the dropping of the monies

[blustocking]

I need advice from the camera-inclined....

I have the opportunity to purchase this for $425. Body only. I'm thinking of doing it, maybe asking for $400 since it's without even the kit lens.

My justification is:

I was going to drop about $900 on a camera anyway and this way I can get a nice lens (or two suitable ones) plus a case and maybe an iPod. And it's what....8 mp. The camera I would buy (possibly the Nikon D80) is 10mp and that's with the kit lens (nothing fancy) and no extras.
It's not all about mp these days, even though that's what the kids will tell you. I think 8mp is sufficient.

Advice? Anyone? Anyone used a Rebel XT?

Comments

[stillvisions.livejournal.com]

I have one, and I really like it - also, as soon as I bought dedicated lenses the kit lens has been collecting dust anyway,

(I shoot with a 24mm, the cheapo 50mm and the macro 100mm and they're all worth their price, although admittedly the 100mm macro is kinda steep)

The extra MP probably won't be too big of an issue anyway, and honestly, Canon has near-dominance of the SLR market. Besides SLRs being a money pit in general, I have no qualms about recommending the Rebel XT

http://stillvisions.com/events/events2.htm were all events where I shot with it - the early ones shot with the kit lens, and then with the dedicated lenses. Not exactly art photography mind you, but a sense of what sort of images one can take. I'm still learning though...

[iamwells.livejournal.com]

wicked_swank uses a Rebel XT. You can ask her how she likes it, and whether or not she perceives any strengths/weaknesses. I suspect she does like it, as she has been using it for a year or more.

[nic.livejournal.com]

The Rebel is a really nice camera and at 425 bucks, a steal. I used to have one until it was nicked last summer. I replaced it with the next model up, a 30D which frankly doesn't offer that much more for the money. There is a newer version of the Rebel called the 400D which gives you a few extra things that you find on the 30D - 7 point autofocus and sundry other things but probably costs a bit more than $425.

The great thing about the Rebel is that you have access to the entire range of Canon EF and EF-S lenses, which is really useful. Borrowing lenses is easy, renting them too and there's a good second-hand market. You could probably say the same about the equivalent Nikon, though.

FWIW, the kit lens with the 350D is quite good value for money if you get it in the bundle. You'd pay quite a lot for the nearest Canon equivalent, I seem to recall.

[i-muad-dib.livejournal.com]

That's a good deal for the body and it fares really well compared with others in it's class. I say go for it.