Topic: Recommend me a Camera

[drakkenkorin]

Well with international travel coming up next spring, I need [read: want] a good camera with which to document my travels.

Ideally, I'd like something like a digital SLR - but to be honest, I think it would be too much camera for me and I usually just take regular pix.

The main reason I like the SLR's is due to the fact that they have telescopic lenses and I don't have to be up-close to the objects I want to photograph.

I'm looking at the circular for best buy and they have 2 camera's that don't seem too unreasonable in price - so for those of you who are certified amateur photographers (I'm more of a casual photographer) - can you give me a breakdown of these two cameras.  Now yes I could read the specs and such, but they won't make any sense to me.

1.  Canon EOS Rebel Tli D-SLR with 18 - 55 mm IS lens for $699.00

2.  Nikon Coolpix P90 with built in (I believe) 46 - 110.4 mm lesns (24x zoom) for $299.99

Commence. . .

[Jake]

I don't know about #2, but #1 is a really great camera. An entry level, easy to use DSLR with an LCD view finder and HD video - and that is the best price I have seen in a retail store so far. I have the Rebel (a generation behind this one) and am very happy. The rebel line is constantly winning awards year after year.

I don't know much about the Nikon - but just from looking at the links below, the canon is a superior and more versatile camera. Below are reviews/specs for both. Read the in depth reviews where available. Happy shooting!

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_eos500d.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Nikon/nikon_cpp90.asp

[Perspective]

If you want to save a little cash and don't care about taking video, check out the Canon XSi (probably the rebel axon mentioned).

Also, the kit lens isn't quite "telescopic", you can usually find deals that include a 55 - 200mm lens in addition to the kit lens. Canon makes a neat 18 - 200 but it's like $800.

[drakkenkorin]

I googled the camera Perspective mentioned and I do like the pricing better (Im very frugal). There were a few entries on eBay and for pricing I didn't think was too bad for kits including a whole skew of things. I may post a link or 2 for y'all to look at since I don't know diddly-squat about lenses or accessories.

I even thought about visiting my local Wolffe camera store but I become gullible when it comes to stuff I don't know much about.

[drakkenkorin]

Found a few on eBay - would you mind looking at them and telling me which is a better bargain?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-EOS-Rebel-XSi-12MP-camera-Kit-bundle-Brand-new_W0QQitemZ110461566575QQcategoryZ31388QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3907.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DSIC%26itu%3DUCI%252BUA%252BP%252BFICS%252BUFI%252BIIUM%252BDDSIC%26otn%3D20%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63#ht_500wt_1182

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=290371151326&Category=31388&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26its%3DI%26otn%3D2#ht_3311wt_1167

[removed since auction ended]

http://cgi.ebay.com/CANON-EOS-Rebel-XSi-D-SLR-CAMERA-18-55MM-6-BONUS-16GB_W0QQitemZ190353168689QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDigital_Cameras?hash=item2c51eed931#ht_11887wt_1167

http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-Rebel-XSi-SLR-Cam-Kit-w-4GB-SD-Card-LP-E5-Black_W0QQitemZ220517554843QQcmdZViewItemQQptZDigital_Cameras?hash=item3357deda9b#ht_7533wt_1167

[Perspective]

Link number one if you just want the camera. Link number two comes with a pretty sweet zoom lens (70 - 300mm), if you want zoom it's worth the upgrade.

You can google and find out what that lens is worth on it's own, probably at least the $300 difference.

[Jake]

I'll look at the links a little later. And yes, perspective was right, XSI is what I have.

Whatever you do, make sure you get some filters - more for protecting the lens than anything else. My wife dropped my camera the other day and if the filter was not on, the lens would've cracked....this way I'm only out $15 instead of $150+

[drakkenkorin]

It looks like I can save around $100 on amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-Digital-12-2MP-18-55mm-70-300mm/dp/tech-data/B0018AD4HM/ref=de_a_smtd) - the only thing the amazon one doesn't have is the filters.

Also looks like I can add 3 filters for less than $800 ($776).

[Jake]

The amazon deal looks sweet....almost too sweet. Make sure the camera is not a refurb. But if it is not, get it! you can pick up filters at a local wolf/ritz camera.

[ober]

I have a Canon Rebel XS.  If you want to go a slight generation older... I mean honestly, it's not hardly any different than the XSI and it's the lens that counts, not the body (and who cares about 10MP vs. 12MP?)

[Rob]

(and who cares about 10MP vs. 12MP?)

Exactly. http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mpmyth.htm

[drakkenkorin]

The amazon deal looks sweet....almost too sweet. Make sure the camera is not a refurb. But if it is not, get it! you can pick up filters at a local wolf/ritz camera.

According to the product description it says that all their products are "New" -  Went for it and ordered it.  I'll let y'all know what it's like when I get it.

Thanks for the help!

[Jake]

Ober and Rob, you're both right - the biggest difference between the XS and XSi is the live lcd view finder. The pixel density (the thing that really matters) is higher too.

[Jake]

The amazon deal looks sweet....almost too sweet. Make sure the camera is not a refurb. But if it is not, get it! you can pick up filters at a local wolf/ritz camera.

awesome. Let me know how it turns out - I showed the deal to my firend and he is also interested.
According to the product description it says that all their products are "New" -  Went for it and ordered it.  I'll let y'all know what it's like when I get it.

Thanks for the help!

[ober]

Ober and Rob, you're both right - the biggest difference between the XS and XSi is the live lcd view finder.

And the XS actually has the "live view" but it's very low quality, and once you get used to using the regular view finder, you don't miss using the LCD.  My brother has an XSi and I don't think they ever use the LCD view finder either.  I guess what I'm saying is that the XSi is a waste of money.