Comments on: Canon XSTi

By: Karina

Karina — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:02:05 +0000

Thiis is my first DSLR. Initially I was thinking to return this since I was not sure I can afford now. But each time when I do the shots, I fell in love with it. If you are a beginer to manual photography and interested in trying out/learning the fantasy of photography, yes this is the camera. I don’t regret at all now that I have paid 600 bucks to get this camera, in fact I am proud of it. I also bought 55-255 ef-s lens as well. I am all set to get to the next gear of photography. You can get exceptional photos as well using this camera. Again, excellent pics over time is a great memory and this one is right on the money!

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:17:42 +0000

Greg, it`s funny, wherever you live the 450D is cheaper than here in Montreal, but the 50D is pricier. It`s strange how pricing is done in different countries.

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:16:04 +0000

Greg, I mentioned the 40D, not the 50D. The 40D is an incredible value now that the 50D is out, and since there aren`t that many improvements made to the 50, the 40D is worth it. Personally I may be tempted by the nicer screen and AF micro-adjustment, but the extra resolution of the 50D appears to be mostly wasted (it does outresolve the 40D, but by a smaller margin than expected: it seems that it`s sensor is about at the limit of what most lenses can resolve). If the OP has money for the 50D then by all means get it, but the 40D is great for a serious amateur or aspiring pro on a budget.

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:20:32 +0000

Well if the price difference is only $200 and the original poster has money, you’re right. Where I live the price difference is 2 to 1. The 50D is 950Ã¢â€šÂ¬ the 450D is 450Ã¢â€šÂ¬.
I think that is a lot more than 200$.
And I started out thinking, most students are poor. :) :(

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:58:02 +0000

That happened to me in September: I bought a 24L and then Canon brought out the 24LII just two weeks later. I was pretty pissed, but I really like my 24 and the new one is $500 more expensive, so I’m ok with it now, lol

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:52:29 +0000

Well Greg, for the price difference of $200 would you buy a camera that has a bigger, brighter viewfinder, twice the framerate, twice the battery life, much more ergonomic (control wheel, top LCD, etc.) has a buffer that’s 3 times larger (17 frames vs. 6), PC socket for studio lights (which the OP will be using in school; I know I am)and faster shutter lag and VF blackout? Not to mention AF. I’m pretty sure it’s worth it, especially to someone who wants to get serious about photography.

When I first got a DSLR 3 years ago, I listened to the people who said beginners don’t need a better camera than a Rebel and I got stuck having to buy a new camera within a year and a half. Sure I loved my RebelXT/350D, but it just doesn’t cut it for a lot of the shooting I do. If I had bought a 30D in the first place, I would have saved some money.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:45:33 +0000

lol, nice tirade Martin; taking things a bit personal? The image quality between xxxD and xxD cams only depends on how recently they came out, but the difference is seriously small either way. My 350D/RebelXT had image quality that’s more or less equal to my 40D, but there’s still a night and day difference in terms of usage. I feel that the xxxDs are too small, have tiny batteries that always need changing, small dark viewfinders, slow frame rate, long shutter lag and viewfinder blackout, no top LCD, no rear control dial, worse AF, small buffers, no PC cord for studio lights and the plastic bodies just don’t feel “right”. That’s just me, but I would never go back to an xxxD model for all of those reasons. If you’re budget is limited or you absolutely can’t carry a camera that weighs 300grams more, then the 450D/500D will be fine, but at the current prices, the 40D is by far the best value in Canons crop cams and the 50D is the best of Canons crops.

By: Dyl

Dyl — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 10:51:14 +0000

I have used the 400D extensively, and the 40D. For me, there is no comparison between the xxxD range and the xxD. I’d rather own a 30D than a xxxD range camera. Jess, if you can pick up an old stock 40D, you wont regret it. The body is solid and the controls are more accessible. With that you can go off to photography school, learn your camera and become the pro photographer that these kids talk about. Also, spend money on good glass! Thats my 2c

By: Drfl

Drfl — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:02:17 +0000

Everyone should get a Pentax K-1000 and put it on “Automatic” for best results.

By: Greg

Greg — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:59:35 +0000

I’m not against a better camera :)
I just feel that somebody who starts to learn photography should be aware that it is not the automatics and the feel of holding the camera who takes the pictures, but the photographer. But if you can, buy the better camera, just never forget this. Nowadays too many people forget about this.

Btw, my dream camera is like a 5DII but with a size like a little compact, and full direct manual control to “everything”. I hate such big cameras and to carry all those lenses. They are in the way of creativity.
So handling matters, but there is a reason why I’ll buy the 5DII and not a compact :) The sensor, the manual controls…

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:02:08 +0000

It is not uncommon to see “STi” tacked onto the end of a car’s model name (“sports turbo injection”, maybe?). Probably just a little slip on the part of the author.

By: Martin-the-traitor

Martin-the-traitor — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:05:27 +0000

That’s totally wrong, I know professionnal who still working with a 400D and they are happy with it for everything, landscpaes, portrait, macro, fashion show etc… I know noobs who uses 1Ds Mark X for family pictures. So stop with those stupid legends. If you want to do your professionnal, then buy a 5D mark II. How ridiculus.. Buy better lenses instead always get the latest body, don’t fall in the marketing thing.

I owned a 40D, but during my long trekking week end with my heavy lenses, I thought it was too big and pretty stupid to charge my backpack like that. So i bought a 450D and I relly feel better. I don’t say that because I have it, actually if it was shit, I would say it here but it’s not, except the lens in the kit, the IS function works really bad, or maybe not. I have a better holding with a little body and a big lens than a bigger body who actually does the same job.

Plus as the 40D is older than the 450D, and by the way I really don’t noticed big difference between the 2 bodies except for the weight and the size. So please stop saying that the 450D sux and the 40D is better because I would say that the 5D pwns you, i don’t those wannabe, yeah I own a better cam that ya and it’s da best..

Even if you have money, buy “L” only, you’ll be same happy with a 400D or a 40D. Look on flickr, some pictures with the old 350D stuck me on the floor! and when i see some pictures taken with a 40D or the new 50D, i’m really disapointed..

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 08:17:15 +0000

Exactly. Get the camera that meets your needs and works the best for you, and I’ll do the same. :D

By: Jesper Revald

Jesper Revald — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 07:42:29 +0000

Well, then I don’t get it. If we both can agree that the camera is less important, why not support the idea, that you should go for something that “feels” more right, than just for the latest and greatest in pixel size and noise reduction?

As I mentioned, the entry level dSLR Canon cameras feels too small for a grown man’s hands. If you’re going to shoot a lot with a camera, ergonomics should at least be of some concern. On the other hand you would of course sacrifice portability with a larger camera.

I guess the best advice there is (which I hope we both can agree on :-) ) is that if you’re looking for a camera and there are several to choose from, you should try out each one as much as possible before buying to see what works best for you. We all favor different features.