Customer Reviews
Love at first click 
2008-07-23
I love this camera. I used to have an old Minolta XGM 35MM for many years and loved taking pictures so i decided to get back into photography and i waited for this ever since it was first announced by Canon. I got this and the 70-300 zoom and have been taking pictures everywhere. It takes fantastic pictures and make me look like a professional photographer. Now everyone I know, wants me to take pictures for them. The transaction was easy and happily uneventful. I received it on time and in fine condition. I received it from Ritz/Amazon. I am looking forward to taking classes so I can benefit from all the great features. I would highly recommend this if you have the dough!
Very poor autofocus and noise performance 
2008-07-22
This might be a quality control issue but about 50% of my shots are out of focus. I have used a 350D for years and was planning to upgrade to 12 MP - but I am very disappointed. I am always using center point autofocus and have used several different lenses - Canon's 50mm/f1.8, the Canon 17-85mm IS, Sigma 10-20mm, Sigma 30mm/f1.4 - with all lenses there are focus issues in many many shots.
In addition, I can not attest to the low noise comments. I see lots of chroma noise even at ISO 400 which was never the case with my 8 MP 350D. This one is going back today - I guess Canon has serious quality control issues, though the noise issue can not be explained by that.
An excellent upgrade to a great camera 2008-07-21
I previously owned the Canon Digital Rebel. I primarily upgraded to this camera for the additional pixels. Just in pixels alone, I effectively doubled my zoom rate, and it shows in bird closeups I've taken. Compared to my last camera, it's like trading in my 70-300 zoom on a 70-600 zoom. And picture quality is phenomenal, even when compared to the original Digital Rebel.
But the other enhancements to this camera make it worth buying even if it didn't sport a higher density CCD. I purchased an extra battery because the battery on the original Rebel ran down way too quickly and left me without a usable camera a few times. But I didn't need to. The battery on this model lasts forever. Maybe 10 times longer than the original!
This weekend I went on a bike ride with some friends. I was on vacation a couple of weeks ago and forgot to recharge the battery. I brought the extra along, but wanted to see how long the battery would last. I took a lot of pictures, then a friend of mine wanted to check out an image-stabilization lens I have. He spent an hour playing with the thing, taking more pictures and wasting battery power by testing out the image stabilization feature (something that normally uses a lot of juice). The battery still hasn't run down. I can't emphasize enough how bottomless the battery seems to me.
Having image-stabilization on the short lens was a nice feature. I didn't really need it because I use the zoom lens almost exclusively, but it's nice to know the feature's there if I ever do.
Focus with my 70-300 zoom lens is much faster as well. Where the old one took up to a second or so, the new one focuses instantly when there's enough light. Even when there isn't enough light for a fast focus, it's still many times faster than the original.
Something else that surprised and excited me: Using the Sport mode, I used to be able to take only 4 pictures in succession before the buffer filled up. With the new camera in the same mode, I can take a lot more pictures in the same amount of time. Instead of only 4 pictures before the buffer is filled, the shutter keeps clicking away forever. I can't imagine any action shot that will be too long for the amount of pictures this thing can take now. I was showing the camera off to my brother-in-law, and I took at least 20 pictures (maybe 30 or 40?) in rapid succession before the buffer became full and it slowed down.
This camera is truly awesome. The friend that was demoing it was trying to justify his previous purchase of a non-SLR. He said, "So this is more of a professional camera, huh?" I told him, "No--this is Canon's amateur line." And it is. But right now, I think it's better than their professional camera, which actually has 2 Megabits fewer pixels.
In the "easy" modes, the camera is a better photographer than I am. I'm no pro. But it would be nice to be able to choose when the flash is appropriate, or force a fill-flash when I want to.
Other bennies: The screen is larger and brighter, but you can lower its brightness to improve battery life (I keep it cranked up all the way--this thing has plenty of battery life as I've said).
Canon advertises that this thing will let you preview on the LCD now while focusing. If you want to buy this camera just because it's the only SLR you know of with that feature, don't. You might play with it for a couple of minutes, but you'll never use it to take actual pictures, because focus either doesn't work, or is excruciatingly slow. I had a lot of trouble figuring out how to turn this on, as well, and had to consult the manual.
There is another ease-of-use item I'd like to mention. You can turn off the flash in the easy modes if you want to. But you have to be in a creative mode to do it. I did that once, and it took me a long time to figure out how to turn the flash back on, because there's no menu item for it in the mode I was in (which was full-auto). I think it's idiotic that you can turn off the flash mode in full-auto from a creative mode, but not from the mode you're using.
All in all, I'm very glad I bought this camera.
Very good camera. 
2008-07-21
This camera exceeded my expectations in all aspects except Live View function, that is not very useful and you cannot play around with different settings.
Overall a good purchase.
Everything I expected 2008-07-21
Did a lot of research and this was everything I expected. Takes great pictures and easy to use.
love my canon 450 xsi 2008-07-26
Great camera for novice or semi-pro. This is my third Canon. Each one better than the previous.Purchased a USM lens pictures are sharp and clear. Color right on. IS is so helpful when needed.
canon camera comfort 2008-07-25
This camera is fabulous - I needed a light body due to a hand injury - even with my canon lenses, it is still manageable - the photos are beautiful - !!! great options - works great with all my old lenses , digital or not - thank you !!!!
Move Up in Consumer DSLR Performance 2008-07-25
After two very happy years using the CANON 350D/XT DSLR, I decided to upgrade to the XSi/450D based on 1) Addition of more professional-level spot metering/focusing offering, 2) Increase to 12 MP resolution and 3) The improved standard IS 18-55 kit lens. In all regards, I'm exceptionally pleased with the new Canon. I was able to tell the kit lens improvement and the impact of Image Stabilization from the first time I used it, as it allows me to work in lower light and delivers clearer photograhs in every situation. The spot metering works very well, as does the increase in point-of-focus. I can definately see the increased resolution in my cropped enlargements, as well. The one feature I don't use (live view) could be a big 'plus' to people who prefer not to use viewfinders, but again, it's not something I use. Battery life (I use an external 430EX flash for most shots) has been far-above Canon's listed number; I often get over 800 shots on a battery using AF and IS. I've used the camera with my Sigma DC and DG lenses with no problems noted at all, although my Sunpak flash that works perfectly TTL with the 350D will not function with the XSi.
Amazon was a delight to deal with 2008-07-24
I ordered this camera body, a lens hood and a memory card from Amazon. I received everything in perfect condition, with no problems and on time. I was able to track each item online and the camera and memory card arrived a week ahead of schedule (even using the free, but slow, free delivery) and the hood arrived right on the scheduled day. Also, Amazon had the best prices, no sales tax and free delivery. You can save more than a few bucks if you're willing to wait a few days.
Excellent feature at attractive price 2008-07-24
I owned the XTi before and was extremely satisfied with it. I'm sold to the XSi mainly because of the new Spot metering and 3" screen!! Live View is a plus but I only used it a couple of times.
People always compare the XSi to the 40D. Price w/ feature wise their prices are pretty much the same, but the main reason that I chose the XSi was the SMALL SIZE. For people with small hands like me the 40D is too wide and heavy. On the 40D I couldn't reach some of the inner buttons without taken my hand away from the grip.
The IS kit lens is an excellent start but the camera quickly out grown its resolution. I upgraded to a EF-S 17-55mm IS and am very happy (make sure to get a good dust-resistant copy).
