My First SLR

Cabaal

My second thread on my plans to get a new camera while on my travels in May, I was first looking to dump my Canon Powershot S50 for a TX-1 which is out next month....the ability to shoot HD video really interested me.

However I've decided in the end I'd be much better off going down the serious route with a new camera and I'd like to have more options when taking photos,

So my option after is down to a Canon Digital Rebel XT 8MP SLR w/ Lens

For convenience, ease of use and no-compromise SLR performance, look no further than the EOS Digital Rebel XT. It's stylish black design and all new lightweight, compact body and improved performance makes this one of the easiest operations in its class.

Canon's Digital Rebel XT simplifies complex tasks and ensures the perfect shot every time. With its intuitive simplicity, powerful performance and unprecedented affordability, the Rebel XT is the EOS digital camera for everyone.

* High-performance digital SLR with 8.0 megapixel CMOS Sensor and DIGIC II Image Processor
* Small and light EOS Digital SLR
* Fast 3 frames-per-second shooting with a 14 frame burst and 0.2 second startup time
* High-speed, wide-area 7-point AF with superimposed focusing points
* User-selectable metering patterns, AF modes, custom functions and flash exposure compensation
* Direct Print support with PictBridge compatible printers
* USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface for quick downloads
* Compatible with more than 50 EF and EF-S Lenses and most EOS System accessories including EX-series Speedlites and a dedicated Battery Grip

It'll be my first SLR, pros and cons for this model (I believe its named something else in Europe but the name escapes me right now)

Roen

350D in Europe. What's the budget looking like? I'm just asking cos the 350D was replaced a year ago (ish) by the 400D, I'm wondering why you're not going for that instead?

Check the stickies above for places to buy and prices to expect. I take it you are based in Europe also.

prox

My first SLR was one of these:



Cost me fifty quid in 1989. Great camera apart from the cloth shutter.

Cabaal

I'm in europe but traveling to states next month so would be looking to buy their due to savings, any idea what the 400D is called in the states?
Rebel XTi by any chance?

Budget is roughly around 550e, I'd also like to get a 18-55mm lens with it,

Roen

Xti it is, check B&H Photo for a good price

As good as you'll get anywhere

Add 8% NY sales tax onto that though for the in shop price.

Cabaal

Seems 400D and Rebel XTi are same camera
http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/Digital_SLR/EOS_400D/index.asp
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=14256

Cabaal

Roen wrote:

Xti it is, check B&H Photo for a good price

As good as you'll get anywhere

Add 8% NY sales tax onto that though for the in shop price.

I'm heading to Las Vegas, I've called a few stores and they don't have it in stock at the moment and also can't give me a price,
Another option would be ebay, I';ve bought two camera's from this crowd before - http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-Digital-Rebel-XTi-SLR-Camera-Lens-1GB-NEW-USA_W0QQitemZ160106984190QQihZ006QQcategoryZ147173QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

But I'd be worried about customs, also the XTi as nice as it is is over my budget

Guess it might be just the luck of the draw while I'm over their in relation to getting my hands on one...

Fionn

i'm sure there's lots of places that carry the 350D or rebel XT, i think in the US, great camera, when your ready to have a go at SLR this is a great great camera!! really!

Cabaal

Fionn wrote:

i'm sure there's lots of places that carry the 350D or rebel XT, i think in the US, great camera, when your ready to have a go at SLR this is a great great camera!! really!

You think that wouldn't you?
Been to Las Vegas before and found it poor enough for buying electronics, granted since then they'd added an apple store and some other places so I should be fine.

But I'd like to limit the amount of time I'll spend shopping around as I won't be their long...

I suppose it would be worth forking out for the XTi but the XT would be backup if I couldn't get the XTi

mathias

If your going to Vegas then find a Ritz store , they stock most of the Canons and Nikons ,

http://www.ritzcamera.com/slr-digital-cameras.htm?bct=t13031003%3Bcidigital-cameras-and-accessories

Ritz are everywhere and list it online for 699 ...€550 = $750 according to XE.com so in budget ( there will be sales tax on top of that though , 7 -8 % on average all over the states , Some states have no sales tax , Oregon for one, I dont know about Nevada but it says no sales tax on the website , that may be only for the website though ...),

I believe this is the exact model you want ,
http://www.ritzcamera.com/product/541161212.htm?bct=t13031003%3Bcidigital-cameras-and-accessories%3Bcislr-digital-cameras

There seems to be 6 Ritz cameras in Vegas , check the addresses ,

http://www.ritzcamera.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/MapQuestView?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&languageId=-1&city=las+vegas&state=nv&zipCode=

They will also do an international warranty but this usually costs more so if it doesnt bother you dont get it.

FreeAnd..

excellent little camera, perfect for starting off...definitely reccommend it

Cabaal

mathias, thanks for the details for Ritz, one of the stores is at the end of the strip so would be a short journey via taxi.

What I'll probably do is ring the places the day I plan to buy and see who has it,

Still debating between a 350D (XT) or 400D (XTi), about 160e in the difference

jaqian

prox wrote:

My first SLR was one of these:



Cost me fifty quid in 1989. Great camera apart from the cloth shutter.

My first one bought last year at a car-boot sale for €15:-

magicbastarder

my first, i think it cost £125:



one thing i find gas around here is the cult of the 'nifty fifty'.
this was not something which someone aspired to when i started out, it seemed de rigeur. none of this trying-to-be-all-things-to-all-men-zooms which seem to be the norm these days; you got a good dependable prime lens with nice fast aperture.

Stephen

My first SLR is my current one - a Nikon D50. Yes, I'm totally new to this too I bought it in B&H in New York and saved a LOT of money. They also did a price match against Adorama (another popular NYC camera store) on a lens for me too

jaqian

magicbastarder wrote:

... cult of the 'nifty fifty'.

Excuse my ignorance but whats 'nifty fifty' mean?

Fajitas!

magicbastarder

50mm prime lens.

tadhgrrr

hi there,
i did this recently, went to the states got the Rebel xTi/400D (its the same camera) shipped to a friend over there that I was visiting (bought it on www.beachcamera.com). Total of about €600 with kit lens including €25 delivery fee so should be within your budget. While looking around I found that the 350D/xT wasnt retailing for much cheaper and the anti-dust cleaning device, higher MPs and newer model advantages of the Xti definitely justified the difference in cash.

So far Ive been very happy with the camera...havent had too much time to get out shooting yet as I just got a 4gig card delivered.

As for customs I had no trouble on my way home in Dublin airport. To be safe I left the box behind and packed the instructions cables etc as checked luggage but Id say if Id even have been fine had it been in the box in a bag (seems to be random spot checking)

If youve any other questions just drop me a PM.

-t

pete4130

You can always flat pack the boxes and ship them home from the states if you wanted to keep them if you decided to get it over there?