Today Canon launched the latest in their entry-level Digital Rebel series – the 12.2 Megapixel XSi. Called the 450D in the rest of the world, the Digital Rebel XSi extends the resolution of the Canon CMOS sensor to 12.2 Megapixels from the current Digital Rebel XTi 10.1 megapixel. Also new to the Digital Rebel are a 3.0” LCD with Live View. This is a low-resolution 230,000 3.0” LCD like the Canon 40D – it is not a hi-res 3” screen as seen on the Nikon D300 and Sony A700. The Rebel XSi Live View improves on earlier EOS models with Live View by adding a new "Live Mode" function that allows the camera to focus automatically during Live View without lowering the reflex mirror.
It is very significant that Canon will include the 18-55 IS (Image Stabilization) lens as their standard kit lens with the XSi. The updated IS version features an aspherical lens element and is far superior in image quality to the older non-IS version 18-55mm f3.5-5.6. In addition the kit lens features Optical IS to compete with the body-integrated IS featured by Sony, Pentax, and Olympus.
The Digital Rebel XSi features:
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 centre 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
Canon has also changed memory to SD/SDHC from the present Digital Rebel Series Compact Flash. The XSi battery is also a new, larger, higher capacity LP-E5 battery that is the first new Canon battery in quite a while.
US List prices are $799 for the body only and $899 for the kit with 18-55mm IS lens. Europe Prices are €749 Body only and €849 Kit with 18-55mm IS Lens. The Digital Rebel XSi is expected to ship in April.
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jkallen - Wednesday, November 25, 2009 - link
I too have the original Rebel. The camera itself run an embedded DOS - yes, DOS. The firmware that's loaded even has command.com, an A: drive and a program called camera.exe (just google DataLight's ROM-DOS and rebel).So, if it runs DOS, there is no way it can access CF cards to 128GB much less beyond that.
I just bought the XSi - literally got it today so I have not had enough time to compare the two.
Per Hansson - Saturday, January 26, 2008 - link
No, at 128GB the CF format ends, it will need to be upgraded to SATA standard to go beyond that barrierSDHC has been designed to allow up to 2048GB
But who in their right mind would need more than 128GB on a dSLR anyway? (128GB equals about 18000 RAW images!!!)
They did the switch to SDHC to be able to keep the cameras size down, while still allowing for a bigger display, bigger viewfinder and bigger battery while still retaining the overall size of the camera
The switch to SDHC also means less warranty returns for Canon due to bent pins in the camera (which was a problem for them)
With SDHC there are no pins to be bent
homebredcorgi - Thursday, January 24, 2008 - link
Looks like a worthy upgrade.I competley agree on Canon's naming scheme. They have different names for the same camera based on European, North American, and Japanese Markets.
Here's a sample of Canon's DSLR naming over the years (in order of appearance):
mid-level DSLR: D30 -> D60 -> 10D -> 20D -> 30D -> 40D
Add in the full frame 5D released around the same time as the 20D and 30D and there is the distinct possibility of having Canon DSLRs named D30 and 30D (Not to be confused with Nikon's D3 or D300) as well as 5D and 50D (assuming they stick with the new naming for the 40D replacement). Confused yet? Take a look at the PowerShot SD line (or IXUS line to the rest of the world...except Japan) and prepare for a world of hurt.
At least pro level stuff makes some sense.
The real question is do the 40D owners get a firmware update that gives them contrast detection auto focus when in live view mode, now that the new digital rebel has this feature.
strikeback03 - Thursday, January 24, 2008 - link
I didn't even get into the Digital Elph/IXUS names, as they are even more screwed up than the SLRs. Both have numbers, but the numbers don't correspond ( The SD750 is the IXUS800 or such). And the pro body numbering isn't great either, witness the 1D, 1DII, 1DIIN, 1DIII, 1Ds, 1DsII, and 1DsIII. The problem is that the EOS system was initially designed so that the lower the number, the better the camera (the 620 was the big brother to the 650, etc). Several generations in though, the numbers are just a mess. Time to come up with a new naming convention. Doesn't help that everyone was initially using the letter D in their digital SLR names, so Nikon had a D1 to Canon's 1D, same two have a D40 and 40D, Konica-Minota had a 5D as well as Canon, etc. At least now some companies are branching out (letters E, K, alpha, etc).I don't care much about the contrast-detection AF, the mirror-flipping for phase-detect doesn't bother me and is faster than contrast-detect.
strikeback03 - Thursday, January 24, 2008 - link
slightly surprised they increased the size of the body to fir the new screen, but everyone who disliked the grip of the XT/XTi will be happy. Switch to SD is good for those coming from P&S cameras, not as much for those owning a higher-line Canon who want a backup body. If the entry level dSLR segment keeps growing as it has then Canon will still come out ahead on that move.Now Canon just needs to ditch the dumb US naming convention. Does XT->XTi->XSi make any sense? Just stick with the xxxD naming used in most of the rest of the world, I doubt most owners remember the film Rebels anyway.