stu352 Loc: MA/RI Border

I have a Canon XSi (450) APS-C camera (12mpix), which is now a decade old. It came with the two kit lenses, 18 - 55 and 55-250. If I bought a newer APS-C body, would these lenses be sharp enough to complement the higher pixel count? Or have the equivalent kit lenses been improved over the years as the pixel count went up? Has anyone had any experience with this?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I'd use the two lenses you have.

(Depends on how "detail oriented" you are.....
--If you would be able to notice a difference.)

Chicago312 Loc: Western suburb, Chicago

I would say in general, if you are a pixel peeper, then you should probably buy a higher-end FF camera and new lenses to get the best images possible.
The newer lenses will/should be better in terms of sharpness, resolution, etc. just like all technology. So yes, newer camera, newer lenses, sharper images. Doesn’t mean it will make anyone a better photographer.

I don’t pixel peep. I use vintage (30+ yr) manual focus Ai-s lenses with my “old” Nikon Z6. I use 10 yr old f-mount lenses and I have a few of the latest z-mount lenses. The “experts” will tell you the z-mount glass is exceptional. I couldn’t tell you. As far as I’m concerned, as long as the lens does what it was intended to do, then the rest (composition, lighting, etc) is up to me. No one has has ever looked at one of my images and told me to use a better, newer lens. People have told me what I should adjust my settings to, and that is usually helpful advice.

Good luck,
Stephen

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

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Dont worry, be happy.
Keep calm and carry on.

24MP apsc + 40 yr old Zuiko

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20MP m4/3 + 60 yr old Schacht

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45MP FF + "retro reissue" of 1960s lens

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50MP FF + 50yr old Nikkor

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Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

They will be fine and work just fine.
As to IQ the lenses are plenty sharp for most all except for extreme pixel peepers.
Stop down a couple of stops from max and have fun.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

The choice of a lens is the use you intend to use it for. Generally a lens that comes with a camera is not one of the better lenses or a broad range capability.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Let's cut through the BS. The kit lenses are all well-matched to the sensors of the cameras. They're optically great, just not fixed aperture nor built for everyday / all-day use. They're also cheap used, given one or a few were bundled with the camera in every kit sold.

Both the EF-S 18-55 and EF-S 55-250 lenses were updated a few times as the sensor resolution moved from 10MP is to the final DSLRs around 24MP. Your current lenses will be fine on a new Rebel / APS-C body. If you wanted to spend a modest amount, you could shop used versions of the final releases:

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM, around $200.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens, around $80.

You can judge whether either lens justifies replacement. You can shoot with the current lenses and judge if you see any issues before deciding to spend any money buying essentially the same lens again.

petrochemist Loc: UK

A decade old is not older for lenses. I've used one from the 1930's and have other lenses that are probably older. :)
These really old lenses would not look sharp on a modern camera, but they still take good images (and can be for some subjects better for the lack of clinical sharpness).

I do have a couple of 1980s Canon kit zooms and they are truly dire, designed to be acceptable creating 6x4 film prints? Even the fairly early digital kit zooms are a world apart from these.

My ten year kit zooms still produce reasonable images on modern cameras - at least if not pixel peeping. I've never seen the need to upgrade these, but I tend to use primes when I want to print large. Good primes from 50+ years ago still hold their own, but bad examples are also plentiful.

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I still use a film era eos midrange zoom but I suspect it was not a "compromised" model, 28-105/3.5-4.5, ring usm, a real mainstream general purpose zoom. Dont recall whether I bought it new or used cuz that was 30+ yrs ago. (Verrrry likely it was used.)

I keep its distant cousin around ... a true horror show early '90s kit lens obviously meant for a Rebel. I dont ever use it. Its uber trashy trash.

Uber Trashy Trash

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Excellent Film Era Workhorse

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PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

They should work as well on any APS-C Canon camera. If after you try it you decide you want better glass, then you can. I'm using an 18-300mm zoom on the R7 I just got. It used to be on my 80D. I would think you would be happy with a refurbished 80D, a 90D or R7. But if you are going to use the old lenses, you will need an adapter for the R7 and be sure you get an APS-C camera

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

My camera did not come with a lens.
So I must be SOL.

DRam11 Loc: Polson, MT

I have a 35-70 AF Nikkor that I used with a 8008 Nikon film camera long ago. I have used it with a D80 and now my D7500 with good results. It seems to give sharper images and better color that the kit lenses for either the D80 or D7500, but maybe that's just because I expect it to.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

The Canon EF-S 18-55mm has seen six or eight different versions, possibly with some improvements over the years. I don't know what those improvements were or if the image quality improved significantly. If memory serves, the earliest ones had a front barrel that rotated during focusing, which can be a pain if using filters like circular polarizers but wouldn't be a problem otherwise.

There are versions of both 18-55mm and 55-250mm lenses with faster, quieter and more accurate "STM" autofocus... as well as those without (micro motor). Look for "STM" on yours. If you see it, great. If not, there's some room for improvement if you are having any problems with focus speed or accuracy.

The Canon EF-S 55-250mm has only seen maybe three versions. They all seem pretty similar optically and have decent image quality. Two versions used the micro motor focusing (the original and the "II"). A third uses STM focus. Both the II and the STM are still being sold with various cameras and are probably just fine on newer, higher resolution cameras.

This is not to say there isn't room for improvement. There are a number of Canon EF-S and EF lenses that give better performance and, in some cases, better image quality. If the above are considered "entry-level", some more "mid-grade" lenses with better build and higher image quality include the EF-S 10-22mm USM, EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM, EF-S 15-85mm IS USM and all versions of EF 70-300mm (NOT the EF 75-300mm III often sold in kits, which is major a downgrade from your 55-250mm). There have been two versions of non-L EF 70-300mm, a "DO" version that's more compact (but not any lighter weight), and a white "L" version that's a ore robust build and the only 70-300mm that can optionally be fitted with a tripod mounting ring. While it's quite entry-level build, comparatively affordable, fairly compact and light weight, the EF-S 10-18mm IS STM is very capable of excellent images.

Note that most of those "better" lenses feature "USM" or ultrasonic focus drive. This is faster than STM (which in turn is faster than micro motor). This can be important if shooting action like sports or wildlife. But if you shoot video STM is better... smoother and quieter. Except for the latest lenses like the EF 70-300mm "II", which uses Canon's latest "Nano USM", which is not only fast, but also quiet and smooth running... great for all purposes.

Then of course there are the premium L-series Canon lenses, most of which are real stand outs. While typically rather expensive, they would work just fine on any Canon interchangeable lens camera you might choose. All L-series are full frame lenses or "EF" (not "EF-S"). This is because Canon defined "L" as lenses capable of being fitted to and used on all EOS cameras, and EF-S lenses can only be used on their crop sensor cameras (APS-C) like your XSi (or current T7, SL3, T8i, 90D, as well as recent 7D Mark II, 80D, T7i, etc.) Therefore, no EF-S lens was ever designated an "L", even though some of them rival L-series capabilities (most of the lenses I listed above). Note: Canon clearly changed their L-series definition in 2018, since they now offer a number of them in the RF-mount for the EOS R-series mirrorless cameras that were introduced that year. These lenses cannot be fitted to and used on any of the EF-mount DSLRs. You can adapt and use EF (and EF-S) lenses on the R-series (and M-series) mirrorless... but not the other way around.

Also notice some of the other features of lenses that may make them better for your particular purposes. Just for example, shooting with APS-C Canon cameras some people think they are better buying an L-series and choose an EF 17-40mm f/4L USM as their walk-around lens. While that's not a bad lens, it's also probably not the best choice. Not an L because it's an EF-S lens, the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM not only offers equal or sometimes better image quality, it also has a better zoom range, one stop brighter maximum aperture and image stabilization! Bought new the 17-55mm is slightly more expensive: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/compare/Canon_EF-S_17-55mm_f_2.8_IS_USM_Lens_vs_Canon_EF_17-40mm_f_4L_USM_Lens/BHitems/425812-USA_279582-USA. But today the used lens price has dropped enough on the 17-40mm L that it might be preferred by someone on a tight budget. However in almost every other way the EF-S 17-55mm is a superior lens for a crop camera user.

I've been using Canon DSLRs for 20+ years and have invested a lot more into my lenses than into the cameras I've used them upon. Lens quality is more important, has greater effect on the results, than the camera ever will. Of course a camera needs to work well and be reliable. But I'd rather have a great lens on a mediocre body than a cheap, crappy lens on a great camera! Over the years I've shot with Canon film cameras (EOS-3, Elan 7), a number of APS-C (10D, 30D, 50D, 7D, 7D Mark II) and full frame DSLRs (5DII, 5DIII, 1DsIII). But some of the lenses I still use today have been with me the whole time. For most people with limited budgets I recommend spending less on their camera and more on their lenses. That will usually give them the best results.

You might want to just get the camera and give your lenses a try. If they give results you're happy with, great. If not, then you can start shopping for upgrades.

On the other hand, often you can get a nice discount buying a lens or two "in kit" with the camera. For example, the Canon T8i in kit with the EF-S 18-55mm IS STM lens costs $150 more than the camera alone. If you buy that lens separately it sells for $249. So you save a significant amount buying it in kit.

Whether or not you need "better" lenses in part depends upon which camera you choose. Most of the Canon APS-C cameras are 24MP (currently T7, SL3 and T8i in US). While that's double the resolution of your older camera, those 24MP won't be as "demanding" as even higher resolution like the 90D's 32.5MP.

A good source of info about Canon lenses is The-Digital-Picture.com website. Brian Carnathan reviews many of them in detail and provides tools where you can compare image quality, flare resistance, distortion, vignetting and general specifications. He does the same with a lot of popular 3rd party lenses for Canon, as well as some other manufacturers' lenses for sake of comparison. For example, here is an image quality comparison of the EF-S 17-55mm versus the EF 17-40mm L I mentioned above: https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=398&Camera=963&Sample=0&FLI=2&API=2&LensComp=100&CameraComp=963&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=3&APIComp=0

Here is one of the EF-S 18-55mm lenses reviewed at that website: https://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-S-18-55mm-f-3.5-5.6-IS-II-Lens-Review.aspx

Finally, to make your budget go farther you may want to shop the Canon USA website for refurbished. Cameras and lenses there are "like new", just come in a plain brown box. They actually have been inspected more carefully than a brand new camera coming off the assembly line, and even have the same warranty as new! In addition, it might be worth looking at used gear from various vendors.

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

Too bad! /s
I have Nikon lenses from the last 50 years or so,
and as long as I have the "F" mount they work. Well.
I have and use a Nikon EM and swap glass with my D600 just because.