Hello to the photographers out there. I have money in pocket to purchase either a Canon XT or an XTi. Do I really need those extra two MP or am I just wasting my money being only an intermediate photographer at best?

PeteWK

The extra 2 MP doesn't mean much, however the bigger screen, able to keep more than 100 pictures in a folder (I find this very annoying on the xt), and 9 point autofocus along and auto sensor cleaning with I believe some other features stolen from the 30d, means that if you are going to buy a camera to last for a while, it might be a good idea

Hi Pete,

I agree with kilkil, in that the 2 MP extra doesn't make a huge difference.

What would be important to me is the much improved autofocus, the fact that it now has an RGB histogram, and the much improved readability of the screen, especially for settings info...

Other than that a nice new feature is the fact that you can change ISO settings without having to confirm it, although to me that wouldn't be a deal breaker anyway.

The RGB histogram, btw, is better because the luminance diagram available to the XT user doesn't tell you that a single channel has exceeded the maximum available dynamic range, as it is a summation of all three (R, G and channels. When the luminance levels are still ok, one of the colour channels may actually be clipped already... Very handy IOW.

The sensor cleaning is very handy in that I did noticed some stuff flying around in my XT at times, showing up in the picture. The Canon cmos sensor normally doesn't suffer very much from static, but this is an improvement, as the loose stuff will be kept away from the sensor as much as possible.

If I was starting now with a digital slr rather than a year ago, personally I would buy the XTi, no doubt about that, especially as the price of the cam over here is slightly lower than the price of the XT a year ago!

However, whatever you decide to buy, they are both very good cameras, and if this is your first foray into digital slrs, you will have a lot of fun getting the maximum out of either, and it will also take you quite a bit of time I reckon before you have explored it all...

BTW, if you find the size of the cam awkward because it is so small (I don't, BTW), I suggest you attach the battery grip to it. I have it and I use it for photo sessions. For snapshot use I take it off, so the cam is smaller and more easily carried around.

Anyway, HTH, warm regards, Wim

edit: very silly typos

Thanks much for the replys. I'm also adding the Olympus E-500 2-lense kit into the mix. I received a recommendation for it and will check it out as I'm off today.

PeteWK

Hi Pete,

Unless you plan on sticking with a few lenses, and/or extremely expensive ones, I would recommend you exclude the E500. Yes, it is a nice camera, but all the advantages that were promised with the 4/3 size never really came to fruition, and I reckon they never will be, at least not for the foreseeable future.

Currently, the two big players in dslrs are Canon and Nikon, in that order, and having made a similar decision in the past regarding the choice of a camera, I would recommend anybody to go for one of these two brands. Cameras, lenses, and other parts are readily available from either of these two brands, and so are third party add-ons, and importantly, service. With regard to other brands you'll find that this is certainly less so.

I would honestly recommend to put the Nikon D80, D50, D70s, and the Canon XT, XTi, 20D and 30D on your list, and if you can wait a little longer, maybe the Nikon D60 (replacement for D50 with 10MP sensor) and Canon 40D (replacement for 30D with 10 MP sensor) too...

A year ago I had the opportunity to start from scratch, and my choice was made on ergonomics in the first place, basically a camera that worked for me, with one constraint, namely that it had to be a camera of either of the two brands mentioned.

It pays to try out all of the cameras on your list and short list, just to see what feels best to you, from an ergonomical point of view.

Don't just look at the camera, though, also check out any options you might want to acquire in the future. In the end the optics are the most important thing, as digital slrs change generations every 18 months or so, but the optics stay more or less the same. IOW, the camera body is a consumer item, the lenses, and potentially other paraphernalia, are an investment.

FWIW, HTH, warm regards, Wim

Well, I'm not quite sure what you mean but in any event I did purchase the Olympus and am very happy with it. Money just wasn't the issue for me and I've found their selection of 14 current lenses made just for this camera series more than adequate.

I got the two lens kit with the 17.5-45mm, 40-150mm and then purchased a 35mm macro lens for an extra couple hundred java script:add_smilie(%22:D%22).

I'll be posting my new pictures this weekend.

Regards,

PeteWK

Have you picked one up and tried it yet? I took the XT off of my DSLR list the moment I touched it. No matter how advanced it may be, I found it to feel really cheap, and it was way too small for my hands. It was faster to focus, though, and quick acting overall.

I went with a D50 instead - I like Nikon's DSLRs better anyway, plus it was cheaper, looks and feels more expensive than it really is (and much better than the XT), and it's somewhat large so it fits well in my hands.

I've never regretted my decision. I'm not trying to discourage you, I'm just recommending that you definitely try before you buy.

I am just the opposite. I didn't care for the feel of the Nikon D50. It felt too big and bulky. I have small hands and the Canon XT was the perfect size. I also didn't like the SD format the D50 uses. Compact Flash is faster and I could use the ones I already had, and also use my CF card reader.

I bought the Rebel XT, which came with the 18-55 lens, I also bought a 50mm 1.8, 28-135 IS USM, and the ultimate macro lens, the 100mm 2.8. It was a great system, but I found I grabbed my 3 year old Nikon Coolpix 4300 more and more. The DSLR was just not as convenient when I needed a quick shot of my reef tank, or to just carry around while on trips, or just driving around.

Like stated in a previous post, when you buy a DSLR you are buying into a system. Either a Nikon or Canon. Both have excellent lens which can be used for years to come. The body can easily be replaced, the lens are the investment which will stay with you.

Bob

That's why I suggested s/he try all of them out...there's a large size difference between the two. Even though they didn't mention the D50, I just think it would be good to try the Canons before purchase, because they are kind of small for a DSLR.

I didn't have any CF cards worth mentioning, so I didn't mind buying into SD. But I agree...you'll need a smaller digicam if you don't have one. I purchased a Canon SD200 to carry around when I don't feel like lugging the D50 and an extra lens.

Hi Pete, That is the most important thing, in the end! That sounds like a very nice combination!

Looking forward to your pictures, Pete!

Warm regards, Wim