XSi, Xti or stick with our XT??

My wife is selling her Rebel XT as she wanted to downsize to a portable compact. We are going to the UK next year and I'm considering my options, which seem to be to to purchase the XT from her (she needs the money to offset the cost of her Olympus SP570, so it's not a simple case of I get to keep the camera) OR, for not much money, purchase a runout 400D which is going for not much money on Ebay, OR for a fair bit more money, the new XSi.
I have a 17-40L to sell which will go towards a 24-105L on whatever body it turns out to be. I'm flatly confused, not helped by the fact that IQ comparisons between the XTi and XSi are pretty rare. We print out at up to A3+ (approx 16 x 19in) and even the XT does this easily. Any help in IQ comparisons between the three models would be much appreciated. I have checked the photos on imagingresource, which seem to give a slight nod to the XSi but there doesn't really seem to a lot in it.

Just as well I have a year to sort this out......

Hal55

I would purchase the xti because it's cheaper than the new xsi and has all the bugs worked out. The screen is large, has sensor cleaner, 8.2 meg.pix. So the new one is 10.2 big deal! I have the xti and it shoots perfect! I like the info. on the large screen, not like the xt that was so small I had to put my reading glasses on....I think you can buy a new xti for a pretty low price....good luck.

I'd buy your wifes XT from her and invest the money into the glass you want.

The SD storage (Instead of my popular CF that I already have in abundant, very happily indeed) kills XSi for me.

Image sensor cleaning of XTi is enough for me to see ground to switch from XT to XTi.

If money an issue, I would review my other glass options. You 17-40 L is a lot of lens and of course though 28-105 L is a wonderful one too, it doesn't come cheap especially when not bought in bundle with body (Many New York camera seller just get the 5D bundle, separate the body and lens and sell them for a much more profit individually). I suggest (Especially if focal length of 17-40L is inadequate for what you need) to consider a Tamron 28-75 F/2.8 that believe it or not, has an unusual feature among all tamrons namely L quality color render and sharpness; Of course that F2.8 is unmatched by either higher class Canon masters and is quite handy for indoor or low light situations especially in many parts of Europe. Then a walk around lens with higher reach, either 70-200L (Any of the sisters, especially the F4 non IS that is the sharpest of all by small margin and comes cheapest) or an old Canon non-L 28-200 F/3.5-5.6 USM of the ebay. I have this last one and am very happy with general IQ given the focal range.

You simply won't go wrong with whatever you chose but can go much longer with the budgetwise politically correct decision.

I looked at the XSi last night out of boredom-it's a pretty sexy camera- way better than the XTi IMHO. It's got a lot of features I'd want if I was in that market.

XSi is great but if you want to watch a budget or get another lens, XTi sounds best to me based on sensor cleaning, 10MP (not 8 ), and larger LCD. XT is just too outdated now, but I'm sure it can take great pics. It sounds like you have a good lens option right now too so I would just go for an XTi body.

I've owned the XT, XTi, 30D and now 40D. I liked the feel of the XTi MUCH better than the XT. Just my personal preference. I'd say get an XTi and sell the 17-40 for a 17-50 Tamron 2.8 which is a nice walkaround. Also, the difference from the 17-40 can be used towards the XTi.

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

Let her sell her XT to someone outside the family, let her buy what she likes. Then you buy the new XSi ~~

hal55 wrote in post #5412346
purchase the XT from her Hal55

ajosteve wrote in post #5413331
I would purchase the xti because it's cheaper than the new xsi and has all the bugs worked out. The screen is large, has sensor cleaner, 8.2 meg.pix. So the new one is 10.2 big deal! I have the xti and it shoots perfect! I like the info. on the large screen, not like the xt that was so small I had to put my reading glasses on....I think you can buy a new xti for a pretty low price....good luck.

The XTi has 10.2 MP. the new XSi has 12.2

The XT is on Ebay now, item number 260234609959 but is an Australian listing.
I've looked at the tamron 28-75, which is very attractive for the money, but I'm not sure it's long enough, even on a crop body. The whole idea is to travel light on this holiday, which pretty much means one lens.
I think it comes down to IQ, if the xsi takes a better shot on a print up to 16 x 19in I'd probably try and go for it, but that's the million dollar question, will I see a difference? Also. the sample shots on imagingresource seem to have used the standard "old" 18-55 kit lens for the xti test shots, but the focal length listed for the xsi shots is 70mm, so clearly they've used a far superior lens. Makes comparing the two darn difficult.

Thanks for the help all,

Hal55

ajosteve wrote in post #5413331
I would purchase the xti because it's cheaper than the new xsi and has all the bugs worked out. The screen is large, has sensor cleaner, 8.2 meg.pix. So the new one is 10.2 big deal! I have the xti and it shoots perfect! I like the info. on the large screen, not like the xt that was so small I had to put my reading glasses on....I think you can buy a new xti for a pretty low price....good luck.

The XTi is 10.2 mp and the new XSi is 12.2 mp. I think the XT may have been the 8mp. Just wanted to clear that up.

The XT1..I can't understand why Canon went to those pissy little SD cards for the XSi..

BTW,, I've been shooting with 350D for 3 years now,,,I surely won't change..

yogestee wrote in post #5416544
The XT1..I can't understand why Canon went to those pissy little SD cards for the XSi..

BTW,, I've been shooting with 350D for 3 years now,,,I surely won't change..

They went with the little SD card because I have the USB adapter for my Mac.

Go for XTi

350D / XT - 8MP
400D / XTi - 10MP
450D / Xsi - 12MP

Not sure about the decimal points so I rounded them down, if you don't mind.

Just my thoughts. Feel free to correct me. Many people are pretty satisfied with the 350D that they didn't feel the need to upgrade to the 400D. To over simplify, the difference between the two are the rear LCD, image sensor and self-cleaning system. My first venture into the DSLR world is with the 400D which I am happy to say have given me satisfying results. When the 40D came out, I salivated and craved but I told myself that the faster frame rate and live view will have to wait... budget related reasons. When the 450D came out, hey, nice features. Aligned with the 40Ds live view, not bad (they say it delivers better live view than the 40D, feel free to comment).

But the choice being 350, 400 or 450D, ask yourself how much are you really willing to spend? IMHO, spending on the 400D/XTi will be great. YOu still can use your 17-40L and CF cards from the 350D. Or you m ay want to consider looking at 30D's too.