Green light on Rebel XT

[Snurk71]

DW has finally given me the green light on ordering the Rebel XT I've been bothering her about for a while now. So now that I have the green light, I need to make sure I'm getting everything I need to start off right (been doing P&S digital for about 7 years now):

- buying body only
- Sigma 18-125 lens (only lens for everyday use for starters)
- 2 memory cards (either 1GB or 2GB - anyone have comments on what kind of cards or speed of cards to get)
- extra battery (got a recommendation to go with Sterlingtek)

Anything else I need to be looking at for the initial purchase to be equivalently up and running as I have been with a P&S? I already have a tripod and monopod, and I'll see how things work in my current camera bag.

Lens filter(s), hood, remote, etc? Want to maximize the purchase and cost shock at one time instead of nickel and diming for the next 3 months.

Thanks

 

[ukcatfan]

DW has finally given me the green light on ordering the Rebel XT I've been bothering her about for a while now.

Congrats!!! Enjoy your new camera!!!

I also got the green light this weekend, but I am looking at the Pentax K100D. The XT is a little out of my budget and I keep thinking more and more how I will like the SR on the Pentax.

Kevin

 

[WillCAD]

You've got a pretty complete list. Let me add a few recommendations:

Clear UV filter for the lens. Better to scratch a $15 replaceable filter than a $230 lens.

Table-top tripod for carrying around the parks. I have used mine to get some great long-exposure shots of Spaceship Earth and Plaza de Los Amigos by placing it on things like trash cans and walls.

Remote sutter release - it's only about $25 and worth every penny for long exposure tripod shots.

Go with the 1gb cards. There are some good sales going these days, plus I have always said that it's better to have several smaller cards than a few big cards, just in case you lose one or have one go bad - that way you lose fewer pics.

And shop around a lot to get a really comfy camera strap. A camera is useless when it's in a bag, so I carry mine on a strap all day long, and you need a comfy strap to carry an SLR comfortably all day long.