Just showing off

[diannerigdon]

My dh just went out and bought me a Rebel XTi! Woot! An early birthday present for me la la la! :clap

I was very happy with my old one, but can't wait to try out some of the features of this puppy....that .2 second start up time is gonna rawk that fashizzle or sumpin. ;) And the consecutive shooting and the 10 MP. Wow can't wait for that battery to charge! Hehe my old cam - I just realized this, is a 4MP. :eek

So it came with a EF-S 18-55 lens....it will have to live in my old sony camera bag for now, but tell me what I should get for it next?! A better camera bag? New lenses? I know I want a great macro lens but haven't done any of that research yet. What else?

Oh and I am thinking of giving my old camera to my son....anyone have any suggestions for having it cleaned and serviced? Should I not mess with it unless it's broken? LOL.

[Jessica B]

Oh wow, Dianne! That's an awesome birthday present :D
I don't have a Rebel, so I have no suggestions on their lenses, but I bought this bag, Kata Ergo-Tech Focuc N (http://www.amazon.com/Kata-Ergo-Tech-Shoulder-Digicam-Accessories/dp/B000I42XVW/sr=1-45/qid=1163303163/ref=sr_1_45/102-8150552-0104167?ie=UTF8&s=photo) , about a month ago. Used it all day everyday the week before last when we were on vacation. Comfortable, roomy enough for the dSLR and then some.

The only thing I don't like about it is the cell phone pocket. Mine will go in, but most people will hang up by the time I've wrestled the phone out of the pocket. *rolling eyes*

[lcbannon]

Great present, I have the Sony A100 10 meg, first thing for you may be another EHD or I am looking at online storage.. These puppies are big files

[diannerigdon]

Wow that's an awesome bag! It doesn't scream camera bag! ;-)

[Hom74]

How exciting! Most people talk about the 50mm 1.8 - great deal (around $70)

[catscraps]

congrats, dianne, you lucky lady! and a happy birthday to you! i agree with karen, the portrait lens is a great investment and very affordable, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00007E7JU/002-5943781-1344801.

i also got this tamrac bag, http://www.amazon.com/Tamrac-Explorer-DSLR-Camera-Blue/dp/B000FCS4TC/sr=1-4/qid=1163311490/ref=sr_1_4/002-5943781-1344801?ie=UTF8&s=photo. it's got great padding, and can accomodate a telephoto lens and then some. i will warn you, it's a lot of bag!

[JennPatrick]

You luckkkkkkkkkkkkky lucky girl!!!!! I have a 4MP camera too so I know you must be bouncing off the walls with joy at 10MP!

[PeggyC]

Congrats on the new camera and happy birthday! I would agree with the 50 mm 1.8 lens... a super buy for the money.

http://RockinC.smugmug.com/photos/109059124-M.jpg

http://RockinC.smugmug.com/photos/109059659-M.jpg

[diannerigdon]

Wow thanks you guys! I am pretty excited, now that the battery has charged and I got to play with it lol. Great photos, Peggy! I added that lens to my shopping cart at Amazon!

[LisaWhitney]

Oh Dianne, I am happy for you. When I first got my Nikon D70s (gosh a year and a half ago already) I was flying high for like........ well I am still in love with it, lol. I call it "My Baby"... hee hee!!! So I totally know how you are feeling..... have fun and enjoy... I can just feel your excitement!!!

[Kim_Weiss]

Congrats, Dianne!!!
My camera bag of choice is a Crumpler! I currently use the 6 million dollar home.
The 50 1.8 is a GREAT lens!

[diannerigdon]

Those Crumpler bags are a hoot! Such funny product names! :lol Hey Kim they don't say much about how roomy they are.....would the Crumpler 6 Mil have space for any extra lenses etc? (Just looking ahead lol.) Adding that red one to my wish list but this six is not in stock in the red. Darn!

[Deanna]

congrats Dianne...super birthday gift...I just recently upgraded to a 5D, but before then all my pics were taken from an XT!...

cant help you with the 6 mil home..but I would guess it should work for a few lenses..I know lots of people that have them, some love them, some HATE the loud velcro...

yuppers 50mm 1.8, super cheap lens...the 50 1.4 is nicer...but over double the cash!...have fun!!!!!!!

[maui13]

Happy Birthday! How wonderful. The Xti is the only thing on my Christmas list. Not sure if it is in the cards. But looking forward to seeing how you like it.

Demi

[Candice]

What a great Birthday present! I know you will love your new camera.
My favorite lens is the 17-85mm, I use this for almost everything.
I also have a 100mm macro and that is very good.
I have a 70-300 too that I got last year for Christmas and I have not even used that one yet. But I know it is a good lens. I just mostly take photos of my parrots indoors and don't need that big lens. I used to always go to the park and take photos but dh and his allergies lately we have not been to the park in ages.

[Kim_Weiss]

The 6 million dollar home is perfect for me. Roomy, but not a HUGE bag to carry around.
Here's what I carry in mine:
Nikon D70s body
50mm 1.8 lens
18-200mm lens
SB-800 speedlight
Light Sphere
plus smaller things like extra memory cards, card reader, lens cloth, battery charger, etc

I used to also keep my kit lens (18-70mm), it was fine before I added the Light Sphere, but got too cramped and I really never use the kit lens.

[Teresa Victor]

What a great present!! :) Congrats on the new baby!!

I agree with the others that the kit lens really isn't the greatest and your best initial investment is probably a good portrait lens. I've been doing a lot of research on them recently 'cuz I'd love one for Christmas. (Not sure how you feel about the veggie place, but there are LOTS of threads on the different portrait lenses there).

Personally, I'm torn between the 50mm 1.4 and 85mm 1.8. The 50mm 1.8 is definitely cheaper, but I'm trying to look at this as a bit more of a long term investment. :)

Here's a thread discussing a comparison between the 50mm 1.8 (and 50mm 1.4) and 85mm 1.8. (http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&thread_id=2007933)

Another good thread. (http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&thread_id=1599359)

And a 50mm 1.4 vs. 50mm 1.8 comparison. (http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/ef50/) (with photos)

Other lenses I have-
55-200mm 4.5/5.6 telephoto lens (http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=1358859/search=Canon+EF+55-200mm) (compliments the 18-55 lens, pretty good, but I think it's more of a starter lens)
EFS 60 mm Macro lens (http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php?masterid=7750728&search=Canon+EFS+60mm) (I LOVE LOVE LOVE this Macro!)

Good luck!!
T.

[Lauren]

Congrats Di!! :clap

I'm going to go against the grain (since I don't like the 50mm, even though it is a bargain with good image quality) and recommend the 60mm macro lens (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-EF-S-Macro-Digital-Cameras/dp/B0007WK8KS/sr=8-1/qid=1163502332/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-2359815-2390532?ie=UTF8&s=electronics). It's an AMAZING lens, great build quality with true 1:1 macro. It's also incredible for portraits and I just love the ~100mm equivalent focal length on the 1.6 crop bodies. Before I got my 5D in August, about 95% of my XT photos were with this lens. Being a 2.8 max aperture, it can struggle a bit in very low light, but it held up just fine in most circumstances - the Canons are very clean, so don't be afraid to push the ISO up. From my film SLR days, I kept trying to stick at 100 or 200 when I first went digital, but I regularly push up to 1600 without a second thought now. Anyway, my fave photo was with this lens which you can see on this layout (http://www.scrapartist.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=14635&cat=500&ppuser=242) - you can also see an unsharpened 100% crop on my website (http://www.laurenbarden.com/file_view?id=157).


BTW - my server is moving tonight so if you can't access the website link, try again tomorrow!

[diannerigdon]

Hey thanks you guys! Lauren I think my dh will have a cow and return the camera lol if he gets wind of how pricey the lenses are! Hehehe. I'll probably pick up the 50 1.8 for now. But I want a really great macro lens too. I have to admit you guys that I have been playing with auto on my old camera and so this will be my first real foray into slr. Eek!

[Lauren]

:lol Di, my DH has learnt to look the other way. I actually have permission to pick up my next lens (the 100-400mm L) but it's me holding back on it, not him! :eek

Go ahead and get the 50 - I had it as a backup to the 60mm for awhile, it's only the build quality that I don't like which is why I don't have it anymore. It'll still get use for low light shots once you can afford the macro, or you can sell it for about the same price as you paid. BTW, I'd suggest the 60mm over the 100mm macro because it's very small (about the same size as the kit lens) and quite light, balances better on the XT/XTi bodies, IMO. I believe it's also quicker to focus. I seriously miss that lens.

[Debra]

Dianne, we got Canon Digital Rebel XTI's the same day! Does that mean we have "twins"? I just have gotten mine out of the box and can't wait to start shooting. It feels so great in my hands!
Enjoy yours loads!

[Bunster]

Oh congrats dianne, I am green with envy - I have the Rebel XT tho, so not too envious. You mentioned wanting a great wide angle lens.. I cant recommend the Sigma 10-20mm enough...its awesome! I also got the Canon 90-300mm telephoto and also make sure that you get a decent polarising lens. Have fun playing!

[Designs by Shelle]

Woohoo, Dianne! Happy Birthday you lucky chickie!! :)