Feedback Before New Purchase Please! :)

[bwmson]

Hello All -

I perhaps should do the obligatory 'I'm new here' comment... so there it is. So now we can move on

I have been into photography for a long while, but over the past few years I've been using the point and shoot digital cameras (Nikon Coolpix 7900 and Coolpix S51). I started out a long while back with the Canon Rebel (35mm) but couldn't afford my film habits at the time... At any rate, to make a long story short, I'm about to get my D-SLR and I'm looking at the EOS Xsi with the 18-55mm and 75-300mm lenses. Anyone have any feedback for these? Positives and negatives would be greatly appreciated. I wanted to stay with Canon so I can still use my older lenses, and I did like the 35mm Rebel.

I'm also looking at the 8G Sandisk Extreme III SD card and an additional battery. Any feedback on the card? I already have plenty of cards, but I like the looks of the speed rating on this one. Any experience? Is it worth the money?

I already have a good tripod and gear bag, but is there anything else that you think is essential? I'm looking through some filters, just not sure what direction I want to go there. I might hold off until I can get the better quality ones... (have to have a little more time to finance those )

Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated! Have a good one!

-bwmson

[bob_r]

Welcome to OP!

If you're buying the XSI, I suggest you pass on the 75-300mm lens. The 18-55IS and the 55-250IS get nice reviews for kit lenses, but the 75-300mm was voted the worst lens in Canon's current lineup. I can't comment on the 8GB SD card, but I use and 8GB CF card from Sandisk and it works fine. Since Canon just introduced the 50D and the 5D mark II, I imagine there are going to be some bargain deals available in the used market soon. It will also impact the new 40D prices and possibly the XSi prices too. You might want to start watching FredMiranda.com for some used equipment.

Most effects from filters, except for GND and polarizing filters, can be reproduced with software. A couple of GND filters are great to have in the bag and I carry Cokin's filters. I'd hold up on purchasing a polarizing filter until you decide which lens you'll use most of the time for landscape shots and then buy a good one. Here's a link to Cokin's site: http://www.cokin.com/ico15-A.html

I'm looking forward to seeing some of your pics.

Bob R

[bwmson]

Hmm... if the 75-300mm was voted their worst lens, that would explain why it is going for so cheap right now... I will have to think on that.
Do you think it would be better to save a bit longer to get the 40D with just one lens than to get the Xsi with two? I'm going to have to look into what the major differences are there. I think I could afford better lenses faster with the Xsi body, and I've always heard its really more the lens than the body anyway. Thoughts?
Thank you!

[bob_r]

I've never used either camera, but here's a link to a site that does excellent reviews:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/

I personally would probably prefer a 40D over an XSi since I have large hands and a larger camera seems to work better for me. I would wait until the 50D comes out before buying anything and then start looking at used as well as new prices to see what's available and get the best that would fit in your budget. It is more about the glass than the bodies, but some of the newer bodies handle higher ISO settings much better than the older models.

Bob R

[gldiana]

Hi bwmson,
welcome to the forum. Same as Bob, never used those cameras but reviews are quite positive.
My comment was toward getting an 8GB card. I discourage that for several reasons and all of them have to do with losing your photos. If you shoot 1-2GB cards you will probably use several cards so if you lose one, you will still have some photos left. If all your photos are in one card and you lose it... you can imagine how you'll feel.
Also, cards are electronic devices therefore they are bound to fail with time (they only have a certain amount of read/write before they start dying). If you have all your photos in one card (and 8 GB would be close to a full vacation/trip/ etc.) you, again, would lose everything. Right now I use 4 2GB cards and 1 4GB, I'll probably get more 4GB as I'm moving to the 5D2 and images are larger meaning 4GB will hold less than a 30D, but with an XSi/XTi I'd stay with 2 or 4 GB. Just my 2 beans.

[bwmson]

Thanks, that's a good point about the cards

[Edd]

Hi Bwmson,

I've just recently bought the Canon EOS 40D and we're very impressed with it. As Bob says the price may start to fall once the 50D comes out, in Oct I think.

I use the Canon EF 75-300mm lense, and I take onboard Bobs comments. We bought the lense quite a few years ago and it has always produced acceptable images for us. However I do make these comments having made NO COMPARISON to images thorough a different 300mm lense. Myself I would still be interested in seeing a comparison between the two products. When we purchased the lense we had no prior knowledge really and bought on the strength that Canon make good quality lenses. So am I looking to replace this lense, yes once I can afford to do so, at the moment I just want to get used to the camera and see which lense I tend to use most. I'm looking to sell images in the furture so quaility is key even at this early stage.

As for the card, the advice I was given in the store was to stay clear of the 8GB and use 2 4GB instead for the same reasons that Luca gave.

I have only recently joined the forum as well and found the guys here very helpful and I hope you enjoy the forum as much as I do.

Welcome !!!!

Ed

[gldiana]

The price of the 40D has already dropped in many stores, including Amazon.com
I'm sure this will make many happy. It will probably drop again.

[dculp]

Welcome, I purchased the XSI when it was first released to replace the XT. The reason I went this direction was to save money on the body so I would have more money for the glass. I'm very careful with my equipment and did not see the need at this time to spend the extra money on the professional grade body. The more I read on the forums and talk to photographers, it seems to be a common suggestion, buy good optics and replace the body as necessary. I have made two trips recently just for photography and already have more than 5000 images on the XSI and have almost no complaints. I chose to spend the money on a 100-400 IS lens from Canon and do not regret it for a minute. In a few years when I have all of the lenses I want, I will upgrade the body to a full frame camera, but not before rounding out my lens collection.

One of my trips was a workshop with a professional photographer who commented after seeing the images from my camera that he may buy one to use as a back up in the event that his 5D was ever damaged during a shoot. While the XSI is not full frame, it does take some nice images.

I'll try to insert a picture from my photobucket page, but if it does not work and you would like to see a few shots from the camera, just click here, http://s267.photobucket.com/albums/ii314/dculp/.



Good luck and let us know what you decide.

Dculp

[gldiana]

Dculp,
lots of gorgeous images there. Great work!

[bwmson]

Gorgeous gldiana. Thanks for the feedback! I think thats the route I'm going to go.