Camera Selection

[97mits3kgtSOHC]

Alright so since we now have this section on 3si and lately have had a bunch of photographers pop up, I figured I would ask for people's opinions on dslr selection and lens selection.

I was looking at getting a rebel xti since circuit city has the body only on sale for 549.99 or with whatever lens they give u for 639.99....i can get another 5% off for using my chase freedom card...so should i pick up the body only and then get another lens? and which lens should i get?

[Macky]

Originally Posted by 97mits3kgtSOHC

Alright so since we now have this section on 3si and lately have had a bunch of photographers pop up, I figured I would ask for people's opinions on dslr selection and lens selection.

I was looking at getting a rebel xti since circuit city has the body only on sale for 549.99 or with whatever lens they give u for 639.99....i can get another 5% off for using my chase freedom card...so should i pick up the body only and then get another lens? and which lens should i get?

if you're planning on getting an xti, get it from bhphoto. i get all my gear from there and when buying online you dont get charged for tax. they sell the XTi with the kit lens for $592.95. even with overnight shipping, its still less than what you'd pay in circuit city with tax.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Rebel_XTi.html

if i were you, id get the body only ($519.95) and get the 18-55mm IS lens (basically the kit lens but with Image Stabilizer) for $174.95:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._5_5_6_IS.html

its a good combination and you will definitely enjoy it.

[97mits3kgtSOHC]

^u dont like the xti i take it?

[lawdogg]

Sean it sounds like he likes the thing.

And he speaks truth. Buy only from B&H and get everything else from Newegg (memory card, extra battery).

[James92TSi]

Another +1 for the XTi and buying from B&H. Those guys are awesome.

I have the XTi body and this lens: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._4_5_6_IS.html

Only thing I don't like about that lens is that the IS isn't 2-mode... it's either ON or OFF. So I can't use IS when panning.

Had I known that going in, I likely would have gone with a different lens... but I still think it's a great lens. I just need something else with 2-mode IS for shooting cars at the track.

[Red92vr4]

Originally Posted by James92TSi

Another +1 for the XTi and buying from B&H. Those guys are awesome.

I have the XTi body and this lens: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._4_5_6_IS.html

Only thing I don't like about that lens is that the IS isn't 2-mode... it's either ON or OFF. So I can't use IS when panning.

Had I known that going in, I likely would have gone with a different lens... but I still think it's a great lens. I just need something else with 2-mode IS for shooting cars at the track.

For nice panning shots to avoid motion blur, other than the background use the following trick. Try setting the shutter speed to the focal length plus about one or two stops. ( 100mm lens for example would use a shutter speed of 1/100th, then go to 1/125th or 1/160th). Hope that helps you.

As for the original poster. The XTi is an excellent camera. I hesitate to call it a beginner camera because there are a few pros that use it (not really for anything more than indoor studio shoots however.) so it is a capable piece of equipment. How much would you consider spending on a lens?

[Macky]

Originally Posted by 97mits3kgtSOHC

^u dont like the xti i take it?

Im actually a Canon user through and through my gear consists of:

Canon S1 IS
Canon A570 IS
Canon Rebel XT
Canon 30D
Canon 40D
Canon 1D Mk III
18-55mm IS (x2)
17-55mm F/2.8 IS USM
16-35mm F/2.8 L USM
24-70mm F/2.8 L USM
24-105mm F/4L IS USM
70-200mm F/2.8 L IS USM
28-135mm IS USM
50mm F/1.4
50mm F/1.8
580EX II (x3)
ST-E2
420EX
mobile studio kit

[speedy25]

You cant go wrong on the Canon DSLR's. The lens supplied in the kit is usually wimpy, but its something to work with until you decide on a GOOD lens to get.

Go peeking around on the photo sites for more info. I'll suggest dpreview.com and photography-on-the.net

-SP

[James92TSi]

Originally Posted by Red92vr4

For nice panning shots to avoid motion blur, other than the background use the following trick. Try setting the shutter speed to the focal length plus about one or two stops. ( 100mm lens for example would use a shutter speed of 1/100th, then go to 1/125th or 1/160th). Hope that helps you.

Thanks. Last time out I was shooting at 1/50th... would have probably had more usable shots at 1/60th, or with an lens that had 2-mode IS. I still took plenty of good ones though. Album

[Red92vr4]

Originally Posted by James92TSi

Thanks. Last time out I was shooting at 1/50th... would have probably had more usable shots at 1/60th, or with an lens that had 2-mode IS. I still took plenty of good ones though. Album

No problem, and nice album!