Lurker looking for advice

[MelissaB]

I'm i lust with the xsi and the price is dropping. Amazon now has it for $699: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0012YA85A/ref=ord_cart_shr?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

I've been using a regular digital camera and have missed so many shots of my kids because the camera is so slow. My son plays hockey and baseball and my daughter does dance, karate, acting, and anything else she can get into. I guess my questions are:

1. How difficult is it to learn to use a camera like this?
2. Am I really crazy for spending this much on a camera? I've always been interested in photography (which is why I lurk here), but my main subjects would be my children. They are growing so fast, and I'm missing so much with my crappy camera. (Yeah, I realize that I am probably the only one who can answer that.)

[DS1]

1. If your camera is a point and shoot, then hell yea

the XSi will be night and day faster.

Put it on green mode and go, it'll do it all for you.

[MelissaB]

2. It is a point and shoot and there is always a long delay before the picture takes.

Thanks so much for the reply.

Green mode must be automatic and I could use that until I play with it and learn more.

[JeffR]

3. If it's within your budget, don't hesitate.

There's a learning curve ahead, but it'll be an enjoyable one.

[regnaD kciN]

4. To answer your second question...

Am I really crazy for spending this much on a camera?

:rofl:

Let me tell you a little about camera prices. When I first went digital, a DSLR was never even considered, since you'd have to drop several thousand on even the most basic model. I originally bought a Nikon Coolpix 5700 (point'n'shoot, even if a full-featured one) for $1,200. I have since bought two DSLRs, both on closeout, the first for $599 and the second for $325 (granted, the latter took me a day of searching and a three-hour round-trip drive once I'd located it). In other words, each camera I've bought has had greater capability than the one before it, while costing roughly half as much!

The XSi looks like a very fine unit, particularly since Canon is now putting out reasonably-priced Image Stabilization lenses to go with it. $699 (including the IS kit lens) is a good price. And, no, you're not crazy for spending "that much" on a camera. Crazy, IMHO, would be buying a Hasselblad medium-format digital camera for $18,000 (special sale price for this week) or a Canon 1Ds Mk. III for $8,000...and I'm sure there would be many photographers who would argue with me about that.

As to your first question: from what I understand, Canon "Digital Rebels" are pretty well set up out of the box to give good results on full auto mode. Of course, you'll still be able to do better controlling it yourself, but the point is that you won't have a steep learning curve -- and what you do learn eventually will help you grow as a photographer, not just as a user of the XSi.

[MelissaB]

8. You're not going to believe this:

I have the Coolpix 5700. I'm guessing the xsi will be a great improvement?

:rofl:

[regnaD kciN]

10. I should have guessed...

...based on your comments about slowness. The 5700 is a great point'n'shoot, giving results (at low ISO) every bit as good as a budget D-SLR from even a year or two ago. However, it has two problems: 1) it's slow as molasses at recording to the memory card, and 2) because of its small imaging chip, noise at any speed above ISO 200 is unacceptable.

The XSi (or any D-SLR, including my Sony Alpha) will give you practically instantaneous response by comparison, and you'll also be able to shoot in much lower light.

OTOH, one thing I might recommend is that you look at the Nikon D-SLRs in the same price range as well. I mention this because, if you like the Nikon "look" from your 5700, you'll be more likely to get a similar look right out of the box with a Nikon, and there may be a commonality of controls between your old Nikon and a new one that will make it easier to change over. I know that I didn't get a Canon when I first went the D-SLR route, not because that version of the Digital Rebel wasn't a good camera, but because I felt that, coming over from the 5700, it was as if the designers had deliberately chosen the ergonomics so as to make it difficult for me to use. YMMV, of course, and the XSi shouldn't be compared with the version available at that time (I can't remember if it was the XT or XTi).

Personally, if I may make a suggestion (that sounds a little too ego-driven), check out this article on my website about buying a D-SLR. While some of the recommendations won't matter much if your interest lies elsewhere than nature photography, the advice near the end about "test driving" several different cameras from various manufacturers is something I'd recommend to anyone. If the XSi turns out to be the one for you, grab it; if not, I'm pretty sure you'll be able to find similar great deals on other models in that general range if you check the Internets a bit. ;-)

[mth44sc]

5. Here is some serious kickball game action

and a bit of hop skip jump...

I think its worth the price of admission. My Canon camera will do a lowly 8 shots a second. I'm not sure what the new Rebel does - but it sure has to do more than a point and shoot could ever dream of.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mth/sets/72157594417691195/show/

another example here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=280x42884

[MelissaB]

6. Those are great shots and just the kind of thing I'm looking for!

Even though you say your Canon will "do a lowly 8 shots a second" I found that the xsi will only do 3.5. Am I going to be okay with this? It's certainly a vast improvement over what I have.


From Amazon:
Excellent performance with 3.5 fps continuous shooting, up to 53 full-resolution JPEGs or 6 RAW images in a burst The EOS Rebel XSi operates with such effortless speed that operation is nothing short of intuitive. With instant startup times, speedy autofocus and minimal shutter lag, the EOS Rebel XSi is one of the fastest cameras available today. It can shoot up to 3.5 frames per second, in bursts of 53 JPEGs or 6 RAW files, so you’ll never, ever, miss a shot.

[mth44sc]

7. I think at the price

you'll enjoy 3.5 shots a seconds no end...

[ManiacJoe]

13. Lowly 8 shots per second?!?!?

You will have a hard time finding DSLRs that do faster than that. :P

[mth44sc]

15. Ok I was funnin'

I know I got a Canon :-)

[livvy]

9. Hey, MelissaB!

I have this camera, and I love it. I'm still in the early learning process with photography, and this camera allows me to get some great shots automatically while I learn the finer points.

I took a series of rapid shots of one of my furpals in the yard, just to play with this feature, and it was pretty impressive. The series of shots looked like the frames in a movie.

I've also really tightly cropped some shots, and the clarity and definition is outstanding in the prints.

I would go for it. I think you will love this camera!

[MelissaB]

11. I just bought the camera for $543 including shipping.

I went through Ebay with a seller with good feedback. He had a Buy it Now for $699 and I used a 25% off code.

If anyone is interested in getting 25% off Ebay check this thread: http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/topic_view.php?catid=18&threadid=838081&start=0



THANK YOU ALL for the input! :hi:

[MelissaB]

12. If anyone is interested in adding to your camera by using this 25% off

read the first and last page (at this point). It was really easy!

[regnaD kciN]

16. That's a good deal...

I'm considering using it to pick up an A700 body. My only concern is trying to be sure the seller isn't offering a gray market item. You did check to be sure your XSi came with a Canon U.S.A. warranty, didn't you?

[MelissaB]

19. Yep, I did check.

:)

[MelissaB]

20. Also, I didn't buy for this seller, but he is an authorized seller and has a nice selection:

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZtheimagingworld


He just didn't have the 12mp listed when I was ready to buy.

[ET Awful]

17. Thanks for the heads up on that, it just came in really handy for a lens I've been wanting

I just ordered a Sigma 150-500 lens! Saved $250 :).

[MelissaB]

21. Wow! Sounds like you did great!

:toast:

[ET Awful]

22. Thanks again. . . but . . .

I just returned the first copy of that lens, it didn't focus very well. Hopefully the next copy will be better, or I'll just have to get a refund instead of an exchange.

[ManiacJoe]

14. Lots of good advice already...

Coming in late to the party as you have already purchased....

Lots of good advice for new shooters over at Ron's Photo Blog:
http://ronmart.blogspot.com/2008/03/which-dslr-should-buy.html
http://ronmart.blogspot.com/2008/03/which-lens-should-i-buy.html
http://ronmart.blogspot.com/2008/05/which-books-should-i-read.html

[blueraven95]

18. everyone's already given great advice.

so I'll just say hi! Welcome to the photography forum and we can't wait to see your photos.

:hi:




oh, and buy the camera. (on edit: I see that you already have! Start taking pictures for us!)