Budget DSLR

The Canon Rebel XSI, also know as the EOS 450D is by far my favorite budget DSLR. Just because the word budget is used does not mean this camera can't make some fantastic photography. You can pick this camera up with an 18-55mm lens included for just $630. If you look hard enough you can get it refurbished with the lens for $450. Refurbished usually comes with a warranty that offers a full return on the product. So if it doesn't work you can get your money back.

If you want to see some photos taken by the Rebel XSI you can head on over to Flickr's search by model section here

You will be shooting professional photos in no time. Here are the specs of the Cannon 450D:

Sensor *	• 12.2 million effective pixels • 12.4 million total pixels • 22.2 x 14.8 mm CMOS sensor • RGB Color Filter Array • Built-in low-pass filter with self cleaning unit • 3:2 aspect ratio
Dust reduction	• Low-pass filter vibration at power-on (can be interrupted) • Anti-static coating on sensor surfaces • Software based dust-removal (camera maps dust, removed later)
Image sizes *	• 4272 x 2848 (L) • 3088 x 2056 (M) • 2256 x 1504 (S)
Output formats	• RAW (.CR2 14-bit *) • RAW (.CR2 14-bit *) + JPEG Large/Fine • JPEG (EXIF 2.21) - Fine, Normal
Image processor *	DIGIC III
Lenses	• Canon EF / EF-S lens mount • 1.6x field of view crop
Focus modes	• Auto Focus • Manual Focus (switch on lens)
Auto Focus	• 9-point CMOS sensor • Cross-type F2.8 at center * • AF working range: -0.5 to 18 EV (at 23°C, ISO 100)
AF modes	• AI Focus • One shot • AI Servo
AF point selection	• Auto • Manual
AF assist	Flash strobe
Shooting modes	• Auto • Program AE (P) • Shutter priority AE (Tv) • Aperture priority AE (Av) • Manual (M) • Auto depth-of-field • Portrait • Landscape • Close-up • Sports • Night portrait • Flash off
Metering	• TTL 35-zone SPC • Metering range: EV 1.0 - 20 EV (at 23°C, ISO 100, 50 mm F1.4)
Metering modes	• Evaluative 35-zone • Partial 9% at center • Spot 4% at center * • Center-weighted average
AE Lock	AE lock button
AE Bracketing	• +/- 3.0 EV * • 0.5 or 0.3 EV increments
Exposure compen.	• +/- 2.0 EV • 0.5 or 0.3 EV increments
Sensitivity	• Auto (100 - 400) • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 • Highlight tone priority * (ISO 200 - 1600)
Shutter	• Focal-plane shutter • 30 - 1/4000 sec (0.5 or 0.3 EV steps) • Flash X-Sync: 1/200 sec • Bulb
Aperture values	• F1.0 - F91 (0.3 EV steps) • Actual aperture range depends on lens used
White balance	• Auto • Daylight • Shade • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Flash • Custom
WB Bracketing	• +/-3 levels • 3 images • Selectable Blue/Amber or Magenta/Green bias
WB fine-tuning	• Blue (-9) To Amber (+9) • Magenta (-9) to Green (+9)
Color space	• sRGB • Adobe RGB
Picture style	• Standard • Portrait • Landscape • Neutral • Faithful • Monochrome • User 1 • User 2 • User 3
Custom image parameters	• Sharpness: 0 to 7 • Contrast: -4 to +4 • Saturation: -4 to +4 • Color tone: -4 to +4 • B&W filter: N, Ye, Or, R, G • B&W tone: N, S, B, P, G
Drive modes	• Single • Continuous: 3.5 fps up to 53 JPEG / 6 RAW frames • Self-timer 10 secs (2 sec with mirror lock-up) • Self-timer continuous *
Mirror lockup	Yes (custom function)
Viewfinder	• Pentamirror • 95% frame coverage • Magnification: 0.87x * (-1 diopter with 50 mm lens at infinity) • Eyepoint: 19 mm * • Dioptric adjustment: -3.0 to +1.0 diopter • Fixed precision matte • Proximity sensor disables LCD shooting mode information
Viewfinder info *	• AF information (AF points focus confirmation light) • Shutter speed • Aperture value • ISO speed (always displayed) • AE lock • Exposure level/compensation • Spot metering circle • Exposure warning • AEB • Flash ready • High-speed sync • FE lock • Flash exposure compensation • Red-eye reduction light • White balance correction • SD card information • Monochrome shooting • Maximum burst
DOF preview	Yes, button
LCD monitor *	• 3.0" TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels • Wide viewing angle (160° horizontal and vertical) • 7 brightness levels • Up to 10x zoom playback
LCD Live view *	• Live TTL display of scene from CMOS image sensor • 100% frame coverage • Real-time evaluative metering using CMOS image sensor • Best view or exposure simulation • Grid optional (thirds) • Magnify optional (5x or 10x at AF point) • Optional Auto-focus with mirror-down / mirror-up sequence • Two modes; normal and quieter • Remote live view using EOS Utility 2.0 (via USB or WiFi/Ethernet using WFT) • Manual focus only
Camera settings display	• Shutter speed • Aperture • Sensitivity (ISO) • Exposure mode • Meter / Exposure compenation • Bracketing • Flash compensation • White balance & fine tuning • Metering mode • Custom function set • Auto focus mode • Drive mode • Auto focus areas • Black & white mode • Beep • Red-eye reduction • Image size / quality • Battery status • Frames remaining
Record review	• Uses last play mode • Magnification possible • 2 / 4 / 8 sec / Hold
Flash	• Auto pop-up E-TTL II auto flash • Guide number approx 13 • Modes: Auto, Manual Flash On/ Off, Red-Eye Reduction • X-Sync: 1/200 sec • Flash exposure compensation: +/-2.0 EV (0.3 or 0.5 EV steps) • Coverage up to 17 mm focal length (27 mm FOV equiv.)
External flash	• E-TTL II auto flash with EX-series Speedlites • Hot-shoe
Other features	• Orientation sensor • Automatically writes FAT16/FAT32 depending on capacity
Auto rotation	• On (playback uses orientation data in file header) • Off
Playback mode	• Single image • Single image with info (histogram brightness / RGB ) • Magnified view (1.5 - 10x in 15 steps, browsable) • 4 and 9 image index * • Auto play • Image rotation • Jump (by 10, 100 or date)
Custom functions *	13 custom functions with 34 settings
Menu languages *	• English • German • French • Dutch • Danish • Portuguese • Finnish • Italian • Norwegian • Swedish • Spanish • Greek • Simplified Chinese • Japanese • Traditional Chinese • Korean • Russian • Polish • Hungarian • Czech
Firmware	User upgradable
Connectivity	• USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) mini-B • Video out (PAL / NTSC) • E3 type wired remote control
Storage *	• SD / SDHC card
Power *	• Lithium-Ion LP-E5 rechargeable battery (7.4 V, 1050 mAh) • CR2016 Lithium battery (date/time backup) • Optional ACK-E5 AC adapter kit
Battery Grip *	Yes, BG-E5
Direct printing	• Canon Selphy Printers • Canon Bubble Jet Printers with direct print function • Canon PIXMA Printers supporting PictBridge • PictBridge
Dimensions *	129 x 98 x 62 mm (5.1 x 3.9 x 2.4 in)
Weight (no battery) *	475 g (1.0 lb)
Software	• Zoom Browser EX / ImageBrowser • PhotoStitch • EOS Utility (inc. Remote Capture; Windows & Mac except Mac Intel) • Digital Photo Professional (Windows / Mac)

If you want a full on review go on over to dpreview keep in mind their prices are a bit outdated.