Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)

I bought this camera with kit lens because of great features & small size but after first round of shots I was shocked how bad AF was. Sometimes
it is not possible 2 focus at all at some distance. Manual focus is much better but still not 2 my expectation. Camera went back 2 store, & I'll look probably at Nikon. As I find out on the net other users have problems with AF either[...]

also I'm a little disappointed with amazon because camera had some fingerprints on LCD & the switch was turned 2 ON indicating it might be returned item.
On the lens I found same scratch too.

I've had this cam 4 about 4 months now. It's great. Came from a Canon 20D, so though technically it's a downgrade, it's really a superior cam in terms of image quality & performance. I like the small size - the main motivation 4 not going with a 40D - I can shoot one-handed all day long doing street photography.

Most of the pix on my photoblog below were snapped with the XSi...

Brad
Urban photoblog: http://www.citysnaps.net/blog

I bought this camera after graduating from an old Olympus C-5050 point & shoot camera. The C-5050 offered almost every DSLR feature except 4 bulb, which I need 4 my Astrophotography. After spending several years understanding the manual features of the C-5050 I thought is was time 2 graduate 2 my first REAL dslr.

After shopping around testing out various models such as the Olympus evolt, Nikon D80, & this one, the Canon XSi, I found the XSi was the best choice 4 the money, features & quality (as noted in all the reviews online). I thought I made an informed decision & couldn't go wrong with all the research I did.

After I got the camera out of the box & set it up I began my many adventures testing it with long exposure light painting, landscape photos, & close-up portrait photography. One thing began 2 emerge as I used the AF feature on the camera. I couldn't 4 the life of me get the thing 2 focus on anything past 10ft. I always had 2 use manual focus 2 get the pictures the way I wanted them. I shot in all AF modes: AI Focus, One shot & AI Servo without any luck. I studied the 9-point wide-area AF feature very closely 2 be sure I wasn't the cause of all my problems, but still the problem AF persisted. After taking about a 1000 actuations, I gave up. BACK TO AMAZON WITH YOU!

Although most of my photography will be using MF, there will be those times when I need 2 take a quick photo of something that rushes past me & I just need 2 pull out the camera & shoot. This issue eliminates that as a choice, which is not a trivial thing.

BTW: I tested the camera using two Canon IS lenses, the 28-135mm & the stock 18mm-55mm IS lens. Both had the same issue with focus. Below you will find two photos. One I took at short distance & the other with the oak tree at infinity using AF.
See 4 yourself.

After 10 days of frustration, I returned my camera 2 the good folks at Amazon. I really wanted this camera 2 work & had high expectations.

[...]

As a part-time professional photographer, this is a bargain of an upgrade even from the Canon Rebel Xti which is what I did! I thought my Xti was a great camera & it is but the Xsi is so much more! The increased image quality is worth the price alone. (See images below). Then when you add in the benefit of the improved & larger LCD, Highlight tone priority, excellent noise reduction, you have an exceptional value. Many pundits have listed some things as negatives that I feel are advantageous. Namely, the smaller size of the body seems 2 fit my hand very well & the light weight helps me carry it since I do a considerable amount of hiking & travel. Its easier 4 me 2 carry along with all the rest of my gear. I feel like it is a "BEST BUY" in my book. greenngold1@cox.net

This camera satisfies & exceeds what I expected out this. Only the price was the problem, I Paid $699/= within a week it went on down 2 $630/=

For photography with point-and-shoot ease, look no further than Canon's EOS Rebel XSi. The EOS Rebel XSi brings staggering technological innovation 2 the masses. It features Canon's EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Live View Function, a powerful DIGIC III Image Processor, & a 12.2-megapixel CMOS Sensor with Optical Image Stabilizer. The EOS Rebel XSi's refined, ergonomic design includes a 3.0" LCD monitor, compatibility with SD & SDHC Memory cards & accessories that enhance every aspect of the photographic experience. Image Format - 22.2mm x 14.8mm 3 - 2 Horizontal - Vertical Aspect Ratio Color Filter System - RGB primary color filter Low-pass Filter - Located in front of the image sensor, non-removable Recording Format - Design rule 4 Camera File System 2.0 Image Format - JPEG, RAW (14-bit Canon original) RAW+JPEG White Balance Settings - Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White Fluorescent Light, Flash, & Custom Focusing Modes - One-Shot AF, AI Servo AF, AI Focus AF, Manual focusing (MF) Metering Range - EV 1-20 (with EF50mm f/1.4 USM lens, ISO 100) Exposure Compensation - Manual 2 stops in 1/3 or 1/2-stop increments & AEB 2 stops in 1/3 or 1/2-stop increments AE Lock - Automatic when focus achieved with evaluative metering & One-Shot AF, & Manual by AE lock button Shutter Type - Electronically controlled & focal-plane shutter Shutter Speeds - 1/4000 seconds 2 1/60 seconds, X-sync at 1/200 seconds, 1/4000 sec. 2 30 seconds, bulb Self-timer - 10-seconds, 2-seconds delay or 10-seconds delay plus continuous shooting Brightness Control - 7 levels provided Body Dimensions - 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.4 (128.8x97.5x61.9mm) Weight - 16.8 ounces (475 grams) body only Lens Dimension - 2.7 x 2.6 (69x66.2mm) Weight - 6 ounces (190 grams)