Just ordered my Rebel XT!!!

[cmaster]

First off - I love the board, the pics, and the overall manner of the members. I'll definately be sticking around.

First SLR for me, and I can't wait. I had a Canon G5, point and shoot, and loved it - but I need more speed! Hopefully the 3 FPS will be acceptable for ski and wakeboard shots, as well as some candids! Can't wait to get my first pic post up! I'm going to wait until the new year for lenses, until I get a handle of the cam itself. Anything I should know being a first time slr user? Thanks in advance!

[bearcat7777]

Make sure you carry extra batteries and extra memory cards.

[CANTGETENUF]

You can take over 1200 flashless photos with the XT on one charge....

[cmaster]

Make sure you carry extra batteries and extra memory cards.

10:4 - I was thinking two 1GB 80X cards would do just fine for now.

You can take over 1200 flashless photos with the XT on one charge....

I heard 600 shots without flash, but I look forward to even more now! Do u know how many shots with flash? For party time snapping!

[cmaster]

congratulations man! I think you'll be really happy with the XT...it is a very nice cam.

My advice is to experiment and learn the basics. Play around till you have a solid understanding of aperture, shutter speeds, iso, etc...

Hold off on buying lenses till you understand why some cost hundreds and others cost thousands. Don't waste your money on cheap lenses.

I've read through the various posts on the Rebel XT on this board, and the general idea is - make sure you have the right lenses. So once I get the hang of things, I'll probably get a Canon EF 75-300mm 4-5.6 USM lens for my zooming needs, it's relatively cheap, and a quality lens from what I hear. Any other suggestions for lenses? I shoot a lot of family, parties, portraits - and a lot of wakeboarding, and skiing.

[SNAFU]

Congratulations! You'll see that DSLR is a new world. I hope to see your results here!

[CANTGETENUF]

...I heard 600 shots without flash, ...

You heard wrong...




...Do u know how many shots with flash? For party time snapping!...

I don't drink...

[cmaster]

There are several 'which lens should I buy?' threads. It sounds like you're pretty set on the 75-300, but I recommend taking a look at some other options.

The 70-200 F4 L is a pretty great lens. It would cost you a few hundred more but the added speed of a fixed F4 aperture would more than make up for it. Remember that the faster your lens is (low aperture number) the faster you can set your shutter speeds and maintain correct exposure. Shutter speeds are important for freezing action.

I think the 75-300 is a good lens to start with. I'm a student, so I don't really want to spend too much, and to be quite honest - I don't think I'd even know how to take advantage of the 70-200 F4 L! My guess is I'll grow into it, improve my skills, and want the better tools as I go. Thanks for the advice though, since I'm a DSLR noobie, I can't get enough!

[cmaster]

You heard wrong...




I don't drink...

Even with the grip? Maybe you should drink, add some character to your posts! haha j/k

[toBot]

I think the 75-300 is a good lens to start with. I'm a student, so I don't really want to spend too much, and to be quite honest - I don't think I'd even know how to take advantage of the 70-200 F4 L! My guess is I'll grow into it, improve my skills, and want the better tools as I go. Thanks for the advice though, since I'm a DSLR noobie, I can't get enough!

Well, if it doesn't cost much, that way if you get something better later on you won't mind it going unused. But I have to chime in wid Oly here for two reasons:

- I have a "cheapie" 70-300 and by far most of my shots are at 200 mm and below, so the last 100 mm of zoom doesn't get used much except in very bright sun. (Cuz the lens looses a lot of its sharpness when used at it's widest aperture settings.):(

-at 200 mm you'll need to use a shutter speed of at least 1/400 to 1/600 sec, and at 300 mm you'll need to use at least 1/600 to 1/900 sec to reduce motion blur from your own hand shake. Not a problem in bright sunlight, but elsewhere unless you have a wide aperture you'll be forced to be cranking up the iso speed to compensate and introducing a lot of noise into the pic.

I hope to get a nice 200/F2.8 or so lens next year.:cool:

[toBot]

Damn! That will be a beastly zoom :D

LOL, no that THAT nikor lens! OMG that thing is built like a WWI battleship. I'll probably go with the sigma. :)
What does two-touch or a push and pull refer to?

[toBot]

Oooh, OK, I think my old 35mm film cam zoom lens had a push & pull operation.......it's been so long since I used it. All my new lenses are of the two-touch type but I didn't know they were called that. Thanks Oly! :bowdown:

[cmaster]

Alright, so I went out and looked at a few lenses. Visited a number of different stores, and played with the 70-300 USM, 70-300 USM IS, and the 70-200 2.8L.

With the 2.8L being out of my price range, I'm wondering if the 70-300 USM IS is worth the money. I will be shooting a lot of candids for the board, but the real reason for getting a DSLR was to get better frames of wakeboarding, and skiing. I'm wondering if the IS will improve my handheld shots enough to warrent the purchase.

Do I really need IS when I need the higher shutter speeds for wakeboarding/ski shots anyways?

[archman]

I think the IS would come in quite handy for that kind of shooting.

I have a 70-300 USM...I like it, but never got the results I was expecting out of it. Still, it's a good lens...check out some of parisBoy's older stuff on this board...that's the lens he uses, and I think he got great quality from it.

I would go for the 70-200 F4 L lens, like Oly suggested. However, since you said you're a student and on a limited budget, I must warn you--once you start shooting with an L lens, you'll get the fever and want more, more, more! And those things ain't cheap, my friend.

Good luck!

[deliriouspixel]

I'd look at the 85/1.8 and the 50/1.8 if I were in your shoes. Those two with
the kit lens would cover your most every need except sniping which isnt as
productive as you might first think it to be. The best work is done within pistol range.

[seemaya]

i second the advice of dp... i tooK his same advice
bacK when an got the 50/1.8, it KiX ASS!

hope'n Santa bRings the 70-200 f4L, since i kiSSed aLL the important boDypaRts....

[archman]

Wonder what you would have to do to get the F2.8, seemaya?

And yeah, cmaster...the 50 1.8 is a kick ass lens...and cheap, too.

[ched121]

I'd look at the 85/1.8 and the 50/1.8 if I were in your shoes. Those two with
the kit lens would cover your most every need except sniping which isnt as
productive as you might first think it to be. The best work is done within pistol range.

I agree, the closer you get the better the photo. I have a 70-300 canon lens and it works ok for me. I do with though it was faster because like someone else said, camera shake on less then sunny days is very apparent. I can't wait to get a super fast lens, and I'm thinking of getting a fixed lens insted of zoom because of the clarity...

[cmaster]

Just got my hands on my Rebel XT, even with the kit lens - I'm really impressed with the shots! Hopefully get some frames to post this week. Again, thanks for all the advice guys. Still don't know which lens I'm going to go with, and I'm beginning to think it might be worth my while to just wait for a decent L lens.

Happy Holidays!

[cmaster]

If any fellow 350D / Rebel XT users have any advice on getting started with my new cam, I'd love any advice!

[archman]

If any fellow 350D / Rebel XT users have any advice on getting started with my new cam, I'd love any advice!

1. As simple as it seems, read the manual! There are all kinds of features on your new camera that you might miss if you don't read it.

2. Stick said manual in your backpack, and go out and shoot EVERYTHING. Shoot still objects. Shoot moving objects. Try apeture priority. Try shutter priority. Shoot the same object using different apeture and shutter setting. Shoot in different kinds of light. Get to know what you can and can't do with your camera.

3. Have fun!

Congrats...you've made a great purchase :)

[Telephoto Ink]

I also recently got the XT and I got the 50/1.8 lens. I haven't taken any candids with it yet but the pictures of friends I've taken with it have come out really well. I'm still in the processing of learning the camera but I'm very pleased.

[Thunder Pixx]

Alright, so I went out and looked at a few lenses. Visited a number of different stores, and played with the 70-300 USM, 70-300 USM IS, and the 70-200 2.8L.

With the 2.8L being out of my price range, I'm wondering if the 70-300 USM IS is worth the money. I will be shooting a lot of candids for the board, but the real reason for getting a DSLR was to get better frames of wakeboarding, and skiing. I'm wondering if the IS will improve my handheld shots enough to warrent the purchase.

Do I really need IS when I need the higher shutter speeds for wakeboarding/ski shots anyways?

i have been very happy with the 70-300 IS lens. :)

and the 50mm f1.8 does kick ass, especially for hip shots.......

[deliriouspixel]

Avoid using the idiot modes (green square and P)
try TV 1/250s, or when you have enough light: AV f8 (kit lens looks good at f8)
ISO200, Partial Metering, Center AF point only, Continuous Mode
for moving subjects: AI Servero, shoot in bursts of 3 or more
for static subjects: One Shot
understand that the AF point is larger than what is indicated by the rectangle
and putting it on contrasy edges works best
hold the cam a steady as possible
push the shutter button without flinching
consider using custom fuction 4-1 to put the AF on the * button

[cmaster]

i second the advice of dp... i tooK his same advice
bacK when an got the 50/1.8, it KiX ASS!

hope'n Santa bRings the 70-200 f4L, since i kiSSed aLL the important boDypaRts....

Yea - that's a wicked lens. Not too heavy either.

[opqph]

well here's my experience regarding lenses for the 350D:

the 50mm 1.8 is super sharp and super fast, but ofcourse the range is not very far.. I don't use it for candids because I don't wanna approach my targets that near.

the 28-135mm IS USM is a *very* nice lens for midrange shooting - if it was a bit faster (F4) it would be A++

recently bought the *new* 70-300mm US ISM, but haven't tried it on candid shooting yet (weather is too bad), but a couple of test shoots came out very nice and without visible artefacts, even when used at max focal length. seems to be a very good lens for candid if you don't mind running around with a quite big and long lens (it looks scary with the lenshood attached!)