Experience with Caon XSi as a bird photographer's back-up camera

[Glen Fox]

I currently use an XTi and 40D. My lenses are all L quality lenses and my longest focal length is 400mm/5.6 with 1.4x extender. So, I am wondering whether I can increase my reach through a modest increase in cropping by upgrading to a XSi and 50D.

I'd be interested in anyone's experience in this regard. Maybe I'm dreaming!

Many thanks,
Glen

[Ed Cordes]

I might consider keeping the 40D and upgrading your XTi to a 5D Mark II. While it is full frame you wil still get great images after croping the file. See the thread here:

http://www.birdphotographers.net/for...ad.php?t=27083

[Glen Fox]

Thanks Ed. I love the light, little Rebel series for hiking about with..its wonderful with the 70-200 for photographing flowers, dragonflies, frogs etc.., or hiking up mountains. The XSi is a much improved camera. So I won't be without a Rebel. Also, I'm doing this on a minimal budget. My goal is to increase my ability to increase the degree to which I crop by 20-30%. That does not seem to much to hope for with 20% more pixels in the XSi and 50% more in the 50D. Glen

[Anita Rakestraw]

Glen, I'm not the expert that some of these folks are, but here's my experience. I've upgraded several times for the increased pixel count, starting with the original digital Rebel, through the XTi and finally to the 1DMkIII. More pixels always helped give more room for cropping, and yes, the Rebels' light weight is a real plus!! On the other hand, I've never been entirely satisfied with the look of the resolution of the Rebels for distant shots (may be just me.) The 1DMkIII is the first camera that has given me pretty much 100% of what I want, and even then, I had to add the 500mm and almost always use it with the doubler. So, I think alot depends on how much reach you normally need. If just a little more size will do it for you, you'd probably be happy with your upgrade plan (at least for a while, ha!) I wouldn't want to take the 1DMkIII hiking either....Good luck and let us know how things work out!