Hello, I am new can anyone suggest which Canon DSLR to get?

1ruffryder wrote in post #6946211
i say 40d if you travel. the build on it will hold up

umm, the xsi feels solid as a rock to me bro

it's true that 450D have focusing issue?

canon 5D =]

THank you guys! I posted this question with my intro so quickly because tomorrow are the boxing day specials... Future shop has the XSi for 629. I tried to do last minute homework even during my Christmas party,...when I posted here to get some more answers.

My brother has the Rebel XT 8.0 MP and loves it. I was impressed with the photos he took. Future shop is selling it for 449.00 Then I saw the XSi 12.0 MP for 629.00, then I thought well for the extra cash, the 12 might be worth it?
I know my brother favors Canons and their interchangeable lenses.

While doing some research, on youtube, I saw Canon Demos. I saw the 40D. The guy said it was heavier ( not sure why that is a great plus) and that it is more professional ( not sure he favored it over the XSi especially since it is only 10 MP). Then the Canon model's prices REALLY shoot up!

Anything else I should know before tomorrow's purchase?

more megapixels doesnt necessarily = better


i have seen so many what camera/lens threads on this site in the short time ive been here...there is so much information on this site. my strong suggestion to you is not to rush your purchase...there will always be deals. research and read and learn my friend

cary chilton wrote in post #6946354
Anything else I should know before tomorrow's purchase?

with all the knowledge from reading the forum, and the internet, you should be pretty much set.
dont buy anything without feeling, using it in the store. Have a play, dont feel rushed into buying anything.
Go in with what you want in your mind, have a play with that one, but have a play with the one 2nd on your list.
the most fun i had choosing my camera, was playing with all the different models

i asked the same question when i was trying to decide, i got the 40D because i do some skate stuff and i wanted the 6.5fps.

cary chilton wrote in post #6946354
...My brother has the Rebel XT 8.0 MP and loves it. I was impressed with the photos he took. Future shop is selling it for 449.00 Then I saw the XSi 12.0 MP for 629.00, then I thought well for the extra cash, the 12 might be worth it?
I know my brother favors Canons and their interchangeable lenses.

While doing some research, on youtube, I saw Canon Demos. I saw the 40D. ....
Anything else I should know before tomorrow's purchase?

Between the XT and the XSi the choice is simple. THe XSi has a newer generation processor so it is more responsive, buffers more, and has many new fearures. Couple that with a significantly improved focus system, larger viewfinder, though just a bit, and 50% more MP and you have a solidly better camera well worth the extra $$$

The differance between the XSi and the 40D is much harder to quantify. Essentially they are the same camera in a different package. THe feature set is almost the same, the performance is almost the same, but the bodies are very different. THe 40D is significantly larger and heavier. To some this is very important, but to others it doesn't matter. The other differance is in it's controls. THe 40D has an extra joystick allowing for a bit faster setting changing.

XTi.. and with the rest of the money.. go for GLASS

1ruffryder wrote in post #6946211
i say 40d if you travel. the build on it will hold up

I see people make this type of comment a lot and it is one that I find it difficult to agree with. I just upgraded from a 400D to a 50D and the last reason for that was build quality/ruggedness. A 400D will "hold up" just as well as a 40D because most non pros tend to over protect their kit, regardless of build quality and anyone who checks camera gear when flying is clearly not paying for their own equipment

I will look after my more rugged 50D just as carefully as my 400D and the only advantage of the improved build quality for me will be its ability to survive an accident.

Go for the 450D (XSi), it's relatively new so has the new chip and some lovely features for a camera at that price point and comes with the IS kit lens. Any spare cash should be spend on either glass (and I agree with the 55-250 recomendation) or airfares

lemminglover wrote in post #6946585
I see people make this type of comment a lot and it is one that I find it difficult to agree with. I just upgraded from a 400D to a 50D and the last reason for that was build quality/ruggedness. A 400D will "hold up" just as well as a 40D because most non pros tend to over protect their kit, regardless of build quality and anyone who checks camera gear when flying is clearly not paying for their own equipment

I will look after my more rugged 50D just as carefully as my 400D and the only advantage of the improved build quality for me will be its ability to survive an accident.

Go for the 450D (XSi), it's relatively new so has the new chip and some lovely features for a camera at that price point and comes with the IS kit lens. Any spare cash should be spend on either glass (and I agree with the 55-250 recomendation) or airfares

I kind of feel the same way. I have seen just as many examples of 1D cameras with mounts torn out as with xxxD cameras with the same.

I just got an XSi for Christmas. I love it! I would highly recommend it to a beginner.

I ordered the XSi ! Pretty Much all I can afford right now, especially AFTER Christmas.
Any suggestions for a cheap place for buying cheap batteries and memory cards? Does this camera come with a carrying case? If not, where is a cheaper place to get one?
THanks

Hi Cary,

No case is provided with the camera. Shop around. Consider a used bag, or go stealthy and get one that's not really made for camera equipment and doesn't scream 'Steal me!'. In fact, I know folks who use *diaper bags* for their cameras, since thieves are pretty unlikely to steal one of those!

With the camera you'll get one battery, a batt charger, cables to hook up to your computer (but I still recommend you get a card reader to download images instead), software on a CD or two, body cap and an instruction book. If you got a kit that included a lens, the lens will come with caps and not much else.

Now, Canon provides all the software you are likely to need initially. Try it out. Eventually you might want to try something like Photoshop Elements or other software that has some other capabilities.

I've bought a lot of 'generic' batteries off eBay and have not had any problems with them (not the same ones the XSi uses, but those are available too). They are about 1/6th the price of Canon's batts. If those sound too risky, there are third party but not 'totally' generic batts available through B&H, Adorama, Stirlingtek.com and other places, for about half what Canon thinks theirs are worth. With those you have some more warranty, than you do with the eBay generics from who knows where.

Don't worry if it says 'Made in China' on the batteries. It says that on Canon's, too!

I would not recommend eBay for memory cards. There have been too many fake cards there, for my tastes.

I've bought memory cards from Amazon, www.outpost.com and Newegg.com mostly. Shop around. I try to stick with major, brand names like Sandisk, Lexar, Sony. There are some others (Kingston, Transcend, Crucial, etc.). I'm just not experienced with them.

Your camera uses SDHC, I believe. All mine use Compact Flash, so I can't really advise what speed cards you should get. Just be sure to do a little research so you don't 'over buy' speed and size. It's most cost effective to get only as fast as your camera can manage, but not much faster. High speed cards cost more, but if your camera can't use it, what's the point. In fact, if you aren't shooting fast and furiously and can tolerate some slower writing of the images to the card, even slower cards might even be a way to save.

And, I suggest you get a larger number of smaller cards, say no larger than 4GB for a 12MP camera like the XSi, rather than one or two really big ones. These are not only cheaper, and can be added a few at a time, but this is wise so you aren't putting all your eggs in one basket, so to speak. This way, if one of your cards gets damaged or lost, you haven't lost all your images. Besides, really big cards are expensive and there are often 'package deals' on smaller cards, sometimes several together and/or bundled with a card reader.

Highly recommended, a good book like Magic Lantern Guide or similar covering the XSi to help you get the very best out of your camera. These books sort of pick up where the instruction manual leaves off. Another really good book for beginners is "Understanding Exposure".

I also most highly recommend you get a proper lens hood for your lens(es). This is the best protection for it when in use, and can improve your image quality quite a bit. If Canon's hood seems pricey, look up what model fits the lens and then search for cheaper, generic versions of it on eBay ito save some money. The generic ones are often pretty close copies.

Get a circular polarizing filter to use on the lens. It's the most useful filter for digital photography, especially for scenics/landscapes, water/glass/reflection​s and to help increase color saturation in many scenes. Higher quality, multi-coated filters are always best, but are more expensive... If really need be for budget reasons, you can get less expensive single coated circular polarizers... Just always use the lens hood to help protect it from oblique lighting and try to avoid flare (i.e., take the filter off when shooting sunsets/sunrises or any other subject with strong, specular lighting coming towards the lens).

If you got more than one lens, hopefully they will use the same size filters, so you really only need buy and carry around one.

Since I don't have one, I don't know how well the XSi's sensor cleaning mode works, but you might eventually needs some basic sensor cleaning stuff, especially if you work at small apertures (f11, f16, f22) for scenic shots, etc. A 'Rocket Blower' is the most basic tool for sensor cleaning. Beyond that, you'll need to decide if you want to try to do other cleaning methods yourself, or have a camera tech clean it for your for a few $$$s.

If you are careful, a sensor may not need very frequent cleaning. Be cautious when you change lenses, that it's not in dusty places. Also don't let the camera sit without a lens or body cap on it. Keep the rear cap on your lenses, when off the camera too. Also get some micro fiber lens cloths (cheaper from opticians than from camera shops, or buy them in bulk from places like www.micro-tools.com) and be careful to keep the rear of the lens clean.

When changing lenses, turn off the camera. Some think this prevents static charge attracting dust. I don't know if that's true, but it can't hurt. Also hold the camera facing downward, so that dust is less likely to settle into it.

Now go have fun!

perryge wrote in post #6945888
Welcome to POTN!

XSi
18-55 IS (comes in kit)
55-250 IS (if you can get a kit with both 18-55 IS and this lens, all the better)
50 1.8 II (for low light and to get you hooked on narrow DOF)

Best budget starter kit out there. Pick up an external flash (e.g. 430EX) and a good tripod and ballhead (e.g. Manfrotto 055XProB + 488RC2 head) and you'll likely have all you'll ever need until this forum gets to you and you start spending thousands of dollars on L glass .

Good suggestions. Get the flash! It made all the difference in my pictures. Camera body is less an issue. Go used for a 20D, 30D, Xti, and save a few bucks.