Canon Xsi vs Canon T1i

Is it worth to pay a couple of extra hundred dollars for the T1i? I have enough money to purchase a beginners DSLR now, and I'm about to order. I was all set on the Xsi until I was recommended the T1i. However the Xsi is right in my budget range, and the T1i is a little over. So is it a good idea to invest a little more in the T1i? Thanks.

Depends on what you're planning to do with your images, how much budget this will leave you for lenses, etc.

While the body is important, the lenses are as much or more so. If buying the T1i means you won't have enough for anything but the kit lens, then perhaps getting the XSi for now, and getting another lens or two is better. Then when the refresh for the T1i comes out, you can upgrade to that body (or get the T1i for less).

On the other hand if you need the video, or you need some of the other options that the T1i has and the XSi doesn't, then better to go ahead and bite the bullet now.

FWIW...

That's good insight, thank you very much.

I would also suggest shooting with whatever you get for a while (especially if it is the XSi and you might have some money left over). Shoot until you find situations that frustrate you because you can't get the shot that you'd like. Then you'll know where to spend the money next. There are too many people that will tell you that you must do this or that, when only you can really tell what you like to shoot and what would be nicer than what you already have.

(Personally, I like to shoot low-light events/sports and decided that I wanted prime/non-zoom lenses because they give great results and can handle low light really well at the expense of convenience. I have learned how to quickly change lenses every few shots, but others might want super convenience and get a super zoom like the Tamron 18-270mm so they can concentrate more on framing the picture as they want and not the lens juggling that I end up doing.)

Also remember that there are different menu systems for selecting (for example) white balance or photo size/RAW. It depends on which you really prefer. Try going to a store to try it out.

Worth paying $150 more probably. $200 mayyyybe. $300 no way. Imho. Do you need video and the better high iso?

I wouldnt say the ISO is better on the T1i, just higher. I had the XSi and now have the T1i and really don't see a difference in image quality. I like the T1i for the better screen, better build, a few more MP and video.

XSi is great, and many would argue the quality is better than the 40D or 50D.

go with the xsi and use the money left over to buy accessories.

how cheep are you looking at? I got my T1i refurb from adorama without a lens for $530. I don't think they offer that anymore though.

Well I know a buddy who can get the T1i for $700 Brand new with the kit lenses. My other choice would be the Xsi, around $560 with kit lenses. I'm kind of edging for the T1i, but I'd rather pay the $560 compared to $700.

Erik_L wrote in post #9280752
XSi is great, and many would argue the quality is better than the 40D or 50D.

What exactly is better about an Xsi than a 40D or 50D? You obviously have never worked with a 50D much. Not bashing the Xsi as it is a great value but please elaborate on what an Xsi can do better?

I made a quick decision to buy the t1i a few months back. The package cost me $750 and came with the kit lens and 55-250. I always thought that i would have been better off buying the xsi and saving some money until I did some research. ISO 3200 is fairly noisy, but in a pinch is a useful feature of the t1i. Also, my rebel xt's screen size was a huge nuisance for me. The hi-res screen of the t1i is gorgeous. So in the end I made the right choice for my self.

Bradfordguy wrote in post #9280955
What exactly is better about an Xsi than a 40D or 50D? You obviously have never worked with a 50D much. Not bashing the Xsi as it is a great value but please elaborate on what an Xsi can do better?

Can't speak for the 50D, but the Xsi obviously beats the 40D in resolution, and in my informal tests I find it beats the 40D at ISO1600. Both fall to cr*p at 3200 though. The Xsi is a great imaging tool. At lower ISOs, the Xsi produces amazing images (WITH more pixels than the 40D)

This keeps coming up... T1i's 3200 ISO is very useable over the XSi's 1600, 15MP is nice but not a huge difference from 12MP, LCD is much better more than 3x the resolution, video is cool if you'll use it, low level SD card formatting. T1i takes 9 Raw, 170 JPEG bursts, XSi takes only 6 and 53 respectively (faster Digic IV processor). You can decide if that is worth it or if you want to get the XSi with the nifty fifty and some memory cards for the difference in price.

hpulley wrote in post #9282193
This keeps coming up... T1i's 3200 ISO is very useable over the XSi's 1600, 15MP is nice but not a huge difference from 12MP, LCD is much better more than 3x the resolution, video is cool if you'll use it, low level SD card formatting. T1i takes 9 Raw, 170 JPEG bursts, XSi takes only 6 and 53 respectively (faster Digic IV processor). You can decide if that is worth it or if you want to get the XSi with the nifty fifty and some memory cards for the difference in price.

Good point on the buffer size. Biggest complaint of my Xsi is the small buffer for shooting raws (more so than the 3FPS) My 40D can hold 17 raw files in the buffer