My first DSLR

[Fabrian]

Hello all,

I've had my A80 for a while now and wanted to move to DSLR. I've done lots of research and reading and decided on a D-Rebel. I'm limited on budget and I picked the camera up new at Beach for 804$ in kit form. I'm aware of allt the squabble between the Rebel, 10D, N70..etc, but like I said, I'm on a tight budget so my decision was fairly easy.

My A80 was my entry into photography as a possible new hobby and the more I read and used it, the more I got sucked in. There's something about captures pieces of time that just "does it" for me. I've gotten to really enjoy it.

My question is, are there any tips you guys can give me about this particular camera - such as possible lens upgrades (macro, landscape, tele), filters and anything else generally related to the camera itself...querks etc. BTW, I am aware of the hacked firmware and don't know if I'll be using it.

thanks

[Ogrt48]

You really should use the hacked firmware. Once you try it out you'll never be able to even use a Rebel without it again, its that good. The FEC is wonderful, One Shot mode rocks, shutter lock up is great if you do macros.
All I really know about the lens question is.. if you're serious about this look up the Canon L series lens. :P

[Sketcher]

Hey, Congrats on your DSLR!

I think the 300D hacked firmware is worth doing, perhaps not worth it though until you find a need to have those features enabled.

[Ogrt48]

perhaps not worth it though until you find a need to have those features enabled

True, but the entire process of putting it on a card and installing it is <5 minutes so its not much of a loss. Might as well used to it being isntalled right away. I believe it changed some buttons or what not so it'd be bad to get used to a camera, install the hack and have to get used to it again ^_^

[Olegis]

are there any tips you guys can give me about this particular camera - such as possible lens upgrades (macro, landscape, tele), filters

Well, the selection of lenses is really up to you and your style of photography. In general, every EF and EF-S lens will fit the 300D. The kit lens is nice for starters, but very quickly you will want something wider/longer/sharper/faster, even white with red stripe 8)
Congradulations on your choice, the 300D is a fine camera. Just get out and shoot as much as possible and improve your skills using to maximum what you have. The rest will come to you eventually ... :)

[Fabrian]

Thanks for the comments. I went to my local best buy and took a bunch of sample pictures. I was impressed with how good they came out especially with the crappy fluorescent lights, fingerprints all over the lens and god knows what settings it was left in. I didn't compare shots to any other SLR, but to me it was a hundred percent better than my A80.. lol.

Is there a particular polorizer or ND filter that works well the kit lens? I'll be using it for vacation next week (camera arrives on tuesday) and I want to be as ready as I can be. I already downloaded and read the manual, so I'm good there :D

[Sketcher]

perhaps not worth it though until you find a need to have those features enabled

True, but the entire process of putting it on a card and installing it is <5 minutes so its not much of a loss. Might as well used to it being isntalled right away. I believe it changed some buttons or what not so it'd be bad to get used to a camera, install the hack and have to get used to it again ^_^

That's exactly my reasoning for doing w/out the hack until it's 'needed'. There is plenty to learn about how the 300D and DSLR's in general work. There are more people who use the camera as shipped than as hacked and starting out, a new_to_300D/DSLR user is more likely to need Canon support/forum support more than an experienced user would. Sure, the hack is easy to install... but if that's the first thing you do w/out knowing how the camera works in the first place - you've just exponentially limited your resources available in answering your photography questions much less how your particular camera gets it done.

It may turn out that a new user immediately recognizes an interest in applying the hack; but it shouldn't be the first recommendation given to a "My first DSLR" user.

That's my .02kb (version 1.2) anway ;)