Canon 400D (Rebel Xti, Kiss X)

[11290]

I was planning on getting the Canon Xsi here shortly but last few days have been reading about the new Sony A300. Seems it is just getting in stores but no reviews or user reports on it yet. "On paper" it looks real good but I have had Canon for a long time and have always been happy with them.

Daughter bought a Nikon D40 last summer and it has performed very well. She needs to "tweak" the settings a bit but has just not taken the time. Happy with the pics from it so far.

 

[tyedye]

If I go with a camera and a kit lens, those are usually to 55mm and then I get a telephoto that is 70-200mm, I will not have a lens for the 55-70mm range, will I be missing things? I'm thinking maybe I could use the kit lens and crop anything I wanted bigger?

For my sport pictures, that shouldn't be a problem, so it would more than likely be the everyday family photo's or vacation photo's.

 

[Master Mason]

If I go with a camera and a kit lens, those are usually to 55mm and then I get a telephoto that is 70-200mm, I will not have a lens for the 55-70mm range, will I be missing things? I'm thinking maybe I could use the kit lens and crop anything I wanted bigger?

For my sport pictures, that shouldn't be a problem, so it would more than likely be the everyday family photo's or vacation photo's.

I doubt you would miss that range all that much, it is not that great, and as you say, you can always crop, or use the foot zoom.

 

[tyedye]

Sorry to keep asking questions, thank you for your advice, info, etc.

How much does IS/VR in the lens help? The new Canon XSi and Nikon D60 are being paired with an 18-55 IS/VR lens.

The 70-200mm f2.8 lenses do not have the IS/VR. When I take pics at swim meets or soccer games I do usually use a monopod.

I see lots of lenses available with more reach like the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/397663-USA/Canon_0345B002_70_300mm_f_4_5_6_EF_IS.html but this lens starts with f4 but it does have IS which is more expensive than without that.

So which is more important? They prob make a lens with both but if they do I'm sure it's out of my price range.

 

[Master Mason]

Sorry to keep asking questions, thank you for your advice, info, etc.

How much does IS/VR in the lens help? The new Canon XSi and Nikon D60 are being paired with an 18-55 IS/VR lens.

The 70-200mm f2.8 lenses do not have the IS/VR. When I take pics at swim meets or soccer games I do usually use a monopod.

I see lots of lenses available with more reach like the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/397663-USA/Canon_0345B002_70_300mm_f_4_5_6_EF_IS.html but this lens starts with f4 but it does have IS which is more expensive than without that.

So which is more important? They prob make a lens with both but if they do I'm sure it's out of my price range.

Personal Opinion here.

VR/IS will not help you with sports in anyway. And here is my reasoning. Inorder to freeze the action at a sporting event, your going to need a minimum of 1/250 shutter speed, preferably faster. So, by the time you have that shutter speed you have eliminated the camera shake from the equation. The standard is 1/focal lenght to get rid of camera shake as an issue. So with a max 200 your over that number.

So, how do you maximize shutter speed to freeze the action, you open the apeture and raise the ISO. Once your ISO is maxed, there is only open the apeture, and if your lens is stopping at f/5.6 on the long end, your 2 full stops of speed slower, than a lens that opens to f/2.8

 

[Groucho]

The Tamron has been delayed over and over for a long time, but it sure sounds good on paper, and their matching 28-75mm F2.8 is pretty highly respected.

As for the Pentax line, you can go with the Tamron (when available) or the Sigma, or go for a smaller focal length. I just got the Pentax 50-135mm F2.8, which is approximately the same reach as a 70-200mm on a film (or full-frame digital) SLR. It's very high quality and weighs right around half of what the bigger Sigma weighs, so it's much easier to hand-hold. Also, the Pentax (and Sony and some Olympus models) has IS built in, no need to buy it on a lens-by-lens basis. But like MM says, IS won't help when shooting fast-moving objects (unless your hands are shaking faster than they're moving, which is certainly possible!)

 

[B&B Mom]

Okay.... so my husband and I decided we wanted a relatively nice camera for ourselves and this is what we bought.

It is a great camera, but I am realizing that I dont have a clue what I am doing and this camera has so much more potential that I do not even know where to begin.

Does anyone have a suggestions as far as a useful resource ie DVD, book, for beginners....Thanks!!!

 

[orchjoe]

Understanding Exposure is a great place to start

 

[MassJester]

Congrats on joining the Canon Crowd

I love my xti, and like you, it's a camera that I can do a lot of growing with.

I enjoyed Complete Digital Photography, 3rd edition, by Ben Long.

 

[bubba]

I love my XTi ! I have to admit though, the manual left me shaking my head. I just found it very confusing. I ended up buying the Digital Rebel XTi/400D Digital Field Guide by Charlotte K Lowrie. All the features, dials, buttons etc are explained in the first part of the book, while the second part is techniques for great photos. I really like the section at the front called Quick Tour. Basically, if you want to quickly set up your camera and go take pictures, this will help you do that.

 

[cpbjgc]

Check this thread for more ideas.

 

[mabas9395]

I like these links:

http://web.canon.jp/imaging/enjoydslr/index.html
http://www.usa.canon.com/content/rebelxt_tutorial/rebelxtlessons.htm

 

[MassJester]

There is also a Brit magazine Photo Plus which is directed at Canon users.

I subscribe to that and its sister publication Digital Camera -- I think they are both great and a lot of help.

 

[B&B Mom]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone...it really helps to have a starting point. Now the fun part begins...playing with camera!

 

[maccagerl]

Hi!

My Canon EOS film camera had an auto-bracketing function- I can't seem to find this on my Digital Rebel xti.
Does anyone know if the Rebel has this function, or if it can be programmed in using the custom -program function?
TIA for any help!

 

[Master Mason]

yes it can. Let me find it for you


Ok it is on page 76 of your manual

but in the menus go to the camera 2 section the top line is AEB You set the range of your braket and your good to go.

 

[maccagerl]

Thanks! I'll check it out!

 

[vanillarum]

Hey gang. Being the lazy person that I am, I was wondering if anyone could give me the main differences between these 2 DSLR cameras ? I know that the 40 D is about double the price, but what are the major differences ? I believe the 40D has a 3" LCD while the XTi has a 2.5. What could I do with a 40D that I can't do with the XTi, assuming I have the same lens ? I am debating between the 2 and purchasing a 100mm 2.8 lens for whicever one I decide on. I haven't been out to see how they feel, and one of the reasons I want the Canon is because I have a Canon Elan7 ( that I will sell or trade) with a couple of lenses I was hoping to use. Thanx for any advice.

 

[Shutterbug]

Well first off you should go out and see how these feel in your hands. They are two different size cameras.

Other than that, here you go:

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/digital/canon_eos_xsi_vs_xti_vs_40D.html

 

[Master Mason]

Quick list off the top of my head.

Size, the 40D is quite a bit bigger
Build Quality, the 40D is much better built, it feels really solid in your hand. If your used to the Elan, the XTi is going to feel very small and plasticy to you.
Spot Metering, This was one of the kickers for me to decide to go with the 40D.
3200 ISO, the XTi only goes to 1600
6.5 fps vs 3.5 fps
Digic III processor vs Digic II
Larger buffer
More in camera control of external flashes (but only with 580 EXII flash)