Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens - Black
by Canon
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens - Black
Customer Review: My Inspiration
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been using this camera for over a year. I decided to finally get a camera that I considered to be "professional grade." Of course, I learn over and over again that the higher I go the more I realize that I have nowhere near the best camera on the market and that changes by the year.
Regardless, this camera has been really special to me. I've spent the last year taking thousands of pictures and starting up a little photography business on the side. I don't have the fancy lenses or all of the equipment, but I've taken the time to study the principles and shoot in manual. I think some of it has really paid off.
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Go check out some of my shots. Just about 95 percent of the shots on my site are from this camera, so you'll definitely get a feel for the quality of shots you can take with this camera.
I'd like to point out some of the things I don't like about this camera. I had a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28k (I think that is the model number) before this one and it was very easy to use! The autofocus was awesome. The "modes" were very easy to use and I could scout someone out 200 yards away and catch a moving shot with ease. It's not as easy with interchangeable lenses.
That being said...
I don't like that you can't use the LCD screen to take shots if you're in an auto mode. You MUST be in a manual mode of some type.
The autofocus doesn't work or work well sometimes--especially if you're in manual mode using the LCD. I've had to manually focus or switch to the viewfinder and focus only to try and switch back without moving too much and knock it out of focus.
I think that is pretty much the extent of the problems I've had with this camera. It's still going strong and I take many pictures with it.
Customer Review: Excellent quality & price
Summary: 5 Stars
I waited for months debating on whether to go ahead and purchase the Canon 40D or hold out for the new XSi. I am thrilled that I waited on the XSi. The quality is excellent! I purchased the XSi with the 18-55mm IS lens. The lens is a good walk around lens but I also purchased the 50mm 1.8 and the Sigma 70-300mm zoom. I tend to the leave the Sigma on more than any.
The XSi has nearly all the features of the 40d at a fraction of the cost. It's features are definitely well above the XTi and totally worth the upgrade. The 3" LCD screen is great for the live view shooting or reviewing. The buttons are placed great and it's very easy to navigate.
The body itself is not as heavy as the 40d but also doesn't feel cheap and weak. It's a huge step up from my Canon S3 IS, however, I still love that camera and all it's power too.
I have used the camera in numerous situations already and it prevails in all. Of course as with most, it does extremely well outdoors in light. It also exceeded my expectations indoors in low light. Even when I have had to bump the ISO to 800 or 1600, it performs wonderfully and there is very little noticeable noise. With my former cameras, I was never able to use high ISO settings because they were too noisy to fix with post processing. With the XSi, there is very little if any post processing work needed on the high ISO shots. It's wonderful for low light situations when you don't want that deer in the headlights flash look!
All in all, the XSi was totally worth the wait and the savings. The XSi is a fraction of the cost of the 40D and yet has nearly if not all the pluses of the 40D. I'd definitely recommend anyone debating between the two to go ahead and go with the XSi body and save your money for good lenses.
Customer Review: Perfect for the serious hobbyist!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my first DSLR and a Christmas gift to myself. I did extensive research before I purchased it and my decision to go with the Rebel XSi was mainly for performance, although price did factor in a bit. In the end I was torn between the XSi and the 40D, which I wanted mainly because it was supposedly better in low light. I was also afraid I would "outgrow" the XSi over time and would regret not purchasing the more "professional" 40D. I went to Ritz Camera to handle both of them and decided the 40D was just too big for me, even though I have larger hands. Plus the 28-135mm kit lens for the 40D was not as much of a wide angle as the kit lens for the Rebel, and with the deal on Amazon right now that gets you the 55-250mm lens for $100 off, it was too good to pass up. So I bought it and I love it. So far I haven't done much with manual mode, since I am still learning. I don't think I will ever outgrow this camera, unless I decide to become a professional photographer and do it for a living. This camera is easy to learn, perfect size to take everywhere, and Amazon has the best deal around. This is truly all the camera you need if you just want to get your feet wet in photography. The auto mode is good enough to get you using the camera until you graduate to the more advanced controls. You don't even need to understand exposure and white balance, the camera does all the work for you! One thing I had worried about is that the camera would feel too cheap with the larger lens attached. It looks and feels just fine. Canon has a wide selection of accessories and lenses that ensure that I can grow into my new hobby. None of the other companies seemed to offer as much for a competitive price. I am in love with my camera and hopefully I will learn to take pictures I will love as well.Customer Review: Honestly, I hate it
Summary: 5 Stars
I hate this camera because it exposes what a crappy photographer I am. Many of my pictures come out "so-so" right now and marginally better than my point and shoot. Spending a little time to get off the autofocus and use manual controls yielded pictures that far surpassed my old 7MP Nikon when dealing with moving objects, which was my primary challenge. I am concerned with the 50,000 picture rating for the shutter since I've already shot 800 pictures in just the first 20 days of owning this camera (you can shoot a lot at a sporting event) but, for the price, it was unbeatable with a decent, versatile stock lens. I'm now realizing the limitations of the lens and what separates the low from the high but this camera is a learning experience for anyone who doesn't really shoot at a high level. It will require you to invest the time to get excellent pictures out. You'll be disappointed like myself in the same way getting a great HDTV brings out the limtiations of standard cable. But look at it this way - once you start learning about the basics, e.g. the relationship of ISO to aperture to shutter speed and setting the priority mode, etc. you're on your way to pictures that are far superior to your point and shoot and difficult to go back. Apparently it doesn't have all the fine settings of the 40D nor the 100K shutter rating but I'm not sure it matters at this price. If you want a sub-$800 SLR with a decent stock lens, there is no better camera, and I was hoping the Nikon D60 would be my choice. Not so. Learning all the detailed options that are still remaining made me realize now that this camera has far more important features than the competition, all which requires an investment in photography to get great pictures. It's a crime with this camera to even think of using the auto-settings.Customer Review: Exactly what I wanted in a camera
Summary: 5 Stars
I've had this camera for over a year now, and it's great. It does everything I need a camera to do, and any flubbed shots are my fault. The newer/upgraded versions of the Canon Digital Rebel are of course superior, but I don't feel any need to upgrade. 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. I sometimes wish that I could keep the orientation of portrait-mode shots in the display when I go back to them (so they fill the display), but that's a minor gripe. The auto white balance sometimes results in undesirable tint, so it's best not to depend on it too much.
I got it with the kit lens, which although not a wonderful lens is a decent and very usable starter lens without major flaws, and a good value for the money. It was my only lens with image stabilization, and I quickly found it more useful than my third-party 28-200 for that reason. The worst thing about the kit lens is that it doesn't let the camera take shots at the quality of which it is capable, but for an extra $100, it's quite a bargain if you don't have anything else. However, if you can afford it, get a better lens and skip the kit lens. My Canon 50mm f1.8 (Mk I) makes for a very decent portrait lens. I just replaced the kit lens with the 15-85 EF-S IS lens as my main lens (and the cheap 55-200 EF-S IS for the rare long telephoto shot) but I'll keep the kit lens as a backup.
I'm an occasional amateur photographer and not a true student of photography. I don't call myself a photographer, but people are generally very pleased with photos of them taken with this camera. It's nice to know that when I do take photos, I don't have to be an expert to get the pictures I want.