Canon XSi: 12.2 Megapixels, Image Stabilized Lens, and Double Live View

Canon XSi vs. Sony A350

The A350 is an entry-level camera despite some high-end features like the 14.2MP sensor. As such it is designed to be easy to use. Ours came out of the package set up at the factory for Live View mode with Super Steady Shot on. In general Sony made the controls very easy to use and figure out. Sony tells us one complaint from buyers moving from point-and-shoot digital cameras to a digital SLR is that they are often overwhelmed by the controls of the DSLR. Point-and-shoot users will find the A350 easy to use and familiar right out of the box.

The tilt-up/tilt-down screen combined with real-time Live View is the absolute best configuration for the A350. The viewfinder is too tunnel-like for many so the Canon XSi is a better choice for viewfinder shooting. There is no better Live View camera though, if you can live with an LCD that is only a 90% approximation of the finished image.

In general the A350/A300 are very fast and very easy to use. The XSi is a better camera for those who may want to grow into a much more serious system, but Sony also offers growth to the very capable A700 and the upcoming full-frame Pro model.

ISO Comparison - Canon XSi vs. Sony A350
ISO	Canon XSi	Sony A350
100
200
400
800
1600
3200
Click on any of the above image crops for the full image. Note: Full size images are between 3.3MB and 5.6MB!

Color for the Sony A350 is very accurate compared to the overly warm rendition of the Canon XSi at the Tungsten setting. For those who don't want to fuss and just point-and-shoot that may be important. In addition the Auto white balance for the A350 is the most accurate we've tested under Tungsten lighting. It is actually quite good shooting indoor tungsten, something most of its competitors do rather poorly.

The Sony also does well in noise control head-to-head with the Canon XSi. That was something of a surprise considering the Sony is a 14.2MP CCD sensor and the Canon is a 12.2MP CMOS. Up to 800 noise is very similar on both crops. Noise at 1600 is also comparable, but if you look closely at edges the Sony is exhibiting a greater tendency to appear jagged than the Canon XSi. ISO 3200 on the Sony is probably only usable on snapshots, but it is still usable.

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.