Canon Rebel XSi

July 18, 2008 by Ben Long
Filed under: Reviews 

Canon Rebel XSi

Canon has positioned their new Rebel XSi at the “entry-level” end of their product line. But it’s getting increasingly difficult to divide digital cameras into “entry-level” and “mid-range” and “high-end.” In the early days, there was a single distinguishing feature that made it simple to tell what market a camera was aimed at: the image quality of an entry-level camera was markedly different from a high-end, “pro” level camera. Those days are now long gone, and ‚Äì just as with entry-level and pro-level film cameras ‚Äì you can now shoot high-end image quality with an entry-level camera. Canon’s Rebel XSi marks the high end of Canon’s low end, and the new model offers important changes over its predecessor, the Rebel XTi.

I’ve been a Canon shooter since the original EOS D30, and while I love my 5D, Canon’s smaller Rebels have never appealed to me, because they’ve never felt especially comfortable. But after a couple of months of shooting with the XSi, I’m now sold on the smaller, lighter design. Throw in the well-rounded feature set and excellent 12 megapixel image quality, and this is a camera that’s hard to beat. Is it right for you?

Read my Rebel XSi Review at CreativePro.com

Buy a Canon Rebel XSi at Amazon.com 


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Comments

6 Comments on Canon Rebel XSi

  1. Brad Walters on Wed, 5th Nov 2008 5:56 pm

    2. The image quality is indeed getting incredibly similar to what we use. This is both a good and bad thing. The bad part of course is that fools many people into thinking that they should drop everything and become a pro photographer, when in-fact the image was created by the camera, not them.

  2. Michael Reynolds on Thu, 27th Nov 2008 7:42 pm

    3. The 450D is a pretty good camera. I bought one a few weeks ago and I’m very pleased with it. I’d also like to comment on what Brad said regarding photography. Even with a decent, expensive camera, you can still get some crap photos. It still takes skill and a good eye to achieve a good result. A bad workman should never blame his tools. ;)

  3. John Loveridge on Fri, 30th Jan 2009 1:19 pm

    4. I find the XSi to be a great camera for the money. Thanks for your valued opinion Ben. I love mine.

    I also would like to comment on what Brad said regarding the statement that “the image was captured by the camera, not them”. You are suggesting that if a good image is captured with an XSi it was the camera not the user. You seem to imply that a good image captured with a 5D is the user not the camera? Using your logic you should dump your 5D for an XSi so that you might get “lucky” occasionally.
    Based on two minutes of research on his website, I believe Brad had no intention of sounding condescending or elitist. My point is just that it’s possible some up and coming photographer destined to be world famous could also be using an XSi at this point in time.
    Not me btw. lol

  4. Curtis on Fri, 6th Mar 2009 6:25 pm

    5. I have a Canon 5D MKII, D40 and a Rebel XSi. They have all been solid performers, although they obviously each perform differently. Once, due to circumstances I had to shoot an entorre wedding with a Rebel. Clients loved the images. Remember, 90% of photography is between our ears! Our studio would recommend the Rebel line for any serious enthusiast, or even to use as back-up of gear.

    Curtis

  5. KB on Sat, 23rd May 2009 5:25 pm

    6. Interesting.
    I am no pro but have used the XSI and got some great shots and have also got so very bad ones .I have no intentions of getting into any argument with Brad for we all make mistakes at times;however I would advise that his comment on image being created by the camera should be given a second thought.I was also fooled when I changed from the point & shoot.I thought that after using the point & shoot for so long ,it was going to be easy ,but I got the greatest suprise and learnt that you need to be constantly working with the camera to be good.At this time,while the camera helps,it is the skills of the person behind the machine that makes the difference.You ever heard about GIGO?
    Brad,Please think it over.

  6. shueet on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 4:16 am

    7. I have a Nikon D40 and i loved it. I had XSI which i returned abd bouight D40 its cheap and its COOL. I have found another interesting comparison below

    http://www.doanalyze.com/canon-rebel-xsi-vs-nikon-d40/

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