Rebel XT questions

[Snurk71]

I've been doing the research and am strongly leaning towards buying a Rebel XT. For background, we've (DW and I) been Sony digital p&sers for about 7 years. Currently we're using a Sony cybershot P150. It has served it's purpose for general family use, and is nice an small for portability. But I find too many pictures that I'm not satisfied with the picture quality (out of focus, overexposed, underexposed, not freezing movement, etc) that I think moving to more control with a DSLR can help. DW may continue to use the Sony because of the portable size. But I'd like to have the option of a better camera.

So I went to Best Buy today to mess around with the XT a bit (check out the feel, play a little with the settings, snap a few pictures) and have a few questions I'd rather ask here than the kid at the camera counter.

1) Any difference between the silver of black bodies?

2) Does the XT take pictures in 3:2 ratio for no image loss on a 4x6 print?

3) Histogram - I kind of like this feedback on the exposure of a picture. Our Sony currently displays a histogram on the LCD before taking the shot (I know it can change with the actual shutter press), but doesn't offer a histogram in 3:2 ratio (doesn't provide a histogram feedback in the actual captured image either on 3:2). I saw the histogram feedback on the XT image, but I assume there is no pre-shot histogram available before capture since you're looking through the viewfinder instead of the LCD? So you'd have to review the picture and change a setting (ISO, shutter speed, etc) if youo didn't like it?

4) The zoom on the XT wasn't "powered", even in full auto mode. Is this normal - having a manual zoom on all modes?

Lense - I've read through a bunch of pages here on the board and see many comments about "the Kelly". As a funny side note, I thought "Kelly" was the actual model name of the lens until about page 4 or 5 when there was a thread that explained that just being a DIS nickname for the lens.

5) It sounds like a lot of people use "the Kelly" as an every day lense. If so, would it make sense to buy just the body w/o the kit lens and save $100ish and buy the Kelly as the standard every day lense?

6) BB and CC have the XT with kit lens for $799. Pricegrabber has a number of lower priced alternatives. Would the majority here recommend buying on-line instead of at a big box? Of course I would buy from an on-line dealer with a good reputation.

7) I had the 75-300 lens on for a few pics too. I don't remember if this had IS, but when I went to full zoom at 300mm I could tell I was pretty shaky. I assume this is why some don't recommend such a powerful zoom for hand held.

I think that's enough to start things off. I'll probably tag more on with some of the responses.

Thanks

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I've been doing the research and am strongly leaning towards buying a Rebel XT. For background, we've (DW and I) been Sony digital p&sers for about 7 years. Currently we're using a Sony cybershot P150. It has served it's purpose for general family use, and is nice an small for portability. But I find too many pictures that I'm not satisfied with the picture quality (out of focus, overexposed, underexposed, not freezing movement, etc) that I think moving to more control with a DSLR can help. DW may continue to use the Sony because of the portable size. But I'd like to have the option of a better camera.

So I went to Best Buy today to mess around with the XT a bit (check out the feel, play a little with the settings, snap a few pictures) and have a few questions I'd rather ask here than the kid at the camera counter.

1) Any difference between the silver of black bodies?

2) Does the XT take pictures in 3:2 ratio for no image loss on a 4x6 print?

3) Histogram - I kind of like this feedback on the exposure of a picture. Our Sony currently displays a histogram on the LCD before taking the shot (I know it can change with the actual shutter press), but doesn't offer a histogram in 3:2 ratio (doesn't provide a histogram feedback in the actual captured image either on 3:2). I saw the histogram feedback on the XT image, but I assume there is no pre-shot histogram available before capture since you're looking through the viewfinder instead of the LCD? So you'd have to review the picture and change a setting (ISO, shutter speed, etc) if youo didn't like it?

4) The zoom on the XT wasn't "powered", even in full auto mode. Is this normal - having a manual zoom on all modes?

Lense - I've read through a bunch of pages here on the board and see many comments about "the Kelly". As a funny side note, I thought "Kelly" was the actual model name of the lens until about page 4 or 5 when there was a thread that explained that just being a DIS nickname for the lens.

5) It sounds like a lot of people use "the Kelly" as an every day lense. If so, would it make sense to buy just the body w/o the kit lens and save $100ish and buy the Kelly as the standard every day lense?

6) BB and CC have the XT with kit lens for $799. Pricegrabber has a number of lower priced alternatives. Would the majority here recommend buying on-line instead of at a big box? Of course I would buy from an on-line dealer with a good reputation.

7) I had the 75-300 lens on for a few pics too. I don't remember if this had IS, but when I went to full zoom at 300mm I could tell I was pretty shaky. I assume this is why some don't recommend such a powerful zoom for hand held.

I think that's enough to start things off. I'll probably tag more on with some of the responses.

Thanks

1. Black vs Silver: they are exactly the same, just aesthetically different.
2. 3:2, yes it uses that. Any self respecting camera uses that (or at least have the option for that mode).
3. Histogram: will only be shown AFTER the picture is taken. However, any camera, AFAIK can show histogram regardless of aspect ratio (4:3, 3:2 and the new 16:9)
4. Manual zoom: is the most accurate way to zoom. No dSLR comes with powered zoom. Only point and shoots and bridge cameras.
5. Lens: yes, forrego the Kit and use the proceeds to get The Kelly
6. Where to buy: I use my camera extensively so I'd rather buy it from a B&M local store so if there is something wrong with my camera they'll take care of it for me. However, if you don't have a friendly B&M store or if your B&M store is too expensive, go online.

Hope it helps.

 

[Snurk71]

6. Where to buy: I use my camera extensively so I'd rather buy it from a B&M local store so if there is something wrong with my camera they'll take care of it for me. However, if you don't have a friendly B&M store or if your B&M store is too expensive, go online.

Hope it helps.

Do you consider BB and CC local B&M stores? Or were you speaking of more professional camera shops that would actually understand the problem and take care of it instead of blindly shipping it off somewhere?

 

[ehagerty]

Prices fluctuate and drop all the time, but this is what I paid in January:

==============================
CANON EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT WITH EF-S 18-55MM KIT (SILVER) - EOS 350D
Quantity: 1
Price: $799.00
----------------------------------------
CANON BATTERY PACK NB-2LH {720MAH} FOR POWERSHOT AND DIGITAL REBEL XT
Quantity: 1
Price: $69.00
----------------------------------------
SANDISK 4 GB COMPACT FLASH MEMORY CARD ( A NECESSITY)
Quantity: 1
Price: $159.00
----------------------------------------
CANON EF 28-135 F3.5-5.6 USM IMAGE STABILIZER LENS (CANON 1 YEAR USA WARRANTY INCLUDE
Quantity: 1
Price: $409.00
----------------------------------------

- Didn't worry too much about vendor, as once purchased, you can deal directly with the manufacturer.
- Had a couple of rebates in the mix = $40 or so
- no tax, yes shipping ($10)
- source - I have no affiliation, just had my son do some reserach, ordered and that was that.
Beach Camera

 

[WillCAD]

Kelly addressed everything perfectly, I'll just add a few minor comments of my own.

1. The black body looks like a camera. The silver body looks like a toy. There is no true difference other than the color, but if the black is available to you, get it - IMHO.

4. Manual zoom is better in all respects - uses no battery power, 1,000,000 times FASTER than powered zoom, and very easy to instinctively adjust a hair each way.

5. Yup. The kit lens is 18-55, while the Kelly is 18-125, meaning that the kit lens is COMPLETELY overloapped by the Kelly. Having both is useless - my kit lens is sitting in a box, unused since the day my Kelly arrived.

6. If you are experienced and comfortable ordering on line, do so. You can shop around and often get much better better prices from the reputable online merchants than from the locak B&M merchants.

Sigma lenses, however, are few and far between at the "big boxes" like Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, etc. Some actual camera shops carry them, but I'd say that you've got about an 80% chance of being limited to only online choices for buying your Kelly lens.

SIDE NOTE FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW: B&M=Brick and Mortar, a term meaning a merchant with an actual store front, as opposed to an online vendor who often has no store and only sells via the web.

7. 300mm is a MIGHTY long zoom on a Rebel XT. It would certainly come in handy on Kilamanjaro Safari, but I have a lot of trouble getting a clean shot with my Kelly lens at 125mm on that ride; at 300mm I'd never get a shot that wasn't blurred beyond recognition. Start with the Kelly, and if you decide that you want to try a longer zoom later, you can. That's the elegant beauty of an SLR, and their greatest advantage over any P&S camera ever made - interchangability and upgradability.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

Do you consider BB and CC local B&M stores? Or were you speaking of more professional camera shops that would actually understand the problem and take care of it instead of blindly shipping it off somewhere?

local B&M to me are mom's & pop's store. I'm blessed to have a friend who own two of these stores (for photography) a friend who owns a pro photo finishing company and a two friends who owns 4 stores for home electronics and appliances.

In Canada at least, if you service your unit through a store, it'll be faster than if you take it in yourself.

 

[Snurk71]

Looks like a few reputable sites (ones I've heard of, and also have good review history at e-pinions, pricegrabber) have the black body from $630 (newegg, w/ a 1GB card) - $650 (B&H, digital foto club). A couple of them also carry the Kelly for anywhere from $240 (digital foto) - $280 (B&H). So it looks like I could get a pretty complete setup (body, Kelly, 2 cards, UV filter, maybe an extra battery) for right at or under $1,000.

Anyone have anything positive or negative to share on any of these stores?

 

[handicap18]

Get your extra battery here: Sterlingtek You CAN'T beat the price!

Also check buy.com and costo.com (just to name a few) for digital media. They usually have good prices. (at least for SD cards, don't really know about compact flash because I have the Nikon D50). But its a start.

Good luck

 

[Snurk71]

Get your extra battery here: Sterlingtek You CAN'T beat the price!

Ever use batterybarn.com? I ordered from them in past years and had good results. Looks like their Rebel equivalent battery is a little less powerful than Sterlingtek's (still more powerful than the Canon battery) and a couple bucks cheaper.

 

[jann1033]

buydig and beach both had the best prices when i was looking( the stores are connected some how but ok, )bought mine at buydig, daughter' s a610 at beach, both very good service,, i got my cards at newegg( great service and had rebates at the time). i got my 28-132 lens( one of the few non kelly users cause i have some tremors in my hands) at amazon, happy with them also and if you sign up for a free trial of prime you get free shipping or 1 day for 3.99( although some shops give free shipping anyway)

 

[WillCAD]

I got my Kelly lens from Tri-State Camera's eBay store, for a cheaper price than from their regular web site ($229.97+$19.95s&h). Tri-State is a well-established camera seller based in NYC and got my lens to me very quickly.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sigma-AF-DC-18-...hZ018QQcategoryZ30067QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

 

[JR6ooo4]

1. The black body looks like a camera. The silver body looks like a toy. There is no true difference other than the color, but if the black is available to you, get it - IMHO.

I was at the United States F1 Grand Prix @ Indianapolis Indiana this summer. I have a silver body XT and two black lenses. The air temp was 97 degrees! the black of the lenses in the sun was too hot to touch. I would guess 130 degrees. While the silver body was barely warmer than the ambient air.

Now I am glad they were out of the black bodies when I bought mine.

and Best buy will price match any real store. I brought a B&H photo add and they matched it.

Mikeeee

 

[ukcatfan]

I would like to ask a few questions of the DSLR users out there. I am also thinking about upgrading. I mostly want the faster and more accurate focus, larger aperture range, and higher ISOs. I do not think the lack of live preview will be a deal killer for me once I get used to it.

Could you elaborate on question number 3. I use the S1 and shoot mostly in Av, but go to manual when I do not like the shutter speed the camera picks and do not want to go higher with the ISO. I usually use my visual judgment to decide on the settings to use, but will sometimes pay attention to the exposure warnings the camera gives. Does a DSLR give you anything like that warning? Also, what kind of visual judgment can be done with a DSLR? For example, when you change the shutter for a longer exposure, does that adjustment show in the viewfinder?

I would also like to ask about what system to get myself into. I ultimately would like to go with Canon, but would like to save $$$ right now by going cheaper. I do not plan on buying many lenses early on. I will always have my S1 with me if I need the zoom. I was thinking the Pentax *ist DL kit b/c of the $100 rebate and then buying a Kelly for it within the first year. Is it possible to have that lens re-chipped for Canon if I switch in a couple of years? I like the AAs on the Pentax, but would need a larger and faster card. All I have in SD right now is a 256MB and 2 128MB for our A520.

I am waiting to see what happens in the next couple of months with new releases and rebates b/c the Pentax rebate lasts until mid October. Maybe Canon will release a budget class model for Photokina. I have doubts on Pentax surviving the long haul, so I do not want to commit to the brand.

Lastly I have a question about in body IS. If you have one with in body IS and then use an IS lens, do they work together for even better results, or would they conflict with each other?

Thank you in advance,

Kevin

 

[Kelly Grannell]

1. You can't get more "live" than looking at the image through the viewfinder of a dSLR
2. About shooting in Av, yes, you can even get depth-of-field preview while shooting in any mode.
3. If you buy The Kelly for Pentax you will NOT be able to use it for Canon later on, it's not about the chip, it's about the mounting. They are completely different.
4..There is no company that sells in-body IS and in-lens IS at the same time. About the effectiveness between the two, click the second link on my signature "Learn Photography - The Kelly Way" and there is an explanation of Image Stabilization.

 

[chipmunkfan]

I just ordered my rebel xt body Sunday night from Dell online. They had a great price and I found a code for an additional 15% off. I purchased my computer from Dell so their service is very good.

I've been searching online for all the accessories and decided to order almost everything from amazon. Here's my list...I've been checking pricing on everysite and amazon has pretty good prices....
"the Kelly" $244 (a little high, but free shipping)
sandisk ultra II memory card $44.99 (todays price, fluctuates everyday)
canon remote switch $20.94
A book "understanding exposure" by Bryan Peterson (recommended by this board)
A book "digital rebel field guide (recommended by this board)
UV filter....haven't decided on this yet, probably the Hoya 62mm UV multicoated

Whew I think that's it!

 

[Razor Roman]

I work PT at BestBuy and own the 75-300mm lens you tried. It is a pretty cheap lens, no IS. I picked it up about a year ago for around $110 to use with my Digital Rebel (not XT). I get more usable shots than unusable ones, and am especially proud of some of the shots I've gotten at Fantasmic in WDW and DL on Mickey with sparks shooting from his hands... gotten a few WOW How Did You Take That's on those shots

And the Rebel/Rebel XT don't support power zoom... there's no Zoom button on the camera!

 

[caniswolfie]

<snipped for brevity>

and Best buy will price match any real store. I brought a B&H photo add and they matched it.

Mikeeee

This may depend on the individual Best Buy store. My Best Buy does not price match with B&H at all. The Best Buy website has a blurb in their in store price matching policy:

Either way, simply bring in proof of a local retail competitor's price on the same available brand and model...

What is considered a local retail competitor?
A retail store located in the same market area as your local Best Buy store.
​

For most of the world B&H doesn't apply (if they want an out to not price match), but other camera stores might have a better price that would work. I went to my local Best Buy in NJ, but I'm wondering if the Best Buy in NYC would give the price match. I think everyone's welcome to try as I did, the worst they can say is no.

 

[JR6ooo4]

This may depend on the individual Best Buy store. My Best Buy does not price match with B&H at all. The Best Buy website has a blurb in their in store price matching policy:

Either way, simply bring in proof of a local retail competitor's price on the same available brand and model...

What is considered a local retail competitor?
A retail store located in the same market area as your local Best Buy store.
​

For most of the world B&H doesn't apply (if they want an out to not price match), but other camera stores might have a better price that would work. I went to my local Best Buy in NJ, but I'm wondering if the Best Buy in NYC would give the price match. I think everyone's welcome to try as I did, the worst they can say is no.

Now that I think of it they price matched a package deal. XT with Kit lens and 1 gig ultra II card.

always go up one level, ask the manager not jsut the floor guy.

Mikeeee

 

[Razor Roman]

If they are going to make money on the sale (ie you are buying accessories, or a service plan, etc) then they will price match pretty much anything from a real retailer (not ebay, etc).

Also before you poo-poo the service plan, I go in every few months and tell them my battery doesnt last as long as it used to, and they give me a new free battery. And you dont have to even give back the old one! Plus you have the extra insurance in case your camera dies on you.