Canon 400D (Rebel Xti, Kiss X)

[jann1033]

i don't know if i would upgrade from a xti to 30d, mostly you are getting spot metering, faster fps, 3200 iso, top info thing with i think a little more info in it better build ,better shutter lag shutter speed to 1/8000 and even though everyone swears this isn't so, i can tell a difference between photos from a 30d and rebel xt( don't have an xti to compare)..i don't know if it's the focus( 7 vs 9 ) or what but imo there is a definite difference. the 30 d just looks different to me( can't say that is always but when i see a photo that looks a certain way, sharper or something, it's from a 30d). i just really liked the feel of it as well. i like my rebel xt fine, i just like the 30d better so wish i would have gone that route the first time. i wish they would get a new model released already so i can contemplate the difference between those 2 the thing i noticed right off with the 30 d is how much faster it is than my rebel xt, just a normal shot seems faster(not sure if the camera was in burst or not) ..the batteries are different as well but not sure how that compares to anything except meaning i would need new backups

 

[AndrewWG]

Well, I guess I am sold on an XTi or a 30D. I just need to find out what suits me better I suppose. I am also on a somewhat tight budget at this particular time, so right now I'm leaning towards the XTi or just waiting it out and saving more $$ for the 30D. Wishing I had enough for the 5D but that is a lottery win purchase!

I would think that the XT and the 30D would take quite comparable photos if they were both using the same lens. Seems to me that the correct choice of lenses is what makes or breaks a photo. Usually, that correct choice seems to cost more than the camera itself. This concerns me greatly. I don't want to buy "nice" lenses. I want to buy "very good" to "great" lenses. If I'm going to make this jump, I want the results that I am after and that doesn't come from $200 lenses I'm afraid. I may be on a "lens a year" savings program.

Andy

 

[Master Mason]

I may be on a "lens a year" savings program.

Andy

True enough, but if you make the right choices the first time, then you won't have to make them again.

My current 2 main lenses are now the 24-70 f/2.8L and the 70-200 f/2.8L I think you would be hard pressed to find 2 better lenses, and they will serve me for many years to come. I also have 3 other lenses that I have bought along the way that could have gotten me the UWA that I need to really complete my kit, but I was buying either blind or uninformed when I made the purchases.

 

[jann1033]

Well, I guess I am sold on an XTi or a 30D. I just need to find out what suits me better I suppose. I am also on a somewhat tight budget at this particular time, so right now I'm leaning towards the XTi or just waiting it out and saving more $$ for the 30D. Wishing I had enough for the 5D but that is a lottery win purchase!

I would think that the XT and the 30D would take quite comparable photos if they were both using the same lens. Seems to me that the correct choice of lenses is what makes or breaks a photo. Usually, that correct choice seems to cost more than the camera itself. This concerns me greatly. I don't want to buy "nice" lenses. I want to buy "very good" to "great" lenses. If I'm going to make this jump, I want the results that I am after and that doesn't come from $200 lenses I'm afraid. I may be on a "lens a year" savings program.

Andy

i agree here..a "good for the money' lens is only going to take a "good for the money" photo..which is fine unless you are a anal retentive type like i am....imo it's better to wait it out and get a better one the first time...and sometimes you don't have to spend an arm and a leg but do need to research

 

[AndrewWG]

i agree here..a "good for the money' lens is only going to take a "good for the money" photo..which is fine unless you are a anal retentive type like i am....imo it's better to wait it out and get a better one the first time...and sometimes you don't have to spend an arm and a leg but do need to research

Yeah, I'm going to start putting a wish list together for the lenses. I will need fairly long zoom as I generally take photos of wildlife of some sort. Will also need others for the wider views. This will be fun to do although the final cost won't be fun to look at!

Andy

 

[AndrewWG]

Question:

Let's just say I buy the XTi. Then a couple years from now, I decide to upgrade to a full frame digital. Should I plan for this now and buy EF lenses and NOT expensive EF-S lenses? Does this matter? I thought I had read that the 1D and 5D, and possibly others, do not take the EF-S lenses. Is this true?

Andy

 

[handicap18]

Yeah, I'm going to start putting a wish list together for the lenses. I will need fairly long zoom as I generally take photos of wildlife of some sort. Will also need others for the wider views. This will be fun to do although the final cost won't be fun to look at!

Andy

You might want to think about selling the house and moving into a mobile home. Or maybe renting some space for a few years at Maple Park. You'd have one heck of a lens lineup, but getting good pics of the family would be very difficult as I'm sure they'd always have a scowl on their faces.

When I went to a dSLR I already had 2 Nikon mount lenses. Granted they weren't very good, but I had a start. Then I got the body and the 28-80mm lens I had wasn't wide enough so I got an 18-70mm. Still had the old 70-300mm so I was good to go for a while. Then of course I read all the great things about the 50mm f1.8. Not a bad price at just over $100.

Then I went to Disney and realized that the 70-300mm I had was god awful and Nikon had just come out with a new 70-300mm with VR. So I got me one of those. Now all my original lenses are sitting in the closet. This after just 12 months. Now my macro was in the closet (the original 70-300mm had a macro feature, the new one doesn't). So I ended up picking up a used 90mm f/2.8 macro in awesome shape. Now I have my eyes on the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 and soon enough I'll be wanting to add a 70-200mm f/2.8. The kids are getting bigger and are getting into more activity stuff, some of it indoors. The 90mm is good, but a 70-200mm is better.

Oh yeah, I forgot I threw in a new flash gun (old one would only work in full manual flash mode and I also wasn't sure of the voltage issue).

Oh, then I found a great deal on an 18-135mm lens. The 18-70 I have is a bit on the soft side and the reach is just not quite enough for me.

So here I sit 17 months after purchasing my dSLR and I have 5 lenses and a flash gun that I didn't have 18 months ago.

Did I mention the battery grip?

I'm secretly saving up for the 30mm f/1.4 to hopefully get before our trip in Nov (its $400). I think I might be able to justify the 70-200mm next year after we get our taxes back.

Of course the 10-20mm super wide angle lens is always there in the back of my head.

Its a never ever ending list.

No, its a sickness.

 

[AndrewWG]

Kyle,

Man, you got the bug big time, huh? Well, for the time being I am being conservative in my choices as I just really want 3 things:

Cover a wide focal length range
Have the widest aperture possible (while staying below $2K per lens)
Have IS in the lenses (My hands shake a bit sometimes)

Based on that, I have come up with the following 3 lenses. Keep in mind that I already have "starter" lenses from my old rebel film SLR that I can start with and dream of the day that these 3 lenses are in my possession.

1. EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM $999
2. EF 50mm f1.8 II $79 (just because everyone has to have one)
3. EF 70-200mm f2.8L IS USM $1600

Those 3 lenses would basically complete my collection. I think that my Sigma AF 90mm f2.8 (provided it works with the camera) will round this off quite nicely.

Then all I need is a flash, battery grip thingy, cleaning kit, CF cards, a new computer to handle all these pics, new printer, new doghouse to live in.....

Andy

 

[Groucho]

Then all I need is a flash, battery grip thingy, cleaning kit, CF cards, a new computer to handle all these pics, new printer, new doghouse to live in.....

Andy

Don't forget your tripod, monopod, multiple camera bags, software (Lightroom + Photoshop), remote shutter release (though you can make one yourself for a couple bucks), filters, etc. It never ends!

 

[photo_chick]

I would think that the XT and the 30D would take quite comparable photos if they were both using the same lens. Seems to me that the correct choice of lenses is what makes or breaks a photo. Usually, that correct choice seems to cost more than the camera itself. This concerns me greatly. I don't want to buy "nice" lenses. I want to buy "very good" to "great" lenses. If I'm going to make this jump, I want the results that I am after and that doesn't come from $200 lenses I'm afraid. I may be on a "lens a year" savings program.

Andy

Lenses get expensive fast. I never bought a lot for my Rebel G becasue I just could not justify the price when I had a perfectly good lens for the other 35mm camera that would cover that need. Now that I have gone digital it is biting me in the butt. I hae bought 2 lenses in the past 6 months (shhhh... don't tell DH) And I am still taking the A-1 for its faster telephoto lens for DD's recital tomorrow along with the Rebel XT to shoot in this huge auditorium. The smart person would have hit up my sister to borrow her fast telephoto for tomorrow. But I never claimed to be smart. Now I need to go see if my film is defrosted.

 

[mhm]

I finally got a shot I'm willing to post! (I've been a little intimidated by the talent on this board!) I know the lighting's not ideal--I haven't had the time to learn how to make the most of what's available. What do you think? (Be honest--I want to learn!!)

 

[bostran1]

I think it looks great! It looks like you took it in portrait mode? Or switched up the aperture by yourself? At any rate, I like the blur in the background and the bright blue. Keep experimenting!

 

[tinksdad]

Nice shot with wonderful colors!!

If you can remember (it's hard with all the stuff running through your mind) make sure you focus on the eyes!!

 

[jann1033]

nice shot and cute subject...if you have photoshop or something similar with a clone or brush tool you can add a catchlight in her right eye with it just to add a little sparkle to her eyes.( i see one in the iris of the left eye but not the right)

 

[mhm]

I think it looks great! It looks like you took it in portrait mode? Or switched up the aperture by yourself? At any rate, I like the blur in the background and the bright blue. Keep experimenting!

I think I left it in portrait mode. She really wanted to get out of her costume so she could go play with the boy next door, so I didn't have much time to fuss with the camera. I may have put it in Aperture priority, though--I've actually become pretty comfortable with that in the last few weeks.

 

[mhm]

Nice shot with wonderful colors!!

If you can remember (it's hard with all the stuff running through your mind) make sure you focus on the eyes!!

I used a tripod, and she was actually doing her dance for me--any tips on fine-tuning focus on a moving subject? I'm not very steady without the tripod yet, so I think I would have lost alot of sharpness.

 

[photo_chick]

I used a tripod, and she was actually doing her dance for me--any tips on fine-tuning focus on a moving subject? I'm not very steady without the tripod yet, so I think I would have lost alot of sharpness.

To get better at focusing just practice, practice, and practice some more. Make sure you learn how your autofocus system works, how to change the points and then practice so it becomes second nature. I also found (like others) choosing to use the * button for the focus lock a little easier (you can set that in the custom functions menu if you want)

 

[tinksdad]

I used a tripod, and she was actually doing her dance for me--any tips on fine-tuning focus on a moving subject? I'm not very steady without the tripod yet, so I think I would have lost alot of sharpness.

Tripods are great, but have their place. Better for stationary objects, landscapes, macro, that kind of thing. If your darling daughter/subject is moving and the light will let you get the shutter speed up a bit, best to hand hold. Most of the DSLRs have a continuous focus mode that can be placed on the subjects eyes which yields great results, this will "track" the subject to continually focus on the new position. Also good for sports!

 

[mhm]

Tripods are great, but have their place. Better for stationary objects, landscapes, macro, that kind of thing. If your darling daughter/subject is moving and the light will let you get the shutter speed up a bit, best to hand hold. Most of the DSLRs have a continuous focus mode that can be placed on the subjects eyes which yields great results, this will "track" the subject to continually focus on the new position. Also good for sports!

Thanks, I'll have to read how to do that with my camera. Part of my problem right now is I can't find my old Canon Elan 35 mm to get the lens off it, so I'm stuck with a 70-300 mm for the moment. (Doing some remodelling, & nothing is where it's supposed to be!) I am not at all experienced with this lens, and am having a very hard time keeping it steady. I know I need to keep practicing!

 

[Zeagle]

Great Picture! I love the colors and bokeh. Did you use any flash with the shot? The only thing that I would suggest is to practice focusing on the eyes and switch to either AI focus or AI servo to help with the focus. You may also try playing with 2nd curtain flash sync as I have found that this usually adds a nice sparkle to the eyes. Again great shot and look forward to seeing more.

Jason