Upgrade XSi ti T3i ?

Will I see an improvement in IQ ? I actually think the XSI produces stunning pictures at base ISO. The metering tends to overexpose badly outdoors - other wise color, detail and tonality is fantastic. I would just keep the XSI to be honest and may still do so, but I long for a better screen, better metering and better high ISO performance. Focusing isn't that great on the XSI either, even with center point focus enabled. I can live with the XSI, but I wanted to know who upgraded and what their experience was.

I just take pictures of my girls, looking for bang for the buck.

Not sure if you'll notice IQ improvement or not, that will depend on many factors.

The screen on the T3i is very nice and certainly an improvement on the XSi...High ISO performance meets my needs up to ISO 3200,YMMV.

Sorry but the AF system is not much of an improvement over that of the XSi, in fact it's about the same.

You won't see better photos, but you may see more of good ones. My XTi produced stunning IQ when it nailed the AF, EC and there was enough light. With T3i, I don't have to worry about these three variables as much.

How is your lens collection? You may benefit by putting money towards a quality lens. Moved to the 7d but still use my Xsi here and there - great camera when the light is right.

firefighter4u wrote in post #15209618
How is your lens collection? You may benefit by putting money towards a quality lens. Moved to the 7d but still use my Xsi here and there - great camera in the when the light is right.

Just have the 50 1.4.

watson76 wrote in post #15209167
Will I see an improvement in IQ ? I actually think the XSI produces stunning pictures at base ISO. The metering tends to overexpose badly outdoors - other wise color, detail and tonality is fantastic. I would just keep the XSI to be honest and may still do so, but I long for a better screen, better metering and better high ISO performance. Focusing isn't that great on the XSI either, even with center point focus enabled. I can live with the XSI, but I wanted to know who upgraded and what their experience was.

I just take pictures of my girls, looking for bang for the buck.

No, you won't see an improvement in image quality unless you count MORE MEGAPIXELS as improvement. All of the new fangled crop sensor "improvements" have essentially been high ISO banding improvements... at the cost of sensor latitude (=shadow banding) at low ISO. If you need high ISO on your XSi, just underexpose and push process (assuming you shoot in RAW).

AF has been the same from the XTi through the T3i - an average 9-point system. The Classic Rebel, XT, and XS have an inferior 7-point AF system, and the T4i has the 40/50/60D's 9-cross-point AF system.
You should consider upgrading your glass instead.

Don't. I went from an xsi to a 60d, and iq is same, higher iso is better, and autofocus is much better. Biggest upgrades making me happy are the dual dials, top LCD, and better viewfinder. Basically, 60d yes, you can make a great argument for that upgrade for those things. IQ wise, no. I would not go from an xsi to any current rebel. Get glass.

Unless your Xsi is limiting you, I would spend the money on another (perhaps more flexible) lens. For example, I shoot more and more sports so I decided to purchase a 7d. Is there a differrence in IQ? probably, but put my 70-200 lens on either body and both will produce very nice images - IMO.

evilr00t wrote in post #15210214
No, you won't see an improvement in image quality unless you count MORE MEGAPIXELS as improvement. All of the new fangled crop sensor "improvements" have essentially been high ISO banding improvements... at the cost of sensor latitude (=shadow banding) at low ISO. If you need high ISO on your XSi, just underexpose and push process (assuming you shoot in RAW).

AF has been the same from the XTi through the T3i - an average 9-point system. The Classic Rebel, XT, and XS have an inferior 7-point AF system, and the T4i has the 40/50/60D's 9-cross-point AF system.
You should consider upgrading your glass instead.

I saw a major improvement in AF accuracy when I traded XTi for a T2i. Perhaps the type of AF points hasn't changed, but Canon did something with their firmware ?

I'd recommend getting a 60D instead of a T3i.

Amamba wrote in post #15213488
I saw a major improvement in AF accuracy when I traded XTi for a T2i. Perhaps the type of AF points hasn't changed, but Canon did something with their firmware ?

I have both and I did not see any improvement in AF accuracy - only speed. Perhaps you're just seeing body-to-body focusing differences, since these bodies don't have microadjust.

Of course, the T2i has live view so you can completely ignore phase detect AF accuracy if you're willing to slow down and use live view.

The SXi is a great camera. If you don't need to shoot in high ISO, invest your money on better glass

evilr00t wrote in post #15213865
I have both and I did not see any improvement in AF accuracy - only speed. Perhaps you're just seeing body-to-body focusing differences, since these bodies don't have microadjust.

Of course, the T2i has live view so you can completely ignore phase detect AF accuracy if you're willing to slow down and use live view.

This may be true. My XTi did have focusing issue early on that Canon repair center corrected. Perhaps the correction wasn't complete. To be honest it wasn't that bad, I just had slightly fewer keepers than with T2i/T3i. The iffy metering was much worse. Still, some of my best shots were with XTi.