Which Canon Rebel digital SLR should I buy? (MORE)?

Question

I am a stay at home mom with a good background in photography. For now, I want to be able to take awesome candid shots of the kids that can be easily d/l into the computer.

Preferably, this camera will eventually be used for more artistic work and some sports photography.

I don't think I need a bunch of bells and whistles - I think something that has an auto feature as well as the opportunity to manually set F-stops, etc... will be just fine.

I'd also like to keep the cost below $900.

Suggestions?

Folks, I have no interest in any digital that's not an SLR, and I have my heart set on a Canon Rebel. Other dig SLR suggestions are welcome, but please don't answer with anything that's NOT an SLR.

Man, I wish I could give 10 points to everyone! I have a couple of answers I really like, but I think I'll put it to a vote since I just won't be able to choose! Y'all have really given me a lot to think about, and thank you so much!

Answer 1

I would suggest getting either the Digital rebel (300d) or the Xt (350) used, which they are going around for 500-600$ at amazon, and spend the rest of the money on a quality lens. the lens is a lot more important than the body, and it seems like you dont a very fancy camera.
However, if you want someone new, I would get the XTI(3fps), or if you really need a body for sport, I would go with the 20d (5fps).

I own the Digital rebel 300d, and I have shot over 25,000 frames with it, and it is still going strong. great camera. I have been researching upgrading to either the xti of 20d, and it seems that the xti is a better value.
Either way, go to a local camera store and try out all the cameras, get a feel for what you like - the xti is shaped differently, smaller, than the others.
Hope this helped.

Answer 2

You can get either Rebel body - the 300D or 350D for under $900. But remember that you still have to buy lenses. The one the camera comes with is an 18-55mm, it's ok but nothing ground-breaking.

Artistic, you'll probably want a macro lens. That's an easy $300. Or more. About $500 if you get Canon's 100mm macro. At least you can use it to do portraits too.

Sports? You'll want more zoom. Canon 70-200 f/4, about $700. There's a 75-300 too for under $200, but it's too slow to do sports.

Kids moving too fast, need a flash? Canon 480EX, about $300. Or about $400 for a 580EX.

So you may have your heart set on a DSLR but are you being realistic? Do you really NEED the feature set that a DSLR will give you above an ordinary fixed lens camera, some of which are even more convenient to carry around, and come with 10x zooms?

For the record, I have two Canon DSLRs - a 300D and a 30D. I've also got a Canon S3 IS (the gf's). For what it sounds like you want, I'd use the S3. Here's why:

It's small, I can stuff it in my pocket. Try that with a DSLR with 6 inch lens attached!
It's got a 12x zoom, that's more zoom than I have across my entire lens spectrum (4 lenses, over $1500)
It's got fully manual controls, it stays in M mode more than 50% of the time when I'm using it. Sometimes It's in Av or Tv.
It's easy to manage the output of the built-in Flash, something that is not possible with the 300D, not sure about the 350D.
It takes photos that can print up to 20"x24" - yes I have done this.
It can record movies.

So why on earth, you ask, have I got TWO SLRs if I'm so happy with an S3? Because when I'm doing photography WORK I need that slight edge that a DSLR can provide in certain areas.

Answer 3

I think you pretty much did your homework and have it narrowed down. To stay under $900, the XTi is out of the picture. I've owned both the D. Rebel and the XT. Both are really good cameras. I would steer you towards the XT because the quality of the pictures is a lot better than the D. Rebel. Especially if you venture into higher ISO. For example, with the XT you can use ISO 200 and pretty much have no noise, with the D. Rebel you already have some noise. Also, the XT starts up much faster and is quicker overall. This may be better for spontaneous shots and later sports.
The kit lens is nothing famous, but not as bad as some say. I would certainly get that for starters (considering your budget limitations). Then you can buy lenses according to your needs.

The Rebel XT with the 18-55 kit lens sells for about $680-700 right now. If you buy it from an online dealer like amazon.com or newegg.com (and you don't live in one of the states where they charge tax) you save on taxes which at this price are quite a chunk.

With the money you have left you can buy a 1GB memory card, those run somewhere between $20 and $50 depending on what sales you run across.

And then you'll have to get some type of software to edit your pictures with. The XT kit used to come with Adobe Photoshop Elements, but I think now they bundle it with ArcSoft PhotoStudio. This may be good enough, I have not used it.

Good luck with your choice.

Answer 4

The original Rebel - the 300D - is more than up to the job @ 6.1 Mp. The only thing the 20D had over it was a metal body and more white balance control. The newer XT 350D gives you 8 Mp wich is overkill for almost everyone. The newest XTI 400D is way more camera than most folks will ever use.

If you can find a 300D new, buy it, but you might have to settle for an XT.

As for add ons - a flash is a good idea for indoors as the on board flashes are of limited use. A good working lens in the 35-200mm range is a good investment too.

Enjoy!

Answer 5

I just got Canon Rebel XTi (400D - the new model at 10 Megapixels) BUT with Canon EF 17-85 mm IS USM lens (!!) not the regular lens (15-55 kit lens) !!

It is very nice and good camera !! It is very fast and you have that ISO 1600 ...forget the flash !!! I did, already, with Xti, around 500 photos and I like it !!

For a much less money you can have the Canon Rebel XT (old model). What I recommend to you is to buy the body only (XT ot XTi) and add this Canon EF 17-85 IS USM lens - IS stand for image stabilizer !! In any case to NOT take the telephoto zoom with no stabilizer !!!

What else you need:
- circular polarizer filter (got a Kenko one)
- UV filter - main lens protection purpose (got a Kenko one)
- extra batery
- SLR bag (got one triangle shape made by Roots special for SLR)
- 2 Gbytes CF memory card - 120x - you need a fast card.
- CF card reader/ writer - I am NOT using the camera built in interface.

Answer 6

Alternate to the Canon Digital Rebel

Pentax K100D (with lens $699 street)
or wait a few weeks until the Pentax K10D is released to the market (Blows Rebel XTi out of the water on paper, we have yet to see officall results on prints)

Answer 7

With Canon, the Rebel XT (350D) is your camera.
The earlier model, the original dRebel, is pretty sluggish and the latest incarnation, the Rebel XTi (a.k.a. 400D) is too expensive unless you already have Canon lenses.
The Rebel XT goes for $610 retail at B&H, or $700 with a cheap 18-55mm zoom lens. Add $100 for a good memory card and you're set for $800.
Put the remaining $100 towards a future upgrade (external flash, better lens, second lens, tripod, whatever.)
Or splurge and get a better lens to begin with. The XT with a Canon 17-85mm goes for $1100.

Answer 8

Go to Yahoos tech section, they have reviews and all plus user reviews which I found very helpful. I ended up with a 5.0 elph and love it, it even takes sound/video up to 8 minutes and great shots-I'm an artist by trade so I need good picts of my work. My one disappointment is its only a 3x zoom, I truelly wish for at least 6-10-sounds like that would be good for you too.