My new camera arrived a couple of weeks ago, and I've taken over 1,500 pictures with it, so I guess it's time for a camera review.
For my previous review on the Seller from whom I bought the camera, click here.
The camera was part of a package that included the following:
Canon EOS Rebel XSi camera body
Tamron 28-80 mm lens
Tamron 75-300 mm lens
.45x lens converter (fits only the 28-80 mm lens)
2x lens converter (fits only the 28-80 mm lens)
8 GB SD card
USB SD card reader
Carrying case
Lens cleaning kit
LCD screen protectors
Lithium ion battery
Battery charger
AV cable
USB cable
Camera strap
CD guide
Printed guide
Here's what I think of everything:
Canon EOS Rebel XSi camera body - Many years ago I had a Canon A1, and one thing that I did not like about it was that it was not comfortable to hold. I always think that things should be designed ergonomically, yet too often I think things are designed by engineers who will never be using what they design. The Canon Rebel XSi camera is actually a joy to hold, with natural positioning for the thumb, the shutter button (so that the shutter finger rests naturally on it), and a great grip for the other three fingers. Very easy to hold, even with a heavy telephoto lens on it.
Tamron 28-80 mm lens - I was not familiar with the Tamron lenses, and one always hesitates buying a lens for a camera that isn't made by the same company that made the camera. There's such a thing as everything meshing together so that all of the auto functions work on the camera with that lens. I have had absolutely no problems with the 200 pictures that I've taken with this lens.
Tamron 75-300 mm lens - I have already come to love this lens, having turned it into my workhorse lens. The only thing I might have wished for is something like, maybe, a focal length of 50-300 mm. That extra 25 mm comes in handy for taking real estate pictures in tight quarters. So I've already learned that if I were to make this my home inspection camera in addition to an avocational toy, this lens would not be the one of preference. It is great for looking at inaccessible areas of the roof and attic, though.
.45x lens converter (fits only the 28-80 mm lens) - This is a two-part lens, of which one part has "MACRO" written on it. I have used this converter very little at this point, already discovering that I need additional lighting to use it, which research on the Internet confirms. I've taken about 25 pictures with it, and everything works fine; I just have to lighten the pictures in Photoshop. I find the 75-300 mm lens easier to use for close-ups at this point, but I'm sure that will change once I start playing around more seriously with the macro functions.
2x lens converter (fits only the 28-80 mm lens) - This is a very useful converter for the 28-80 mm lens. It's too bad that this lens doesn't fit the 75-300 mm lens, though, but it does turn that 28-80 mm lens into a decent telephoto lens.
8 GB SD card - After setting the camera to save both high-quality 12.2 MP jpg files as well as the RAW Canon files, I understand why an 8 GB card comes with the camera. Those RAW Canon files easily average 15 MB.
USB SD card reader - A very useful little device that I'll take with me on trips in case the hotel computer doesn't have an SD card reader on it.
Carrying case - Good size and better quality than I was actually expecting.
Lithium ion battery - This thing is awesome. I had taken 837 pictures before the battery indicator ever showed anything less than a full battery charge. I'm up over 1,500 pictures now on the second charge. What a joy it is to take extremely high resolution pictures without really worrying about the battery.
CD guide and printed guide - The CD guide and printed guide are extremely good. There are three CDs, one of which has software on it: Digital Photo Professional - For modifying any digital picture, such as changing file type, renaming pictures, changing resolution, etc. You can even do batch processing with it. Very easy to use. EOS Utility - This is what you can use to download pictures from the camera directly to the computer. I don't use this software or feature because I already have my computer set up to read and download directly from an SD card into specific file folders. Picture Style Editor - This is the software that has me intrigued, but I've only begun to play with it. It will sharpen or soften images; change colors, density, saturation, brightness, contrast, etc. ZoomBrowser EX - I have not gotten to this piece of software yet because I've been having so much fun with the Picture Style Editor.
Canon's proprietary RAW picture file is CR2, which creates a monster file. For example, most of the JPG files are about 4.3 MB with the corresponding CR2 file being about 15 MB. The RAW file allows you to play around with the picture without actually doing anything to the picture. Then, if you like what you've done, you can save it as another picture. It's virtually impossible to mess up a picture file using the RAW file to work from. At least I haven't found a way yet.
I'm a big fan of bright colors, i.e., color saturation, and I've never really found a camera that can give me the saturation that I want. So I've almost always resorted to Corel Paint for that. The RAW CR2 file, coupled with the Picture Style Editor is a joy to use for modifying color saturation, much easier to use than Photoshop or Corel Paint.
The Canon Rebel XSi has several settings: fully automatic, shutter priority, aperture priority, manual exposure, automatic depth of field, portrait, landscape, close-up, sports, night portrait, and flash off. Following are my comments about some of the settings:
Fully automatic - I've discovered that this is the setting to use when you start out with this camera, but as you become dissatisfied with pictures that are either overexposed or underexposed, you'll quickly move away from from the fully automatic mode to one of the other modes. The sensor has nine focus points, but I quickly moved away from them to a center focus point instead because sometimes the full autofocus will focus on something that you really don't want to focus on, like a branch. We you become good at creating a picture instead of taking a picture, you'll probably move away from using all nine focus points. I like to use the center focus point to focus on my subject, and then recompose the picture to create what I want. I suspect that I might go back to using all nine focus points when I'm trying to catch birds in flight.
The automatic depth of field seems to do an extremely good job at the beach when there's a shoreline in the foregound, a boat on the water, and some buildings on the other side of the water.
Portrait mode is programmed to help with skin color, which has always been a difficult color to get on televisions and pictures.
Landscape mode is programmed to give better blues and greens, as well as sharp, crisp images. It's possible to use the software to do the same thing if you forget to switch to landscape mode from one of the other modes.
The close-up mode seems to let me get a little closer to my subject than what might otherwise be possible with the 80-300 mm lense, which has allowed me to get some better bird eye pictures.
The sports mode is what I probably should have been using when I was taking pictures of flying seagulls this morning, but I forgot to switch. Perhaps if I were in a hurry, I might remember, but I always go out for a leisurely stroll and take my camera with me rather than going out for a specific amount of time of a certain number of pictures. So I'm patient in trying to get the picture I want. This is the mode, though, where you can take 3.5 pictures per second by simply holding the shutter button down.
What do I like best about the Canon Rebel XSi? That's difficult to say. Perhaps I'll simply go with the fact that I have so many options with this camera. I remember my old Canon A1 from 30 years ago which had a lot of programmed options, but the Rebel XSi wants to go for a three-hour walk every day now just to show me what it can do.
What don't I like about the Canon Rebel XSi? Just one thing at this point: If you set the camera to use the fully automatic mode, it will not create the RAW CR2 file for you even though you have it set to do that. And since the fully automatic mode sometimes doesn't take the type of picture you want -- sharpness, focus, overexposure, underexposure -- you won't be able to play around with a RAW CR2 file to see if you can salvage the photo unless you go to Photoshop or Corel Paint.
I went with the Canon 50D about six months ago and it is a phenomenal camera. My walking around lens is a Tamron 18 - 270 Image Stabilized telephoto. If only it were an 18 -300, it would be perfect.
I think Canon makes one of the best cameras around, Russel. I've told you before that I have a Canon EOS Rebel and don't go anywhere that I might possibly need a camera without it. Nothing else has come close. I'm completely happy with it. We don't have any of the fancy telephoto lenses, though. My husband really wants one. I'm sure we'll have one soon.
Wow thats some kind of a review - you should offer freelancing to Consumer Reports - it could have been a three parter! Yep I'll be in the market for a camera soon........so I'll be checking back!
Russel, that is great information! I have a Canon AE1 that I still use when I want to spend money for film and developing, it has been a great camera for me. We have a Nikon that we love, we need to get some other lenses for it but other than that it has been a lot of fun to use. I will say this, based on your review, I would seriously consider buying the Canon EOs Rebel XSi. If I were in the market for a camera. Thanks for the review!
Great post, thorough review. I'm considering perchasing a new SLR and I have have been considering Cannon. I think your review tips the scales in their favor. Thanks again.
Hey, Richard - I think my ideal lens would be 18-400 mm, possibly settling for 28-400 mm. There are still a few things that are out of reach with 300 mm that 400 mm would solve. I will be checking into the 1.4x and 2.0x teleconverters for the 80-300 mm lens. I just have to make sure I match the teleconverter to the master lens properly so that quality is not compromised and the auto functions still work.
Hey, Heather - I know I've been a fan of Canon for many decades after buying my Canon A1 back in the late 1970s, and it was difficult to put that Canon bias aside when looking for a digital SLR camera. I really don't think there's much difference between Canon and Nikon, and maybe the other major brands, too, as far as electronics go. Ease of use and cost are something that I was looking at specifically, and the various Canon Rebel XSi reviews led me to it.
Hey, Liz - I added a paragraph about what I like least about the camera, just to make sure that I don't follow in the "balanced" reporting style of, say, Fox News - LOL.
Hey, Tammy - Since I added a couple of sentences and another paragraph, I was able to add a couple of more pictures, too. Check out the other bird's eye.
Hey, Tony and Darcy - Jim still has a Minolta SLR from the film days that I actually tried selling. No one wants it. So it sits in the garage because I just can't bring myself to throw it in the trash.
Hey, Jeff - As I do more things with the camera and the software, I'll let my opinion be known in future posts.
Hey, Rich - Apparently a lot of them do as long as you match them properly. Some allow autofocus as long as the aperture is a certain minimum width, as long as the lens is a certain minimum speed or focal length, etc. The other "problem" that I'm reading about is that whatever the camera info shows about the picture can be off by an f-stop or two. Before I buy one for the 80-300 mm lens, I need to see how the 2x teleconverter that I have works with the 28-80 mm lens.
On the short focal length lenses they do work sometimes. When you get into the telephoto is where there is a problem, mostly with the autofocus. Aperature is affected but easily corrected.
In the end though they do work fine with manual focus.
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My new camera arrived a couple of weeks ago, and I've taken over 1,500 pictures with it, so I guess it's time for a camera review.
2x lens converter (fits only the 28-80 mm lens)
Canon EOS Rebel XSi camera body - Many years ago I had a Canon A1, and one thing that I did not like about it was that it was not comfortable to hold. I always think that things should be designed ergonomically, yet too often I think things are designed by engineers who will never be using what they design. The Canon Rebel XSi camera is actually a joy to hold, with natural positioning for the thumb, the shutter button (so that the shutter finger rests naturally on it), and a great grip for the other three fingers. Very easy to hold, even with a heavy telephoto lens on it.
Tamron 75-300 mm lens - I have already come to love this lens, having turned it into my workhorse lens. The only thing I might have wished for is something like, maybe, a focal length of 50-300 mm. That extra 25 mm comes in handy for taking real estate pictures in tight quarters. So I've already learned that if I were to make this my home inspection camera in addition to an avocational toy, this lens would not be the one of preference. It is great for looking at inaccessible areas of the roof and attic, though.
2x lens converter (fits only the 28-80 mm lens) - This is a very useful converter for the 28-80 mm lens. It's too bad that this lens doesn't fit the
CD guide and printed guide - The CD guide and printed guide are extremely good. There are three CDs, one of which has software on it:
Canon's proprietary RAW picture file is CR2, which creates a monster file. For example, most of the JPG files are about 4.3 MB with the corresponding CR2 file being about 15 MB. The RAW file allows you to play around with the picture without actually doing anything to the picture. Then, if you like what you've done, you can save it as another picture. It's virtually impossible to mess up a picture file using the RAW file to work from. At least I haven't found a way yet.
Fully automatic - I've discovered that this is the setting to use when you start out with this camera, but as you become dissatisfied with pictures that are either overexposed or underexposed, you'll quickly move away from from the fully automatic mode to one of the other modes. The sensor has nine focus points, but I quickly moved away from them to a center focus point instead because sometimes the full autofocus will focus on something that you really don't want to focus on, like a branch. We you become good at creating a picture instead of taking a picture, you'll probably move away from using all nine focus points. I like to use the center focus point to focus on my subject, and then recompose the picture to create what I want. I suspect that I might go back to using all nine focus points when I'm trying to catch birds in flight.
Portrait mode is programmed to help with skin color, which has always been a difficult color to get on televisions and pictures.
;)
;)
Russel,
I went with the Canon 50D about six months ago and it is a phenomenal camera. My walking around lens is a Tamron 18 - 270 Image Stabilized telephoto. If only it were an 18 -300, it would be perfect.
Rich