Anyone want to help me decide?

[Tnkrbelle565]

Okay, clearly, I need some kind of help from you experts. As some of you know (from my other thread), I've finally decided to upgrade to a DSLR. While I've had a SLR in the past (Canon Rebel EOS), this is a whole new world to me. So I started reading the learning curve thread and I've having information overload. Can someone PLEASE help me get started?

1) I'm a Canon loyalist so plan to stick to Canon
2) I plan to (of course) use my new toy to photograph my Disney Vacation
3) I'm staying at AKL...I would like something that will afford me the ability to get some great shots of the animals from my room. Plus obviously I will be photographing every other aspect of the vacation.
4) Other than Disney, I will be shooting my favorite subject...my daughter.

Okay, now that you have that info...where do I start???? Where do I shop (I live in greater Boston)? What basics do I need? I don't want to buy a bunch of lenses/filters that I really don't need or will barely use. Can anyone help this lost soul????

 

[Master Mason]

If you have decided to stick with canon, I would go with the XTi or new XSi as your starting point. Now the questions.

1. What lenses do you currently own
2. What flash if any do you currently own
3. What does your daughter do when your taking pictures of her, ie Dance recitals, just around the house, sports etc
4. In your shooting style do you tend to like wide angle shots or zoomed in shots?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

If you buy at your local Ritz Camera store, you get to take free classes for learning your camera, which is a nice perk (and offsets the higher cost, as does, many believe, the service aspect of buying in a local store). And fortunately for you, the classes they offer are primarily geared toward Canon and Nikon users.

Check out the features of the Xti and the XSi side by side and see which ones work best for you.

I think you're in pretty good shape since you at least have a good idea of what you want. Good luck.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I have the 28-80mm that came with the camera plus a 75-300mm. When I used it, I usually left the 75-300 on there most of the time (if that helps you determine my shooting style since I clearly don't know what that is ). I have to get a new flash because I seemingly lost mine. I pulled out my old camera and found everything but the flash...which I know that I have. I think I let my SIL borrow it at one point to "try out"...guess she now owns it! So I'll need to buy a new one. Thoughts on that? Daughter does dance, swimming, skiing, etc, etc. Other than that, I would be shooting your average everyday family pictures (around the house, going to the zoo, going to the beach, etc). Thanks for all your advise so far

 

[Master Mason]

I have the 28-80mm that came with the camera plus a 75-300mm. When I used it, I usually left the 75-300 on there most of the time (if that helps you determine my shooting style since I clearly don't know what that is ). I have to get a new flash because I seemingly lost mine. I pulled out my old camera and found everything but the flash...which I know that I have. I think I let my SIL borrow it at one point to "try out"...guess she now owns it! So I'll need to buy a new one. Thoughts on that? Daughter does dance, swimming, skiing, etc, etc. Other than that, I would be shooting your average everyday family pictures (around the house, going to the zoo, going to the beach, etc). Thanks for all your advise so far

Well then, if it were me and based on what I currently know. I would lean towards the XSi simply because it has spot metering.

I would most likely buy it body only as it seams you like the zoom better so not having the 17-28 range you would lose by using your existing lenses shouldn't be an issue to you. Then I would take a lot of pictures in all sorts of enviornments and see what your not being able to get with what you have, then you can decide what other lens you might need.

or alternatively do the above, but get the 50 f/1.8 which is only about 100 then you would have at least one fast lens to start out with.

Obviously all of the above is based on budget too, if getting the XSi streaches your budge too much then look at the XTi or even the XT as the XT should be getting fairly cheap as they close them out.

 

[mabas9395]

As far as where to shop, I think you will find that most internet prices will be cheaper than your local stores. Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama Camera and Beach Camera are the more popular places. But be careful, there are a ton of scam websites out there. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

 

[boBQuincy]

Like others noted, either the Rebel Xti or Xsi is probably your best choice. Which one depends on whether you find the features of the Xsi worth the extra $$$ ( I don't).

The 18-55 "kit" lens is ok for what it is ( a low cost starter lens) and is a good range for a walk-around lens. For photos of the animals from your room you will need a long lens, Canon's new 55-250 has received some good reviews and complements the 18-55 nicely.
Also get the lens hoods for the lenses, they protect the lenses much better than a UV filter and actually help the image instead of degrading it. One filter you might want is a polarizer.

We just stayed at AKL and used a 200 and sometimes a 1.4x extender. A few photos from our room are on our web site.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Thanks everyone. Anyone have any favorite (yet not too pricey) flash?

 

[Master Mason]

I used the canon 430 with my xt, and now with my 40D until I can afford to replace it with the 580. It worked fine with the xt, never had any issues, for some reason it, me and the 40D don't get along very well.