Help me choose between Canon Rebel models
February 3, 2010 7:08 AM Subscribe
I am purchasing my first dslr camera and I've decided on the Canon Rebel series. How do I choose between the T1i with video, Xs or Xsi.
I understand the differences in megapixels, but what other things should consider before choosing?
I shoot mostly people in close distance, very minimal landscape, natural light, no flash, furthest distance would be a baseball game.
I have tried the side by side comparisons online, but I don't understand most of the tech jargon.
If I had to pick one factor that is most important, it would be frame per second speed and recycling time. In that respect they are all equal.
Bonus points for reasons I should or shouldnt invest in the extened warranty beyond the 1 year.
I would like to purchase this week, as a close friend has asked me to photograph the birth of her second child. I photographed her first with my cheapy point and shoot with decent success.
I shoot mostly people in close distance, very minimal landscape, natural light, no flash, furthest distance would be a baseball game.
I have tried the side by side comparisons online, but I don't understand most of the tech jargon.
If I had to pick one factor that is most important, it would be frame per second speed and recycling time. In that respect they are all equal.
Bonus points for reasons I should or shouldnt invest in the extened warranty beyond the 1 year.
I would like to purchase this week, as a close friend has asked me to photograph the birth of her second child. I photographed her first with my cheapy point and shoot with decent success.
I'm not an expert or anything but if you don't think you will have much use for video I would buy one of the older bodies and spend the extra money on a nice prime lens, the 50mm 1.4 or maybe a 30mm.
If money is tight the 50mm 1.8 is really cheap and would do awesome close portraits.
posted by ghharr at 7:34 AM on February 3, 2010
If money is tight the 50mm 1.8 is really cheap and would do awesome close portraits.
posted by ghharr at 7:34 AM on February 3, 2010
Response by poster: big music: thanks for link, that site is full of great info! I wouldn't wait to purchase the new model but in hopes of a drop in price!
ghharr: I have committed to the 50mm 1.8 from others suggestions as well as yours, thank you!
The video is my lowest priority and seems to need much improvement to hold up to a typical camcorder, but it would be nice to switch to video in a moment during the birth or anyother time....
posted by kgreerRN at 7:40 AM on February 3, 2010
ghharr: I have committed to the 50mm 1.8 from others suggestions as well as yours, thank you!
The video is my lowest priority and seems to need much improvement to hold up to a typical camcorder, but it would be nice to switch to video in a moment during the birth or anyother time....
posted by kgreerRN at 7:40 AM on February 3, 2010
I think I've heard that the T1i HD video is pretty great but if it's not that important you could buy an XSI body and a Flip HD video recorder for less than the T1i body cost.
Caveat: I've never used the Flip or the T1i but I have and like the XSi (and the 50mm 1.8)
posted by ghharr at 7:52 AM on February 3, 2010
Caveat: I've never used the Flip or the T1i but I have and like the XSi (and the 50mm 1.8)
posted by ghharr at 7:52 AM on February 3, 2010
I just did a side-by-side and they're very similar. The most notable differences in the T1i are:
-a few more megapixels that likely won't to matter to you unless you do some larger format stuff
-a super high speed option (3200) that I suppose could be helpful in really low-light situations since you say you don't use flash much
-an LCD a half inch larger than the Xs, with triple the dpi of the Xs and the Xsi
-video capability
Any of the three would be a great camera that would meet just about any average user's needs, so to me the key issue is the video. When I buy tech I'll be using regularly, I typically try to bite the bullet and buy for the future, not the present, so that I'm not regretting lack of functionality down the road, so I don't have to replace it sooner. Photography for me is more casual and occasional, though, so in my case I'd probably go for the Xs and save money. But if your camera is your buddy and you use it all the time, you might want to shoot for top shelf. I find the SLR shape a bit awkward for shooting video myself, but I also don't like to have to buy or carry multiple devices, so maybe somewhat awkward ergonomics would be an acceptable sacrifice to get all-in-one functionality and versatility.
The video option would be nice to have if it cost nothing extra - is it nice enough to you to spend an extra $150-200? That looks to be the average difference between the Xsi and the T1i. The answer to that will give you the T1i or eliminate it.
If eliminated, ask yourself whether you really need an extra 2 megapixels (12 vs 10) and an extra half inch of LCD (3 vs 2.5). I think 10mp is more than enough for the average user. Bigger screens are better, but I'd be fine with 2.5. Do you even use the screen or are you more of a viewfinder guy? If you want those things, decide if they're worth an additional $100-$140, which looks to be the average difference between the Xs and the Xsi, though there are always crazy deals to be found online.
Happy snapping.
posted by Askr at 8:18 AM on February 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
-a few more megapixels that likely won't to matter to you unless you do some larger format stuff
-a super high speed option (3200) that I suppose could be helpful in really low-light situations since you say you don't use flash much
-an LCD a half inch larger than the Xs, with triple the dpi of the Xs and the Xsi
-video capability
Any of the three would be a great camera that would meet just about any average user's needs, so to me the key issue is the video. When I buy tech I'll be using regularly, I typically try to bite the bullet and buy for the future, not the present, so that I'm not regretting lack of functionality down the road, so I don't have to replace it sooner. Photography for me is more casual and occasional, though, so in my case I'd probably go for the Xs and save money. But if your camera is your buddy and you use it all the time, you might want to shoot for top shelf. I find the SLR shape a bit awkward for shooting video myself, but I also don't like to have to buy or carry multiple devices, so maybe somewhat awkward ergonomics would be an acceptable sacrifice to get all-in-one functionality and versatility.
The video option would be nice to have if it cost nothing extra - is it nice enough to you to spend an extra $150-200? That looks to be the average difference between the Xsi and the T1i. The answer to that will give you the T1i or eliminate it.
If eliminated, ask yourself whether you really need an extra 2 megapixels (12 vs 10) and an extra half inch of LCD (3 vs 2.5). I think 10mp is more than enough for the average user. Bigger screens are better, but I'd be fine with 2.5. Do you even use the screen or are you more of a viewfinder guy? If you want those things, decide if they're worth an additional $100-$140, which looks to be the average difference between the Xs and the Xsi, though there are always crazy deals to be found online.
Happy snapping.
posted by Askr at 8:18 AM on February 3, 2010 [1 favorite]
When it comes to frame per second speed, I thought the main factor in that was the memory card you're using. Going for a high-speed card means you can save and take pictures much faster.
posted by lizbunny at 8:19 AM on February 3, 2010
posted by lizbunny at 8:19 AM on February 3, 2010
Hold on. I think I mixed up those model numbers. This is the comparison table I was using and I had things out of order. Also verify that those are the same models you are looking at (500D = T1i, btw). Also the prices seem to vary so widely from place to place that you should replace any cost difference range in my post with "are those features worth the price difference based on the best deal you can find for each?"
posted by Askr at 8:29 AM on February 3, 2010
posted by Askr at 8:29 AM on February 3, 2010
I am very happy with my rebel XT I bought 5 years ago, mp count is not so important, esp with the 50mm f/1.8 because the lens isn't that sharp wide open. The video on the T1i I believe is a bit weird in terms of frame rates for 1080p but is fine for 720p- but remember you'll have to manually focus when shooting video which kinda sucks.
If the bigger lcd is important to you that's a big sell point for the T1i I'd think. Noise is probably better on the T1i, but maybe not, the pixels are smaller so the image might be more noisy.
I'd wait for the T2i announcement, and then maybe get the XSi
posted by Large Marge at 9:52 AM on February 3, 2010
If the bigger lcd is important to you that's a big sell point for the T1i I'd think. Noise is probably better on the T1i, but maybe not, the pixels are smaller so the image might be more noisy.
I'd wait for the T2i announcement, and then maybe get the XSi
posted by Large Marge at 9:52 AM on February 3, 2010
generally speaking, image noise is "worse" with more dense sensors (15 megapixels versus 10), but check out the reviews and image samples here: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/
He has detailed discussions of all 3 models and compares image noise, etc. He also does a good job of explaining the technical jargon. I vote for the XSi, way better than the Xt, but still affordable.
skip the money wasting extended warranty. I have never had a gadged give out on me under warranty, or under what would have been an extra 1 year. Those warrantees are a racket stacked against consumers anyway.
posted by kenbennedy at 9:55 AM on February 3, 2010
He has detailed discussions of all 3 models and compares image noise, etc. He also does a good job of explaining the technical jargon. I vote for the XSi, way better than the Xt, but still affordable.
skip the money wasting extended warranty. I have never had a gadged give out on me under warranty, or under what would have been an extra 1 year. Those warrantees are a racket stacked against consumers anyway.
posted by kenbennedy at 9:55 AM on February 3, 2010
Having bought a lot of DSLR cameras in the last 10 years, here's my advice, which does not address your question directly.
Whatever you purchase, take good care of it, but not to the point where you're hesitant to use it the way you want.
Keep all of the packaging materials, all of the items originally included in the box, and keep them in good shape. I rarely if ever even remove the manuals and software disks from their plastic bags, since I prefer to download the PDF version of the manual as well as the latest software from the manufacturer's web site.
If, in a few years (or months, as the case may be), you want to upgrade, you'll be in a prime position to do so since a popular body like any of the Canon DSLR models will hold a considerable percentage of their value provided you do what I suggest above.
I make my living as a photographer and have flipped many high end DSLR bodies this way. You'd be surprised how little of a bath I take on 24-30 month old cameras when I sell them on a popular online auction site.
posted by imjustsaying at 1:41 PM on February 3, 2010
Whatever you purchase, take good care of it, but not to the point where you're hesitant to use it the way you want.
Keep all of the packaging materials, all of the items originally included in the box, and keep them in good shape. I rarely if ever even remove the manuals and software disks from their plastic bags, since I prefer to download the PDF version of the manual as well as the latest software from the manufacturer's web site.
If, in a few years (or months, as the case may be), you want to upgrade, you'll be in a prime position to do so since a popular body like any of the Canon DSLR models will hold a considerable percentage of their value provided you do what I suggest above.
I make my living as a photographer and have flipped many high end DSLR bodies this way. You'd be surprised how little of a bath I take on 24-30 month old cameras when I sell them on a popular online auction site.
posted by imjustsaying at 1:41 PM on February 3, 2010
« Older It's not just exaggeration, it's something else.... | USPS International Priority Mail Customs Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by bigmusic at 7:19 AM on February 3, 2010 [1 favorite]