Test: 5D Mk2 vs XSi. Input?

I have been using the Canon XSi (450D) for about 5 years now, and recently decided it's time for an upgrade. After much deliberation between the 5D Mk2 and Mk3, I decided to save myself about $1500 and go with the Mk2. Of course in my research here I read tons of info and rave reviews on the Mk2, and several threads comparing the Mk2 to the XSi, many of which boiled down to "no comparison, 5D is King."

I love the new camera, truly I do, but I wasn't seeing a lot of improvement in image quality, so I decided to do some real comparisons between the two. As far as photo quality goes, I'm wondering if I should have just saved myself the $2000 I spent on it and stuck solely with the XSi.

Here is a link to my test results.

I would love some feedback or suggestions on additional testing that might help me decide whether or not I just made a $2000 mistake. Don't get me wrong, I really love the 5D Mk2, the feel, fit, finish, features, all seem far superior to the XSi, but when it comes down to it, photo quality is the real test, and I'm just not seeing much difference.

missed focus on the first test and

second the ff camera looks better, but I don't think you maximized either cameras ability, if you did, the ff would look even better.

Higgs Boson wrote in post #14364447
missed focus on the first test and

second the ff camera looks better, but I don't think you maximized either cameras ability, if you did, the ff would look even better.

I thought the first test looked way more fuzzy than it should, but I relied on the autofocus on both cameras and aimed the AF point at the same place both times. Could it be that it was just too dark at that distance for the cameras to focus correctly?

I agree that I did not maximize either camera's capabilities, and I myself am probably not even capable of that, lol, but for this test I just wanted all things to be equal. I think I understand what you mean though, that the 5D will outshine the XSi once I figure out how to best use it? I suppose I have a lot of learning to do in that area.

Time to go out any enjoy your 5D2; any test between the old crop Vs 5D2 is pointless.

I'm getting rip off my 400D and 550D as soon as I get my 5D3; I like my crop, but their time are up as soon as I have my 2nd FF.

You need to do a better test. Your settings are all over the place.

Triple A wrote in post #14364501
You need to do a better test. Your settings are all over the place.

Yes, you're right, they are all different, I just put each camera in Aperture Priority and let the camera do the rest. The results look so similar to me. Maybe my tests would be more accurate as far as image quality if I were to shoot in manual and use the exact same settings? I really just want to be blown away by the 5D Mk2!

You should not crop the 2 images to the same size since you're doing a lot more cropping on the 5D2 image then on the XTI's

The first thing I see is that you were shooting your 50mm wide open. That lens at 1.4 is not the sharpest. Try the same experiment at 2.8 or so and see what happens. With the sigma you can clearly see how much sharper and detailed the 5D II is, and I think the colors are a bit more vibrant also.

vorlon1 wrote in post #14364538
The first thing I see is that you were shooting your 50mm wide open. That lens at 1.4 is not the sharpest. Try the same experiment at 2.8 or so and see what happens. With the sigma you can clearly see how much sharper and detailed the 5D II is, and I think the colors are a bit more vibrant also.

I will definitely give that a try with the Nifty Fifty. It could probably use a calibration or at least some cleaning, it's been dropped, broken my fall when I tripped over a log, and once it went missing for a month and I found it wedged behind the driver's seat of my car, which was a two-seater, so I was literally leaning against it for an hour every day. Canon makes some tough lenses!

I also saw the difference in sharpness and vibrance with the Sigma and it made me very happy!

Look forward to the results.