[bowstaff981]

I want to put my tax return towards purchasing a good DSLR.

Here are my intentions for the camera in order to help decide what I should buy:
I will be using it as my primary camera
I want to be able to take decent night time pictures.
I do not intend to take many pictures of movement or sports.
The most I want to spend is $600, but I'm willing to go slightly above that.

What suggestions does everyone have?

[ApparentlyNothing]

On the Canon side, you got the XTi or wait for the XSi (looks like there are enough improvements to make it worth it). I forget which Nikon models are in that same price point. I'd suggest getting your hands on them and deciding which you like best, because Nikon and Canon both make fine products.

If you wanted to go used, you could find a 20D easily in that price range or a 30D for a little more.

[Rainer.]

The Nikon D40 is the competitor with the Canon XT, and the Nikon D40x with the Canon XTi.

Likewise, with Nikon, you can go used for the D50 or D70.

[brightroom30]

With your budget you can get the Canon Digital Rebel XTi , you can have a look at it:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0608/06...0drebelxti.asp

[ApparentlyNothing]

If you end up going Canon, I really think you should wait for the XSi. It's seriously looks like it's worth the wait rather than going with the XTi. It's supposed to be out in April.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08...50dchanges.asp

[slap_j]

I'm looking for a DSLR as well.

Would it be better to get a XTi or save some dough with an XT and perhaps get some different lenses?

[ApparentlyNothing]

Originally Posted by slap_j

I'm looking for a DSLR as well.

Would it be better to get a XTi or save some dough with an XT and perhaps get some different lenses?

Well, you have to decide for yourself if you think the added features of the XTi or XSi are worth it to you. The key features the XTi seems to have over the XT is better autofocus, a self cleaning sensor, more megapixels, and a bigger LCD screen. For autofocus, if you plan on using manual more, it's not worth as much. For the dust removal from the sensor, if you rarely if ever change lenses, you won't miss it. However if you do, getting a professional to clean it off will cost you more money. For megapixels, if you don't need really huge prints or you don't generally do lots of cropping to your images, then you won't need more than 8 megapixels. As for the LCD screen, if you said no to all the others already, it shouldn't be the deal breaker, though it's something I wish I had on my XT.

However, something worth considering is the fact that the XSi will come with a much better kit lens than the XT or XTi. The XT and XTi currently come with a Canon 17-55mm f3.5-5.6 lens that many consider to be lacking. With the XSi, you get a much better lens in the IS (image stabilization) version of the same lens. The IS alone makes it a much better lens, allowing you to get much clearer shots at longer shutter speeds. But I've also read that in general, it's a much better quality lens. If you went with the XSi, saving money with the XT to get different lenses might not be as big of an appeal since not only are you getting a pretty good kit lens, you get all the added features of the XSi.

Personally, I had the option of getting the XTi or the XT and a 75-300mm f4.5-5.6 lens. I went with the XT, and now I rarely even use that 75-300 lens. Perhaps I'll find some use for it in the future, but I've found that it's just not fast enough to do the kinds of photography I need a long zoom like that for. So, I kinda regret getting it when I could have gotten the XTi instead.

[Cadence]

It's important to be able to afford a really good lens. You can have a kick ass camera, but if you put inferior lenses in front it kind of defeats the purpose.

You'll find that an max aperture of 3.5-5.6 will get frustrating very fast. Especially if you're wanting to take night time photos.

For that you'll need a camera with good high ISO's and a lens with a 2.8 aperture or bigger - like a prime lens that goes to 1.4 or 1.8.

[PatrickStar4491]

I recently bought a XTi kitted with the 17-85 IS lens. I love using that lens for general photography. I find that its range is fairly useful for typical shots.

I plan on getting the 50mm f/1.8 lens sometime soon. I have had many situations where it would come in handy. Plus, it's only $80. Definitely get that one.

[bowstaff981]

Originally Posted by Cadence

You'll find that an max aperture of 3.5-5.6 will get frustrating very fast. Especially if you're wanting to take night time photos.

Does the XSi lens only have an aperture range of 3.5-5.6?

[slap_j]

Originally Posted by bowstaff981

Does the XSi lens only have an aperture range of 3.5-5.6?

Yeah. On the upside it's an IS lens.

[ApparentlyNothing]

Originally Posted by slap_j

Yeah. On the upside it's an IS lens.

Right. So while you won't have the benefit of smaller depths of field with a bigger aperture, you do still have a lens that performs pretty good in low light conditions.

Here's a review.

http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/...p5-5p6_is_c16/

[bowstaff981]

So what would you recommend as a good secondary lens that will have a larger aperture range?

[ApparentlyNothing]

Originally Posted by bowstaff981

So what would you recommend as a good secondary lens that will have a larger aperture range?

Well, if money is an issue, I'd definitely recommend the Canon 50mm f1.8. It's only $80. I have one and it's great.

[Cadence]

IS and VR are definitely great and I really think all lenses should have them, but the one draw back to having that instead of a large aperture is that while you might be able to be still your subject can still move - which is why a large aperture is good - it gives you a faster shutter speed whereas IS/VR only allows you to shoot at slower shutters - leaving subject motion blur at times.

It's give and take sometimes.