Canon EOS
40D
 vs
Canon EOS Digital
Rebel XSi

Canon EOS 40D

49
"With each step up the evolutionary ladder to the EOS 40D Canon has demonstrated improvements in image quality."
dpreview.com | talking about the 40D's image-quality
"Low noise and a complete lack of unnatural artifacts."
dpreview.com | talking about the 40D's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 40D

Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
6.5 fps
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

48
"Superb resolution, good per-pixel sharpness"
dpreview.com | talking about the Rebel XSi's image-quality
"Just like the EOS 400D the 450D is primarily made from three materials; a stainless steel chassis, the mirror box which is made of high-strength 'engineering plastic' and the body made of a special lightweight 'engineering plastic' which also provides some electromagnetic shielding. Construction is very good with no creaks or rattles."
dpreview.com | talking about the Rebel XSi's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
160 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Thickness
 Thin
2.4"

differences

Advantages of the Canon 40D
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
 0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Overall image quality Better image quality 64.0 vs 61.0
Help
 Almost the same
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6.5 fps vs 3.5 fps
Help
 Around 90% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.59x vs 0.54x
Help
 Around 20% larger viewfinder
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Canon EOS 40D Learn more about
the Canon 40D

Advantages of the Canon Rebel XSi
Size Smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 146x108x74 mm
Help
 More than 30% smaller
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 10.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.4" vs 2.9"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 524 g vs 822 g
Help
 Around 40% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $485.00 vs $999.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $515 cheaper (2.1x less)
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Learn more about
the Canon Rebel XSi
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS 40D
49 vs 48
Explain scores
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS 40D
 Canon EOS 40D vs Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
CanonEOS Digital Rebel XSi
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
1
1
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
2
0
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
2
0
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
2
0
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
2
0
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
2
0
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
162 lenses
Thickness Thin Help
40D:2.9"
Rebel XSi:2.4"
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
40D:3,200 ISO
Rebel XSi:None
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
1,600 ISO
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
40D:10.1 MP
Rebel XSi:12.2 MP
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Movie format Do not shoot movies Help
No movies
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
40D:11.3 EV
Rebel XSi:10.8 EV
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
40D:64.0
Rebel XSi:61.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS 40D
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$460 - $550 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the EOS 40D
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$609 - $800 body only

$709 - $1,180 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 40D
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$899 - $1,304 body only

$1,138 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 40D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$445 - $629 body only

$504 - $609 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the EOS 40D
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 40D
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Canon EOS 50D

Canon EOS 50D

Pro DSLR

$1,282 - $1,299 body only

$1,625 with 28-135mm lens
Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 50D vs the EOS 40D
Compare the EOS 50D vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Canon EOS 40D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS 40D.

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi.

appearance

Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Canon EOS 40D Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

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