Canon EOS XSi (450D) Field Report
Sunday, July 6th, 2008
Canon EOS XSi (450D) Field Report
…if you’re someone that is either partial to Canon cameras, or already have a higher end model, a set of lenses, and are seeking another camera body that’s small and light weight, yet without serious feature limitations, then the Canon XSi may well be the camera that you’ve been looking for. As we have seen, image quality (at least within its ISO range) is on a par with anything else on the market, and better than most in this price range. Features are as comprehensive as anything from the competition, and the days of Canon’s low-end cameras being deliberately throttled in terms of features thankfully seem to be finally over.
Oh boy, this sounds good to me. I have a higher end model (5D), a set of lenses and am looking for a second body that’s small and light weight.
The XSi weighs just one pound (16oz, or if you will, 475 grams, without battery). Its dimensions are 129 x 98 x 62 mm (5.1 x 3.9 x 2.4 in). This is about as small as a DSLR can get while still accepting interchangeable lenses and offering a good sized viewfinder and LCD screen.
The only concern I have is that Canon has already announced a new, lower end model, the EOS 1000D that is slightly lower end and no doubt less money. It also may be even lighter weight. Sigh, nothing is easy.
[via Dale Allyn]
Nice image in the header! Is that a surf line? Nice abstraction.
BTW, since you raise the topic, I too have a 5D, but for a long time I’ve been disappointed in its performance as a family/snapshot camera. It’s a more methodical camera, not what amounts to a sports camera. Not to mention it’s big and heavy with good glass. Before I venture into something like the XSi I’m revisiting other brands. Right now I’m demo’ing the Olympus E420 + 12-60mm lens, and so far I love it. The lens is better than the zooms I’ve tried from Canon and I like the tone of the images, plus the zoom range is nice for when you only have 1 lens with you. If I decide to head down this path I would end up with the E520 with in-camera IS, and probably start with a kit lens. Of course, with Olympus you’re buying into an entirely new concepts (4/3s). I kinda like the underdog mentality too.
Anyway, I think in the XSi bracket there are a lot of good options for cameras.
The 5D with wide aperture primes will remain my “fine art” camera. I’ve read many favorable comments on the XSi too. (I also have a Ricoh GRD2 that easily fits into a pocket.)
Andrew: What you lose on all of these other cameras is the image quality that comes from he 5D. It has (arguably) the best sensor around and even at high ISO things look great.
I’d like to have three cameras: 5D, some variation of the Rebel, and an A720. I’m 2/3 of the way there…
If you’ve posted images shot with the Olympus I’d love to see them, please post url if you like.
Richard, I don’t have any pictures online yet. I’ve only had the camera a few days and have not had much of a chance to really put it through paces. But the lens quality appears very good, that much I know.
That’s the trouble - after the 5D most cameras pale by comparison. We’re spoiled!
Andrew: Well, if one thinks about different tools for different jobs then image quality will be less of a determiner. A smaller P&S camera can be used in places the 5D cannot. However, the pictures one takes in many of those places would benefit from being taken in RAW format. This is the appeal of the Canon G9 to me or a smaller DSLR body. For us as photographers, the issue is sorting out snapshots from potential fine art photography. There is overlap in the middle and that’s where we might get in into trouble when we don’t get the IQ that the 5D gives.
One thing that you probably want to decide right at the start is whether you are willing to play with CF AND SD cards and couple battery formats or whether you want all your cameras to use same storage type and battery (BP-511 with 5D).
Having 1.6x and FF camera definitely creates some interesting options, when you switch lenses between them. I am currently using two 1.6x cameras and have started to wonder if it would make more sense to get 24L to go along with them or to get 5D to go along with 35L. Price wise the difference between those options is surprisingly small.
Juha: Great points and discussion and I’ve certainly thought about having two different sensor formats with the same lenses going back and forth between them.
With this thinking comes another scenario (it’s only money and virtual money at that):
A second 5D as a backup so as not to worry about angle of view changes.
An XTi or similar small body camera with a “fixed” 50mm lens on it although in a pinch it can take my lens collection and act as a backup
An A720 IS as a pocket camera.
That’s the ideal.
The real is, I have the 5D and the A720 and if/when a new 5D comes out I’ll either buy a second current model or consider the newer model.
It’s this third camera that I’m most interested in, the idea of using a low end DSLR as a G9 type camera for shooting RAW with a clean file but smaller body without the big lenses.
Something I could put in a fanny pack for a long walk and not have to carry my 5D and a few lenses.
The battery and card format issue don’t seem important to me given that I already use SD cards in my A720 and batteries from sterlingtek.com are cheap. My Sandisk card reader reads both CF and SD cards too. No problem.
And, your last idea, considering the 5D instead of a wider lens is exactly what tipped me into getting one. I wanted to get more out of my 24-70 and the 5D gave that to me. The 24 end of my 24-70 is my widest angle of view and it’s fine for me. Maybe at some point I’ll get a 16-35 or something like it but frankly, I prefer the normal to slightly long angle of view, even on the 5D. So, the 35L on the 5D is like my 50mm lens and it works like a charm.
Go for the 5D Juha, you will not be disappointed. The sensor is still one of the best around and the camera is a wonderful blend of 30D and 1D.
Now, if it had weather sealing, dust removal, and a better AF system, it would be perfect.