chuck_c_charlottenc_

Emily,

I don't know what camera you can buy for $469... but it's not the Canon XT or Canon XTi... FOR SURE.

I use B&H Photo, or Adorama, or Amazon to buy the majority of my equipment. Use www.ResllerRatings.com to check other retail outlets.

Ratings of 7-8 you probably want to consider... ratings of 9 or above are excellent retailers.

//Chuck

Emily,

I mostly agree with an above reply.

The XTi is selling for $800, currently. The XT should be about $150 less at $650.

I'd buy the Canon XTi... great buy!

The Canon 18-55mm Kit lens that typically sells for $100 or less with the XTi or XT is an adequate lens... but I found myself not ever using it again after buying some other lenses, later.

I'd take the $100 and apply it to the Canon 50mm f1.8 that sells for $80 at B&H Photo.

Then, I'd start taking many photos with this setup and continue to do more reading within this forum about lenses such as the Canon 17-40mm f4 L and maybe the mentioned Canon 70-300mm IS lens.

There's plenty of information within this forum... just use the Search Facility of this forum and look around.

And take your time... the Canon XTi and the Canon 50mm f1.8 will provide you a very good start and you won't be disappointed later.

I hope this helps.

//Chuck

Tariq,

Now I don't understand!

Rob replied: "Next time don't get your camera wet."

Which is a totally valid response by Rob, in my opinion.

And then you replied to Rob: "Actually youre the only one who managed to answer my question."

Which implies that you a have problem with everyone else's responses." Well, all of the responses within this post are valid.

You might be too sensitve.

I think you're totally FRUSTRATED and CONFUSED.

//Chuck

Neil,

Buy a new card reader. I'd suggest the SanDisk 12in1 Card Reader.

This is nost likely the answer.

//Chuck

Tariq,

Here's another answer... take out the batteries, the card and open every opening in the camera and allow it completely dry out, for at least two weeks, maybe a month.

Then place NEW batteries in the camera and a NEW camera card in the camera and see if it works. It's especially important that you try a new camera card, because you have no idea whether the card was also destroyed when the camera got wet. And putting in fresh batteries is a no brainer.

If after doing all of this the camera still doesn't function, I'd put in a drawer, buy a new camera, and try the above scenerio three months later, again.

If it still doesn't work... I wouldn't fix it.

But, again, it might come back to life in six months. But don't bet on it.

I hope this helps.

//Chuck

I own the Canon 28-135 IS and would buy it again... and it's fairly priced at around $400.

//Chuck

Well, I haven't digested your calculator and table... BUT

I've got to believe that it would be pretty hard to beat overall photo quality of the Canon 135 f2.0L for Clarity, Color, Contrast, and Bokeh.

The 135 just makes producing breathless photos so easy.

Those are my thoughts.

//Chuck

Marc,

What difference does it make. This seems like a quizzical question.

When I copy the photo files... whether they are JPGs or JPGs and CR2s, I don't ever copy the 20D's folders onto my PC. I copy the photos of a specific event or specific date to a folder I created that correlates to that event or date on the PC... and it relates to that specific event.

I have no folder names on my PC that are called 122Canon, 123Canon, and so on.

Canon created those folder names on the 20D for their own "Folder Management". Just ignore them.

Just copy the photo files to your PC and organize them as I mentioned. I create folder names that are named something like "2006-09-28-LandscapesAtThePark"

I hope this helps.

//Chuck

JT,

Here are links of reviews from DPReview on the three camera bodies.

You can also do Google searches and see what Steve's DigiCam has to say about each body. Example "Canon 350D Steve's".

DPReview of Canon 300D:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos300d/

DPReview of 350D:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0502/05021704canon_eos350d.asp

DPReview of 400D at Photokina:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0608/06082416canoneos400drebelxti.asp

DPReview Forum comparing the 300D & 350D & 400D:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1031

My opinion: Go for the Canon XTi / 400D !

I hope this helps.

//Chuck

JT,

Here's another great Lens Information/MiniReview Site by Bob Atkins.

This would provide you a quick reference to many lenses.

http://www.lensplay.com/lenses/lens_list.php

//Chuck

JT,

As Yakim just suggested, buy the Canon Speedlite 430EX. It sells for $240 at B&H Photo.

Have you considered the new Canon XTi. It sells for $800 (body only).

Going with the XT1 instead of the 20D will save you $190. Now you can apply that $190 to buy the Canon 17-40mm f4.0L.

And if you can swing it, also buy the Canon 50mm f1.8 for $80.

You can find a 2GB Compact Flash card for around $60. But starting with a 1GB CF card would be adequate for around $30 and then you could wait for a better deal on a 2GB card for maybe less than $50.

You don't have to have everything at once and, in fact, it would be better to ease into buying this camera equipment when you know more about the "Sport" and what type of photography that you will find yourself interested in. All of this will dictate what lenses you will need or desire. But, both the 17-40 and the 50/1.8 will always be a "staple" pair of lenses for almost all photographers.

You should seriously consider the new Canon XT1, the 17-40, the 50/1.8, and a 1GB CF card. This all adds up to around $1590 at B&H Photo.

Go to a brick and mortar store like Circuit City and play with the Canon XTi. I did and think it's a wonderful camera.

This would be a fantastic entry level Digital SLR setup... seriously!

Take your time, don't rush into this decision.

And please buy your equipment from a reputable dealer.

And, you can delay buying the 430EX... just use the camera's popup flash for now. The 50mm f1.8 and jacking up the ISO will allow you to take photos without a flash in resasonable indoor light.

I hope this helps. I know you've been bombarded with alot of information through your post, but again, take your time.

//Chuck

JT,

I checked out that package on EBay. My evaluation is that you'd be making a large mistake to buy the package.

There's seems like there is a lot of pieces of equipment, but from what I can tell there isn't anything of quality except for the Canon 20D. They give you the impression that the 20D has a USA Warranty, but I'm not sure I would trust them.

You solicited opinions from people here on Photo.Net and you've received many wonderful comments with lots of information. And if you've done any reading within this site on quality retailers and scam retailers, you would be very apprehensive about buying from any retailer other than highest rated like B&H Photo, Amazon, or Adorama... and a few others.

Do what you want, but I wouldn't buy this package.

I hope things work out for you.

//Chuck

Daniel,

You're right! I forgot about taking into account for the variable aperture of the 18-55 and it being 5.6 at 50mm.

//Chuck

JT,

My suggestion is to buy neither.

Buy the Canon 20D body alone and either buy the Canon 50mm f1.8 or if you can afford it, the Canon 17-40 f4L lens.

And then gradually fill in with other lenses from there on.

You will evetually be sorry with any of those other lenses that you mentioned above.

That's my opinion.

//Chuck

Phil,

You basically have the answer. The Canon 50mm lenses let in close to 2 to 3 times more light than the 18-55mm when the 50mm's aperture is set wide open at either f1.8 or f1.4 compared to the 18-55mm at f3.5.

The other reason is the clarity and contrast of either of the 50mm's are much better than the 18-55mm lens.

Just type in "F-Stop" on Google and start reading.

I hope this helps.

//Chuck

Dennis,

Here's the information you need.

http://www.pricescan.com/digiphoto/items/item160911.asp?sid=G5114638

AND

www.resellerratings.com

Use the PriceScan.com list and check out their rating using ResellerRatings.com

//Chuck

Patrick,

If you're going to do wider type street photos, the 17-40mm f4L would be my choise.

If you're going to do more people portrait type photos, the 50mm f1.4 is great. But for 4 times less money, the 50mm f1.8 is the best price performer.

Don't count out the 85mm f1.8. It's really a fantastic lens. But it's not a street scene type of lens. But for portraits at a reasonable distance, it's hard to beat.

Rent a 85mm f1.8 and try it out.

//Chuck

This is a comment for Byron, too.

I agree with you that you should never write to the card other than by using THE camera that you use the card with. It's not worth the risk to have the camera think that the card might be corrupted because it finds something that it didn't expect because you write to it using the PC. There is no reason to even format the card on the PC unless it's one of the "Last Ditch" options when you're having serious problems with a specific card.

But, I do copy my photos from a hard drive photo

folder "PicturesToPrint" to a 256MB CF card that I then take to the photo store to have printed. I found a great deal on four 256MB CF cards for a $1 each. And I only use these cards for that specific purpose. This saves me from burning CDs... No bid deal, but every dime counts.

To get back to Michael's question... I've never had a problem with the camera creating the photo files and I've never had a problem reading all of my photo files from the card through a card reader. I also always use Windows Explorer to copy my photo files to the hard drive. And I use Windows Explorer to totally manage all of my photo folders and files on the hard drive.

Only format the card on the camera that you use the card on.

All of my Compact Flash cards for my Canon 20D are SanDisk Extreme III or Ultra II's.

My SD cards for my Point and Shoots are a mixture of Toshiba, PNY, Lexar and SanDisk... but all of them are less than high speed cards.

//Chuck

Z,

It's debatable whether the $30 difference between Beach camera and B&H Photo is worth the risk if you need "Customer Service" or "return and Replacement".

B&H Photo is highly rated in all areas.

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1914.html

//Chuck

Dennis,

I don't see where the Canon EOS 20d has been discontinued. I just went to the Canon USA site and I don't see any notice or mention that the camera's been discontinued. In fact it is still there, on their site as a current product.

And the difference in price, at B&H Photo, between the 20d and 30d is $200 ($990 vs $1190). I don't think $200 is marginal, but if I had to make a decision between the two cameras for $200, I'd buy the 30d.

But, I'd also take a hard look at the Canon XTi for $800.

And, as Rob said, you will get what you pay for. You can go with a Scam site and have all the heartaches that go with dealing with them OR you can be confident that you will get the correct product with all the accessories, with a reasonble return policy, and prompt service from a reliable internet store.

I hope this helps.

//Chuck

Jeff,

I bought my 70-300 IS in November of 2005 and never noticed a problem in the portrait position. But when the report came out that there was a problem, I decided to do a comprehensive test and I still didn't see a problem.

I couldn't decide whether to send it in to be "fixed" or not. I'm one that mostly believes don't fix something if it's not broke. I decided to place my concern on this forum and a guy in Austrailia wrote that his 70-300 IS was fine for many months and then all of a sudden the problem clearly showed up. So, I sent my lens in to be fixed this summer and after receiving it back I did more tests and again, everything looked fine.

Canon stopped shipping the lens to retailers for a period of time during this last summer, and I don't know if they have resumed making shipments with new non-problematic lenses.

If you buy one, make sure it's the new version. There's plenty of information on this forum about the "portrait problem of the Canon 70-300 IS lens".

I hope this helps.

//Chuck

Jeff,

I agree with Steve about getting the L Lens infection.

Believe me, I have it.

But, I also have the IS infection, too!

//Chuck

Jeff,

I own the Canon 70-300mm IS USM (Non DO) and I love it. The optical quality is very close to an L lens and the IS feature even at 300mm is excellent. I can easily take photos at low ISO and reasonable light at shutter speeds at 1/15 sec. But the build , as many complain about, is not that of an L lens. I don't have a problem with build, though. The way I look at it is that I don't throw my L lenses around and I surely won't be abusing my 70-300mm IS.

I hope this helps.

//Chuck

Jeff,

If you're willing to spend $1250 for the Canon 24-105mm f4L IS USM, why not go for the Canon 70-200 f4L IS USM for the same price.

That way you can still use your Sigma 18-125mm for now and then continue to save up for something with better optical quality to replace the Sigma later.

I've got to believe that a Canon 70-200 f4L with IS would be a double fantastic lens.

And I got to play with the new Canon XTi and if I didn't already have the Canon 20D, I'd buy the XTi in a flash.

I hope this helps.

//Chuck

Tony,

From what I can tell from your post is that you're probably a beginner. I assume that you're taking your photos in "Auto" mode outside in the daylight. So, if that's the case then, to answer your question of "How still do I have to be?", obviously more still and steady than you are currently.

There's nothing wrong with your current lenses. You need to read some books on how to take photos... and one of the first steps is how to brace yourself with your elbows to the chest and a firm steady stance with your feet.

The Canon EF-S 17-85mm IS USM lens is an excellent lens. Just be aware that the EF-S lenses only fit the Canon XT, 20D, 30D and the new XTi. So, if you ever decide to upgrade your camera body and not buy one of the fore-mentioned bodies and also decide to sell your XT, you will most likely want to sell the 17-85mm and the 18-55mm lenses along with the XT.

Almost all of the questions that you may have already been answered in this forum and using the Search function of Photo.Net will provide you with many hours of useful information.

And by the way, the Canon XT is a wonderful camera body. You could have done much, much worse.

I hope this helps.

//Chuck