Thoughts on Canon Rebel XSi?

ronbis

Premium Member
I am considering taking the plunge and getting a DSLR and taking a class or two. The XSi seem like a good camera and it's in my price range. I'm looking at that or maybe a Nikon D3000, but the Canon seems to have better features. Thanks!
 
If you are taking a class, you will want to have a tripod at the very least. A speed light would probably go a long, long way as well.
 
Dont discount the possibility of buying used on other forums. In the long run you lose less money because you resell for close to what you bought it for.
 
I am new to DSLR and just got the Canon Rebel XSi a few weeks ago. I have been satisfied with it, although I do need to get a macro lens (I've been shooting with the stock 18-55mm lens).
 
Yeah, the glass is definitely going to make more of a difference in image quality than the camera, since all of the Nikon and Canon DSLRs out there are pretty good cameras. If you haven't already, go to the store and spend some time playing around with each camera. You may also want to take a look at the 50D. I know it's quite a bit more expensive, but if you like it's general design, you can pick up a used 40D or 30D for a much lower price. I got my 40D used from Adorama.com for somewhere around $700. They may be even cheaper now. The rear aperture dial and focus point joystick (they have other functions as well) were a real selling point for me. And as TitusvilleSurfer said, you're definitely going to want a good tripod. Don't skimp on that either. The cheap tripods you can get at Best Buy or someplace like that just lead to frustration. Get a nice sturdy tripod and a ball head (the tripod and ball head will be sold separate, unless you get a package deal).
 
I went and handled some canons and nikons and the only one that didn't feel too small for my fairly large hands was the Canon D90. Of course that's the most expensive too. I wonder if I would get used to holding the smaller Canons?
 
I went and handled some canons and nikons and the only one that didn't feel too small for my fairly large hands was the Canon D90. Of course that's the most expensive too. I wonder if I would get used to holding the smaller Canons?

I've got monster hands, XL gloves don't fit, but I don't have any problems with my XSi.

FWIW, my wife thought I was freakin' goofy for getting a DSLR, but she framed some photos for her office that I took of the kids playing around on their scooters; they were pictures I never, ever could've taken on our point 'n' shoot.

A good, although expensive, lens is the EF-s 17-55mm. It's fast, quiet, and not all that obtrusive for walking around with.

Good luck :)
 
I went and handled some canons and nikons and the only one that didn't feel too small for my fairly large hands was the Canon D90. Of course that's the most expensive too. I wonder if I would get used to holding the smaller Canons?

The D90 is a Nikon
 
I have a Nikon D90, which was an upgrade from my earlier D40... if you're going to just upgrade later, either suck it up and get the nice one now, or buy the lesser one used. As others said above, you usually can sell for close to what you bought it for on the used market. Love my D90, btw. Well worth the cost of the upgrade. :)
 
If you go with one of the smaller cameras, you may want to look into buying a battery grip. It'll give the camera a big more heft to balance out larger lenses as well as giving you more area to grab. Then of course, you have the longer battery life and extra shutter button for portrait oriented pictures.

And if that's not enough, I'd look into something like a used 40D (or whatever the equivalent Nikon is). If you got a chance to look at the Canon 50D, the layout should be pretty similar. Even a 30D is a very good camera. I picked up my 40D from Adorama for a little over $700, and that was almost a year ago, so they may be even cheaper now.
 
Thanks for the help everyone! I got a Rebel T1i today. Wish the battery would charge quicker... :D
 
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