t3i body VS. rebel xt body?

Question

Dear photography enthusiasts/know-it-alls:
I'm new to photography; it's a recently discovered passion of mine, and while I know how to click the button and zoom in and out and how to make a good picture, I can't say I am anywhere close to being an expert on the art of photography..
My mom gifted me her camera along with two lenses (one being a macro lens) the start of this summer, and it's a Canon eos rebel XT.
I have interest in the canon rebel t3i however, while I am so grateful for this camera I have right now and I use it every day. It's awesome. But an upgrade, at a reasonable time, would be pretty sweet.
My question for you all is, if I purchased the canon rebel t3i body, and put on my lenses I am currently using, would the quality of my pictures improve? Would it be wiser to purchase the t3i along with a lens? Are the lenses different at all, and what other noticeable differences would I see between pictures taken with my rebel xt body and the t3i body?

Thank you for your time!

Answer 1

http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-T3i-vs-Canon_EOS_Digital_Rebel_XT

Despite the list of advantages, the only major difference between the two is the video features on the T3i.



The T3i does have double the resolution, but your lenses and fundamental skills will determine whether the resolution is put to good use. Higher resolution may reveal finer details, but it can also blur what would have been sharp edges at lower resolution. Does a cake taste twice as good if you cut it into smaller pieces?



(Bit depth is reported wrong for both cameras—T3i shoots 14 bits/channel in raw, while the XT shoots 12 bpc.)



Unless you want to dive into video, there isn't a compelling reason to get the T3i. Your XT is still a very capable camera. If you feel fine with the lenses, maybe look into getting a Speedlite.

Answer 2

From the XT, get at least a 60D to see what you've been missing.



At any rate, you will notice that your pictures won't improve (much if not at all). That's because picture quality depends mostly on you. The camera (and lenses) are only tools.

Answer 3

Apart from Live View and video (one a great way to run down your batteries, and the other completely unnecessary) the T3i does nothing that the XT can't do as well.



If you want to spend money, buy a flashgun, but the only reason to, 'Upgrade,' is if your existing camera is broken.

Answer 4

This picture

http://www.martingrumet.com/canada14jan09-01dawson1500.jpg

was taken with a Nikon D60 with 18-200mm AF-S VR. Nikon VR (vibration reduction) is equivalent to Canon IS (image stabilization).

My tripod was in my checked baggage. ISO 400, f6.3, 1/13th second.

If I would have turned up ISO there would have been more noise. As it is you can see a trace of chroma noise in the woman's blue parka. A wider aperture would have given me less depth of field. And without vibration reduction I would not have gotten this kind of sharpness at 1/13th second.



So the moral of the story is that when you upgrade your body, do get the kit lens, because image stabilization is worth having.