It’s been over a month since the last "which camera should I buy?" thread, so I’ll start a new one.
I’m in the market for my first digital SLR camera and am leaning towards Canon. They seem to have a nice rebate offer on the Rebel XT, D20, lenses, and printers. For example, there is a $75 rebate on the Rebel XT, but this is doubled if another item is purchased or tripled if two other items are purchased. So, up to $225 back on Rebel XT or up to $300 back on the D20 plus the rebates in the accessories, which are also doubled or tripled.
I was originally thinking of starting with the Canon Digital Rebel XT along with some lenses, but I’m not really sure what would be best. I understand the importance of having a quality lens and realize I can use them in the future when I upgrade cameras, but it’s hard for me to justify buying professional lenses since I am just starting out. Although, it seems like having a non-pro lens with image stabilizer would be very useful, especially in a tele lens. Is it?
For my use, it seems like a standard zoom and a telephoto zoom lens would do the job. However, several newbie guides I have read recommend purchasing a fixed lens instead of a zoom one (mostly for quality). So, I’m not sure if I should also have a fixed lens.
If you wanted to stay under $1400 after rebates, what would you do? Here are some ideas...
Maybe I don’t need to spend much...<table style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 5px; width: 350px; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 248);" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>Rebel XT w/ EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6</td><td align="right">$850</td></tr><tr><td>EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM</td><td align="right">$190</td></tr><tr><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;">total</td><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;" align="right">$1040</td></tr><tr><td>rebates ($80 x 2)
</td><td align="right">-$160</td></tr><tr><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;">total after rebates</td><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;" align="right">$880</td></tr></tbody></table>
Inexpensive route with IS tele lens...<table style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 5px; width: 350px; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 248);" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>Rebel XT w/ EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6</td><td align="right">$850</td></tr><tr><td>EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM</td><td align="right">$550</td></tr><tr><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;">total</td><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;" align="right">$1400</td></tr><tr><td>rebates ($90 x 2)</td><td align="right">-$180</td></tr><tr><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;">total after rebates</td><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;" align="right">$1220</td></tr></tbody></table>
It’s not much more to get IS in both lenses...<table style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 5px; width: 350px; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 248);" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>Rebel XT</td><td align="right">$750</td></tr><tr><td>EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM</td><td align="right">$550</td></tr><tr><td>EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM</td><td align="right">$400</td></tr><tr><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;">total</td><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;" align="right">$1700</td></tr><tr><td>rebates ($105 x 3)</td><td align="right">-$315</td></tr><tr><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;">total after rebates</td><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;" align="right">$1385</td></tr></tbody></table>
Good body, but no fancy lenses...<table style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 5px; width: 350px; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 248);" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>20D</td><td align="right">$1240</td></tr><tr><td>EF 50mm f/1.4 USM</td><td align="right">$300</td></tr><tr><td>EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM</td><td align="right">$190</td></tr><tr><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;">total</td><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;" align="right">$1730</td></tr><tr><td>rebates ($120 x 3)</td><td align="right">-$360</td></tr><tr><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;">total after rebates</td><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;" align="right">$1370</td></tr></tbody></table>
I’m in the market for my first digital SLR camera and am leaning towards Canon. They seem to have a nice rebate offer on the Rebel XT, D20, lenses, and printers. For example, there is a $75 rebate on the Rebel XT, but this is doubled if another item is purchased or tripled if two other items are purchased. So, up to $225 back on Rebel XT or up to $300 back on the D20 plus the rebates in the accessories, which are also doubled or tripled.
I was originally thinking of starting with the Canon Digital Rebel XT along with some lenses, but I’m not really sure what would be best. I understand the importance of having a quality lens and realize I can use them in the future when I upgrade cameras, but it’s hard for me to justify buying professional lenses since I am just starting out. Although, it seems like having a non-pro lens with image stabilizer would be very useful, especially in a tele lens. Is it?
For my use, it seems like a standard zoom and a telephoto zoom lens would do the job. However, several newbie guides I have read recommend purchasing a fixed lens instead of a zoom one (mostly for quality). So, I’m not sure if I should also have a fixed lens.
If you wanted to stay under $1400 after rebates, what would you do? Here are some ideas...
Maybe I don’t need to spend much...<table style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 5px; width: 350px; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 248);" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>Rebel XT w/ EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6</td><td align="right">$850</td></tr><tr><td>EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM</td><td align="right">$190</td></tr><tr><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;">total</td><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;" align="right">$1040</td></tr><tr><td>rebates ($80 x 2)
</td><td align="right">-$160</td></tr><tr><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;">total after rebates</td><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;" align="right">$880</td></tr></tbody></table>
Inexpensive route with IS tele lens...<table style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 5px; width: 350px; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 248);" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>Rebel XT w/ EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6</td><td align="right">$850</td></tr><tr><td>EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM</td><td align="right">$550</td></tr><tr><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;">total</td><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;" align="right">$1400</td></tr><tr><td>rebates ($90 x 2)</td><td align="right">-$180</td></tr><tr><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;">total after rebates</td><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;" align="right">$1220</td></tr></tbody></table>
It’s not much more to get IS in both lenses...<table style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 5px; width: 350px; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 248);" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>Rebel XT</td><td align="right">$750</td></tr><tr><td>EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM</td><td align="right">$550</td></tr><tr><td>EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM</td><td align="right">$400</td></tr><tr><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;">total</td><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;" align="right">$1700</td></tr><tr><td>rebates ($105 x 3)</td><td align="right">-$315</td></tr><tr><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;">total after rebates</td><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;" align="right">$1385</td></tr></tbody></table>
Good body, but no fancy lenses...<table style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 5px; width: 350px; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 248);" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td>20D</td><td align="right">$1240</td></tr><tr><td>EF 50mm f/1.4 USM</td><td align="right">$300</td></tr><tr><td>EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM</td><td align="right">$190</td></tr><tr><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;">total</td><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;" align="right">$1730</td></tr><tr><td>rebates ($120 x 3)</td><td align="right">-$360</td></tr><tr><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;">total after rebates</td><td style="border-top: 2px solid black;" align="right">$1370</td></tr></tbody></table>