Canon EOS Rebel XSi DSLR Camera Body

The Canon EOS Rebel XSi DSLR Camera Body (also known internationally as the EOS 450D), released in January 2008, succeeded the Rebel XTi, giving consumers an unprecedented level of image quality and versatility at this end of the DSLR market.

At the core of the Rebel XSi is a 12.2-effective-megapixel CMOS sensor (22.2 x 14.8mm) paired with Canon’s DIGIC III image processor, offering 14-bit analog-to-digital conversion for finer, more accurate tonal gradation, with an ISO range of 100-1600. Autofocus uses a 9-point wide-area AF system with an f/2.8 cross-type center point, delivering approximately a 30% speed improvement over the Rebel XTi’s AF system, along with support for One-Shot, AI Focus, and AI Servo focus modes. Continuous shooting reaches 3.5fps, with a buffer holding up to 53 JPEGs or 6 RAW frames.

Metering adds a new Spot mode (covering 4% of the viewfinder) alongside the existing 35-zone TTL Evaluative, Partial (9%), and Center-weighted patterns, giving more experienced photographers finer exposure control. The shutter offers speeds from 30 seconds to 1/4000 second plus Bulb mode, with flash X-sync at 1/200 second. A notable new feature for this generation is Live View shooting, letting photographers compose directly from the rear LCD rather than relying solely on the optical viewfinder.

Handling centers on a larger 3.0-inch LCD screen (approximately 230,000 dots), a meaningful step up from the Rebel XTi’s 2.5-inch display, along with an eye-level pentamirror optical viewfinder offering approximately 95% coverage and 0.87x magnification. Picture Style settings continue to offer direct in-camera control over color, contrast, and sharpening, and images are saved in JPEG or 14-bit RAW (.CR2) format, with simultaneous RAW+JPEG recording supported, in both sRGB and Adobe RGB color spaces.

Build quality includes the EOS Integrated Cleaning System with a self-cleaning sensor unit, and the camera switched storage media from CompactFlash to SD/SDHC memory cards, a first for Canon’s Rebel line. The Rebel XSi measures approximately 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.4 in. (128.8 x 97.5 x 61.9mm) and weighs approximately 18.4 oz. (522-524g), slightly larger but lighter than its predecessor, and connects via USB 2.0 Hi-Speed. The camera uses Canon’s EF/EF-S lens mount, giving it full compatibility with Canon’s EF and EF-S lens lineup.

Key Features
– 12.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor with DIGIC III processor
– 14-bit A/D conversion
– ISO 100-1600
– 9-point wide-area autofocus system with f/2.8 cross-type center point
– Up to 3.5fps continuous shooting (53 JPEG / 6 RAW buffer)
– Shutter speed range of 30 sec to 1/4000 sec plus Bulb; 1/200 sec flash sync
– Evaluative, Partial, Spot, and Center-weighted metering
– Live View shooting (new for this generation)
– 3.0″ LCD (230,000 dots)
– Eye-level pentamirror viewfinder (~95% coverage, 0.87x magnification)
– JPEG and 14-bit RAW (.CR2) capture; simultaneous RAW+JPEG recording
– sRGB and Adobe RGB color space support
– EOS Integrated Cleaning System (self-cleaning sensor)
– SD/SDHC memory card storage
– USB 2.0 Hi-Speed connectivity
– Compact, lightweight body (approximately 522-524g)
– Canon EF/EF-S lens mount