Canon XSi: 12.2 Megapixels, Image Stabilized Lens, and Double Live View
by Wesley Fink on May 5, 2008 3:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Digital Camera
Canon XSi vs. Nikon D60
Looking at street prices the Nikon D80 is the current Nikon price competitor to the XSi. However, the D80 replacement to be introduced later this year will likely be priced a bit higher than the XSi. The Nikon D60 is therefore the closest competitor from Nikon to the Canon XSi.
The Nikon D60 was also introduced at the same time, and is sold with an IS lens like the XSi. Both the XSi and D60 both now use SD and SDHC memory cards for storing images. Pricing of the D60 is $100 to $200 dollars less than the XSi as either body or as a kit, but feature-wise the XSi is a lot more camera than the D60. Since the Canon XTi remains in the Canon line it is another competitor to the D60, but the XTi currently sells for about $100 to $200 less than the D60 (but with a regular 18-55mm and not the IS version).
Both the D60 and the XSi are small DSLR cameras, but with the small size boost in the XSi the D60 is now quite a bit smaller than the XSi. This will matter to some and not to others, but if the XSi is too small for larger hands the addition of the BG-E4 battery grip does wonders to improve handling. Unfortunately this is not an option with the D60, as it is now just about the only entry DSLR without a battery grip option.
Looking at the rear comparison the 2.5" LCD of the new D60 looks tiny compared to the XSi LCD. The Sony and Pentax entry models fall between these two at 2.7" and the Olympus E-510/E-420 are the same size as the Nikon.
The smaller size of the D60 is even more apparent from the side view. The D60 is definitely a simpler camera than the XSi, which for some will mean it is easier to use. However, the feature set for the XSi is more like a prosumer model than entry and the D80 is a more comparable camera in features. The D80 replacement will likely be a better camera to compare to the XSi as already mentioned.
| ISO Comparison - Canon XSi vs. Nikon D60 | ||
| ISO | Canon XSi | Nikon D60 |
| 100 |  |
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| 200 |  |
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| 400 |  |
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| 800 |  |
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| 1600 |  |
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| 3200 |  |
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Click on any of the above image crops for the full image. Note: Full size images are between 3.3MB and 5.6MB! |
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Through ISO 400 both the D60 and the XSi both exhibited very low image noise. It was a bit surprising, however, to see the Nikon D60 start to show more noise than the XSi at ISO 800. By 1600 the D60 is much noisier than the XSi in our crop comparisons. The Nikon D60 goes on to ISO 3200, but ISO 3200 is probably limited to small snapshot prints as noise is just too great at that ISO speed.
Remember the XSi is 12.2MP and the D60 is 10MP. We should be seeing more high ISO noise with the larger sensor, but in fact the 10MP D60 is showing higher noise than the Canon sensor. In comparing crops under these shooting conditions the XSi is clearly the more capable camera at higher ISO settings.
The last chart compared three Canon cameras all set to Tungsten under low-light tungsten shooting conditions. The red color shift was not very obvious in that comparison. Here you can see the Nikon Tungsten setting generates much more accurate colors and the Canon Tungsten setting is frankly out of the ballpark. This is not a comparison of auto white balance, but of cameras manually set to Tungsten. Clearly if you plan to shoot Tungsten with a Canon camera you need to use custom white balance as the current Tungsten setting is way off the mark on all three Canon cameras - including the prosumer 40D.
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pinto4402 - Monday, May 5, 2008 - link
Your observation about Canon's overly warm/red WB in tungsten lighting is shared by many camera reviewers/users. It's a "problem" that has been noted for a long time. Some people actually prefer the overly warm colors, though. I'm sure this is the reason why Canon has never fixed their WB.Deadtrees - Monday, May 5, 2008 - link
"Working range AF specifications are the same EV range of -0.5EV to 18EV. However, the 40D adds an additional diagonal cross-type sensor with greater precision for f2.8 lenses, providing better support for fast Canon L lenses."- Not trying to be picky or anything but that is somewhat misleading as not all L lenses have aperture values faster than f/2.8.
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"Overall, the Sony A350 actually does better against the Canon XSi than we really expected and acquits itself quite well for a higher resolution sensor that should be showing greater noise than the Canon XSi. Resolution and noise control to ISO 1600 on the Sony holds its own against a sensor maker than has been the low-noise standard since DSLRs began."
- Keep in mind that A350 utilizes quite agressive noise deduction algorithms resulting smudged water color like images. If you think less noise is good no matter what, I guess it's not so bad. But, what about details that are lost? Do you really want over 10mp dslr images to show details as cell phone cameras? Hell, in that case, even point-and-shoot panasonic cameras that are known for crazy noise reduction algorithm can compete head to head with Nikon D3.
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BTW, I really suggest you to change the test subject. It's glossy coated hardboard papers which makes it virtually impossible to see the loss of details caused by insance noise reduction algorithms.
Lord 666 - Monday, May 5, 2008 - link
Wes,If you are comparing the XTi vs. XSi vs. 40D, why not include the D300 as well to compare against?
Wesley Fink - Monday, May 5, 2008 - link
We will include the D300 results in Part 2 of our Digital Sensor article. We will be comparing resolution and noise in different sensor categories, such as 14 megapixel, 12 megapixel, and 10 megapixel.I did toy with the idea of including the D300 in comparisons in this review, but I figured Canon to past Canon XTi to top Canon prosumer 40D was a bit more logical than a $800 body to a $1800 body. I'll leave that comparison for the digital sensor article.
complectus - Monday, May 5, 2008 - link
Is that a Frank Lloyd Wright house in 2 of the Sample Images?Wesley Fink - Monday, May 5, 2008 - link
Yes it is Frank Lloyd Wright. I am fortunate that a real Wright house is in my neighborhood. The furniture was also custom built for the rooms in th eWright house, as was typical of many of his home designs.It was built in the early 1900's and is contemporary to the other homes in the photographs. I figured someone would catch it.
pinto4402 - Monday, May 5, 2008 - link
For about five minutes, I was interested in the Xsi as a lightweight backup camera body for event photography. However, the lack of a CF card slot completely nixes this idea. It doesn't make any sense for Canon to switch from CF to SD, other than to attract P&S owners who want to migrate to a DSLR. By doing so, however, Canon effectively excluded us existing DSLR owners who already have many of their lenses and who would be more likely to purchase. I can tolerate the Xsi's plastic body, but I'm not going to invest in new storage media just to use this camera.Wesley Fink - Monday, May 5, 2008 - link
You can buy a 16GB class 6 hi-speed SD card for $55, a 4GB Class 6 for about $20, or an 8GB for around $30. I can't believe that small expense would keep you from buying and using the XSi if you really wanted to.Nikon uses SD on the D80 and D60, Pentax uses it on the K20D and K200D. Sony still uses CF, but new Sony lenses cost a lot more than today's cheap SD and CF memory.
RDaneel - Monday, May 5, 2008 - link
I have no problem with AT doing camera reviews, I think it's a valuable perspective for hobbyists and prosumers. Obviously AT isn't going to review $1500 lenses...That being said, this review reads more like Canon ad copy than a real comparative review. There isn't any serious examination of the image quality, and it feels like more effort is spent in comparing the number of AF points and megapixels than really looking at the camera as a DSLR system or really talking about IQ. Just kind of a disappointment, normally the objectivity on AT is a bit better. Did the author get to keep the free press sample? ;)
Wesley Fink - Monday, May 5, 2008 - link
There was no Press sample - not even a loaner. We had to buy the XSi that was reviewed. The same goes for the Nikon D60 and Sony A350 that were compared to the XSi. Since we bought them all we owe nothing to any manufacturer.The XSi won't replace my D300 or my Pentax K20D, but it is a really superb entry camera.