Torn between Canon G6 and Rebel XT...

dbump wrote:
Bb,
Two food mills on your wall? That's serious. And that's a mighty big peel.

Hey D!

Actually, I use the larger one mostly for preparing a smooth pasta sauce from whole tomatos. For taking out the skin and seeds there is no other gadget that does the job better. The smaller one I picked up in a flea market, I just can't resist. The peel is quite a large, with a 20 inch width, especially for a cramped kitchen in a small NYC pad. I find it handy though as it can handle an 18" pizza rather easily. I do have a stone in my oven where I bake pizzas on - only a stone will produce a crisp crust with a chewy interior.

To keep this on topic, hey Sophia! Post those pictures as soon as possible so we can help you out!

My next assignment guys

1. Tripod that's good for all around. 5 feet at least - lightweight and good for traveling. My buget - up to 40 bucks? You can recommend me guys more expensive than that as long it's worth it. I heard Slik is good.

2. The book for G6? Is that only available online?

3. A good cam case for G6.

Since I will be using G6 and you have this cam already, I know it will be easy for you to know this guys. I appreciate it. Thanks!

Target has only pretty cheap cameras, i never see anything there more than $350 or so, at least here in chicago, probably worried about theft. Circuit City used to have the G6 in-store, maybe some stores do and some don't. They had it online last i checked. Best Buy always had it online, but i've never seen it in a Best Buy store.

It didn't come with a manual? you can download it free online on canon's site.

If you're talking about the "short course," I've never seen it at a bookstore, prolly have to order online. I'd say that any photography 'how to' book, combined with your manual, would be great, the 'shour course' book just sort of tailors the info to a specific camera. The concepts and skills and controls are the same on just about any camera, the buttons are just different.

I've noticed for christmas, a lot of bookstores have put old (pre-digital) photography books that used to cost $50-$100 on the clearance racks for $5-$10. I picked one up for $5 from the early 90s that had exactly one page specifically about digital photography (and it was comical) but almost everything else in the book still applied. Check the library, too.

Bb.

I used the Velbon UltraMAX is. It opens up to about 5 feet (with the center column extended) and closes to a little less than 12". Very sturdy and has a ballhead. For my honeymoon, i purchased a Manfrotto Quick Release plate, which makes it easier to take my camera on/off the tripod (avoid having to screw it in each time). Considering how much i used it on my honeymoon, it was probably my best photography investment thus far.

sorry . . . i just use the manual that came with the camera.

I use the Lowepro Nova Micro which fits my G6 (w/ or w/o the lens adapter) + manual in the main compartment, and has a front pocket that can fit up to 4 batteries, CF cards, andthe remote.
When I have more to bring, I use my Tamrac Velocity 7, which is a slingpack that i also use for my 20D. I recently brought my Velocity 7 to my honeymoon in Hawaii. It fit my G6, flash, and flashtrax XT in the main compartment and had plenty of room for other stuff in the other pockets.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Tripods:
I'm going to recommend more expensive. Many folks get a budget tripod and love it. Others buy one, replace it, and by the time they invest in one that really meets their needs, they've spent twice as much already. Figure out which one of those people you'll be, if possible, and then buy.
I knew I'd be the second kind, so I invested in a Manfrotto 3021Pro, which wasn't that much more, really.
http://www.bogenimagin​g.us …3?sectionid=2&i​temid=2697
And the quick shoulder strap for it:
http://www.bogenimagin​g.us …?sectionid=94&i​temid=2563

I'm very pleased with both. The 3021Pro allows you to mount the center colum horizontally which gives you a lot more flexibility in mounting the camera, esp. for macro work. The shoulder strap is extremely stable and comfortable--I've used it on bike rides with no problem at all.
You might also consider (it's all adding up now) a ball head. which allows you to quickly tilt your camera regardless of the angle your tripod is sitting at--there are insanely expensive ones out there, but unless you use and abuse them every day, the cheap ones will suffice and last quite a while.
Keep in mind that the lighter (and in some cases, the less expensive) a tripod is, the less stable it will be--not what you want in a tripod. Stability is even more critical if you're planning to be in wind, or on uneven terrain--OR if you think you will eventually use a heavier camera on this tripod (say, a DSLR?). The right tripod should last your entire life.
I'll second Mark's suggestion of a quick-release plate--very, very convenient.

Lowepro is a great choice for bags, as is M-Rock. I'd suggest heading to a local camera store (dedicated to cameras, not an electronics shop) with your camera, and testing the bags out to see how they fit the camera. Also try walking around with the bag slung, bend over, etc, and see how the bag fits you. Personally, I prefer a short but wide bag because it is more stable than a tall, narrow bag, which tended to roll & swing around my waist--very annoying. Look for a bag with an all-weather rating (Lowepro uses AW in the name) just in case you're caught out in the rain. Also get one with enough room to store a spare battery and any other accessories.

Speaking of accessories, you may want to spend some time reading:
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=8789
and
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=81566
Obviously you don't need to buy every accessory, but you will certainly find some recommendations there that suit your needs.

Before you settle on a case, do decide whether or not you will get a lens adapter (like the one from www.lensmateonline.com) and filters or tele/wide converters--you'll want a slightly larger case to accomodate those, if you go that route.

Bb,
Photography, bikes and cooking too? Such good taste Too bad Denver and NYC are so far apart!
It sounds like I'll have to get a food mill! My pizza stone lives in my oven, and I love it, but I don't think it could take a 20" pizza. Not sure I could throw a 20" either, but I'd enjoy trying!

As for a tripod for a G6, I don't recommend buying anything expensive . The camera is way too light to be put on a tripod like the Manfrotto 3021 Pro. Its heavy to carry as well. Basically anything light and inexpensive will work. I used a $8 tripod I pickup from microcenter and it worked find for my Sony DSC P72. But w/ my DRebel it was too weak to hold it w/ a heavy lens (The head will not support the weight). Most cheap tripod will support up to 2lb. Now the cheapy tripod is relagated to camcorder duty and and my 19month old son love to play w/ it.

Is Tamrac is a good camera bag compared to Lowerpro?

I bought a tamrac and got rid of it. I now have a LowePro EX 140 and love it.

Fitssmy G6 with lens adapter and 420EX.

Btw, if you don't already have a photo editing package, Circuit City (and possibly other retailers) is offering a $30 rebate on the Wacom Graphire 4x5 pen/tablet, which includes Photoshop Elements 3.0. So for $60, you can get a great editor AND a pressure sensitive tablet.

Thanks for your advices guys! Well, I'm still adjusting on my new camera but it works wonders. The good thing is that it gives me a "challenge" to make my pictures looks better and better - and I can simply delete it when I'm not satisfied. Just like cooking where I have to make my own recipe that suits my own taste. I'm also happy coz it's "free" - gift from my parents. With it's quality, it's a good cam. I'm trying to imagine now if I have to buy my own DSLR this December - I already spend a lot on my gifts and can't afford more for a DSLR. I have to learn from this and then if I'm confident enough to buy a good "expensive" DSLR, I can use it with confidence. Sometimes, I just can't get what I want - but if I try to see the other side of it, everything is fun! I'll keep you updated guys. Again, thanks! - The best forum ever - nice and helpful people. Kudos!

Sophia, if you hand hold a Rebel XT at the same low light settings that are giving you trouble with the G6, you will get the same blurry results. In either case, there are adjustments that can be made to achieve a faster shutter speed, thus eliminating the blurry results. The only thing is that each adjustment has a tradeoff. Higher ISO settings will reduce the shutter speed, but will increase noise in the picture.

The main value of the Rebel XT over the G6 (aside from the fact that you are able to spend THOUSANDS of dollars on lenses) is that because of the sensor design, it's high ISO images show much less noise. Therefore, you are able to apply much more adjustment to speed up the shutter.

You can take good low light pictures with your G6. You will have to learn the camera and the adjustments necessary to adapt the camera to the situation. And when you learn on the G6, the Rebel XT will be a snap when you are ready to move up.
Mike

Save your money for an external flash for your G6. If you add the flash, you will not be disappointed with the results. I used my G2 and 420EX for years before recently buying the XT. The external flash will give more power and elinate most of the trigger delay between shots... it will also be usable on the D-SLR when you buy it....