Canon EOS 500D Digital Camera - Your Past comes Alive

The Canon EOS 500D is a 15.1 megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera that captures stunning pin-sharp Full High Definition videos. The EOS 500D records each moment in rich style, offering photo-quality prints with plenty of scope for post-shoot cropping. A high-precision AF system incorporates 9 AF points that are located throughout the frame to better accommodate off-centre subjects. For exact focusing with fast aperture lenses, the central AF point features a high sensitivity cross-type sensor that suits for lenses.

Featuring Auto Lighting Optimizer and Highlight Tone Priority, Canon EOS 500D has DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology that delivers the superb image quality, responsive camera performance, faster AF, faster continuous shooting and extended battery life. The camera's 3.0-inch LCD screen outputs us the big picture, whether we're shooting, reviewing or showing off our images. This extra-durable, high-resolution screen with tough scratch-resistant coating on the anti-reflective, Pure Color LCD II screen offers a clear picture to shoot, playback and using the menu functions in this camera is especially convenient.

Additional features like EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Movie mode, Picture Style facility adds specialty to this camera.

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Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi First Impressions Summary

Entering an increasingly crowded market for consumer digital SLRs comes the entry-level Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi, which premieres at PMA 2008 in Las Vegas, Nev. The XSi is the third in Canon�s budget DSLR series, updating the Digital Rebel XTi.

This new version of the Rebel is marketed toward the photo enthusiast who might turn in his or her point-and-shoot for a consumer DSLR. Canon promises the XSi is its best Rebel yet, borrowing features from its flagship professional line, including faster processing, improved autofocus, Live View, and an expanded spot metering, in addition to higher resolution, larger LCD screen, and updated menu system.

The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi has a MSRP of $899.99 for the kit with the new EF-S18-55mm f/3.5 � f/5.6 IS zoom lens (which includes optical iamge stabilization), or $799.99 for the body alone when it ships in April 2008.

Overall Impressions

Value
The anticipation for the Canon Rebel XSi, or previous Rebels for that matter, has photo nerds� hearts racing. Buyers in the market for a consumer SLR are most likely dropping a good chunk of their savings on this camera, as customers move up from a point-and-shoot and venture into photography as a serious hobby and potentially as a business if they upgrade into higher-end models. So is the $900 worth it? With the added features, it�s a sweet deal. That�s not to underline the fact that almost every other manufacturer this week at PMA 2008 under-priced the XSi: the Nikon D60($749), the Sony Alpha A300($800), and the Pentax K200D($799). The point is that yes, the Digital Rebel XSi costs more than its competitors. The reality is, though, that consumers won�t care. The Rebel series has consistently been Canon�s top seller, and we anticipate it will remain so.

Who�s this Camera For?

• Point and Shooters � The EOS Digital Rebel XSi is far from a point-and-shoot, but Canon is actively marketing its new SLR to this segment. The XSi suits point-and-shooters who want to buy a DSLR to pursue more creative control in photography. With personalized background menus, larger font, and automatic modes, the XSi does fine to suit new DSLR users.
• Budget Consumers � The lowest original MSRP in the digital SLR market for a kit is about $750 new. Nikon, Sony, and Pentax each offer bundled DSLR kits (with included lens) that retail for the price of the Canon XSi body alone. While the $899.99 kit price on the Digital Rebel isn�t the least expensive, the sub-$1000 is still affordable. It fuels the democracy of photography that puts more DSLRs in the hands of more average consumers.
• Gadget Freaks � The XSi lacks certain gadget favorites like a touch screen, true Movie modes, or Wi-Fi capabilities that SLRs have yet to employ; these features are more typical in point-and-shoot cameras. Techies in pursuit of a DSLR, however, might be drawn to the Live View, which is becoming increasingly popular among Olympus, Nikon, and Panasonic SLRs.
• Manual Control Freaks � The Canon XSi brings with it a few more manual controls over the XTi, including an additional spot metering setting and expanded Auto Lighting Optimizer. Although the camera could use more incremental stops in ISO sensitivity, the Digital Rebel will satisfy Canon users.
• Pros / Serious Amateurs � Hardcore addicts would normally lean toward Canon�s higher-end professional models, such as the 1D Mark III or 1Ds Mark III. They would, however, consider the XSi as a backup camera to their existing line of EF lenses, since it is priced at a budget $800 price tag for the body. The smaller body and lower price tag is tempting for pros to take the XSi for traveling or parties.

Summary
Likes

• Live View added as the first on any Rebel
• Includes image stabilized lens with the kit
• Fast burst of 3.5 fps -Now includes Spot metering
• Larger 3-inch LCD screen
• Sturdier body when compared to XTi
• Improved grip with textured rubber for easier handling

Dislikes

• Tiny AF points through viewfinder
• Redistribution of back button layout
• No CompactFlash memory support
• Price isn�t as competitive as other PMA 2008 DSLRs

The Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi joins a successful line of Rebels that rank as the manufacturer�s top seller. This 12.2-megapixel entry-level DSLR is the third in the series. The XSi incorporates features borrowed from its flagship professional cameras, mixed with functions targeted for its PowerShot customers to cater to the point-and-shooter upgrading to an SLR for the first time. With its added features of Live View, Spot metering, improved autofocus, and faster burst shooting, combined with an image-stabilized kit lens, the Digital Rebel XSi is sure to do well in the market. It still faces competition from Nikon, Sony, and Pentax, all of which undercut the XSi�s near-$900 kit price. Despite that, we anticipate Canon�s brand recognition and history of the Digital Rebel will make the XSi a favorite among entry-level DSLR consumers.

Canon EOS 400D | Digital Camera Review

Canon EOS 400D SLR camera review : Three years ago, Canon shocked the camera market with the introduction of the 6 Megapixel EOS 300D. It was a price breakthrough that would prove very important for the DSLR market. Suddenly, a digital SLR camera had become available for the novice photographer. And things didn't end there; since this event, digital SLR models have been in high demand. After a year and a half, Canon introduced the EOS 350D, which easily matched the success of its predecessor. It was a pretty safe bet that the successor of the EOS 350D would once again follow a year and a half later. Such was indeed the case. Canon's latest DSLR camera turns out to be the Canon EOS 400D, a ten Megapixel model. Remarkably, the EOS 350D will remain in stores for now. That doesn't change the fact, however, that the Canon 400D should be seen as its successor.

Canon EOS 400D - 2.5 inch LCD display

The frequency of the introductions may cause one to think the differences between the EOS types aren't all that big. Canon's rival Nikon, for instance, introduce their models at a more leisurely pace; which means the differences between, let's say, the D70 and the D80 seem considerably more significant. However, if we put the EOS 300D next to the EOS 400D, we note a comparably large difference. The Canon EOS 400D is still a very compact DSLR camera, and upon first glance it certainly does resemble the EOS 350D. The camera's back side, however, shows a main difference; the Canon 400D is equipped with a noticeably larger monitor, which has increased in size from 1.8-inch to 2.5-inch. Consequently, the small LCD display on top of the camera has disappeared. Canon have solved this issue by displaying the information on the large monitor, which is something we encounter quite frequently with many other competing models.


Canon EOS 400D - Features of EOS 30D

Naturally, the camera has also undergone a fair share of changes internally. The Canon 400D has, for instance, been equipped with the same 9-point auto focus as the pricier EOS 30D, whilst the buffer has been enlarged to 27 JPEG or 10 RAW images. As expected, the Canon EOS 400D has also been brought up-to-date with features that characterise all new Canon models. Examples are, among other things, Picture Styles, both a luminance histogram and a RGB histogram, three functions for the auto rotation of the image, 9999 images per folder, and the option to zoom in on a photo immediately after it is shot. In fact, the Canon EOS 400D has integrated many features of the EOS 30D; a DSLR from the higher segment.


Canon 400D - EOS Integrated Cleaning System

A striking difference between the EOS 350D and the new EOS 400D concerns the image sensor. However, it doesn't have all that much to do with the fact that the amount of pixels has increased to 10 Megapixels; the difference compared to 8 Megapixels isn't even that significant. The increase of Megapixels has likely been applied to ensure the camera keeps up with the competition; a marketing tool if you will. The Canon EOS 400D is the first Canon to feature a dust reduction system: EOS Integrated Cleaning System. We must say Canon take quite a clever approach to this issue. They start off with the area surrounding the sensor, the mirror housing and the bayonet. The parts that are used here have been designed in a way, and made from a certain type of material, that ensures dust will not stick to it quite as easily. After all, if dust isn't around in the first place, it won't come back to bother you later. A simple, yet very logical line of thought. The lid for the bayonet too has been made from a different material that attracts less dust. The surface of the sensor itself features an anti-static coating; which means dust is a lot less likely to stick to the valuable image sensor.


Canon EOS 400D SLR camera with Low Pass Filter

The third weapon in the battle against dust is the new Low Pass filter. A piezo element enables it to vibrate, which causes dust to fall from the filter, and thus vanish from sight. The digital SLR aficionados among us might find this story surprisingly familiar. After all, Olympus feature a similar system, and Sony too have shown they know how to shake dust from the sensor. Olympus, however, apply a system that features a separate filter, whilst Sony allow the entire sensor to vibrate. The advantage of Canon's approach is that it may just prove cheaper (as it does not require an additional filter), as well as considerably less vulnerable than a sensor that shakes and vibrates with all its connections. Thanks to the piezo element, Canon's anti-dust system also uses less power. With Canon's system, the filter is activated whenever the camera is switched on or off. Fortunately, this will not cost you any valuable time; the shutter release button is dominant. As a result, you will always be able to capture your image quickly.


Canon EOS 400D digital SLR camera review

If despite these precautionary measures, you still find dust in your image, it can be easily removed through software. Simply capture an image of a white sheet of paper. This allows easy detection of dust; after all, the dust becomes black. The camera will then turn this into a so-called "Dust Delete Data"; a map which contains all the dust. At this stage, you can use Digital Photo Professional to remove the dust. Every file, even the standard JPEG format, will include this map. It seems Canon have finally come to acknowledge one of the main obstacles when working with a DSLR: dust. Although the differences between the new camera and its predecessor might seem small at first, the Canon EOS 400D is in fact an entirely new DSLR camera with several very interesting improvements. We had the Canon 400D camera in our office for a considerable amount of time. Our findings can be read in the following Canon EOS 400D digital SLR camera review.