Canon Rebel XSI vs 50d or Full Frame Camera

[MagPie]

Have been a Rebel fan and just recieved the new XSI...Love it but would I have been better off to go with a full frame camera like the 50D or 5D...what are the advantages! Just confused now and with lenses...What would be the best for my XSI...I have 17-85 is and 70-300 is...do alot of portrait shots and weddings every now and then etc! Thank you...seems the more I read the more confused I get...have a great eye for photography, but need the equipment also and on somewhat of a budget!

[Bob Atkins]

The 50D isn't full frame. It has the same size sensor as the XSi (but with 15MP). The 5D and 5D MkII are full frame, but they are significantly more expensive.

This article - http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/full_frame_vs_aps-c.html - goes into some detail about the advantages and disadventages of full frame and crop sensors.

[KeithB]

Bob didn't touch the lens question.  I think the 17-85 and 70-300 are great for most applications.  You might want to add the 50 mm f/1.8 as a portrait lens to get you narrower depth of field.  (One of the Macro lenses could do that too, and get you macro capability, too.)

[MagPie]

ANY SUGGESTIONS ON MACRO LENS...I HAVE THE 50MM 1.8...HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO THE 10-22MM! WANT ANOTHER LENS BUT WITH SO MANY OPTIONS IT GETS CONFUSING! THANKS FOR THE REPLIES...THINK FOR NOW WILL STICK WITH MY XSI AND JUST PURCHASE ANOTHER LENS!

[Bob Atkins]

The EF-S 10-22/3.5-4.5 is probably the best superwide zoom for the XSi and right now it's included in the Canon Instant Rebate Program with $50 off. I have one myself and I can certainly recommend it.

When it comes to macro lenses, I'd look at the EF 100/2.8 Macro  or EF-S 60/2.8 Macro. They're both included the the current instant rebate program and both excellent lenses. If you're sticking with the XSi rather than going full frame, the EF-S 60/2.8 is probably the logical choice since it's smaller, lighter and cheaper than the EF 100/2.8

[KeithB]

Just to be clear, the 10-22 is not a *macro* lens it is a wide-angle zoom.  A macro lens allows you to focus on objects very close to the lens so that you effectively get a 1:1 life-size image.  That is, if you would print the image out at sensor size, the subject would be the same size as in real life.  It is used for getting close-up shots of bugs, flowers, jewelry and other stuff you want to enlarge. 

Because of their typical focal lengths, they also make pretty good portrait lenses since they tend to not be sooms and have pretty large apertures.

[MagPie]

Thank you guys for all the info...Love researching this sight...so much information! Think i will go with the 10-22mm and a macro! I have the battery grip on camera for a better feel and weight! So I may go with the EF 100/2.8...Looks like fun! Happy shooting and thanks again! Now just need to hit the lottery!!!

[Meziramar]

And what if price is not considered and quality is in priority, I mean absolute quality if it's possible ) Which Macro lens would you recommend?

[KeithB]

Probably the new 100 mm Macro with IS.  It is an EF lens so it will work with full frame and APS sized cameras.

But you need to give us more information:  What kind of camera do you have?  What kind of Macro shots do you take?  Is 1:1 enough?