Xsi or T1i for beginner

A very budget limited friend is looking for a starter DSLR

I found two decent deals with kit lenses under $200 on flebay.

Is there any reason either of those cameras would be bad for a beginner?

GreatWhiteWing wrote:

A very budget limited friend is looking for a starter DSLR

I found two decent deals with kit lenses under $200 on fleabay.

Is there any reason either of those cameras would be bad for a beginner?

The XSi is 11 year old technology, the T1i only 10.

The XSi does not shoot video, but the T1i does.  The T1i also has greater resolution (15 mp v. 12 mp), and greater ISO range of 100-3200 (and extended to 6400/12800) v. the XSi's 100-1600.

Which "kit lenses"?

Digirame wrote:

If your friend could spend a tiny bit more, consider the Canon T2i (550D) camera with the 18mp sensor.

+1 It would be well worth it to get that 18 MP sensor.

R2

Either would be fine. The higher megapixel sensor would help but its not too important if budget is a primary concern. Rather than repeat what I have already written, I've had similar thoughts and experience on this subject heres my take on the budget issue.

https://akiwiretrospective.com/2017/11/04/enter-the-canon-eos-1000d-xs/

Lemming51 wrote:

GreatWhiteWing wrote:

A very budget limited friend is looking for a starter DSLR

I found two decent deals with kit lenses under $200 on fleabay.

Is there any reason either of those cameras would be bad for a beginner?

The XSi is 11 year old technology, the T1i only 10.

The XSi does not shoot video, but the T1i does. The T1i also has greater resolution (15 mp v. 12 mp), and greater ISO range of 100-3200 (and extended to 6400/12800) v. the XSi's 100-1600.

Which "kit lenses"?

The Xsi comes with a 18-55 f3.5-5.6 IS and 55-250 f4-5.6 IS and it's only $160 with a back pack

The other ad was confusing about lenses. I asked the seller to clarify but the photo looks like the 18-55 kit lens

We may also suggest spending her whole budget of $250 on a body and lend her our nifty 50. She could get a much more modern body in that price range.

Why not look at a SL1/100D which you can find on eBay used for a good price?  Or stretch and get a SL2/200D.

Slippery when wet.

Lepewhi wrote:

Why not look at a SL1/100D which you can find on eBay used for a good price? Or stretch and get a SL2/200D.

Slippery when wet.

That's an option should we go with a loaner lens deal

Thanks for the 411

GreatWhiteWing wrote:

A very budget limited friend is looking for a starter DSLR

I found two decent deals with kit lenses under $200 on flebay.

Is there any reason either of those cameras would be bad for a beginner?

Well she jumped pretty fasy and ordered the Xsi with two kit lenses for $160. Now she has money for a battery it will probably need

You can find a gently used SL1 with lens within the budget.

Ralph McKenzie wrote:

R2D2 wrote:

Digirame wrote:

If your friend could spend a tiny bit more, consider the Canon T2i (550D) camera with the 18mp sensor.

+1 It would be well worth it to get that 18 MP sensor.

Either would be fine. The higher megapixel sensor would help but its not too important if budget is a primary concern.

It's not just the MP count. At this level the higher MP cameras are better in just about every metric. In very significant ways.

I too owned both 15 MP and 18 MP bodies (put about 150K shots through them). I'd pick the T2i (550D) over the T1i every time ($30 more on FleaBay).

R2

GreatWhiteWing wrote:

Well she jumped pretty fasy and ordered the Xsi with two kit lenses for $160. Now she has money for a battery it will probably need

Well you tried! 

Just make sure she takes it out of full Auto and chooses a single AF point for starters.  Easy Pleasy from there, LOL!

I hope the two of you can spend some quality shooting time together!

Enjoy,

R2

R2D2 wrote:

Ralph McKenzie wrote:

R2D2 wrote:

Digirame wrote:

If your friend could spend a tiny bit more, consider the Canon T2i (550D) camera with the 18mp sensor.

+1 It would be well worth it to get that 18 MP sensor.

Either would be fine. The higher megapixel sensor would help but its not too important if budget is a primary concern.

It's not just the MP count. At this level the higher MP cameras are better in just about every metric. In very significant ways.

I agree with your statement but as I have observed  budget can often be the overriding factor. I had the same problem, extremely limited budget and managed to get a 1000D and two lenses and battery for $2OO NZD. I have since added to this with the 650D but even then the same constraints apply. Its bloody hard to service a hobby when you are on a fixed income and yours is the only income coming into the household.

. There were plenty of other cameras at 30 to 50 dollars more but when budget is constrained MP dont count for much.I too owned both 15 MP and 18 MP bodies (put about 150K shots through them). I'd pick the T2i (550D) over the T1i every time ($30 more on FleaBay).

R2

Well, it seems like a pretty good deal to me.  Even when just considering the cost of the lenses, she probably got the camera for free.  And as we all know, the lenses are the more important part.  She has a good place to build from.  Maybe she'll post some of her first pictures;-))

R2D2 wrote:

GreatWhiteWing wrote:

Well she jumped pretty fasy and ordered the Xsi with two kit lenses for $160. Now she has money for a battery it will probably need

Well you tried!

Just make sure she takes it out of full Auto and chooses a single AF point for starters. Easy Pleasy from there, LOL!

I hope the two of you can spend some quality shooting time together!

Enjoy,

R2

It's actually a friend of my daughter but she comes to me for tech advice. She is the creative one. I am the more nerdy one..

Ralph McKenzie wrote:

I have since added to this with the 650D

I really enjoyed shooting with the 650D. I always felt that it punched way above its price range...

650D @ ISO 100. Click on "original size"

Canon 650D @ ISO 800. Click on...

AF is excellent too.  Click...

Happy shooting! Enjoy the wonderful camera!

R2

WOW! The picture of the eagle is priceless!!!

Lepewhi wrote:

WOW! The picture of the eagle is priceless!!!

Hey thanks!  I got really lucky on that one.  I'm very glad the equipment was up to it!

R2