Canon EOS 450D images and photos samples

Controls
The larger LCD on the 450D necessitated a change of layout for the controls on the back from that of the 400D. Overall, we think we like it better than the older design with Menu, Disp, Review, Jump, and Delete buttons down the left side.

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Entry-level features
Like all the entry-level models, the 450D provides a full-auto option and a handful of scene modes, in addition to dSLR-class manual and semimanual exposure modes.

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Optical image stabilisation
Like Nikon, Canon ships the 450D with an optically stabilised update of its 18-55mm kit lens. Although optical stabilisation lets you preview the stabilised results, sensor-shift stabilisation allows for cheaper comparable lenses in the long run.

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Noise
ISO 100 and ISO 800 are the 450D's sweet spots when it comes to noise, but for a budget model the camera does quite a good job across the entire range.

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Sharpness
As with many kit lenses, the 450D's is relatively slow, which necessitated shooting this at ISO 800 (1/100 sec, f/5.6). As you can see, however, the results are quite sharp.

Credit: Lori Grunin

Colour
Visually and by our test numbers, the 450D renders accurate, consistent colour. For example, this was shot at ISO 800, and there's no colour shift or any notable artifacts.

Credit: Lori Grunin

Settings
Of course, if accurate colour isn't your thing, you can play with Canon's Picture Styles and tweak reality. Frankly, we think you're always better off shooting the most accurate colour possible -- you can always pump it up later, but you can never recreate reality from a tweaked original. That's why we tend to discount features like this.

Credit: Lori Grunin

Latitude
You can bring up the exposure on the 450D's photos without inflicting excessive noise on them. The flash didn't fire for this shot of Kendra, but we were able to fix the exposure suitably for Web use. We don't think we'll be printing it at 13x19, though.

Credit: Lori Grunin

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 lens
An inexpensive but longer model with many of the same characteristics of the 18-55mm kit lens, the 55-250mm comes in handy as a supplement if you want to roll your own two-lens kit.

Credit: Lori Grunin