i was hoping the prices would drop but they've gone up since mid-february. it was $549 (from US amazon) for the kit then. now it's $649. doesn't make sense. the xsi just came out. the prices should drop.

Got struck by battery demons within an hour of posting about battery life. Ha!

I didn't buy new sets of Nimhs for new cam and was using a 5+ year old set of 2000mah nimhs from my old Canon. They wouldn't even last 3 shots in the S5!

I have now a set each of 2500 and 2650 mah duracells now and can take 200+ shots no problem.

And btw - LOVE the camera - figuring out the software etc Love how small/light it is. Super fast on startup time as well. Still dreamin of a dSLR though...

Shutter lag and frame rate can be improved dramatically by turning off auto everything - esp. IS, ISO etc etc.

Noise is an issue at anything over 80 ISO but I expected that with such a small sensor.

Movies look incredible - auto focus and exposure are all ON during video mode too. Audio sounds great in stereo. sweet!

Working out HDR stuff on CS2 now...guess I shud upgrade to CS3?

I love the canon hack tip as well - played with it quickly on A70 and S5 - works great. will need more tests but on Superfine mode the S5 jpegs ( 6-8 meg jpegs!) vs RAW pix aren't THAT much better... a lot of work for not much benefit - need some more time to test further. But I may end up using the time lapse feature in chdk on the A70 for some work related ideas.

Will post a flickr link when I have some more time.

I think sometime in the next week I might go pick this up.


http://http://www.bestbuy.com/site/o...prd90700050002




.

Link is dead.

If that pic is exactly what you're talking about, and it's your first Canon kit (you have no lenses already), there are a couple things to watch for. I'm trying to share what I learned while camera shopping, so forgive me if this is elementary to you and you already know these things.

The lens in that kit starts very very telephoto. It's a 75-300, which is a 35mm equivalent of 120-400mm with the "C" sensor in the Canon XTi. Zoomed all of the way out it is still zoomed tighter than most point and shoot cams. If you already have a point and shoot cam, look up the 35mm equv range to give yourself some reference of how telephoto that lens is, it is like shooting with binoculars. It will be very very difficult to use unless you are far from your subject outdoors. It also does not have IS and has a slowish aperture range. It will be very very tough to get good shots without using a tripod for every shot. I am actually considering that lens for a wildlife telephoto option, but I would not want it to be my only choice under any circumstance. 35mm is about as tight as you can get away with for most indoor shooting.

I bought the cheap 50mm 1.8 "nifty 50" ($90) and the decent EF-S 18-55is ($200) to start out with. The 18-55 I bought is not the same as the non-is version offered in a lot of xti kits. I wish that I would have just bought the 18-200 Sigma OS ($420), recommended on this thread. I saved a lot on initial investment by buying the Canon 18-55is, but I will eventually spend another $300-$500 for a long IS lens in the future, which will set me back an extra $100-$300 over just buying the sigma 18-200os. Sigma 18-200 OS review link

I don't want to diminish the value and performance of the $200 18-55is lens, it is still a better first lens than the 75-300. It just isn't as great of value for a one-lens-solution compared to the sigma 18-200 OS.

Before you buy a rebel body, go to a camera store (Lawrence downtown is nice) and play with a D40 (or 30 or 20). The rebel bodys feel very cheap compared to some more expensive cameras. You can get a semi-pro used body in like new condition for $500-$600 at Amazon or Ebay if you find you want a more substantial body. Used Canon 20D link. Used Nikon D80 link. The rebel line lack the top display too, which really sucks. Play with a bunch of cameras hands-on. Go on Amazon and read reviews (most helpful negative reviews are best). I was given this same advice and ended up with a D20 for less than I was going to pay for an XTi. Canon 20D review. XT review. XTi review. Nikon D80 review
The review for the XT makes good comparisons between the XT and the D20. The XTi makes good points about the real difference between itself and the XT. After holding/playing with the cameras, reading the reviews, and checking my budget I ended up with the D20 (I paid $520 for body in like new cond plus an extra battery).

You can get the XTi body for $530 and shop for lenses separately. If you bought the Sigma 18-200 OS and an 8gb memory card you would have it all for right at $1000. If you went for the 18-55is canon lens you would be at $800

I'm keeping my sony til I can afford a nice IS long lens.

You seem to know a lot about NiMH batteries.

I know NiMH start going dead the moment you take them off the charger. Is it bad for them, to keep them on the charger all the time? Will it reduce their life? Will the charger keep them full if I leave them on the charger?

Same questions for the proprietary lithium batteries in my canon cameras

I've thrown out most of my regular high-amp NiMH because they are too mixed up. I have only one set that isn't eneloop and I'm probably not going to use them any more unless I can figure out how to keep them topped off.

Does anyone know of NiMH batteries over 2000mA that can hold a charge like eneloops?

eh, .

I thought about it and yeah, that's my opinion. "eh"
spend the money on women.

I bought a D60 today to go along with my D40 and D300.

Dear Jeffdrafttech,

Fuck you you cock sucking whore bag. Here I am in my own little world finally ready to buy something and you go and fuck it up for me.

Seriously though, Thanks. I knew that the zoom lens was not the best by any means but I looked on Flickr of some shots taken with it and thought they were good enough. But knowing me I will be pissed off about 1 week in with it.

So I'm not going to buy that one. I figure I'll wait a little bit after I get the camera and THEN worry about a zoom lens. It's not like I need to get it all at once. (If I keep telling myself that I will start to believe it)

I think part of my problem is that there are so many damn options and I have been reading so many reviews that I finally came down with a case of the "fuck-it's". You know..... "FUCK IT.... I'm sick of shopping. This will do."

Then I was looking a bit and I noticed that the XTI doesn't come with the "is" lens.

so heres my new thoughts.

The XSI is a step up with the "live view" not that big of a deal but every added feature is nice. It is a 12.2 megapixel instead of 10. It's lens it comes with is a 18-55 mm IS lens. So I get the image stabilization in the lens. It uses SD cards instead of compactflash. I have a shit load of SD cards so I won't have to buy any media cards and I won't need an adapter for my computers because they already have the slots. Larger LCD screen. And a faster shot per second. Normally I wouldn't care that much about the shot rate but I will be making a lot of HDR pictures and having the images taken as fast as possible will help if there is anything moving in the shot. So I would get the XSI with the IS lens for $850. Then pick up a zoom later. I really can't see me needing more than that at this point. But I can always change my mind on lenses in the future.

Right now my nephew is visiting and I could have really used a real camera. The sun was so bright that I couldn't see the LCD on my point and shoot so every shot was a guess. I liked one out of all I took of him and the rest had the lighting off, either by a little or a lot. I'll show a couple.

So what do you think? Am I barking up the wrong tree again?

Yes they will lose a little charge everyday but just give them a quick zap before you use them - does not harm them in anyway.

And yes leaving them on the charger will keep them charged but what happens is the charger repeatedly chargers them every time their voltage dips just a bit - this exposes the batteries to unneeded charge cycles.

Charge them after prolonged use - a nice long charge - store them until needed - then give em a quick zap.

Keeping ANY battery on ANY charger for a prolonged time is asking for a trouble - both battery-tech wise and fire safety-wise.

-most 'normal' consumer nimh AA chargers should have the batteries removed ASAP. Store them for 3-6 months but a quick top off is never a bad idea. Doesn't harm them in any way.

TIP - Try not run them down to dead flat if you can - keep 2 sets on you at all times.

-custom manufactured Li-po chargers are a bit smarter but remove them ASAP and top them off before use.

Sanyo nimhs are some of the best in the business - but the eneloop stuff is just marketing hooey. If ya like them use them.

I just got a set of panasonic R2 batteries - 2050mah and use a similar nimh formula to the sanyo. A bit harder to find but I'll let you know how they do.

At $15 a set of 4 AA batteries are an amazing bargain - I use a tiny piece of different color electrical tape to keep identical types matched up.

And if you can get 4 exact same brand/capacity/age batteries together you match them again by simply charging/discharging them 4 or 5 times as a set. I have a fancy charger that cycles them automatically but you could discharge them in any convenient device - RC car , large flashlight - anything that drains them fairly quick.

Many of the discoveries you have made are similar to my experience. read back through the thread when you have time. FANTASTIC advice from the photo pro's hanging in here.

I want a serious long-term keeper dSLR if I am gonna blow $800-$1500. I will prob go to a Nikon D80 or higher end Canon body for the better sensors and readouts. xSi is a great camera spec wise but just falls flat in person. and probably won't be a long-term keeper?

Lens ARE a BIG deal. Depending on what you are shooting an 18-200 may be a bit big but can help avoid swapping lens in the wild and exposing your sensor to dust. A wide angle and a prime lens can come later.

Under-rated feature I found - I am in love with the eyepiece OR , excusez moi, Electronic View Finder on my new S5 - in addition to being everything you need to know for the shot - histogram, lightmeter, ISO, f stop etc the camera feels SO much faster and more stable - feels just like my old 35mm. I rarely use the LCD screen on the back now. And in bright sun I can see everything fine. The metering is incredibly helpful. Manual mode is a gas with all the buttons to change on the fly.

I maybe crazy but I've started lusting after an Epson 3800 printer - HELP ME!!!!!

I don't think you would hate the 75-200 lens, I just think you will be forced to buy a wider lens from the beginning.

I had no idea xsi was so affordable so soon. Pricegrabber is listing one for $830 shipped from a highly rated merchant.

The SDHC compatibility is a big plus if you already have them lying around. I just spent $80 for an antiquated Ultra II 8GB card today. I have lots of SD cards already and it really pissed me off to drop that coin.

If I were you I'd get my hands on a 20D or similar first and compare it directly to a rebel like the xti/xsi/xt. If you get an older semi-pro like the 20D you get a nicer camera but a pretty terrible LED screen for reviewing photos. Once you decide on which body, decide which lens and make the decision based on dollars.

Example

You get a used 20D or new xti body for $500. You must choose which lens. I'll break it down to two lens choices: either the pair of canon lenses for $200 + $300, or one Sigma lens for $420

Lens choice one: Sigma $420 18-200mm OS (OS = IS). With this lens choice you probably won't need another lens for 99% of shooting. With XTi or D20 you need a card so add another $50 (at least). Total = $970 ($500 body) with few future upgrades for glass.

Lens choice two: Canon 18-55is now, canon 55-200is later. 18-55is is $200 and body is $500. Memory is $50 (at least). Total = $750 (with $500 body). Likely will buy $300 55-200is lens in the future for a total of $1050. Two lenses instead of one is less convenient.

Total package is choice three. Buy the brand new XSI, no need for memory card if you own SDs. $830 including the 18-55is lens. Buy a telephoto 55-200is lens for $300 later for a total of $1130. Two lenses instead of one is less convenient, but you get canons newest entry level SLR offering, newest software and newest features. There are xti kits out there with an is lens, but the price is actually higher than the xsi at $830. xsi review

edited to add:
the original rebel xt is falling like a rock. Pricegrabber is showing an xt body for $370. You could get away with that plus the sigma 18-200os + $50 memory for $840 and have everything. XT is still a nice camera and everyone is always saying that the glass is a more important investment than the body. Bodys get antiquated, glass is forever.

(holy gust-front, if youre online it's gonna get really windy in about two minutes)