Need help with accessories for Canon XT

[AndrewWG]

All,

I know that the time will come (sooner than later) that I will be buying a DSLR and it will probably be the Canon XT. I want the Pentax for it's image stabilization qualities, but I think I shake alot less since cutting down my coffee intake anyways. You all have so much knowledge of these DSLR's that I just have to ask about my current accessories (from my old film Rebel). Ok, here goes:

Flash:

Sunpak auto 355AF. Is this compatible with the XT? I find that B&H still sells this unit but lists it in the film camera flashes section. Anything I can do to make this work with digital?

Canon Speedlite 200E. Pretty bad flash but better than nothing if it will work with digital.

Lenses:

Canon kit lens form the film Rebel is a 35-80mm EF f4-5.6 (should work, right?).

Sigma Auto focus DL zoom 75-300mm f4-5.6 (need to be converted?)

Sigma AF Macro 90mm f2.8 (need to be converted?)

I also have a Tamron-F AF 2X teleconverter (useless?)

Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Especially if you have info on where to send lenses to be converted, etc.

Thanks in advance!

Andy

 

[Master Mason]

All,

I know that the time will come (sooner than later) that I will be buying a DSLR and it will probably be the Canon XT. I want the Pentax for it's image stabilization qualities, but I think I shake alot less since cutting down my coffee intake anyways. You all have so much knowledge of these DSLR's that I just have to ask about my current accessories (from my old film Rebel). Ok, here goes:

Flash:

Sunpak auto 355AF. Is this compatible with the XT? I find that B&H still sells this unit but lists it in the film camera flashes section. Anything I can do to make this work with digital?

Canon Speedlite 200E. Pretty bad flash but better than nothing if it will work with digital.

Lenses:

Canon kit lens form the film Rebel is a 35-80mm EF f4-5.6 (should work, right?).

Sigma Auto focus DL zoom 75-300mm f4-5.6 (need to be converted?)

Sigma AF Macro 90mm f2.8 (need to be converted?)

I also have a Tamron-F AF 2X teleconverter (useless?)

Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Especially if you have info on where to send lenses to be converted, etc.

Thanks in advance!

Andy

Flashes, yes they will work, but might only be a fire flash, inotherwords, you wouldn't have much control of them.

The canon lens will work, the sigmas most likely, but you'll have to try them out, the TC I don't see why it wouldn't work, but any lens you have that goes above 2.8 might not autofocus on it.

My suggestion is try them out, see if they work.

 

[mhm]

All,


Sigma Auto focus DL zoom 75-300mm f4-5.6 (need to be converted?)

I think that's the lens I tried out on my BIL's XT when I was trying to decide whether or not to get an XTi. It worked for me without a converter.

 

[AndrewWG]

Thanks for the replies. I am not sure when I will make the jump to DSLR, but it seems logical that if I have all this stuff for Canon, I should probably buy a XT or XTi, correct? The lenses that I have are not by any means the highest quality, but I think they would give me a good starting point.

Also, I was wondering, how many RAW files can fit on a 1GB card? I guess the important question is how big is the average RAW file? I can do the math from there.

Andy

 

[MarkBarbieri]

For the Rebel XTi, a typical RAW files is about 9,300KB. For the Rebel XT, 7,000KB. Those numbers go up some as you increase your ISO.

 

[AndrewWG]

Mark,

Thanks. Thats good news. For some reason I thought they were even larger files like 12000K. Just trying to judge what I would need for vacations. I'm thinking 2GB should be plenty as I will be downloading them each night. I'll probably go with 3 or 4GB though just in case.

Just made my ADR's for my November trip, so I'm getting all psyched up.

Thanks again.

Andy

 

[photo_chick]

Thanks for the replies. I am not sure when I will make the jump to DSLR, but it seems logical that if I have all this stuff for Canon, I should probably buy a XT or XTi, correct? The lenses that I have are not by any means the highest quality, but I think they would give me a good starting point.

Also, I was wondering, how many RAW files can fit on a 1GB card? I guess the important question is how big is the average RAW file? I can do the math from there.

Andy

I use the Rebel XT and I get around 100 RAW files onto my 1gb Sandisk Ultra II card. Just over 300 jpg at best quality on that card.

 

[jann1033]

i get about 212 on a 2gb card and on a sightseeing trip i did sometimes need to change cards midday( might have taken more than i would have at wdw, not really sure)

 

[jann1033]

you can email sigma and they will tell you which they can convert..it only costs $10 or so per lens but they have to have the chips to do it and they told me once they are gone they are gone so if you do plan on using the lenses and they need converting it maybe worth while doing it as soon as you can.

 

[Groucho]

Thanks for the replies. I am not sure when I will make the jump to DSLR, but it seems logical that if I have all this stuff for Canon, I should probably buy a XT or XTi, correct? The lenses that I have are not by any means the highest quality, but I think they would give me a good starting point.

Having an existing collection of lenses is one of the strongest arguments for sticking with a system.

You may be able to eBay your current stuff and replace it with same- or similarly-priced lenses for another system, but that can be a bother, especially if you're not comfortable with eBay.

The 90mm F2.8 certainly catches my eye... that'd probably be a nice lens to have around! I loves me a nice fast prime.

 

[photo_chick]

I have two Sigma lenses (EOS mount) from my 35mm Rebel G and they work perfectly with my Rebel XT.

Also on flashes.... check the voltage of them. Some of the older flashes have voltages that are too high to be safe for a DSLR. CHeck before you use it. Mine (Canon 299T, used with A-1) was fine and if you used them with a Rebel I suspect they would also be fine, but I would check to make sure before slapping tht puppy on there! Just google it and there are a couple of sites out there that list the voltages for many flashes.

 

[mhm]

I think that's the lens I tried out on my BIL's XT when I was trying to decide whether or not to get an XTi. It worked for me without a converter.

I checked--it was not that lens. It was a Sigma 70-300mm 1:4-5.6 DL Macro Super.