DH wants to buy Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT.....

[crazee4mickey]

as my birthday gift but I have no idea whether this is a "good" digital camera!

I currently have a Canon Powershot A95 and I have gotten amazing fireworks and sports photos with it but its time for more mega pixels!!

The reason he is looking at this specific camera is it is similar to my 35mm I used to have and got the most amazing pictures from with the different lenses. Also, with the current digital camera we have, the wait time after pressing the shutter button seems far too long!

What are the pros and cons of this camera? Any suggestions of better cameras also appreciated--we want to spend about $900 or less
TIA to anyone who might have advice!

 

[JR6ooo4]

The Rebel XT is a great camera.

What 35mm brand lenses do you have and how old are they.

Mikeeee

 

[Kelly Grannell]

buying XT for the purpose of Megapixel is a wrong reason.

If you want better picture, faster auto focus, cleaner high-ISO image, more accurate light metering/exposure metering, then dSLR is the way to go.

PS: I also have Canon A95

 

[crazee4mickey]

JR6ooo4--
I have Sigma lenses for my 35 mm that are only 2 years old. They take amazing photos
Kelly Grannell--
All I keep telling my DH is that I want beautiful pictures like the ones I get with my A95... I thikn it would take me forever to learn how to operate this camera he wants to buy!!
What does "dslr" mean exactly?

 

[MICKEY88]

JR6ooo4--
I have Sigma lenses for my 35 mm that are only 2 years old. They take amazing photos
Kelly Grannell--
All I keep telling my DH is that I want beautiful pictures like the ones I get with my A95... I thikn it would take me forever to learn how to operate this camera he wants to buy!!
What does "dslr" mean exactly?

what make and model is your 35 mm camera..?/

 

[JR6ooo4]

DSLR = digital single lens reflex (now that I am typing it publicly I realy hope it is correct)
Larger sensor than a point and shoot camera
the ability to change lenses for extremely more versatility

If the lenses you have are a substantial value it might make the difference in choosing a camera body. So the more info the better. Current canon DSLR bodies can use lenses up to a decade old or more (I think, I'm not the expert)

Congrats on the cam if you choose the DSLR route. It comes down to the question of "Do you want the camera to take your pictures, or do you want to?"
But a DSLR will also do very well in auto mode.
Mikeeee

 

[Kelly Grannell]

JR6ooo4--
I have Sigma lenses for my 35 mm that are only 2 years old. They take amazing photos
Kelly Grannell--
All I keep telling my DH is that I want beautiful pictures like the ones I get with my A95... I thikn it would take me forever to learn how to operate this camera he wants to buy!!
What does "dslr" mean exactly?

You WILL be able to take pics at least as good as the A95 with the RebelXT.
and you WILL be able to take FAR BETTER pics when you get the hang of RebelXT "character".

dSLR = digital Single Lens Reflex. dSLR have the same control as any serious camera and will have cleaner high-ISO due to it's far larger size of the sensor.

What lens (focal-length wise) is your Sigma?

 

[crazee4mickey]

what make and model is your 35 mm camera..?/

It is a Minolta Maxxum 400si.....I have had it for 10 years and it takes amazing pics but I'm really starting to like digital

What lens (focal-length wise) is your Sigma?

It's a Sigma Zoom 100-300mm...I hope that is what you mean about "focal length"!
As you can probably tell I am not exactly what you would call a "camera genius"!!

 

[Kelly Grannell]

If it is 2 years old, you should be able to use it. If not, you can re-chip the lens by sending it to Sigma for a very low fee (it's about $30 in Canada).

 

[jann1033]

$ 10 USA and they took less than a week to get it back to me. if you go to sigma's website they tell you which lens need upgrades and which don't
if you do you send your name address etc along with what camera you are getting and they do the chip for you. i had an canon eos rebel film and lenses for that . any eos compatible lens fits the rebel xt but not sure about the others

 

[crazee4mickey]

If it is 2 years old, you should be able to use it. If not, you can re-chip the lens by sending it to Sigma for a very low fee (it's about $30 in Canada).

What does "re-chip" mean and will AF lenses fit on a Rebel XT?

 

[Kelly Grannell]

not all auto focus lenses will fit Rebel XT. Only lenses with Canon EF or EF-S mount will fit RebelXT. (the Sigma will say something like "For Canon" or "Canon EF Mount")

 

[JR6ooo4]

I think to rechip is changing a computer chip.

 

[crz4mm2]

How much does it weigh? I carry my camera with me where ever I go and would really like soemthing light, but don't want just a point and shoot. I have an Olympus right now, but the lag time is horrid.
Cathy

 

[jann1033]

i was concerned bout weight due to medical issues and with my old lens ( 100 -300mm) it 's really heavy for me but with the 28-80 ( which weighs about the same as the digital lenses) it's not bad...naturally it's heavier than a p& s would be but i can use it with out a problem . it's not so heavy it would be cumbersome around your neck...with the digital lens i would guess about 2 lbs... batteries, strap, card, lens, body

 

[geetey]

if you go to sigma's website they tell you which lens need upgrades and which don't

Hi Jann,
Could you tell me exactly where you found this information on the website? I can't seem to find that page.
Thanks!

 

[Kelly Grannell]

they don't put it on the website. Just contact their tech support and they'll tell you.

 

[jann1033]

Hi Jann,
Could you tell me exactly where you found this information on the website? I can't seem to find that page.
Thanks!

i had a link some one had posted before but i can't find it now..this is all i see on their web site now ( i know it had a list before which is irritating cause it only had maybe 8-10 and mine was included...)

"A: All current production Sigma lenses for Canon autofocus cameras are fully compatible with the new Elan 7, Digital Rebel or EOS 10D camera. If you have a question about a particular lens, please contact Sigma’s service department (in the U.S.) at (631) 585-1144 or via email at

info@sigmaphoto.com."

they did get back to me right away

 

[geetey]

No problem! I was just curious because I couldn't find a specific list on the site. Thought I might be losing it.

I have used my Sigma lens on my Rebel XT and it works fine, so I never contacted them about it. I figured I would just 'double check' if there were a list of lenses available.

Edited to add:
I decided to email Sigma and see what they say. Yep - it is supposed to be rechipped. I guess it is taking a trip to the post office.

 

[jann1033]

i guess i could have posted this.... mine is sigma 28-80 the kit lens i got with my rebel 2000 and it's no longer made so maybe that is why they rechip???? i don't know what the chip does looks/ acts the same to me