Tech Bucket Blog continues our look at not so new digital cameras that are still excellent shooters. Now, with PMA 2010 almost around the corner, there are some absolute great deals as price cutting begins in earnest.

Check out Canon’s affordable D-SLR, EOS 450D also known Stateside at the Rebel XSi. Priced around $800 when it first launched in April 2008, now almost 2 years into it’s life-cycle, price on this camera will run around $500-$600 depending on where you find it. That price typically includes the kit lens a versatile 18mm-55mm IS model (Image Stabilizer) that you’ll use very often.

As with all D-SLR’s, this one carries a warning, don’t be looking at this camera like point-and-shoot. It’s not. You’ll be able to pick it up and take some outstanding shots on it in full-auto mode, but where it shines is the flexibility in tweaking every parameter of a shot that comes with a D-SLR. It’s complicated enough that you won’t find a simple switch to turn off the flash, nope, you’ll have to figure it out yourself.

But fear not, like I said, in full auto mode this camera is champ. It’ll take any shot you point at it and the optics are fine enough to make it look decent. EOS 450D sports a 12MP CMOS sensor that will give you some really sharp, noise free shots. Couple that with a 9-point auto-focus field and you’re going to get some pretty sexy shots in full-auto mode.

Stay in this mode, though, and the camera is just begging to be let out of its cage. Flip into one of the more manual modes and you’ll be playing with ISO’s, shutter speeds, and the like in no time flat. You’ll feel lost at first, but after a few failed attempts, patience, and some on-line manual/guide reading, you’ll figure things out.

Once you do, this camera does not disappoint. Any moment, any time, any movement, you’ll capture it. This camera does not slow down and an impressive 6.5 frames per second, that’s a lot of pictures. Hold the shutter button and click away. It’ll have you feeling all Hollywood paparazzi in no time.

New feature of this camera is that Canon added “Live View”. Typically, with D-SLR’s you couldn’t compose your shot like you would with a point and shoot camera. That is, you didn’t really see what the sensor was seeing. You see a real image through the viewfinder that shows you what’s coming in through the lens. Then based on your knowledge and photography skills you make adjustments from what you see. Typically, with these types of shooters you take multiple shots of the same scene. Or you do it like the SLR rookie that I am: point and shotgun shoot. One of those 10 shots will be decent. Just buy a large SD card.

With Live View, you’ll see what the sensor sees. Meaning you can compose a shot and take your time to get it just right and then snap away. It’s easy enough to get into Live View mode, just enable it through the on screen menus and hit the “Set” button.

The kit lens is decent enough and I haven’t really found a need for a lens with more zoom just yet. If you’re new to D-SLR’s, you’ll want to remember you’re ultimately paying for platform. You’ll be buying lenses to suit your needs as they grow and those lenses are not cheap. $200-$300 to start and quickly rising to thousands of dollars. You’ll find that the camera body itself quickly doesn’t mean much in the overall scheme of things.

As with anything in photography, it’s 20% in the optics, 20% in the sensor and 60% skill or luck. (In my case, it’s all about luck). A good camera will increase your chances of being lucky and this is a great camera.

Carrying it around town doesn’t become an issue, but it is big. 58mm thread and bigger grip than my F717. Not hefty in weight as you expect it to weigh more. You’ll want to be careful with it as this type of camera will probably be the most expensive equipment in our average person’s camera bag.

I’ve had this camera for a few months and I’m still figuring things out. Until then, I won’t be investing in longer lenses until after I’ve decided what I really want. For now though, my EOS 450D has a place of honor. It only comes out on special occasions, while my Sony F717 is the workhorse of the group.

Some call this camera outdated, I say great value and if you’ve been wanting to get in on D-SLR’s, this is a great one to start with.

(Editor’s Note: Yes, Nikon has a comparable camera in the D80, but it’s much more expensive, even now. The quality of those lenses and body are almost equal in my opinion, especially on this level.)

For a more detailed review, check out DP-Review.

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