Canon EOS 450D brief 'Hands on'

[boredphuck]

Canon EOS 450D brief 'Hands on'

The EOS 450D (Rebel XSi) is the latest incarnation of Canon's hugely popular entry-level digital SLR. Since the launch of the first truly affordable digital SLR (the EOS 300D) in late 2003 Canon hasn't tinkered too much with the basic concept, but each revision has seen a gradual 'beefing up' of the rather paltry feature set of the 300D (which was intentionally crippled to avoid cannibalizing sales of more expensive models).




After the slightly limp reception given to the 400D, which was seen by many as a rather uninspired upgrade, it's perhaps inevitable that its succesor is a much more significant - though still very conservative - step forward. Canon was never going to re-invent the wheel; the 400D and its predecessors have been best-sellers since the range was introduced, and contribute a significant amount to the company's botton line.

Thus the 450D is about refining features (and the list of improvements is impressive), improving image quality and speed of operation and, naturally of course, adding Live View (with contrast detect autofocus as an option).

We'll be publishing a fullly detailed preview (and of course a review) in due course, but for today here's a quick run-down of some of the new features and design changes.
Side-by-side: EOS 450D (Rebel XTs) and EOS 400D (Rebel XTi)
The 450D is a fractionally larger camera than the 400D, which gives it space for a larger screen. The flash bulge is also home to a larger viewfinder.

The larger screen at the back of the 450D is the most immediately obvious change but the differences run a lot deeper than that. Let's take a look at the key changes:

    * 12.2 megapixel CMOS sensor
    * SD/SDHC cards
    * Larger viewfinder
    * Live view mode, including contrast-detect AF
    * Improved 9-point AF system
    * Spot metering
    * 3.0" LCD monitor
    * Redesigned menus (including My Menu as seen in 40D)
    * Slightly redesigned info display
    * Continuous shooting at 3.5fps for up to 53 JPEG (6 RAW)
    * ISO setting displays in viewfinder and ISO button
    * New, larger, higher capacity battery
    * 14 bit A/D converter and processing
    * Multi-shot self-timer mode
    * Highlight Tone Priority (from 40D)
    * Auto Lighting Optimiser (boosts shadows after shooting)

As well as the "bigger, faster, more!" changes that new models tend to bring (more pixel-dense sensor, larger screen, faster continuous shooting), there are a host of alterations that will appeal to photographers as well as the tech-heads and gadget lovers. The viewfinder is now nearly as big as the one that graced Canon's 30D (The 450D uses mirrors rather than a ground glass prism, but also costs around half the 30D's launch price). It also gains spot-metering - a first for one of Canon's baby DSLRs. Neither of these improvements will shift units by looking sexy on in-store displays but will make the photographic experience more pleasant for anyone willing to venture away from auto mode.

The 450D also adds this season's "must-have" feature - live view. We've had a play with an early sample of the 450D and the large screen shows a bright, clear preview image (though our sample seemed a bit laggy due to a relatively low frame rate). One useul option is the ability to switch from phase detect AF (with the usual mirror flipping wig-out every time you re-focus) to a more user-friendly, though slower contrast detect autofocus sytem (using the sensor). It works, though as we're playing with a beta camera we'll reserve judgement on the speed of operation. Unlike the Panasonic L10 the contrast detect AF system works with any Canon AF lens.
All-change on cards & power
   
450D is the first Canon DSLR to use SD cards    It also has a new larger capacity battery.





Existing Rebel owners thinking of upgrading are most likely to be affected by the change of memory format and battery type (the first new EOS battery in a long time). Of course, the price of memeory cards has dropped so much that changing formats it not the intimidating barrier it once was. They both offer advantages for the first-time DLSR buyers that will make up most of the market for this camera, particularly those with SD-compatible compacts.

Many of the remaining differences between this model and its predecessor are little detailed things that users have been asking for: ISO displayed in the viewfinder, spot metering, an ISO button you can reach with the camera to your eye. There has also been some satisfaction in the office that it beeps, rather than shutting down, if you accidentally open the memory door. It'll be interesting to find out whether these tweaks, tricks and treats are enough for the EOS 450D to retain its position at - or near - the top of the entry-level DLSR tree; first impressions are certainly very positive.
Handling





Although you can't really see it when looking from above the EOS 450D's grip has been redesigned slightly, and it's a big improvement, though we'd still rather use the camera with the optional battery grip attached. The overall handling and ergonomics have been improved slightly, though again, this isn't a major redesign.

[Nick]

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=NewProductsAct&fcategoryid=101

[victor]

why use SD card???sian!!!

[boredphuck]

Canon 450D / XSi: What's new and changed



In our brief hands-on look at the Canon 450D we highlighted the new features the 450D offers over the 400D. We've now had a bit more of a look through them so that we can bring you some more details and respond to the questions we're seeing asked.



12 megapixel CMOS sensor
The 450D features a new, 12.4 megapixel sensor. It has 12.2 million effective pixels. Further down the line, the A/D converter is capable of relaying 14 bit information to the camera's image processor or as a 14-bit RAW file. This should, in theory at least, offer smoother gradation steps in the final images.



SD / SDHC Card
This is also the first entry-level Canon DSLR to use the Secure Digital format. It's a popular format with the compact digital camera owners Canon will be hoping to lure into DSLR ownership. SDHC is now available in similar sizes and speeds to the CF format used by the 300D, 350D and 450D.



Larger viewfinder
A big step forwards for Canon's entry-level DSLR is the larger viewfinder. It's unlikely to be as bright as the ones found in Canon's XXD models because it uses mirrors, rather than a glass prism but in terms of magnification (size), it's almost on a par with the 30D which was a considerably more expensive camera. It's unusual to see viewfinder specs mentioned when comparing DSLRs but they can make a really big difference to usability.



Live view
The 450D becomes the latest DSLR to include a live view mode. It includes a slow but potentially very accurate contrast detection AF method, which can be made the default for Live view. [Using this custom function]. It also offers an optional live histogram to help with exposure and an' Exposure Simulation' indicator to confirm when the view on the screen represents the brightness of the final image.



Spot metering
A regular criticism of Canon's Rebel range has always been the lack of a spot metering mode. Spot metering is a tool that many photographers find invaluable, particularly when setting manual exposures in difficult-to-capture high contrast scenes. Previously only available on XXD-level cameras, we're delighted to see spot metering appear on the 450D (central 4% of the frame).



Multi-shot self-timer mode
The 450D gains the ability to take multiple shots each time the self-timer is used. If you're trying to appear in a group shot and don't want to have to keep running back to the camera, it could prove a really useful feature.



3" LCD
One of the most obvious external differences between the 450D and its predecessor is the inclusion of a huge 3 inch LCD screen. It's got the same number of pixels as the one on the 400D (which means it's actually lower resolution), but, considering it doubles as the camera's settings screen, the extra size should be useful.



Verification data
The 450D adds the "original decision data" option that cropped up on the 40D. This appends a piece of data in the image file, based on certain aspects of the original image. This data would no longer correspond if the image were changed, allowing users to prove the veracity of an image. (Which requires the OSK-E3 security kit)

[hwchoy]

why use SD card???sian!!!

I think SD has faster write speeds?

[boredphuck]

Auto Lighting Optimizer
A feature that is starting to appear on the majority of DSLRs being announced is something along the lines of Canon's 'Auto Lighting Optimizer.' This processes photos after they've been taken to try to correct contrast and brightness to optimize the image.



Highlight Tone Priority
Another feature that made its first appearance on the 40D is 'Highlight Tone Priority' alters the way that the camera meters a scene so that it captures and retains more information in the bright areas of the image but risks more noise in the shadows.



High ISO noise reduction
Another feature trickling down from the 40D is the option to add an extra level of noise reduction when shooting at the camera's highest sensitivity settings. Comes at the expense of continuous shooting speed so has been made optional.



14-bit A/D converter
The 450D's DIGIC III processor handles the sensor's data in 14-bit. Whether this makes any difference away from the spec-sheet is something we'll see when we get the chance to conduct more extensive testing.



Improved 9-point AF system
Although we've not had a chance to test the changes, Canon is claiming the AF system has been revised in the XSi / 450D. Certainly the AF chip appears to be different to the one we showed in the 400D review.



Larger, higher capacity, battery
The 450D departs from its predecessors by using a new battery. The new, larger, battery has a capacity of 1080mAh, rather than 720mAh. This will be particularly useful given the greater power demands that live view brings.



My Menu
Another feature inherited from its older brother, the 40D, is My Menu. This lets users group their most-used menu items into a personal list, for easy access. It's a feature we found surprisingly useful.



Revised user interface
The status display has been freshened-up and is slightly easier to read. There are now four color schemes available. The 450D also gains the ability to show Speedlight settings on the screen for people working with external Canon flashguns.



ISO in viewfinder
As well as making the viewfinder larger, Canon has found room to fit additional information into the viewfinder information bar. This, along with the sensibly-placed ISO button, gives you fewer reasons to have to take the camera away from your eye when shooting, which we applaud.



New battery grip
Along with the restyled body comes a new battery grip. The BG-E5 gives the option of taking two of the new LP-E5 batteries or 6 AA batteries, using a different slot-in insert. The grip fills the battery bay so these are instead of, not in addition to the normal battery.

[thomssi]

I think SD has faster write speeds?

Not that I'm aware of.

They are harder to break (camera pins rather than the cards) and anyone switching from a P&S most likely has them.

[Michael]

CF cards still remain larger capacity at faster speeds lei   

[victor]

CF cards still remain larger capacity at faster speeds lei   

SD is catching up, at 3.5FPS....no need to fast speed!

[acky3000]

battery grip on 3 digit series is like putting a jet engine inside a VW Beetle.



looks good, does nothing very very useful.

[Michael]

wtf