Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with dslr and canon

Help me choose a beginner DSLR?

kylej — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:26:13 -0800

What beginner's dslr should I buy? I'm looking to purchase a camera within the next couple weeks. I have around 600$ to spend, and I'm looking to buy a beginners dslr.

Right now I'm leaning towards the Canon Rebel XSi.

It seems like it has a lot of options for me to learn and Canon has a nice lens selection if I want to buy more.

I've seen other questions on here, as well as numerous online reviews, but I wanted to see if you guys can think of any other options that would be good for me.

Stuff I'm planning on using it for:
Snapshots of friends
Macro(ish) shots
Travel shots(for when I go to Spain this summer)
Probably some informal portraits too

Another camera I was considering was the Nikon D3000, which is geared towards beginners, but I feel like it might be limiting as I get better at photography.

Thanks for your input!

Canon -> Nikon

aeighty — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:33:55 -0800

Switching dSLR systems, going from Canon to Nikon? I'm curious if anyone has done this. I've been photographing with a Canon Digital Rebel 350D for about 4 years now. I'd like to get a little more resolution for larger prints and better nighttime sensitivity. Recently, my father bought himself a Nikon D90, so I figure if I upgrade in the near future, I might as well upgrade to a compatible system so that we may share accessories (flashes, expensive lenses). I'm not heavily invested in Canon. I have a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8, Canon f/1.8 50mm prime and the crappy kit lense. Oh and a flash. Over the years I've gotten used to Canon's menus and ergonomics, so I'm never fiddling with settings; equipment almost never interferes with the process.

I'm concerned that I may hate "the Nikon experience", although truth be told my initial Canon decision was somewhat arbitrary. At some point in the near future, I will borrow my dad's D90 to play with, but I'd appreciate hearing about your experiences.

Thanks

Whats an ideal everyday lens for an EOS 450D?

WinnipegDragon — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:49:35 -0800

I need advice on a 'walking-around' lens on a sub-frame Canon DSLR. This is a followup to my previous question that I received some wonderful advice on. I'm hoping for more, hivemind!

My Rebel XSi/EOS 450D is now about four weeks old, and I've probably shot about 1,100 frames on it. I'm happy with the camera, I'm learning quickly and I'm ready to branch out into my first 'real' lens. I admit that this is partially fueled by my weekend rental of an EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM that I took to the zoo, and immediately fell in love with.

So, I'm looking for a 'walking around' lens to be my primary lens that will be on the camera as a default. Ideally it would be good for architecural, landscape and street photography but still have a decent amount of reach for the occasional shot that requires it. A good maximum magnification factor certainly wouldn't hurt.

The best of these sorts of lenses always seem to be more than 20mm focal length at the wide end, and on a 1.6x crop body, it's far too wide for anything architectural or landscape. The few that are good at the wide end tend not to have a lot of reach so you end up with the opposite issue. There are one or two contenders in the EF-S series of lenses, but I'm wary about them since an upgrade to a full frame camera is not out of the question in the future.

I have a nifty fifty and have used it as my primary lens, as well as the 18-55 kit lens, but there are situations where these are just not the right lenses.

So, the contenders that I am considering, and their major concerns, are:

- EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM (expensive, not wide enough, slow)
- EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM (expensive, not wide enough, no IS)
- EF 17-40mm f/4 L USM (no IS, slow, practically no reach)
- EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM (not wide enough, slow)
- EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (EF-S mount, slow, questionable optics)

Is there another option out there that I'm missing?

In the works Canon DSLR features?

albernathy0 — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 12:23:33 -0800

Does anyone know if Canon has plans for releasing a consumer DSLR that will have Multi-Aspect Ratio Shooting, as Olympus has done? Thank you!

Pentax DSLR vs Nikon vs Canon

mikepop — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:21:07 -0800

Digital SLR - does anyone have experience with the Pentax K2000 (comparing with the Nikon D40) This recent DSLR question was timely, as I'm looking to buy one as a gift soon and I was looking at entry-level Canons and Nikons.

However, the giftee has a Pentax film SLR and along with it a couple of lenses - a basic lens and a telephoto/zoom lens (sorry, I don't know what they are exactly). From what I'm reading in the other thread, it makes sense to buy the camera you already have lenses for, so I'm taking a look at the Pentax K2000.

A lot of people I know have a Nikon or Canon, but I don't know anyone with a Pentax DSLR. Is it just as good, generally speaking, as an entry-level DSLR? Any warnings?

And if I do decide to go with the Pentax, would it make sense to buy just the camera body (vs a kit) and save some money, since she already has a couple of lenses?

Which DSLR would you pick?

ddaavviidd — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:59:43 -0800

I need to choose between buying a used Nikon D50 and a used Canon Rebel XT. I would like to hear about your experience with any of these fine cameras. Both cameras pretty much have the same specs, and I can get them at the same price ( about $400 CAD), both come with the 18-55 kit lense, the Nikon also have a dx nikor 55-200 F4,5-5,6 and the canon comes with a sigma 70-300 F4,0-5,6. I will use this camera both inside and outside, and I don't plan to print huge posters. I'm not doing sport photography, mostly landscape and people. I was also looking at new Nikon D60, but they are still over $500 and I can't afford that right now.

I'd like to hear about your experience with these cameras. I'm leaning towards the D50 for its larger lcd, but I heard the XT does a better job for inside shots. I don't own lenses, so I'm not sold to any brand. Anything I should be aware of to help my choice? I've done lots of photography before, using manual settings and all, but always with point-and-shoot cameras.

camera recommendation for graphic designer?

MaddyRex — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:13:52 -0800

What's the best camera for a cash-poor graphic designer? I'm making my big camera purchase & I realize I'll have to compromise on something. I don't know too much about cameras but I know a lot about graphic design & I'm looking for something that will basically help someone with currently minimal photo skills (I promise I'll work on them) generate clean, high resolution images. My price range is around $400. Ideally I'd want something that's at least semi-portable.

How important is it to have a dSLR? One photographer I know recommended the Canon Powershot g10 for a graphic designer. Another told me this was a total waste of money & that I should go straight to a dSLR. Thoughts? Help! Thanks!

Upgrading from a 20d to ...

pbh — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:41:14 -0800

Digital SLRs: Canon 10-series or Digital Rebel in low light? I've been borrowing a Canon EOS-20D for the last few weeks, and I think I'm ready to finally buy a DSLR. I have a bunch of lenses for an old EOS Elan-IIe, so I'm more or less wedded to getting a Canon DSLR. Most of my photos are candids in low light. With the 20D, I've been shooting with a 50mm F/1.8 prime and I've been pretty happy.

It looks like I can get a new Digital Rebel Xsi and a used 40D for about the same price locally (no meaningful warranty on the 40D though).

I've looked at previous discussions on AskMeFi about low light, the 20d, and so on, but I can't figure out:

1. In what ways a recent digital rebel would be a downgrade from the 20d that I've been shooting with?
2. Is the light sensitivity any different? I've been reading some comparisons (e.g., this) and it doesn't seem to make a difference within the same format, but the rebel feels a little blurrier/slower so I'm not quite sure.
3. Should I be considering anything else, like robustness of the body, weight, or how configurable it is? I'm obviously not a pro, but I'm likely to be traveling a fair amount with it.

Take my pictures....please!

um_maverick — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:32:26 -0800

My snazzy new DSLR camera (Canon Rebel XS) just arrived, so now I need to know what to do with it. My Google skills have failed to find me a useful photography class south of Boston (Brockton/Tauntron/Attleboro-type range). Please help! I'm looking for classes that will show me how to take pictures - composition, color, lenses, settings, etc. At this point, I've read a lot online, but am a hands-on noob. Something once or twice a week, maybe with some field trips built in, would be ideal.

I found courses at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education, but that's farther than I'd like to go. I also checked some area community colleges, but the only one I found (at Bristol Community College) looks like a film class - darkroom techniques, etc... Maybe I'll get to that point eventually, but right now I just want to take some good pictures, and maybe learn digital post-processing techniques.

Thanks!

Canon of love

mippy — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:32:14 -0800

So a while ago I was wondering whether to get a Canon 1000D (Digital Rebel XTi) or the 450D (Digital Rebel XT). Now, thanks to a Christmas bonus, my choice has widened - 450d or 40d? It's going to be my first DSLR and I want something I can learn on. I've looked at specs for both on DPReview.com and as I have only used a compact (Powershot A710IS) so far I'm finding it a bit overwhelming. I'd like to know people's experiences on both. FYI, I'll be buying the body only as I'm going to be given a kit lens to start off with; the price difference is £450 (450d) vs £550 (40d) on amazon.co.uk, although this isn't enough of a difference to be a serious factor. And I'd rather take a new body than a used one.

Do ye ken Canon?

mippy — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:42:52 -0800

Help me decide which Canon DSLR to save up for as my first DSLR. I've been using the A710 IS for a couple of years now and, having also used a friend's 350D, am very impressed with the quality of Canon cameras. I've reached the point now where I need to have a DSLR to be able to progress with my photography. I'm torn between the 1000D and the 450D - the price for the 1000D is more realistic for me (I would really like to get a camera before the beginning of April if possible) but the 450D isn't much more, and I'm wondering if that indicates a better quality.

Other relevant info: I have the option of getting the body only as SO's dad has offered to give me the 18-55 kit lens that came with his to start with. I mainly shoot macro shots and want to move from observing to creating my own views. I also really want a Lensbaby, which will be my next purchase after the camera. I am lacking in technical knowledge - one of the reasons I want to upgrade - so something with a good Program function would be good to start off with. The IS in my compact is a godsend for me. And I'm unlikely to want to upgrade my camera for quite some time.

any advice on where to purchase (in the UK) and where to get a case for it that won't look like an old man's fannypack would be useful for the future too!

Which camera should I buy?

sliderjc — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:55:57 -0800

Which camera to buy? Canon 40d or Canon 50d? I'm having difficulty deciding which camera to buy. On one hand the 40d is 300-400 pounds cheaper than the 50d but then the 50d is far superior in terms of specs.
The key to this question is timing, I would like the camera before christmas, but I'm worried if I buy either of them now that I will lose out and they will be cheaper in the January sales.
Has anybody experienced Canon sales techniques? Does anybody have any idea if they reduce the prices of their products over time?
For what it's worth, I'm living in the U.K so that may have some bearing on things.

Strike a pose, please.

jadepearl — Mon, 05 May 2008 06:31:54 -0800

Getting a DSLR today. What lens options should make a good set to take the plunge? having read all the threads or at least the most recent ones on DSLRs and having handled the various body cameras at a store, I have settled on the Sony A200. Before all the hatin' starts I say that the reasons I decided on this system were:

it felt good in my hands
worked when chasing a VERY active 14 month old around the store;
photo lag was minimal to me;
photos looked good of said active child;
price point was reasonable for quality and features. Mr. Jadepearl is a Nikon man but he was disappointed in the performance of the D40 while the camera clerk told me that the introductory Canon in this range was not a good competitor on price performance at this level
Older Minolta lenses work with it

So, what lens do I need to make a complete kit? The immediate plans are to take photos of kids, plants, landscapes and scenes from a moving vehicle. Did I mention that I travel with two hand puppets that I pose in ludicrous poses at famous locations or break some rules on museum displays and proximity?

So what lens should I go for to cover the widest possible conditions for this photo newbie? I plan to have this camera for years and figure that Sony is seemingly committed to their camera line.

The photographer and the lens

oxford blue — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 01:44:27 -0800

What lens to buy? I'm thinking of upgrading my lens arsenal.

To wit, what say you about the following combination to replace my Canon 50mm 1.8 II.

-Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM
-Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
-Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

My interests are pretty eclectic, and I don't particularly restrict myself to one style or the other. However the plan is to slowly turn photography from a hobby into a source of income; as such I want to do more free lance gigs (I've done a few already), and expand my stock portfolio.

Would this combination of lenses work well? I know there is nothing truly wide, but Canon doesn't make an affordable (i.e non L) and fast prime that's truly wide, especially on a x1.6 sensor. I figure seeing how used I am to shooting on 50, it will feel, comparatively, 'wider'.

A possible alternative, that I'm not wild about, is simply getting the 17-55 2.8 IS. However I'm much in love with the speed and quality of primes, as well as their low weight and that they are pretty cheap. Plus, I'd like to keep my options open if I decided to switch to a full frame camera (EF-S lens aren't compatible) at some stage in the future.

I'm not really sold on third party lens. The gestalt seems to work better when it's homogenous.

Can you see any weaknesses? Something I've forgotten? Any advice would be swell.

Which SLR camera to buy: Canon Rebel XTi or Nikon D40?

madman — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 06:53:53 -0800

I want to step into the big bad world of digital SLRs but don't really have a huge budget. Please help me choose between the Nikon D40 and the Canon Digital Rebel XTi (also known as EOS 400D). I currently have a point n' click Canon A95, which I use mostly for shooting food photos (evidence is on my Flickr stream). I've had this camera for a couple of years now, and would like to graduate to an SLR camera. The Canon camera's limitation is the ridiculous amount of time it takes to acquire focus sometimes (makes a mess of moving subjects like people), and its uselessness in low-light photography. I'd like to be able to shoot portraits and street photographs also, and am looking to buy an entry level SLR. I don't expect to be shooting wildlife or landscapes much, since I don't get to travel anywhere as much as I'd like to.

My photography guru friends recommended the Nikon D80, but that's $200 more than the Canon Rebel XTi and also beyond my budget. I don't want to spend more than $750 on everything put together, so my choices are between the Canon Rebel XTi and the Nikon D40.

Which of those cameras would you recommend? I also intend to buy a f/1.8 50 mm lens to go with the camera, which should be a fast enough lens for day to day photos. Any other lens recommendations?

20D or 30D? You tell me!

hammerthyme — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 18:05:57 -0800

Help me choose which Canon DSLR to buy and where to buy it. I'm going to buy a digital SLR and it is currently a toss up between the Canon 30D and the 20D. A few years ago, I owned the 10D and loved the rugged body but am not too sure about the ruggedness of the 20D or 30D.

My other problem is where to buy it from. I'm not opposed to buying refurbished from a site like refurbdeport.com but I am a little afraid of buying a "brand new" 30D for $499 from a site like expresscameras.com. If you think I'm better off with another camera, I welcome the input; any/all advice is nice. Thanks.

Decent budget lenses for shooting babies, beautiful scenery, (and maybe) blooms?

DakotaPaul — Tue, 08 May 2007 15:14:06 -0800

Prospective DSLR user ISO decent budget lenses for shooting babies, beautiful scenery, (and maybe) blooms. I plan on purchasing my first digital SLR—a Canon Rebel XT or XTi body—in the next couple weeks, and am going crazy deciding which lenses I need. I've looked at some previous threads here, Philip Greenspun's article on building a digital SLR system, and a few forum topics on photo.net and dpreview.com. Like a poster in a previous thread, I often find conflicting info, and, being new to DSLRs, not exactly sure what I really need to get the good photos I want.

We're expecting our first baby in November, and I'll be shooting the heck out of her. Many shots will be in our home, so I need a good low light performer. We often shoot our cats with a Fujifilm FinePix E550 point-and-shoot, and obviously they're nearly always blurry.

We hike often and I want to take good landscape shots in Yosemite, for example. I love wildflowers and I shoot nearly every species I encounter while hiking. My retired Nikon CoolPix 4500 was excellent for that.

What lens would work for indoor baby shots, landscapes, and maybe running-around-in-the-city shots? These are a few I've come up with:

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, ~$80
Pretty fast, damn cheap. Useful for landscapes? Macros possible? (Something about reversing rings being used?) Good enough quality for 8x10 prints? Would be able to get a macro lens with saved $$$.

Canon EF 35mm f/2, ~$230
Too wide-angle for indoor baby shots? (I've heard about having "no straight lines in your photos".) Fast enough for that indoor use? Macro possible at all? It's cheap enough that I might be able to get a second, cheap macro/telephoto lens soon.

Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM, ~$400
Again, too wide-angle for indoors? At the limit of my budget for a lens and would have to wait a while on a true macro. But should be nice and fast for indoor shots. Good landscapes?

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM, ~$420
Pretty much same as above? Worth it for the extra half-stop? What other differences between it and the Canon 28/1.8?

I'm sorry for all the questions, but I'm new to all this. Thanks for your help.

What type of lens should I settle on for my DSLR?

tomorama — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:21:05 -0800

I'm going to be purchasing a DSLR camera, and am looking for some input on which lens(es) to purchase. The camera I've decided on is the Canon Digital Rebel XTi. I want to get a good quality lens, but am still quite amateur so I don't plan on spending a huge amount of money on expensive lenses. I also have more learning to do before I start dropping cash on glass.

I am going to be doing a wide range of general, day-to-day photography, such as NYC street photos, buildings, and people. I also want to do a good amount of night shooting.

I originally was drawn towards the EF 50mm f/1.4 USM because it's a good, fast lens that will work especially well in low-light and indoor shots. It seems like a good general purpose lens, but I am concerned about getting caught in a situation where I'd like to snap an acceptable landscape or quasi-distant shot, and wouldn't be able to (such as vacation scenery, or shooting down on the street from a window). Given this concern, would it be more beneficial to get a cheap prime lens like the EF 50mm f/1.8 II, and then putting the real cash towards an entry level zoom, perhaps with an image stabilizer? Or should I go with the 50mm f/1.4?

So, what do you photographers think? An experiences with the lenses I've mentioned? Any suggestions for things I haven't thought of? Am I too neurotic/uneducated about the capabilities of a general purpose prime lens.

Finish my work for me

AnyGuelmann — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 06:31:42 -0800

Help me find the perfect digital SLR camera to substitute my Minolta Maxxum 300si I have already done research and read reviews, now I need to be influenced towards one of my available choices.
Biased photographers, influence me away.

Myself as a photographer:
- Totally amateur
- Totally pretentious
- Not quite there as far as technique goes, but eager to improve

My preferences:
- 8x plus zoom
- 6 Mpx at least, but no real need to go beyond that
- Fast startup
- Manual focus, or an auto focus that gives me choices and lets me choose
- Possibly a stabilization feature, as long as somebody tells me it really works
- $500 - $800 range, lens included

My targets:
- Architecture and art - wide angle just important as good zoom (right?)
- Close ups of "step by step" DIY projects, Instructables style
- Pets, lots of close ups
- Travel and vacation, with a flare for those (pretentious) artsy shots

The selection so far:
- Pentax K100D / 18-55 mm
- Nikon D70s / 18-70 mm
- Canon Digital Rebel XT / 18-55 mm
- Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50s / 12x zoom

My doubts:
- Will I be able to screw in filters on all of these? I like filters.
- Should I buy separate body and lens?
- Btw, what are the basic filters I should have? I currently have the somewhat tacky fog and four-point star
- I guess a couple of these are not really SLRs, but will that make a difference, based on I told you above?
- The Maxxum 300si was discontinued, but did Minolta substitute it with any equivalent digital camera I might take a look at?

Best every day dSLR lens and accessories?

geeky — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 07:13:26 -0800

This is a two part question: Which every day lens should I buy for my dSLR, and what other camera accessories should I get? There is I'm going to buy my first dSLR in the next few months. It will definitely be a Canon, mostly likely the 20d. I'm pretty sure I don't want the kit lens, though I'm not sure what to get instead. I'll end up with a variety of lenses eventually, but for now I just want a good every day lens to get me started. Money is not an issue so much as quality. I've been considering the Canon EF-S 17-85mm w/IS. Opinions? Suggestions? Bonus points for example photos. (Yes, I've seen the other related AskMe questions.)

See Flickr for an idea of the kinds of photos I like to take.

And for part two, what other acccessories do I need for my new camera? I will probably get an extra battery and some sort of case, but what else do I need to get me started? Flash, filters, cleaning equipment?

Shoot, which camera should I buy?

mutantdisco! — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 13:15:12 -0800

Which used dSLR should I buy, being cost-conscious, and not invested in a particular brand? I would like to buy either a used Nikon or Canon entry-level dSLR, so either: d50, Rebel, or Rebel XT. I know the basics of photography, but it's a hobby; so I'm an amateur-level photographer.

I also know that the d80 and Rebel XTi are coming out in the Fall which should make some of my potential choices cheaper in the coming months.

Here are some direct questions that I wanted to ask:

1) Is it worth it to save some money getting the Rebel over the XT?
[I do like the quick startup on the XT specs, but do people generally just leave their camera on (thereby negating this feature). The difference in size would not matter a great deal to me, although I would prefer a smaller one over the larger.]

2) Is it worth getting a d50 over a XT if, for the sake of argument, they are both the same price? Or is this a philosophical argument?
[I do have some SD cards (and no CF cards), and an (unfounded) bias for Canon cameras.]

3) What should I look for when testing out a used dSLR?
[I have on my checklist: dust on sensor, hot pixels, # of photos taken -- Do these things really matter? ]

GPS ready Digital SLR Cameras

0bvious — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 23:16:52 -0800

GPS ready Digital SLRs : What are the best available? Coming soon? Am I better waiting until the industry catches up? I've been eyeing up digital SLRs for a while now (my past askmefi question), and have decided a GPS ready one would really hot things up.

(For those who don't know, Geo Positioning System (GPS)cameras will stamp every photo with your exact location on planet earth as it's taken.)

What's your opinions on this tech? Worth waiting until the next camera season?

Thanks

Need a good case for a Canon Rebel XT

Mid — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 10:21:23 -0800

Help me protect my new digital camera (Rebel XT) with a case or skin or something. On the advice of many AxMe answerers, I got myself a Canon Digital Rebel XT. It's awesome, and now I am completely terrified that I am going to break it / scratch it / drop it / etc. I have no case or anything else to put it in. I'd like to buy a case or cover or something to protect the thing. Ideally, I'd have something that actually stays on the camera, like a soft case or almost a skin that would protect the camera but also let you use it. I'm thinking of the big leather bottom things that I used to have attached to my Nikon SLR. Canon does sell a "semi-hard" shell to go around the camera, but it looks as dorky as it sounds.

Barring that (and I don't see anything good on google or amazon), I'd want to get some sort of smaller camera case that I would pop the camera in and out of while using it. I need room for the body with a smallish zoom attached (the EF-S 17-85) and one other, smaller lense. I want some decent protection, but I don't want something that screams "camera bag" and will get snatched. What do you use?

Also, is there anything else I can do to protect the camera? Like maybe a "skin" for the LCD screen? I already have UV filters on my lenses to protect them somewhat. I'm wondering why nobody makes a neoprene suit that would wrap around the camera (with cut-outs for the controls and lense, obviously) like for ipods.

Help me get set up with a dSLR.

Mid — Fri, 26 Aug 2005 14:44:35 -0800

Help me get set up with a dSLR. I've taken pictures with a good "prosumer" camera for about 2 years now and want to graduate to a dSLR. A big part of my urge to go dSLR stems from DaShiv's beautiful photos and especially his use of depth of field in portraits. I also want to do low-light stuff like interiors and also dusk-in-the-city type stuff. So, I figure I need:

* a camera body -- probably an N70/70s/50 or a D20 or Rebel XL; and

* two lenses -- probably some all-around short zoom and then a really fast lense.

I'd really appreciate any suggestions, especially on the lense front. The camera reviews are easy enough to find and understand, but finding the best lenses at the right price seems a lot harder. Also, Nikon seems to have a much smaller selection of modern auto-focus lenses than Cannon, but maybe I am not looking in the right places.

I'd like to keep the whole package at about $2,000, but I could bump up to closer to $3,000 if it was worth it. I think I would lean toward putting money in the lenses rather than burning up money on the body (i.e., between the D20 and the Rebel), becuase I don't need a lot of the super high-end features like incredible frame-per-second rates.

Thanks.