Canon impresses with today's announcement, the EOS 450D Digital SLR
I’m so thankful right now I didn’t end up buying a 400D D-SLR from Canon when I was out in the States last week, as not only would my bank manager have a few choice words to say to me, but today they just announced the upgrade, the long-awaited 450D.
With a tidy 12.2-megapixels, this Digital SLR has an EOS Integrated Cleaning System, 3.0″ LCD with Live View mode, a new 9-point AF system, plus a DIGIC III image processor and fully redesigned menu system. Could be dangerous.
The 450D, which will go by the much-cooler US name of Digital Rebel XSi, is also packing 13 custom functions, and is able to shoot 3.5 frames per second. Anyone who’s looking to upgrade will be pleased to know it’s compatible with all the Canon EF and EF-S lenses, along with the EX-series Speedlites.
One point of contention between Canon fans will be the ‘downgrade’ to SD card memory from the original CF format. Let the arguments commence…
Expect the body to be priced at £599.99 and the body plus 18-55mm kit at £679.99 when it drops in March. US customers can pick up their alternatively named Digital Rebel XSi in April, for $799 and $899 respectively. Full specs list copied-and-pasted from the press release, for all photographic junkies looking for their EOS fix.
DSLR EOS 450D
IMAGE SENSOR
Type 22.2 x 14.8mm CMOS
Effective Pixels Approx. 12.2M
Effective / Total Pixels
Aspect Ratio/Colour
Total Pixels Approx. 12.4M
Aspect Ratio 3:2
Low-Pass Filter Built-in/Fixed with Self Cleaning Sensor Unit
Colour Filter Type Primary Colour
IMAGE PROCESSOR
Type DIGIC III
LENS
Lens Mount EF/EF-S
Focal Length 1.6x Multiplication with EF lens fitted
Zoom
Maximum f/number
Construction
Image Stabilisation
Ultrasonic Motor (USM)
FOCUSING
Type TTL-CT-SIR with a CMOS sensor
AF System/ Points 9 AF points (Cross type f/2.8 at centre)
AF working range EV -0.5 -18 (at 23°C & ISO100)
AF Modes AI Focus
One Shot
AI Servo
AF Point Selection Automatic selection, Manual selection
Selected AF point display Superimposed in viewfinder and indicated on LCD monitor
Predictive AF Yes
AF Lock Locked when shutter button is pressed half way in One Shot AF mode
AF Assist Beam Intermittent firing of built-in flash
AF Lock/AF Assist Beam
Manual Focus Selected on lens
Focus Bracketing
Closest Focusing Distance
EXPOSURE CONTROL
Metering modes TTL full aperture metering with 35-zone SPC
(1) Evaluative metering (linked to all AF points)
(2) Partial metering at center (approx. 9% of viewfinder)
(3) Spot metering at center (approx. 4% of viewfinder)
(4) Center weighted average metering
Metering Range EV 1-20 (at 23°C with 50mm f/1.4 lens ISO100)
AE Lock Auto: Operates in 1-shot AF mode with evaluative metering when focus is
achieved
Manual: By AE lock button in creative zone modes.
Exposure Compensation +/- 3 EV, 1/2 or 1/3-stop increments
AEB +/- 3 EV, 1/2 or 1/3-stop increments
Exposure Compensation / AEB
ISO Speed Equivalent AUTO(100-800), 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 (in 1/3-stop increments)
ISO 200-1600 in Highlight Tone Priority (C.Fn II -3)
SHUTTER
Type Electronically-controlled focal-plane shutter
Speed 30-1/4000 sec (1/2 or 1/3 stop increments), Bulb (Total shutter speed range.
Available range varies by shooting mode)
Shutter release Soft touch electromagnetic release
WHITE BALANCE
Type Auto white balance with the imaging sensor
Settings AWB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White
Fluorescent light, Flash, Custom.
White balance compensation: 1. Blue/Amber +/-9
2. Magenta/ Green +/-9.
Personal White Balance
WB Bracketing +/-3 levels in single level increments
3 bracketed images per shutter release.
Selectable Blue/Amber bias or Magenta/ Green bias.
COLOUR MATRIX
Type Two types of colour space, sRGB and Adobe RGB.
VIEWFINDER
Viewfinder Eye-level SLR (with fixed pentamirror)
Coverage (Vertical/Horizontal) Approx. 95%
Viewfinder / Coverage
Magnification Approx. 0.87x (4)
Eyepoint Approx. 19mm (from eyepiece lens center)
Dioptre Correction -3 to +1 m-1 (dioptre)
Eyepoint / Dioptre Correction
Focusing Screen Fixed
Mirror Quick-return half mirror (Transmission: reflection ratio of 40:60)
Viewfinder Information
AF information (AF points, focus confirmation light), exposure information
(shutter speed, aperture value, ISO speed (always displayed), AE lock, exposure
level/compensation, spot metering circle, exposure warning, AEB), flash
information (flash ready, high-speed sync, FE lock, flash exposure
compensation, red-eye reduction light), white balance correction, SD card
information, monochrome shooting, maximum burst
Depth of field preview Yes
Eyepiece shutter On strap
LCD MONITOR
Monitor 3.0″ TFT, approx. 230K dots
Live View Mode with selectable grid.
Coverage Approx. 100%
Monitor / Coverage Adjustable to one of seven levels
Brightness Adjustable to one of seven levels
FLASH
Modes Auto, Manual Flash On/Off, Red-Eye Reduction
HotShoe/ PC terminal Yes/ No
X-sync 1/200sec
Slow Sync Speed
Red-Eye Reduction Yes
Flash Exposure Compensation +/- 2EV in 1/2 or 1/3 increments
Flash Exposure Bracketing Yes
Flash Exposure Lock Yes
Manual Power Adjustment
Second Curtain Synchronisation Yes
Built-in Flash Range Coverage up to 17mm focal length (27mm equivalent)
Guide Number (ISO 100, meters) 13
External Flash E-TTL II with EX series Speedlites,
wireless multi-flash support
SHOOTING
Modes Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, No Flash, Program
AE , Shutter priority AE, Aperture priority AE, Manual, A-DEP
Photo Effects Monochrome (selected from the “Picture Style” menu) with options for Filters
and Toning Effects.
Drive modes Single/Continuous
Continuous Shooting Max. Approx. 3.5fps. (speed maintained for up to 53 images (JPEG)(1), 6
images (RAW)) (2)
Intervalometer
RECORDING PIXELS /
COMPRESSION
Image Size (LF) 4272×2848, (LN) 4272×2848, (MF) 3088×2056, (MN) 3088×2056, (SF)
2256×1504, (SN) 2256×1504, (RAW) 4272×2848
Compression Fine, Normal, RAW (14bit, Canon original RAW 2nd edition)
Movies
Movie Length
FILE FORMAT
Still Image Format JPEG (Exif 2.21 [Exif Print] compliant) / Design rule for Camera File system
(2.0), Digital Print Order Format [DPOF] Version 1.1 compliant
RAW+JPEG simultaneous recording Yes (RAW + Large JPEG only)
Folders
File Numbering (1) Consecutive numbering
(2) Auto reset
(3) Manual reset
Processing Parameters 6 Preset ‘Picture Styles’ with 3 User defined settings
Movies
Sound Files
DIRECT PRINT
Canon Printers Canon SELPHY Printers, Bubble Jet Printers with the direct print function and
PIXMA Printers supporting PictBridge
PictBridge Yes
OTHER FEATURES
Custom Functions 13 Custom Functions with 34 settings
Personal Functions
IPTC Tag
LCD Panel (EL) Illumination N/A
Water/ Dust resistance No
My Camera No
Sound Memo No
Intelligent Orientation Sensor Yes
Histogram Brightness: Yes
RGB: Yes
Playback zoom 1.5x – 10x
Display Formats (1) Single image with information (2 levels)
(2) Single image
(3) 4 image index
(4) 9 image index
(5) Jump Display
Image Erase Protection Erase protection of one image at a time
Image Erase
Single image, All images on card, Checkmarked images, Unprotected images
Image Erase / Protection
Self Timer Approx. 2 or 10 sec.
Menu Categories (1) Shooting menu
(2) Playback menu
(3) Setup menu
(4) My Menu
Menu Languages English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Finnish, Italian,
Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Greek, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Traditional
Chinese, Korean, Russian, Polish, Hungarian, Czech
Firmware Update Update possible by the user.
INTERFACE
Computer USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (Mini-B)
Other Video output (PAL/ NTSC)
Computer/Other
MEMORY CARD
Type SD card, SDHC card
SUPPORTED OPERATING
SYSTEM
PC & Macintosh Windows 2000 (SP4) / XP (SP2) / Vista (excl. Starter Edition)
OS X v10.3-10.4
SOFTWARE
Browsing & Printing ZoomBrowser EX / ImageBrowser
Other
PhotoStitch, EOS Utility (inc. Remote Capture, Original Data Security Tools*)
* Requires optional accessory
Drivers PTP TWAIN Driver (Windows 2000 )
Image Manipulation Digital Photo Professional (RAW Image Processing)
POWER SOURCE
Batteries 1 x Rechargeable Li-ion Battery LP-E5
Battery life Approx. 500 (at 23°C, AE 50%, FE 50%) (5)
Approx. 400 (at 0°C, AE 50%, FE 50%)
Battery check Automatic
Power saving Power turns off after 30sec or 1, 2, 4, 8 or 15mins.
A/C Power Supply Optional, AC Adapter Kit ACK-E5
ACCESSORIES
General Eyecup Ef, Eyepiece Extender EP-EX15II, Angle Finder C, Semi-Hard Case
EH18-L
Waterproof / Weatherproof Case
Soft Case / Waterproof Case
Lenses All EF and EF-S lenses
Flash Canon Speedlites (220EX, 380EX, 420EX, 430EX, 550EX, 580EX, 580EX II,
Macro-Ring-Lite MR-14EX, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX, Speedlite Transmitter STE2)
Battery Grip BG-E5
Remote Controller/ Switch Remote Switch RS-60E3, Remote Controller RC-1/RC-5
Power Supply & Battery Chargers AC Adapter Kit ACK-E5, Battery charger LC-E5E, Car Battery charger CBC-E5,
Battery Pack LP-E5
PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Body Materials Stainless Steel/Plastic
Operating Environment 0 – 40 °C, 85% or less humidity
Dimensions (WxHxD) 128.8 x 97.5 x 61.9 mm
Weight (body only) Approx. 475g
Canon
Related posts
Shiny Video Review: Canon IXUS 960 IS digital camera
Canon makes the best photo printers, says survey
Jessops gets exclusive on Canon Digital IXUS 860 IS and Canon Powershot A720 IS
