Thinking of buying a EOS XS

[kc350twin]

Really thinking of buying a DSLR. I am settled in on the Canon EOS XS.
It comes with the 18-55mm and I was going to buy the 100mm f2.8 to shoot the tank and corals. I am very ignorant to Photography but enjoy learning as I go like with Aquariums. Can I have your opinions if this would be a good starter set up?


Thanks in advance
Kc3

 

[Wolverine]

Someone else was just asking about this camera, and the consensus was that it's terrible. The XSi is a much better option. I'll see if I can find the link.

 

[Wolverine]

Here it is:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1634653

 

[kc350twin]

Thanks, That's why I posted. I'll def. spend the extra dough on it. Thank you Wolverine.

 

[oneradtek202]

why don't you just get the T1i if you're up for spending a little extra cash, the HD video option on that camera makes it very worth while, and its not such a bad camera too haha

 

[ducklabdad]

I just recently purchased the XS and I "Love it".

But it is my first DSLR after being a holdout and refusing to get away from my 35mm. The extra 250.00 I saved on it is going toward the 100mm 2.8.

I will upgrade "after I move through the learning curve a little more and us it as a backup, but I am "Very satisfied" with my choice at this time.

 

[BlueCorn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15072231#post15072231 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ducklabdad
I just recently purchased the XS and I "Love it".

My dislike of that body has nothing to do with image quality as it'll still make excellent images. My gripe is in the way that they crippled the controls on it. Canon made manual mode almost impossible to use. It's hard to be really creative if you're letting the camera make all of the decisions for you.

Cheers

 

[ducklabdad]

I agree with you!! but!!

I agree with you!! but!!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15072307#post15072307 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by beerguy
My dislike of that body has nothing to do with image quality as it'll still make excellent images. My gripe is in the way that they crippled the controls on it. Canon made manual mode almost impossible to use. It's hard to be really creative if you're letting the camera make all of the decisions for you.

Cheers

I Understand and I can not disagree with that point. That being said however, I sometimes read the posts here and many are from a "professional" standpoint and that I understand completly but most of us are not buying from a "professional viewpoint".

However for someone to state (not you) that the consensus is that that camera is "horrible" is a pretty bold statement. It all depends on what someone wants and what budget that they have to spend.

I cut my teeth on totally manual (Minolta SRT 201 in 1973) and used that for many years and have never been totally comfortable with "automatic".

But I also realize that most of the people starting today with there "introductory" DSLR have a limited budget, and the $ differnce that most will see in the XS compared to the XSi in my opinion did not justify the $ difference and would better spend that money on the "glass" that I can keep when I do upgrade.

I did shoot with both before I made the choice and I liked both and if they were the same $ or even $100 difference I would probable choose the XSi, but to add that money to the extra lenses that I want to purchase I opted for the glass instead.

When these two cameras were introduced they were the same price. But now retail for $200.00 and shopping I was able to get mine for almost 300.00 less with the kit lense.

I could not justify the extra, for the difference. That said if I felt I could really spend the extra money

I love my choice and would gladly repeat. But I would love to have a 50D or really really would like a Mark III. But for the $ I will stick by my choice "for now" and would gladly recommend to anyone else!!

Here are a couple of the first shots I took with my XS and kit lense.

Hand held is why not as crisp as I would like. I am learning!!

And feel free to beat me up on these, and no I did not shoot these on "full auto"

 

[Wolverine]

Re: I agree with you!! but!!

Re: I agree with you!! but!!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15078455#post15078455 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ducklabdad
However for someone to state (not you) that the consensus is that that camera is "horrible" is a pretty bold statement.

Actually, "terrible" was the word I used.
If you look at the thread I linked to, the people who responded to the thread asking specifically about the XS, did not give it good reviews. Here are a couple of quotes by trusted members of this forum:
"that's the only DSLR on the market that I can't recommend."
"it is the only Canon camera that embarrasses me"

No one came in and defended the camera in that thread, so I stand by my (bold) statement that the consensus from thatthread was that it's not a good camera. I didn't even give my personal opinion on it, since I have no experience with the camera myself; I was simply relaying the information I had gleaned from this forum. If you (or anyone else who likes the XS)had replied to that thread, I would not have worded my post here in the same way.

As for your pictures, the first one (at least on this sub-par screen at work) looks a little fuzzy to me; probably from the hand-holding, like you mentioned. The other two look good; and your kid's eyes are nice and straight (assuming it's your kid); I know that has nothing to do with the photography, but it's something I tend to notice when I see kids.

 

[BlueCorn]

Duck - I completely understand the budget thing. That's exactly why I often recommend that folks save money on the body by buying used from a reputable site.