Digital Rebel Ordered

[sparker1]

Well, I did it! With the help of folks on this forum, I researched numerous internet dealers and finally settled on Beach Camera. The Digital Rebel Kit was $70 less than B & H, and the rating at ResellerRatings.com is higher than B & H. So, I placed an order for the Rebel kit, the 50mm f1.8 and the 75-300mm IS zoom. I know these lenses don't compare with L series lenses, but I feel they are appropriate for my use. (Strictly amateur, recording our travels.)

I'll come back with a report of my experience with this order. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to improved results with the Rebel.

[mikesd]

Congrats Sparker, you will enjoy the 300D.

[snibbetsj]

Enjoy the DRebel. I hope you remembered to get some CF cards too, you're going to need them.

I used Beach camera once, very good, fast service. They get a thumbs up from me.

Jeff

[sparker1]

I should have mentioned, my order includes some UV filters, a circular polarizer, a cleaning kit and a 1 gb CF. If all arrives together, I'll be ready to shoot.

[dsze]

Cool...enjoy. I'm curious what the cleaning kit is composed of though.

-daniel

[sparker1]

The cleaning kit may not be much. For $10, I decided to try it. Chances are, I'll be finding a local camera shop to get a better package. Also, I use microfiber cloths for many things, so that may be another approach.

[dsze]

What are you thinking of cleaning? Lenses, the Sensor, the body? You'll get all kinds of recommendations on the issue... What I wish someone would have told me from the beginning is:

1. Use the Copperhill method for cleaning the sensor combined with the rocket blower for more frequent blow-offs

http://www.pbase.com/copperhill/ccd_cleaning

http://www.micro-tools.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MT&Product_Cod e=AA1910

2. Use a pre-treated MF cloth for cleaning lenses. My local shop sells one for $2 that can be washed out and reused many times...it works so much better for cleaning lenses than any liquid/cloth combo I've tried, including eclipse.

-daniel

[Persian-Rice]

Congratulations.

On a side note, even though reseller ratings of Beach was higher then B&H, B&H is still the largest or atleats most popular photography equipment retailer in the world. So don't think B&H is unsafe or anything like that..............

Oh BTW, if you use a blower on a regular basis and are careful with your equipment, you won't have dust problem that require the "Squeegee" method as I call it, for a long time.

Cheers and congrats again.

[sparker1]

Thanks for the advice and links re: sensor cleaning. I only ordered a lens cleaning kit for now, expecting to need a rocket blower for the sensor in the future. I wasn't even aware the sensor could be touched, so now I know.

I wasn't concerned about B & H as a dealer, because of all the good feedback from the forum. However, I was pleased to find a lower cost from a highly-rated dealer. I hope their rating is substantiated by my experience.

There are many smaller items I will be needing in the short term, as I sold all my old SLR stuff some years ago when I went digital (P & S). Things like lens hoods, grey card, cable (or wireless) release, backpack, extre battery, etc, etc. I just didn't want to delay the order long enough to itemize all the extras. The only thing I kept from the old days is a tripod.