Considering T2i for high ISO performance...

[HikerMark]

Years ago I got my wife a Canon Rebel XT. She uses a 75mm-300mm lens to take pictures of our daughter at gymnastics meets. I suggested she shoot at her highest ISO level (1600) and the largest aperature in Aperature Priority mode.

Resultant shutter times from a recent meet were a bit slow. My next step would be to suggest underexposing a bit (using exposure compensation), but I am considering buying her the T2i.

However, I am not sure of the quality of the pictures at elevated ISO settings. My Canon G-11 is great at ISO 1600, and terrible at ISO 3200. If we were to get similar noise levels with the T2i at ISO 3200, I wouldn't be happy. And I wouldn't mind getting pictures from the T2i using ISO 6400.

Any advise?
Thanks,
Mark

 

[FranDaMan]

I can put something up if you want.
I have the T2i (aka 550D)

 

[HikerMark]

Fran,
That would be great. I would love to see a shot at IS3200 and 6400 if you had something.
Mark

 

[FranDaMan]

Indoor low light conditions
1/15 sec
F 5.0
ISO 6400

 

[KmH]

The quality of photos made at high ISO has a lot to do with how accurate the exposure was.

The higher the ISO used, the closer to nailing the exposure you need to be.

Digital images look best when exposed for the highlights, but most people tend to underexpose, which usually has a negative impact on image quality.

 

[FranDaMan]

ISO: 3200
Belichting: 1/160 sec.
Diafragma: 5.6
Brandpuntsafstand: 300mm

 

[CCericola]

Why Aperture priority? I would think you would want to shoot action shots on shutter priority ( 1/125 or higher to stop action). Also, doesn't the rebel have a sports mode?

 

[HikerMark]

Fran and Erose, thanks for posting. That quality will work for our level of discrimination. I think I will pull the trigger on the camera. I know my wife will enjoy it.

CCericola and KmH, my wife is excellent at composing shots. Technically she favors automatic, and is not interested in learning more about the camera. I have found most program modes (like sports mode) to be a waste. They don't seem to me to generally select appropriate settings.

Shutter priority certainly works, however selecting 1/125 would have underexposed the photos in recent case , as the maximium aperature on the lens isn't large enough, and the ISO capability of the camera isn't high enough.

Admittedly I was considering arriving at the 1/125 shutter speed by having my wife use exposure compensation (I wasn't present when she took the last batch of pictures). And admittedly a better lens would likely result in better pictures than boosting ISO.

However, getting a new camera with higher ISO capability is more economical than a better lens. It also gets us some other benefits.

Thanks all for your help.
Mark

 

[KmH]

Technically she favors automatic, and is not interested in learning more about the camera.

What a waste.

 

[Novux]

I've upgraded to the T2i from the XT. It's a phenomenal difference. I have some low-light examples in my Flickr gallery in my signature. I rarely need to use anything higher than 1600.

 

[pdq5oh]

HikerMark, I had a T21 & thought high iso performance wasn't bad. I shot HS football and the band shows at night. Some fields were better than others re: lighting. When i got the exposure right, noise wasn't too bad. I shot a lot at 1600. I did sell it for a Nikon D7000 for what I feel is better high iso performance and faster focusing in low light.

 

[HikerMark]

Much time has passed, but I thought I would thank all that responded and helped me. Got me wife the T2i and it has been of great help at my daughter's gymnastic meets. I have been playing with the camera and I think I am going to get a macro lens for fun. I am also likely going take a photography course. I'll take her camera as I'll get more out of the course than if I take my compact. Anyway, thanks,
Mark