New Rebel XS (1000D)... thoughts?

[driftin' by]

Having long retired my film SLR camera for the digital point-n-shoot world, the prices of DSLR's have seriously come down. I nearly bit on the XTI a couple years ago and again recently with the release of the XSI... now I find they've released an "economical" version of the XSI the XS with a half-inch smaller screen and 2 less mega-pixels. I've looked and cannot find any other differences. So I trust in asking my fellow Scubaboard Canon fans: Is it any good? I know I can do a lot better with the 40D but seeing how it's my first DSLR, I figured I should crawl before walk but besides ergonomics and a few other subtle features, it looks like the XS offers everything and more my ole' Pentax ZX-50 did. Also, I have no intentions of housing this camera... Just last year I put together a G9 in and Ike housing so the XS would solely be for land use... for now. I should also add that a reliable, well-known online merchant is offering it for $499 with a 18-55mm IS Lens and a 75-300mm III Lens. Seems too good to be true or is it just a piece of junk?

 

[Peter Guy]

I don't think it is a piece of junk -- quite to the contrary. However, the XSi does have at least one more feature which is related to the focusing points -- it has more. I think it is also a bit faster in its ability to burst shoot -- but I could well be wrong there.

One thing I'd suggest is that IF you can just get the camera with the "kit" IS lens, I'd do that and then spend a little more for the 55-250mm IS zoom. I've found the IS feature to be wonderful and well worth the extra money.

 

[driftin' by]

Thanks for the feedback Peter. I forgot to mention the 9 vs 7 focus points being a difference. I can get the camera without the long, non-IS zoom lens but it's only $10 less. Apparently, it's a promotion being offered by Canon to pretty much give you the lens knocking off $150. If nothing else, I can sell it on ebay and upgrade to the IS.

 

[rwe]

Looking at a side-by-side comparison of the 1000D and 450D on Digital Camera Reviews and News: Digital Photography Review: Forums, Glossary, FAQ, the only differences not already mentioned appear to the spot metering on the 450D and not on the 1000D and less buffer capacity on the 1000D.

 

[M_Bipartitus]

The short version: The camera is good. Don't bother with the lenses.

At this point in dSLR evolution just about any dSLR will do fine for you. The same cannot be said of basic lenses. If I were you I would opt for the less expensive camera body and invest in some better glass. After about 10 megapixels the inexpensive lenes are more likely to be the limiting factor for your image quality. If you aren't that concerned about image quality go ahead and get the kit lenses, but you may be disappointed compared to your film days if you had a good preforming lens like a 50mm prime.

You may consider a used body and some good lenses. My self, I bought a used Rebel XT about a year ago for $300, and invested in good L glass. I've had plenty of photos sold from the XT and I still use it as a backup for my current 5D (a later upgrade)


If you want to read a bit more on quality of lenses compared to sensors, consider

Canon 50D Milestone

where the author shows how, at 15 megapixels, even the $1000 24-105 L lens is not as "good" as the sensor.

 

[driftin' by]

Thanks for the feedback rwe and M_Bipartitus. I went with the lenses mainly because my budget is busted with an upcoming trip to Bonaire. I've got my eye on that f1.8 50mm prime lens already. I think what I'm getting will do for topside photos on this trip and definitely be investing in some better glass down the road. It's good to hear that the body itself will be sufficient.

 

[gNats]

First - I love my XT (the 8mp) digital. I've never been unhappy with it's responsiveness or functionality.

However, after purchasing it, I took a class with a local college to bone up on my knowledge. Some of the students had the equivalent Nikon camera. I was green with envy with the LCD screen on the Nikon. I had already made a major investment in lenses in my Canon, so I wasn't / am not about to change systems to the Nikon. But, that Nikon LCD technology is worth discussing over my XT.

I'm not suggesting you buy Nikon, but instead, if the difference between the 1000D and the XT, XTi, and others is the LCD screen, meaning it is grainy and smaller, you may be disappointed when shooting underwater.

I haven't taken my camera underwater yet, but I know on land, it does make it hard at times to determine if I am going to be truly happy with the photo once loaded on the computer and the larger monitor is used for viewing. A few times I was convinced the photo in the LCD was "dead on" in exposure and focus, (even after enlarging it in the LCD viewer) only to be somewhat disappointed on paper.

When I decide to go into UW photography, I will not house my existing Canon body. Instead, I will be looking for a new Canon body that has a larger LCD that is crystal clear, similar to the Nikon.

I hope this helps. If the price difference between a really good LCD and the nominal one is do-able, I would strongly recommend you hold out for the better LCD screen.

edited: Okay, I read the end of your paragraph and see where you are going to use this for land only. I stick to my original comments. Check out the LCDs between the various models in the store. I bought the 8 mp because it was closer to my price range and the 10 mp just came out and was way expensive. I crawled and I wish I would have jumped, because the idea of upgrading, even just the Canon body, is too much to bear. Now I have to sell the other one, and I won't sell it for enough to pay for the new...

I try not to buy small with the idea I will outgrow it anymore. For me, it's too expensive. I tend to want to upgrade before I wore the starter set out.

 

[gNats]

I also agree with the other posters, the glass is really the key to good photos and the IS technology is almost a must-have when underwater. I did not go with the IS on my one lens and do regret it.

Please don't take this the wrong way: There is a retailer in NY called 1 Way Photo

1WAYPHOTO.COM

DO NOT PURCHASE FROM THEM. Yes, I know that I am flaming a retailer here, but Google them yourself and read the reviews. They bait and switch Canon products and if you are not careful, they will speak to you over the phone using generic terms and you will get a "Canon compatible" under the impression that you were purchasing Canon specific.

They also deal in Grey market, which is very very scary.

If the deal is too good to be true, be wary. My own experience reporting here.

gNat

 

[driftin' by]

gNats... Thanks for the input.

I'm quite happy with the screen on my G9 and with my in store testing and playing around with couple of friend's XSI's I didn't see there to be a problem. I hope this wasn't an oversight and that the screen on the XS is equal in quality to my G9 albeit a half-inch smaller. Or perhaps I just have a bad case of Canon-itus and can see past any of their faults? Nevertheless, having any screen is leaps and bounds ahead of ye ole 35mm slr days.

Traditionally, I've been bad about going out and buying the best for some new found interest I may have (better know and getting a feather up my rear) and deciding later that I'm really not into Kayaking, cycling, adult league baseball, mountain biking, bowling, high-end computers for gaming, carpentry, kegging homebrew, weight lifting, paintball, jacket style BC, golf, etc, etc, etc... and the list goes on. Lately, I've been real good about economically trying something out regardless of the hit my ego may take for not looking like a pro. This is one of those instances were I needed to figure out if shooting dSLR would be a long-term interest before jumping off the deep end for a EOS-1Ds. Actually it was the 50D.

No, I'm all too aware of those NY electronic stores thanks to resellerratings.com. I specifically mentioned that it was a well known and reliable merchant. Their name begins with a B&H and ends with Photo. The deal on the XS is actually a promotion from Canon and they had a similar deal on the XSI. So it's legit.

 

[gNats]

Oh, I like B&H Photo. Great resellers. Adorama has also won my aproval rating

I hear you on the high-end stuff. For me, I had already gone through the digital starters... I had 2.3 mp, then a 5, so the Canon 8 was my 3rd. And, I was specifically buying it for the removable lens option.

Happy photo-ing.

Post some pics when you get the new camera!