full of wonderfully crisp details . The lens is a little short , the image quality you get from it is pretty good considering it only costs $100 . I do plan on buying a longer lens in the near future . Overall , the camera is solid and feels nice in the hand . It isn't too heavy , yet still feels sturdy . If you can afford the higher price , I don't think you will be disappointed . If you can't , the XTi is still a great camera . And if you can afford to wait a few months for the price to drop a little ( LIKE IT ALREADY HAS ! ! ) I would . I was able to work a few extra weekends so I could afford to get this , and I can tell you , I don't mind it a bit , because the quality of photos I am getting has been totally worth it . - - - Update - - - I was incorrect when I said you couldn't use the 9 - Point autofocus in Live View . You can use the 9 - point autofocus while in Live View , but the mirror flips down and focuses so you can't see what you are trying to focus on until after the camera has actually gone through the autofocus process . - - - Update #2 - - - I have now had this camera for almost two months and I am happy to report that the more I use it , the more I love it . Once you learn the layout of the camera and you load the MyMenu with the tools you use most often , the camera becomes an absolute delight to use . I have taken over 5000 photos with it so far and now I need an extra hard drive to put them all on . I was able to rent a Canon EF 24 - 105 IS L lens and a 580 EX II Speedlite for my sister's wedding . WOW ! What great photos . The camera interfaced with the flash flawlessly and I am more convinced than ever that much of the quality of your photos comes from the glass you use and not as much from the camera itself ( I think it is about 65% lens to 35% camera body give or take a few points - - I know there will be those who disagree , but that is my take on it , and I am sure if I had a 1Ds MkIII I would think that there wasn't a peice of glass good enough for my camera ) . This is a great beginner dSLR and a great camera all around . I am very happy with my purchase and I have had no regrets whatsoever about spending the $900 to buy such a great tool . Amazon now sells it for $799 , you can't go wrong at that price !
    • 004 4  This camera is impossible to beat at this price . I won't write a lengthy review , but , 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 of 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 . Married with a decent photo program on your computer , it is possible to achieve professional results . Many reviews say , get this with the stabilization lens . . . . I wholeheartedly agree . . . the extra $100 is a bargain price for this lens . . . It is almost ( and I do say almost ) like having a tripod . 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 . 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 . Get the largest SD card you can afford with it . . . We have a 2GB card with it , and it fills fairly rapidly . 1GB is far too small for this camera ( primarily because you will take numerous shots with it , not because the pics take up a great deal of memory ) , I'm guessing 4GB would be near perfect ( or a couple of 2GB cards , but one 4GB is safer , the cards are too easy to misplace ) .
    • 005 4  I picked up this camera two weeks ago at a local store . Overall , it's a solid camera . Color reproduction is wonderful , it's quick , low noise with high iso , and terrific macros . The camera is blazing fast . Please refer to the other posters for the good points of this camera . Now i'll discuss the shortcomings . The major one , which has been referenced to in various forums such as dpreview and a few online review sites is poor AutoFocus . Not all cameras are affected , but mine was . If you shoot at an object from w / in 10 ft , it has trouble over 50% of the time picking up the autofocus point and often selects the wrong point . If you use center focus , it gets pretty close but final image is still a bit blurry . It becomes a bit sharper w / the live view autofocus system . When I took some outdoor pics of some animals , i couldn't quite lock on what i was interested in . Even when taking shots of people outside w / a prominent background , it seems to have trouble deciding if it wants to focus on the person or the background . I'd say that 20% of my shots were actually in focus and those look wonderful . The remaining ones had the focus off . So i'm gonna send my camera to canon for repair . I went to best buy and tried out a 40D and the focus was rock solid . If you get a good camera , kodus to u .
    • 006 4  The XSi is a significant step forward for Canon , and brings features to the upper end of the consumer market that were previously only seen in much more expensive professional equipment . The most important reasons I like this camera are : 1 . The kit lens ( EF-S 18 - 55 f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS ) is very good for the price . It is as sharp as lenses costing $700 to $1,000 and has only minimally greater barrel distortion and no vignetting to speak of . There is a little bit more chromatic aberration than with more expensive lenses , but again it completely acceptable , especially for the price . The autofocus and image stabilization work reliably and quickly . For aficionados of professional grade lenses , the build will seem light , but a light and small lens is also easier to carry around . Overall , a big improvement over earlier Canon kit lenses . 2 . The 12.2 megapixel sensor provides more than enough resolution . Even 8 x12 enlargements are highly satisfactory . We can look forward to the day when consumer-priced 35mm SLRs will have 30 megapixel full size sensors . At that point , the 35mm format will be maxed out in terms of resolution , as the lenses will not be able to keep up . In the meantime , this is as good as it gets . To give you an idea how good , on a shot of a 25 story building , every brick was clearly visible . 3 . The camera is fast enough for essentially all non-professional use . With natural lighting ( no flash ) it shoots 3.5 frames per second , perfect for capturing kids or sports action . 4 . Another great feature of the XSi is that it has all the manual controllability that advanced photographers want , but also has automatic modes that even a complete beginner can easily use . The performance of the preset automatic modes is surprisingly good under a wide range of conditions . Having only had the XSi for a few weeks , I cannot yet say anything about the reliability of this new model . What I can report is that in more than 30 years of photography , I have found Canon products , both SLR and point and shoot , to be by far the most reliable . The Nikon , Olympus , and Pentax cameras I once owned have long since fallen by the wayside , but every Canon I have ever had , all the way back to a 1978 35 mm AT - 1 SLR , is still going strong .
    • 007 4  I'm a professional photographer . I shoot editorials and advertising . I own a couple Canon 1Ds Mark 3 . 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 450D ( XSi ) . And I am simply amazed at the functionality and speedy feel of the camera . Yes , it's not 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 much current technology as possible . I can't think of a single thing to complain about . I see people complaining about the buffer , but honestly if you NEED high buffer on RAW shooting then take the plunge and buy a 1D or 1Ds . It's not a professional grade camera by functionality and build . But the image quality is on par . sRAW on a 1Ds Mark 3 is precisely the same as this camera MP size . I would feel very comfortable with the image quality of this camera to do a editorial shoot ( non-sport ) with it . But of course , the client always wants to see the big expensive camera , since they're paying you . : )
    • 010 4  My first dSLR purchase , but I come with a strong analog photographic background ( medium - and large-format photography ) . The XSI is very nice . It is nice and light-weight , great image quality , and is snappy in operation . I couldn't ask for much more ( well maybe in-body IS like Sony , Pentax , and Olympus cameras ) . I laugh at the people who call this an entry-level dSLR . The image quality exceeds Canon's $1300 semi-professional 40D model . The features that more-expensive models include are mostly minor conveniences . I took plenty of professional pictures with my 4x5 view camera . I get about 1 - frame-per - 15 - minutes with a large-format camera . And yet people seem to think that the XSI's 3.5 frames / per / second makes it entry-level ? ! Most photographers need nothing more . Yes , if you are a professional wildlife or sports photographer , you want the upgrade . If not , then this camera should meet your needs and then some .
    • 011 4  What can I say , except that this camera is the best thing that's ever happened to me , next to my dear wife that is . I came from point-n-shoot cameras , owned alot of them ; mostly Sony and some were even half the price of this SLR . I've always had two major problems with point-n-shoot cameras . First , I always had to take 2 - 3 pictures for something to come out decent . It seemed that even if shooting in the same modes the color definition was always different in each picture taken . Second , it was a real challenge for me to capture objects in motion , most came out blurry ; again I had to shoot 4,5 + times to get one acceptable result . On the contrary , I decided to spend 900 bux and get this camera . It simply refuses to break pictures . I've taken pictures from busses out the window while in motion , i've taken pictures at fast moving objects , and it just refuses to break focus . I'm extremely surprised at how well it behaves , even in auto mode . It all feels like a dream . The next thing i tried is the macro mode function at the Botanical Garden ; and you can see some sample photos - the blue flower is one of the best : ) I took about 5 pictures of each flower , because that's how I used to do it in the past . I shouldn't have . Each picture came out clear and sharp , however , keeping in mind that the kit lens is not really a macro lens , while shooting the really small flowers , there was some blurr , which is totally understandable . Some things are just too small to capture the details with the kit lens , not the camera's fault . Another nice feature is the ability to update the firmware yourself , which we all know improves stability , adds new functionality , and , if there are any , corrects any software bugs . The build quality is really solid too . It feels as solid as a rock , but not as heavy : ) Lastly , the battery . I haven't drained the battery but I have taken about 230 pictures , about 30 of those were at night with the flash . By the end of the day , I was still running with a full battery . So while I can't say exactly how many shots u can get on a full charge , I can confirm that the battery does not get exhausted easily . Overall , if you have the money to spend and new to SLR's I would definately recommend this camera . Sure it's a bit expensive , but SDHC memory cards are cheap these days .
    • 012 4  We'll start with what this camera is NOT : 1 ) It's NOT a full-frame camera . That means it's smaller , lighter , and the resulting 1.6x crop factor is important to remember if you have EF lenses already . But because it's smaller it offers less features making it easier to use at the expense of being slightly less functional . These are , for the most part , obscure features nobody will ever use anyway . Also , because it doesn't have features like 6.5 fps , a pentaprism , and Flash Exposure Bracketing , it is less expensive than the x0D series . 2 ) The XSi is NOT a point-and-shoot digicam . Don't expect it to do videos , sound , or to incorporate all kinds of convenient uber-automation . While ' cool ' , this automation usually just keeps you from controlling what you want to do yourself . Most of the time , this camera will stay in P or program mode for me . There is a green setting for point-and-shoot operation , but all this does is disable most of the features that you buy the camera for . 2a ) Live View is NOT the same as the LCD viewfinder on point-and-shoot digicams . Don't expect it to focus fast or provide the same functionality . Live View is intended for a camera mounted on a tripod or held steady . It is a GREAT way to get perfect focus when you need it . You just zoom in to 10x magnification and manually focus or let the contrast detection do it for you . But , it is NOT an LCD viewfinder . As long as you don't think it will be ( I was stupid enough to think that way ) then you know before you buy . The bad : ( in all fairness , these are true of most modern DSLR's ) 1 ) The battery is improved , yes , but it's REALLY expensive . I bought a generic battery for a backup . Keeping the Canon battery fully charged , of course , and only using the generic when the Canon is charging . 2 ) The LCD screen is right where my nose and cheek go . You can't avoid getting the glass all dirty and that gets annoying . And if the S5 can have an articulated 2.5 screen , why can't the XSi ? 3 ) A cheesy rubber cover . I like that all of the inputs are on the side , but I just hate these cheesy rubber covers . I would prefer a sliding cover or , better yet , use the space next to the SD slot . 4 ) Battery door on the bottom . On my tripod , I can't access the battery without removing the camera from the tripod . This was also an issue with my first two digital Rebels . Now , we'll do a reality check : 1 ) To those who say , It's only 12mp , they're right . But , understand that unless you're printing bigger than 8x10 , this resolution is better than adequate . In fact , the majority of the lenses out there don't have sufficient resolution to go above 12 megapixels . What I mean is that you can have a 100 megapixel camera but your lens is only really pushing out 10mp worth of quality resolution , what's the point ? Many point-and-shoots have too much resolution for their lenses . Just try blowing up a typical 10mp p - & - s image to 8x10 and see what you get . Chances are , the 8mp sensor from the Digital Rebel XT did better . 2 ) Some will say It feels flimsy . I completely disagree . It feels solid and durable to me . Now , if you don't know this already , the plastic is actually a covering and environmental seal . Underneath , there is a stainless steel frame that holds everything solid . Your strap attaches to the frame directly as does the lens mount , tripod mount , and sensor . The plastic isn't structural so however it might FEEL to you , the camera is , in reality , stronger than you might think . Now , I can understand if you're used to tough magnesium shells that you might be prejudiced against the plastic , however this camera costs hundreds less . One cannot justify criticizing the Rebel series if they aren't willing to pay the extra for the x0D series . 3 ) Critics say that APS-C is going to be obsolete . That's absurd ! Remember that there are now scores of APS-C lenses from Canon , Nikon , Pentax , Sony , Sigma , Tamron , and Tokina and those numbers continue to grow . Further , APS-C cameras are selling like hotcakes without any sign of slowing down . These people are the same ones that kept their Reel-to-Reel players because they were higher quality . Higher quality , yes , but you can't say that CD's aren't going to sell well because reel-to-reel is higher quality . APS-C is becoming the DSLR equivalent of what 35mm film was . Meanwhile , so-called full-frame sensor cameras are going the way of older 6x7 and 645 film cameras . They are limited to professionals and high-end enthusiasts . Why ? Film was limited and topped out at resolution long ago . To get higher resolution , you needed bigger film . Not true with digital sensors . APS-C has not maxed out on resolution yet . Smaller sensors haven't even hit their stride . There is no reason sensors cannot hit 20 - 30 megapixels in an APS-C in the near future , but why ? The lenses are still the limiting factor . In fact , it might be true soon that SMALLER will be better . As sensors get better , they can get smaller . It's cheaper to make a four-thirds or APS-C than a full-frame of the same quality level . Here's where I get to play designer . . . what does the XSi need ? 1 ) Articulating LCD . Like I said earlier , if Canon can add the articulating 2.5 screen to their S5 camera for $350 total , why in the world can't they put it on their best-selling DSLR ? 2 ) Sliding door for the inputs . Cheesy rubber covers are not as cool as designers think they are . Why can't Canon just put one environmentally sealed door for the battery , SD card , and all the inputs ? And , hey , why not put it on the side so you can access it while the camera is on the tripod ? 3 ) Why all the inputs ? Just have one USB slot to connect to the computer , to the TV , and use the same USB port for a DC input ? 4 ) One dial ? Why not two ? The Pentax K20D allows you instant access to the aperature with one dial , shutter with the other . Cool . 5 ) Where did FEB go ? Flash Exposure Bracketing ? They had it on the XTi . Why did they take it away from me ?
    • 013 4  This camera is really great ! UPDATE : I've had mine for 3 months and I've taken more than 3000 pictures . I still like it a lot . Amazing . It's easy to use , the LCD screen is big and clear , it's quite light , and the packaged kit lens ( 18 - 55 IS ) is good . It's not a top lens , but it delivers sharp photos across the zoom range . Default settings will give you great shots out of the box . The 9 - point auto focus is good most of times , but I found myself using the central point most often , even more so when using larger apertures ( when right focusing matters most ) . For under $700 , this is the best DSLR you can find . * Pros and Cons * Pros : - An easy to use , quick camera . - Intuitive menus . - 12 mega pixels . - Great pictures , sharp , good tones . - Small and light weight for a DSLR . - Live view mode to almost mimic point and shoot feel-it's slow though . - 3.5 shots per second-could be more . - Sharp kit lens for the price . Cons : - Somewhat expensive compared to the Canon 40D ( much lighter though ) . - ISO limited to 1600 . - Relatively low fps . - Exposure compensation range limited . - Does not have video . * The competition * The closest competitor is certainly the Canon 40D , which is a bigger , more professional camera . It has more options , higher iso , remote flash , higher shots per second rate , fewer pixels but a definitely tougher feel . I went for the rebel Xsi because I found the 40D too hefty . Still , if you really want a professional camera you should look at the Canon 40D . If you have a bigger budget , you should also look at Nikon , I really recommend the Nikon D300 , it's a really impressive camera . * Lenses * Canon has LOTS of lenses . If you're tight on budget , you should get the 50mm 1.8 , a great lens for portrait . It's a very sharp lens . You'll enjoy the 1.8 wide aperture that allows blurred backgrounds and sharp , all of this for under $100 . It's also a good start to get used to shoot with primes ( lenses with a fixed focal length ) . The 18 - 55mm kit lens is often paired with the Canon 55 - 250mm IS lens to give you an almost 14x zoom ( 13.9 ) , this Canon 55 - 250 is a very good telephoto lens if your budget is under $300 . If you don't want to change lenses , Canon just released the 18 - 200 IS and it comes highly recommended so far . The Sigma 18 - 200 OS is good too . It's cheaper and it's been in the field for longer .
    • 014 4  If you're looking at the cameras in this price range , that means you're likely also looking at the Pentax K-x , Nikon D5000 , Sony A500 , Olympus E - 620 and even , potentially , the Canon T1i . If you're looking at DSLRs and you think video on your DSLR is something you actually want or will ever use , you best stop looking at the XSi and instead focus on the K-x , D5000 and T1i . The XSi offers NO video functionality . If your hope is to not need to spend extra money on image stabilizing lenses , then buy the K-x or the E - 620 . All the above listed cameras besides these 2 require you purchase lenses with image stabilization which is an extra cost on the lens as it requires more glass . Of course , the way around the need for image stabilizing lenses is to use a tripod or a monopod . If you don't want to buy lenses , well , then you had better stop looking at DSLR / SLR cameras all together and jump into point and shoot . There are a lot of nice models with really good quality pictures out there . REMEMBER , WHEN BUYING A DSLR CAMERA , you aren't REALLY buying a camera ; you're buying a lens system . What do I mean ? Well think about it this way . You are spending money on a camera body , yes . But you're also spending money on lenses . Lenses that are NOT interchangeable ( except the Olympus method that not many manufacturers jumped on and then you still have to buy lenses to their spec and you would need a replacement camera with the same capability ) . If you buy this body today and begin to purchase Canon lenses , you are investing in Canon for , most likely , the rest of your picture taking career . The camera body is the inexpensive part in this whole endeavor and if you purchase a 55 - 250mm lens today , along with many others , you most certainly won't want to re-purchase these lenses when you inevitably have to upgrade the camera . And that's where DSLR / SLR camera manufacturers get you . It's like Gillette and their disposable razor heads . So why then , given all the above , would one purchase the XSi over all the competition ? Price is one factor . Image quality is another ( the pictures this camera can take are nothing short of breathtaking , but that's all a matter of opinion , so this is just my opinion and not a statement of fact I can quantify ) . One more is lens quality . Canon ( well , really all the above ) have been making lenses for YEARS . And in the lens department Canon and Nikon stand above the rest . Why did I purchase this camera ? Well Canon has been around a long time and actually started the DSLR revolution with the original Rebel camera . Their cameras always stand well on their own . While they may not stand head and shoulders above every camera out there , they do a tremendous job of holding their own in the market . My father owns a Rebel XT and it's an amazing piece of kit for when it was made . I bought this one because the T1i supposedly has some photo aberrations usually attributed to the sensor size that actually captures the image being too small to really utilize the 15 MP picture it is taking . The price is good , I bought a brand I know and I can share lenses with my father . That's why I bought this camera . I realize this review is pretty jumbled . Instead of writing a full review , as there are many other reviews here that do a much better job than I describing technical and non-technical details , I decided to just put down things I was thinking about as I purchased my first DSLR .
    • 018 4  I bought this camera after graduating from an old Olympus C - 5050 point and shoot camera . The C - 5050 offered almost every DSLR feature except for bulb , which I need for my Astrophotography . After spending several years understanding the manual features of the C - 5050 I thought is was time to graduate to my first REAL dslr . After shopping around testing out various models such as the Olympus evolt , Nikon D80 , and this one , the Canon XSi , I found the XSi was the best choice for the money , features and quality ( as noted in all the reviews online ) . I thought I made an informed decision and couldn't go wrong with all the research I did . After I got the camera out of the box and set it up I began my many adventures testing it with long exposure light painting , landscape photos , and close-up portrait photography . One thing began to emerge as I used the AF feature on the camera . I couldn't for the life of me get the thing to focus on anything past 10ft . I always had to use manual focus to get the pictures the way I wanted them . I shot in all AF modes : AI Focus , One shot and AI Servo without any luck . I studied the 9 - point wide-area AF feature very closely to be sure I wasn't the cause of all my problems , but still the problem AF persisted . After taking about a 1000 actuations , I gave up . BACK TO AMAZON WITH YOU ! Although most of my photography will be using MF , there will be those times when I need to take a quick photo of something that rushes past me and I just need to pull out the camera and shoot . This issue eliminates that as a choice , which is not a trivial thing . BTW : I tested the camera using two Canon IS lenses , the 28 - 135mm and the stock 18mm - 55mm IS lens . Both had the same issue with focus . Below you will find two photos . One I took at short distance and the other with the oak tree at infinity using AF . After 10 days of frustration , I returned my camera to the good folks at Amazon . I really wanted this camera to work and had high expectations . Update : Shortly after returning my XSi and upgrading to the 40d , a friend on a whim bought the XSi . He and I spent several days on the trail snapping some shots to see how his new camera performed . Out of 30 or so shots , only about 15 were acceptable . He used my Manfrotto tripod ( rock solid ) , 17 - 40mm L , 50mm prime 1.4 , 28 - 135mm USM , 100 - 300mm USM to no avail . again only about 50% of the shots were unacceptable . So again , back to the store it went . Since I've migrated to the 40d I've never been happier . It does everything a midrange DSLR should do and NO auto focus issues . Before you consider buying the XSi , really , really think about spending an extra $100 dollars or so and get the 40d . You won't be sorry . [ . . . ]
    • 019 4  PROs : I am thrilled with this camera . After doing some research for a couple of months between this camera , the nikon d80 and the prestigious canon 40d , I decided on the XSi for my needs . Best overall price to my performance needs . Image quality is fantastic , even though the kit lens is at best , good . Going to purchase a 50mm 1.4 , 70 - 200 4L , and a better walk around lens as soon as I get completely sick of the 18 - 55 IS kit lens , but for now its a good starter lens . Though I honestly think the nikon d80 and the 40d are better cameras for experienced and serious users , primarily I am loyal to Canon ( best brand ) and the 40d is just too bulky and expensive for me . I don't need all the extra bells and whistles provided by the 40d at this point of my life . If you want a light , easy to use and learn ( for first time users ) , long lasting battery ( about 500 images ) , nice clear LCD and fairly cheap price to performance ratio this camera blows out all nikons , pentax , and sony's out there for the beginner / transitioning to intermediate shooters . I chose this camera over the 40d because its more suitable for me and most importantly I can use the price difference between the XSi and the 40d to get my 70 - 200 4L for free basically . Cons : Again the common gripe over the grip , but honestly its not that bad if you have small to medium size hands . you will adapt quickly as the pro's of the camera immediately mask any cons present . No better kit lens option out yet . Overall : Fantastic lens for beginner / beginner-intermediate users as the vast majority of professional reviews have stated . . . Note : Please get a nice memory card I recommend the 4 or 8GB SanDisk EXTREME III ( it's worth the extra $5 - 10 ) or any SDHC that is class 6 , save a little change for some other lenses as you will fall in love with this camera and will be compelled to buy more lenses , and lastly buy some decent filters as you will appreciate the image quality and protection they provide . the RC - 1 is a nice accessory . I hope this was helpful for you as all the other reviews were helpful to me .
    • 026 4  I love this camera . With the Live View , all I do is hook it up to my laptop , and find a bright star , and magnify the view on the laptop and I can focus in seconds . With the Xti and no Live View , it was a long , painful process that never really focused right . Once focused , I can take several long exposure pictures with no problem . Much less noise at higher ISO's than the Xti . I was able to get great pictures , first night out . For other uses , its a great camera as well !
    • 033 4  Like most people these days , I have been using digital point and shoot cameras for years , and have greatly enjoyed taking pictures with them with reckless abandon . Soon enough , however , you start appreciating the intrinsic limitations of point and shoot cameras , even the best ones on the market : no matter how sophisticated the camera , shooting objects will never be as sharp as when you saw them with your naked eye , the colors are not exactly what you saw , and unless you have the perfect lighting conditions all of those problems only get exacerbated . Sometimes post-production in Photoshop or a similar program can improve things to a great extent , but even this can only take you so far . For most everyday shooting this still might not be the problem , but if you want to get a bit more sophisticated with your pictures you need to take the plunge and buy a truly qualitatively different camera : a digital SLR . These cameras used to be an almost exclusive domain of professional photographers , but with the improvements in technology and the increased marketplace competition they have become accessible to regular consumers . There are many manufacturers of DSLRs out there , with seemingly more and more entering that space every day . However , there are two well-established brands that still more or less dominate over all the others : Canon and Nikon . If you are an amateur photographer who is just starting out in the DSLR world , chances are you'll do more than fine with any one of those brands . One of the main reasons I decided to go with Canon is that it seems that for about the same price you get more megapixels . I like to play with images in Photoshop , and more pixels in general give you more stuff to play with . 12 megapixels of this camera are more than sufficient for most of my creative needs . The first thing that you'll notice with any DSLR camera is its relative size as compared to dainty point and shoots . You can never carry DSLR around as an afterthought . When you take one around you make a conscious decision to take pictures , and furthermore you will be conspicuous when taking them . These might be some of the considerations to think about when deciding on a switch from point and shoots . In addition to size , you will also notice a very solid feel of this camera . It is not made out of cheap materials , and every part of it has been thoughtfully designed for durability . You shouldn't casually toss this camera around , but it is comforting to know that it can probably withstand most everyday small bumps if they come its way . This camera has many features and settings , and all of this might be overwhelming to a first-time SLR user . In addition to automatic settings that are now also a familiar feature of most point and shoot cameras , there are multiple creative settings that include various levels of manual control , including a completely manual operation . When you first start shooting I would recommend using these creative settings to experiment and play with . However , if you are still unsure of what you are doing and there is shot that you absolutely have to take then the automatic settings would be much more appropriate . One of the annoying features of this camera is that it doesn't allow you to preview your shots on the screen while in one of the automatic modes . The so-called Live View can only be used in one of the manual modes . When shooting in automatic mode , you will have to use the viewfinder . This in itself may motivate you to learn more about photography and the manual shooting . The picture quality of the photographs that I have taken has been spectacular . You will notice a clear difference from the point-and-shoot photograph from the very first shots that you take , and so will all of your friends . Just prepare yourself for becoming the designated photographer . : ) The only problem that I've had is that in low light photographs have pretty noticeable orange glow . I've been able to avoid this only when fiddling with shooting controls in one of the manual modes . Another amazing feature of this camera is the speed with which it takes pictures . At 3.5 frames per second , you will be able to capture some pretty amazing shots if you go into the continuous shooting mode . I've been able to capture electric sparks on the Van Der Graaf generator and some really neat sports action photos . This is the last of the Canon Rebel DSLRs that does not allow you to shoot video . Unless you really care about high-definition video this may not be that much of a problem . I for one don't find myself filming videos all that often , and when I do a stand-alone video camera is more than sufficient for all of my needs . Overall I have been extremely satisfied with this camera over the last two years that I've had it . Most manufacturers ( Canon included ) keep coming with bigger and better models almost every year , but unless you really need some of the latest top-of-the line features you will be more than well served with this camera . I for one don't feel like I have even scratched the surface of what this camera has to offer .
    • 035 4  This Camera seems to do it all , quite nicely , I was a little suprised that the Live View feature does not function in the automatic / program modes , but the three inch monitor is a big improvement for viewing the pictures after you take them . So I am still happy , and won't discount my five point enthusiasm . I like the weight and the grip , it just feels right to me . I got some really nice photos with the kit lens . Using it with my 580EX flash was also a breeze . I am a point-and-shoot kinda guy , and this camera gets pro-looking shots in full automatic mode most of the time .
    • 038 4  Buy the kit with EF-S 18 - 55mm IS lens instead . The new 18 - 55mm IS lens is a gem and the kit only costs $60 more . This lens is much improved from the last generation and is even optically better than the Canon 17 - 85mm IS lens that costs many times more . Even if you decide that the kit lens is not for you , you can resell it for much more than $60 . So why only four stars ? Well , It seems that the latest Canon digital SLRs have a little bit of problem with dead pixels . Mine developed one after a few hundred of shots . Given that there are 12 million pixels , one dead pixel is very hard to see unless you really zoom it in . I mean this is like locating one red-head person from the Tokyo population . Nonetheless , it is annoying when you know that there is a dead pixel . Fortunately , Canon's manual sensor cleaning function also has a firmware program to detect and mask the deal pixels with information copied from an adjacent pixel . You just have to turn the camera into the manual sensor cleaning mode for enough time ( 30 - 60 seconds ) for the program to checkout the whole pixel map . It fixed my dead pixel problem like a charm . That is why , only one star is taken away .
    • 039 4  I've had this camera for 3 months now and would send it back if I could . This is my first SLR so I thought the focus problem was user error ; that I just didn't know how to use it . I've used manual focus on a tripod with a 2 sec delay to make sure the issues wasn't shake . Now I see other's with the same problem so I believe it's a camera problem . I'm going to send it in for repair , so hopefully they have a fix for the problem . It's pretty sad when my little point and shoot has superior photo quality . On the positive side , I love the ergonomics of the camera . It's easy to use and the battery life is awesome . Over a 2 day trip and 300 photos , the battery held up great . I actually love the camera except for the focus issue which when resolved will improve the rating significantly .
    • 040 4  I have been a Canon owner for decades . My first SLR was the AE - 1 Program and was a wonderful camera for years . My last few cameras have been point and shoot digitals with some ability to manually control things like shutter speed , white balance and the like . I bought the Canon Rebel Xsi a little over a month ago and have consistently had problems with the auto focus . I called Canon tech support and after much discussion and evaluation of my test shots they asked me to send them the camera and lens for evaluation . They were both returned about 10 days later with the note that the lens needed some adjustment but all was now within factory specifications . More test shots showed the same blurry images when zoomed to 100% . By comparison , my point-and-shoot digital produces sharp images at 100% , as a much more expensive DSLR certainly should . The bottom line is that repeated calls to Canon Tech support have yielded nothing but blaming me for not understanding how DSLRs work or understanding the softer focus of DSLRs compared to P & S cameras . I have seen other complaints on blogs about the bad focus of this camera - unfortunately after my purchase . I don't know why Canon does not stand behind this camera but their attitude is you bought it , get used to it . If a camera cannot accurately focus , what good are all the rest of its abilities ? As far as manual focus ( one of their suggestions to avoid the auto focus problem ) , there is no built-in help for manual focus as there was in the old film SLRs . After all , you're supposed to be able to rely on the elaborate auto focus system to do its job . Nothing they have suggested , and I have tried mightily , has fixed this basic problem . I'm now planning to sell this camera online since my return window ( 30 days ) passed while I spent too many hours trying to get Canon to take some responsibility for this problem . Maybe someone else will be happy with this camera if they never want to see their photos at 100% of the image size or never expect to crop them . Shame on Canon for this defective camera and not standing behind it by replacing it . They apparently care little about customer satisfaction at least with this model .
    • 042 4  Ah , the Canon EOS450d . ( Or Digial Rebel XSi , for those who dislike model numbers ) I've owned it for several months now , and have a lot of good experience with it . I purchased the XSi with kit 18 - 55mm IS lens back in the end of February , before a week-long vacation in the Caribbean , thinking I could get some great shots . Now , I'm not going to say it was all perfect . I mean , this is my first DSLR to actually own , and to think I could learn the system that quickly was a little overzealous of me . With that said , the camera and kit lens offered some great quality pictures , with very good color representation , and very good sharpness in most situations . Image stabilization , though I didn't realize it at first , does wonders . The IS on this lens did in fact enable me to shoot at about 2 - stops slower shutter speeds than normal , pretty consistently . The camera itself is great . The build feels quite solid , though not as much as the heavier , higher-level cameras . ( 50d , 5d II , etc . ) The navigation is definitely an easy adjustment to make from a point-and-shoot ( P & S ) camera . I was easily able to scroll through menus using the directional buttons , for instance , as opposed to the wheel used in some other models of Canon DSLR . It isn't necessarily better , but it does make the system much more approachable for someone new to the DSLR game . The screen is great - - since February ( about 5 months now ) I've used the camera for thousands of pictures , and have only noticed an inability to see the screen clearly due to light on a handful of occasions , in extreme sunny conditions . The flash , while not fantastic from a DSLR standpoint , is quite solid , and reaches a decent enough distance . However , with the built-in flash , you are limited to 1 / 200 shutter speed , at its fastest . The recharge time is also a bit longer than I'd like , in general , but it's nothing debilitating . If you need to be capturing any faster , you probably should have spent more money on a higher-end camera , anyway . The menus are quite plain , but clearly laid out in such a way that they are easily navigable and can be learned quickly and simply . You may not even use most of the menus , if you're much like me - - I rarely find the need to use bracketing for my exposure or flash , for instance , though they are simple to set up and use if desired . For a while , I was stuck in the mentality that it is only worth owning a DSLR if you intend to use manual mode . I'm beginning to learn that it isn't ALWAYS the case . I have found myself switching to Auto mode on more than one occasion , either to capture a shot more quickly , or just to see what settings the camera recommends , before re-adjusting in manual mode . Additionally , if you intend to shoot in RAW format , you cannot use Auto . RAW , for those who don't know , is a format not compatible with computers , digital frames , etc . You must first convert RAW to some format like JPG , ( don't worry , Canon includes software which you can use for this ) which can then be printed or viewed at your leisure . RAW does allow more flexibility with editing your photo , but might be a bit over the heads of some people . In either case , it is worth noting that you CANNOT SHOOT RAW IN AUTO MODE ! I frequently use RAW mode and touch up areas of the photo that would otherwise come out poorly . But auto mode is friendly enough for my girlfriend to use the camera , so it makes our lives quite a bit easier when she needs to take over the camera briefly . Live view mode is a fantastic addition , in my opinion . Many have told me that Live View is really a mode made for P & S'ers who aren't quite ready for DSLR . I have to respectfully disagree . That might be the case on occasion , but honestly , for some shots , I've found that when the focus hunts a bit , and I need to manually focus , the Live View mode is absolutely great for getting the sharpest image possible . I tend to use 10x magnification , and rotate the focus ring slightly until I find the sweet spot and focus is tack-sharp . It has saved my photos on more than one occasion , though for a quick or speedy subject ( fast sports , energetic children , pets , etc . ) obviously this is a bit more limited in its viability . I would also like to note that YOU CANNOT USE LIVE VIEW WHILE IN AUTO MODE ! ! ! You have to make adjustments to shutter speed , aperture , and ISO on your own when using Live View , so it does still have a bit of challenge with it . On the software side , I honestly prefer the use of Photoshop , so I have only used Canon RAW and the rest of the photo editing / managing software a little bit . With that said , if you don't feel like shelling out the extra cash for Photoshop , which I completely understand , Canon RAW is very good for its purposes . You can adjust all the RAW settings as needed , convert to JPG , or anything else you need to do . The other software I'd like to point out is Gimpshop , with the RAW editor plugin . ( ufraw is the name , if I recall correctly ) . With all that out of the way , i'd like to say that I was definitely one of those people who debated if I should start low , or advance myself to a higher ( possibly older , for the price ) model to start with . Sometimes I still wish I had purchased the 40D at a comparable price . But I am quite happy I started with the XSi , because it's a very reasonably priced camera and lens for its capabilities , and is very easy to use for a beginner with a DSLR - - though it's still capable of most mid-level features , making it quite a good camera . Some have looked into the new Digital Rebel , with video . That might be an option , but before spending the extra cash , ask yourself how often you'd use the video camera feature - - if you would use it , by all means go ahead . I considered the option , and found that it wasn't worth the extra cash . Nor is the megapixel upgrade - - for most amateurs , you won't be blowing any images up , so while a ~ 15mp camera is technically better than a ~ 12mp camera , you won't see a difference until you blow it up to the size of a computer sheet or greater - - how many photos do you have of that size in your home ? I strongly recommend this camera for any beginner working their way to better photography using a DSLR . If you do decide to take the plunge , don't expect your photos to magically be better - - learning the capabilities ( and limitations ) of DSLR is extremely important as well , or your pictures might wind up coming out WORSE than your P & S photos . Happy photography , everyone !
    • 044 4  I am definitely not a professional photographer , nor do I strive to be one , but have always been interested in these cameras . I am a graphic design student , and I am planning on minoring in photography so I thought I might as well get one of these babies . I've only had the Canon XSi for about a month , but what a month it has been ! I've quickly picked up on aperture , shutter speed and ISO , so I have a bit of an advantage over those who do not understand what they are . I keep the camera on manual at all times . I'm not much of a fan of auto-focus , even on my point-and-shoot , and this camera is not made for auto-focus . I only have two lenses so far : the 18 - 55mm f / 3.5 - 5.6 IS Lens ( comes with the camera ) and the Canon 50mm f / 1.8mm . I keep the ISO at either 100 or 200 , and the pictures turn out wonderful and noise-free . The live view is great when friends are using the camera , but I prefer the view finder . It help me keep the camera steadier . Be prepared to spend a lot more on different lenses , a bag , and make sure to BUY LENS PROTECTOR FILTERS ! They're $7 here on Amazon , and it's better scratching those than dropping another $200 for a new lens .
    • 046 4  I initially held off buying a SLR , not so much because of the expense , but because I did not want to be confronted with the complexity of the different control options . I was using a Canon A - 590 , which is an 8 MP point-and-shoot . The A590 is a great camera which gives excellent results . I have had the Xsi for about a month now , and was surprised to find that in the full auto mode its even easier to use than the A - 590 . If you are intimidated from purchasing a SLR by the bewildering complexity of control options , don't be . You don't have to use them if you don't want to . What has really stunned me , though , is the astonishing improvement in image quality with the Xsi . I compared it directly to the A - 590 and found a staggering improvement in detail and resolution . This difference goes far beyond what could possibly be attributed to the slight advantage the Xsi has in the number of pixels ( 12 MP vs . 8 for the A - 590 ) . So , the Xsi is highly recommended for taking stunning photographs , far higher in quality than a cheaper point-and-shoot with the same specified resolution .
    • 048 4  I've been a long time photog . Back in the 80s I got into 35mm cameras with a Canon AE1 and A1 . I then purchased a Rebel 35mm and used it for many years ( still have it ) . A couple of years ago I purchased a digital Rebel XT which was soon uprgaded to an XTi . Both camera's were awesome and I never had a single problem with either of them . As most upgrades go though , each newer model provided new useful things which made the newer camera that-much better than the old one . I'm not going to write all the the camera does this and not that type things that everyone else has already written . You can go the Canon's website for all the specs . I am however going to say that I have purchased many things from Amazon over the years and never had a single problem . I decided to go to my local camera store for this purchase though ; only because I wanted to handle the camera and play with it for a while before making a decsion . I was torn between upgrading to the XSi or 40d . I had heard many rumors that the 40d would soon be replaced with a newer , more advanced model . At time of this writing that has not happend yet . After handling both , and playing with them for several hours in my local shop ( I think I drove the salesman nuts ! ) I have the following to say : There is no doubt that the 40d is a bigger , more rugged appearing camera . It is however too big for me . It is not much heavier , but the grip and shape are bigger . The processer and guts for the most part are the same in both cameras and some of the features of the XSi are actually more advanced ( since it is a newer model ) . The viewfinder in the XSi was clearer and sharper in the XSi and I just liked the overall feel better ( may have something to do with being familier with the XTi ) . The overall sound of the camera functioning sounds great . Very professional . The 40d actually sounded too robotic to me when the shutter was used or the flash fired . The Live View feature on the XSi actually has one extra option that the 40d does not , which is great for me since I really enjoy macro photography . Most importantly , the camera is easy to use and very user friendly . The manual it comes with is pretty detailed , but I would still recommend buying a good aftermarket book on the XSi to really get to know it . I really couldn't see spending $400 more for the 40d . I'd prefer to put it towards a nice lens . Ultimately , I decided to spend less money and get a great camera that will keep me happy for a couple years at which time I'm sure the next latest and greatest camera with already be on sale and I'll be ready for a new one ! : ) If you are in the market for a camera that will do everything you want it to do , get the XSi . Whether you're an amature , pro or just a family member looking to take great photos of their kids and events , this camera will fit your needs . With the right lenses this camera will take magazine quality photographs . If you can't afford that , get the XTi , it also takes great photos . And if you have plenty of money to burn and just want a bigger camera , the 40d is no slouch .
    • 049 4  I purchased this camera as an update to an earlier mid-range ultrazoom I had - which was also a Canon . I have been a Canon fan for quite a while . My daughter had bought an earlier version of the digital Rebel and loved it , and convinced me it was time to upgrade . On the first day I got the camera , I shot a few pictures and then transferred to a 75 - 300 lens I bought together with the camera and shot a few more pictures . After about the 3rd shot , the camera froze up . I shut it down and restarted it , and it took off fine . Over the next couple of weeks , it started to happen more and more frequently , and I could see an ERR99 on the back display , or in the viewfinder . I went online and found out this had been an issue not only with this Rebel but earlier versions as well . Recommendations said that it was an issue with contacts on the lens , and to try an eraser on the contacts . Initially this seemed to work , but within a few days I had to try taking the battery out as well . Eventually the camera totally locked up . I sent the camera to Canon under warranty and they have returned it - in perfect working condition . Several days in now , and no return of the problem - but they did not say what the issue was and there was no further information to be had . I am happy because it is working fine now , but I of course wonder about a repeat issue after the camera is out of warranty . I was impressed with their turn around time - they had the camera back to me in just a little over a week after I sent it out , and overnighted back when it was finished . It does take very good pictures - but an IS lens really improves everything - the original lens works great , but the zoom lens doesn't have the IS feature . It's ok , but it's not great . Overall , I think anyone upgrading to this midrange SLR digital will be happy - but be aware there are some issues with them and I haven't read anything from Canon to indicate the nature of the problem , or how they resolve it .
    • 054 4  I agree with all the positive things said and I probably can't offer much more than that . I am extremely pleased with the quality of the images and the flexibility of the camera . But I will say that , after I accidentally left the camera outside during a rainstorm for several hours , it worked fine the next day . I was amazed . I let it dry out and it worked perfectly . Now , you probably won't buy this camera for that , but it is nice to know that it is a quality item .
    • 055 4  I've been using the Canon Rebel XSi for about half a year . Question to all XSi and XS users , Should I trade-in my XSi / XS for an T1i ? Answers all vary and depends what you need . 1 . Overall I think the Canon Rebel XSi is a very very good camera . It has more than enough megapixel as a regular digital camera . It is also very affordable and comes with its own lens . 2 . The screen is pretty amazing but not as clear as the T1i which has 920,000 pixel on it . But , that doesn't really matter . 3 . Picture taking , I think that the XSi actually take sharper and clearer images than the T1i . Probably because the T1i has more megapixel and if you use 18 - 55mm lens , it will actually show that the 18 - 55mm lens is pretty cheap when taking pictures . I also tried on the 50mm on both camera , pretty good result but XSi just a tiny little bit sharper . And when you reach ISO 1600 on the T1i , it get pretty noisy . T1i just a bit noisy than the XSi . When you reach ISO 3200 , things get pretty loud and you would like one of those expensive lens that take silent pictures . Overall the T1i and XSi picture taking is almost the same . XSi if you want silent pictures and T1i if you want ISO 3200 or more . 4 . Liveview , I see no difference and both look the same and take the same picture quality . So no problem there . 5 . Digi Processor , the T1i has an upgraded processor , probably because 15 megapixel is a lot and takes time to save it into the memory card . But , the XSi may have a downgraded processor but it still save the picture at the same time as T1i . So there also no problem there . 6 . HD record on the T1i is pretty amazing when is on 720p . But if you 1080p I recommend getting a video recorder . dSLR aren't really meant for taking HD record and I would highly recommend that if you need to record video , I would go for a video recorder that can take true HD . Also , worst part about the HD record , the sound is pretty lousy . There is NO PLUGIN for a mic for the T1i . So not recommend if your using the HD record taking a speech . Overall I think the T1i is a pretty good camera . But there's no reason to trade in your XSi / XS for a T1i unless you really need that ISO or the HD recorder . I think the T1i should be $50 cheaper because the only thing I see in the T1i compare to the XSi / XS is the megapixel and the HD recorder . I would recommend getting the D90 if you have a bit more money to record HD . D90 not only record HD but it take pretty good pictures compare to T1i . If you want more information heres a link comparing D90 and T1i : Resource : I own Canon Rebel XSi , Canon Rebel XS , Canon Rebel T1i , Canon 5D Mark II , and Nikon D90 . ( Note : I rarely use Nikon D90 probably cause I have more lens for canons . )
    • 057 4  As a parent of two rapidly growing children , I was getting frustrated with my point and shoot cameras slow shutter lag ; causing me to miss those never-to-be-seen-again picture moments . So I decided to get myself an entry level DSLR . After talking with friends , researching the internet and a recent Consumers Report review of DSLRs , I decided that the XSi was just the camera to get me started . I have been truly amazed at the quality of the pictures I have been taking using its automatic settings . Fast Shutter Speed and Continuous shooting almost guarantees I will never miss memorable moments again . Battery life is really impressive as Ive taken hundreds of pictures on one charge . Even though I am still experimenting with all the automatic and manual settings , the included manual really helps in explaining all the settings and how to use them . For a novice like myself , the information provided is clear and easy to understand . The included lens features Auto-Focus and Image Stabilization and is pretty decent for a starter lens . Interchangeable lenses make these DSLRs very versatile in any shooting condition . Now my review is not as detailed as others have posted here because I'm nowhere near a skilled photographer , but I hope to help others who are thinking about getting into DSLR picture taking like I have . I am really enjoying this camera's features and abilities . It's very easy to use on its basic automatic settings and even more fun playing with its manual ones . If your looking for the perfect camera to start off , please give this one a chance . You wont find a better starter kit than whats being offered at this price range .
    • 059 4  i studied photography for five years as my major in college . . the was when DSLR was a reachable dream . then i left school to join the army . . . which i am proud that i did but i had to put photo to the back . . now i have a year left and have a goal of getting back into photography . but i ran into a prob . . . i know film . . not digital . . a lot of stuff has changed . . the basics are there but the way we go about it has changed . . my film camera is a n90s . . great great film camera . . i was looking for something along that line when looking for dslr , but money is kinda tight , being new to the digital side , i looked at the canon 7d . . great camera but could not swing the cash . . i decided to go with the xsi . . yes it is not the low end pro camera . . but man it puts out some good quality stuff . . i am still learning it . . and still need to get speedlight , battery back grip , and some better glass ( lens ) . the kit lens is a good start . . if you can i would just get the body and get a lens that has an f-stop of 2.8 or get a good speedlight . the pop up flash can be kinda harsh and has very short coverage but you can dial it + / - 2 stops / good for fill in day light . the body is wicked light . . feels like a kids toy . . if you want heavy stay away from the rebel line the pro lines are more solid . . that is one reason i want the vertical grip . . makes it a bit more beefy . the one thing that just blows me away about dslr . . is i have any film , film speed , color or b & w i want with me , outstanding . if you want to get into dslr and am kinda overwhelmed may i suggest the xsi . it is a GOOD camera .
    • 062 4  I don't usually add to post but I felt that I need to help others with deciding on the purchase of the XSI . My situation started in January of 09 when I bought the XSI along with the 50mm f1.8 and the 55 - 250mm IS lens after reading extensive reviews on the internet before I purchased the camera . After receiving the camera and lenses I started to see a focus issue very quickly with the kit lens . I then contacted Amazon and they promptly sent me a new XSI camera . When I received that camera I used both kit lenses on both bodies and they both had the very same AF issue when you use the center focus point . When I used the 50 prime and the 55 - 250mm IS with both camera bodies neither of those lenses missed the focus using the center focus point . I never was in auto mode always in shutter or aperture mode . Every picture with the kit lens was clearly very soft and out of focus . I then returned the first camera back to Amazon for credit and I sent the second kit lens to Canon for recalibration . When I received it back from Canon I then started the process again and there was some improvement but they were all out of focus using the center focus point or any one of the 9 individual focus points . I then started to experiment with the camera by using aperture priority and center auto focus point and I would use the AF shutter button pressed half way and then switch to live view and the image would be out of focus so I would refocus in live view and it would nail the scene every time due to the fact they use different focus methods in live view . This is unacceptable . Furthermore when I contacted Canon CS they portrayed that I was the only person that has had an issue with the XSI and the kit lens . Even after I got the lens back and contacted Canon CS I got the same response about me being the only person with this issue . I still thought it was my technique but I can tell you that after 3000 pictures with the camera I cannot be that BAD there is an inherent problem with the communication between the kit lens and the body of the XSI period ! Canon can say what they want but after taking the camera to 2 different professionals we all came to the same conclusion . I know the kit lens is NOT L quality but the kit lens should perform to the same standard as the 55 - 250mm IS lens and if not then back to the research for a different camera and that is when I am after 2 months of frustration with the camera . The lack of Canon recognizing the true issue and being able to fix it really has me stumped . I could have sent the body and the lens back to Canon at no charge because they sent me a return label but my time with Amazon return policy was up so I had no other choice but to return the 2nd camera that I tried to like . If you would like to see the pictures I would gladly send them to you . You can contact me through this site I think ? Lpowers
    • 063 4  I upgraded to the XSi from the original Canon Digital Rebel ( 300D ) . I love everything about the XSi , except for one thing - - it can't take a sharp picture with my Canon 75 - 300 IS lens . At first I was in denial . Then I spent an afternoon taking pictures with the zoom lens on both the 300D and the XSi . On the 300D , the pictures are as sharp as ever . On the XSi , they are not . It seems to have something to do with the depth of field - - the shorter the depth of field ( either because of aperture or focal length ) the blurrier the picture . So I sent it to Canon for repair , along with the 75 - 300 lens at their suggestion . The XSi was under warranty , so no charge there , but the lens was not , which resulted in a $90 charge . I just got the camera back ; there is no indication as to what they did . But there is no difference in the quality of photos with the 75 - 300 lens . This is so sad . I'm okay with getting a bad product every now and then , but if I send it in for repair to make it right - - the manufacturer should make it right . Now I have a crappy camera AND I'm out another $90 dollars .
    • 064 4  I purchased this product as a present for myself for Christmas including the 18 - 55 IS kit lens . I have owned numerous P & S cameras - Casio , Canon , Nikon , etc , but decided it was finally time to upgrade to a DSLR - and at a great price . I have taken about 500 pictures so far - with flash , with manual controls , in auto mode , pretty much everything already . The Camera body - very solid build . I had read some reviews which were critical of the use of plastic over metal but I really think that the plastic is great . I'm sure a drop would damage it in some way , but the plastic feels very sturdy and has no flex in the body at all . Every compartment opens and closes tight and with some resistance , which gives a very stable feeling . The buttons all feel great to press . The shutter feels very sturdy and has great feedback when you press it . The camera body is a good size for me . I am taller than average but not giant and my hands are pretty good sized and even the smaller body on this camera ( compared to the 40,50d , etc ) feels fine . My only complaint is sometimes tiredness which I get in my right pinky finger from the grip on the camera . I'm sure in the coming weeks I'll work this out as I experiment with new ways of holding the camera most comfortably . Overall , the camera body is sturdy and feels very well made . Features - Wide spread . I am coming from a Canon G9 which already has a pretty full feature set , but the ultimate manual controls on XSi just lets me feel much more connected to this camera . The Auto mode seems to work fine . I'm not experienced with any bigger or fancier DSLR's , so this mode seems fine to me - autofocus , flash and everything . Manual mode allows for the ultimate control of pretty much everything . I love taking nighttime , long exposure shots and the XSi allows for up to 30seconds of exposure or a BULB function . The results are great out of the box , though I'm sure with post processing some of the graininess that results can be cleared up . Specs - The images are crystal clear with the kit lens compared to my G9 . Even though they are both 12MP , the XSi at a 100% crop is so much clearer . I now don't worry about zooming in as far as I can - knowing I will be able to crop out a larger , closer image in the future if I want to . The built in flash is sufficient and has a pretty quick refresh time . I also have a Canon 220Ex which is a bit more powerful ( not much though ) but does have a much quicker refresh time . In burst mode on the XSi I can shoot twice as long and 1.5x as quick with the 220Ex which could really come in useful . I would invest in an external flash unit but for everyday shooting the built in one is fine . The autofocus is quick in my experience so far and is pretty accurate . It is much quciker than the G9 , even in low light . Low light does slow it down a bit , but not bad at all . Kit Lens ( 18 - 55 ) - As I have said this is my first DSLR so I don't have much knowledge of lenses , but this one is pretty GOOD , not great . The zoom is pretty basic - less than my G9 but wider angle to begin with , which I find more useful . I will eventually invest in a probably-Canon longer range zoom but for now , this is fine to be begin on . It is a quick lens and the Image Stabilizer seems to help ( haven ; t tried many moving situations yet ) so I can't report completely on that . I do miss the focus distances on the manual focus ring ( infinity to close , etc ) so it is sometimes confusing to see what distance I am focusing at . Overall , a good lens and definitely worth the kit price if you are just starting out . Battery - The battery is great . I have taken almost 600 shots on the first full charge still , many of which have been flash , and the battery is only down one notch . Obviously this will go down with time , but it seems great . Complaints : 1 . Body size is good but takes some getting used to . not really a complaint , but just saying it will take a while to find a completely comfortable grip . 2 . Live view sucks . I love shooting through the eye piece , but in just using live view even for fun , it is bewildering and slow and bad . If you have a tripod it will be fine , but otherwise , do not buy this camera if you MUST have live view . I wanted the XSi because it did have live view , but I now realize I much prefer using the eyepiece . It is nice to know live view is there if I need it , but I cannot really see myself using it more than 1 - 2% of the time . 3 . Battery door almost impossible to open . I don't know why - it could just be mine but I'm thinking it is the way it is designed . I have to use a pencil tip or a butter knife in additon to my finger to slide it open and out . 4 . Lack of movie mode - I know , I know - its an SLR . But I have seen that Ashton Kutcher ad for Nikon with their HD movie mode , and I have to say that would be pretty cool to have on here . I have a feeling on the 500D or whatever the new Rebel is , Canon will install that . But I wish this one had it . Overall - Great beginners camera and even for a moderately experienced user . Only drawbacks are minor ones and for this price point , cannot really even be considered . I've wanted the Rebel since the 300D came out , and I now finally have one and I am in love .
    • 067 4  This is my first DSLR and I am extremely happy with my purchase . I did a lot of research and had narrowed it down to the Rebel xsi and the Sony A330 . I ultimately went with the Rebel because its shooting speed ( fps ) , my comfort level with Canon cameras ( my point and shoot was a Canon ) , and because of Canon's excellent reputation . What I like most about this camera is how easy it is to operate in manual mode . Being able to adjust the auto-focus selection manually is awesome . A nice bonus is the large LCD screen ( larger than the Rebel xs ) . It was important to me have a quality live view and this does not disappoint . . . although I thought I would utilize this function more , but actually prefer to use the viewfinder ( mainly for the auto-focus points that are only visible in the viewfinder ) . I cannot say enough positive things about the Rebel xsi .
    • 069 4  Since I was a child I always had a camera and loved taking pictures . My first camera was a Kodak 35mm rectangle job . You know the one with the square one time use flash on top ? I then had Vivitars and Ritchshot In May of 2000 I bought the Canon Rebel EOS for trips to China and Australia . I never fully got proper use of the camera because film does not show the errors of your settings . I then went on to buy several Nikon Cool Pix and a Canon Powershot S2 . In December of 2009 my wife and I bought each other as a gift to ourselves this camera . Words do not describe the feeling of arriving as an artisitc photographer . Ous lives will never be the same . I must say I am biast against Nikon SLR's because my friends have them , and with the graduation to lenses and accessories I will be Canon 4 life . The functions of this camera are amazing . Eveything I struggled with for years in film , and inept point and shoot and powershot cameras came to an abrupt end by purchasing this one . The functions people struggle with , tones , lighting , sharpness are answered in a matter of a few test shots going through normal photography education ( a quick reference guide in the owners manaual gives a brief overview that you can learn what you need to know ) . The book was a guide that in the 1st week and several hundred shots later were answered by photographs that made friends and family think they were fake or not done by this camera . I will be posting photos here on 3 / 19 / 10 of what I am trying to convey . The use of the picture style defines the photos that you take . Monochrome , Sepia , landscape with the right filters brings out the inner photographer you never knew you had . You will never , ever go back to the automatic settings after two weeks of using P , TV , AV , M , and A-Dep setting . The 12.1 Megapixles is great for framing the highest quality photos in 11x14 frames . I do not belive in the near future our walls we be able to hold our photos , we will have to keep switching them out . The only warning I have for buyers of this camera , or any SLR is that these are the cameras that take you to a new comfortable level and that comes with a price ! ! ! you start off with the 18 - 55mm lense . That is not good enough . You must then get filters to bring out the landscapes and protraits you are taking . Then you move on to buying the 70 - 200mm or 70 - 300mm lenses , because you need the advance lenses to take action photos , or landscape photos . Then you need a wide angle lense , because taking pictures in the mountains or indoors , or of landscapes you get tired of backing up and not getting what you want in the shot . Then comes the hood for the wide angle , and the UV filter , and it goes on and on . Think of the camera as a foundation to advanced photography , however the lenses , the flash , and the filters , which will run you $700 - $2000 it is what defines the pictures themselves . This camera is an awesome tool to capture your view of the world , the events in your life , and convey them in a professional manner . The price is fair and it will be a camera for years and years of professional photography .
    • 071 4  I don't know anything about ISOs , image stabilization , or auto focus . I couldn't possibly tell you - - yet - - what half the buttons on my new camera do . But the picture quality is amazing , and I picked up the basics in about fifteen minutes of playing around . The interface is clear and easy to understand , there are more photo options than I know what to do with right now ( i.e . portrait versus night portrait ) , and my auto-focus is working beautifully . Some other reviewers have mentioned the kit lens , and I agree that it is good for indoor and close shots , but I'll definitely be spending the money on something more powerful for a better zoom . I took it to my niece's dance recital and all my non-flash , far-away shots of the stage were pretty blurry . All in all , this seems like a GREAT camera for a beginner with a pretty decent price-tag .
    • 074 4  I should preface that I have been exposed to point-and-shoots my entire life , so I am a very fresh amateur when it comes to SLRs . I have found it incredibly beneficial to educate myself before my purchase of the XSi about what SLR cameras are , how they function on a basic level , precisely how they differ from point-and-shoots , and what I can expect to achieve from my new camera . People who do not at least touch on these topics before their submersion into the world of SLRs will find the acclimation much more difficult , if not intolerable ( as some very mislaid one-star reviews illustrate ) . My XSi has helped me reach untapped creative potential that I hadn't deeply considered before . I am an artist , a painter , and my primary reasons for getting an XSi teeter between photographing my paintings for my personal records and for sale on the Internet as well as for my introduction into the realm of artistic , fine art photography . In my first few weeks of use , I can say unequivocally , and rather giddily , that the XSi achieves my hopes and quite a bit more . My first reason for upgrading to the XSi , and to an SLR in general , is image quality . I simply wasn't content with the grain , blur , and poor coloring that most point-and-shoots afford . Aside from using my camera for normal , everyday portrait , indoor , and vacation shots , I also wish to use it professionally , to photograph my artwork and to take artistic photographs . Clarity and integrity of the image are enormously welcomed with the former , average tasks and absolutely essential in the latter , more artistically focused ones . The XSi allows me to achieve crispness , faithfulness with colors , and - - THANK GOODNESS - - far less , or absolutely no , grain in my images when shooting indoors . I am as happy as a bird with a French fry . I have to urge that practice makes perfect for an SLR beginner . There are a plethora of settings , terminology , and camera hardware that require education to comprehend and perfect . I am new , I am learning , and I am enjoying the process of unlocking the powers of my XSi camera . I imagine it will be some time before I can consider myself rather well informed about what the camera can achieve , but even out of the box and into my amateur arms , the camera takes spectacular photographs ! As extremely complex machines go , this camera is insanely easy to navigate and control . The buttons on the camera itself are perfectly placed , and the menus on the large LCD screen are just as easy to maneuver . I am thoroughly impressed with the ease of use . I have zero complaints . One would do well to browse the web for information about the features and functions of the Canon XSi before the camera even arrives . I spent a few hours reading and watching some very helpful videos on sites like YouTube to familiarize myself with the capabilities of the camera before the box arrived at my door . I can tell you without doubt that the information I learned before I laid eyes on my camera helped tremendously . I knew what buttons to push as soon as I had my hands on it ! More specifically , I have no complaints about any elements that came with the camera . The kit lens is superb - and that truly may be the only lens you ever need . I did purchase the f1.8 II 50mm Canon lens at the same time I purchased the camera on Amazon , simply because I was so impressed with the customer photographs that had been uploaded as examples . The clarity achieved with the XSi kit lens is stellar , but I think the 50mm lens is a beautiful accessory to treat yourself to . . . it takes unique images that can only be achieve with that particular lens . I also purchased an extra Canon battery so that I never have any camera downtime spent charging . The extra battery was a pricey $50 more , but I have already enjoyed the ease of having two batteries a great deal since owning my camera . . . well worth the money . I also purchased cheap filters to fit the kit lens of the XSi and I have already noticed higher color saturation in certain instances when using a polarizing filter . It's great fun to experiment ! Out of doors and indoors , the XSi performs masterfully . In low light and in high light , the XSi performs masterfully . I am a student with very little discretionary funding , so I had reservations about spending so much on a camera . I haven't looked back since getting my silver XSi , and there's simply no hint of buyer's remorse here . Put plainly : you get what you pay for here and I wager even a bit more . I am in passionate love . Buy her . Now .
    • 077 4  I have had a Canon A620 for about 2 years before this . It was an awesome P & S , but it died after going through a whole lot of pain and agony that I put it through ( sandy beaches , construction sites , oily garages ) . I decided to upgrade to a DSLR this time around and had been researching them for about 3 - 4 months . I was set on buying a D60 for a while and then the Rebel XS came out so I started comparing features and then saw that for a little bit more , I could get the XS which would have Live View , AEB and some other cool stuff . But at that point , the Xsi was only about 30 bucks away , so I dropped the cash and I must say I AM VERY HAPPY with my purchase . Nothing to really say about Amazon , their shipping was ridiculous as usual ( came in exactly 2 days after I ordered - wish other places would mean 2 - day when they say 2 day shipping ) . The camera itself is a dream to use . The Live View makes a big difference if you are sitting it on a tree stump or a tripod and composing with a little bit more stability . The camera feels solid in your hands and the lenses take a beating ( actually hit the kit lens against a door once when turning around ) . The grips on the kit lens seem like plastic yet somehow feel rubbery - but in the end , my fingers love em and I haven't had any problems with prolonged contact while trying to get focus / zoom juuust right . The rubber grips on the Xsi aren't exactly cushion-y , but the texture on the grips makes the camera body feel more secure in your hands ( definitely worth the extra 30 or so bucks ) . You also get the proximity sensor for the LCD ( turns it off if its close to your face ) and the extra 2 MP ( more cropping ! ) . That said , the camera strap leaves you wanting for something better . It looks nice , but its a little small if you are a big guy and its not padded at all so it feels a little tough on your neck - so factor in some extra spending money for a good strap and / or a good bag . If you are buying this as a first time DSLR user , its a good investment ( you can of course settle for something less . . . no problem with that , but you might as well drop the money for the best in this price range of DSLRs ) . Be prepared to get a LOT of bad pictures in your first couple of weeks with a DSLR as you get used to judging your shots on the review LCD after your take em , but after you do . . . the extra speed and better quality lenses are completely worth it . P.S . Don't underestimate that wide angle kit lens - you get some amazing shots , especially when you are dealing with landscapes .
    • 085 4  This was my first SLR since converting to digital . I previously had a 35mm Canon Rebel that I loved although it was rather basic and old , then I had a Canon Powershot which was good . I was hesitant to switch to a digital SLR because I thought the Powershot was all that I would ever need ; after all my old Rebel film camera was lacking in features and took average shots - so a point-and-shoot digital was better . Why would I need anything more than a point-and-shoot ? I was so wrong . The Canon Rebel XSi is an awesome camera , loaded with useful features that are easy to figure out . The Rebel line has come a long way in innovation since going digital , and the control and quality of a DSLR cannot be touched with a point-and-shoot . I still like my point-and-shoot because I can keep it in my pocket for easy traveling ; but the XSi is my main camera . If you are new to digital SLRs , or new to SLRs , or new to photography ; or upgrading from a point-and-shoot - - this is the camera for you . If you have the extra money for the T1i , it's a little better with video ; but the XSi is still great for photography . Check out the manual by Ben Long for a great set of instructions on how to use this camera . It took me about a month of steady shooting to really understand it , but now it's like second nature . I highly recommend this camera .
    • 092 4  I was deciding between a Canon 40D and this camera . For me , the form factor is a big plus , because I plan on lugging this onto an airplane along with my laptop in my carryon . I tend not to abuse my electronics too much , so the whole question of plastic body on the XSi vs . a metal body for the 40D wasn't an issue for me . Two points that favored the 40D : the continuous RAW mode is better ( for baby's first steps , or sports ) and the kit lens for the 40D is more versatile ( a little wider than 35mm and out to 5X zoom , vs 3X zoom on the XSi kit lens ) . For me , it wasn't worth the extra cost ( * edit * : with the instant rebate on the 40D right now from Canon , about $300 difference ) . I decided to splurge on a DSLR over an point-and-shoot because I always got frustrated with sunset and lowlight shots with my point-and-shoot ( I have an Olympus Stylus 400 ) . Either the picture would be blown out or too dark . Also , indoor shots without flash would often be too grainy because of the inferior image processing in my pocket camera . Much less of a problem with a DSLR , where I've been able to twiddle with the ISO and the aperture to get decent shots in all the above-mentioned situations . Overall , I'm very satisfied with this product . 4 stars because Canon doesn't include a SD card in the kit ( c'mon , even my point-and-shoot came with a weenie card ) .
    • 100 4  I bought this camera because of a recommendation by Consumer Reports . I had a 35mm SLR in the past and was looking forward to a digital SLR . My first day out , I stuck to the ' Full Automatic ' mode and reviewed the photos with some disappointment . While some were very nice , others weren't . The wide range for the auto focus points often stole the focus from a more distant object to a closer one . This was not easy to overcome in full auto mode . After reading the manual I selected ' Program Mode ' and was able to program the auto focus point to just use the one I wanted . These photos came out much , much better . I also played around with some of the other settings and found that the close-up mode works very nicely . I have not yet played around with some of the more technical aspects of the camera , but it gives lots of room to grow . I'm very happy with the camera and glad I bought it . Bottom Line : this is not a ' point-and-shoot ' camera and should not be considered a high end replacement for one . This camera is great for a weekend photographer , or photo hobbyist . Just be prepared to spend some time learning the camera , the menus and settings . Then take a few hundred pictures and find its limitations and possibilities .
    • 101 4  i'm new on digital photography , a friend was living in the States , I live in Guatemala City , as soon as she brought it I started taking a shot to everything , i can't stop loving it , even my friends love it , and for the prize . . . no where else amazon can be beaten . A great product for anybody who is undecided about getting this or another nikon or canon upgrade , my advice , get this one ( which is incredible ) and buy more lenses , its not about the camera , but the effect u are trying to get with the lenses . . . pd . the only thing that i dont like that much is the lense . . but bleh since it comes already with the kit for the prize is ok . . but get a 50mm f1.8 instead if possible , way better for beginners like me : ) cheers everyone !
    • 104 4  Exceptional camera for the package and price that you pay ! The Canon Digital Rebel XSI camera is a great starter camera if you are interested in digital photography , but will satisfy the intermediate photographer as well . It's easy to use and takes excellent pictures . The owner's manual was very easy to follow and the camera itself is very clear and easy to understand . The 3 LCD monitor is amazing for viewing pictures and the size of the camera is perfect considering it goes everywhere with me . If you are nervous about stepping into the world of Digital SLR camera's , don't be . This camera will walk you through the steps of capturing great photography . If you are more comfortable with the point-and-shoot aspects of a lower end digital camera , but want to experience manual mode photography , then this camera is everything you are looking for . I would highly recommend this camera to anyone that is looking to step it up in the world of digital photography . If you are just beginning or have intermediate experience with photography , you won't be disappointed with this purchase .
    • 106 4  Bought this camera for my wife as a gift after reading many reviews on third party websites . For the money , this is the best camera out there . She was thrilled . This camera takes amazing pictures and has a full array of manual settings . There is definitely a learning curve to using this camera if you want to take full advantage of its potential . However , its automatic setting allows you to use it as you would any point and shoot camera straight out of the box . The startup speed is excellent , and the shutter lag is almost negligible . Amazing . The camera looks great ( I got the black at her request ) , has a solid feel to it . The camera has great battery life and comes with a wall charger for the battery . This camera also takes either regular SD cards or the new generation of SDHC cards . We got my wife a 16gb SDHC card , so she can take as many 12megapixel pictures as she wants without ever having to worry about running out of space . . . Overall an excellent camera for the money . I look forward to seeing the pictures she will take with this . Hope this review helps .
    • 107 4  I bought this camera last month . I am very happy with it's performance . The kit lens provided is really good with IS within it . I utilized the camera fully on one of my friend's wedding and the outcome was really great ! 450D captures every beautiful thing . 3.5 fp is enough to get nearly 40 shots in 10 seconds out of which 20 at least would be sharp and great . Only problem ( not sure if it is ) I found with the camera is that , when I opened the cap of the camera where we insert lens , I found a tiny golden color ring lying inside detached . I am scared if it has been detached from an important part ( sensor ? ? ) . Would be great if someone helps me out if they know about this .
    • 116 4  Well , maybe not , but the Rebel XSi is certainly a step up for me ! ! ! As a certified DSLR newb ( this is my first SLR camera of any type ) , I certainly didn't know what to expect when I ordered this camera . Yeah , I had done all of the online and in-store research , read through myriads of model reviews and pondered my desired requirements , but you never know how things are going to go until you have the product at home and have used it a few times . Bottom line is that the Rebel XSi is easy to use and takes great pictures , which is what it's all about ! For someone who never had anything but a point-and-shoot , the learning curve on the Rebel has not been as steep as I originally thought . While I won't be chucking my job to become a paparazzo and art galleries won't be showing any of my works anytime soon , the Rebel XSi works for what I need it for ; clean and crisp , albeit amateur , photography . In the end , I decided to purchase the Rebel XSi for a couple of reasons . First , it met my price point for a first-timer's DSLR camera . I couldn't see myself spending > $1K to support a hobby that I was only beginning to explore . I likened my buying a higher-end prosumer or professional camera body ( like a Canon 1D , a 40D or a Pentax / Samsung K20 ) to throwing the keys for the Maserati to a 15 year-old driver with a learner's permit . I know I could grow into a high-end camera , but why take a chance ? My second rationale for purchasing the Rebel XSi was the functionalities built into the camera . With comparably-priced DSLRs , i would have had to sacrifice this or that feature that comes included with the XSi . My much-used PowerShot will be gathering dust . . .
    • 118 4  For my own non-professional use , I believe this camera will be all I will ever need for still pictures . My own opinion in this review may be for anyone who may wonder if they want to take the plunge for an SLR type camera . I have point & shoot cameras , and have always been impressed with the quality of Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera pictures and finally got an XSi . After reading professional reviews and comparison to other cameras , this one in my opinion carries it's own weight in overall quality and function . This type of camera is aimed at photography only , not like a point and shoot which takes movie clips . There is something worth mentioning . . . . . when you buy the XSi , it comes with some features disabled or turned off by default . You must Read The Instructions and set it to your own preferences to get the most out of the camera ! ( I think Canon should have done better at clarifying this ) Many reviewers say that Canon's pictures are a little soft in detail . I've seen side by side comparisons to other brand's pics . But what is overlooked is the fact that in the XSi , the default picture style menu setting is set in an average color / contrast / sharpness position when bought . ( In mine it was ) They can all be increased ( in the creative zone ) for even more clarity if you choose . You must go within the menu to set them . But it can still be used like fully automatic point and shoot camera with the preset general factory settings . Also , I found that a camera's picture quality isn't limited to the camera's built-in software only . There are many 3rd party photo software programs that act as a further artistic rendering extension to what a camera can do . Google's own free Picasa2 photo software is an example . These programs aren't just for touch-up of photos anymore . You can further enhance pictures the way you like them . This camera is designed to function a certain way by the way it was made . One shouldn't expect it to do photography work outside it's design , like meeting unrealistic lightning fast live view shooting conditions underwater , when in fact the live view's design / focusing speed is more intended as a convenience when shooting away from the eyepiece or on a tripod . Live view on an SLR must first flip up a mirror to expose a lens image to the sensor . Live view is a new additional function to the this series of camera . . . . it is not a less performing downgrade from any previous SLR version . It is a relativity new technology feature on SLR type cameras .
    • 125 4  I bought the Rebel Xsi after I was extremely disappointed by the indoor image quality from my Nikon D60 with f > 8.0 . Where Nikon D60 failed miserably , the Rebel Xsi has been superb . I routinely take indoor group photographs with it with f8 or f11 at iso 400 ( flash on ) and they come out excellent ! ! ! They are very sharp and have very good details , I don't even need to up the iso . I would have to give 5 starts to the sensor in this thing , it is just amazing ! ! ! The best camera's are the ones which shine in low light ( indoor ) and the rebel xsi's sensor gives it the ability to outperform anything else in this price range . . . The other gr8 thing about the Xsi is that for another 90 $ I was able to buy a gr8 portrait lens , the 50mm f1.8 prime lens . That thing is so fast that I do not need flash at all for taking potrait images of my kids . I love that lens ! ! ! ! ing . Overall I am very happy with this camera . The only annoying this it has is the flash strobe based AF assist vs Nikon's AF assist lamp . The flash based AF assist gives the subject's the wrong impression about when the picture is taken and is very annoying . Thankfully I have enough light in my house ( where I take most of my indoor shots ) that the flash AF assist is needed only about 10% of the time . I wanted to buy a speedlite to solve this issue + give me bounce flash etc . , but the opteka speedlite turned out to be a waste of money ( 1 star ) and the canon one ( 430 exII ) is too much $ $ $ for me . So for now I am just happy with the regular flash . . . . It gives good exposure most of the time ( For potraits I focus on the faces and for groups pics I focus on darker clothes to get good exposure with the built in flash ) . Also I only using center focus point 90% of the time as it is the fastest and most accurate . Again overall the camera is 5 star .
    • 127 4  I bought this when it first came out in 2008 prior to a trip to Disney . It replaced an original Digital Rebel ( 6.3 MP ) which was also a great camera ( which I passed down ? up to my Dad ) . Getting this camera has taken my photography to a whole new level - it is a great camera . It is easy to use and takes sharp pictures . The user interface is well done and will be second nature to anyone with experience with a Canon ( even point and shoots ) . The easiest thing to do is to use it in full auto mode for a while but don't get complacent and keep it there for the life of the camera - try turning that dial and repeating shots so you can learn all that this wonderful unit is capable of . At the price point this is really too good to pass up . If you are considering this camera vs . the point and shoot variety , I have found the main two advantages of DSLR to be the lack of delay in shutter release and of course the clarity of the pictures with the larger lenses . The first issue is often of paramount importance in taking pictures of kids and pets - they never stay still for long ! With regards to picture quality , it is interesting that manufacturers push the megapixels so much on the point and shoots . PLEASE don't make the mistake of thinking that 12 MP on a point and shoot will come anywhere near the pictures from this camera ( provided a good lens is attached ) . There really is no comparison . I have several point and shoot cameras ( which I have also reviewed ) and though they trump the DSLR for portability ( or ability to immerse in water for the D10 ) there is no comparison for picture quality . I have recently upgraded lenses with the addition of two L lenses ( which work great with the XSI ) and may upgrade to the new Rebel T2i in the future for both improved sensitivity ( ISO 6400 on that camera , 1600 max on this one ) and the ability to record HD video , which this camera does not have . That said , this camera has served me very well and will continue to do so . As another reviewer pointed out , the battery life on this one is terrific - I bought a second battery but have only rarely used it ( though I rotate them , of course ) . In summary , this is a terrific camera which I would highly recommend to anyone considering making the jump to DSLR .
    • 133 4  This camera is a great digital SLR for the price . Coming from regular point and shoot Canons and Sony around 7MP , this camera blows them away in image quality and is just as easy to use as the point and shoots . Make sure to invest in quality UV or other quality lens protection depending on your intended use for the camera . Also , getting the higher zoom lens is a must-have with this camera , although most of your pictures will be taken in the 18 - 55 range with the lens that comes with the camera . Only thing that could improve on this camera would be to be able to see the picture on the LCD before shooting ( like a point and shoot ) , but I suppose that defeats the whole digital SLR camera's history and function .
    • 137 4  I didn't give this camera 5 stars but that's only because a couple of personal gripes that might not even bother another buyer . My problems just stem from the fact that I owned the first digital rebel ( 300D ) and I am used to a bigger bulkier body . That was a issue with me but it's something easily overcome with some use . Also , I thought the shutter is a little loud but again , it's not something that is a real issue with performance . The things I am impressed with so far , is the large screen and the easy to see settings . would be good for people with issues seeing the small LCD screens on the other models . the fast 3.5 fps was a factor I considered before purchase , my 300D , had 2.3fps and only for 4 shots . This model can shoot nearly endlessly at 3.5 fps , great for action / sports shots . Ease of use is pretty good for the intermediate user , I found with a brief look at the manual I could use it up to the standard of my old camera . there is much more I can find but at least I can operate to a satisfactory level for now . Live View is something I don't have an interest right now but I see advantages in this with tripod landscapes and group or portraits . Over all I am very happy with the purchase and recommend this camera .
    • 138 4  This is my first DSLR camera so I give you a review from a newbies , first-hands on point of view . So far I have not used many of the features other than auto program but let me tell you I am getting some NICE shots and so far I am pleasantly pleased . I researched this camera for a while and it was a toss up from this or the T1i . The latter having HD video and about 3 more megapixels in resolution . Well I didn't choose the T1I because I really don't need video capabilities on my camera , that's what camcorders are for . Also , should the video feature go bad , so could the camera itself ( remember DVD / VHS combos ? ) . Having said that here's my opinion so far . The quality of pics with the kit lens is amazing . Im getting some pics that make point and shoot look like cell phone pics . The feel , look and construction of the camera is good and the ones who feel otherwise are spoiled by their $5000 cameras . For the money you cannot go wrong , this baby will not dissapoint . However the kit lens was not enough for me and my intended purpose ( landscape , wildlife photography for which I got a Canon EFS 55 - 250mm with IS ) Not to say it is bad , it is perfect for every day use . I will still use it for family , indoor shots as the 55 - 250 is a bit too zoomie for indoor use . I recommend the Canon gadget bag for your XSI as it compliments each other well . I will not get too technical with this review , as I know poeple read these in order to make a purchasing decision . Bottom line , if you never owned a DSLR camera this is the one to get . Simple to use , good build and looks and excellent performance . Fast shutter speed and come on it's a Canon , you can't go wrong with it . Don't be fooled by others that say Canon lenses are plasticky and have plastic mounts , that's all a bunch of hogwash . They are plastic but still have a sturdy build feel to it and besides it is a sensitive electronic equipment . Not designed to be banged around and if you do bang your camera then maybe photography is not for you .
    • 141 4  First camera has all kinds of dust on the mirror and / or the internal eyepiece optics . No luck cleaning it so it went back . The replacement came right away ( Amazon so far has been awesome as usual ) . Taking a shot underexposed I noticed a bad pixel ( without enlarging or anything ) I then took a quick shot with the lens cap on and noticed many dead pixels . The ones stuck in red are the most annoying . So this camera is going back as well . I will update when the third arrives . If that's bad I might just check out the 50D and if that's bad I guess give Nikon a shot . I understand a few bad pixels , my rebel XT has about 10 - 12 . But the whole reason I am getting a new camera is for night use because of those bad pixels and having them right out of the box is unacceptable . Price , features and the lens deal on the 55 - 250 are great ! But if I cant get a good copy maybe its not such a good deal .
    • 144 4  Many people have already reviewed this camera's technical details & I will skip that . What I shall try to address though is whether this is the right one for you : You can fall into one of the three categories - ( a ) a beginner who wants to create the beautiful pictures of an SLR but has no interest in going into its technical details ever ( b ) A beginner who has just entered the world of SLRs and intends to learn its intricacies before moving onto the big league ( c ) An intermediate who knows the technical details but wants a better SLR compared to previous versions like Nikon D40 or Rebel 300D . If you belong to bucket ( a ) this is a good camera , but the Canon 1000D or Nikon D60 should save you some money . If you belong to bucket ( b ) this is the perfect camera by all means . I fell into this category when I bought it an year back and must say I have had no complaints . You might want to consider the Rebel 500D / T1i now though - based on the price difference ( Amazon keeps changing the price of this camera ) you will get a Digic 4 processor & the video capability ( 15 Mp vs 12 Mp is a non issue ) . If you belong to bracket ( c ) & are very serious abt moving up the SLR ladder then buy the Canon 40D or 50D . I have handled the 50D and see a remarkable difference between pictures from that and Rebel 450D . I have now reached a point where the Rebel 450D & the lens are proving to be the bottlenecks to my pictures . Dont get me wrong , I have seen & taken remarkable pics from this camera - but would rather buy a Canon 50D now . Its sensor & USM lens really do stand out . & for those of you who do not fall in any of these 3 brackets & know the difference between active & passive focusing system , you shouldnt be reading a review for the Rebel series cameras at all !
    • 148 4  This is my first SLR and it only took three years of research and self-justification to finally take the plunge and so far I don't have any regrets ! I went with the 18 - 55 kit lens and the matching 55 - 250 lens to stay within a budget and even my worse pictures in automatic mode are optically better than my late model point and shoot . Moving from a point and shoot to an SLR is a little overwhelming . Concepts like aperture , shutter speed , ISO , and how they relate do take some time to understand but once you get past that hurdle - all of the buttons just seem to make sense somehow . If you don't have a friend that can help you , I definitely recommend studying the basic mechanical concepts and reading up on composition tips - and then go out and shoot a ton of photos [ just for fun ] and try out some different things . Also , I haven't had any problems with the auto-focus issues that some have described - though now that I'm shooting in what's called Av or aperture priority mode , I changed my AF setting to use the center point instead of the all points mode and I get great focusing . P.S . Don't try to shoot flying butterflies , it's not practical : )
    • 150 4  After a lot of research , customer satisfaction posts , reviews , etc I decided on this camera . I am a typical middle class working stiff . I can afford what I can , and wanted a quality camera for a modest price . This is it . Takes great photos with really good battery life . The image stabilizer feature is worth its weight in gold . Its not a miracle worker , but really helps on the camera shake that you get with some shots . But it should be noted that no camera can take great pictures without the taker practicing . While the little purse camera is almost idiot proof , this one is not . You have to play with it and enjoy it . It doesn't use film , has a warranty , and a ton of settings , so why not experiment with it . I take the same photo with a dozen different settings and then see what the photos look like . Practice makes perfect , and it doesn't cost you a penny to do it . There are some great books printed for this particular camera that are a must . Check the reviews here on Amazon and make your choices . As you will find out by checking the various sites , there are accessories that will cost you thousands of dollars if you get carried away . My suggestion is stick to the basics . And one more VERY important aspect to picture taking . A great photo is in the eyes of the beholder . The pro photographer that lectures for an hour about everything that was done wrong when he looks at a photo taken , may be telling that to a person that thinks the photo looks perfect . Great camera with a lot of settings to get you in the ball park .
    • 160 4  I bought this camera about 3 months ago and I am extremely happy with my purchase . I own a point and shoot camera as well ( Sony W280 ) and got sick of the blurring and noise that you get at higher ISOs . So I decided to go with a DSLR . Not knowing what to purchase I just went with the two largest brands , Nikon and Canon and looked at the features and ended up going with the Rebel XSI due to the price at the time ( it was on sale ) . Honestly though , this camera is amazing , being able to do high motion and low light shots with a high ISO without having the image look like you sprayed it with red dust confetti is awesome . I've recommended this to several of my friends who are going to get one as soon as they have the money to spend . If you're considering a DSLR , I would seriously consider the XSI . I also recommend it for people just going into DSLR photography . It truly is an awesome unit . The biggest issue I have with it though is the transferring of pictures through the given USB cord . I went on a safari with friends and took about 1300 pictures and while the pictures were gorgeous , just getting them onto my macbook via USB was a pain . Apparently it goes through all of the pictures on the camera then connects itself as a device on the machine . My tip . . . use an external SD card reader . However , for small amounts of pictures , the USB transfer is fine .
    • 162 4  I had this camera for over a year and a half before I bought a Canon 7D . I loved it then and still love it . I reluctantly gave it to a son so that it would continue to get full use and bring joy . The only reason I upgraded was : - - Better high ISO image quality - - Better AF tracking for birds in flight , one of my primary shooting targets I'm glad I did . The 7D is a great camera but the body only is $1600 . Unless those things truly matter to you ( there are other differences too ) , the XSi is terrific . I won't repeat the detailed comments in other reviews but will comment on some other comments : - - Construction , weight , feel - the 7D is definitely heavier but the XSi felt fine in my hands . One of my primary lenses is the 100 - 400mm L which weighs 3lbs . I find talk of an unbalanced feel ( with any lens ) somewhat nonsense at least for my hands . For carrying around , hiking , birding , I wish the 7D was lighter like the XSi . I was too conservative at shooting only at 400 ISO and below . Pushing higher to 800 is ok when needed . Purchased the XSi plus some lenses / accessories at Amazon . Have been very happy with them .
    • 170 4  This was my first SLR purchase . It's a big step up from the standard point-and-shoot cameras , which were starting to seem underpowered and short on features to me . I knew going in that the SLRs had a bit of a learning curve , and that was certainly the case here . But . . . if you want complete control over how you take pictures , you're going to need to put in the time to learn how to use the equipment . I bought the Canon EF-S 55 - 250mm f / 4.0 - 5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens at the same time as the camera , and have been very satisfied . It takes great pictures , and most of the functions are easy to see and use . There are two buttons on the front of the camera that I keep forgetting about during use , but I'm sure that will change as I get more comfortable with it . The only problem I've had so far is taking indoor sports pictures ; they either come out blurry or dark . It's not unexpected ( action shots require a faster shutter speed and don't let as much light in ; but letting in more light requires a slower shutter speed , making moving objects look blurry . ) I'm sure more experience ( or additional lenses / flashes . . . ? ) will sort this out . I also decided to get an additional battery ( Canon LP-E5 ) because it takes about 3 hours to fully charge a battery ; and the fastest SDHC card I could find ( SanDisk 4GB Extreme - SDHC Class 10 High Performance memory card SDSDX3 - 004G-P31 ) so that I wouldn't be waiting for the camera to finish saving the last picture before being able to take the next one . Overall , it's a solid camera with great features and performance .
    • 180 4  I've been very happy with this camera , I shoot crime scene photos and as you might guess my cameras get heavy rough use . With all the excellent lenses Canon offers , I have a great number of them , you can shoot some of the sharpest Macro shots imaginable . Sorry I don't have any to load here but take my work this camera never fails me . I have 6 non-brand batteries and haven't had a problem with one of them . I recommend a wrist strap that allows one hand operation , Amazon offers a few models but the one I use everyday has the lower tripod mound screw . I guess my point of this review is that after crashing around , from the case in my trunk to climbing over and into things one NEVER expects , this camera is almost bullet proof , thank God I haven't tested it that far yet . yes its hit the ground and has many scars to prove its hard use but so-far hasn't failed me . Thanks Canon !
    • 181 4  I bought this camera in December after months and months of research and I absolutely LOVE it ! I wanted something that would give me a little bit more opportunity to be more creative . And while my digital point-and-shoot may have had some features I hadn't explored , I just love the feel of an SLR in my hands . There was somethign nostalgic about owning a camera like my dad had when I was little but with modern technology . The only con I can think of is my budget . When I bought the XSi kit , I also got another lens . . . Since then I've bought books , a flash , filters , a Joby gorilla pod , and all kinds of other accessories ! Whew ! I think this is a great camera for anyone who is just taking on ( digital ) photography as a hobby . It's one of the more featureful DSLRs on the prosumer spectrum . There's just enough for me to feel like I didn't lose out on anything because of the low price and plenty of things I have time to master before I feel the need to upgrade .
    • 182 4  Everything considered there's isn't a better DSLR out there for the $ $ . Sure there are cheaper and more expensive models . But for most beginners and even semi professionals the XSi has most of what you need . It's light , feature packed , has great resolution and the button layout is very nice . Again you could spend more money , but would you use those features ? Save your money for lenses . For me , at this point in the game getting good lenses is where my money needs to go . Once the lens collection is where it needs to be then I can consider a more robust camera body like the 50D or something similar . Great camera , good luck !
    • 184 4  I've been an advanced enthusiast with regard to photography for quite some time and was hesitant to take the plunge ( and part with the dollars ) into the DSLR field only to find out the cost far outweighed the return . Well after having the Canon Rebel XSi for only about a week , I am regretting not having made the jump sooner . This purchase has been well worth the money and while I'm not experienced enough to review all the technical aspects of this product , I can definitely say it's a great entry into the field of DSLR photography if that is the direction you are leaning . The full auto mode will give you stunning results while you figure out the more advanced settings at your own pace . I've since purchased the 55 - 250mm zoom lens and am awaiting delivery so I can further expand my photo options . It has many great accessories and lenses that you can choose to upgrade with when the time is right . Amazing camera and I'm completely happy with this purchase !
    • 185 4  I'm very happy with my recent purchase of the Canon Digital Rebel XSi . I had a 35mm Canon Rebel EOS before switching to digital and I'm very glad that they're so similar so I didn't have to learn a lot of new settings . One of my favorite settings for this particular camera that I didn't have before was the macro setting . I can get as close as 3 inches to something and take a clear photograph of it . It makes photographing the garden a lot more fun . The precision focusing and quick flickerflash are bonus items as well . It's so fast and accurate and so far , I've taken well over 2,000 shots and haven't had red eye in any one of them . Most of the time I don't even need a flash since the automatic setting will adjust the light as I need it , including an extended aperture which will give more light in a low light situation as long as I hold the camera very still ( or use a tripod ) . As a portrait photographer , I love this camera as well . Without the flash , I can take a very clear photograph of someone and have their skin tone glow and their eyes clear and focused . With the flash , it doesn't bleach them out and as I already mentioned , red eye has so far not been a concern . I absolutely recommend this camera to anyone wanting to improve their shots . I first used it when it belonged to a friend and loved it . When I was ready to go digital , I asked for the make and model and here I am now , ranting and raving about my new baby . I'm rarely found without it these days . I love it !
    • 187 4  J Summer . . . . congratulations on your purchase of the Canon XSi DSLR , it's a great camera ! Since this appears to be your first DSLR , let me offer you one tip on improving focus on your baby's face . Do NOT use autofocus ( which is really nine point focus ) for your portraits , or any other images for that matter . Instead set the MODE dial to the creative zone ( NOT THE BASIC ZONE ) , using P will work well for you until you gain additional skills and confidence . Then press the focus button ( see page 61 of your User's Manual ) and move the MAIN dial until the only focus point selected is the center one . Next compose your shot by centering your baby's face in the center of the viewfinder , press the shutter half way , recompose if you want a different view ( rule of thirds helps with composition ) and shoot ! Presto . . . your baby's face is now in sharp focus with all images ! And when you're finally feeling that you've mastered the P setting , move on to learn shutter , aperature , and manual modes in the creative zone . Now you're a savvy photographer ! Good luck ! One correction : The focus button I reference above ( shown on page 61 in the User's Manual ) is actually called the AF point selection button . Sorry for the error !
    • 193 4  I'd considered getting the XS instead because of the considerable price difference , but decided on the XSi mostly because of the larger display and overall body dimensions . I'm very pleased with the decision . The camera is loaded with features that make photography for an amateur like me enjoyable and gratifying . I'm really excited about taking pictures and seeing how they turn out . The accompanying manual and software are comprehensible and comprehensive . Canon has done a great job !
    • 195 4  The camera is exceptional for the money . The manual that comes with it is dry however and makes it hard to grasp the concepts of how and when to use specific functions . In order to quickly learn how to use all that it had to offer , I bought a training video and I am very happy that I did as it saved a lot of time . There are many out there but I can only speak to the one that I bought which was Canon Rebel XSi DVD Training Guide Tutorial Lessons XTi . The software that comes with the camera is excellent as well but again the instructions are sorely lacking . [ . . . ] . There are a series of Canon sponsored videos that will guide you in using this powerful software . Lens : I have the 18mm - 55mm and 55 - 250mm kit lens . These work well . I wanted to do portraits and closeups with a beautiful bokeh ( which is Japanese for the blurring effect behind the subject due to a shallow depth of field ) . For this , I also bought the Canon f1.4 50mm , which is my best lens . I also got the Canon 580EX II flash . Again , poor instructions and confusing but just Google for help as there are only a few things that a beginner needs to know . Get a diffuser with it as well to help control the shadows that it can cast . If you want to use the mirror lock function on the camera you should also get a wireless / RF ( not infrared-IR ) remote . Just be careful to make sure that it works with the mirror lock function as some do not . So , if you like photography and are a serious amateur , you can't go wrong with the Canon xsi in my opinion .
    • 197 4  This is my first DSLR camera and I have had it for over four months now . I've had a several years of experience with SLR's and wanted to upgrade from a point and shoot digital to a DSLR . This camera is every bit as good as I expected it to be . It's lightweight , takes good pictures on all kinds of lightings and the colors come out very realistic . The lens that comes with it is not the best in the world , but is good enough to get started . My only slight issue is with the camera's autofocus in low light situations , where it sometimes focuses on objects other than the main subject ( s ) . Overall , this is an excellent camera to begin the DSLR journey . It offers lots of controls to the user and its high ISO settings make low-light non-flash pictures come out very nice .

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