by Chris Campbell
Canon has recently announced the long awaited release of the EOS 450D Digital Rebel XSi. This would be Canons latest onslaught to dominate the entry level digital compact SLR camera category. And, it is a formidable piece of equipment. If this doesn’t get the Canon fanboys (and girls) overextending their lines of credit, then nothing will. It may even entice a few Nikon fans. Bold statement yes I know, but lets take a closer look at why the 450D Digital Rebel will be force to be reckoned with in marketplace.
The three most distinguishable features or dividing factors when it comes to digital cameras are size, ease of use, and image quality. To lesser and greater degrees, these traits seem to be mutually exclusive when it comes to camera design and build.
Smaller sized camera designs are very portable, but usually affect ease of use and image quality in negative ways. The smaller a camera is, the smaller the controls are, which makes them harder to use. Single control buttons and wheels are often used for multiple functions which can increase user confusion. Smaller cameras often mean, that features like viewfinders get left off in the effort to add bigger LCD screens. Smaller often means zoom lenses are less powerful, and overall lens quality suffers. The most successful small sized cameras I like are the Canon SD1000 Digital Elph, and the Olympus Stylus 790SW.
Ease of use usually means lots of auto settings, which is great for newbie photographers, as little skill is required to snap a picture. But, it also means camera designers are forced to compromise on default settings that are OK for most pictures, but not great for all pictures. Factory set defaults will have to do until cameras become smart enough to detect all the nuances of a particular shot regarding lighting, color, and artistic intention. The Canon Powershot A570IS is one of the better cameras in terms of simplifying things at a reasonable price.
The ultimate in image quality usually means big bulky SLR cameras with a case load of lenses and controlled lighting for different types of shooting environments. SLR photography also involves micro managing of all the various camera settings such as aperture, ISO settings, white balance, f-stop and so on. You really have to know what your doing. The Canon Rebel XTi Digital SLR, or the Nikon D40 are good cameras in this category that don’t break the bank.
So, as usual with most cameras, it really comes down to a personal choice. Some owners swear the A650IS is the most beautiful camera they’ve every owned. Others couldn’t wait to sell theirs on eBay. Fortunately for you, you know now exactly what the A650IS is capable of, and what is just out of it’s grasp.
