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12/22/2005 04:43:05 PM · #1 |
Hello brilliant minds and experienced photogs and helper-outers of DPC :)
It looks like I'm actually getting an xmas bonus this year, and it's coming in the form of an AMEX card so I don't lose dough on taxes! Whoop! It'll be a thousand bucks. And I think I'm ready to upgrade to a DSLR.
What I'd like to know is what exactly I'm going to need.
I'm considering the 5 year warranty...since I can be clumsy :)
Then there's the hard case, the memory (def 1gb), maybe a wide angle lens to shoot my brother's renovations and a lensbaby for myself - fun!!! ...but what else am I going to need?
My B&H cart is all ready up to $1200...I can probably go up to $1500 without really hurting my savings.
Any suggestions on what else I should get? Reasonable stuff...I won't really be able to buy anything big for at least 6 months, if not til the next xmas bonus ahaha, so I'd like to set myself up pretty good.
I've got a tripod all ready, so that's groovy. Should I definitely get an extra battery pack? What about a card reader, filters, etc. Should I just try and get all this crap now?
Ugh, am I being clingy? Should I stop asking so many questions? What do you think? ;)
With love,
Katy
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12/22/2005 04:49:13 PM · #2 |
Card reader if you don't already have one, it sucks to connect the camera to the computer everytime to transfer photos.
Extra battery might be nice, you can get cheaper off brand ones (at your own risk) or a Canon one.
How bout a better strap than the one thats included (i hate it!)
Um... Pec Pad and eclipse fluid? Lens brush.
All I can think of now... |
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12/22/2005 04:51:42 PM · #3 |
Are you sure 'need' is the right word? ;o)
Extra battery yes but you can get inexpensive ones online.
Card reader.
UV filter
Circular polarizer - this can wait unless you just want more toys. |
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12/22/2005 04:58:30 PM · #4 |
Woohoo! Good "NEED" to know info :)
CP: need hehehe NEED! I no longer know what that word means!
I appreciate the info - I will go check out some batteries now, and I think a card reader is a must, yep, cuz it is annoying as hell to connectivate the camera.
Filters...oh, I'ma take a look hehehe
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12/22/2005 05:02:04 PM · #5 |
Sterlingtek are the batteries to get.
CF cards - look for rebated on sale ones (newegg.com, best buy, circuit city, and staples is always good) 1Gb is a nice sice.
Yes, a card reader, $20 or so.
Lensbaby? What are your priorities? As in, what kind of shots do you like to take?
Options: Skip the kit lens, get a tamron 24-135 SP lens for $400 - there is $30 rebate too. Does macro. Not as wide as a 18mm lens, but tons better and not as pricey as Canon's 17-85 IS (which is a good lens BTW). Then get the Sigma 70-300 APO Super 2 macro for about $220 (cheaper off ebay at times, new). Want wide? Get the Tokina 12-24 for $440 or so - escellent lens, least expensive of the really wides. You must get a canon 50 1.8 for $70- great low light lens, great for DOF challenges too! Nice for portraits.
UV filtes, etc - use your brain, use the lens hoods, avoid the beach on windy days ;)
I'd skip the pec pads for now. my rebel is a year old with 5700 shots and no dust (i thought i saw a spot but it was not there on the next shot...so oh well, no dust). I am not anal about lens changing either.
lens pen - but you can get the Nikon version at Walmart in the sporting goos section for 1/2 price of the one at the camera store - same item.
hard case?? Get a small backpack type for $80 or so. Tons better to carry around than a shoulder bag - your stuff will grow and the bag will get HEAVY. You will want to go out to the zoo etc and take everything and walk for 6 hours...a shoulder bag sucks for this.
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12/22/2005 05:02:34 PM · #6 |
Add to the list a sigma super 500dg flashgun. Only £150. Well worth it. Same if not better than the canon 580 and half the price. Forget the flash on your camera, it is worthless IMHO.
With this you can acheive a hell of alot of great effexts.
alex |
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12/22/2005 05:12:38 PM · #7 |
You NEED to go hold the different cameras in your pricerange, mess with them at the store, and see if it feels right to you. I personally hate the way that the XT feels in my hand.
whatever the cam:
Extra battery, Circular Polarizer, UV Filter for each lens. Some people like the battery grip. Remote shutter cable.
A BAG (this is almost as complicated as the Camera, and depends ou your own personal space needs/growth potential.
I'd also think about getting the a cheap tele like the Sigma 70-300 LINK a telephoto is a must for most photographers.
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12/22/2005 05:18:36 PM · #8 |
This might work well for you I think.
Has the XT kit, Canon 75-300, 58mm filter set w/ UV&Polarizer, Battery, Card reader, photo printer, holster bag, screen protectors, cleaning kit, & a USB printer cable for $1,333 USD.
Buydig is a reputable dealer also, so don't worry about that. BH is good and all, but you can get good deals elsewhere.
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12/22/2005 05:21:29 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by wavelength:
This might work well for you I think.
Has the XT kit, Canon 75-300, 58mm filter set w/ UV&Polarizer, Battery, Card reader, photo printer, holster bag, screen protectors, cleaning kit, & a USB printer cable for $1,333 USD.
Buydig is a reputable dealer also, so don't worry about that. BH is good and all, but you can get good deals elsewhere. |
that canon lens cannot hold a candle to the Sigma 70-300 APO. It is very soft beyond 200mm. You don't need screen protectors, IF they even exist (the do not for the 300D - they are a Nikon thing and not needed on a canon.)
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12/22/2005 05:23:13 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by alexsaberi:
Add to the list a sigma super 500dg flashgun. Only £150. Well worth it. Same if not better than the canon 580 and half the price. Forget the flash on your camera, it is worthless IMHO.
With this you can acheive a hell of alot of great effexts.
alex |
I agree a speedlight is great to have, especially in the winter when it's so dark 90% of the time. But learning flash is a whole lesson in itself, and you first gotta learn the camera. The on camera flash is not too bad really.
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12/22/2005 05:33:25 PM · #11 |
Mmmmm...sensory overload! :)
This is great info, guys!
I especially appreciate the individual lens ideas. I never even thought of skipping on the kit lens!
And D'OH on the remote - thank you for reminding me! And the bag, the bag, the BAG! Shoulder: no go, hate em. Backpack: ugh, hate those too, but wtf! I wish I could just have a PA to carry my crap at all times ;)
Oh, and Prof Fate, thanks for your thoughts on filters and dust and whatnot. That has worried me, I've read so many dust-related horror stories on dpc...but I'ma try to keep it clean ;) And lensbaby: well....my priorities lie in creative photography, and I've wanted one since I read about em forever ago...so before I even added the camera to my cart, I added the lensbaby!!! ha!!
Arigato, y'all. You guys are a better resource than...than...all the other resources :)
Cheers!
Katy
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12/22/2005 05:47:54 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:
that canon lens cannot hold a candle to the Sigma 70-300 APO. It is very soft beyond 200mm. You don't need screen protectors, IF they even exist (the do not for the 300D - they are a Nikon thing and not needed on a canon.) |
I'll keep that in mind. Thanks. ;O)
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12/22/2005 05:58:39 PM · #13 |
I got a generaic remote on ebay for $10 or so incl shipping. used it again today, works fine.
i skipped the kit lens for two reasons - i wanted better glass, and it adds $100 to the kit price, but you can get them on ebay for $70 most any time.
I got the sigma 18-50 2.8 EX DC lens for $440 on ebay ($500 at b&h). Great lens, but as your 'only' or main walkaround lens the tammie 24-135 is a better choice. There is a 28-75 2.8 (tamron or sigma, tamron i think is the one) that gets rave reviews for $300-350. I find 28 is not wide enough for me, but it with the tokins 12-24 f4 would give you great glass from 12 to 75, and all of it fast (wide constant aperture). It is cheaper to buy better glass once than cheap glass, sell it and then buy the good glass, but we all do it LOL.
as to UV/sky filters - ANYthing you add to the front of the lens will degrade the image. (the light has one more thing to pass thru) whether you can tell or not is something else of course. I don't believe in filters for safety, others do. I have heard of a few instanced where the lens was bumped, the filter shattered and parts stuck in the front lens element, ruining it.
Oh yeah, whatever else you get, spend $10 or so on an OpTech Pro strap - 1,000% better than the crap factory strap.
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12/22/2005 06:03:54 PM · #14 |
Don't forget the Canon rebates at //consumer.usa.canon.com/app/pdf/Promotions/CIWC_101505_ClaimForm.pdf
You can get a tripple-rebate by buying two lenses and the body, or a printer, lens and the body.
If you were to get the new 70-300 IS (not the DO), 28-135 IS and the XT, you'd get $315 in rebates. If you swapped the 17-40 f/4 for one of the lenses, you'd get $345 back.
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12/22/2005 06:46:33 PM · #15 |
Hey congrats on the XT.
You can pick up the XT body for about $740 before the $75 rebate. So total is about $650 at buydig.com/beachcamera.com.
If you find that the camera is too small, want an extra battery to carry, or do a lot of portraits, you should seriously consider the grip, it's about $140 at digitalfotoclu.com.
As for lenses, a lens baby is about $150.
If you like wide, I'd consider getting the Canon 10-22 if you can, it's currently the best of the ultrawides at $660 at digitalfotoclub.com
If you want a cheaper ultrawide, you can also consider the Sigma 10-20 for about $466 at digitalfotoclub.com
If you want a regular wide to midrange zoom, I'd consider a Canon 17-85IS, Tamron/Sigma 17-35, or a Sigma 15-30. They are pretty much in the mid $400's.
You can also pick up a longer range lens like the Sigma 70-300 for about $200 and a 50mm f1.8 for about $80 if you want.
As for accessories, I'd consider getting a polarizer for the wide angle and some cheap UV filters if you want to. Not a mandatory thing. If you want an extra battery, I'd recommend a sterlingtek battery, it's under $20 and has twice as much power as the Canon lens.
If it was me, to get the most bang for the buck, I'd get:
XT $650
Lens Baby: $150
Tamron 17-35 $450
Sigma 70-300 APO DG $220
Est. Total: about $1500
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12/22/2005 07:54:31 PM · #16 |
| I noticed you said something about the 5 yr warranty because you're clumsy. Keep in mind that the warranty won't cover anythng accidental...also, Mack has something like a 2 month turn around when you send them a camera. |
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12/22/2005 07:58:30 PM · #17 |
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12/22/2005 08:12:26 PM · #18 |
Also, this is a great backpack. Canon 200eg. Plus, you get a coupon for a free shutterfly 16x20 print. Pretty good deal. I love the backpack.
200eg at Amazon
Message edited by author 2005-12-22 20:13:00. |
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12/30/2005 11:04:06 AM · #19 |
I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the incredible information, advice, and feedback. I just returned from B&H with a big.fat.bag! I am so excited!
Thanks again :)
Katy |
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12/30/2005 12:02:15 PM · #20 |
Battery grip + extra battery is highly recommended.
What kind of lense are you getting with it/do you have???
The kit lense sucks but the 17-85 IS isn't bad. I'd recommend the polarizer and UV filter.
Make sure your tripod will support the weight of the camera and lenses.
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12/30/2005 12:10:28 PM · #21 |
Originally posted by kdkaboom:
I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the incredible information, advice, and feedback. I just returned from B&H with a big.fat.bag! I am so excited!
Thanks again :)
Katy |
Do tell... What's in the bag???
:)
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12/30/2005 12:22:43 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by yido:
Originally posted by kdkaboom:
I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the incredible information, advice, and feedback. I just returned from B&H with a big.fat.bag! I am so excited!
Thanks again :)
Katy |
Do tell... What's in the bag???
:) |
Wellllll, I hit my 1500 mark pretty much spot on. I've still got to order the Sterlingtek backup batteries (actually, can someone link me to the exact battery I need for the Rebel XT? The one I thought was it doesn't have the cam listed as compatible. I'm confused!)
Anyway, my big.fat.bag has...:
XT w/ kit lens (I caved) and w/ a 1gb memory card.
Sigma 70-300mm
wireless remote
8-in-1 card reader (since my other digi uses SD)
lensbaby 2.0 and the macro lenses
and that canon 200eg bookbag which I all ready don't like
i went and perused the lighting section at B&H too but was so intimidated by the prices that i ran to checkout heheh
i think i did good enough - i prolly could've done better if i did a big hunt for deals, but i love b&h, going there, buying there, all of it. i bought the sigma because of all the lenses i looked at, it seemed the most versatile and, really, the price was just right. i cannot afford a 500 buck lens - not now, not in the near future, maybe when the student loan check comes ;)
okay, i babble...and i have to get back to work since i skipped this morning to go shopping!
but if anyone can hook me up with the correct sterlingtek battery, i'd really appreciate it!!
oh, and notonline, i tried out the grip and just couldn't justify the cost. it was nice to hold, but it's something i'll consider later on if i feel it's necessary. tripod = es bueno. my brother bought my a good one for my birthday :)
thanks again y'all!
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12/30/2005 12:24:59 PM · #23 |
busted post...
Message edited by author 2005-12-30 12:27:48. |
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12/30/2005 12:27:41 PM · #24 |
Originally posted by kdkaboom:
oh, and notonline, i tried out the grip and just couldn't justify the cost. it was nice to hold, but it's something i'll consider later on if i feel it's necessary. |
If I'm not mistaken I believe the grip comes with a battery. Or at least mine did. You don't really need the extra battery tho and I would recommend holding off until you buy the grip. This way if the batteries are included you won't end up with an odd ball battery.
But then again what the hell do I know. :D
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12/30/2005 12:41:43 PM · #25 |
battery:
here it is at amazon.com
Assuming they got the application correct, you can get it for $14.99 straight from sterlingtek here and scroll down
i don't know what the H on the end means. You might want to call sterlingtek and ask, or post a specific battery thread here and see what teh group knows.
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