To compare noise levels under real-life conditions we shot this scene with the Canon EOS 450D / XSi, EOS 400D / XTi and the Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 within a few moments of each other using each of their ISO settings. We tested each camera with their respective kit lenses and adjusted the focal length of each to deliver the same field of view. The lenses were set to f8 in Aperture Priority mode for optimum sharpness. The 450D / XSi's High ISO NR was set to the default OFF for this first set of results.

The image above was taken with the Canon EOS 450D / XSi at 27mm f8 and the original Large Fine JPEG measured 4.86MB. As before we matched the exposures of the Sony A350 and the earlier Canon 400D / XTi to those metered by the new EOS 450D / XSi. This involved applying positive compensation to the other two models. The crops are taken from an area just below and to the left of the centre. They're reproduced at 100% and show gradually smaller areas from left to right as the sensor resolutions of the respective cameras increase.

Note Sony has asked us to describe the A350 sample tested as a pre-production model, but running the same version 1.0 firmware as final retail samples, we're confident the output below is close or identical to what you can expect. We will update this page with results from a final retail A350 in the future.

At 100 ISO, all three cameras deliver clean results as you'd expect, although as illustrated on our first results page, there's not a significant difference in terms of real-life detail recorded when each camera is equipped with their respective kit lenses. Increase the sensitivity to 200 ISO and both Canon's are still delivering clean results, but look closely at the Sony sample and arguably some of the finest details in the foliage areas are looking less defined than before.

With all three cameras set to 400 ISO, this difference becomes more apparent. The two Canons are again pretty much neck in neck, but the quality of the Sony A350 image is noticeably reduced, with smearing of ultimate detail. This become worse at 800 ISO, with the two Canon's delivering greater detail.

At 1600 ISO, all three cameras are understandably showing the effects of noise, but again the Sony A350 is suffering the worst. Sony then bravely offers a 3200 ISO option that's missing from the Canons, but the result ain't pretty. Perhaps Canon was sensible not to offer 3200 ISO on the 450D / XSi after all.

So all in all, a good result here for the 450D / XSi, which both beats our Sony A350 sample at 200 ISO and above, while essentially matching the noise levels of its predecessor throughout the sensitivity range, despite the increase in resolution.

The Canon EOS 450D / XSi offers optional High ISO Noise Reduction, which according to the manual is actually applied at all sensitivities. To see the effect of this, scroll to the bottom of this page. Alternatively, to see more real-life images taken with the 450D / XSi across its entire sensitivity range including several taken indoors under low light, check out our EOS 450D / XSi Sample Images page.

Canon EOS 400D / XTi default settings		Canon EOS 450D / XSi High ISO NR off (default)		Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 High ISO NR on (default)
100 ISO		100 ISO		100 ISO
200 ISO		200 ISO		200 ISO
400 ISO		400 ISO		400 ISO
800 ISO		800 ISO		800 ISO
1600 ISO		1600 ISO		1600 ISO
3200 ISO not available		3200 ISO not available		HI (3200 ISO)