USED Canon EOS Rebel XSi w/18-55 IS
Brand | Canon |
Item Weight | 1.2 Pounds |
Item Dimensions LxWxH | 5.1 x 2.4 x 3.9 inches |
Included Components | Battery, Remote, Instruction Manual |
Model Name | Canon EOS Rebel Xsi |
Film Color | Colored |
Compatible Devices | Secure Digital (SD) cardSecure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) card |
Exposure Control Type | Program AE (Full Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, Flash Off, Program), shutter-priority AE, aperture-priority AE, depth-of-field AE, manual exposure, E-TTL II autoflash, Exposure Compensation (±2 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments), AEB (±2 stops in 1/3- or 1/2-stop increments), AE Lock See more |
About this item
- 12.2-megapixel CMOS sensor captures enough detail for poster-size, photo-quality prints
- Large 3.0-inch LCD display; includes Canon's EF-S 18-55mm, f3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens
- DIGIC III image processor provides fast, accurate image processing; improved Autofocus and framing rate
- EOS Integrated Cleaning system, plus Dust Delete Data Detection in included software
- Stores images on SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
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Product information
Product Dimensions | 5.1 x 2.4 x 3.9 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 1.16 pounds |
ASIN | B0012YA85A |
Item model number | 2756B003 |
Batteries | 1 Lithium Metal batteries required. |
Customer Reviews |
4.4 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #216,122 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #334 in DSLR Cameras |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | April 21, 2008 |
Manufacturer | Canon Cameras US |
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Product Description
From the Manufacturer
For stunning photography with point and shoot ease, look no further than Canons EOS Rebel XSi. The EOS Rebel XSi brings staggering technological innovation to the masses. It features Canons EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Live View Function, a powerful DIGIC III Image Processor, plus a new 12.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and is available in a kit with the new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens with Optical Image Stabilizer. The EOS Rebel XSis refined, ergonomic design includes a new 3.0-inch LCD monitor, compatibility with SD and SDHC memory cards and new accessories that enhance every aspect of the photographic experience.
Canon EOS Rebel XSi Highlights
New Technology for Outstanding Images
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 Canons 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 XSis 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.
DIGIC III image processor Developed to maximize performance between the capture and recording stages of digital photography, the EOS Rebel XSis latest-generation DIGIC III Image Processor works in concert with Canons CMOS sensor to achieve even higher levels of performance. The entire electronic system is totally redesigned, giving the camera its incredible combination of speed and image quality. Digital noise is significantly reduced in shadow areas, and color reproduction is superior.
Speedy, Precise Operation
Excellent performance with 3.5 fps continuous shooting, up to 53 full-resolution JPEGs or 6 RAW images in a burst 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 youll never, ever, miss a shot.
See the image in large LCD with Live View Function The EOS Rebel XSi has a huge, bright 3.0-inch TFT LCD monitor with 230,000 pixels and a viewing angle of 170 degrees. Its perfect for Live View composition or viewing camera settings like AF, ISO, Metering, AF Point selection and flash options. And the maximum brightness of the EOS Rebel XSi LCD monitor is about 30-percent greater than its predecessor, which is a big benefit when you're using the camera in bright sunlight.
Live View Function Live View Function enables you to view your subjects directly on the huge 3.0-inch LCD monitor. It's easy to magnify any part of the scene 5x or 10x for precise manual focus. And now, there are two ways to use Autofocus along with Live View Function in the EOS Rebel XSi. You can even choose a grid overlay, perfect for keeping straight lines in your subject straight in your pictures. In the studio, Live View Function can be used remotely via a computer through the EOS Rebel XSis USB connection.
Fast 9-point AF system, and two types of AF during Live View Function 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.
Compatible with compact SD and SDHC memory cards 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 XSis compact and lightweight body design.
Advanced Features for Advanced Photography
New advanced features include spot metering, external flash settings on the cameras menu, and a new higher-magnification viewfinder The EOS Rebel XSis 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 percent) 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 its easy to change settings without moving the camera away from the eye.
EOS Integrated Cleaning System Photographers who must change lenses in dusty environments will find the advanced Canon EOS Integrated Cleaning System a tremendous time saver. Dust that settles on the sensor surface is removed using ultrasonic vibration. This Self Cleaning Sensor Unit routine is automatically activated whenever the camera is powered on or off. (It can also be manually activated.) A special collar positioned around the sensor collects the loosened dust. Dust particles can also be automatically removed via software. By shooting a plain white subject, the photographer can acquire dust position data that is transmitted along with the image (whether JPEG or RAW). Canon Digital Photo Professional (DPP) version 3.3 or later software can be used to manually or automatically erase the dust spots. It's not one feature, it's a built-in system to minimize the effect of dust in high-resolution digital images.
Self Cleaning Sensor Unit 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.
Dust Delete Data Detection Dust that may still remain on the front of the sensor can also be erased with software included in Digital Photo Professional (DPP) Version 3.3 or later software. A simple test shot of a plain, white object can be taken, using a menu setting. This Dust Delete Data image is analyzed in-camera, and the location and size of any remaining dust is added to any subsequent pictures taken. This data is transmitted along with the image, whether JPEG or RAW, and can be either manually or automatically erased in Canons DPP version 3.3 and later software. This added software option ensures the cleanest possible image, perfect for printing or archiving.
Picture Style settings With the EOS Rebel XSis Picture Style technology, photographers can change the look of their digital photographs. Color, saturation, sharpness and contrast settings create noticeable variation in the saved image. Changing a Picture Style setting is almost like a 35mm film user switching from one type of color film to another. In addition to six preset Picture Style settings, Canon offers additional downloadable "Picture Style Files," that can be installed into your camera for even more imaging options at your fingertips.
Highlight Tone Priority This vital Custom Function lets photographers get even better detail in bright highlights, even in contrasty lighting conditions. Its beneficial for nearly any type of picture, from mid-day shots on a safari to portraits in sunlight, where a user may encounter bright highlight areas where he or she wants to preserve details. Finally, theres no impact on the cameras shooting speed or burst rate when Highlight Tone Priority is engaged. It takes full advantage of the EOS Rebel XSi's new 14-bit per channel conversion, meaning there are 16,384 distinct colors from darkest to lightest in each color channel.
Shooting and Sharing Made Easy
Includes EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Image Stabilizer lens The Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens features the wide-angle to mid-range zoom flexibility of its non-IS predecessor with the significant advantage of Canon's true optical, lens-shift image stabilization system that yields up to a full four stops of image-shake correction.
Fully compatible with over 60 EF/EF-S Lenses and a wide range of EOS System accessories EOS Rebel XSi is compatible with all Canon lenses in the EF and EF-S lineup, ranging from ultra-wide angle to super telephoto lenses. Canon lenses employ advanced optical expertise and micron-precision engineering to deliver unprecedented performance in all facets of the photographic process. Special optical technologies, such as Aspherical, ultra-low dispersion, or fluorite elements are featured in the universally acclaimed L Series lenses, and Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer technology are featured in select lenses to minimize the effect of camera shake. Through Canon lenses, photographers can truly maximize the quality and liberating performance of the EOS Rebel XSi.
Flash Photography The EOS Rebel XSi features the acclaimed E-TTL II flash metering system. With any of the flashes in the EX Speedlite line, E-TTL II provides reliable flash output whether shooting fill-in flash pictures in sunlight, or using flash in total darkness. With E-TTL II, the exact same 35-zone metering sensor used for measuring ambient light is also used for flash metering -- giving even finer metering command of the image area. If you prefer a broader area for flash metering, there's a menu setting to change to "Average" flash metering, where the entire 35-zone area is measured evenly for flash exposure.
The Canon Speedlite 430EX is the ideal step-up accessory for powerful flash shooting with the EOS Rebel XSi. It has excellent flash power (maximum guide number of 141 ft./43m at ISO 100), and is the perfect way to get great flash pictures when you can't get right up to the subject. The 430EX is also great for bounce flash, with its tilting and swiveling flash head. It automatically zooms the flash head to cover lenses ranging from 16mm up to 105mm or longer with the EOS Rebel XSi. Of course, it works with the camera to provide full E-TTL II automatic flash exposure. And the 430EX has a powerful AF-assist beam, which allows the camera to autofocus even in total darkness on subjects as far as 32 ft. from the camera.
Included Software
Canon EOS Digital Solution Disk (Version 17.0) The EOS Rebel XSi comes bundled with an updated Canon EOS Digital Solution Disk, which features powerful software programs designed to extend the EOS experience to the computer. These include Canon's ZoomBrowser EX for Windows (Version 6.1), ImageBrowser for Macintosh OS X (Version 6.1), Digital Photo Professional (Version 3.3), the totally new Picture Style Editor (Version 1.0), Canons EOS Utility (Version 2.2), RAW Image Task (Version 2.8), PhotoStitch, and PTP TWAIN Driver. Each application is designed to perfect the captured images and streamline the digital workflow. ZoomBrowser EX v.6.1 and Digital Photo Professional v.3.3 for Windows are compatible with the new Windows Vista operating system.
Digital Photo Professional (Version 3.3) is an image processing program that enables high-speed RAW image processing, high-speed previewing for real-time image adjustment and support for sRGB, Adobe RGB and Wide Gamut RGB color spaces. Because its CMS (Color Management System) compatible, Digital Photo Professional allows for easy image layout and printing in Adobe RGB in conjunction with Easy-PhotoPrint and PictBridge printers. It also features the Dust Delete Data Detection tool for cleaner images.
EOS Utility (Version 2.3) for Macintosh or Windows handles the connection between the camera and computer, whenever theyre connected via USB. It allows remote controlled shooting from the computer, handles downloading of images from the camera to the computer, and allows seamless linking to either Canons ZoomBrowser/ImageBrowser or Digital Photo Professional software once images have been copied to the hard drive. Furthermore, its used to upload settings back into a USB-connected camera.
ZoomBrowser EX (Version 6.1) for Windows and ImageBrowser (Version 6.1) for Mac OS X are the easy, user-friendly options for viewing and editing of JPEG and even RAW image files. Both allow viewing of numerous types of images including finished TIFF and BMP files. Both also have a variety of search options for finding images, allow re-naming of single images or batches of files, and offer a variety of options for printing without using a separate image-editing program.
RAW Image Task (Version 2.8) for Windows/Macintosh This software is an integrated component of ZoomBrowser EX (Windows) or ImageBrowser (Mac). It allows processing of RAW images from EOS cameras, including the new EOS Rebel XSi, with a variety of adjustment possibilities. These options, as well as the overall color, contrast and "look" of RAW Image Task, closely mimic the characteristics of Canons in-camera JPEG processing.
What's in the Box
Canon Rebel XSi camera, EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Image Stabilizer lens, rechargeable battery pack and charger, USB and video cables, a neckstrap, an EOS Solutions Disk CD, and a 1-year Canon U.S.A., Inc. limited warranty
Canon Digital Rebel XSi: Highly Recommended by dpreview.comThe Digital Rebel XSi (EOS 450D in Europe) represents Canon's response to the increasingly crowded and competitive nature of the entry-level DSLR market. Where the original 'people's DLSR', the EOS 300D, owed at least some of its success to the simple paucity of competitors, the market in 2008 is a very different place indeed, and one that's seen Nikon (with the D40/D40x/D60) carve a sizeable slice of the action, and where Olympus, Sony and Pentax have strong offerings at price points unthinkable just couple of years ago.
›Read the full Canon Digital Rebel XSi review at dpreview.com
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the quality, ease of use, and value of the digital camera. For example, they mention that it's the best entry-level DSLR camera, the pictures come out great, and the playback images look great. That said, they appreciate the weight, color, and battery life. Opinions are mixed on the autofocus.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers are satisfied with the quality of the digital camera. They mention that it is a dream to use, has great features, and performance. Some say that it's the best entry-level DSLR camera, and does very well with macro. The XSi performs masterfully out of doors and indoors, and the kit lens works well for many situations. Customers also say that out of the box, they have been taking better pictures than they ever thought they could.
"...Out of doors and indoors, the XSi performs masterfully. In low light and in high light, the XSi performs masterfully...." Read more
"...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...." Read more
"...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...." Read more
"...With that said, the camera and kit lens offered some great quality pictures, with very good color representation, and very good sharpness in most..." Read more
Customers like the image quality of the digital camera. They say the pictures come out great, the playback images look great, and it helps them take great pictures. They mention that the screen is great, it allows some amazing night shots of the stars or landscapes, and that the body is nicely designed.
"...50mm lens is a beautiful accessory to treat yourself to... it takes unique images that can only be achieve with that particular lens...." Read more
"...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...." Read more
"...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..." Read more
"...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..." Read more
Customers find the digital camera easy to use. They mention that it has a great menu system, easy to see and use controls, and a wonderful 3" display. They say that it's simple enough that they can hand it to an advanced user. They also say that navigating almost everything is a snap, and the back screen makes it really easy to take all the settings at a glance. Customers also say the functions are easy to find and use, and that shooting with this is also very easy.
"...As extremely complex machines go, this camera is insanely easy to navigate and control...." Read more
"...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)..." Read more
"...The back screen makes it really easy to take all the settings at a glance...." Read more
"...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-..." Read more
Customers appreciate the value of the digital camera. They say it's a good value for the money, and permanence is worth paying for. Customers also mention that the camera is nicely priced and takes large, nice pictures.
"...of having two batteries a great deal since owning my camera... well worth the money...." Read more
"...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..." Read more
"...The XTI is getting old (still good though, and very good price)...." Read more
"...The image quality from the XSi is simply phenomenal. It is very affordably priced..." Read more
Customers like the weight of the digital camera. They mention that it is quite light, easy to carry around, and does not increase the burden on the user.
"...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...." Read more
"...The supplied kit lens is very light and compact for being an image stabilized lens, and turns out good performance...." Read more
"...The camera is comfortable to hold, not that heavy, and a heck of a lot better than the point-n-shoot you had before...." Read more
"...Easy to use, fun to learn, lightweight, wide range for depth of field shots, everything I was looking for...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the color of the camera. They mention that the colors come out very realistic, stunning, and natural. The overall impression of the body is nicely designed, and the bokeh is very nice. The camera has very pleasing skin tones, and records accurate colors.
"...The XSi allows me to achieve crispness, faithfulness with colors, and -- THANK GOODNESS -- far less, or absolutely no, grain in my images when..." Read more
"...Intuitive menus.- 12 mega pixels.- Great pictures, sharp, good tones.- Small and light weight for a DSLR.-..." Read more
"...and kit lens offered some great quality pictures, with very good color representation, and very good sharpness in most situations...." Read more
"...I've taken lots of pictures of my dogs. It makes them look sweeter than I think they are...." Read more
Customers like the battery life of the digital camera. They say that the battery lasts a long time if they don't use flash.
"...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...." Read more
"...Incredible Battery Life..." Read more
"...Battery life is *excellent*. I've only charged it once so far...." Read more
"...The included software is OK, battery life is great for me, the video-out port can come in quite useful, and the USB port is as quick as I need...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the autofocus of the camera. Some mention that it's fast and sharp, allowing them to capture photos of their cats in action. However, others say that there is a small autofocus delay and that the focusing system is not very good.
"...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..." Read more
"...Both Live View focusing modes, while precise, are too slow to be used for hand-held shooting...." Read more
"...Manual focusing is made much easier since they've added the ability to zoom in 10x in Live View, which is *wonderful*...." Read more
"...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..." Read more
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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.
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.
Top reviews from other countries
Will not take pictures in AF and cannot focus in MF.
Troubleshooting was done in the photography group and by local auth. Canon rep.