| Not that it makes as much a difference as you may | | | | more money on expensive lenses. The lenses |
| suppose, but the D90 Digital SLR has a puny (12.3MP) | | | | designed to work with high megapixel camera are |
| image sensor than the more affordable T1i Rebel | | | | designed to resolve better, and virtually always cost |
| (15.1MP). Using those specifications and applying a bit of | | | | the photographer. |
| common sense would lead a non technical person to | | | | Surprisingly though, the lens that's normally supplied |
| believe that the digital rebel T1i is by far the smarter | | | | (EF-S f/3.5-5.6 18-55mm IS) by the manufacturer with |
| purchase. | | | | the T1i, is not one of those that is gifted at managing |
| As with many another things in this world and digital | | | | higher megapixel counts. We would never consider this |
| SLRs things are not always as apparent as they | | | | standard lens for use with the T1i SLR, and would |
| should be. The image sensor used by Canon at | | | | instead suggest investing a couple extra bucks in one |
| present, is not their optimum sensor. | | | | of Canon's more precise zoom lenses like for instance |
| Don't however, start believing everything you read on | | | | the 17-85mm Canon EF-S IS or the 18-200mm Canon |
| digital SLR packaging. The APS-C sensor deployed in | | | | EF-S instead. |
| the Rebel SLR T1i, will be severely tested to handle 15.1 | | | | Hang on a moment, as I'm not even near done |
| megapixels in the best of situations. | | | | highlighting the problems with excessive pixel density. |
| To accomplish a higher megapixel rate, Canon | | | | Excessive pixel density can adversely affect |
| selected to place the pixels closer , and to use smaller | | | | diffraction, dynamic range, and ISO. Upon further |
| pixels than the Nikon D90 12.3MP uses. It's most | | | | scrutiny, it would seem that our first assumption of the |
| commonly used way to get more pixels to fit on a | | | | T1i SLR being better bang for the buck was slightly |
| smaller area. A more accurate indicator of image | | | | mislaid. |
| quality than mega-pixels, is pixel density. In this case, | | | | A well-thought-of quantify of image sensors using |
| the Nikon D90 12.3MP comes in with much better | | | | RAW data, is offered by DxOMark. Dx O Mark |
| numbers (lower is better here) of 3.3 vs 4.5 for the | | | | testing is not yet completed, but the digital rebel T1i |
| Canon Rebel T1i. | | | | uses the Canon EOS 50D sensor. The testing has |
| There are a few other considerations to prepare for, | | | | shown, that the D90 SLR image sensor is considerably |
| when buying a camera that has too many crowded | | | | better than the Canon 50D sensor. The EOS 50D test |
| pixels. As you go in search of extra lenses, you'll | | | | data should be very close to the T1i SLR DxOMark |
| discover, that more megapixels usually means dropping | | | | testing, once it is made available. |