The Observation Deck

So I finally made the plunge and picked up a digital SLR. I've been thinking about it for a long time so when Costco had a great deal on a bundle, I jumped at it.

They had a Nikon and Canon bundle, about the same price. But I've always liked Canon and several people whom I really respect also have the Digital Rebel XTi and always say great things about it.

The kit came with the Rebel, standard 18-55 lens, a 75-300 lens, 1GB CF card, UV Filter, a DVD, and a bag.

Of course I'll be the first to admit that I'm hardly a camera expert and barely even know what the different ISO levels mean. Of course I'm hoping to learn as I go along.

Congrats, Bryan! Though I'm partial to Nikons (I converted from Canon to Nikon in college), Canon tends to have more models and varying price points than Nikon.

That said, I'll be saving my pennies for a Nikon D3, thanks to this link that Joe Ott sent me:

http://www.daveblackphotography.com/wor ... 1-2007.htm

As a canon shooter I have to say welcome!

If I can offer you any advice at all, go on B&H photo and buy yourself a 50mm f/1.8.

Brand new for 80 bucks, it's the lens I have on my camera whenever I'm not shooting sports. For the price you really can't go wrong.

Also if you ever go lens shopping down the road, know this:

the canon XTi has a focal length multiplier of 1.6x. That means that a 100mm lens is actually a 160mm lens. so if you ever decide you want a goofy wide angle or fisheye, your image won't be distorted or wide.

This can be an advantage or a disadvantage. For example, the most common sports lens for canon is the 300mm prime lens. With my 20d and the 1.6x crop factor, I can buy a 200mm and it will be a 320mm lens for me. When you go longer focal lengths, the 1.6x factor saves you a lot of money!

Thank you to both of you. I definitely know who I can ask my questions to

I echo Ivor's comment about the 50mm lens. It will be the fastest and sharpest lens you'll ever own, yet also the cheapest. Plus you can get fantastic depth of field with it!

I would strongly recommend tossing the manual and getting a Magic Lantern guide for your camera -- it will show you much more than the manual ever will.

Now....let's see some photos!

David Lay wrote:I echo Ivor's comment about the 50mm lens. It will be the fastest and sharpest lens you'll ever own, yet also the cheapest. Plus you can get fantastic depth of field with it!

I would strongly recommend tossing the manual and getting a Magic Lantern guide for your camera -- it will show you much more than the manual ever will.

Now....let's see some photos!

Thanks David,
I added it to my Amazon Wishlist for Christmas, but maybe I'll pick it up before then.

But my family is always struggling with knowing what to get me so they imposed a rule that no one can buy anything for themselves after Nov 1

While I'm at it - I'll recommend a photo magazine to you: Digital Camera World. It's from the UK, published by Future Publishing. It blows all the US photo mags out of the water.

You can get it at Liberty Books & News, as well as Borders and Barnes & Noble. It usually runs for about $14 an issue, but it comes with a CD full of tutorials, Photoshop Actions, and lots of other goodies. I'm thinking of subscribing because I'm always buying it!

David Lay wrote:Plus you can get fantastic depth of field with it!

Or lack of (with nice bokeh) at 1.8.

Nice camera Bryan. And don't worry, people will still talk with you even though it's a Canon. Plus you can always look forward to stepping up to a Nikon and Nikkor optics someday... j/k.

Have fun. Lets see some pictures.

(Finally a topic where everybody isn't attacking each other. Sure is getting buzzy around here...).

Joe Ott wrote:Or lack of (with nice bokeh) at 1.8.

Yeah, what he said.