Difficulty Shopping

I have picked up a new...very strong interest in photography! However...I'm having a hard time choosing between the XTI and the 30D...POSSIBLY the 40D if its highly recommended. Moneywise...I am willing to pay what I have to to get what I want and need. I'm looking for something that can get me started and grow with me because I don't want to be looking for a new camera in a year. The XTI/30D dilemma seems to be a frequent issue... my question is which one will last me in the long run...and if you think it is the XTI..help me figure out which lenses I should focus on buying first. I refuse to buy the XTI package cuz all my research has told me its awful. I don't have the money to mae mistakes in my shopping.

I live by the idea that you buy it once and shouldnt have to upgrade
saying that bodies come and go.
just invest in good glass and you will be happy.
as for the body,if money doesnt matter ,try the 30d or 40d.both would make you happy.
As for glass,go for the best you can.that way you wont find yourself wanting to upgrade in a few years

The 30D is larger, has a faster shooting rate and a nicer set of controls than the XTi. I don't think these features are necessary for good photography, however, and the XTi is certainly a capable camera able to produce results indistinguishable from images produced by much more expensive cameras. I'd go with the XTi.

The kits lens is a great lens for learning general photography and pretty inexpensive when purchased with the camera. The kit lens will also eventually give you a good idea of what sort of lens you need for the kind of photography you want to do. If you're dead set against the kit lens, then I'd recommend looking at the Sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4.5 "macro" -- nice and sharp, versatile and relatively fast lens that lets you focus very close to your subject.

I'd go with the XTi and spend more on lenses. The camera body isn't as important, and you can upgrade it later. The lenses will stay with you through multiple camera bodies. For a first lens, most people will generally want a normal zoom. This page has a list of them, with links to reviews and such:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com …General-Purpose-Lens.aspx

The top recommended ones are usually the 24-70mm f/2.8L and the 24-105mm f/4L IS. The first is better for low-light, the second is better for all around usage with decent light. Just depends on what you're more likely to be shooting. Either lens will cost more than the camera itself though. Other people can give better recommendations for more inexpensive lenses.

I'd go 40D but that's me there is more than enough feature improvements, etc. for me to justify saying the 40D is worth the extra coin over the 30D (which is really just a buffed up 20D). That said if your just getting started the XTi is fine...

however all said as noted above, what you really want to spend on is the lenses... it's the glass that has a much larger impact on your image quality than any of the differences in any of the camera your looking into.

Me I use a lot of L glass because it's amazing and can take a beating, but I also make enough from my photography to more than cover the cost and can easily justify spending the cash on it.

Depending on what type of shooting you intrested in and your budge the beter gripp of the 40d and higher frames per second is sure nice especialy if you do alot of action photographing. That said the image qulity will be excelent with both the 400d and 40d a good starting lens from my own experince would be the Tamron sp 17-50mm 2.8f.

I would go to a camera store and play with and hold each of the cameras. They are all fine, but what feels best to you is such a personal thing...

Normally I would say the XTi and your set. But in hind sight I would say the 40D if you can swing it as the AF points it uses are very cool so that down the road when you concentrate on glass and you decide to goto fast glass (f/2.8) your camera body will support it even better. Additionally both the 30D and the 40D give you the option of shooting faster frames/second. Even if you don't normally shoot action shots the fact that if you run into the situation it is nice to be able to shoot a lot of frames quickly...you percentage of keepers will go up.

And as you get older (no, make that wiser) the larger the LCD screen the easier...since none of us gets younger, eh?

-rang

If money really isn't an issue, then go for the 40D (or possibly the 5D?) and some really good glass. Can't recommend what kind of glass because don't know what you'll be shooting.

Considering that you are starting out, I would suggest to start off with an XTI and buy good glass for it. As you learn from it, a few months from now, the prices will most likely drop and the 30D and 40D would look more enticing because you would have more knowledge as to what you need and guess what, the price is less expensive!

This would also lead you to have two bodies if you so desire, which some of us try to have because you can have one lens on one camera and another lens on another. The XTI is a great small backup camera! Who knows a 6D may even come out then and you may want to go Full Frame (FF).

Just remember, you are starting out. Splurge on your glass than spend tons on a camera that can turn over and over. Glass is glass and an initial investment on glass lasts a lifetime (A camera can as well but improvements are always done every few years). I guess you can say that with glass as well but glass is an investment.

Once you know what you need to achieve, will you realize what camera is best suited for you. 30/40D or FF like a 5D possibly 6D?

I'm in the same boat as you. . .
And in the past hour I have just turning to look more to the xti or even xt for the body.
But I think the censor cleaning system and bigger lcd alone is worth the extra $100- $150, not too sure tho.
I have not set my mind yet, as my hands really like the grip on the eos series. LOL and easier, faster control.

Azzure_7 wrote in post #4070289
I'm in the same boat as you. . .
And in the past hour I have just turning to look more to the xti or even xt for the body.
But I think the censor cleaning system and bigger lcd alone is worth the extra $100- $150, not too sure tho.

Sensor cleaning -- eh. The bigger LCD is nice though. And the better focusing on the XTi is definitely worth the extra cash.

You can always put a battery grip on the XT/XTi and take it back off when you want the smaller profile.