Canon has unveiled the new headliner for its entry-level series of digital SLRs. The 12.2-megapixel EOS Rebel XSi features several higher-end functions, including Live View, that debuted on the EOS-1DS Mark III professional SLR. The camera body is composed of a lightweight combination of stainless steel, polycarbonate and glass fiber.

The XSi features a 230,000-pixel, three-inch LCD screen that allows seven brightness settings for viewing under different lighting conditions. An APS-C size CMOS sensor employs large microlenses to reduce noise and enhance sensitivity up to ISO 1600, which is ideal for high-quality imaging in low lighting. The 14-bit analog-to-digital conversion process allows the XSi to record up to 16,384 colors per channel and produce more accurate gradations of color.

The camera also features Canon's latest proprietary image-processing engine, the DIGIC III, allowing for the precise recording of details and natural colors. It also manages the XSi's energy consumption and high-speed signal processing.

The XSi is also the first camera in the Rebel series to feature an enhanced Live View, which allows users to frame shots through the LCD screen rather than through the viewfinder. A new "Live Mode" allows the camera to focus automatically during Live View without lowering its reflex mirror.

An improved autofocus and a framing rate capable of 3.5 frames per second allow for up to 45 JPEG images or six frames in RAW. The XSi can be paired with up to 60 different compatible Canon EF or EF-S lenses. The EOS Rebel XSi body-only kit has at an estimated retail price of $799; the EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens kit is $899.