Amateur here, need some advice... are processors really important?

bambino · Apr 10, 2011

Hi all!

Well, Im about to buy my first DSLR camera, so Im on a basic level

Im mostly interested on portrait photos (just like in weddings and the like, just as a hobby, not for comercial purposes, of course!)

So, doing some research, I came to these options:

Canon Eos Rebel XS
Canon Eos Rebel T3
Canon Eos Rebel T1i

And as I see, for my purpose and for the use Im going to give to it, I think the only important difference between Rebel XS and the others is the Digic 3 versus Digic 4 processor.

I was tempted to buy t3 or t1i because I read that Digic 4 provides sharper images under low light (of course, providing you have a high quality lens that allows enough light to get to the sensor)

Im unclear whether Rebel XS has the same kind of sensor than T3 and T1i

Would you please give some input on this? It seems to me as if Digic 4 represents little improvement over Digic 3. What do you think about it?

And still, lens quality would be more important in any case, right?

Finally, in additon to my new camera, I will be getting an EF 50mm f1.8 II lens, for portrait purposes. Do you think it is a wise decision?

Well, hope you can help me to take a decision regarding what camera and what lens to buy.

by the way, high megapixel and the ability to take Full HD video and HDMI connection is not something Im excited about... My concern is whether digic 4 will give me noticeable sharper images than digic 3

Thanks to you all!!

bam

dxqcanada · Apr 10, 2011

I don't know anything about the Canon's ... but here is a comparison chart of the sensors (though the T3 is pre-production):

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/en/Camera-Sensor/Compare/Compare-sensors/%28appareil1%29/270|0/%28appareil2%29/693|0/%28appareil3%29/586|0/%28onglet%29/0/%28brand%29/Canon/%28brand2%29/Canon/%28brand3%29/Canon

KenC · Apr 10, 2011

Of those three cameras the noise at the same ISO setting will be least for the T3, a little more for the T1i and the most for the XS. A good rule of thumb is to look at the maximum regular ISO setting available on the camera (not the "extended" settings). The highest setting is likely to be very noisy, with quite a bit of improvement at the next highest. At two settings from the max, you shouldn't really see the noise in a page size print. I think the max settings for these cameras are 6400 for T3, 3200 for T1i and 1600 for XS. Of course, if you're only likely to make smaller prints or view at a small size, or if you are going to use a tripod and a low ISO setting, then it won't matter much and you could just go for the lowest price. However, if there isn't a big difference in price, you might regret not having the better processor later on.

DennyCrane · Apr 10, 2011

^^^This. Although the T1i can extend ISO to 12,800. It's the Digic 4 processor(s) in the cameras that make the low-light/high ISO ability shine. Although my T1i can shoot at 12.8k ISO, it's barely effective over 1600. Look at a 7d (dual D4 processors if I recall correctly) and compare and you'll see massive advantages in low-light images. There's a lot of other factors that processors make, but in my experience, it's the ISO factor that matters most.

KmH · Apr 10, 2011

Image sharpness is affected by many things more variable than the image processing engine the camera uses, like the quality of the lens, the shutter speed, and the depth-of-field.

The EF 50mm f/1.8 II is inexpensive for a reason, poor build quality. The optics aren't bad, but, the lens only has 5, square edged aperture blades making for very jittery and nervous looking bokeh. Many people have had the lens break into 2 pieces from moderate impacts.

50 mm is a fairly limiting focal length for doing portraiture.

djacobox372 · Apr 10, 2011

The high-iso (low light) capability of a camera is the #1 feature that affects a camera's desirability and price (by far).

Think of it this way: people will pay more then twice as much for a lens that is just one stop faster then another, so a camera that is 2-3 stops better in iso performance is a major upgrade.

bambino · Apr 10, 2011

KmH said:
Image sharpness is affected by many things more variable than the image processing engine the camera uses, like the quality of the lens, the shutter speed, and the depth-of-field.

The EF 50mm f/1.8 II is inexpensive for a reason, poor build quality. The optics aren't bad, but, the lens only has 5, square edged aperture blades making for very jittery and nervous looking bokeh. Many people have had the lens break into 2 pieces from moderate impacts.

50 mm is a fairly limiting focal length for doing portraiture.

Thanks, I have read similar comments about that lens, fragile very fragile.

For portrait, what lens would you recommend? (I mean, for an amateur guy like me)

Thanks

bambino · Apr 10, 2011

Thanks, very useful page!

bambino · Apr 10, 2011

KenC said:
Of those three cameras the noise at the same ISO setting will be least for the T3, a little more for the T1i and the most for the XS. A good rule of thumb is to look at the maximum regular ISO setting available on the camera (not the "extended" settings). The highest setting is likely to be very noisy, with quite a bit of improvement at the next highest. At two settings from the max, you shouldn't really see the noise in a page size print. I think the max settings for these cameras are 6400 for T3, 3200 for T1i and 1600 for XS. Of course, if you're only likely to make smaller prints or view at a small size, or if you are going to use a tripod and a low ISO setting, then it won't matter much and you could just go for the lowest price. However, if there isn't a big difference in price, you might regret not having the better processor later on.

Yes, well, mainly, I will be taken pictures in such conditions, enough light, a tripod and a low ISO. Well, T1i is about US$200 above XS, but T3 is less than $100 above than XS.

Thanks for your input!!

bambino · Apr 10, 2011

DennyCrane said:
^^^This. Although the T1i can extend ISO to 12,800. It's the Digic 4 processor(s) in the cameras that make the low-light/high ISO ability shine. Although my T1i can shoot at 12.8k ISO, it's barely effective over 1600. Look at a 7d (dual D4 processors if I recall correctly) and compare and you'll see massive advantages in low-light images. There's a lot of other factors that processors make, but in my experience, it's the ISO factor that matters most.

7d would be too expensive for me. Thanks for your input, I will consider whether Im going to take pictures at any high ISO. I don't know under which circumstances I will ever use any more than ISO 800, but probably, as I get more and more into this fascinating world...

ziplock122949 · Apr 10, 2011

I would suggest the T3. The XS and T1i are a few years old and have more noise at higher ISO. This will save you a lot of time in post processing and in some cases (low light) allow you to get an acceptable shot with the high ISO that the other 2 cameras would not have been able to get.