Canon announces Digital Rebel XSi (EOS 450D)

Canon PR on new Digital Rebel XSi

DP Review post on Canon EOS 450D / Digital Rebel XSi

Canon PR on new Digital Rebel XSi

DP Review post on Canon EOS 450D / Digital Rebel XSi

This is an upgrade and an addition to Canon’s line of entry level DSLRs.

12.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor

Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System

3.5 frames per second

3.0” LCD with Live View shooting

9-point wide-area AF system with f/2.8 cross-type center point

Picture Style image processing parameters

DIGIC III image processor

Digital Photo Professional RAW processing software1

Compact and Lightweight body

Fully compatible with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses and EX-series Speedlites

The various cameras in Canon’s DSLR line are: Digtial Rebel XT (350D), Digital Rebel XTi (400D), EOS Rebel XSi (450D), EOS 30D, EOS 40D, EOS 5D, EOS 1D Mark III, EOS 1Ds Mark III

Observations

Each of these cameras is aimed at a particular demographic and cost aside, Canon is both competing with Nikon in a war of resolution and features and trying to offer camera bodies to lure new people into the DSLR world so they can sell them lenses and then later, new bodies. They are also (as is Nikon) trying to offer people already invested in Canon gear a way to upgrade to cameras with new features they want.

There is a sweet spot for each type of photographer in this mix and for some, it’s all about image quality while for others, it’s all about features.

Image Quality

If you look at this range of cameras just in terms of image quality, the sweet spots are 30D, 5D, and 1Ds Mark III. Why is this?

Each of these cameras has enough pixels on its sensor to make a beautiful, high resolution, low noise picture but not so many pixels that the size of each pixel has to be reduced to the point where noise is introduced. Also, each pixel is designed so ISO (the digital equivalent of film ASA or speed) can be pushed to higher light sensitivity so one can take pictures in low light without flash. The 30D can easily handle 800 ISO with little visual noise. The 5D can be pushed to 1600 ISO and the 1Ds even higher.

The 30D has a smaller sensor than the full frame 5D and 1Ds but it also has fewer pixels (lower resolution) so it’s sensor is a sweet spot. Is the 30D better than the 40D? Maybe, maybe not. Just in terms of sensor size and pixel density it seems like it might be. Canon upgraded the 40D sensor to reduce the amount of noise it produces but in fact, many reviewers seem to like the image quality of the lower resolution but more ideal resolution 30D better.

The 5D and 1Ds have larger sensors and larger pixels on their sensors so they are in the same resolution sweet spot that the 30D is.

Bottom line: adding more pixels to increase resolution isn’t necessarily a good thing. Canon is in a war with Nikon comparing resolution and cost and many people simply compare resolution numbers without considering what added resolution does to image quality or the ability to shoot in low light without flash and without the result being grainy or noisy images.

Granted, these two companies are extremely high tech and there will no doubt be breakthroughs that change these standards, but those breakthroughs haven’t happened yet.

Features

If you look at all of these cameras in terms of features, the newest being live view (using the LCD to frame pictures), dust control, better auto focusing and metering and more advanced exposure controls being stuffed into entry level cameras, then the latest offerings are fantastic upgrades and as each new feature is added, many users will jump on it.

None of these features necessarily add to picture quality, they simply make the camera easier to use or offer the photographer more control.

The problem with using just image quality or features alone as a means of evaluating where you should jump into this is that some of the older cameras in this list will no doubt get all the new features in future upgrades, or, as is the case with the entry level line, the older models will be discontinued slowly as their sales numbers go down.

My bias is image quality with the right mix of features and if I were a new DSLR buyer today, I’d buy the Canon 30D, it has the right mix of resolution, low noise sensor, and price and even though it’s not bleeding edge anymore it will make outstanding pictures for many years to come. The 5D (what I use) is in this category too. These are fantastic tools that, in the right hands, will make amazing photographs.

I’m not advocating all of us reverting to view cameras (outstanding image quality, very hard to use) but I am advocating finding your own personal sweet spot weighing sexy new featuers against image quality.

Source: http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2008/01/25/canon-announces-digital-rebel-xsi-eos-450d/

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