Well, I don't quite have the cash on me at the moment but I hope to have enough to afford one soon. But, best to plan ahead and know what's best. I'm rather set on the cannon rebel xti ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830120072 ) but unsure about a few things. First off, I have a couple best buy gift cards which add up to a decent amount (still need to check). The same camera at best buy is $700. Is best buy any better for lens prices? Would I be better off saving up cash for the camera and then using the cards on a lens? Or is it going to basically be the same? Newegg has both body only and one with a lens. I've seen the one with the lens recommended for beginners, but it was also mentioned that the lens isnt great, though decent. Reading reviews, some say the lens isnt really worth it. So would I be better off getting a different lens or just going with the package deal and waiting? I know that if I got a different lens it would cost more, but if the lens in the package isnt worth it, then I wont bother.

package deal: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830120070

body only: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16830120072

Just any tips are appreciated... I'm sure I had more questions but if anyone has any good starter tips that would be great. Also, any advice on what to look for in a lens would be great!

edit: upon checking my gift cards, I figured out I have $125 so I could get the camera for the same amount cash + the cards at best buy... meaning it'd be a waste of the cards. May be a better value for the lens instead of the camera, probably depending on the lens.

You should be able to get good deals on the XTI now that the XSI has come out...

You're better off getting a package deal on a lens and body instead of buying separately... the 18-55mm lens is alright depending on what kinda photography you do. If you do stuff from far away then you'll want a zoom maybe up to 200mm

My take on it...and having spent just a bit on Canon stuff.....

Buy the best lens you can afford... the camera body will be the part that gets upgraded first....The lens will be with you for years if you get good ones...and stick with the platform. One of my favorite Canon lenses is the EF 24-105 F/4L IS lens...it's very versatile...especially on a less than full frame sensor body.

^before you buy any spendy lenses though, make sure you want to stick with cannon for a long time. They will not work on a Nikon or visa versa.

If you don't care, get a package.

I'm on my 3rd Canon body.....I'm definitely in for the long haul :)

Yeah, I know they wont work with other brands. I currently have a cannon point and shoot and like it a lot, so that's part of the reason why I'm going for the cannon. I'm figuring I might as well go with the package since it's only $20 more than the body alone. As far as distance, I have a few examples of stuff I've done recently... so as far as I can tell, I wont need a whole lot of zoom, though maybe down the line I will. From what I gather, I will want an IS lens for obvious reasons. What're the reasons why I've heard to get a different lens? Is that one just not of the greatest quality or is it not as versatile as others? Thanks for responses so far! really hoping to have the money in the next month or so.

http://img292.imageshack.us/img292/7631/stormscomingfr1.jpg

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/5277/rx8hdrmy1.jpg

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/6849/rockstreescarqe0.jpg

Recently I just got this new Canon EOS Rebel XSi, i'd say it's the best i got

http://www.dealstudio.com/viewtopic.php?t=37979&ru=290

If you've already got a lesser Rebel then don't bother upgrading. If this is your first, and you can afford it, it's certainly better than its predecessors. The new kit lens is better than the old one as well.

If you are new to the world of SLR, just use the kit lens for now. No reason to out lay huge money for nice lenses. Despite what most folks thinks, it is still 80% user. Equipment is just a tool.
I suggest that you get the fundamentals of photography down first like composition, shutter speeds, DOF, understanding lighting etc first. Then build your lens collection base on what you shoot most.
There are photographers and then there are gearheads. The advent of digital technology in photography has promoted the latter.

If you are new to the world of SLR, just use the kit lens for now. No reason to out lay huge money for nice lenses. Despite what most folks thinks, it is still 80% user. Equipment is just a tool.
I suggest that you get the fundamentals of photography down first like composition, shutter speeds, DOF, understanding lighting etc first. Then build your lens collection base on what you shoot most.
There are photographers and then there are gearheads. The advent of digital technology in photography has promoted the latter.

You make perfect sense. I am trying to learn more and more about the fundamentals like you suggest. I have the Rebel XTi, and I can't say enough good things about it. It is really good in auto mode I find compared to my old P&S. There are still some questions I need to figure out like why my pictures turn out dark at an indoor car shows with bright overhead lights. A lot I need to learn, but I have big interests in perfecting my photography skills.

You make perfect sense. I am trying to learn more and more about the fundamentals like you suggest. I have the Rebel XTi, and I can't say enough good things about it. It is really good in auto mode I find compared to my old P&S. There are still some questions I need to figure out like why my pictures turn out dark at an indoor car shows with bright overhead lights. A lot I need to learn, but I have big interests in perfecting my photography skills.

Different exposure settings might help. Probably just have to try a few settings... even with my P&S I usually end up setting everything manually as opposed to just using the auto setting. I usually can tweak things enough to come out well. I cant speak for that specific camera since I haven't had a chance to toy around with one yet, but since it is a cannon (as is mine), I'm guessing there's a few useful gadgets for different situations.

As for the XSi, any one else have experience with it? Obviously has the higher MP and probably a few functions, but is a good starter or would I be just as good with the xti? Or is will it basically come down to which I can afford, both being a decent entry level?

^^ Both will do much more than you can use when you start out. There are a few things that you want to look for in a digital camera. The one I find most critical is the write speed...they are getting better...but there are big differences in the speed the camera can store what it shoots.

Set the camera in RAW or a high resolution Tiff, or JPG...and see how many pictures you can take before it says no go.....If you can live with that....you will be good to go.

It won't get any faster....

Also....look at the auto focus logic, and the metering modes...they will become important later on.

Most new camera's have more than enough bells and whistles to drive you crazy figuring them out

While it may not be the latest and greatest...I would still go with...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/371189-REG/Canon_0209B001_EOS_Digital_Rebel_XT.html

and

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/163662-REG/Sigma_509101_70_300mm_f_4_5_6_DG_Macro.html

Not the top of the line...hell not near it...but for someone starting out it is a good price and a great camera and lens combo.

While it may not be the latest and greatest...I would still go with...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/371189-REG/Canon_0209B001_EOS_Digital_Rebel_XT.html

and

Ahhh the good 'ol XT. Some still considers this the better dSLR than the XTi and maybe XSi due to light sensitivity of its sensor over its newer brethren. :)

Off the top of my head XSi has the following:
- 12.xMP
- 3" screen
- Live View (Shoot like P&S) still a lousy implementation without swivel LCD.
- ditched CF for SDHC... :squint:
- spot metering .... finally.

Larger MP without enlarging the sensor size will always lead to more noise. But companies just mask it with greater NR logic that leads to image detail trade-off. :icon_no2:

Oh and don't forget to try other cameras out too. It's like test driving cars....

see...and this is how I look at it. I have a Digital Rebel now. No XT...no XTi and def no XSi...just a plane ole 300D.

12MP - Sure...it would be nice...but I don't need to print 30" wide picture.
3" Screen - Sure...I could use a bigger screen. But I never use the screen. It is the benefit of having 16GB of memory in your bag. Shoot RAW and shoot a lot of it and delete later. If you look at it while you shoot you will miss something good.
Live View - I hate it on a P&S why would I want it on my DSLR? And you can't tell me that you can really take a good picture with it over the viewfinder. While I will admit that the 5D that I played with that had Live View had some handy features to it.
CF vs SDHC - A card is a card. It isn't going to help me compose a great image.
Spot Meter - The one feature that would be great to have. Not worth the $300 difference though.

And on top of all that...my way you get a more flexible lens for less than the XTi body.

see...and this is how I look at it. I have a Digital Rebel now. No XT...no XTi and def no XSi...just a plane ole 300D.

delete later. If you look at it while you shoot you will miss something good.
Live View - I hate it on a P&S why would I want it on my DSLR? And you can't tell me that you can really take a good picture with it over the viewfinder. While I will admit that the 5D that I played with that had Live View had some handy features to it.


5D has no Live View for chimpers. Live View is new in 1dmkIII, 40d and now 450d for the Canon line. I think you meant 40d that you were playing with?

Nope...pretty sure it was a 5DMKIII that he had on loan. I guess you could say it wasn't live view...but then again it was. It was weird. You could view live and take a snapshot without a picture being stored...zoom in...update the live still...zoom in....update the live still...etc. So whatever they called that...that was handy for some Macro stuff.

Nope...pretty sure it was a 5DMKIII that he had on loan. I guess you could say it wasn't live view...but then again it was. It was weird. You could view live and take a snapshot without a picture being stored...zoom in...update the live still...zoom in....update the live still...etc. So whatever they called that...that was handy for some Macro stuff.

Hmm... despite that I am not really in the scene of the latest dSLR these days, I am pretty sure that there's no such thing as 5DMKIII. The rumour of 5D replacement (6D/3D or 5D MKII) is still a vaporware. I think you meant 1DMKIII. :)

Here's the rumour mill. It's very much like our Mazdaspeed8...
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=157341

Bummer they had xti's on priceclub.com about a month ago for $600 in store they were $750ish heh.

Thanks for advice so far! much appreciated!

Hmm... despite that I am not really in the scene of the latest dSLR these days, I am pretty sure that there's no such thing as 5DMKIII. The rumour of 5D replacement (6D/3D or 5D MKII) is still a vaporware. I think you meant 1DMKIII. :)

Here's the rumour mill. It's very much like our Mazdaspeed8...
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=157341

You're right...I went and found one of the picts on his website and it is a 1DMKIII that he had on loan from Canon.

i have had my XTI for a few months now and i love it!! it has more features than you will beable to use for a while but just like everything else, give it time before you are really comfortable out of auto mode! and as far as use goes there is always the owners manual!! lol!! the kit lens is decent but i am looking into getting a better one here soon! for the first few months it has been great to use. the XSI is nice, and it would have been available when i was shoppin i probably would have paid the diff. as far as best buy, the lenses are gonna be more expensive at best buy than they are on newegg (but thats always true!)...

Well its the lens that takes the picture, not the camera. So the quality of your lens will be directly proportional to which lens you will buy.

If you get a 35mm and a 100mm you will not need any other lenses and will have better quality than any zoom lens (except for some really really pricey zooms)

100mm/2 Canon lens - tack sharp, no crappy abberations like nikon and no photoshop tricks to sharpen the image.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v519/staticlag/007wWk-17491384.jpg

I have the Canon Rebel xti! Here are a few pics I took:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Purplesauerous/August07540.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Purplesauerous/August07416.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Purplesauerous/Carandwheels005.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Purplesauerous/c903cdcc.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Purplesauerous/August07486.jpg

I have the Canon Rebel xti! Here are a few pics I took:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Purplesauerous/August07540.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Purplesauerous/August07416.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Purplesauerous/Carandwheels005.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Purplesauerous/c903cdcc.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Purplesauerous/August07486.jpg

new lens or one that came with? nice looking pictures!

Both. I use the lens that came with the camera, and a Canon zoom lense, 75-300mm.

The close ups are with the lense the camera came with. My goal this year is to get me a macro lense, as I love close ups! Here are a few more, all taken with the lense the camera comes with!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Purplesauerous/HoleyMoley053.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Purplesauerous/June2007200-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v638/Purplesauerous/d98d34c0.jpg

Well this kinda sucks. Might be able to buy one in the next day or 2 and newegg has them out of stock... so gotta find it somewhere else I guess? if anyone has a recommendation where I can find one for a good price, let me know! I'm going to check bestbuy tomorrow because they dont have them online... if they have the same price as listed online, I'm getting it for about the same amount cash (if I use the gift cards I have) but then I have to use the cards. I guess I'll see tomorrow.

fatwallet.com

slickdeals.net

Hope that helps

A lot of Canon lovers here... i'll be quiet and keep my Nikon to myself... ;)

Still have my 35mm Cannon from 1996 :smoker:

i just got a 350D this past weekend as a gift from my mother and father in law. i went from a Fujifilm S20 pro which is a SLR style digital camera with many of the features of an SLR to the 350D and what a huge learning curve.

from what i've read, the kit lens isn't great. are there any lenses that i should get that will be a great all round lens but not totally destroy my wallet? i'm also having a hard time figuring out which lenses will work with my 350D. i know only canon lenses will work but i know next to nothing about lens so everything else is pretty much greek to me. any info (no matter how elementary) is greatly appreciated.

quick question... I'm sure there's no huge difference but might be enough to matter. I'm giong to be getting the camera and memory today, but wondering if any one brand is better for the memory. I know sandisk is rather well known/established but is more expensive. Same goes for PNY. Any other recommendations? Thanks in advance!

quick question... I'm sure there's no huge difference but might be enough to matter. I'm giong to be getting the camera and memory today, but wondering if any one brand is better for the memory. I know sandisk is rather well known/established but is more expensive. Same goes for PNY. Any other recommendations? Thanks in advance!

lexar professional

www.bhphotovideo.com

A lot of Canon lovers here... i'll be quiet and keep my Nikon to myself... ;)

I used to own a D100 a few years ago. Good rugged body, intuitive controls.

www.bhphotovideo.com

I ordered mine from B&H a couple years back. Wonderfully fast and polite service. I would highly recommend them. Other choices are Adorama Camera (http://adorama.com) or J&R Music World (http://www.jandr.com). Both have served me well in the past.