DSLR camera advice

[badradio]

I'm sure there are some of you who are professional photographers or camera junkies that could help me out. I'm taking a photography class and I need to buy a DSLR. My price range is around $1200 (or less if possible.) Right now I'm thinking maybe a Canon XSI 18-55mm & 55-250mm IS Lens kit. I know lenses are important so I was wondering if it would be better to go with a XTI body and buy a better lens around the $500 range. Or the XSI body with a decent lens, if you could recommend any. I've had some DSLR experience, but I'm not a professional by anymeans. I do want something that get's really good image quality. Mostly doing portrait type stuff. Any recommendations would be welcome.

Thanks!

[REDVAN]

Searched for "canon":

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...ighlight=canon

I started this one a few years ago, maybe it has some useful info, not sure...

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=43666

I have an XTi, and I would personally get the XSi, no questions asked.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

Searched for "canon":

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...ighlight=canon

I started this one a few years ago, maybe it has some useful info, not sure...

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=43666

I have an XTi, and I would personally get the XSi, no questions asked.

I've been interested in looking at the XSi. Why the recommendation?

Lots of info here.

[Ironhorse]

Nikon > Canon

[kobafett]

I won't say which camera to get because both will take good photos that you will be happy with. If you are looking to do portrait photography you might consider getting a couple of prime lenses too. The Canon 50mm f1.8 II and 85mm f1.8 are both affordable and have excellent image quality. The only downside is that with these lenses you will be stuck at these focal lengths and will have zoom with your feet by moving closer or farther away from your subject.

[MJK]

If you want a DSLR I would buy the Nikon. I have had great experiences with them. I know people who have Canon and they find them a little 'feminine' to hold. Overall, they are smaller but picture quality is going to be almost identical.

For me it's Nikon all the way and with that price range you can get a great camera and a good lens. The lens you get is very important as well, more so than the camera itself!

[REDVAN]

I got the Canon XTi about a year and a half ago and love it. I chose it after debating between Canon and Nikon for almost half a year.

I went with a Canon because I looked at samples online and liked the photos that it took (of identical subjects) better. I liked the colour better, the sharpness, etc. Not to say that this stuff can't be fixed later in processing applications, but I haven't even begun to get into that.

I also got the Canon because I tried it out at the stores, and prefered it's ease of use, rather than the Nikon. I have a Canon AE-1 as well, but since it's fully manual (read: film), I don't think that swayed my opinion either way on the DSLRs.

The other reason I got the Canon was that it theoretically has more lenses available for that body. But I have yet to really use a bunch of different lenses for it. (Side topic: anyone know where I can rent specialty lenses, or anyone mind to lend me some that will fit an XTi?).

Oh, and since I got my XTi, I have also gotten a Canon Point and shoot. So maybe I am being brand loyal now, but I tried not to let it influence me before. The main suggestion is to go try the options at the store, then check out reviews online, and then go from there!

Good luck.

[FurnaceFace]

I have an XTi with an 18-200mm IS lens. Works great, no issues. I wanted a smaller dSLR and a versitile lens I could take on trips. I didn't want to carry around a heap of gear if I could avoid it.

The Nikon equivalent to the XTi is the D80. We bought a D80 at the last company I was at and it worked well too. The XTi camera body is smaller than the Nikon D80 which is good for some not for others. As MLK says it depends on your hand size.

Canon vs Nikon is sort of a coke vs pepsi conversation. Both give you caffeine, depends on which one tastes better to you.

You could also look at Pentax, they make solid cameras which are very often overlooked. Lots of lenses for them too.

[FurnaceFace]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

(Side topic: anyone know where I can rent specialty lenses, or anyone mind to lend me some that will fit an XTi?).

What are you looking for? Vistek and The Camera Store both rent gear.

[BlackArcher101]

As for the Canon vs Nikon debate, the only way to solve that is for you to play with the cameras, see how it fits in your hand and how easy it is to use the controls and menus. You may find the Nikon too clunky and the Canon more form fitting, but you may also prefer size over portability or the weight doesn't feel right to you. A lot of the camera choice is based on preference alone.

Since you are getting into entry level photography and mention portraits, I would look at a body and a nice lens with wide aperature. You want a perspective that isn't too close but yet not far away.

This website http://www.the-digital-picture.com/C...rait-Lens.aspx) seems to suggest a 85-135 focal length is best for portraits and on a Canon cropped body(xti, xsi, etc) for example that would be a lens of 50-85mm. A 50mm prime lens may do you fine for playing with portraits and for a starter one you can get the 50mm f/1.8 for cheap (but you get what you pay for, ie $120). You can also pick up a moderate zoom lens, say a 24-105mm or a 17-85mm which would cover your most widely used focal lengths (maybe, depends on what else you plan on shooting).

If you really want to do portraits, I suggest a nice flash, and if you are sure you want to stick with it, perhaps one that can act as a master to others. Around $400 I think?

Anywho, it really depends on your needs and you need to balance budget with picture quality and features. Maybe an Xti will fullfil your needs and all you needs to start is an entry level flash and two lenses.

[badradio]

Thanks for all the good advice and the links. I think I'll go with Canon if image quality isn't much different (I have small girly hands) and I'm more familiar with Canon. Now the question is to just buy a body and buy the lenses separate, or buy a kit. Is the Canon 50mm f1.8 II better than the Canon EF-S 18-55mm? Which is pretty much standard in the packages. I can get 18-55mm & 55-250mm IS Lens Kit or would you swap out the 18-55mm for the 50mm (If they'll let me)

[badradio]

oh yea flash isn't a problem yet... get to use a studio...

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by badradio

Thanks for all the good advice and the links. I think I'll go with Canon if image quality isn't much different (I have small girly hands) and I'm more familiar with Canon. Now the question is to just buy a body and buy the lenses separate, or buy a kit. Is the Canon 50mm f1.8 II better than the Canon EF-S 18-55mm? Which is pretty much standard in the packages. I can get 18-55mm & 55-250mm IS Lens Kit or would you swap out the 18-55mm for the 50mm (If they'll let me)

The kit lenses leave a lot to be desired in terms of picture quality compared to the next steps up, but they are also cheap. As for the differences betwen the 50mm and the 18-55, it's fairly extensive. At 50mm on both lenses, the 18-55 will have a small aperature of 5.6 and the 50mm will be 1.8. The 1.8 will give a lot better (ie narrow) depth of field for portraits.

Here are some examples of the 50mm 1.8 lens. http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/canonef50mmf18ii/ Don't forget some of these will be on professional cameras, some on entry level. You can check for that near the bottom right where it says the camera model.
Here are some examples of the kit lens http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/canonefs1855mmf3556/.

[Russic]

I have the xti and my sister in law just got the xsi and we both have nothing but great things to say about them.

[nickerjones]

if 1200 is your price range i think you can get a kitted Nikon D90 for 1200 ....... You can find some good deals on used one at photo foruma like fredmiranda.com or thephotofourm.com......

Im currently in saving mode for my first dslr and i really want the D80 or D90 but financial wise im prob going to have to start with a D40 or D60

[badradio]

Update: I went with the Canon rebel XSI with the 18-55mm kit lens and the 50mm 1.8f lens. came to $1000 with the 8gig highspeed card. So far I really like it... love that 50mm lens. Now I just have to buy a bag/tripod/cable release/UV filter... it never stops... I shot with the D90... I really liked it but couldn't justify the extra money for my first dslr.

[nickerjones]

i was fooling around at best buy today and fell in love with the XSI ..... i might go with that instead of the nikon ... good choice my friend

[BlackArcher101]

Excellent choice... wait till you start thinking about new lenses... you thought deciding on a camera was confusing, haha.

[Regulator75]

2 reasons not to shoot with a Canon.

Avril Lavigne and Andre Agassi. Joking aside, I am a Nikon guy through and through.

It is just like Pepsi VS Coke (mentioned earlier).
I prefer the menu and the physical feel of the Nikon in my hands, lenses are about par between the two choices.

Also Sony, Pentax and Olympus they = CO-OP gold cola.

[Neeper]

Nikon all the way. They were losing the DSLR wars for a bit there, but now they are back on top. And oh, the lenses are much better At least imo.