I'm ready to take the dslr plunge...

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

07/24/2007 02:09:44 AM · #1

... I think! Well, probably not, but I'm going to do it anyway :P

I'm just a hobbyist (for now, at least) so don't want to sink a large fortune into it. I've never shot with a dslr, so I don't have a clue other than what I've read.
I've pretty much decided that the Canon 350D (Rebel XT) is what I'm going to go with. Since I'm used to a Canon I won't be quite starting completely over, since some of the controls are in pretty much the same place.
I love my P&S as far as it goes, but I'd like more range of shutter speed and aperture, and a hotshoe.
My questions are;
Will I be happy with this for the money, compared with what I've got?
What else should I get to go with it, for a start?
Since one feature I like on my P&S is the 12x zoom, what's a good, (relatively) cheap alternative?

Keep in mind, I know nufffinkkk! I HAVE tried reading the many threads, but eventually get bogged down. Numbers confuse me :)

NstiG8tr

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

07/24/2007 02:11:27 AM · #2

How much money you wanna spend?

07/24/2007 02:15:49 AM · #3

None, but I don't think THAT'S gonna happen! ;)

First, remember that I'm in Canada so everything's more here...
That said, the XT is about $750, so I figured about a thou to get me going? Is that unrealistic?

07/24/2007 02:29:21 AM · #4

thou (now get going, girl!) ;)

SaraR

Sony Alpha a7R III

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM

07/24/2007 02:30:52 AM · #5

Looking at your portfolio, and for the money you want to spend, I would suggest going for the body and kit lens, together with the Sigma 70-300 APO lens. This will give you the extra length, and also the ability to take macro shots, albeit at 2:1 rather than 1:1.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/24/2007 02:32:31 AM · #6

Originally posted by crayon:

thou (now get going, girl!) ;)

Smartass :)

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

07/24/2007 02:33:18 AM · #7

Don't go out and buy all sorts of accessories and lenses before you know what you need. I'd start with the XT and the kit lens. Spend a few months shooting with it, learn the ins and outs of shooting the DSLR then decide what you need.

Remember that with the C$ almost at par with the US$ it might be worthwhile ordering from the US.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

07/24/2007 02:42:21 AM · #8

But, believe it or not, I don't have a credit card. And I'm impatient, I want it nowwwwww! :)
So you guys think that's a reasonable camera for me? And one worth the money? In other words, I'll be happy with it? :)

And Sara, I definitely want to be able to shoot macros, soon if not immediately :D

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

07/24/2007 02:52:07 AM · #9

Originally posted by BeeCee:

You WILL be happy with a Rebel XT, that's for sure. But dedicated Macro lenses are quite expensive and lenses like my Sigma 70-300 DG macro are not worth the money, so better keep your S2 for macro shots

Citadel

Nikon D7500

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

07/24/2007 02:54:19 AM · #10

I have that lens for my Nikon and I absolutely love it. Its good for telephoto AND decent for macro. Its about $300 CDN but its worth it especially since you'll find that the kit lens won't have as much zoom as you P&S. However you'll find at the 18mm end its much wider which is nice for landscapes.

I'd budget about $1000 and that will set you up decently. And in terms of ordering from the States? Shipping is more which is the worst part. You can get some pretty decent deals in Canada anyways. Not sure what's available in Victoria though. You may want to PM Noisemaker and get his opinion as I think he lives in your neck of the woods.

07/24/2007 02:59:47 AM · #11

Lol, he certainly is; maybe a mile or two away and we haven't met yet!

Thanks for the advice, all. I guess I'll be going for the kit for a start :D (maybe even this week! :D )

07/24/2007 03:08:45 AM · #12

Originally posted by BeeCee:

So you guys think that's a reasonable camera for me? And one worth the money? In other words, I'll be happy with it? :)

you'll be happy with the XT for 6 months before you start wanting something else, like the 30D or maybe a 5D. of course, in parallel, you'd also be wanting some while L glass...

looks like you are stepping into dangerous territory, girl! :)

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

07/24/2007 03:27:32 AM · #13

Lol, I know, I know!
That's why I figured I'd start with this, because no matter what I get there'll always be something more to aspire to, and I didn't want to set the bar at a $3000 level and have to climb from THERE!

I just didn't want to get this and end up going back to my S2 IS because this doesn't do most of what I want. Looks like it will, though.

Oh, probably about the first thing I WILL be wanting is a flash??

jan_vdw

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

07/24/2007 03:56:04 AM · #14

and a remote trigger for those makro shots...

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

07/24/2007 03:57:15 AM · #15

Before you totally decide on the Canon, I suggest you go to a store, hold some cameras, and decide based on feel and operation, not what you already have.

What you have now does not commit you to Canon. But once you buy lenses, flashes, extension tubes, etc., it will be more expensive/difficult to switch. I know that first hand, because I'm in the middle of switching from the Rebel XT to the Nikon.

One thing to look at in any SLR you buy is the viewfinder as well as the feel. I eventually felt cramped by the XT viewfinder; in the store, look at the Canon 5D or Nikon D80/D200 viewfinder as well, and you may see what I mean. If not, then it doesn't matter.

The kit lens on the Canon is the kind that rotates the front when it focuses. For that reason alone, I recommend against buying the kit lens. Since you are coming from an all-in-one superzoom, I recommend you get a more flexible, "superzoom" to give you an easy to carry "all-in-one" lens. You will still add more specific lenses later, but that's useful for travel, or if you only want to carry one lens for a hike, for example. I suggest looking at the Sigma 18-125, the Sigma 18-200, and the Tamron 18-250. I had the 18-125 and loved it (except the mechanism broke). The Tamron is a great range in a compact lens, and was reviewed very well by Popular photography. It merits serious consideration. These won't be the best at anything, but I think you will find it better than the kit lens, and overall, a pretty usable lens that gives you back some of the simplicity you will lose when going to an SLR where you have to change lenses, and your zoom range is more limited than your S2.

As a comparison, I followed this exact same strategy when switching to Nikon. Right now, the only lens I have for the Nikon is the Nikon 18-200. If you ended up going with one of the Nikons, I'd recommend this lens over the Sigma/Tamron. You could get a Nikon D40X for about $879 US with the 18-135 kit lens (which from what I read is a decent lens). Or buy the body for $624 US and add the Nikon 18-200 for about $750 US, and you would have IS on your walkabout lens, as you do now with your S2.

Just food for thought, before you take the plunge.

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

07/24/2007 04:16:18 AM · #16

Originally posted by BeeCee:

Oh, probably about the first thing I WILL be wanting is a flash??

yeah... first you want a flash, then you want a bag to carry these 2 items. and then you got yourself a large diffuser and realize your bag needs to change, so you got yourself a very large bag so it would be "upgrade proof", and then you got yourself a new lens, and maybe some effect filters along the way. then you felt that the battery grip is a good idea, so you got that too. now with lots of battery juice, you needed larger memory cards so you could shoot without off-loading to a computer. next, you got another lens, the 3rd time is usually when you get a very expensive glass... you had some fun, and realize your body isnt good enough for your new expensive lens, so you upgrade the body, and then you get the compatible battery grip too, because you're used to having a battery grip. then more lens, and more lens and more lens....

i almost feel sorry for you, but i think i envy you more! :p

pix-al

Canon EOS-5D

07/24/2007 04:20:33 AM · #17

Don't forget to budget for memory cards - You dont get one with the camera and it doesnt have any internal!

You want 2GB at least to start with as, once you realise the benefits of RAW, you will need the extra space.
2GB's will get you around 220ish RAW shots from memory (Pardon the pun!)

07/24/2007 04:21:52 AM · #18

Originally posted by crayon:

Originally posted by BeeCee:
Oh, probably about the first thing I WILL be wanting is a flash??

yeah... first you want a flash, then you want a bag to carry these 2 items. and then you got yourself a large diffuser and realize your bag needs to change, so you got yourself a very large bag so it would be "upgrade proof", and then you got yourself a new lens, and maybe some effect filters along the way. then you felt that the battery grip is a good idea, so you got that too. now with lots of battery juice, you needed larger memory cards so you could shoot without off-loading to a computer. next, you got another lens, the 3rd time is usually when you get a very expensive glass... you had some fun, and realize your body isnt good enough for your new expensive lens, so you upgrade the body, and then you get the compatible battery grip too, because you're used to having a battery grip. then more lens, and more lens and more lens....

i almost feel sorry for you, but i think i envy you more! :p

Lol, you're almost scaring me into staying with my P&S!! (But I already have a large bag, snapped up at a flea market for three bucks!)

Neil, thanks, I'll check out your suggestions :D

Eta; Umm.. Neil... the 5D is $3400... Outta my range, no matter how great the viewfinder, unfortunately!

And the Nikon 18-200mm is $900 :( (I'm in Canada, remember)

Sigh.... some day, the good stuffs!

Message edited by author 2007-07-24 04:45:05.

zxaar

07/24/2007 04:25:14 AM · #19

Originally posted by crayon:

This reminds me.

during our college time, my friend said:
from my first salary I will upgrade my computer.

Somebody quipped: from your other salaries also you will be doing the same.

07/24/2007 04:28:40 AM · #20

Originally posted by zxaar:

This reminds me.

during our college time, my friend said:
from my first salary I will upgrade my computer.

Somebody quipped: from your other salaries also you will be doing the same.

so maybe she should just get the best body and lenses out there and be done with it. get it right the first time, lol! but the "best" camera would reign only until an upgrade gets released :P darn, its a curse