Digital Photography Notes » Canon 450D / XSi

Canon XSi / 450D Price Watch and Availability

David Chin — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:16:27 +0000

The price of most digital cameras tend to trend downwards over time, and the same price drop should occur in the case of the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi / 450D digital SLR camera.

I'm not planning for any scheduled updates, but do check back here from time to time for the latest and best prices on the Canon XSi / 450D DSLR and related accessories.

The XSi / 450D is available as a black body only, or as a kit (outfit) with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens (black or silver).

Remember to check the price for the kit and compare that to the individual prices for the body only and lens. Most of the time, buying the kit saves you money, but it's sometimes cheaper to buy the body and lens separately.

Click on the links to access in-stock and availability information.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12MP Digital SLR Camera (Black Body Only): $499.95 ($14 price increase since the last update).

Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black): $559.95 ($3.03 price reduction).

Canon Digital Rebel XSI 12MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Silver): $699.00 ($60 price increase).

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS SLR Lens: $156.00 ($18 price increase).

Typical accessories for the XSi / 450D

If you're getting the kit 18-55mm lens, consider purchasing the Canon EW-60C Lens Hood. Because the hood rotates with the focus ring, it makes for manual focusing easier. The lens hood also protects the front element of the lens from bumping and knocking against objects and surfaces.

For power, XSi uses Canon LP-E5 battery packs – be sure to purchase additional spares so that your camera doesn't run out of power during extended shooting sessions.

For storage, the XSi / 450D uses SD or SDHC cards.

Refer to Rob Galbraith's SD / SDHC card write speed tests (done on a Nikon D90) to get an idea on the relative write and read speeds of different brands of cards. At the time of writing (Oct 29, 2009), the SanDisk Extreme III SDHC cards occupy the top two spots.

Canon specifies SDHC Class 6 cards or better as a requirement for continuous movie / video capture.

If you frequently shoot with the camera in portrait (vertical) position, consider getting the Canon BG-E5 battery grip for additional comfort while holding the XSi. The BG-E5 also lets you insert up to two LP-E5 battery packs, or 6 AA batteries.

For rechargeable AA batteries, the low discharge types are your best bet. Look at Sanyo Eneloop and IMEDION batteries.

Good luck shopping for your Canon XSi / 450D!

Price History Archive / Trend

Sunday, January 24, 2010
Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12MP Digital SLR Camera (Black Body Only): $485.95

Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black): $562.98

Canon Digital Rebel XSI 12MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Silver): $639.00

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS SLR Lens: $138.00

Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12MP Digital SLR Camera (Black Body Only): $529.95

Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black): $598.49

Canon Digital Rebel XSI 12MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Silver): $677.38

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS SLR Lens: $149.73

Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12MP Digital SLR Camera (Black Body Only): $589.94

Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black): $639.94

Canon Digital Rebel XSI 12MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Silver): $679.94

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS SLR Lens: $170.00

Canon XSi / 450D vs Canon XS / 1000D

David Chin — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:58:01 +0000

Which camera would you choose, and why – the Canon XSi / 450D or Canon XS / 1000D?

What are the pros and cons of each?

In this post, I attempt to compare and summarize the benefits of, and the differences between these two digital SLR cameras from Canon and hopefully, this will help those who are researching whether to get the XSi / 450D or the XS / 1000D.

You'll have to make the final decision on which camera to buy.

Canon XSi / 450D Advantages

Can be operated with a wireless IR remote

The Canon XSi / 450D comes with an infrared sensor on the front of the hand grip, and this allows you to use low cost infrared remotes to trigger the XSi.

The XS / 1000D doesn't have this option, but rest assured that both the XSi and XS can be controlled remotely via third-party Radio Frequency (RF) shutter release remotes such as the Phottix Cleon C6.

You might like to read my post on using the Phottix Cleon C8 with the Canon 40D to get a better idea of how these RF shutter triggers work.

Bigger LCD

3 inches on the XSi vs 2.5 in. on the 1000D.

A bigger LCD simply makes previewing images a nicer experience, but half an inch difference isn't a deal breaker.

Greater resolution

12 MP on the XSi / 450D vs 10 MP on the XS / 1000D.

If you think you'll be shooting lots of nature, landscape or product photos which need to be printed really large, every extra bit of resolution helps, and this is where the XSi is the more logical choice, assuming photos are shot with the same caliber lens mounted on both.

Higher number of AF points

The XSi / 450D has 9 vs the XS / 1000D which has 7.

The main advantage of more AF points boils down to whether you'd need to track a moving subject across the frame, or whether you prefer to have more AF points which tend to reduce the need for focus-and-recompose techniques.

Having more AF points enables ensures a higher probability that a moving subject is always tracked by at least one point.

Better center AF point sensitivity

The XSi / 450D has a high-precision sensor in the center AF point which gives greater autofocusing accuracy with fast lenses, that is, lenses with a maximum wide-open aperture of f/2.8 or greater.

If you shoot a great deal of moving subjects and anticipate purchasing these (very often) more expensive fast lenses to take advantage of the greater AF accuracy, then the XSi / 450D is the camera to get as the 1000D / XS does not have this high-precision center AF sensor.

Pedro has more to say on the differences between f/2.8-sensitive and non-f/2.8 sensitive AF sensors in Canon DSLR cameras:

A – If the cross-type sensor is f/2.8 sensitive it means that when used in conjunction with lenses whose luminosity is equal or bigger/better than 2.8 (1.4, 1.8, 2.0) it will AF in between the 1/3 DOF of the lens widest aperture, regardless of the used/chosen aperture.

B – If the cross-type sensor is not f/2.8 sensitive it means that when used in conjunction with lenses whose luminosity is equal or bigger/better than 5.6 (3.2, 4.0) it will AF in between the DOF of the lens widest aperture, regardless of the used/chosen aperture.

C – Keep in mind, that except in the professional line (1D…), Canon AF will not work accurately with lenses whose luminosity is smaller/worst than f/5.6…

Better burst rate

On paper, the XSi / 450D is only slightly faster at 3.5 fps (frames per second) than the XS / 1000D which manages 3 fps, but this is only applicable to shooting in JPEG mode.

Where the really XS / 1000D pales in this comparison is the burst rate in RAW mode – it's only 1.5 fps.

In contrast, the XSi / 450D manages the same 3.5 fps in RAW mode.

This is a big deal if you're going to be shooting bursts in RAW mode a lot.

Spot metering

A built-in spot meter in the camera is a boon to photographers who like to set the exposure from a small spot in the frame rather than letting the camera evaluate the entire scene and deciding on the exposure for you.

Up until the Canon 30D, spot metering was only available in the higher-end 1D-series DSLR models from Canon.

For the Digital Rebel series, spot metering was introduced with the 450D / XSi.

The 1000D / XS does not have this capability, but it shouldn't be a deal breaker if you don't plan on using this feature in your photography.

14-bit vs 12-bit

This is definitely an advantage for the XSi / 450D, but what's debatable is whether you would benefit from the additional two bits.

More bits help a lot when you're post-processing a image which is underexposed or have limited tones. If you push the curve or level adjustment hard for such low-contrast images, the additional two bits help to reduce the occurrence of banding.

Plus, the benefit also can only be enjoyed if you shoot in RAW mode. You don't get this benefit if you shoot in JPEG mode as the camera would internally process the files into 8-bit JPG anyway.

Again, many photographers simply cannot see the difference in their photos (yes, even owners of high-end digital SLR cameras which permit the user to select either 12 or 14-bit image processing), but you might want to just read this and this forum post which has a more detailed explanation and sample photos to illustrate (in theory) what impact the additional 2 bits should have.

Here's one more link for you to digest – it's done with the Nikon D300, but should give you a better idea of what more bits is all about.

HIghlight Tone Priority

This feature found on the XSi (but not the XS) helps retain detail in the highlights by deliberately underexposing the RAW image and then using a tone adjustment to bring up the gamma. The process happens the instant the photo is taken, although it will slow down the continuous shot performance as the processor has to do extra work processing the image.

By the way, the RAW to JPEG conversion engine in the Canon-supplied Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software is able to process the underexposed RAW file correctly, while opening that same RAW image in other photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop CS3 will only show you an underexposed image, which you'll have to manually correct using the curve or levels tool.

Better VF

The viewfinder coverage is 95% for both the XS and XSi, but the XSi gives you 87% viewfinder magnification while you only get 81% magnification on the XS's viewfinder.

In short, you'll get a slightly better viewfinder experience in the XSi with less tunnel vision.

Canon XS / 1000D pros

Cheaper price

It makes sense to buy the XS / 1000D if you're just beginning photography and don't have a set target on how advanced you want to get with your photography.

The money saved can go towards purchasing an external flash, accessory or a better lens. This is the more practical approach to take for budding photographers.

After a year or two of taking lots of photographs, you'd then be in a better position to decide which advanced model to upgrade to.

When we're talking day-to-day consumer photography, the slight advantages of the XSi / 450D won't be practically apparent. If you really needed super-fast focusing and faster frames per second, you should be looking at the Canon 40D or a used 30D anyway, as they can blast off 6.5 fps and 5 fps respectively, and these figures are generally acknowledged to be the bare minimum burst rate for sports photography. The xxD class of Canon digital SLR cameras also tend to have more robust shutter mechanisms with longer life spans to support the higher fps rate.

To expand further on the huge performance advantage the 40D has over the XSi, please read Canon 40D vs Canon XSi / 450D.

Canon XSi / 450D / Kiss X2 Tips

David Chin — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:48:23 +0000

This page is a collection of Canon XSi / 450D / Kiss X2 tips, tricks, techniques, camera settings and hacks that I've across in forums, online communities, blogs and related websites.

Full attribution is given by linking to the source and where available, the author's homepage or photo gallery.

Download the latest Firmware Update (Version 1.1.0)

You'll want to install this firmware if you are using the Canon Speedlite 270EX flash on your camera.

Firmware v1.1.0 incorporates the following improvements.

Supports the AF assist beam features of the new flash, Speedlite 270 EX, which is scheduled to be released in April 2009.

Version 1.1.0 firmware is for cameras with firmware up to Version 1.0.9. If the camera's firmware is already Version 1.1.0, it is not necessary to update the firmware.

Installation instructions and file downloads for Windows and Macintosh platforms can be accessed here.

Wireless infrared remote triggers for the Canon XSi / 450D

David Chin — Fri, 30 May 2008 06:22:05 +0000

Here's a quick summary of the various options available for wireless infrared (IR) remote triggers available on the market for the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi / 450D digital SLR camera.

Page 164 of the Canon XSi / 450D instruction manual lists two options for wireless IR remote control shooting.

Note that wireless IR remotes need to be pointed directly at the remote control sensor located on the front of the Canon XSi / 450D hand grip. Line of sight between the remote and the sensor on the camera is needed, just like TV remote control units.

You'll also need to put your XSi / 450D in self-timer mode first. This mode remains in effect until you select another Drive mode.

Canon Wireless IR Remote Control RC-1 for Digital Rebel

The RC-1 has better functionality than the RC-5 in that you can choose to trip the shutter either immediately, or after a 2-second delay.

I've listed some user photos of the RC-1 that I found on Flickr – hopefully you can get a good idea of the size of this thing:

It costs about $21 USD.

I couldn't find the official version of the RC-1 manual online, but EOSDoc.com has a version that should be helpful enough.

Get the Canon RC1 at Amazon.

Canon RC-5 Wireless IR Remote Controller

The RC-5 only allows you to trigger the shutter after a 2-second delay, and does not have the immediate shutter trigger found on the RC-1 and the Phottix IR remote (mentioned at the end of this post).

There are quite a number of RC-5 photos on Flickr – here are my picks:

You get to pay a bit less for this remote compared to the RC1, at $18 USD.

Get the Canon RC5 at Amazon.

You might also want to consider 3rd-party (Canon-compatible) options such as the Phottix IR remote which offer the same functionality at a slightly lower price.

Phottix IR remote

Read my review of the Phottix IR remote for Canon.

FAQ

Which is better, a plug-in (wired) remote or an infrared (IR) unit?

A wired remote allows you to shoot from behind the camera, and doesn't require you to point the remote at the camera in a certain way.

It also replicates the function of the camera's shutter button – you can press the button on the remote halfway to initiate AF (autofocus) and press the button all the way down to trip the shutter.

Plus, you need not put the camera into self-timer Drive mode, which means you can take, say, continuous shots.

An infrared remote is the better option if you want to take a lot of group shots in which you include yourself.

You will be able to stand quite a distance away and take the shot.

Shooting from anywhere other than the front of the camera isn't as convenient because you have to make sure that the remote is aimed at the sensor in front of the camera.

Can the infrared remote work from behind the camera

No, it cannot.

You could stand behind the camera or to the side, and still take the shot provided you ensure that the sensor on the front of the camera can receive the signal in a "straight line" from the remote.

Can you press the button halfway for autofocus with the infrared remote?

No, you cannot.

The infrared remote is not, strictly-speaking, a shutter release, hence it cannot replicate the functionality of the shutter button entirely.

Can you remotely trigger a continuous burst of shots with an infrared remote?

No, you can't.

This is because you'll first have to put the XSi / 450D into self-timer Drive mode first, which means you don't have the option to fire continuous shots since that is another Drive mode option.

Can you shoot BULB exposures with an infrared remote?

Yes, you can.

First, ensure that the XSi / 450D is put into BULB mode.

Next, activate the self-timer mode.

Then, press the button on the infrared remote to start the BULB exposure.

You'll see the elapsed time on the rear LCD.

To stop the BULB exposure, simply press the button on the infrared remote a second time.

Review: Phottix IR remote for Canon XSi / 450D

David Chin — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:03:13 +0000

The Phottix IR (infrared) remote is compatible with the Canon Digital Rebel series of cameras.

I'll focus just on the Canon XSi / 450D in this hands-on review, but it should apply to the older models such as the Canon XT / 350D and XTi /450D as well.

In fact it should work with any Canon EOS SLR / DSLR camera that works with the Canon RC-1 and RC-5 remote control units.

The Phottix IR remote costs $7.50 USD (shipped) (price will fluctuate), and the photo below shows the Phottix remote next to the box in which it comes in.

I've taken a photo of the back of the box so that you can read the instructions that come with it.

I'll follow up with more detailed instructions relevant to the use of the remote with the Canon XSi / 450D later in this review.

The Phottix remote has a glossy finish, so a plastic separator protects all new units. Simply peel of the plastic film once you've taken the remote out of its box.

Here's the front view of the Phottix IR remote.

There are two sets of buttons.

Only the top row of buttons is used to remotely trigger the shutter on the XSi / 450D.

The second row of buttons is meant to be used with Canon compact digital cameras.

The rear of the Phottix remote looks like this.

At the bottom, you can see a door for the battery tray. It's a bit tricky to work the latch and slide the tray out, but here is what the opened tray looks like.

The IR remote runs on a single CR2025 battery, and a Panasonic 3V CR2025 cell is provided in the box.

Canon EOS 450D / Digital Rebel XSi / Kiss X2 Reviews, Samples and References

David Chin — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:14:39 +0000

Gathered in this post are summarized links to various professional and user reviews, sample photographs and galleries, reference material and community / forum discussions related to the Canon XSi / 450D / Kiss X2 digital SLR camera.

This page of Canon XSi / 450D links is continually updated as I come across interesting and helpful information on the XSi / 450D / Kiss X2. Please use the Contact link in the Navigation menu to submit your suggestions for additions to the site.

The XSi / 450D entry-level digital SLR by Canon was announced on 24-January-2008. The other entry-level Canon digital SLR camera with lower specifications (but slightly newer) is the Canon XS / 1000D.

Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (view a larger photo).

The Canon XSi / 450D / Kiss X2 Journal: Regular updates on the Canon XSi / 450D / Kiss X2.

Wireless remote shutter release options for the XSi / 450D

Infrared – Phottix IR remote review, and other IR remotes.
RF (radio frequency) – Phottix Cleon.

Unboxing my camera

I purchased a new XSi / 450D on a late Saturday afternoon of April 26th, 2008, and decided to take photos of the contents in the box for posterity.

There are 44 photos in this set, with each photo between 100 – 150 KB in size.

All the photos are hosted on Flickr.com in this set.

Please be patient and wait for all the photos to load.

Here's the box in the shopping bag:

Front view of the box:

4 views of the box:

Here's what greets you when you open the box:

There are two types of warranty – Malaysia (red) and international (green):

Two CDs are provided, Canon EOS Digital Solution Disk and Software Instruction Manual. I'll be covering these in more detail in a future post.

A plastic bag holds a bunch of reading material:

There's an EOS Rebel XSi / 450D pocket guide:

Here's a warning by Canon stating that they won't be liable for any equipment malfunction arising from the use of non-genuine Canon accessories:

A promotional brochure for Pixma printers:

195-page instruction manual:

A quick guide on photography with Canon IS (image stabilization) lenses:

Quick guide on photography with Canon macro lenses:

Brief overview of the bundled software:

We now open the inner flap of the box to reveal the second level:

The compartment on the right has the camera body, while the left compartment holds all the other supplied accessories:

The body is contained within a piece of paper-like wrapping material and bubble wrap:

Let's slowly remove the camera from the wrapping:

There's a tag that's tied to the right strap mount eyelet. Let's see what it says on the front …

… and the back:

Here's a full view of the front of the camera:

Then, on the right:

The left:

Bottom:

And finally, the view from the top:

Official Canon 450D Gallery

2 full-sized sample images are provided:

Buying the Canon XSi / 450D

It's amazing that not a week had passed since the official 24-Jan-2008 announcement, and already the Canon XSi / 450D is already available for pre-order at major stores. Check availability, configurations, best prices and deals at the following direct links :

Body only, Black: Amazon, B&H Photo Video
Body only, Silver: Amazon, B&H Photo Video
Black body with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens: Amazon, B&H Photo Video
Silver body with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens: Amazon, B&H Photo Video

Canon 40D vs Canon 450D / Digital Rebel XSi

David Chin — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 02:28:11 +0000

It came as quite a shock to many that the lower-priced Canon XSi / EOS 450D that was introduced in January 2008 had better specifications in some areas when compared to its more expensive sibling, the Canon 40D which was released not even half a year before in August 2007.

In this post, I attempt to compare and summarize the differences between these two digital SLR cameras from Canon and hopefully, this will help those deciding whether to get the 40D or 450D.

Canon EOS 40D Advantages

Availability
You might think it's weird to qualify this factor as a 40D advantage, but as of today, 30-Jan-2008, if you need a camera urgently, you can get the 40D right now. The XSi / 450D starts shipping only in April 2008. Now that the XSi / 450D is shipping worldwide, this is no longer a 40D advantage.

For those who can wait, Amazon and B&H Photo Video have already started taking pre-orders for what seems to be four possible XSi / 450D configurations :- body, black or silver, with or without the EF-S 18-55mm IS kit lens – more details here.

Autofocus points
On surface, both cameras seem to have the same 9 AF points. The AF system in the 40D is superior to that in the 450D because all 9 AF sensors in the 40D are of the cross type, whereas in the 450D, only the center AF point is a cross type sensor. With the 40D, even the non-center AF points can be used to track subjects with greater precision and accuracy (especially on low contrast subjects in low light – think indoor sports) than you could with the outlying AF points on the 450D.

Construction and build
You'd be better served by the Canon 40D if you have a preference for well-built hardware. The 40D is larger with a more solid, magnesium shell while the 450D uses durable plastic on the outer body.

ISO range
The 40D is able to go to ISO 3200 in a pinch, while the 450D maxes out at ISO 1600. For those who anticipate shooting a lot of low light action photography where high ISO values are needed to freeze action, the 40D serves this purpose better.

Viewfinder
The viewfinder in the 40D uses a pentaprism while a pentamirror is used for the viewfinder in the 450D. Pentaprism viewfinders give a brighter and larger image compared to pentamirror types. Viewfinder magnification is higher in the 40D, 0.95x compare to only 0.87x on the 450D's viewfinder.

The 40D has a higher eyepoint (22mm) than the 450D (19mm). This is an advantage for those who wear glasses as it means that you can still view the entire image in the viewfinder even if your eye is physically 22mm away.

For a really good read on viewfinders, please refer to this Luminous Landscape article.

Frames per second (fps)
The 40D is rated at 6.5 fps compared to 3.5 fps on the 450D. If you shoot lots of action or sports photography where high frame rates is paramount, or even want to capture as many frames within the shortest interval of time possible, then the 40D is your camera.

Top shutter speed
The fastest shutter speed on the Canon 40D is 1/8000 sec while you can only go as fast as 1/4000 sec on the XSi / 450D. The difference probably won't matter significantly in most photography, but it's always a convenience to be able to call on fast shutter speeds if you're shooting at low ISO values with your lens at wide open apertures (say, larger than f/2) in bright light.

Shot buffer
The 40D has a larger memory buffer, being able to store 75 JPEG or 17 RAW files in one continuous burst, while the 450D only manages 53 JPG files or 6 RAW files in one burst. This is a huge difference in buffer performance, something that is significant if you shoot a lot of RAW photos in quick succession, say at weddings, sports or any other event where the action is thick and fast and you don't want to miss shots.

White balance
The 40D allows you to dial in exact Kelvin values for setting the white balance. The 450D has no such feature.

Battery life
The Canon BP-511A / BP-511 / BP-512 battery in the 40D gives you 1100 shots on a single charge if flash isn't used, while you get only 600 shots with a fully-charged LP-E5 battery in the 450D.

Top LCD
Photographers who desire the flexibility to be able to glance at important camera settings off the top LCD get this feature on the 40D. The XSi / 450D only shows this information on the rear LCD.

sRAW format
For photographers who want the flexibility of processing that RAW files offer, yet are willing to give up some loss of bit information in return for smaller files, the sRAW format offered on the 40D is the answer. sRAW files are approximately only a quarter of the size of regular RAW files and is a feature that's not found on the XSi / 450D.

Canon EOS 450D Advantages

Price
No comparison here – the 450D ~~is expected to sell for no more than $800 USD once it hits the shelves~~ sells for only $570, while the best price you can get now from a reputable store for the 40D is about $823. There's a collection of direct links to various Canon XSi / 450D pricing information at reputable stores.

Sensor Resolution
This is a curious one – the 450D, despite being lower priced, has more resolution than the 40D. The 450D sensor is rated at 12.2 MP (Megapixels), compared to the 10.1 MP sensor found in the 40D. A 2 MP difference might be considered negligible, but if you intend to crop or print large, every additional megapixel helps.

DPReview.com, in its Canon XSi / 450D review, puts the resolution advantage of the 450D / XSi a little more strongly:

In the conclusion page: "The new sensor is superb, and from a resolution point of view puts the EOS 40D to shame without losing any of the high ISO performance that has been Canon's trump card for so long."
RAW output compared with the Nikon D60: " … and in fact these are some of the most detailed results we've ever seen from a non-professional Canon DSLR thanks to what appears to be a slightly lighter anti alias filter (certainly compared to the 40D, for example)."

Dimensions and weight
Those with smaller hands and want a lighter camera might prefer the 450D – here are the relevant specifications:

Dimensions:
Canon 40D – 146 x 108 x 74 mm (5.7 x 4.2 x 2.9 in)
Canon 450D – 129 x 98 x 62 mm (5.1 x 3.9 x 2.4 in)
Weight:
Canon 40D – 740 g (1.6 lb)
Canon 450D – 475 g (1.0 lb)

Despite its smaller size, the grip on the 450D is reported to be much better built than the older 400D / XTi and 350D / XT models, so this should go a long way toward making the camera feel more comfortable to hold.

Autofocus during LiveView mode
The 450D introduces an additional, contrast-detection Autofocus capability when you're shooting in LiveView mode. By pressing the AE lock button on the back of the camera, the 450D can focus the lens while continuously showing an image of the scene on the rear LCD. Focus is slower in this mode, but is nevertheless useful when you're composing for static objects while having the camera mounted on the tripod. See the video on this page which explains the Live View mode on the 450D. Like the 40D, the 450D also has the traditional mirror-down Autofocus where the focus acquisition is very much faster but requires the mirror in the body to come down causing a momentary loss of image on the LCD.

Shooting information on the rear LCD
The 450D instantly displays all the usual shooting information at the back of LCD. On the 40D, you would need to hit the "Info" button twice (or once if you change a setting) in order to view that information. Those who wear glasses swear that it's so much more functional and easier to view this data on a bright, clear 3-inch screen than squint at the small characters on the top LCD (which the 450D doesn't have but the 40D does). When you have your camera set up high on a tripod, it's also impossible to view the information on the top LCD so getting that same information on the rear screen is a strong benefit.

Multi-shot self timer mode
The 450D is the first digital SLR from Canon to have this feature. This allows you to capture multiple photos every time you activate the self-timer. Imagine being able to shoot a continuous series of group shots with yourself in it – very handy indeed for photographing such moments.

Additional resources

The Canon 40D Journal: Regular updates on the Canon 40D.

The Canon XSi / 450D / Kiss X2 Journal: Regular updates on the Canon XSi / 450D / Kiss X2.

Digital Photography Notes » Canon 450D / XSi

Canon XSi / 450D Price Watch and Availability

Monday, April 19, 2010

Typical accessories for the XSi / 450D

Price History Archive / Trend

Related Posts

Canon XSi / 450D vs Canon XS / 1000D

Canon XSi / 450D Advantages

Can be operated with a wireless IR remote

Bigger LCD

Greater resolution

Higher number of AF points

Better center AF point sensitivity

Better burst rate

Spot metering

14-bit vs 12-bit

HIghlight Tone Priority

Better VF

Canon XS / 1000D pros

Cheaper price

Related Posts

Canon XSi / 450D / Kiss X2 Tips

Download the latest Firmware Update (Version 1.1.0)

Related Posts

Wireless infrared remote triggers for the Canon XSi / 450D

Canon Wireless IR Remote Control RC-1 for Digital Rebel

Canon RC-5 Wireless IR Remote Controller

Phottix IR remote

FAQ

Which is better, a plug-in (wired) remote or an infrared (IR) unit?

Can the infrared remote work from behind the camera

Can you press the button halfway for autofocus with the infrared remote?

Can you remotely trigger a continuous burst of shots with an infrared remote?

Can you shoot BULB exposures with an infrared remote?

Related Posts

Review: Phottix IR remote for Canon XSi / 450D

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