Canon Digital Rebel HELP! (Zurg!?)

[micks]

Hi all! I know a few of you (Zurg!?!) have a Canon Digital Rebel camera. DH and I are considering one. What are your pros and cons? Is it too big to lug through life, esp. WDW? We have two kids (6 and 3) that we think are pretty cute and like to document their lives - what do you all think of this camera?

 

[helenabear]

I actually looked at the Rebel before I bought the next one up (10D) and it is a very nice camera. I had "upgraded" from the G3 so I was used to a decent sized camera prior to that. The Rebel is a bit lighter and probably a hair smaller than the 10 D. I did go for the other over the Rebel for personal reasons though. I have lugged the 10D through DL for almost 5 full days and, yes it was a bit to carry, but some of the shots I was able to get out of it were soooo worth it.

I admit I love Canon digital cameras... I have owned three and all are still working... I just wanted something more "powerful" each time. The Rebel is a good camera in my eyes and if I hadn't wanted some specific things that the 10 D showed me it could do, I would have gone with the Rebel. I also thought the 10D felt much studier than the Rebel. Good luck

 

[micks]

Thanks helanabear - that's exactly what I was looking for! I really appreciate your feedback. We are "playing" with a loner Digital Rebel this week and have to decide within 14 days.

 

[micks]

bump!!!!!

 

[TwoOldPoohs]

I have had my Rebel for nearly a year, and I think it's a great camera. There are some things about the camera I don't particularly like (such as the metering), but its image quality is superb! I have taken it to WDW, and it does get heavy by the end of the day. I use a photo backpack, which feels more balanced than a shoulder bag, but it's also more difficult to get to the camera. So I usually leave it hanging on the strap around my neck, and I also hold it in my left hand to ease the weight on my neck. By the end of the day, my wrist is sore. Also, this means I never have both hands free (unless the camera is in the backpack).

Depending on the type of photos you want to capture, your lenses may be heavier than the camera itself. I also find it inconvenient to change lenses at times. One word of caution: if you do buy this camera, be prepared to spend lots more money on lenses. Once you see the quality this camera is capable of, you'll want to get the best lenses you can afford.

Despite all that, I don't think I could give it up for a point and shoot camera. This is my third digital camera, and I was immediately impressed with its responsiveness, with the fast auto focus, and smooth pictures at high ISOs. But there is a steep learning curve.

Now that the 20D has been announced, I think a lot of people will be selling the Rebel to upgrade (myself included). I would guess retail prices will come down, too, so you should be able to find it for a good price.

If you're not familiar with www.dpreview.com, check out the dRebel forum here: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1031 and be sure to take a look at the early posts to see the kinds of questions and problems people had with the camera at first. There is a frequent contributor in this forum who is documenting his daughter's life with the Rebel. His wonderful photos are
here. Check them out!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[micks]

Thanks a bunch TwoOldPoohs! I'll check out those sites today...

 

[Dan Murphy]

Steves Digicams is another excellent review site, in addition to dpreview mentioned above. Both sites have real in-depth reviews. Good luck, enjoy whatever you get, hope we see some pictures you take.

 

[Zurg]

I love my rebel, no way in hell I could go back to point and shoot.

For shooting kid pictures the best thing is the speed of the camera, no shutter lag. Push and it shoots.

I missed a lot of goo shots with the kids because other cameras were too slow to repond.

I got a Tameron 28-300 zoom (45-480 effective on the rebel). That is my stypical WDW lens. I often put the camera on the stroller while I am walking around but I don't have any issue carrying it weight wize and the quality of the shots more than makes up for it.

Learn how to turn off auto focus sometimes when it is dark, like parades at night and stuff, it isn't worth the effort.

The D20 is even cooler but it is a lot more cash.

You will love the camera.