Digital Camera for Christmas

[Cigargal]

I am going to buy my partner one for Christmas. She has her eye on the Canon Eos Rebel. She has a regular Canon Rebel and has liked it. I wish I could afford the 12pixel model but I am going to have to settle for the 10 pix. Anyone have one of these? Any recommendations?

[poker]

I see that Best Buy will be having the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi 12.2-Megapixel on sale for Black Friday. Currently 799.00 but it says the sale will be 699.00

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4496

click link in first post
clink best buy logo link under "ads"

[The Professor]

I had the model below the one you're looking at, Marianne. It was AWESOME. I really had a lot of fun with it and, even with the stock lens, took some good pics despite my complete lack of skill.

I hope Toddzilla and The Dakotan chime in -- both shoot with Canons a lot. :D

[hotreds]

The 10 MP Rebel would be an excellent gift for her. She can use all her lenses with it, keeping in mind that the digital conversion factor is about 1.6x. Meaning that a 50mm lens would become an 80mm lens. I use the slightly higher grade models, 30 and 40Ds, but I need the more rugged bodies since I do mostly outdoor shooting. The XTI should do her fine if she is used to and happy with a 35MM Rebel.

[poker]

Personally I would buy this though for $574.99
Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8721733&type=product&id=1200703005185


I currently have a virtually unused Canon 30D that Im not exactly fond of. I'm thinking I may unload it and get a Nikon myself.

[Heliofire]

I would also look at http://www.bhphotovideo.com/ for prices, I use them for almost all of my equipment. You could also check out Calumet photo too.

[N2Advnture]

Not to add to the confusion but... :)

I picked up the Sony Alpha and dig it. The main reason for me choosing this camera over others (Nikon D40) is that the others have the "anti-shake" built into the lenses. This causes the lens to be incredibly expense.

With the Sony, the anti-shake is built into the body, so old Minolta lens work just fine (I had a bunch from my old camera but you can find them on Ebay as well).

I hope this helps

~Mark

[Linus]

I have the XSi and have to say: it's awesome. All the pictures I post in my cigar reviews are taken with that camera and it's incredibly flexible. I use the default lens that came with for all the close ups. J&R (http://www.jr.com/category/cameras-and-optics/digital-cameras/digital-slr/n/4294563304/) have it on sale for $649USD

[Cigargal]

I see that Best Buy will be having the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi 12.2-Megapixel on sale for Black Friday. Currently 799.00 but it says the sale will be 699.00

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=4496

click link in first post
clink best buy logo link under "ads"

Regular price on amazon for the same camera is 699.

[Cigargal]

I'm a Sony fan myself-but this is her camera so I want her to have what she wants. I have nothing against Canon-I just love Sony products. Guess that makes me a Sony-ho:hm

[Genetic Defect]

I had the model below the one you're looking at, Marianne. It was AWESOME. I really had a lot of fun with it and, even with the stock lens, took some good pics despite my complete lack of skill.

I hope Toddzilla and The Dakotan chime in -- both shoot with Canons a lot. :D

If I had a camera question I would ask him :)

[ToddziLLa]

Hey Marianne! Hope all is well with you two. :D

My wife and I shoot Canon and love them. Unlike most fanboys though, I'm a fan of great products in general! Nikon and Sony make excellent models too, but so does Canon. :ss

I would argue the best value right now is the EOS 40D (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-40D-10-1MP-Digital-Body/dp/B000V5P90K/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1227663202&sr=8-1). It uses both EF and EF-S lenses and has great usability and picture quality.

Shoot me a PM if you want to chat some more about this stuff. I could go on and on and on... :cb

[Buena Fortuna]

I would agree on the 40D comment. The 50D is out and the 40D price has dropped making it an exceptional value.

"I would argue the best value right now is the EOS 40D (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-40D-10-1MP-Digital-Body/dp/B000V5P90K/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1227663202&sr=8-1). It uses both EF and EF-S lenses and has great usability and picture quality."

[JE3146]

Hey Marianne! Hope all is well with you two. :D

My wife and I shoot Canon and love them. Unlike most fanboys though, I'm a fan of great products in general! Nikon and Sony make excellent models too, but so does Canon. :ss

I would argue the best value right now is the EOS 40D (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-40D-10-1MP-Digital-Body/dp/B000V5P90K/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1227663202&sr=8-1). It uses both EF and EF-S lenses and has great usability and picture quality.

Shoot me a PM if you want to chat some more about this stuff. I could go on and on and on... :cb

I would argue that most people don't need a 40D :)

They're very large cameras. The XTi or XSi offers a compact DSLR that will take nearly the same photos. Only thing it will lack is some of the focusing perks or advanced options... etc. Obviously the 40D is a better package overall, but I hope my intent is clear on this :D

In the end the lenses will make more of a difference than the body ever will. And ultimately above all that, the user ;)

[Genetic Defect]

I would argue that most people don't need a 40D :)

They're very large cameras. The XTi or XSi offers a compact DSLR that will take nearly the same photos. Only thing it will lack is some of the focusing perks or advanced options... etc. Obviously the 40D is a better package overall, but I hope my intent is clear on this :D

In the end the lenses will make more of a difference than the body ever will. And ultimately above all that, the user ;)

need and want ;)

[JE3146]

need and want ;)

yea yea yea ;)


Personally, I consider NEEDing good lenses. A body is a body as long as it works well enough for your skill level.

I'd advise investing that extra 200-300$ into a used 70-200 f/4L or something like a 17-85IS for a nice intermediate jump over the kit lens.

[Buena Fortuna]

Absolutely, I agree on the lenses. However, I believe it all depends on the application as well. If you are just going to use it as an advanced P&S, then the kit lenses will meet your needs. However, if you are going to do portraits, macro, landscapes, or sports, definately save your loose change in a big jar and invest in good glass...the rewards are more than worth the $ outlay.

A must have is a nifty 50mm F1.4 or even the less expensive 1.8 for low light and indoor shots.

[the nub]

Best Buy in Canada had them cheaper than the US. $529.99 with the18-55mm IS lens. Crazy!

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0926INGFS10109189&catid=20222

[MadAl]

I'm a Sony fan myself-but this is her camera so I want her to have what she wants. I have nothing against Canon-I just love Sony products. Guess that makes me a Sony-ho:hm

I'm a Sony fan too, have the F505 and F828, bought other models for my spouse and my Mom.

[hotreds]

Check out also fredmiranda.com for very helpful advice and reviews.

[Cigary]

Save your money, folks. Anything over a 8 megapixel is a sheer waste of money unless you are going to print out banner size photos. All of the bells and whistles are for professionals who use their cameras for work and do this everyday. You can buy a good camera for under $150 that will give the avg. person all they need. It's like buying a car with every bell and whistle that you'll only use a few times but all you really need is what you buy it for,,,take a good picture on automatic and have great resolution.

[The Dakotan]

Ahhhh, another Canon fan. I've been shooting with Canon since the very first film EOS rebel came out. I've shot Canon, Nikon, and Fuji for pleasure and money, so everything I say comes from my experiences.

If she wants a canon, get a canon. Poker mentioned a Nikon at a similar price-point that is a good camera and comes with a better stock lens than Canon IMHO. When I say it comes with a better stock lens this has to do with little things like its capacity for low light photography and a bit clearer depth of field when taking landscapes. BUT, I think Canon's mid-range lenses (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-28-135mm-3-5-5-6-Standard-SLR-Cameras/dp/B00006I53S/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1227906960&sr=8-4) are incredible. If you think she might be able to buy a bit better lens at some point in the future, then the lens shouldn't be an issue. Also, I don't know what she wants to use it for but if it is for general, everyday kinds of things, then the stock lens will be very good.

I've been using a now obsolete Canon 20D for years and it does just fine. Someone mentioned that you don't need anything over 8MP if you aren't blowing it up to poster size and, for the most part, this is correct. Some people get obsessed with having really high MP when they won't ever need it. Honestly, if I were you, I would look into buying an older generation of the EOS Rebel (around 8MP) and then get a mid-range canon lens. It all depends on how much you're able to spend.

Fuji makes an incredible camera (Finepix (http://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-Finepix-Digital-Stabilized-Optical/dp/B0012Y541S/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1227907335&sr=1-16)) if you will be shooting pictures of people. I did an extensive comparison this summer between my 20D and a Finepix Pro S2 and there was a noticeable difference when taking pictures of people (ie. weddings and portraits), which the Fuji won. Landscapes/nature photography, however, the Canon killed the Fuji. This is just my anecdotal experience though.

Bottom line, I would go with an older Rebel model and get a better lens. If she wants a Canon, that's what she wants. You don't want her to wonder "what if," right? :D

If you are looking for the best (and cheapest) pocket camera, this is it! (http://www.amazon.com/Fujifilm-Finepix-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B0012Y52FG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1227907671&sr=1-3)

As Todd mentioned, shoot me a PM if you want to chat more about this! I'd be happy to help! Good luck!

[ToddziLLa]

Anything over a 8 megapixel is a sheer waste of money unless you are going to print out banner size photos.
...Or if you want to crop and still have usable images.

Marianne, here's a package she should be really happy with:

Rebel XSi (body only) (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012Y88QQ/sr=8-1/qid=1227976724/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1227976724&sr=8-1)

EF 50mm f/1.8 lens (Nifty Fifty) (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-1-8-Camera-Lens/dp/B00007E7JU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1227976810&sr=1-1)

[Cigargal]

So she can still use the lenses from her 35mm Rebel?

[Cigargal]

This is the one I am looking at...http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Digital-10-1MP-18-55mm-3-5-5-6/dp/B000I1ZWRC/ref=pd_sim_e_2

Trying to keep it under 500, but if the lens is a piece of crap and she can use the canon lenses I bought for her a couple of years ago, I might go for just the body on the 12. What do you think?

[hotreds]

Nothing at all wrong with that camera! You might want to check on Ebay as well. You CAN get some good deals there!

http://cgi.ebay.com/CANON-REBEL-XTi-EOS-400D-SLR-DIGITAL-CAMERA-LENS-KIT_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ31388QQihZ003QQitem Z130271941136QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVWQQsalenotsuppo rted

[The Dakotan]

This is the one I am looking at...http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Digital-10-1MP-18-55mm-3-5-5-6/dp/B000I1ZWRC/ref=pd_sim_e_2

Trying to keep it under 500, but if the lens is a piece of crap and she can use the canon lenses I bought for her a couple of years ago, I might go for just the body on the 12. What do you think?

That sounds like the best situation! Do it!!

[The Professor]

That sounds like the best situation! Do it!!
:tpd:

That's what I had last year. The lens is good for everyday stuff. It's not the best at it's widest or zoomed all the way in; but it was never bad enough to get me to spring for another lens. I snapped some really nice shots with that lens ... and the bad ones were mostly "user error." ;)