SLR camera?

Question

I am getting a SLR digital camera. I don't want to spend alot, and i want a CANON. I already am thinking about the Digital Rebel XT and the Digital Rebel XTi. What do you think??

Answer 1

The XT and the XTi are both great cameras. Smithason does a nice job of summing up some differences, but here's the full list:
http://www.dpreview.com/articles/canoneos400d/page3.asp
For me, the biggest argument for the XTi is the better auto-focus.
* Improved 9 area AF: I see the XTi uses the same AF system as the 30D. Very nice.
As for the other changes...
* 10MP vs. 8MP: 8 mega-pixels is plenty for great 8x10 inch prints. The jump to 10 mega-pixels is nice, but not significant.
* Dust reduction system: Again, nice but not something that I would personally need. If I were just starting out, I'd only have 1 or 2 lenses and I'd be careful when I switched them around - preventing dust from ever reaching the sensor.
* bigger screen: whoop-di-doo.
* better buffering: 27 continuous shots vs. 'just' 12 to 14 before things slow down. Err... how important is that?!
* Other small changes.
If you're on a budget, I'd get the XT and spend the price difference on a better lens. As great as the XTi is, the image quality will be determined by your lenses, and the 18-55mm kit lens really is poor.
Normally I agree with everything Dr. Sam has to say, but this time Sam is in full agreement with Panacea... which is dangerous. Panacea recommends two lens options: the 28-200 and the 17-85.
Panacea claims that some people (that would be me) feel the 28-200 isn't sufficiently wide angle, and that 28mm should be plenty wide for anyone. Yeah. Well, due to the 1.6 crop factor of the XT and XTi, a 28-200mm lens will effectively give you a range of 45-320mm. 45mm isn't wide-angle at all. Panacea is also mistaken to think that a $360, 7x zoom lens will give you significantly better image quality than the kit lens. If you want an inexpensive all-in-one lens, get the Sigma 18-200 instead ($380). That lens will give you 29-320mm effectively - which DOES give you wide angle covereage.
The 17-85mm (effective range of 27-136mm) is a different story - that really is a nice lens. It goes for $510. The 17-85 is a bit weak from 17-24mm but excellent througout the rest of the range. Highly recommended.
Of course, you can go as crazy as you want with Canon lenses - if money were no object, I'd get their 17-55 as my standard lens. Canon has some great stuff!

Answer 2

The Digital Rebel XTi is a great camera to buy. I own a Digital Rebel XT I live in Australia so its the EOS 350D, it is an awsome camera. The only difference between the two is that the Rebel XTi has a ten megapixel CMOS sensor (complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor), a new dust reduction system, nine area auto focus, a large 2.5" LCD monitor which now also provides shooting information (the second control panel LCD is gone that was on the XT) and better continuous shooting buffering.
So I suggest you go for the XTi because it is the latest model after the XT.

Answer 3

Both of those cameras are very nice. However the kit lens that comes with them is a cheap piece of crap. If you buy the camera as the body only and then buy the lens seperately, you will get alot more out of it. Canon has many fine choices for lenses.

I'm partial to the EF 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 USM. Has alot alot of zoom. It's good quality. And it's reasonably priced. However, some people feel that this lens is not wide angle enough at its shortest range. Technically, they are correct. Yet, I RARELY use under 28mm for anything (and neither does anyone else I know). For more money, Canon also makes a superwide angle lens with what is more traditionally considered a useful range.... the EF-S 17-85MM f4-5.6 IS USM may be more to your liking. Note the image stabilization on this lens (Canon puts this on its lenses instead of its cameras). This is also something that might influence you to spend more for this lens as your standard.

One thing is certain. If you settle for the kit lens, eventually, you will be looking to replace it with something better.

Answer 4

I have the Rebel XT, and I've read alot of reviews on the XTI. The XTI has a few more options that the XT has. You can go to http://www.bhphoto.com or http://www.dpreview.com and find out all the options, and compare them for what you want to use it for. dpreview has alot more info. Also go to http://popphoto.com
They have alot of info on both cameras. Hope this helps. Happy shooting. Here's some I got with my XT. http://rraber.photosite.com

Answer 5

Sure go for it! As long its with-in what you want to spend. You'll be happy with either or, but check the different functions of both. One might have a bit more functions than the other, so look over both carefully. Make sure you get the warranty also!

Answer 6

Go to http://www.cnet.com and read their Product Reviews. Just click on the "Reviews" tab at the top of the page and navigate from there. They just did a piece not long ago on Digital Cameras and on Cannons in particular, but I deleted it out of my email....DRRRATTTT!!!!!!! Sorry, but cnet IS the place to go... You can even sign up for free and ask this kind of question and get answers from PROs!

BTW: while you CAN sign up with cnet you shouldn't have to just to look around. I signed up YEARS ago. AND they do NOT bombard you with email you don't want! However, if you do sign up, you CAN opt to recieve certain emails you can pick from a list. THAT is why I have email from them :)

Answer 7

I think you should read Panacea's message and follow his advice, especially about the lens.

Answer 8

You mean a DSLR...go to:

http://www.dpreview.com

They won't pester you by making you sign up, then emailing you all the time. Better reviews, too. More in-depth.