Is the T1i a dud? Image quality comparison

[z28dreams]

I picked up a Canon T1i about a year ago for a very good price.

Pretty much didn't bother to read the reviews, as I was able to get the body alone for about $370 brand new. Added a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 lens and called it a day.

I've recently been reading a few reviews of the camera, and noticed that there is a lot of negative feedback.

A few examples:

According to SnapSort, the T1i has "lower overall image quality" with a DXO Mark of 63
http://snapsort.com/cameras/Canon/EOS_Rebel_T1i

From Ken Rockwell:

If you're looking, the image files from the Rebel T1i looks poor at large magnifications. The common technical issues of noise and resolution and sharpness are fine. The problem is that the noise reduction is so strong, even at low ISOs, that while sharp edges remain sharp, even moderate textures get smoothed over.

To the educated observer, this makes the Rebel T1i images look as if they came from a point-and-shoot, with their need for severe noise reduction even at daylight ISOs.

This makes T1i images look slightly weird because the edges are all sharp, but distant bushes will have no texture, similar to cartoons. If you have grass and bushes receding into the distance, the close ones will show all the branches, and as they get farther away, suddenly all the details inside the bushes get smoothed over so they become green blobs, not bushes. Don't freak out; this is a subtle effect, but annoying once you learn to recognize it. Dealing with raw files instead of image files (JPG) may let you rectify this later in software; my life is too valuable to waste playing with raw files.

The 5D Mark II does this, too, but it can be reduced by turning off high ISO NR. Doing the same on the T1i doesn't improve anything. (to turn this noise reduction off for yourself, use C.Fn II 6 which you hit as MENU > click left or right to the Wrench with three dots > Custom Functions > click right to #5 > SET > Click down to DISABLE > SET)

This wouldn't be a problem for Canon if all DSLRs did the same thing, but if you worry about this, Nikons are a world better. Doing a direct comparison at my classified test range, results from a D300 look worlds better at 100%. The D300 looked like a real photo, and the T1i looked like a smudgy point and shoot.


A few other sensor comparisons from DXO Mark:

Overall score:

T1i/500d: 63
40D: 64
T3i/600d: 65
Nikon D3100: 67
Nikon D5000: 72

Not worth worrying about? Is there anything I can do to make images feel sharper? I've just not been impressed overall with the camera, though it's my first DSLR.

[RTPVid]

...Not worth worrying about? ....Bingo.

[acoustique]

I shot with a T1i for almost 2.5 years before moving to a 5D Mk2. While the improvement in images was significant, the T1i is no dud. I clicked some really good pictures with it and I wouldn't hesitate on buying one again if I needed a crop body.

Get some good glass like the Canon 17-55 2.8 IS and you will start seeing sharpness across the frame. Don't worry about the DxO scores. The time spent in pixel peeping, is time which you could have spent learning the camera and clicking some great pictures.

[Calicajun]

My wife shoots a T1i with a Canon 17-55 IS lens, I shoot a 7D Canon 24-105L IS lens and sometime our pictures get mix up in the same file folder. The only way we can tell them apart is to look at the file data. The T1i is no dud.

[crn3371]

Don't believe everything you read online. As for Ken Rockwell, that's a whole other can of worms.

[jwp721]

The best way to realize you have a problem is to visit the web. Join a forum and you have lost all chances of enjoying what you have.....

[Keyan]

DXO Mark is a purely technical comparison created with some specifications that a few guys drew up. It tells you nothing about the final image or how it does in the real world.

Ken..yeah, he has his own interesting opinions. He tends to contradict himself a lot. He's also "pixel peeping", bringing images up to 100% to nitpick detail.

[tonylong]

KR doesn't bother with shooting/processing Raw files, but it could be worth checking out with the T1i images. If the in-camera noise reduction is too strong, it's entirely possible that shooting Raw will alleviate that. I don't know, I don't have a T1i, but I do shoot Raw so I have more control over processing the images.

[Virto]

They scored the 40D at 64, and everyone who has touched one will tell you it can produce amazing images. The T1i was given a 63.

Go poke around the T1i users thread instead of reading Ken Rockwell's drivel.

[Veemac]

The best way to realize you have a problem is to visit the web. Join a forum and you have lost all chances of enjoying what you have.....
Well said...only I'd add, "The best way to realize you have a problem (whether you actually do or not) is to visit the web."

[gabebalazs]

It all depends on whose review you read. First of all, I don't give a rat's a$$ to DXO's ratings. If you believe them, some average, also-ran bodies are much better than some of the much more popular ones. (according to DXO there are a bunch of cheaper crop bodies that supposedly are better than the 7D). If it was for DXO, the perfect camera had a 1 pixel full frame sensor...

On the other hand, Popular Photography just raved about the T1i, it's definitely one of their most favorite bodies. BUT Popphoto tests cameras in a different way, so their review is again just another point of view.
I had a T1 i once and I liked it. I also had a 50D and I liked it too (very similar IQ from the two). It's not the body that will have the biggest impact on your pictures but mostly what's in front of it (the scene and your lens) and what's behind it = you.
The T1i is a perfectly capable camera.

[tagnal]

You can do a search on flickr for images taken with the t1i. If all of those images you see have a quality you would consider poor, then maybe you do have an issue with the camera. But, I'd think you'd realize that it's not the camera, but rather something else...

[kf095]

I have 500d, it provides good pictures with good glass, often SOOC.
With kit lens pictures are valuable with little PP.
Within my first year of owning of this camera I won few contests with amount of prizes equal to the price of 500d body.
No jpeg1 from camera of course. My life is to valuable to read Ken Rockwell and take his notes as valuable information ;)

[timberlandlh]

T1i a dud?.... not a chance. Below are a few of my learning captures with my T1i...

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii317/rangerdvs205/2010%20hot%20air%20jubilee/216.jpg

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii317/rangerdvs205/2010%20memorial%20day%20cabin%20trip/053.jpg

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii317/rangerdvs205/2010%20memorial%20day%20cabin%20trip/079.jpg

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii317/rangerdvs205/2011%20Fall%20TN/2011FallTNVacation3046.jpg

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii317/rangerdvs205/2011%20Fall%20TN/2011FallTNVacation4098.jpg

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii317/rangerdvs205/2011%20Fall%20TN/2011FallTNVacation4028.jpg

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii317/rangerdvs205/2011%20Ypsi%20air%20show/Ypsiairshow1168.jpg

[timberlandlh]

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii317/rangerdvs205/2011%20Ypsi%20air%20show/Ypsiairshow2011253.jpg

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii317/rangerdvs205/Budweiser%20Clydesdales/Bud8hitch81711069.jpg

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii317/rangerdvs205/Budweiser%20Clydesdales/Bud8hitch81711059.jpg

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii317/rangerdvs205/Budweiser%20Clydesdales/Bud8hitch81711074.jpg

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii317/rangerdvs205/Hawaii%202011/070.jpg

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii317/rangerdvs205/July%204%202011/July4atthecabin2011045.jpg

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii317/rangerdvs205/Mackinac%20Bridge%20Aug%202010/Aug2010Macinaw162.jpg

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii317/rangerdvs205/Memorial%20Day%202011%20TN/cabinmemorialday2011011.jpg

[timberlandlh]

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii317/rangerdvs205/Oct%202010%20TN/Oct2010TNtrip081.jpg

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii317/rangerdvs205/TN%20Easter%20Weekend%202011/TennesseeCabinEaster2011101.jpg

[NLe]

maybe it is

t1i w/50mm f1.8
http://djlhggipcyllo.cloudfront.net/3676323/b590ec4d8c028d24962832790084905225fbf79b/4.jpg

[boerewors]

I have the tamron lens that the OP uses and i can confirm that it is soft below f4. Check your exif and see what apertures you were using. I recomend using f4 and up.

[meeko031]

this camera is a POS, here are three shots I took using this body and kit lens

sample 1 (http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h433/shutter_dreams/museum/IMG_6815.jpg)
sample 2 (http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h433/shutter_dreams/museum/IMG_6849.jpg)
sample 3 (http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h433/shutter_dreams/museum/IMG_6851.jpg)

my professor in college told me that a computer is only as smart as the person in front of it!!!

go outside, use your camera and form your own opinion!!!!

[RobBnTX]

And as far as Snapsort's reviews goes I wouldn't give you a dime for 'em!! Totally worthless!!

[ejenner]

I don't know about the .jpeg output, but Raw and doing the NR and sharpening myself I think the images are pretty darn good and that's after getting the 5DII.

Since it's more of an entry level camera it would not surprise me if Canon put less effort/quality in the .jpeg processing than say in a 50D or 7D to somewhat hide the fact that the sensors are so similar.

When I compared Raw files taken with the different crop cameras from (DxO - I think it was from there) and process them myself, they are very comparable.

The only thing a little annoying is that ISO100 is not exactly 1/2 of ISO200.

Slightly off track, but if you compare say a 7D vs. T1i at the same ISO (as they do in reviews) it is a little misleading since the 7D ISO is a bit lower than the T1i (I think is was 1/3 - 1/2 stop). Not much in the grand scheme of things, but just enough to proclaim a slight improvement where none exists. Still they did pack a few more pixels in. Personally I suspect a ruse to hide the fact that the sensors are so similar, but maybe it's just the way the sensors are made and the gain electronics.

Bottom line: Don't believe everything you read in reviews, figure out how to get the best out of the camera and then if you are still not satisfied figure out if a different body (or maybe lens) will solve those shortcomings.

[mdnT1i]

Ken Rockwell is a fool. Took this with my T1i, and the Tamron 90mm 2.8 1:1macro. And I am not a "pro" by far.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/49053547@N07/4889746005/

[z28dreams]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

This is kind of the feedback I was expecting, as I was curious why it was getting such poor reviews.

I do feel that the images aren't quite as eye-popping sharp as I've seen from other cameras, but I'll keep looking around.

[Wide Boy]

Ken Rockwell is a fool.

I have to agree;

Ken Rockwell ..... my life is too valuable to waste playing with raw files

[RTPVid]

Actually, I understand where he is coming from with the RAW file comment, but a lot depends on how good the in-camera RAW to JPEG converter is (or can be set to be). PP with RAW is comparable (sort of) to doing your own darkroom work in the film days, and there were a whole lot of photographers (including professionals) who relied on the photo lab.

[amfoto1]

Notice that Ken ends his diatribe about the T1i by suggesting you get a Nikon instead. That's where his loyalties lie and he often disses Canon gear with half-assed reviews. Nikon used to use very heavy noise reduction on their cameras. Had to because they kept using CCD sensors that were noisy. Meanwhile, Canon went with CMOS sensors nearly from the start, when no one else did, and even built their own manufacturing facility (Nikon still buys their sensors from Sony). CMOS gave cleaner images at higher ISOs. Up through the D200, Nikon really struggled to match Canon image quality. Finally, beginnng with the D300, Nikon abandoned CCD for CMOS too (as has every other DSLR manufacturer). So now they are all on pretty equal ground.

But some of the hardcore Nikon faithful like KR are still licking their wounds from ten years of feeling very inadequate. I often shot with a friend who was a Nikon fan... My 30Ds would blow away the IQ of her D200s, despite being less expensive and having 20% lower resolution. D200 and earlier Nikon with CCD were fine for some things, but really fell apart at much over ISO 400. I could shoot all day in light that she had to stop shooting. When the D300 came out, she couldn't make the switch fast enough.

Best suggestion, stop reading KR... or at least take what he has to say with a grain of salt... and start learning to use your T1i. It's a quite capable camera, but only as good as the lens in front of it and the user behind it.

[I weston I]

If you want your images to really look dramatic, you need 2 things: quality lenses and a good post processing workflow. Otherwise, you will have a nice point and shoot.

Sure, a T1i with kit lens takes great images, but so does a S95. Throw a 35L on your T1i, add some selective sharpening, color balance, and dodge/burning, etc, and you will have images that will be very impressive. You can also get great images with the kit lens because composition, exposure, and proper focus are the most important overall things. Sharpness is something that just puts a good image over the top.

[JakAHearts]

Lol Visit both the T1i image threads here and you will see lots of great images and lots of crap images. (most from me)

Visit the 5DII image threads here and you will see lots of great images and lots of crap images. (most from me)

Thats about all.