Canon 400D (Rebel Xti, Kiss X)

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

What about the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens??

 

[KCmike]

Just bought a Canon XTI for my wife for Christmas. It went clearance at my work for $399 plus I get my discount. I know its an older camera but what can you tell me about it? Any suggestions for a beginner with their first SLR?

 

[jfinke]

It gets very good reviews...

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-24-105mm-f-4-L-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/188-canon-ef-24-105mm-f4-usm-l-is-lab-test-report--review

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=142974

 

[jfinke]

Do you know what lens you got with it?

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EOS-400D-Digital-Rebel-XTi-Review.aspx

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos400d/

 

[boBQuincy]

I use a Canon 24-105 as my walkaround lens, it is very sharp and very well built. It is not a great landscape lens (not wide enough focal length) or portrait lens (not wide enough aperture). Wega shows that I use it most often at either 24 or 105. Hmmm...

For portraits your 50 is already pretty good, the f/1.4 is even nicer if you don't mind the $$$. For landscapes Canon's 10-22 is a really nice wide lens, almost "L" quality.

 

[KCmike]

Hey neighbor,

I will look at the box tonight when the wife goes to bed (It's a Christmas present and I don't want to give anything away) but it should be what they call I believe a kit lens. I will get the full details. Please stay posted as I need all the help I can get.

 

[jfinke]

Yeah, I just noticed your name was KC___...

I can't remember if the kit lens with the XTi is the one with IS or not.

The one with IS is considered pretty decent for what you get.

I have the older kit lens without IS. It is serviceable, but nothing to write home about.

 

[bubba]

I bought an XTi about 6 or 7 months ago and I love it ! I would suggest buying your wife the Canon EOS Rebel XTi Digital Field Guide by Charlotte K Lowrie. The first part of the book is a more in depth (and very well written) walk through the camera. Which button does what and how to make the camera do what you want it to. The second part is all about how to use your camera to create the photos you want. The XTi was my first dslr and I like to think I'm fairly intelligent but the manual that came with the camera left me in the dark. The Field Guide spelled everything out and made it so easy to get started !

 

[PixarNut]

I'm looking at the 17-40L as my next purchase. I need a good wide-angle for my 40D and I hear this thing is tack sharp.

 

[KCmike]

The lens I got with the camera was the EF-S 18-55.

I went to Amazon to check out the book and it is running 13.55 which doesn't seem bad. I'm wondering if this might be something one could find at a library or online as well?

I am secretly charging up the battery and am going to play with camera on Friday to see how it takes pictures. I have had several point and shoot cameras and have gotten some amazing shots from them but still feel like I am a novice because I've stepped into the DSLR world.

 

[Rob_Drebel]

Where did you get it for 399? I am loking for a second body of hte xti since it is a decent camera and for under $400 is a great camera.

 

[jfinke]

The lens I got with the camera was the EF-S 18-55.

I went to Amazon to check out the book and it is running 13.55 which doesn't seem bad. I'm wondering if this might be something one could find at a library or online as well?

I am secretly charging up the battery and am going to play with camera on Friday to see how it takes pictures. I have had several point and shoot cameras and have gotten some amazing shots from them but still feel like I am a novice because I've stepped into the DSLR world.

Does it have IS on the lens? The old kit lens does not. The new one does. The new one is considered to be much better optically than the old one.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-S-18-55mm-f-3.5-5.6-IS-Lens-Review.aspx

 

[kekee]

My husband recently purchased me a Cannon Rebel XTI and I don't think I have enough time before my trip next week to really get good photos (I have no experience with cameras and I think this was too much for my use). I also feel that it might be a bit much to carry around. In order to really zoom in I would need to use the additional zoom lens (that is quite large). Finally, I don't know how well this camera will take picture at night and with the fireworks. So my questions are: Should I also get a small p&S and take that with me also. And finally, does anyone have any suggestion about how to take good night time pictures with this camera other than with the typical auto setting?

Thanks,

 

[Pea-n-Me]

have no experience with cameras and I think this was too much for my use)

There's really no question this camera will take better pictures than your point and shoot. But besides knowing your camera itself, you should know some basic principles to get the best shots, particularly at night (true of using any camera). Like the need to keep the camera still to avoid blur in low light (using a small tripod, gorillapod or firm surface), for example.

I don't know when your trip is but if you have time to do some reading about photography basics, that might help (or it might confuse you more if it's all new). Many people use a dSLR as a large point and shoot by keeping it on Auto, at least for a while until they learn how to use it. That's a personal decision. (For fireworks you could use the Auto Fireworks setting.)

As for carrying it, do you have a good camera bag - one that's comfortable and practical? Do you have little ones in tow? Again, a personal decision as to what to take. I'd probably take both and give it a try, anyway. Good luck.

PS there's a sticky at the top of this page that has some technique info. Kodak puts out a user friendly, very basic book of photography skills that you might want to pick up prior to your trip. I'm not sure how much it will help for the trip persay, but it will help you on your way to learning the basics of photography (without overwhelming).

 

[jfinke]

The XTi has a green mode. The dial on the top of the right hand side has a green box. This is basically PnS mode. The camera will do all of the thinking for you.

I would recommend playing around in Av mode. However, if you feel like you don't have time to learn it, just put it in green mode and take some practice shots. They are free!

As far as night time shots, you are going to want to control the speed of the shutter. This means Tv mode or manual mode. It also means you have to be very steady, so resting the camera on something or a mini tripod, etc. is recommended.

 

[KCmike]

Office Depot

 

[sherry7]

..........Kodak puts out a user friendly, very basic book of photography skills that you might want to pick up prior to your trip. I'm not sure how much it will help for the trip persay, but it will help you on your way to learning the basics of photography (without overwhelming).

Do you happen to know the name of that Kodak book? It sounds like something I'd like to read.

To the original poster...as has already been mentioned, you can always use the camera in Auto mode. I haven't had my DSLR long, and haven't really done much beyond Auto yet. However, I've taken some really good shots...things I don't think I could have successfully gotten with a point & shoot camera.

I plan on taking 2 different cameras when I go to Disney in January....my Sony A350 DSLR, and my Panasonic Lumix TZ5. I'd like to carry the DSLR as much as possible, but I can foresee myself getting tired of carrying it by the middle of the week.

 

[bnorm27]

Prior to the rollout of the XSi, Canon was selling an XS model, which was basically a newer XTi with the IS kit lens. I actually saw one in our local Target yesterday.

 

[jfinke]

The XTi I believe has a better AF system than the XS.

The XS does come with the better kit lens, I think.

The XSi would be my choice if looking at a rebel. I think that the XS was solely to have a price point that competed with the cheaper olympus and pentax models. This is reflected in Canon's numbering system.

XT = 350D
XTi = 400D
XSi = 450D
XS = 1000D

 

[KCmike]

Possible novice question forthcoming....
on the camera it has an image stablization button near where the lens would go....so why would you need an IS lens as well?

And yes mine doesn't have the IS lens with it. So Sad.