12.2-megapixel CMOS sensor captures enough detail for poster-size, photo-quality prints
Large 3.0-inch LCD display; includes Canon's EF-S 18-55mm, f3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens
DIGIC III image processor provides fast, accurate image processing; improved Autofocus and framing rate
EOS Integrated Cleaning system, plus Dust Delete Data Detection in included software
Stores images on SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
Average
Customer Rating :
Customer Review :
Some points to consider when looking at DSLRs in this price range
If you're looking at the cameras in this price range, that means you're likely also looking at the Pentax K-x, Nikon D5000, Sony A500, Olympus E-620 and even, potentially, the Canon T1i.
If you're looking at DSLRs and you think video on your DSLR is something you actually want or will ever use, you best stop looking at the XSi and instead focus on the K-x, D5000 and T1i. The XSi offers NO video functionality.
If your hope is to not need to spend extra money on image stabilizing lenses, then buy the K-x or the E-620. All the above listed cameras besides these 2 require you purchase lenses with image stabilization which is an extra cost on the lens as it requires more glass. Of course, the way around the need for image stabilizing lenses is to use a tripod or a monopod.
If you don't want to buy lenses, well, then you had better stop looking at DSLR/SLR cameras all together and jump into point and shoot. There are a lot of nice models with really good quality pictures out there.
REMEMBER, WHEN BUYING A DSLR CAMERA, you aren't REALLY buying a camera; you're buying a lens system. What do I mean? Well think about it this way. You are spending money on a camera body, yes. But you're also spending money on lenses. Lenses that are NOT interchangeable (except the Olympus method that not many manufacturers jumped on and then you still have to buy lenses to their spec and you would need a replacement camera with the same capability). If you buy this body today and begin to purchase Canon lenses, you are investing in Canon for, most likely, the rest of your picture taking "career." The camera body is the inexpensive part in this whole endeavor and if you purchase a 55-250mm lens today, along with many others, you most certainly won't want to re-purchase these lenses when you inevitably have to upgrade the camera. And that's where DSLR/SLR camera manufacturers get you. It's like Gillette and their disposable razor heads.
So why then, given all the above, would one purchase the XSi over all the competition? Price is one factor. Image quality is another (the pictures this camera can take are nothing short of breathtaking, but that's all a matter of opinion, so this is just my opinion and not a statement of fact I can quantify). One more is lens quality. Canon (well, really all the above) have been making lenses for YEARS. And in the lens department Canon and Nikon stand above the rest.
Why did I purchase this camera? Well Canon has been around a long time and actually started the DSLR revolution with the original Rebel camera. Their cameras always stand well on their own. While they may not stand head and shoulders above every camera out there, they do a tremendous job of holding their own in the market. My father owns a Rebel XT and it's an amazing piece of kit for when it was made. I bought this one because the T1i supposedly has some photo aberrations usually attributed to the sensor size that actually captures the image being too small to really utilize the 15 MP picture it is taking.
The price is good, I bought a brand I know and I can share lenses with my father. That's why I bought this camera.
I realize this review is pretty jumbled. Instead of writing a full review, as there are many other reviews here that do a much better job than I describing technical and non-technical details, I decided to just put down things I was thinking about as I purchased my first DSLR.
Rating :
Good Camera for its price
I already own a D90 and just purchased it as a gift item. The camera performs very well in all preset modes . Its a very nice camera if you are just stepping into the SLR photography realm. I specially liked the High ISO performance of the camera. One thing that i was concerned about though was the Av mode which had problems calculating the Shutter speed at low light and the images were blurred. Not sure if the kit lens was the issue or if the issue is with the Av mode itself. Hence i had to use either Tv or M mode. Preset modes are great . Good camera for all starters...
Rating :
Best camera value for under $1500 new.
There really isn't a better deal out there under $1500, or at least under $1,000... under the canon/nikon lineup. After 7 months of use, I can say that this is one amazing camera. It has many of the functions that you get with the 50D. Unless you care about HD video or care about being able to do some major cropping to your photos, your best best for the $ is the XSi.
One thing to take note is that the noise levels are amazing. One step down from this camera and you get way too much noise. The 50D has very comparable noise levels. I shoot in a club at iso 1600, exposures without flash run into 1/2 second... noise reduced, they are still excellent quality.. even at 1:1 crops.
Also a note on buttons: If you care about using your camera quickly and usefully (unlike a point and shoot) DON'T buy any lower than this! Any step down is missing the shortcut hardware buttons. Why buy an slr, only to change settings in menus?? Sure it is still missing a few buttons, but you can set your own custom menu to help negate that drawback.
Metering is decent, you need to make sure to point at a more neutral object to get a good reading. With using the in-camera spot metering on a lastolite ezybalance gray card to get an exposure reading (then switching the camera from Aperture Priority, to Manual and inputing those settings read), the exposure is quite good.
No IR assist lamp, so you will have to use an external flash with flash firing turned off (assuming you don't want to use flash) to use its IR assist lamp to focus in the dark. The feature to turn flash firing off, while using the focus assist lamp, is missing on a lot of cameras - so watch out if this is something you are interested in.
Quality is great, noise levels are great, auto focus is pretty good, metering is ok, LCD is amazing (!), no IR assist lamp =(
Well I'd recommend you stop reading user reviews and go read some professional reviews from somewhere like dpreview, the-digital-picture, and steve's digicams. These are more opinion article-esk than factual professional comparisons.
Rating :
WOW! You can't go wrong with the XSi!
I've owned the camera for 1 week now, and WOW! This camera is simply incredible and the picture quality is outstanding!!! The kit lens that came with it is also impressive when used in bright/outdoor environments. (Some of my test outdoors pics and indoor pics with my window blinds open have been stunning.) However, the kit lens is a bit too slow for handheld photography in dark locations unless you use the flash.
For those of you new to photography, a "slow lens" is basically one in which the aperture does not open wide enough to collect the adequate amount of light in darker locations. Therefore, the shutter stays open longer until enough light has been collected. This also means that if your hand shakes, pictures snapped in dark enough settings will come out blurry. This is not exclusive to the XSi as slow lenses on any camera will produce similar results. If blurry indoor pics are not what you desire, you can correct this by using the flash, using a tripod, or...
BUY A NEW LENS! The XSi can use ANY Canon EF/EF-S lens on the market...and this includes "faster" ones as well!! With faster lenses (ie, f/1.8), soon you'll be shooting like a pro indoors also!
In the end, when considering its wide range of features, customizable flexibility, and it's picture quality, I think any rookie or seasoned pro would be delighted with the XSi.
Rating :
Excellent Entry level DSLR - Superb image quality
I bought the Rebel Xsi after I was extremely disappointed by the indoor image quality from my Nikon D60 with f>8.0. Where Nikon D60 failed miserably, the Rebel Xsi has been superb. I routinely take indoor group photographs with it with f8 or f11 at iso 400 (flash on) and they come out excellent!!! They are very sharp and have very good details, I don't even need to up the iso. I would have to give 5 starts to the sensor in this thing, it is just amazing!!!
The best camera's are the ones which shine in low light (indoor) and the rebel xsi's sensor gives it the ability to outperform anything else in this price range...
The other gr8 thing about the Xsi is that for another 90$ I was able to buy a gr8 portrait lens, the 50mm f1.8 prime lens. That thing is so fast that I do not need flash at all for taking potrait images of my kids. I love that lens!!!! ing. Overall I am very happy with this camera. The only annoying this it has is the flash strobe based AF assist vs Nikon's AF assist lamp. The flash based AF assist gives the subject's the wrong impression about when the picture is taken and is very annoying. Thankfully I have enough light in my house (where I take most of my indoor shots) that the flash AF assist is needed only about 10% of the time. I wanted to buy a speedlite to solve this issue + give me bounce flash etc., but the opteka speedlite turned out to be a waste of money (1 star) and the canon one (430 exII) is too much $$$ for me.
So for now I am just happy with the regular flash.... It gives good exposure most of the time (For potraits I focus on the faces and for groups pics I focus on darker clothes to get good exposure with the built in flash).
Also I only using center focus point 90% of the time as it is the fastest and most accurate.
5.8x AF-S DX Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens included
D-Movie Mode; Cinematic 24fps HD with sound
3-inch super-density 920,000-dot color LCD monitor
Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
Average
Customer Rating :
Editorial Review :
Fusing 12.3-megapixel image quality inherited from the award-winning D300 with groundbreaking features, the D90s breathtaking, low-noise image quality is further advanced with EXPEED image processing. Split-second shutter response and continuous shooting at up to 4.5 frames-per-second provide the power to capture fast action and precise moments perfectly, while Nikons exclusive Scene Recognition System contributes to faster 11-area autofocus performance, finer white balance detection and more. The D90 delivers the control passionate photographers demand, utilizing comprehensive exposure functions and the intelligence of 3D Color Matrix Metering II. Stunning results come to life on a 3-inch 920,000-dot color LCD monitor, providing accurate image review, Live View composition and brilliant playback of the D90s cinematic-quality 24-fps HD D-Movie mode.
Customer Review :
Great DSLR
I love it. Works great for me.
I have the 18-55 lens, works great. I have the 50mm prime lens, works really great. Especially in low light. see - [...] I have the 55-200 lens, works ok. Bad in low light and/or fast action. I wish it had auto focus in video mode and I wish the underwater housing for it was not so expensive.
Rating :
Love learning photography on this camera!
I love expanding my knowledge of photography and honing my skill with this camera! It's my first digital SLR. I was nervous about the purchase price but wanted a good camera. I felt I'd learned to maximize the capabilities of my Lumix DMC-TZ5 and wanted more functionality and manual control. My husband encouraged me, giving me the first few hundred to cover the cost. I decided to purchase the Nikon D90 after spending weeks looking at reviews, holding cameras, checking prices, shopping for accessories. It's been two months and I'm still very, very happy!
The camera feels great in my hand. It's just a little heavier than the Canon T1i, the grip seems a little deeper. It seems sturdy, professional. I'm not big on reading all the directions right away so it's nice that many of the controls are intuitive or easy to figure out after playing around a little while. I've successfully added and changed lenses, figured out what size filter is needed (67mm for the kit lens!), and installed the UV filter. I've shot photos with and without the LCD. I've tried multiple automatic and played with manual controls. I'm ready to read the manual and figure out what all those initials along the mode dial mean! I have a lot to learn about photography and I'm very happy to have the D90 to learn on!
It's possible I would also have been happy with a lower-end model DSLR like the Nikon D3000 or the Canon XSi, but every salesperson I spoke with (different days and different stores) suggested I'd be happier with the D90 because I wouldn't "outgrow" it after a few years. I think I'll be able to say that this camera is still "the one" for me five or seven years from now! As a youngster, I consistently photographed my dog and my family. I switched from a very basic 110 to a low-end 35mm. I later took advantage of a drug store refillable 35mm camera and had them make digital copies of everything. I was ecstatic that my husband had an awesome (at the time) high-end Nikon CoolPix with rotating lens (I think it was a 995). I used it constantly! We replaced it with one of the cutting edge (at the time - lol) compact digital cameras - a Casio Exlim. For years, I've been the only person from my family and my hubby's family that has photographed all birthdays, holidays, and special get-togethers. I'm constantly photographing my pets (white cats, tabby cat, blonde dog, tan dogs) and critters in the yard (some great bird, bee, caterpillar, squirrel, raccoon, lizards, oh my!).
Trial and error seem to have made me a little better photographer. I didn't want to study photography in detail, though, until I had a really good camera. The Nikon D90 is a really good camera! It makes me want to master all the basics and learn advanced techniques so my interest can really blossom!
If you can spend the money on this camera, I think you, too, will be very happy with your purchase!
Rating :
Maheba's Review
I am very happy with the purchase. The D90 works exceptionally effective and to my expectations. The picture quality is amazing and nothing like I have seen before from my own photographs taken.
Rating :
It makes me look like an experienced photographer
I purchased a Nikon D90 and received the Camera and 18-105 telephoto lens on December 23, 2010, and subsequently purchased an additional 70-300 telephoto lens and some filters and began taking pictures. The picture quality is excellent with either standard or fine quality and with the exception of taking a picture with too much backlight the quality of my 300 or so pictues are flawless. I usually set the shots to auto and let the camera do the work although the camera creates some great effects on aperature or shutter priority depending on focal depth or shutter speed sensitivity. I have used the camera for two months and will update with further comments as time goes on. In short it has been a great tool and will let you know how it performs over time. The D90 makes me look like an experienced photographer when I show my prints or view shots on my computer.
Rating :
Great camera - highly recommend
This camera has more features and capabilities than you will ever need! Fortunatley it takes great photos in automatic mode too! The 18-105 lens is useful for almost any situation. I also bought the 300 lens, but rarely use it. Before you buy a DSLR though, I suggest you consider how you will use it. My best photos are spontaneous pics taken with my Olympus Stylus 710 or Nikon Coolpix. I can always have one of these cameras with me, and can be taking pictures in an instant. The DSLRs are bulky and usually in the carrying case in the car or at home. It takes a few minutes to get it ready unless you already have it out on a picture-taking expedition. I always have one of the compacts with me, and the D90 nearby.
While you are buying, I suggest you go ahead and get a good carrying case or backpack, basic UV filter to protect the lens, and a lens cleaning kit. Also suggest you go for the larger memory card...8G plus if you can.
I almost went for the D5000 because it has some neat features not found on the D90, but at the end of the day I felt like the D90 was more robust, and had a better feel to it. I also considered the Canon TSi, but again felt the D90 was a better constructed camera. (the Canon lenses didn't seem to operate as smoothly or precisely as the Nikon's)
I've had my D90 for a little over a month, have taken lots of great photos, and do not regret spending the extra $!
10.2-megapixel DX-format imaging sensor for prints up to 20 x 30 inches
Includes 3x 18-55mm Zoom-Nikkor VR Image Stabilization lens
Nikon EXPEED image processing; in-camera image editing and Active D-Lighting
3.0-inch color LCD screen; 170-degree wide-angle viewing
Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
Average
Customer Rating :
Editorial Review :
10.2-megapixel effective recording * APS-C-size CCD image sensor (23.6 x 15.8 mm) * AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR (vibration reduction) lens (35mm equivalent focal length: 27-82.5mm) * 3X optical zoom (approximate) * 3" color LCD screen with brightness adjustment * optical SLR viewfinder (with diopter adjustment) * Integrated Dust Reduction System to keep image sensor clean for spotless photos * Nikon EXPEED image processor for responsive shooting and high-accuracy photos * 11-point autofocus system for rapid, precise autofocusing * 3D Color Matrix Metering II for accurate automatic exposure control, plus center-weighted and spot metering modes * Active D-Lighting mode for better shadow and highlight detail in high-contrast shooting conditions * intelligent pop-up flash and flash exposure compensation * Guide mode makes selecting camera settings easy for beginning SLR photographers * in-camera image editing functions, including: D-Lighting, red-eye correction, cropping, image overlay, monochrome settings, filter effects, NEF (RAW) processing, miniture effect, color outline, and stop motion movie *
Customer Review :
Buy the D5000 instead, I have owned both D3000 & D5000
The D3000 is pretty cheap, but I have owned both the D3000 and the D5000 (after returning the D3000) and I can safely say that the image quality is far superior on the D5000 in low light especially. I was amazed at the quality difference...for a little bit more money you can have excellent pictures instead of ok or unusable pictures.
Even at low ISOs, the D3000 systematically inserted horrible graininess in almost all my pictures. Even in RAW format the camera performed poorly.
Pretty much everything else about the camera I was very pleased with, including the price. However I bought this camera to take pictures, not to marvel at the features.
In summary, I highly recommend the Nikon D5000...and I highly recommend not wasting time or money on the D3000.
Rating :
Had it a little over a month, and I love my camera.
I've been debating between getting the Nikon d3000 and Canon XS. I never thought I would own anything other than a Canon because I was a long time Canon user. I wasn't really sure which way I would lean until I grabbed a hold of both of them in my hands at a store. I liked the way the Nikon felt in my hands. Canon just felt cheap. I've also considered Nikon d5000, but I wasn't ready to commit myself to paying that price tag for a few extras features for a beginner. For someone that is just delving into dslr and photography, I love it. I want to take photography classes so I can learn even more and improve my skills.
I get frustrated with the camera sometimes, but it's only because of my inability to understand what each function does and how to use it. I have more learning to do, which requires more patience. Now, I find myself going on random trips around Southern California just so I can take pictures and just use my camera. I take it everywhere. I know I would own this for years, but when that time comes it would be another Nikon (and it's not just because I have Nikon lenses). I love their quality. I've converted.
My only peeve, although minor, is that it doesn't have live view. I knew this going in. I thought it wouldn't be a problem because I do prefer the eye view finder, but I do take pictures with the point of view from the ground. Without live view, I really don't know what I'm taking a picture of, and I choose not to lay on the ground to find that out. I guess it will be trial and error for me and a surprise when I look at the pictures or suck it up and get down onto the ground.
Rating :
Poor Customer service
I love the camera. However, the lens can broken. When I contacted the seller, I was told that I needed to return the entire camare instead of just the lens. I didn't have time due to trip so I purchased a new lens locally and not it works just fine.
Rating :
Amazing!
This camera is amazing!! pictures are incredible!! easy to use! great for the price!!
Rating :
Amazing
I really liked my camera. I ain't an expert but I just loved! I can take really nice pictures with amazing quality. Really impressed! That's all.
3-inch super-density 920,000-dot color LCD monitor
Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
Average
Customer Rating :
Editorial Review :
Fusing 12.3-megapixel image quality inherited from the award-winning D300 with groundbreaking features, the D90s breathtaking, low-noise image quality is further advanced with EXPEED image processing. Split-second shutter response and continuous shooting at up to 4.5 frames-per-second provide the power to capture fast action and precise moments perfectly, while Nikons exclusive Scene Recognition System contributes to faster 11-area autofocus performance, finer white balance detection and more. The D90 delivers the control passionate photographers demand, utilizing comprehensive exposure functions and the intelligence of 3D Color Matrix Metering II. Stunning results come to life on a 3-inch 920,000-dot color LCD monitor, providing accurate image review, Live View composition and brilliant playback of the D90s cinematic-quality 24-fps HD D-Movie mode.
Customer Review :
Love my D90!
I had the D70s before and was looking for another camera, with more mps, so that my D70s would be a backup if something happened to the first. The D90 works almost exactly the same as the 70, so there wasn't much learning I had to do for it. It has twice as many mps and takes awesome pictures. I'm so happy with my two cameras!
Rating :
Wedding/Portrait Photographer
I would highly recomend this product for the advanced photographer. Great Little Camera with lots of features.
Rating :
Amazing Camera - Espectacular Cámara
It is a great camera with excellent features and the typical Nikon quality. It has multiple functions, simple and advanced, which makes it the perfect camera for both beginners photographers and amateur-advanced photographers. Highly recommended!
Es una gran cámara, con excelentes prestaciones y con la calidad típica de Nikon. Tiene multiplicidad de funciones -sencillas y avanzadas-, las cuales la hacen la cámara perfecta para tanto para fotógrafos principiantes como para aquellos aficionados avanzados. Recomendada plenamente!
Rating :
A LOT of camera for the cash
I've had the D90 for about a month and can't recommend it highly enough. My main camera for the last 4 years has been a Nikon D50. I also have an assortment of Nikon Af & af-d lenses, and I wanted to continue to use them (the D5000 lacks the necessary motor for the older lenses to autofocus). I shoot a lot of live theatre, and so low-light/high iso performance is important to me, and the D90 delivers extremely well up to 1600. Noise is well-controlled, and looks a lot like film grain. Once you learn how to mess around with the picture controls in the menus, jpegs can look stunning. Raw NEF files seem to need less processing after than the ones from my D50. The screen is big, bright & colorful. There are a ridiculous number of custom settings for almost every function, which means you can do a lot to configure the camera to the way you like to shoot. There are a lot of buttons & two wheels--almost too many controls--but with a little practice you can access almost any function you're likely to need in the act of shooting without menu-diving. I also do a lot of flash photography, and the highly-variable ISO control in conjunction with the ease of tweaking the white balance means a lot less time fixing color in Lightroom or photoshop.It also has Live View--but I'm not so crazy about that function. The autofocus in LV is slow, and taking a shot is noisy one loud click when the mirror gets out of the way, then the shutter, then the mirror jumping out of the way again (I think...). One other niggle: the multi-point autofocus doesn't work so well in low-contrast situations--ever since I changed it to the center point, I've never had a focus problem. I haven't shot any moving subjects yet, which is what it's designed for. I also haven't used the video function--newer cameras have much better implementation of this feature. In short: beautiful images, customizable, many pro features at a consumer price. Don't hesitate.
Rating :
perfect camera
For a beginner like me, this camera did help me alots in creating perfect pictures. The auto focus with the bundle lens is fast and accurate. No complaining
New compatibility with SDXC memory cards, plus new menu status indicator for Eye-Fi support
Average
Customer Rating :
Editorial Review :
18-megapixel effective recording * APS-C-size CMOS image sensor (22.3 x 14.9 mm) * EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens (35mm equivalent focal length: 28-90mm) * high-def movie mode with full-manual exposure and dedicated record button * 3:2 aspect ratio, high-res 3" LCD (1,040,000 dots) with Live View allows composing shots on-screen in real-time * optical viewfinder with diopter adjustment * integrated cleaning system keeps image sensor clean for spotless photos * DIGIC 4 image processor provides exceptional image quality and high-speed shooting * 9-point autofocus system for rapid, precise autofocusing * newly designed 63-zone metering system for accurate exposure * hot shoe for Canon EX-series Speedlite flash accessories * movie file formats: MOV (Video: H.264, Sound: Linear PCM) *
Customer Review :
Great Camera--far exceeds my expectations
Bought my camera from Adorama.com, shipped to FPO/AP. Had to wait for it to hit market, but shipping was very fast.
Some reviews I read say it feels plasticky like a toy. I did not like the feel of it that much UNTIL I put the accessory grip on it...and that sold it for me. I love this camera, and great value for what you get. Its like a miniature version of the 7D minus some of the more "professional" (traslation: complicated) features. I just paid 500 dollars for a professional photographer to take pictures at my wedding, and this camera takes far better pictures than than his camera (a Canon 20D). The kit lens is suprisingly good. However, I recommend getting a 100mm 2.8 or 1.4 EF lens...or even a wide 10mm or 18mm fixed lens. This camera would be a great choice for semi-professional photographers who already had some good lenses, or just beginners with the kit lens. I wish it had a more rugged body, but you can buy camera armor soon at camerarmor.com for less than 50 bucks. Again, I love this camera and would recommend it to anyone.
Rating :
Excellent photo camera! Video...hmmm
First, I have an extensive background in both photography and video. I was looking for a smaller camera to carry around that could also shoot video. When I heard about this one I thought it would be perfect and it is good, very good BUT its does have its issues... I will try to keep this short and to the point.
Pros:
1. Superb image quality in both photos and video. You don't need to worry about this.
2. Amazingly, the 18-55 kit lens turned out to be remarkably good. How good? Well, within the center area of the frame its as good as any L-lens out there. The average person would be hard pressed to tell the difference. Now, that's damn good for what it is! Where it begins to break down is in corners detail but this is to be expected. The focusing is also too noisy to use for video, IF you are recording sound.
3. The built in mic is also very good. Even on regular video cameras this is almost a universal weakness.
4. Light weight compared to the higher end Canon bodies.
Cons:
1. This is my biggest problem. I personally find the small body a lot more difficult to handle than the larger Canon cameras we have. Maybe I am just use to the larger bodies but they are a lot more natural and easier to work with. If you shoot pro or semi pro get the 7D just for this reason. The battery grip will help. I have small hands so I hate to think how it would feel with someone that has large hands. I would highly recommend you go somewhere and play with the T1i just to see how it feels in your hands.
2. My 2nd big disappointment is the video. The video quality is superb this is not the issue. Where the problem lies is in actually using the camera as a video camera. It has two big problems in this regard: the manual zoom and lack of auto focus. It is practically impossible to hold the camera steady and do a smooth zoom in or out. Panning and zooming at the same time is almost impossible. A regular video camera have electronic zoom controls that allows you to zoom in and out very smoothly. The other problem is lack of auto focus. Sure you can refocus manually but again very difficult to hold the camera steady and focus. Using the camera auto focus in video mode is possible but its really slow and the mic will pick up the noise from the lens as it hunts for the focus. For me, this means, the camera is more useful for recording short video clips not a full video shoot e.g. shooting a whole wedding. I don't feel it can replace a regular video camera as yet.
3. If you are use to the Pentaprism viewfinder in the higher end Canon bodies you will find the one in this one darker and not as clear. Its a little thing that the average person won't notice but again, if you are going to take a lot of photos it makes a difference.
One final note, for some reason, only the VLC player was able to play back the video files smoothly.
If you can live with the Cons. Its a great camera that offers image quality comparable to any high end Canon model.
Rating :
You can't get better than this for under $1000
I'm a frequent upgrader and loyal Canon fan. I traded up from an XSi last year to the T1i, and now this year to the T2i. I was within days of ordering the 7D until they announced the T2i, with all the features I wanted from the 7D at half the cost. I immediately pre-ordered the T2i and have been having some fun with it over the last 24 hours. The verdict so far? I am in love with this SLR.
I believe the last few iterations in the Rebel series have been comparable in quality. The T2i shares much of the same pros and cons with its predecessors, and ultimately, not too much has really changed. That said, the very minor things that did change were huge to me. I'm big into video, which is what got me looking into the 7D. Both the 7D and the T2i have the stereo audio input jack. My T1i just had the built-in mono mic which was unacceptable for someone who is doing more than home videos with this camera. So that feature, along with full manual control of video recording (not available in T1i), and 1080/24p (and 30p if that's your preference) makes this a common sense upgrade if you're serious about video. 720p/60 is also really cool for the silky smooth framerate, although I personally find the movie-like feel of 24p video best.
As for what the camera is really made for, still photography, it is still the king at (in the mid-entry-level DSLR class). 18 megapixels really, truly is more than any person really needs. My XSi from a couple years back met all my needs with 12mp, however, 18 creates for even better bragging rights to the general public. "How many megapixies is that thingy? Eighteen? OMG! You are such a pro!" Anyway, back on track now. The noise levels in most photos I've taken are pretty decent for 18 megapixels. It's comparable to the noise on the 15MP T1i from what I've experienced so far. 6400 ISO is now a default option instead of an expanded setting (12800 ISO still is), which is nice to have, though you'll hopefully never have to use it.
The kit lens is of course the same old 18-55 I've bought practically 5 times over now. A great budget lens and excellent value, but I absolutely can't go back to using it after buying some of the better lenses Canon has to offer. If the money's there, you will not regret investing another few hundred dollars some better glass. Otherwise, the 18-55 is a great lens to start out with.
Only major complaint I have is the white balance in incandescent lighting still isn't as accurate as I'd like. I also wish they kept the same LP-E5 battery so the two I already have would be compatible with both of my cameras. And a nitpick, the "Rebel" name is stupid, to be completely honest. It should be named "550D" as it is in the Europe market. SDXC support is cool, but I can't really comment on it as I'll be using SDHC cards for the foreseeable future. Oh, and the slightly redesigned buttons are a welcome change. A little more ergonomic than before.
In conclusion, if you're thinking about upgrading from a T1i, there isn't really a compelling reason to unless you are okay spending hundreds just for the sake of having the latest in gadgetry (what I do), UNLESS you are in it for the video support, which is AMAZING at this price point. You used to have to spend at least a couple thousand on a professional camcorder to get the kind of video support that you can now get in a consumer DSLR at a very reasonable price. Thanks, Canon! Oh, and amazon got it to me super fast too!
Rating :
A TERRIFIC CAMERA
Received my Canon T2i today (from Adorama Camera) and made a few observations and test shots. This camera is much like my Xsi with some very nice improvements. First, is the 3 inch LCD. With over one million dots, it's a thing of beauty. The first few images I made were clean and very sharp on the monitor. To my knowledge, it's the ONLY camera with over 920,000 dots. I did some test shots under dim room lighting indoors at ISO 6400 and found the noise unoticeable. I'm not a video fanatic and did not try out this aspect of the camera, but the engage button is in a prominent and convenient place. Just push it and it goes. The menu is clear and unconfusing, easy to navigate and unnesesary for most shooting. Like the Xsi, the camera is smallish in your hands and I found that the vertical battery grip gives you a firmer hold and is a handsome addition. It does add some weight but you get more shots per charge with the extra battery. I looked at the Nikon D3000 and D5000 cameras and felt they looked very amateur and cheap compared to the T2i. I think it's superior even to the more expensive 12.3 M.P. D90 too. With 18 Mp this camera should be great at very big enlargements or even severe cropping. All in all, I'm very glad I bought it and plan on taking it on a few trips this summer. I had been looking at bags for some time and finally settled on a Tamrac 5608. It will house my T2i and my Xsi as well and flash and lenses and all of the other stuff that you collect. It's a terrific camera and I can see why it sells out as quickly as it has. The T2i, like the Xsi is manufactured in Japan, not China or some straw hut in Indonesia. This might say something of the quality.
Rating :
I'm in love.
For the past 8 years I've been using a point-and-shoot Sony DSC-F717, which has served me quite well for what I was doing and actually had really good image quality. I've been following closely, over the past few years, the developments and price cuts of entry level DSLRs and am glad I waited this long! Once I noticed that manufacturers were adding video capabilities, I knew waiting a little while longer, until they got it just right, would pay off.
I'm thrilled with this purchase and as an amateur, of course, there is much to learn. Here are a few observations from using the camera for the past 2 days:
* RAW files from this camera not supported in OS X yet * MOV files created will test your computers speed * MOV files in 1080p will eat up ~330MB/min and use ~15mbit/s bitrate * Good starter lens, but I can already tell I'll want something to supplement it * Great fit and finish * Very light
Question : What Digital SLR camera do you recommend that is around the £300 mark?
That's around $500 (US Dollars)I've had a Ricoh GX200 over the past year, which I absolutely love. I've got used to all the Manual features on that, so think I'm ready to step up to a DIGITAL SLR.
Answer:
Hey,Digital SLRs for around 500$ or less, that I recommend, are:- Canon EOS XTi/400D- Canon EOS XS/1000D- Canon EOS XSi/450D- Nikon D40/D40x- Nikon D60- Nikon D3000- Pentax K-xI have an article on my blog called 'Which DSLR to buy', what's important, what's not, megapixels, brand, features, models etc. Here is the link - http://the-digital-photographer.blogspot.com/2009/11/what-dslr-should-i-buy.html
Question : Do all digital SLR cameras allow you to blur the background of a photo? What about shutter delay?
I know w/film SLR cameras you can blur the background; can you do the same w/all digital SLR cameras?Also do all digital SLR cameras allow you to take photos w/out a delay in the shutter?THANKS IN ADVANCE!
Answer:
Blur the background.. you're talking about depth of field? Yes, you should be able to do that with any digital slr; keep in mind though, if you are using autofocus, the camera is going to try to determine itself what you are trying to focus on. Switch to manual focusing and you can focus strictly on foreground objects, which should become blurred. The farther back they are, the more intense the blur. Different lenses will also affect this.As for the no delay in shutter speed, what do you mean exactly? That when you press the shutter button, the camera takes the picture instantaneously without having to think first? You just need to make sure the camera doesn't have any thinking to do before taking the picture - hold the shutter button in halfway to allow it to autofocus, then press fully when ready, OR switch to manual mode.
Question : Which is the best digital SLR camera and lens combination available within 500$?
I have used point and shoot cameras for 2 years and would love to graduate to digital SLR cameras.I would prefer a camera which is not too new in the market.
Answer:
I happen to like the E series digital SLR's from Olympus. At ten megapixel's, the camera's lens is astoundingly sharp and the whole enchilada will cost you well within your budget. Check some of the sites like B&H Photo. Be wary of kits that offer you a bunch of stuff you don't need. There's also a package deal with two zooms for the E-510. Great feeling camera in the hand as well.
Question : digital slr?
I'm somewhat of a newbie to cameras, but not as much as some. I have several point and shoot cameras, no digital slr's.what brand,make or model do you suggest to purchase,and why? I'm looking in the maximum of $700 before tax range.I was somewhat interested in the nikon d40x and the canon rebel xti (or something like that).What are your thoughts?
Answer:
Let me help you sort out the monotony that comes with buying a DSLR.Someone suggested the Sony Alpha or the Pentax K100D, citing the in-camera shake reduction. This would be a plus, but is really only a selling point. In truth, this shake reduction only provides around 2 stops difference. Also, on the Pentax K100D, this sucks away the battery life on a camera that runs on AA batteries. Yes, this is the only DSLR that runs on AA's, and hopefully will remain so. You see, the battery life is severely cut, giving you only around 400 pictures before they give out. My thing with the Sony Alpha are its less than good image quality at higher ISO's, and its tendency to over saturate.The Nikon D40x is an excellent camera for the money, and the best bang for your buck in its class; a title once held by Canon and the Digital Rebel series. The Nikon D40x has great image quality, excellent build and layout, and a supurb selection of lenses. Granted, non AF-S lenses will not auto focus. The reason being, Nikon took out the in camera motor. This seems like a major flaw, but when you think about it, it really was not. The Nikon D40 and D40x are designed for people who are moving up from point and shoots, who do not have any previous Nikkors, and who do not plan to buy any besides the 18-55mm kit or the 55-200mm extended kit. This is also why these cameras cannot be found with out the kit 18-55mm. This does not mean you cannot use the older screw driven Nikkors. You can still get that great quality, only you'll have to manual focus the lens. This sucks, I know, but it's easy to get use to. Besides, photographers have been manual focusing their lenses for well over a hundred years, and they continue to do this today; look at the $1000 Canon 65mm 1x-5 macro: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=155&modelid=7325 Yes, it's a manual focus, and a great lens, both optically and its all uses. Just look at it...!The Nikon D40x, like all Nikon cameras is very well built. This goes from the $550 D40 to the $5,000 D3. This has held true all the way back in the days of film. Canon on the other hand always feels "Cheap", that is plasticy and fragile. I don't care what anyone says, but the Digital Rebel series, the Rebel, the XT and the XTi all feel terrible. The 40D is much better, but still feels like a Canon-light and cheap. It really only really goes away with the supurb EOS 5D and the Mark series.One other thing that bring down Canon are its lenses. Unlike Nikon, whose lenses are stunning, Canon suffers from some optical flaws. Now, I love the way Canon USM lenses look and feel, but this is about it. Really, the optical quality does not get good until you lay out around $500. But the L series is where the optical quality become flawless. Overall, I would suggest the Nikon D40x. For so cheap and such great quality, why would you want to miss it? For Canon, you'll have to spend a lot more money to get the same quality. If you go with Canon, at least get the 40D and a good lens. Otherwise, you'll be disapointed.From what you've read, I might sound one sided with Nikon. Let me just say, this is how I feel, and from my own experiences with both Canon, Nikon, and Sony, Pentax, Mamiya, and others. If I use a Nikon, I know I get quality. If I use a Canon 5D and an L lens, I know I get quality as well. I would be crazy to say Canon is a bad company, as I would to say Nikon is. In truth, both make excellent products.Hope this helps.
Question : What kind of Digital SLR camera should i buy?
I want to get a digital SLR camera and planning on spending about $500, but i dont know which one i should get. I have been seeing XSi on some DSLR and some that don't have it on it. What does it mean? What is the better brand that i should get?
Answer:
you can consider buying Nikon D3000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lenshttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JCSV5I?ie=UTF8&tag=bestdeals-y-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&cr eative=390957&creativeASIN=B002JCSV5ICanon Rebel XS 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens# DIGIC III image processor provides fast, accurate image processing; Live View Function# EOS Integrated Cleaning system and Canon-designed Self Cleaning Sensor Unit, plus Dust Delete Data Detection in included softwarehttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CBKJGG?ie=UTF8&tag=bestdeals-y-20&linkCode=as2&camp=178 9&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001CBKJGGyou can find more options herehttp://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Fie%3DU TF8%26redirect%3Dtrue%26ref_%3Dsr%255Fnr%255Fn%255F0%26keywords%3Ddslr%26bbn%3D281052%26qid%3D126338 2072%26rnid%3D281052%26rh%3Dn%253A172282%252Ck%253Adslr%252Cn%253A%2521493964%252Cn%253A502394%252Cn %253A281052%252Cn%253A3017941&tag=bestdeals-y-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957
Question : Do you know of a digital slr camera that can attach old lens from non digital slr camera?
I know generally the camera has to be of the same brand; ie. Canon lens for a Canon camera. I was just wondering does anybody know of a digital slr camera that can do this. If not, maybe you can tell me which camera you have and if it is good or not.Thanks alot.
Answer:
All Pentax DSLRs can use any pentax lens EVER made.Also the IS thing the guy below mentioned. However, keep in mind that old Pentax lenses were made for 35mm SLRs, the equivalent to full frame cameras today. Pentax doesn't have full frame cameras yet, so images'll be cropped.
Question : What digital slr camera is best for amateur photographers?
I really want a digital slr camera, but I don't want to spend a fortune, I've been looking at used ones, and refurbished but they're all so expensive! I've been manly looking at getting a canon EOS rebel xs. Is that a decent camera? I currently have a canon regular digital camera and I love it.
Answer:
With DSLR's your buying into a system and Canon is far and away the most expensive, closely followed by Nikon.Pentax, Olympus and Sony have many more features. They may be more expensive initially, but a soon as you start adding lenses, flashguns etc. they work out much cheaper for the same or Higher quality. You finish with a much more useful system for less money.Things to look for are a bright viewfinder, good build quality, adjustments of everyday things such as EV value, focus point, metering mode etc. without having to go into a menu. These are basic to using your camera for anything other than 'point and shoot'.Pentax and Sony offer image stabilisation in camera, so every lens you fit is image stabilised without a price premium. Pentax in particular have a massive range of older high quality lenses available for very little, all will be image stabilised.A second hand Pentax DS, which is now 5 years old, would be available at a lower price than a Nikon D40 or Canon Rebel, and is much more of a camera than either of them, it has a genuine pentaprism in the viewfinder which means a brighter image, much better build quality, the same Sony sensor that was used on the Nikon D80. The only downside is the lack of image stabilisation. Like all Pentax DSLR's it can operate as a 'focus trap' which no other make of DSLR can do.Chris
Question : What digital SLR camera would you recommend for a beginner?
I am 15 and have never photographed professionally before (apart form my 2.0 mega pixel phone camera) but I really want to startI would like a Digital SLR camera but my budget is only £140 - I wouldn't mind getting it second hand but you never know on the internet whether sources are trustworthy. Ideally the camera should be small and lightweight (and not too breakable!!) It doesn't even need to be SLR but I would like it to be good qualityWhat would you recommend?
Answer:
If you are just starting out and want to learn about photographic techniques there's no real benefit in jumping into DSLRs straight away...........unless someone offers you a real bargain.I would suggest you get some experience with a compact camera that has manual controls - aperture priority, shutter priority and fully manual. This will help you understand the importance of aperture, shutter speed etc. but you'll also be able to experiment with white balance ISO sensitivity and other variables.There aren't too many compacts that have fully manual controls but a delve into a variety of camera websites such as Steve's Digicams, DP Review and Cameralabs should provide you with some likely candidates.With your budget you might struggle to get the latest and greatest models but shop around. I picked up a Canon Powershot SX120 IS for just a little bit more than your budget which is a pretty new camera and has full manual options plus a 10x zoom and image stabilisation. I use it as a "take anywhere" camera and as a backup for my Nikon DSLR.
Question : What is a Digital SLR Camera and a compact digital with overrides?
I'm going to take a basic photography class at the local college and the class requires a SLR or compact digital with overrides. How do I know if my camera has these features.I have a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ2 digital camera that was purchased in 2005. The camera has optical image stabilization, which alleviates camera shake problems. The camera lacks manual control over shutter speed and aperture and has no optical viewfinder. This is all I know about the camera.
Answer:
Your camera then does not qualify. The overides mean that you can control the shutter speed, aperture and ISO. Since you can't it does not meet the standard. I would look at an entry level DSLR like a Canon Rebel XS or XSi or a Nikon D40 or D60. Prices will start at about $500 with a lens.
Question : what would be a good digital slr camera for a beginner?
I am interested in photography as a hobby and I am just a beginner. What would be a good digital slr camera to start out with? I don't want something too cheap but it doesn't have to be fancy either.
Answer:
OK here is my short answer. for digital I have a Nikon D40 and I love it. The D40 has a full manual mode, Flexible progam, aperature priority, shutter priority modes. These are the same modes on all DSLR. It also has several other programed modes for things like portrait, night, children etc. As a photographer improves and learnds to use metering better these additional modes seldom get used so they are usually found on the more amature cameras and seen as not needed on the professional cameras. I feel I have a fair amount of experience as a photographer and it performs well for me but I can give it to my 12 y/o grandson if set on program and he can get good usable pictures as well. His photography is improving as he is already learning to use many of the functions himself ( yes I'm a proud granpa) . I also would not get caught up in the megapixel hype and instead look at the entire sensor issue. Look at the article I linked below The D40 will do everything a beginner to intermediate photographer needs at a great price. It comes with an 18-55 lens. It will let you use any other money to buy more accessories. And by the time you outgrow it cameras will have advanced to the point that most of what is on the market now would be obsolete. I bought a D300 last year and only had a it a few months when the D700 came out. The canon would also serve you well but I am a Nikon person so I suggest them. I have friends that are very happy with thier canon's and take great photos. You will have others that like Pentax and Olympus and they are not bad cameras but if they were in the same ballpark you would see many more professional photographers use them
