canon xti 400d / xt

spscrackhead · #1 12/10/2007, 09:21 PM

i am a senior in high school and am taking a photography class and am somewhat new to photography. just got done developing my first photo today and i already know this is something i will be into. well i want to pick up a camera and was going to get a pentax K100D because i would be getting some free lenses from my father. well it turns out he changed his mind. now i was thinking about going with the xti or the xt if i wasent going to get the pentax. so i was wondering what would be some good starter lenses. i am not intrested in aquarium photography. i am like night shooting and i can't always carry a tri pod around. money is the deciding factor. where would be a good place to get this stuff for the best price? thanks in advance.

FOSELONE · #2 12/10/2007, 09:38 PM

not interested in aquarium photography...what the...you will be soon...

sixfins · #3 12/10/2007, 09:38 PM

If you really enjoy night pics the glass is important, but so are good flashes. which are not cheap either. I know the pentax comes with one built in and I think the canon does as well, but you will want a lot more light than the stock one. With all that said I would choose the canon, although the pentax does a good job as well.

sixfins · #4 12/10/2007, 09:40 PM

check with dpreview.com for prices, they keep the best ones updated

spscrackhead · #5 12/10/2007, 10:56 PM

i am going with canon because the pentax lenses that were supposed to be given to me are now not. and what you will take off someones hands aand what you will pay for are differant. also what is the differance between the xti and the xt besides mega pixles and the lcd screen on the back?

beerguy · #6 12/11/2007, 12:13 AM

I too do a lot of low light and night shooting. Canon really is your best choice for that route. I've shot with folks using Pentax, Sony and Nikon and you get much lower noise with Canon under those circumstances. The image quality differences between the XT and XTi aren't significant unless you're doing large scale printing.

Buy the XT and spend the saved money on good glass. You'll make far better images with good glass and a cheap body than you can with a good body and cheap glass.

ssbreef · #7 12/11/2007, 01:05 AM

I’ve had the XT, and I currently have a 30D. My sister in law has the XTI. Tell you the truth. I prefer the XT over the XTI.

spscrackhead · #8 12/11/2007, 06:32 AM

i remember you saying something aboout alot of noise with the pentax and i was concerned. ok so canon xt it is. now what lenses? i was thinking the 75-300 mm and the 18-55 mm to get started. is this good?

jeffbrig · #9 12/11/2007, 07:40 AM

For low-light, you're going to want fast lenses. Primes tend to cost less than zooms when going for large apertures. A 50mm f/1.8 comes to mind for cheap, although the 50mm f/1.4 is vastly superior, but more expensive. I have the 1.8, but after shoting with a 1.4, I'm ready to switch. In zoom lenses, there are a few f/2.8 options, but none of them are cheap - 17-55 f/2.8 IS, 24-70 f/2.8 L, etc.

ssbreef · #10 12/11/2007, 12:23 PM

85mm 1.2L

...

spscrackhead · #11 12/11/2007, 02:35 PM

thanks for all the help guys, keep the advice comin!

Rosseau · #12 12/11/2007, 03:41 PM

Though I would love to have the 50mm 1.4, I will say that my 50mm 1.8 (for my XTi) is the best lens I've had for the price.... You can't go too wrong with a new canon prime lens for around $100.

Rosseau · #13 12/11/2007, 03:42 PM

I also have the Sigma 24-60mm 2.8. For the price it is reasonably fast and I have been happy with it.

This site is pretty useful IMO.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/s...&cat=37&page=2

spscrackhead · #14 12/11/2007, 04:56 PM

yes fredmiranda.com are you a member there? i tried registering and it wouldn't let me bc i had an aol account. what type of account did you use?

swjim · #15 12/11/2007, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by spscrackhead
i remember you saying something aboout alot of noise with the pentax and i was concerned. ok so canon xt it is. now what lenses? i was thinking the 75-300 mm and the 18-55 mm to get started. is this good?

Some people get good shots with the kit lens when it's stopped down a bit. I've never used the 75-300 but I have read a lot of unfavorable reviews. As Rosseau mentioned, the Fred Miranda site is a good place to look at reviews and http://photography-on-the.net/forum/ is a great place for Canon shooters.

Also, you'll probably want to start saving some money for a good tripod and an external flash.

Good luck!

spscrackhead · #16 12/11/2007, 05:40 PM

what is a good zoom lense around 150ish?