Picture comparisons between Nikon D90 and Canon EOS Rebel T1i

[Stitchless]

Can anyone with either a Canon EOS Rebel T1i or a Nikon D90 post pictures they have taken (in a Disney park preferably) in low light conditions where they haven't used a tripod, please?
I'm trying to see what is the best I can do with these cameras, before choosing which to buy, without carrying around a tripod and I'd like to be able to take clear no-flash photos inside dark rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion.

 

[zackiedawg]

Without getting into whether one of these is 'better' than the other - I just wanted to throw out one little point - the lens used and the photographer's skill and knowledge will play a huge factor in how well the displayed shots come out, and can skew your opinion of a camera. Let's say someone with an average F3.5 kit lens and very little knowledge of cameras posts their sample from the D90, and it looks horrible, while someone with a nice fast F1.4 lens and a high degree of skill posts a shot form the T1 that looks excellent. Does that mean the T1 will be great and the D90 won't be? No. it means the Canon photographer used a more appropriate lens, knows the proper camera settings to use, and/or has very high skill in post processing.

For pure low light ratings, I believe the D90 comes out just a bit above the T1, though both would do fine with a nice, fast lens and knowing what you're doing. Then you can throw in Pentax and Sony, both of whom offer equally capable cameras (Nikon, Pentax, and Sony all share the same Sony-made sensors, and are quite close to eachother in performance).

The Canon T2 will do a little better than the T1, as it has a newer sensor. Depending on how much you want to spend, the T2, D90, D3100, Sony A500/550, Pentax KX are all pretty close performers, and all are 'older' models which can be found at very reasonable prices - all can shoot at ISO3200 to 6400 with usable results and a little noise reduction processing to clean them up, and all can be paired with a nice fast F1.4-1.8 lens for cheap.

 

[mom2rtk]

I shoot with the T2i and upgraded just to have better lowlight options. I have been very happy with the Main Street Electrical Parade and Christmas Party parade photos I took last December. And while I haven't mastered dark ride photography, I think it helped me make great strides in what I was able to do. I know this isn't the model you asked about so I didn't post photos. And honestly, what Justin said is absolutely true, so I doubt it will make much difference.

 

[photo_chick]

Can anyone with either a Canon EOS Rebel T1i or a Nikon D90 post pictures they have taken (in a Disney park preferably) in low light conditions where they haven't used a tripod, please?
I'm trying to see what is the best I can do with these cameras, before choosing which to buy, without carrying around a tripod and I'd like to be able to take clear no-flash photos inside dark rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion.

Like already said, the lens and photographers skill are what is going to make the shot here. My husband got clear, no flash low light shots with my daughter's point and shoot on our last trip... the camera really is secondary to skill. But if you want to compare ISO performance check out dpreview.com. Their sample images and comparison shots will give you a really good idea of what you'll see in real world shooting.

If nosie and low light is the primary concern you might consider the T2i. There's a noticeable difference between it and the T1i at the higher ISO's. It's not huge, but enough that I'd go with one over the other if I were shopping right now and ISO performance was a primary concern.

 

[boBQuincy]

To further muddy the waters, noise reduction software and other post processing can really make a difference on high ISO photos. A lot of this depends on the skill of the processor and if they have a RAW file to work with.

With cameras that have that many pixels a web size image is highly compressed. What we see on the web is not going to show the subtleties of the original image and may not be indicative of the capabilities of the camera.

DPReview may post full size images that give a better idea of what the camera can do.

 

[Stitchless]

Thank you for the advice; advice that has led me to my two final DLSR choices. The intended focus of this thread is to see what can I hope to accomplish with these cameras in low light conditions, without a tripod, in a visual form. Please, please post some photos. Please. Photos. Visual form.
If lens size is something I need to factor in feel free to describe it. But. Really, Photos. I haven't seen one yet. If it helps you to understand I am "reverse engineering" the steps it takes to get the photos I want.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Stitchless - I am shooting with a Canon T2i, which I bought in April 2010. Here are some hand-held pictures taken at Disney.

These were taken in Oct 2010. I walked round the World with a 50 mm f/1.8. What I learnt was that:

• 50 mm is not wide enough using inside rides for Disney. I needed something wider.
• The Canon 50 mm f/1.8 is an EF lens. You need a very steady hand and also need to be able to step back or forward to get the shot you want. Something that isn't always possible in a ride.

Inside Sci Fi

Fireworks, no tripod.

Parade examples.

I have subsequently gotten a 17 - 55 EF-S f/2.8 lens. I used this in January 2011 at DLR.


Inside rides...

Around twilight ...

I specifically went to DLR to see World of Colour. All handheld.

Feel free to have a look at my Oct 2010 TR and Jan 2011 TR for more examples of pictures. The links are located below.

In my viewpoint, the ISO plays one factor for low light, hand held shots. You're probably going to have to look at the faster lenses as well.




ps. I know you asked about Haunted Mansion. I'm still a beginner photographer and haven't yet worked out how to take great shots inside HM. Some of the other regulars are much much much better than me.

pps. I forgot to say that I totally agree with Justin and the others. Whilst the equipment does help, it is about the photographer and their skill level. In your original post, you seem to be choosing between Nikon and Canon. Given that the general consensus is that all entry level dSLR cameras these days are pretty good, I don't think you can go too far wrong with your choice. Just make sure it fits your hands and what you want to photograph.


ppps. Let me know if you want some data on the photo settings. I'm sure I can do a pppps.....

 

[photo_chick]

I shoot with a 50D, so I've got pretty much the same ISO performance as the T1i. I don't run a ton of NR on my images, so when you pixel peep they're pretty Monet like at high ISO's. But when you make 4x6 prints it's not bad at all.

50mm ISO 3200 f/2.8 1/90


50mm ISO 3200 f/1.8 1/60


50mm ISO 3200 f/1.8 1/90



This one isn't Disney, but it's low light fireworks that's hand held..

And this one is at a camp fire

I don't have the EXIF data handy, but they were shot with the 50m f/1.8 at ISO 6400.

 

[Stitchless]

Thanks for the pictures, guys, they give me an idea of what to expect. It looks like I'll be getting the NIKON D90 W/18-55 VR NIKON LENS. I don't know how useful that lens is but I'll test it out before my trip in October.

 

[mom2rtk]

My shots were done on the T2i, most with a 2.8 lens of some sort. If you don't know, when someone posts from Flickr, you can usually click on the photo and it takes you to Flickr where you can often view the Exif info which will include the ISO, shutter speed, aperture and sometimes the lens used.

If you want to shoot low light, you really need:

1) Good high ISO performance

2) knowledge of how to maximize your camera's capabilities

3) Good noise reduction software, like Lightroom3. I use this one and they do have a 30 day free trial available for download.

4) Decently fast glass. I have a 1.4 lens but don't think I used it for any of these shots. I mostly got lazy and left on the 2.8 lens I was using and bumped up the ISO.

Have fun. There's no better place than Disney to work on low light photography!



mk2swsa2 by mom2rtk, on Flickr


mk2pooh3 by mom2rtk, on Flickr


Ursula by mom2rtk, on Flickr


Hall of Presidents by mom2rtk, on Flickr


mk1pmhmheads by mom2rtk, on Flickr


mk1pmhmbride by mom2rtk, on Flickr


Main Street Electrical Carriage by mom2rtk, on Flickr


Once Upon a Dream by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[KCmike]

My shots were done on the T2i, most with a 2.8 lens of some sort. If you don't know, when someone posts from Flickr, you can usually click on the photo and it takes you to Flickr where you can often view the Exif info which will include the ISO, shutter speed, aperture and sometimes the lens used.

If you want to shoot low light, you really need:

1) Good high ISO performance

2) knowledge of how to maximize your camera's capabilities

3) Good noise reduction software, like Lightroom3. I use this one and they do have a 30 day free trial available for download.

4) Decently fast glass. I have a 1.4 lens but don't think I used it for any of these shots. I mostly got lazy and left on the 2.8 lens I was using and bumped up the ISO.

Have fun. There's no better place than Disney to work on low light photography!



mk2swsa2 by mom2rtk, on Flickr


mk2pooh3 by mom2rtk, on Flickr


Ursula by mom2rtk, on Flickr


Hall of Presidents by mom2rtk, on Flickr


mk1pmhmheads by mom2rtk, on Flickr


mk1pmhmbride by mom2rtk, on Flickr


Main Street Electrical Carriage by mom2rtk, on Flickr


Once Upon a Dream by mom2rtk, on Flickr

Janet those are awesome. I wish I could trade in my xti. What did you do with your old camera?

 

[mom2rtk]

Janet those are awesome. I wish I could trade in my xti. What did you do with your old camera?

Thanks Mike!

I actually just kept the Xsi. I didn't think I'd get enough selling it to matter. And I do love the idea of having a backup. For example, I'm going to mail a couple lenses in for calibration and they want me to include the body. Being completely without a camera at all used to drive me nuts. Now I know I have a very able backup.

Canon does have a loyalty program they have available for people who are buying a new one. I have recommended it to people who had a camera issue they didn't want to pay to have fixed. Not sure if just upgrading works, but it might. You might want to check that out.

You might watch for a deal on the body only T2i, which is what I did since I didn't need another kit lens. But keep an eye on the 60D too. Sometimes there are great deals on that one as well. I think you would appreciate the increased ISO and low light performance of either of those.

Let me know what you end up doing!

 

[Stitchless]

I ended up going with the Nikon D5100.

 

[mom2rtk]

I ended up going with the Nikon D5100.

Congrats and enjoy!