Posted by TheVicariousVadder If you won't need video it is (if you need video: go for the t2i instead). For roughly the same price get a used or refurbished XS or XSi body only (don't bother with the kit: the lens leaves you wishing for far more) and a sigma 17-70mm or tamron 18-50mm

he is right.. I loved my 18-55 at first, but it left me dry.. so I bought more lenses, including the sigma 10-20, LOVE it! and far sharper then the 18-55

Posted by TheVicariousVadder If you won't need video it is (if you need video: go for the t2i instead). For roughly the same price get a used or refurbished XS or XSi body only (don't bother with the kit: the lens leaves you wishing for far more) and a sigma 17-70mm or tamron 18-50mm

I don't need video but I was planning on just buying the kit and then using the money I would save by buying the XS to get another lens. But I see the two lens you recommended are about the price of the kit. I've really only got about 600 dollars to invest in this, and I really won't have anymore money to buy any more lenses or anything anytime soon. So I definitely want to get a lens that I'll be happy with.
What's the difference between the kit lens and the ones you recommended?
And where would I find said refurbished XS body besides online?

Posted by misstinavicious I don't need video but I was planning on just buying the kit and then using the money I would save by buying the XS to get another lens. But I see the two lens you recommended are about the price of the kit. I've really only got about 600 dollars to invest in this, and I really won't have anymore money to buy any more lenses or anything anytime soon. So I definitely want to get a lens that I'll be happy with. What's the difference between the kit lens and the ones you recommended? And where would I find said refurbished XS body besides online?

If your budget is tight get a kit with the 18-55 IS. Make sure it's the IS version. The non-IS gets a bad rep, but the IS version really is much better. The image quality is very good given the price. Get a decent tripod. Add a 50 1.8 if you can.

Posted by Washu If your budget is tight get a kit with the 18-55 IS. Make sure it's the IS version. The non-IS gets a bad rep, but the IS version really is much better. The image quality is very good given the price. Get a decent tripod. Add a 50 1.8 if you can.

+1

So with the Holidays right around the corner...

When is the best time to buy? On/after Black Friday? Closer to X-mas? After X-mas? Now? So confused...

EDIT: I've made the decision to go with the XTi, now to just find a good deal on what I need (camera, 18/55 lense, bag), and maybe what I want (tripod, prime 55mm lense).

I never really had good luck with the kit lens (it was the 18-55 IS), but that's just me. Once I got the 50mm 1.8, I noticed the limitations of the kit lens and sold it. I now primarily shoot with the Tamron 17-50 2.8, and it's the bees knees.

The kit lens gets you started, but expect it to limit you pretty quickly.

Posted by WarBird69 So with the Holidays right around the corner... When is the best time to buy? On/after Black Friday? Closer to X-mas? After X-mas? Now? So confused... EDIT: I've made the decision to go with the XTi, now to just find a good deal on what I need (camera, 18/55 lense, bag), and maybe what I want (tripod, prime 55mm lense).

I say Boxing week sales, but that's just me. Some places have pretty good deals on camera stuff. You might have accumulated some x-mas capital to put towards your camera fund as well.

Posted by WarBird69 So with the Holidays right around the corner... When is the best time to buy? On/after Black Friday? Closer to X-mas? After X-mas? Now? So confused... EDIT: I've made the decision to go with the XTi, now to just find a good deal on what I need (camera, 18/55 lense, bag), and maybe what I want (tripod, prime 55mm lense).

After Christmas if you are thinking ebay, anytime if you buy from keh, adorama, or bhphotovideo.

I tried to buy a film camera around the holiday season off ebay:

I've seen it go anywhere from $120 to $180 for the most of the year. The prices doubled from the end of october to december. It took me several weeks to find one for under $200.

People value their products higher when they want to sell them to buy new gear/gifts before the holiday but once the new gear is in hand (from chistmas presents for ex.) they are willing to sell them for more reasonable prices.

In fact in comparison to a new camera their old camera seems particularly bad so prices may be sold lower than they would normally.

Just realized my last post should've said XSi....that is the camera I'm going to buy. Not XTi.

Damn you Canon and your backwards way of naming things.

Reguardless, thanks for the replies.

Posted by WarBird69 Just realized my last post should've said XSi....that is the camera I'm going to buy. Not XTi. Damn you Canon and your backwards way of naming things. Reguardless, thanks for the replies.

XT/XTi/XSi are more/less the same camera anyways: more megapixels, faster buffer, XSi has an upgraded processor. They're all about the same size/same features. No video.


The XSi may be a touch more noisy at night because of the high MP count.

I've decided I'm able to put a full $1,000 into buying my first DSLR. My plan right now is to buy the $500 Rebel XS with 18-55 IS lens. Using that for a bit, then purchasing a higher quality lens for around 500.
Does anybody know of any better ideas for a nice camera and lens for under $1,000?

Posted by misstinavicious I've decided I'm able to put a full $1,000 into buying my first DSLR. My plan right now is to buy the $500 Rebel XS with 18-55 IS lens. Using that for a bit, then purchasing a higher quality lens for around 500. Does anybody know of any better ideas for a nice camera and lens for under $1,000?

I say purchase that, shoot with it and see how you like it, while saving money for a future upgrade (if you find something lacking and would like to upgrade your lens, body, whatever).

I find lots of people usually say "You should buy this 2.8 lens" or "you should by this body with that lens, you'll hate the kit lens" or "I shoot UE with a 2D MkV and I recommend it because I love it!!!". But realistically, you need to get a feel for and learn how to use a DSLR before you develop your technique and see what might be limiting *you*.

Posted by Mr. Fuzzy I say purchase that, shoot with it and see how you like it, while saving money for a future upgrade (if you find something lacking and would like to upgrade your lens, body, whatever). I find lots of people usually say "You should buy this 2.8 lens" or "you should by this body with that lens, you'll hate the kit lens" or "I shoot UE with a 2D MkV and I recommend it because I love it!!!". But realistically, you need to get a feel for and learn how to use a DSLR before you develop your technique and see what might be limiting *you*.

Thanks for your input! I'm really excited for my first DSLR!

Posted by misstinavicious Does anybody know of any better ideas for a nice camera and lens for under $1,000?

The Nikon D3100 (with 18-55mm VR) kit is superior to the Canon Rebel XS and only $200 more.

If you are going Canon, invest in the 50mm 1.4 well worth the jump up from the 1.8 and the 1.2L is not that much better from what I have seen.

but the 1.8 is very affordable and useful for a begining DSLR user

Posted by The Seeker but the 1.8 is very affordable and useful for a begining DSLR user

And optically, the 1.4 isn't much better.

Posted by ZenCanadian If you are going Canon, invest in the 50mm 1.4 well worth the jump up from the 1.8 and the 1.2L is not that much better from what I have seen.

Other than I can handhold my rebel + 50 f/1.8 at 1/5 of a second ... it's not my cup of tea.

sigma's f/1.4 version is even nicer but 50mm is too limited on crop.

I asked for a 190XPROB/496RC2 kit from santa claus but still this winter break I'm going to work my arse up and save up for one of the following body upgrades, and one or two or a handful of the following primes ... unless there are better alternatives (I'll probably drop 1500-1600 on camera gear.)

$---- is the max amount I'll spend on a particular item (I've hounded ebay before....I'll do it again.)

---

Canon EOS-7D Digital SLR Camera Body $1300
OR
Canon EOS-5D Digital SLR Camera Body $1050*
OR
Canon EOS-50D Digital SLR Camera Body $700

---

Samyang 14mm f/2.8 Lens $385*

MC Zenitar 16mm f/2.8 Lens $300*

EF 24mm f/2.8 Autofocus Lens $299*

EF 28mm f/1.8 USM Autofocus Lens $375
OR
EF 28mm Autofocus f/2.8 Lens $199
OR
EF 35mm f/2.0 Autofocus Lens $299

EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Autofocus Lens $350

---

<sub>*These are required to fulfill full frame needs.

*The 24mm prime is on my "christmas list for me from me" regardless.</sub>

thoughts?

Posted by TheVicariousVadder thoughts?

If you end up sticking with a crop then get the Sigma 30mm f1.4 EX USM instead of the 28/35s. IQ is excellent, fast AF and the extra light always helps. Had the 28mm f2.8, IQ is good but slow AF and two stops slower than the Sigma. It's on my camera most of the time now.

Posted by TheVicariousVadder ...50mm is too limited on crop.

My feelings exactly. I have a 50/f1.8 but since buying my DSLR I think I've used it maybe once. Even on film I didn't use it as much as I did my 20, 28 and 35mm's. Perhaps if I get a FF digital someday I might use it more.

I do of course realize people use the 50 for portraits and such (detail shots, etc) on crop sensor cameras, but that doesn't seem to be my style. I'm more of a wide-angle, big-picture kind of guy.