Need Some Help - Want to Upgrade My Camera

[Luckymomoftwo]

I hope that I can get some input from fellow DISer's. I have always been interested in getting a "good" camera, but the most advanced camera I've ever owned was a Kodak Advantix. I currently have a Canon Digital P&S (I'm not sure what model off the top of my head, it's at home and I'm at work) and am looking to upgrade to something more advanced.

I am looking at a Canon EOS Rebel Xsi D-SLR. Canon advertises that this line of cameras have the simplicity of P&S cameras...I'm wondering if any of you can tell me if this is true. I have never had a nice fancy camera and I'm scared that I'll spend over $1,000 on a camera and then be too confused to operate it!

TIA for your help, input, suggestions!

 

[MICKEY88]

I hope that I can get some input from fellow DISer's. I have always been interested in getting a "good" camera, but the most advanced camera I've ever owned was a Kodak Advantix. I currently have a Canon Digital P&S (I'm not sure what model off the top of my head, it's at home and I'm at work) and am looking to upgrade to something more advanced.

I am looking at a Canon EOS Rebel Xsi D-SLR. Canon advertises that this line of cameras have the simplicity of P&S cameras...I'm wondering if any of you can tell me if this is true. I have never had a nice fancy camera and I'm scared that I'll spend over $1,000 on a camera and then be too confused to operate it!

TIA for your help, input, suggestions!

entry level DSLRs from all of the manufacturers,{Canon,Nikon Pentax,Olympus, and last but not least my favorite Sony} have an auto or program setting, which allow you to aim ,focus and shoot, while the camera handles exposure, by picking aperture and shutter speed and ISO for you, in most situations you will get a better picture than a P&S will give you...

but in tricky lighting situations etc, they are not perfect, you will want to learn how to make adjustments to get the best shot possible..

you should check out all brands, think about what type of pics you plan to take, such as still life, sports, etc, that will help determine what lenses are best for you,

and the most important thing of all, is hold as many of these cameras as possible, if the camera does not feel comfortable in your hands you won't want to use it..

a few people on here have decided on a camera in advance and once they held one, decided they didn't like it...

I always have to play with cameras when I'm near a camera store, and there are a few out there that I would never buy just because they don't fit my hands well..

 

[Luckymomoftwo]

Thanks for the advice! One thing I forgot to mention is that DH is insisting on getting a camera with double digit megapixels! He says if we're going to be spending this kind of money on a camera, he doesn't want anything less than 10 megapixels.

I'm going to go over to Best Buy and try out a few of the cameras. We got a coupon in the mail yesterday for 12% of a single purchase! AND Best Buy is offering 24 months interest free financing!!

DH has this idea that if we buy the camera on 7/3 (when the coupon starts) so I can play with it that night and familiarize myself with it and then test out my new "skills" on the 4th of July. He DOES get some good ideas every once in a while!

 

[jann1033]

i have the older model, rebel xt...the xsi is being reviewed as excellent. it has a lot of the features as the 40 d, (which right now has a rebate that makes it about the same price and is the next step up, you might want to look at that one as well.) which has a lot of the same features as the flagship mark111( not all obviously ) you can use the auto side of the dial and it sets everything like a point and shoot. i was looking at the 40d white paper and it mentioned canon is setting up all the dsl s the same way now to help when you upgrade, you won't have to start from scratch...however the rebel xt and my old rebel film have the exact same dial( or pretty close, not sure they have the same features) so not sure how different they are. rebates on 40d and 5d and lenses last till july 19
i agree with mickey, try out the cameras.. ie i like really the nikon d300 but it hurts my hands. i have smallish hands and arthritis so the canon is a better fit for me..the 40 d is stretching it to my limits i think
just a warning...it probably varies per best buy but by me, the camera guys know nothing and try to sell you junk or in the least overpriced decent stuff( ie canon 28-135 lens for $600+!!!!!!)...usually i have found my best prices online at beach, buydig, b&h.

 

[Groucho]

Like Jann said... check the online prices, I wouldn't be surprised if Beach Camera could easily beat Best Buy's price even with with a 12% coupon.

Most any DSLR is going to give excellent results, note that you rarely hear anyone who isn't happy with theirs.

And I don't think any currently-produced DSLR has less than 10mp, so that shouldn't be an issue. (Unless you find an older Canon XT or Nikon D40 still floating around - but really, the difference is not that huge.)

 

[ukcatfan]

I agree that you are unlikely to find a DSLR under 10MP right now. Do not let that have too much impact on your decision though. In real life, you are very unlikely to notice a difference between a 6MP and 12MP DSLR. It is really only noticeable if you do a bunch of cropping or very large prints (i.e. poster size). It also helps to understand the difference between MPs and the ability to capture detail. The detail in a 12MP p&s shot probably has about the same detail of a 6MP DSLR shot. That is because the sensors are much larger and the lenses are extremely better than a p&s. This is especially true when the lighting gets more difficult.