Canon EOS Digital
Rebel XSi
 vs
Canon Rebel
T1i

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi vs Canon Rebel T3

Canon EOS Rebel T1i

54
"The menu design is very intuitive and for everybody stepping up from a digital compact camera the Quick Control Screen will be a welcome alternative to changing settings via the hard buttons."
dpreview.com | talking about the T1i's button-layout
"Construction is good with no creaks or rattles."
dpreview.com | talking about the T1i's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T1i

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 20fps
Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
159 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

40
"Lots of external controls including new ISO button give instant access to commonly changed functions"
dpreview.com | talking about the Rebel XSi's button-layout
"Just like the EOS 400D the 450D is primarily made from three materials; a stainless steel chassis, the mirror box which is made of high-strength 'engineering plastic' and the body made of a special lightweight 'engineering plastic' which also provides some electromagnetic shielding. Construction is very good with no creaks or rattles."
dpreview.com | talking about the Rebel XSi's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
160 ms shutter lag
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
2.4"

differences

Advantages of the Canon Rebel XSi
Color depth Better color depth 21.9 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.2 more bits of color
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 692 ISO vs 663 ISO
Help
 The Rebel XSi has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Battery life Longer battery life 500 shots vs 400 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Learn more about
the Canon Rebel XSi

Advantages of the Canon T1i
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 20fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
 0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
True resolution Higher true resolution 15.1 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 63.0 vs 61.0
Help
 Almost the same
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The T1i's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 22.3x14.9mm vs APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
Help
 Almost the same
Canon EOS Rebel T1i Learn more about
the Canon T1i
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
40 vs 54
Explain scores
Canon Rebel T1i Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon EOS Rebel T1i.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonEOS Digital Rebel XSi
 Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi vs Canon EOS Rebel T1i
CanonRebel T1i
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
6
6
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
4
7
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
5
6
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
4
6
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
3
8
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
4
8
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
162 lenses
Screen size Larger than average screens Help
3.0"
Shutter lag Minimal shutter lag Help
Rebel XSi:160 ms
T1i:159 ms
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
Rebel XSi:400 ms
T1i:300 ms
Size Fairly small Help
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Thickness Very thin Help
2.4"
Weight Light weight Help
Rebel XSi:524 g
T1i:520 g
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
Rebel XSi:1,600 ISO
T1i:3,200 ISO
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
Rebel XSi:3.5 fps
T1i:3.4 fps
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Focus points Few focus points Help
9
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
Rebel XSi:APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
T1i:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Color depth Poor color depth Help
Rebel XSi:21.9 bits
T1i:21.7 bits
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
Rebel XSi:61.0
T1i:63.0
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
Rebel XSi:10.8 EV
T1i:11.5 EV
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
Rebel XSi:692 ISO
T1i:663 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$569 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T1i
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$379 body only

$459 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T1i
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T1i
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$624 - $800 body only

$869 - $1,100 with 18-135mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Rebel T1i
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has much better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T1i
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Entry-level DSLR

$369 - $595 body only

$449 - $469 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XS vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XS vs the Rebel T1i
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$879 - $1,304 body only

$1,139 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T1i

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi.

Canon EOS Rebel T1i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS Rebel T1i.

appearance

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Canon EOS Rebel T1i
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Find similar cameras

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discussion Which do you think is better?

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