Canon 400D (Rebel Xti, Kiss X)

[ukcatfan]

Before someone from the Canon side jumps on it, I will be fair to point out that you "can" use a CP filter on the Canon kit, but it it becomes very difficult due to the front element rotating during focus. That means that you have to pre-focus before adjusting the CP, which is a real pain IMO. You would also not be able to use a constant focus mode, if the XT/XTi has that, b/c the front element would not stop moving until the shot is actually taken. I will also point out that the kit does not have a hood with it.

Kevin

 

[jann1033]

... mentions that she knows people who give their kids Benadryl before going on a long road trip. ...

hmm, never thought of it but if the non driving parent took it they wouldn't hear the "she's on my side" fights or see the giant trucks bearing down on you at 90mph on those WV "hills"..might have made for a lot more pleasant trip

 

[Master Mason]

In the other thread, I suggested the xt and not the xti to that specific request, because the question of cost was a major concern. There are certainly improvements in the xti over the xt. I don't think it was a large enough improvement for most folks to move from one to the other, but from the orignal rebel to the xti, I think a lot of people made the jump.

As for the size thing, I think that people that used film slrs it may be in issue, but from someone with strictly a P&S background, they are used to something smaller, so it isn't a big deal. The big thing is hold it in your hands before you purchase, as with any camera.

 

[jann1033]

haven't' checked the prices online at all lately on the rebels but i will tell you what i kind of wish i had done last yr but never even thought of...gone with the 30d...i've seen it online for around $1000, body only which is about 200 more than they wanted for the xti kit at BestBuy...but i am thinking you have lenses(?) . i have to say i tried it out at best buy( kit there with 28-135 was almost $1500 so not cheap considering that lens is around$400) and it is lots faster than the rebel( think the xti is faster than the rebel but not as fast as the 30d), has spot metering, has the top lcd( which i don't know if i would like or not having not used it but I think it gives more info that the small below eyepiece lcd on the rebel that i never even look at since th shutter aperture and exposure are in the eyepiece as well. unless i want to change to burst or something i don't really use it i just go to the first menu page to set what i want to set ie iso), felt great in my hands( a little heavier but i think i can hold it ok even with my puny weak hands ) larger and brighter lcd screen than the rebel and would be saving me the $500 i spent on the rebel xt last yr. even though husband is drooling over my rebel now so maybe i wouldn't have saved it after all and i was gagging at spending the $500 then( it's all relative i guess .....just a thought if you can stretch the budget at all.......

just a fyi....i also figured out why the nikon d80 hurts my hands..the grip is squared off and so my fingers bend right at the front, on the rebel and 30d, the grip is a smooth rounded contour so my fingers don't' really bend, just kind of curve...a big deal to anyone with arthritis or weird old hands like me . still haven't found a pentax in a store so no idea what the grip is like with that one.

 

[bostran1]

Anyone have any idea when the price of the XT is going to go down further than $570-$600? Do you think it will just remain there until they are sold out? On a related note, any idea when they might be gone?

P.S. I realize any answers will probably be pure speculation but I'm sure there are people here more knowledgable than me!

 

[ukcatfan]

Anyone have any idea when the price of the XT is going to go down further than $570-$600? Do you think it will just remain there until they are sold out? On a related note, any idea when they might be gone?

P.S. I realize any answers will probably be pure speculation but I'm sure there are people here more knowledgable than me!

IMO, I think the bottom has just about been reached on the price. The supply should be getting really small. My Target still has one on display, but Walmart only has the XTi. I beleive that it was discontinued over five months ago, so logic says that it should be about gone.

If it really is what you want, then you should jump on it very soon. If it is like other models I have watched, once the supply gets really small(i.e. one of the big guys like B&H, Adorama, etc. runs out) then the prices will likely go back up. I have seen some limited supply models go for full retail at the end of the supply. You will start seeing refurbs of it all over the place after that, so if you can handle that, it could be an option if you miss out on a new one.

Kevin

 

[photo_chick]

If I were shopping right now for a Canon I would go for the XT (which is what I got in 2005) I'd rather save the $$$ on the camera and have more for lenses. I think the difference in overall image quality you will have between the two cameras is going to come down more to the lens and user rather than the 2mp increase you get.

 

[Master Mason]

If I were shopping right now for a Canon I would go for the XT (which is what I got in 2005) I'd rather save the $$$ on the camera and have more for lenses. I think the difference in overall image quality you will have between the two cameras is going to come down more to the lens and user rather than the 2mp increase you get.

If you shoot a lot of sports, the extra speed and buffer would be hard to pass up on the XTi.

 

[photo_chick]

If you shoot a lot of sports, the extra speed and buffer would be hard to pass up on the XTi.

If I shot a lot of sports that would be a consideration for me. Maybe when my kids are older.... Right not the XT is fast enough for my needs. Maybe not for someone elses needs, but it works well for me.

 

[jann1033]

If I shot a lot of sports that would be a consideration for me. Maybe when my kids are older.... Right not the XT is fast enough for my needs. Maybe not for someone elses needs, but it works well for me.

don't go use a 30 d...it might change your mind... even my husband was shocked...so i better never see the mark111 or i'll be selling a kidney to get it

 

[Anewman]

Anyone have any idea when the price of the XT is going to go down further than $570-$600? Do you think it will just remain there until they are sold out? On a related note, any idea when they might be gone?

P.S. I realize any answers will probably be pure speculation but I'm sure there are people here more knowledgable than me!

Well buydig/beachcamera have the XT for a bit less than $500 right now, plus they charge no sales tax or shipping.

Their price has gone up and down from about $520-$500 for the last 3 months or so.

They still carry the Canon 20D and that price fluctuates almost on a daily basis.

 

[AndrewWG]

The flash pop up depends on the shooting mode. Put it in P or program mode and you get full auto without the flash ever popping up.

Yellow Stitch,

Thanks. That puts my mind at ease about that feature.

Andy

 

[AndrewWG]

I personally cannot stand that they took off the info LCD on the XTi. I use mine all the time b/c the regular LCD has so much more info on it that it makes it confusing to look at when you just want the basic exposure info. Also, the regular LCD uses much more power which takes away from how many shots you can take on that battery.

Also, for the MP issue, the increase is not as big of a deal on a DSLR b/c the sensor is so much bigger. I believe that I read the optimal MPs on the APS-C sensor is in the 8-10MP range where on a p&s it is like 4-6MPs.

Kevin

Kevin,

Not sure that this would so much bother me although I would have to check them out in the stores more. Glad to hear that the MP thing is not a big issue.

Thanks again!

Andy

 

[AndrewWG]

Yep, it was me who did the sensor size diagram. Here it is:

The Olympus models use the 4/3rds sensor, Canons have a CMOS sensor that is slightly smaller than the sensors in other DSLRs, and pretty much everyone else uses an APS-C-sized CCD sensor.

I don't think you'll see a big difference in noise levels. Even the jump from 6 to 10mp generally doesn't make too big of a difference in noise levels. By and large, most DSLRs with 6-10 megapixels are all capable of producing similarly fantastic image quality.

As others have said, the big difference of the XT/XTi and most others is the feel. They feel smaller and less substantial than the competition, and this is definitely a love it or hate it thing. I also don't like that they got rid of the top LCD; like Kevin, I use mine all the time. Then again, if you're never had it, you probably won't miss it. You also have no spot metering and cannot use a circular polarizer with the kit lens. If none of those bother you, you'll probably be very happy with the camera.

By the way, if you're still interested, I put three RAW files on my site, I can give you the links in a PM if you'd like.

Groucho,

Thanks for the diagram. Thats the one I was thinking of.

I don't think that I will be using a CP filter anyways but I will keep this all in mind. Also, I will keep in mind Kevins comments about the CP. Thanks for those.

I have no clue what spot metering is, so maybe I 'll not miss it? Is it a real good feature to have?

I am still interested in the RAW files. Just drop me a PM and I will check them out. I got some to try out already, but the more I have the more practice I will get.

Thanks again!

Andy

 

[AndrewWG]

In the other thread, I suggested the xt and not the xti to that specific request, because the question of cost was a major concern. There are certainly improvements in the xti over the xt. I don't think it was a large enough improvement for most folks to move from one to the other, but from the orignal rebel to the xti, I think a lot of people made the jump.

As for the size thing, I think that people that used film slrs it may be in issue, but from someone with strictly a P&S background, they are used to something smaller, so it isn't a big deal. The big thing is hold it in your hands before you purchase, as with any camera.

Master Mason,

I didn't realize you were just talking price. That's fine. I was just wondering if there was any specific reason, technically, that you preferrd one over the other. Thanks for letting me know though.

The size of this (XTi) camera does not bother me in the slightest. The weight and slight flimsyness of it concerns me some though. I imagine this is the same thing as the XT though. I'll be taking a trip to Best Buy to get a feel for them all this weekend. Of course, I won't buy there though!

Andy

 

[AndrewWG]

haven't' checked the prices online at all lately on the rebels but i will tell you what i kind of wish i had done last yr but never even thought of...gone with the 30d...i've seen it online for around $1000, body only which is about 200 more than they wanted for the xti kit at BestBuy...but i am thinking you have lenses(?) . i have to say i tried it out at best buy( kit there with 28-135 was almost $1500 so not cheap considering that lens is around$400) and it is lots faster than the rebel( think the xti is faster than the rebel but not as fast as the 30d), has spot metering, has the top lcd( which i don't know if i would like or not having not used it but I think it gives more info that the small below eyepiece lcd on the rebel that i never even look at since th shutter aperture and exposure are in the eyepiece as well. unless i want to change to burst or something i don't really use it i just go to the first menu page to set what i want to set ie iso), felt great in my hands( a little heavier but i think i can hold it ok even with my puny weak hands ) larger and brighter lcd screen than the rebel and would be saving me the $500 i spent on the rebel xt last yr. even though husband is drooling over my rebel now so maybe i wouldn't have saved it after all and i was gagging at spending the $500 then( it's all relative i guess .....just a thought if you can stretch the budget at all.......

just a fyi....i also figured out why the nikon d80 hurts my hands..the grip is squared off and so my fingers bend right at the front, on the rebel and 30d, the grip is a smooth rounded contour so my fingers don't' really bend, just kind of curve...a big deal to anyone with arthritis or weird old hands like me . still haven't found a pentax in a store so no idea what the grip is like with that one.

Ok, now here is the answer I've been thinking about since lunchtime when I originally was able to read these responses....

Well, Jan, now you've done it. I was hoping to just go and buy an XT or an XTi but you just had to mention the 30D didn't you! I had hoped to not remember seeing the 30D online and had put it out of my mind, but now it's back. What, do you work for Canon or something? You should be a salesperson!

Nah, I'm just kidding. You bring up a good point. I do have lenses already and a "body only" 30D sure would be sweet! I'm not sure that I can justify the price, but anything is possible. I was hoping to save up about $1K and buy what I could for a camera body and maybe a lens or two. Now, I have to really think if I just need a camera body and use my current lenses for now... Tough decision. My lenses surely wouldn't be wide enough as my widest is 35-80 and that translates into 56-128 if I'm doing the math correctly. I would most certainly have to buy a nice wider lens. Maybe I could pick up one of the kit lenses for the XT/XTi on ebay. If a sale comes along and the body of the 30D goes to like $999.99, I 'll jump on it in a second. I think when the 40D (did I hear it was coming out) comes out, the price will drop somewhat, but I don't want to wait.

Either way, you bring up a good point and I thank you for it.

Does anyone have experience with the 20D? I happened to see them online too. Are they any better than the XT/XTi? I imagine they are not as good as the 30D.

Andy

 

[Master Mason]

Does anyone have experience with the 20D? I happened to see them online too. Are they any better than the XT/XTi? I imagine they are not as good as the 30D.

Andy

The 30D was a very small upgrade from the 20D, same sensor etc, if I remember correctly the only real upgrade was spot metering.

I am planning on going to the 30D, but knowing that it's replacement is right around the corner makes me slow in pulling the trigger. In the mean time, I have been looking around, and spent some time looking at the 1 series stuff, that was probably a large mistake on my part...lol

 

[AndrewWG]

The 30D was a very small upgrade from the 20D, same sensor etc, if I remember correctly the only real upgrade was spot metering.

I am planning on going to the 30D, but knowing that it's replacement is right around the corner makes me slow in pulling the trigger. In the mean time, I have been looking around, and spent some time looking at the 1 series stuff, that was probably a large mistake on my part...lol

Well, I had the pleasure of playing around with a Mark III one day and found that it wieghs about as much as a brick (if not more) and was really turned off by this. The overall size was just too big for me too. The image quality is unsurpassed, but the weight is a bit much for a walk around camera. I need something that is a bit more portable than that.

Andy

 

[bostran1]

Well buydig/beachcamera have the XT for a bit less than $500 right now, plus they charge no sales tax or shipping.

Their price has gone up and down from about $520-$500 for the last 3 months or so.

They still carry the Canon 20D and that price fluctuates almost on a daily basis.

I'll be getting one with the kit lens so those were the numbers I was working off of.

Thanks for the tips though, I'll order this weekend!

 

[MarkBarbieri]

The 30D was a very small upgrade from the 20D, same sensor etc, if I remember correctly the only real upgrade was spot metering.

I am planning on going to the 30D, but knowing that it's replacement is right around the corner makes me slow in pulling the trigger. In the mean time, I have been looking around, and spent some time looking at the 1 series stuff, that was probably a large mistake on my part...lol

20D -> 30D added spot metering, larger LCD (2.5" vs 1.8"), RGB histogram, faster fps (5 vs 3), Bigger buffer (30/11 vs 23/6), ISO displayed in viewfinder while changing.