New here, to dSLR, but bought my first lens today..

Hello! Not sure if I'm posting in the right area, but guess it's not really off topic.

I'm realatively new to photography... last year just before xmas I picked up a Sony H5 12x superzoom. It's been a fun/frustrating camera to own. It's got alot of features and IQ for a point and shoot, but it's slow and the colors are always off (knew I should have got the S3 IS at the time!) my old S200 has more consistant accurate color!!

So anyways, back to a Canon it is! I just got my Sony back from repair (the shutter half-press defective for the SECOND time) so after I use it for my honeymoon in St. Lucia in November I will be trading it in for a Rebel XTi. I own an old Minolta film SLR which I learned the basics (it was really the first camera I've ever owned), so I'm really ready to go to a DSLR to get more creative. I was really thinking about getting an XT due to the lower price, however I'm spoiled having a 3inch LCD on the Sony, and the shutter/AF seemed a bit smoother on the XTi when I was playing with them in the store.

Tonight I got a lens for the camera for what I consider an AWSOME DEAL. A Canon 17-85 IS USM 4-5.6 off ebay for $343 CND shipped! (It was kit lens off a 40D). I was really thinking of a Sigma or Tamron 17-50/18-50 2.8, however they were more expensive, and don't have IS. Plus my friend owns one and has taken some incredible pictures with it.

I'll likely be buying the camera body with a flash to get a better deal. Is the Sigma 500EF a good flash, or should I go with the 430EX (more expensive)?

So I think I'll have a good start to taking better pictures soon, any thoughts or tips?

DStanic wrote in post #4199242
Hello! Not sure if I'm posting in the right area, but guess it's not really off topic.

I'm realatively new to photography... last year just before xmas I picked up a Sony H5 12x superzoom. It's been a fun/frustrating camera to own. It's got alot of features and IQ for a point and shoot, but it's slow and the colors are always off (knew I should have got the S3 IS at the time!) my old S200 has more consistant accurate color!!

So anyways, back to a Canon it is! I just got my Sony back from repair (the shutter half-press defective for the SECOND time) so after I use it for my honeymoon in St. Lucia in November I will be trading it in for a Rebel XTi. I own an old Minolta film SLR which I learned the basics (it was really the first camera I've ever owned), so I'm really ready to go to a DSLR to get more creative. I was really thinking about getting an XT due to the lower price, however I'm spoiled having a 3inch LCD on the Sony, and the shutter/AF seemed a bit smoother on the XTi when I was playing with them in the store.

Tonight I got a lens for the camera for what I consider an AWSOME DEAL. A Canon 17-85 IS USM 4-5.6 off ebay for $343 CND shipped! (It was kit lens off a 40D). I was really thinking of a Sigma or Tamron 17-50/18-50 2.8, however they were more expensive, and don't have IS. Plus my friend owns one and has taken some incredible pictures with it.

I'll likely be buying the camera body with a flash to get a better deal. Is the Sigma 500EF a good flash, or should I go with the 430EX (more expensive)?

So I think I'll have a good start to taking better pictures soon, any thoughts or tips?

Deffinately go the 430EX and congrats on the new camera.

Cool! Yeah, go with the XTi. The bigger LCD and better focusing are worth it.

If you've used a film SLR, you should feel right at home with the XTi. I went from a Canon 35mm to an XT. It was harder going from an XT to film when my XT was in the shop - I kept looking at the back LCD panel waiting for the image to appear. (Duh!).

The Sigma 500 DG looks pretty good. Doesn't have all the bells and whistles but it'll get the job done. I have the 500 DG Super and really like it except for a few minor complaints.

Hints? Get yourself some extra batteries (the ones are Sterlingtek.com are quite good - more capacity and cost less) so you can charge one, have one in the camera and maybe a spare on top of that. For the flash, get some NiMH AA batteries - you'll save a fortune not using alkalines plus they just work better. And have FUN!

JackProton wrote in post #4199405
Cool! Yeah, go with the XTi. The bigger LCD and better focusing are worth it.

If you've used a film SLR, you should feel right at home with the XTi. I went from a Canon 35mm to an XT. It was harder going from an XT to film when my XT was in the shop - I kept looking at the back LCD panel waiting for the image to appear. (Duh!).

The Sigma 500 DG looks pretty good. Doesn't have all the bells and whistles but it'll get the job done. I have the 500 DG Super and really like it except for a few minor complaints.

Hints? Get yourself some extra batteries (the ones are Sterlingtek.com are quite good - more capacity and cost less) so you can charge one, have one in the camera and maybe a spare on top of that. For the flash, get some NiMH AA batteries - you'll save a fortune not using alkalines plus they just work better. And have FUN!

Hahah.. I know what you mean about going back to film SLR! While my Sony was getting fixed I was only left with my other 2 cameras- the Minolta SLR and the old Canon S200 (auto-everything=boring, and can't find the batterys/charger). So I fired up the Minolta after several years of collecting dust, got a cheap roll of Fugi and went to a butterfly conservatory. It was really fun going fully manual again! But I hate not being able to see the results immediatly after. Getting the film developed is so expensive, even cheap 4x6 walmart pictures..

As for batteries- I've bought from sterlingtek in the past for my S200, can't complain! Super cheap and last a long time! And my Sony H5 uses 2xAA (yes it EATS them alive!!) so I have about 6 pairs of good Sony NiMH. How many shots can the flash take with fully charged batts?

Also- It is my understand that you can put AA's in the BGE3 battery grip instead of the regular batts if you desire?

Yes, 6 AA batteries will do the job in case of emergency, but do not expect the same number of shots.
They’ll last far less than BP-511.

I think you got a good deal on that lens (assuming it's in working order etc.!) - I sold mine with a hood for twice that!

you got a great deal on that lens - I used it for over a year and got some great shots with it. have fun!

DStanic wrote in post #4199475
Hahah.. I know what you mean about going back to film SLR! ..... But I hate not being able to see the results immediatly after. Getting the film developed is so expensive, even cheap 4x6 walmart pictures..

Yeah, I still print a lot of 4x6 photos. Printing at home isn't even all that much cheaper with digital. Though I don't have to worry about my negatives coming back covered in lint and scratches.

If you ever want to try some really nice film, get a roll of Fuji Reala. GREAT color saturation!

Cool. Can't give you a good number on the flashes-per-change but fresh NiMH batteries seem to last pretty long unless you're shooting a lot at ISO200 or stopped way down. Still, I tend to carry an extra charged set.

Yeah but, as mentioned, they don't really last that long. I once had to resort to alkalines in a grip. The XTi treated the alkalines like a snack -- I think I drained them completely in 10 minutes flat. I might as well just have stuffed money in the grip for all the good it did.