Canon Rebel XSi Review

Expectations for the XSi were admittedly high, and hence the opportunities for Canon to come up short in the court of public opinion were numerous. In spite of this high bar, the XSi will unquestionably win converts to Canon with its (still) excellent AF system, super-smooth CMOS sensor with very impressive high ISO performance, and (for some users, at least) reasonably functional live view system. Default image processing is perhaps a little bland, though the opportunities to fine tune it are among the best found on an entry-level DSLR. Great lens and flash selections, an interface that works well for those who like dedicated controls for nearly every function, and plenty of opportunities for customization will further entice serious shooters looking for a lot of power on the cheap.

For more mainstream photographers, however, sub-par kit lenses, average build quality and ergonomics, and a total use experience that takes some getting used to may all be turn offs. As a general photographic tool in auto mode using only the default settings, the XSi is just fine, but so is most every DSLR out there: with kit lens sharpness that simply can't keep up with what the XSi is capable of and some harshness where highlights are concerned, users who never think to upgrade their lens and stay on the auto mode of the dial may (sadly) never move beyond shooting images that come up short of the XSi's impressive potential.

When given an opportunity � and the glass � to stretch its photographic legs, the XSi is a powerful tool that continues to iron out minor annoyances with previous-generation Rebels. Typical for Canon, it's a fairly conservative upgrade on the whole that carries over the vast majority of its technology from its predecessor. This, combined with strong competition, means that the XSi isn't the technologically dominant camera in its space, but the capabilities of its new sensor, especially, will likely be recognized as the standard by which all other sub-$1,000 DSLRs are judged.

David Rasnake

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