My first DSLR, and I have a $1000 budget...

[roastpuff]

Yay for XSi! I have a 450D (Rebel XSi in Asian model parlance) and I've been using it quite extensively in Singapore while I'm working on my journalistic internship. Fortunately I'm not a photojournalist, so I don't have to worry about getting photos good enough for printing in the newspaper, but it's just great fun to have the camera around and snapping shots of everyone and everything. My first experience was actually with a D40 that I borrowed for a week - and shot something like 500-600 pictures with over the course of that weekend - and I like the dedicated buttons on the XSi so much more than the menu-based controls of the D40. The 40D that my aunt has is also somewhat confusing because of the sheer amount of buttons and somewhat illogical lay-out of the controls. My pet peeve with the XSi is the fact that it's a bit too light - the 70-200 F4L non-IS already unbalances the camera by being a lot lens-heavier without the battery grip, but I don't want to carry the battery grip around because it's more weight in my backpack! The AI Focus point selection could use a little work, as well, as it tends to select points that I don't want it to focus on, and then I have to manually select the point by rotating the command dial (is that way the little dial next to the trigger is called?) to the preferred point.

The XSi controls are actually well-thought out and works really well as an entry-level/mid-level DSLR, and the grip is marginally better than the XTi - but still fails in terms of comfort compared to the Nikon grips. High ISO (800-1600) pictures are INCREDIBLY noise-free when I'm shooting hand-held, and it's really nice to be able to not use the built-in flash except for situations where you absolutely, positively, can't live without it, because it's less intrusive and more natural that way. The Live View function is quite useful for those awkward positions. If only the AF function in Live-View was quicker...

Biggest piece of advice that many of my shutterbug friends passed on to me is just to not be shy about taking out the camera and snapping pictures. You think you're rather conspicuous and obnoxious pulling out a big DSLR that goes "WHIRR-CLICK" (or rather the high-pitched "PSHEEEEW" with the 450D/XSi, à la ST phaser) but really, people don't care very much about what you're doing.

Don't fret too much about the lens(es) - it's just upgraditis/lens envy, and you should have experience staving it off from Head-fi. Right? Riiiiiiiight.

Current lens line-up includes kit lens (18-55 IS), nifty fifty (50mm f/1.8) and a 28-105 USM I just acquired today for USD130 in local currency. Oh, and a borrowed 70-200 F4L that I'm in LOVE LOVE LOVE with but will have to return by the weekend. My current search is for a zoom (50/70-200+) fast aperture lens (2.8 or smaller) or walkabout (2x-7x/8x?) fast aperture lens, but I'm still saving up $$.

Some pictures from my 450D at High ISO. Cropped towards the center of the picture significantly for greater detail.


ISO 800, 18-55 IS.




ISO 1600, 70-200 F4L, all 3 of the above pictures.

[TheMarchingMule]

See what people like roastpuff do to me? I'm currently trying to convince myself that I could possibly live with an XTi, and then he drops by and reminds me of how great the XSi is.

I agree, the first pictures I took with the XSi were (unwittingly) ISO 1600, and the lack of any major noise artifacts really blew me away once I realized I was taking shots at that ISO level.

[Sh0eBoX]

haha yeah understandable i'm actually more inclined to buy the body new as well (unless of course i come upon a killer deal and the actuations are low... which btw the FS ads i linked to previously are )

[TheMarchingMule]

Originally Posted by Sh0eBoX

haha yeah understandable i'm actually more inclined to buy the body new as well (unless of course i come upon a killer deal and the actuations are low... which btw the FS ads i linked to previously are )

Yeah...that one sale is really killing me: rebel xti black + nifty fifty+ xti field guide book - Canon Digital Photography Forums

Argh, I guess I'll sign up for the forum right now and PM the guy...I have a dentist appointment in 8 hours and here I am up hunting for cameras.

EDIT: Arrrgh, what's taking the confirmation email so long to come?!

YES! There it is!

[Sh0eBoX]

hahaha good luck! hopefully you can land the sale because that's definitely a great deal

[TheMarchingMule]

Originally Posted by Sh0eBoX

hahaha good luck! hopefully you can land the sale because that's definitely a great deal

Indeed! And Sh0eBoX, just to quote one of your past posts, I can't tell what to "filter" out once you added it that deal that I'm currently after. Can you reiterate what other lenses I should hunt down once I (hopefully) obtain this sale?

Thanks for your help!

Originally Posted by Sh0eBoX

Xti body - New w/all new materials - Canon Digital Photography Forums

buy that and then you'll have ~$500 for lenses

ETA: Just found this for sale! rebel xti black + nifty fifty+ xti field guide book - Canon Digital Photography Forums --- this way you would have ~$500 to spend on lenses but already have the nifty fifty out of the way


then I would recommend something like the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro (~$350 used i think... fantastic walkaround lens) and a nifty fifty (EF 50mm f/1.8... ~$65 used)


or you could probably spend a little less money on the walkaround and get something that's still pretty decent and save some cash for a telephoto lens as well... like getting a 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM (~$300 used) and a Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro (~$160 used)


that would be a good option if you need/want a telephoto right away. if i were you i would go straight away for the 17-70 and nifty fifty though, and save up for a telephoto... because that sigma is seriously a great lens.


check out Canon Digital Photography Forums - Powered by vBulletin for a lot of info on canon gear

[Sh0eBoX]

well, once you get the prime you will have something that's sharp and usable in low light situations. So the other lenses to consider for now are a primary walkaround lens (something like the Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4.5 DC Macro, Canon EF 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, Tamron 17-50mm, etc.) and/or a telephoto zoom lens (Canon EF-S 55-250 IS, Sigma 70-300 f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro, etc.)

which lens(es) you choose all depends on how you plan to shoot and how much you want to budget. if your primary consideration is in a walkaround... i highly recommend shelling out the cash for the Sigma 17-70. from the pictures and reviews i've read it looks to be an absolutely fantastic walkaround lens... fast, sharp, pretty well built, good range

[roastpuff]

Originally Posted by Sh0eBoX

which lens(es) you choose all depends on how you plan to shoot and how much you want to budget. if your primary consideration is in a walkaround... i highly recommend shelling out the cash for the Sigma 17-70. from the pictures and reviews i've read it looks to be an absolutely fantastic walkaround lens... fast, sharp, pretty well built, good range

That's about right. I've just gotten myself a Canon 28-105 f/3.5-4.5 as a walkaround lens at $130 (super-cheap), and I'll probably give up my 18-55 IS to the great gods of Clubsnap's FS forums so that I can put the money towards something else (like a macro lens, hehe) and an ultra-wide (EFS 10-22, if I can get it, or Sigma 10-20 f/2.8-f/4) and then an ultra-zoom (200mm L, anyone)...

OH NO.

I've got camera-upgraditis.

EDIT: Oh, for a lens to cover it all, think about the Sigma 18-200 DC OS, or Tamron 18-250 (YIKES) for the ultimate in one-lens solutions.

[M0T0XGUY]

Originally Posted by TheMarchingMule

Hey guys, just got back from CC. My mistake was to first try out a Rebel XSi. Within five minutes or so I got used to it almost like second nature, and after getting tired of the 18-55mm lens, I grabbed a nearby 55-200mm lens (I think it was the one that was just released?) and fooled around with that one too.

Then after almost half an hour with it, I decided to finally try out the Nikon D40. I was sad. Like this: All the cool dedicated buttons seemed to be gone, and I couldn't figure out how to alter some settings for awhile (ISO and AF, for example).

Funny thing was, as I was leaving CC, I saw one of the very high-end Canon models sitting next to the XSi. I was all "Y'know, I shouldn't...but I will," and I picked it up to see how good it was compared to . I immediately got confused by all the buttons and the unfamiliar layout, and so I gave up on it.

So yes, my sights are now firmly set on a Canon Rebel XSi, and I'm going to buy it online. That amazon.com price does seem nice this time of year.

I'm going to guess I'll need a macro lens and a "far-range" lens to even out the view spectrum. Can you guys help me out further here?

Again, thanks for all of your comments and advice.

Why don't you wait a bit and buy the Rebel XS instead? As far as I know its identical control and ergonomic wise to the XSi, and aside from the 2.5 inch screen there seems little to hold against it; especially if it maintains the XTi's current price.

[Cankin]

^ that's what I suggested in early post.

The new Rebel XS have many features of XSi, but at a lower price point.

BTW, I found those naming confusing and I think those EOS namings in Europe are better.