Canon's newest top Rebel boasts a 12.2MP CMOS sensor and a live view shooting mode.
(Credit: Canon)
Editor's note: This blog has been updated to reflect new information from Canon regarding the number of JPEGs the Rebel XSi can shoot in a single burst.
Canon fans looking for an update to the 5D will have to wait a little longer it seems, since the company just announced an update to the entry-level XTi as its big PMA SLR news. You shouldn't be disappointed, though, since the new Rebel XSi makes a good showing in the entry-level dSLR category. The XSi has a 12.2-megapixel APS-C size (1.6x field of view conversion factor) CMOS sensor, 14-bit A/D conversion to allow for more possible color gradations when shooting RAW, a Live View shooting mode with contrast detection autofocus so the camera doesn't have to lower the mirror to focus in that mode, and (some might say finally) a 4 percent spot meter.
A 3-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD provides a nifty screen with which to frame shots in Live View mode, though it's not quite as versatile as the articulated screens found in Panasonic's DMC-L10 or Olympus' higher-end E3. As in its predecessor, sensitivity ranges from ISO 100 to ISO 1,600. I was hoping Canon would at least push that up to ISO 3,200 this time out, but since their competitors haven't pushed their entry-level SLRs that far yet, we can't hold that against Canon too much. It does say that the Digic III processor in the Rebel XSi, along with the high-ISO noise reduction inherited from the high-end EOS 1D Mark III and large microlenses over each pixel, should make for lower noise at higher ISOs when compared with previous Rebels. We'll have to wait and see once we get a review sample, though we were quite impressed with the noise profile of the 1D Mark III.
With its bigger 3-inch screen, the XSi demanded a different button layout than its predecessor, the Rebel XTi.
(Credit: Canon)While the Rebel XSi sticks with a nine-point autofocus system with the same placement as the XTi, Canon says it's using a new AF sensor in the XSi that the company claims will improve subject detection compared with previous models. The center AF point uses a cross-type sensor that provides enhanced performance with lenses that have a maximum aperture of f/2.8 or faster. That doesn't help much with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (image stabilized) lens that comes with the kit, but if you decide to buy one of Canon's fancier lenses in the future, it may come in handy. However, lenses with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 tend to be expensive and aren't what I'd expect a Rebel XSi owner to buy, with the possible exception of specialty lenses, such as a macro. On a positive note, it is nice to see Canon include an IS lens in its entry-level kit, since some of its competitors now include sensor-shift IS in their entry-level dSLRS. It was also pleasing to see that Canon increased the viewfinder magnification to 0.87x from the XTi's 0.8x.
Soccer moms should like the fact that the Rebel XSi is the fastest Rebel to date, able to pop off 3.5 frames per second for up to 53 large/fine JPEGs or up to 6 RAW images. Strangely, that's a step up from the XTi's maximum of 27 large/fine JPEGs, but a step down from the XTi's 10 RAW frames per burst. According to Canon, this increase in JPGs comes from the Digic III processor's ability to process JPGs significantly faster than the processor found in the Rebel XTi, while the decrease in RAW images is due to the increased resolution of the XSi's sensor.
The camera also includes the same Highlight Tone Priority mode found in the 1D Mark III, which helps preserve detail in the brightest portion of a scene. Also, the XSi includes Canon's Auto Lighting Optimizer, which automatically adjusts contrast and brightness in case the image you captured isn't quite perfect. Introduced last year in the 40D, the Auto Lighting Optimizer is now available in all exposure modes and employs face detection to prevent underexposure of backlit faces. That's nice, since underexposed backlit subjects was one of Lori Grunin's gripes about the Rebel XTi.
As you might expect, there's not much room to spare inside the new Canon Rebel XSi.
(Credit: Canon)Unfortunately, Canon didn't address one of my big gripes with the XTi-- its lack of a dedicated status LCD. Instead, the XSi sticks with the lone 3-inch screen, which doubles as a status display and automatically shuts off when you raise the camera to your eye, thanks to a sensor just below the optical viewfinder. If you're not careful when you switch lenses, you'll like that Canon kept the Integrated Cleaning System in the XSi. It shakes the sensor so that any loose dust falls away from the low-pass filter in front of the sensor and is held on an adhesive strip in the bottom of the camera.
In case that's not enough, you can have the camera map any persistent specks so the Digital Photo Pro software that comes with the camera can remove the resulting spots in your image. In case you want to risk cleaning your sensor yourself, the camera can also hold the mirror up so you can reach into the body and risk scratching the low-pass filter while you try to remove any particles.
Joining the growing number of dSLRs that record to SD instead of Compact Flash cards, the XSi will record its images to SD or higher-capacity SDHC cards. For users stepping up from a compact camera this may be convenient, though previous Rebel owners looking to step up will likely have to run out and buy some SD cards. Remaining specs are in line with the previous Rebel. For example, shutter speeds range from 30 seconds to 1/4000 second with a flash sync speed of 1/200 second and the camera employs a 35-zone TTL metering system. Canon plans to offer the Rebel XSi both as a body only ($800) and as a kit with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5/6 IS lens ($900). Both should be in stores by this April and it should be noted that the Rebel XSi will be available in silver and black finishes and Canon will also offer the BG-E5 battery grip for the new camera.
On Sale Now: $479.95 - $638.00
View the latest prices for Canon EOS Rebel XSi (body only, black)
On Sale Now: $599.00 - $999.95
View the latest prices for Canon EOS Rebel XSi (with 18-55mm lens, silver)
On Sale Now: $549.95 - $649.99
View the latest prices for Canon EOS Rebel XSi (with 18-55mm lens, black)
On Sale Now: $489.00 - $495.95
View the latest prices for Canon EOS Rebel XSi (body only, silver)
(Credit:
Canon)
Been waiting to pull the trigger on a digital-SLR camera? Wait no more: Dell has the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT--by all accounts a fantastic model--for $382. Considering that this baby sold for upwards of $900 when it debuted a couple years ago, it's pretty much a steal at that price.
Specs include an 8-megapixel sensor, 7-point auto-focus, and loads of fancy photographic features that, quite frankly, I don't pretend to understand. I can tell you that I bought an original Digital Rebel several years back, and I absolutely lurve it. (I won't, however, tell you what I paid for it, because it would kill my cheapskate cred. Sometimes, you just gotta splurge.)
Before you get too crazy with excitement, note the two catches: This deal is for the camera body only, so you'll have to buy a Canon-compatible lens if you want to, you know, take pictures. Second, the product page says the Rebel XT usually ships in 3-5 weeks, so it might be tricky to get this in time for under-the-tree duty.
Update: The product page now says 1-2 weeks, so it might just make it into Santa's bag after all.
Update #2: My mistake. The ship time is indeed 3-5 weeks. The links got messed up; they've been corrected. Apologies!
Olympus highlights the E-3's splash-proof design.
(Credit: Olympus America)Olympus shipped its first interchangeable-lens dSLR, the pro-level E-1, in the fall of 2003. Four years is a long time to wait for a new model, especially given the rapid pace of technological change in the dSLR category and a cast of photographic characters hungry for the latest and greatest to help boost their earnings potential. Consumers buying their first (and perhaps even second) dSLRs will follow where great technology leads, but pros must commit to a camera system that includes lenses and flashes. Once they've moved on, it takes more than just a snappy shutter and flashy LCD to lure them back.
That's a big burden to place on the shoulders of the new E-3.
It helps that the camera isn't a hardcore pro model; at $1,700 (body only) it's priced and suited for entry-level professionals and wannabes. But it will compete directly with the Nikon D300, which has an obvious growth path and huge accessory system behind it.
How do the E-3's specs stack up? First, here's an overview:
| Alpha DSLR-A700 | Olympus E-3 | Nikon D300 | |
| Sensor | 12.2-megapixel CMOS 23.5 x 15.6mm |
10.1-megapixel Live MOS 17.3 x 13.0 mm |
12.3-megapixel CMOS 22.2 x 14.8mm |
| Sensitivity range | ISO 100 - ISO 6400 | ISO 100 - ISO 3200 | ISO 200 - ISO 6400 |
| Focal-length multiplier | 1.5x | 2.0x | 1.5x |
| Continuous shooting | 5 fps 8 (Extra fine) or unlimited (Fine) JPEG |
5 fps unlimited JPEG |
6 fps 100 JPEG |
| Mechanical image stabilization | Yes | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 95% coverage 0.90x magnification 25mm eye point interchangeable matte focusing screen 2 optional focusing screens |
100% coverage 1.15x magnification 20mm eye point changeable to grid matte at service center |
100% coverage 0.94x magnification 19.5mm eye point fixed matte focusing screen with optional gridlines |
| Autofocus | 11-pt AF two cross-type sensors in center (one f/2.8) |
11-pt AF all cross-type (aperture info unavailable) |
all cross-type to f/5.6 |
| Live View | No | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless flash controller | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| LCD size | 3 inches/307,200 pixels | 2.5 inches/230,000 pixels | 3 inches/307,200 pixels |
| Shutter durability | 100,000 cycles | 150,000 cycles | 100,000 cycles |
| Price (body only) | $1,499 | $1,699 | $1,799.95 |
Olympus E-3 back
(Credit: Olympus America)So, it uses the same 10-megapixel Live MOS sensor as the Panasonic DMC-L10. Personally, I crop a lot and tend to print at 13x19, so that resolution disappoints me a bit. The full 11 cross-type AF sensors, with slightly offset focusing points, sounds like it should provide a fast focusing system when shooting both horizontally and vertically, but only testing will tell. That goes triple for Olympus' claim that the image stabilization system can deliver up to 5 stops latitude, which the company says is more applicable to long, heavy lenses.
The rest looks pretty encouraging, however. It offers a few things the D300 doesn't: a splash-proof (and dust-proof) design; built-in, independent x/y sensor-shift stabilization; huge viewfinder; and a flip-out display, which (to me) improves the usefulness of Live View mode from "so what?" to "Whoa, yeah!" In addition to a standard 2 percent spot meter, the E-3 also offers high-key and low-key spot meter options, which will meter at something other than 18 percent gray to boost highlights or shadows. And you'll be able to set the matrix metering system to evaluate its 44 points worth of data in a spiral or loop scheme. It all sounds nice and whizzy, but just how useful these really are remains to be seen.
For all you strobers, the E-3 also includes an impressive-sounding flash system. It includes a built-in wireless flash controller that can support three flash groups of four channels each. Maximum X-sync speed is 1/250 second and there's a super FP (focal plane) mode which enables sync speed up to 1/8,000 sec.
New Olympus Four Thirds lenses
(Credit: Olympus America)
Without lens announcements trailing it like a caboose, a new dSLR camera announcement just wouldn't be the same. Four with the Zuiko Digital ED brand follow the E-3:
- f2.8-4.0 12mm-60mm SWD (Supersonic Wave Drive)
24mm-120mm-equivalent; $999.99; available November 2007 - f2.8-3.5 50mm-200mm SWD
100mm-400mm-equivalent; $1,199.99; available December 2007 - f2.0 14-35mm SWD
28mm-70mm-equivalent; $2,299.99; available Q1 2008 - 2x Teleconverter EC-20
$479.99; available December 2007
Olympus hasn't indicated whether or not it's planning to sell a kit version of the E-3. If so, it certainly won't include any of these rather pricey optics.
I don't know for certain, but I doubt there are hordes of E-1 owners who've tenaciously spurned all dSLR suitors while waiting for Olympus to release a new pro model. Then again, for those who invested in the Four Thirds lenses, the E-3 is likely a momentous release. Once we've got one in for evaluation, we'll let you know if it was worth the wait--or too little, too late.
On Sale Now: $1,060.95 - $1,699.95
View the latest prices for Olympus E-3 (body only)
Canon EOS 40D
(Credit: Canon USA)Whether you're in the market for a professional high-resolution heavyweight or a feather light ultracompact, Canon's got you covered with one of the 8 new models on its Fall lineup.
Shipments of digital cameras jumped 22 percent in the second quarter compared with the year earlier, and growth for coming months likely will outpace earlier expectations, analyst firm IDC said Thursday.
"IDC expects to raise its forecast for the CY2007 year due to this continued, stronger-than-expected growth," analyst Christopher Chute said in a statement.
Consumers are replacing earlier cameras with new models that stabilize images to counteract camera shake, but more importantly, they're also responding to lower prices, he said.
Canon remained the No. 1 seller, with 26 percent of shipments in the second quarter. Sony was No. 2 with 18 percent share and Kodak No. 3 with 12 percent. Samsung "rocketed to the No. 4 position" with 11 percent, bumping Nikon and others. Nikon, though, "continues to do very well with digital SLRs," Chute said.
Although Kodak took the No. 3 spot, its shipments declined 15 percent, IDC said.
Canon will release new firmware for its high-end EOS-1D Mark III digital SLR by the end of the month, including a fix to an autofocus problem, but a prominent camera tester said the update didn't fix the problems he's been having.
Canon's EOS-1D Mark III
(Credit: Canon)The new firmware improves images viewed on the 3-inch LCD by applying a stronger sharpness setting; corrects a "rare" problem in which a selection dial wouldn't respond; fixes Italian and Chinese menu errors; and most prominently, "improves the consistency" of autofocus in some conditions.
Specifically, version 1.0.9 of the firmware "reduces the tendency of the camera to autofocus on high-contrast backgrounds when shooting in conditions where autofocus detection is difficult, such as when the main subject is not completely covered by the autofocus frames or if the main subject's contrast is low," Canon said Friday.
However, photographer, consultant and early 1D Mark III tester Rob Galbraith said Friday that the new firmware doesn't fix autofocus problems he's seen with multiple 1D Mark III cameras when shooting under hot, bright conditions. The camera's predecessor, the EOS-1D Mark II N, still fares better when the camera is set to automatically change focus to track moving subjects, he said in a Friday update after testing the new firmware on two cameras.
"We've now shot and analyzed about 3,400 track, soccer and test frames taken over two days with v1.0.9 cameras, under the bright, warm conditions that trip up v1.0.8, and the results are effectively the same as before: lots of out-of-focus frames that should be crisply focused," Galbraith said. "And, as before, simply putting the EOS-1D Mark II N onto the same lens and shooting the same stuff produces a high percentage of in-focus photos."
The new firmware is a "minor improvement" but one worth installing, Galbraith said. "We continue to hope that Canon is working on a complete and successful fix to those serious problems."
The new firmware will be available for download by the end of the month, Canon said, but antsy customers in the United States or Puerto Rico can send their cameras at their own expense to a Canon factory service center for the update.
Camera makers can be pretty cagey about their future plans--maybe they don't want to undermine sales of products with such a fleeting shelf life--so it can be frustrating to try to find out who's interested in meeting the demand for high-end compact cameras that cater to the SLR (single-lens reflex) crowd.
Ricoh Caplio GX100
(Credit: Ricoh)One company that's trying its best to fill that niche is Ricoh, a Japanese manufacturer in the shadow of giants such as Canon and Nikon. But Ricoh has been trying to lure high-end compact camera buyers with its GX100, a 10-megapixel compact camera that features a flash hot shoe, raw image support and other features geared for enthusiasts.
Ricoh also is willing to offer a little more insight into its hopes for the high-end compact market.
The company envisions "a time where there will be a true convergence of digital SLR and point-and-shoot technologies, resulting in a new breed of hybrid imaging devices that are optimal for both the consumer and prosumer markets," said Jeff Lengyel, manager of Ricoh America's camera division.
Sounds like a tall order. But I've heard from a lot of people who want something both good and small.
Three images of Olympus' top-end SLR from March
(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET Networks)Olympus publicly showed prototypes of its new top-end digital SLR in March, but a leaked document indicates the real thing could be announced in October and on sale in November.
An anonymous person posted a 27-page presentation at the FourThirds Photo discussion site that appears to be from an Olympus marketing presentation in June in Europe on the new camera, called the E-P1. Olympus didn't comment on the presentation Thursday, but the company did request another site, 4-3system.com, remove the file.
The presentation includes numerous details about the camera--including its 10-megapixel sensor, improved viewfinder, sealing against dust and wet weather, wireless flash controller and better autofocus. But another interesting element is what Olympus positions as the competition: the Nikon D200 and Canon EOS 30D. That's interesting because Olympus is pitching the E-P1 as a professional-grade camera, whereas those Nikon and Canon models are considered a notch down in the "prosumer" category.
Olympus already has said on the record it's preparing to sell a successor this year to the E-1 launched in 2003, and it's begun offering teaser ads for it.
Going up against the Nikon D200 and Canon 30D, and supposed successors, the D300 and 40D, the E-P1 will have superior weatherproofing, technology for removing dust stuck on the image sensor, live preview of images on the LCD screen, a larger viewfinder, built-in image stabilization and faster autofocus, according to the presentation.
Missing from the presentation was any mention of price, but if Olympus hopes to take on the D200 and 30D directly, it should come in at less than $2,000. Olympus is hoping for indirect effects, though, according to the presentation: a "top-down" effect that will goose sales of lower-end E-410 and E-510 SLRs and of accessories.
Olympus SLRs, along with those from Panasonic and Leica, employ the Four Thirds lens mount system, so lenses and cameras from those companies are compatible. The image on such cameras has a four-to-three aspect ratio, squarer than the usual three-to-two on 35mm film SLRs and most other digital SLRs. The field of view of a Four Thirds lens is half that of a 35mm SLR lens with the same focal length, so a 50mm lens works much like a 100mm lens on a Four Thirds camera.
The presentation also describes four Four Thirds lenses, three of them professional-grade. The good ones are a 50-200mm (100-400mm equivalent) telephoto zoom with an F/2.8-3.5 aperture due in November; a 12-60mm zoom (24-120mm equivalent) zoom with an F/2.8-4.0 aperture due in October; and a 14-35mm (28-70mm) with a fast F/2.0 aperture due in the spring of 2008. The fourth lens, a 70-300mm model of more ordinary quality, has an aperture of F/4.0-5.6, has specs that match an official June announcement from Olympus. Also in the presentation is the EC-20 teleconverter to double telephoto focal length.
But back to the alleged E-P1 specs, which sound pretty good:
• Five frames per second shooting with a maximum shutter speed of 1/8000 sec.
• Eleven-point autofocus, and all points are cross-type, meaning they can detect either vertical or horizontal edges. Lower-end SLRs commonly have mostly linear points that aren't as sensitive. And autofocus works better in dim conditions than before.
• In-camera image sensor stabilization to counteract camera shake. That's been Olympus' approach already, but the new version is more powerful, permitting compensation that can allow use of shutter speeds up to five steps slower than otherwise would be possible. That could be significant, since Canon and Nikon build image stabilization into the lens, claiming that it works better when tuned to the specific lens, especially with telephoto lenses.
An apparent collection of new Olympus lenses
(Credit: FourThirds Photo)• Wireless control of flash units--and two new flash units, the FL-36R and FL-50R.
• An LCD that can swivel to different angles to aid with live view composition. Live view modes haven't generally wowed reviewers, but one handy feature permitted by swiveling screens is a better ability to shoot when the camera is held overhead or low to the ground.
• A large viewfinder that covers 100 percent of the camera view and magnifies it by a factor of 1.15. Most lower-end SLRs only cover 95 percent or so of the view and often shrink it, which produces eyestrain and makes manual focusing more difficult.
• A dust-reduction system to clean the image sensor, a bane of digital SLRs but a problem Olympus competitors are beginning to address with sensor-shaking technology.
• A weather-sealed extra battery compartment that can aid in shooting vertically-oriented pictures.
Lensbaby 3G lens
(Credit: Lensbabies)Lensbabies, a Portland, Ore.-based maker of an unusual flexible lens that selectively focuses only on particular areas, has expanded sales channels to cover "nearly all key markets," the company said Tuesday.
The company distributes products directly to retailers in the United States and Canada, but now has secured partnerships with others to distribute products in Germany, Japan, Russia, Greece, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, Norway, Thailand and many other countries, the company said.
The lenses work on a variety of SLR (single-lens reflex) cameras.
Chuck Westfall, Canon's spokesman and all-knowing camera tech expert, has promised to address questions about how well his employer's new high-end EOS-1D Mark III digital SLR handles autofocus--but you'll have to wait until next month.
Canon's EOS-1D Mark III
(Credit: Canon)In June, photographer and consultant Rob Galbraith raised concerns about the new $4,500 camera's autofocus abilities on his blog, but Canon has remained mum about the issue.
Westfall could provide a response in August, though, in a monthly column he writes for a photojournalism publication, The Digital Journalist.
"I'll have more on EOS-1D Mark III autofocusing in the next edition of Tech Tips," Westfall said in the July issue.
