Best upgrade?

[hsmoscout]

So Ihaven't had my XS for that long now but there are already a few things that are begining to bug me, mainly the high ISO performance and the fact that the ISO only goes up to 1600. I was looking at upgrade choices and the T1i caught my eye. Would this be the best option for <$800? Will I see a big improvement at high ISOs?

[asamimasa]

If you can spring a little more for the 50D you'll get a lot more high ISO options

[philwillmedia]

Originally Posted by hsmoscout

So Ihaven't had my XS for that long now but there are already a few things that are begining to bug me, mainly the high ISO performance and the fact that the ISO only goes up to 1600. I was looking at upgrade choices and the T1i caught my eye. Would this be the best option for <$800? Will I see a big improvement at high ISOs?

How often do you shoot at ISO1600 or have the need to go above that?

[FuturamaJSP]

The 50D isn't very good at high ISO it produces quite noisy images when shooting at ISO 1600 and higher. You may want to take a look at the new T2i which seems to handle higher ISO much better.

[shedberg]

Originally Posted by hsmoscout

So Ihaven't had my XS for that long now but there are already a few things that are begining to bug me, mainly the high ISO performance and the fact that the ISO only goes up to 1600. I was looking at upgrade choices and the T1i caught my eye. Would this be the best option for <$800? Will I see a big improvement at high ISOs?

I think the T1i is a great upgrade for under $800. ISO performance is what finally pushed me to upgrade from my XSi, and I've never regretted it.

[snakeman55]

I'd personally rather get a used 40D or 50D.

My 50D isn't very noisy at 1600, and I find 3200 very usable. 6400 is noisy, but is also still usable.

[watt100]

Originally Posted by snakeman55

I'd personally rather get a used 40D or 50D.

My 50D isn't very noisy at 1600, and I find 3200 very usable. 6400 is noisy, but is also still usable.

Originally Posted by asamimasa

If you can spring a little more for the 50D you'll get a lot more high ISO options

think so? check this site out for comparisons
www.dxomark.com
The newer T2i (550D) may be the cheapest upgrade for ISO performance but all the crop models are similar

[DStanic]

I agree from the reviews I've seen the T2i (which uses the same or very similar to 7D sensor) has very good high ISO performance for a crop.

40D is good at 1600 and OK at 3200, but that's as high as it goes. The 50D can go higher (6400 and 12800?) but very noisey at those settings. Those cameras are probably not a huge leap over the XS but it depends how picky you are (if you compare to say a 5D or even 7D). I think there are lots of other reasons to upgrade the XS so I will not argue that you should get glass first (although you could definitely use some faster glass and not need to use ISO1600 as much).

[hsmoscout]

Originally Posted by philwillmedia

How often do you shoot at ISO1600 or have the need to go above that?

I almost never shoot at ISO 1600 because I don't even find it useable, so I miss a lot of good shots.

Originally Posted by DStanic

I think there are lots of other reasons to upgrade the XS so I will not argue that you should get glass first (although you could definitely use some faster glass and not need to use ISO1600 as much).

Yeah, I know the glass before camera rule, but that rule has to stop somewhere.

[watt100]

Originally Posted by hsmoscout

I almost never shoot at ISO 1600 because I don't even find it useable, so I miss a lot of good shots.


Yeah, I know the glass before camera rule, but that rule has to stop somewhere.

maybe you miss a lot of shots because of what you don't know!

The XSi/450D also doesn't go beyond 1600 but just shoot in RAW and you can go up to 3200 ! This was shot with the XSi at ISO 1600 at night with the 55-250IS (exposure bumped up in post processing and noise reduction applied)