dpreview.com published a Canon EOS 450D (Digital Rebel XSi / Kiss X2 Digital) Review

Quote from the review: “… The EOS 450D feels like a mature product, it is capable of superb results (even if it’s actually now good enough to reveal the limitations of the cheaper EF-S lenses) and it has a feature set that offers an excellent balance between beginner-friendly ease of use and the manual control / customization demanded by those wanting something a little more serious. …”

As we seem to get close to a possible launch date on June, 10th when the new rumoured Canon 1000D and/or rumoured 5Dmk2 /3D/ 7D announcement is expected a buying decision should be put on hold untill this entry level camera could be compared against the 1000D (rumoured specs: 10.1 MP CMOS, Digic III, 7-point AF, 3 fps, 2.5 inch LCD, Live View, Interface similar to the 450D).

Phase One has released versions 3.7.8 and 4.0.1. These releases add new cameras to the compatibility list and fix bugs in previous versions. Full details in the release notes Capture One 4.0.1 release notes, Capture One PRO 3.7.8 for Windows release notes and Capture One DB 3.7.8 for Windows release notes.

A number of new cameras are supported in this new version of Capture One (PRO only):

New camera support

• Canon 1D Mark III, 1Ds Mark III, 40D, G9
• Nikon D3, D40X, D300
• Olympus E-3, E-410, E-510

Solved issues in 3.7.8

• Improved dual output calibration for P series digital backs
• Enhanced pattern noise suppression
• Fixed Live Preview column mapping errors for Phase One digital backs
• Lens Cast Calibration improvements for preview for Phase One digital backs

Capture One 4 includes a number of features

• New user interface offers maximum space for the images. Images, not sliders and ontrols, are the focus. A darker background permits easier image viewing and nhancements. As with previous generations of Capture One, a guided workflow is vailable to assist the photographer in the image enhancement processView and work with up to 12 images simultaneously at full resolution;
• Powerful new shortcut architecture allows faster image import, adjustment androcessing;
• Multiple Variants of a single RAW image can be made with virtually no disk and erformance overhead;
• Recover details in highlights and shadows with High Dynamic Range tool;
• Share or showcase your images with the stylish Web Contact Sheet feature;
• Fine-tune your images with responsive sharpness and noise controls Achieve consistency with a single touch: combine settings (e.g. within white balance) in tool Presets for easy reuse Import and export images in DNG format, for more options to share and archive;
• Manage and transfer license codes, enabling operation of Capture One on one computer ne day and on another computer the next.
• Many more features are included in Capture One 4, be sure to try them out!

What’s new in Capture One 4 (4.0.1)

• Support for Canon G9 and Sony DSLR-A700 cameras
• A number of issues found in previous versions of Capture One 4 have been solved.

Till I’m able to get my hands on it the information from the press release:

The EOS 450D is designed to make photography a fluid experience for photographers of all levels and experience. Housed in a compact body that weighs less than 475 grams, the camera features an improved grip design that provides a natural, ergonomic fit with the user’s hands. A large, bright viewfinder makes image composition clearer and more comfortable. The menu system inherited from professional EOS cameras uses a simplified tab structure that does away with scrolling. It includes a user-defined My Menu tab for instant access to frequently used settings.

Several custom functions are available to optimise the quality of photos captured in a range of situations. Highlight Tone Priority boosts the dynamic range at the highlight end, providing better tonal detail from wedding dresses, cloudy skies and other bright objects. The new Auto Lighting Optimiser corrects brightness and contrast during image processing, while improving skin tones in portraits by ensuring correct exposure for faces. Photographers can also enable additional noise reduction for shots captured at high ISO speeds.

Available for the first time on a Canon consumer D-SLR, Live View mode makes it easier to shoot from awkward angles, such as ground-level macro shots or when shooting from a tripod. The image from the Live View mode is displayed as a smooth, 30fps video feed on the 3.0″ LCD, which is 50% brighter than the screen of the EOS 400D. A grid line display and live histogram can be selected to help with shot composition and exposure. While focusing, the photographer can zoom in on specific details with up to 10x magnification of the image displayed on the LCD screen. Two types of auto focus are available: Quick AF flips the camera mirror momentarily to engage the AF sensor; Live AF uses the image contrast data to focus – a method familiar to anyone upgrading from a compact digital camera.

For studio environments, remote Live View lets the photographer compose, adjust settings and capture the shot from a PC using the supplied EOS utility software.

The EOS 450D complements its headline features with a host of smaller improvements that enhance the photographic experience. The viewfinder now displays all key exposure information including ISO speed. The addition of spot metering (4% of viewfinder) allows for greater control over exposure in tricky lighting conditions. PictBridge functionality has been expanded so that photographers can correct horizons and add picture effects before printing. A new high capacity battery extends shooting time on a single charge to a maximum of 500 shots.

• 12.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor
• Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System
• 3.5 frames per second
• 3.0″ LCD with Live View shooting
• 9-point wide-area AF system with f/2.8 cross-type centre point
• Picture Style image processing parameters
• DIGIC III image processor
• Digital Photo Professional RAW processing software1
• Compact and Lightweight body
• Fully compatible with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses and EX-series Speedlites

For more pictures of the new Canon 450D (Rebel XSi) and the technical specs read below.

Buy the new Canon DSLR at amazon

dpreview has a first Canon EOS 450D / Rebel XSi brief hands-on