Cheap Camera Ideas...worth it?

[MrKorney]

My friend has a rebel xt (not xti) and is going to India. She wants to know if, for $200, it's a better idea to buy a point and shoot or another lens to compliment her 18-55mm. My problem is I don't believe there is a good answer to this question. She says used lenses are not an issue, but $200 will still only get you so far.

As you can probably tell she really isn't that into photography as much as she just wants a record of her trip, but I would still like to give her good/correct advice. What say you CR braintrust?

 

[Studio1930]

IF she isn't into it that much and is traveling then I would say a point n shoot is a better option.

 

[RLPhoto]

My friend has a rebel xt (not xti) and is going to India. She wants to know if, for $200, it's a better idea to buy a point and shoot or another lens to compliment her 18-55mm. My problem is I don't believe there is a good answer to this question. She says used lenses are not an issue, but $200 will still only get you so far.

As you can probably tell she really isn't that into photography as much as she just wants a record of her trip, but I would still like to give her good/correct advice. What say you CR braintrust?

50mm 1.8... :

 

[DArora]

40mm f/2.8 pancake??

 

[lola]

Come on guys, he says she's not that into photography, already has the 18-55mm. and you're recommending the 50mm. prime and the 40mm. pancake...

A brand new EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II costs $199 at amazon.com and it will definitely broaden her options.
Considering the fact that beginners tend to be attached to teles more, she might even get deeper into photography.

 

[sdsr]

I doubt she could get a point-and-shoot for $200 that's as good as, let alone better than, her Rebel; but for $200 she could get a new IS lens that's lightweight, gets good reviews and takes over where hers ends: the EF-S 55-250 IS II.

 

[distant.star]

.
No brain here, but what this situation needs is a Powershot S95.

Now $280 at Canon refurb shop.

 

[RLPhoto]

Come on guys, he says she's not that into photography, already has the 18-55mm. and you're recommending the 50mm. prime and the 40mm. pancake...

A brand new EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II costs $199 at amazon.com and it will definitely broaden her options.
Considering the fact that beginners tend to be attached to teles more, she might even get deeper into photography.

I Loled at this comment. Remembering that the original kit lens was a fixed prime. :

If she wants to go out and see the nightlife , a 50mm will do more good.

 

[Menace]

Go with the EFs 55-250 IS II to complement her existing lens

 

[SambalOelek]

Keeping in mind that the Rebel XT has very limited high ISO capabilities, and that the 18-55 non-IS is not exactly great, an affordable, high optical-quality prime (35mm f/2, 40mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.8) will certainly bring out the best images you can get on a $200 budget.

 

[unfocused]

Come on guys, he says she's not that into photography, already has the 18-55mm. and you're recommending the 50mm. prime and the 40mm. pancake...

A brand new EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS II costs $199 at amazon.com and it will definitely broaden her options.
Considering the fact that beginners tend to be attached to teles more, she might even get deeper into photography.

Exactly. The 55-250mm may be the best bargain in Canon's lineup (50mm 1.8 is a close second, but for different purposes).

The little zoom is sharp and light. For travel, it will fit the bill very nicely.

 

[AJ]

Don't buy anything. Shoot the XT + 18-55 as is.

 

[Ryan708]

noobs often want a mega super tele zoom, but almost never use it, or use it for something that you could just take a few steps closer to. it is too bad she has the older 18-55 non IS, her oportunities for dim lighting are pretty bad. and the old 18-55 was an awful soft lens. A point and shoot under 250$ will be awful in dim lighting as well however. I might have to jump on the 55-250IS bandwagon

 

[Rocky]

It sound crazy but it may work out well. Keep the XT and get the 18-55 IS II for $150. It is a Much Much better lens than the 18-55 non-IS that she is having now. There is no $200 P &S can beat this combination.

 

[Ryan708]

i vote used 18-55 IS for about 75 bucks, and a 50mm 1.8II for low light. nice combo, nice and light, no P+S will match that

 

[dr croubie]

I'd vote, in order, depending on what you can actually get within the budget:

18-55IS, 50/1.8, 55-250 (obviously getting all three is ideal, but i doubt you'll get all 3 under $200).
18-55 IS + 55-250 for more focal length options
18-55 IS + 50/1.8 for more low-light options
50/1.8 + 55-250 for the best range, but then keeping the 18-55 non-IS and seeing the quality difference between that and the 2 new lenses she might get disappointed with the wider photos.

Already having a dslr, no mater which one, i wouldn't bother with a P&S (at least, a P&S you can get for less than $500)

 

[DianeK]

noobs often want a mega super tele zoom, but almost never use it

Must not shoot birds or wildlife then?

 

[risc32]

35mm f2 or a point and shoot. either of those + a large memory card. a 50mm on a crop is just to long for general purpose. i can't even think of a reason to recommend a tele.

 

[ScottyP]

Get a flash. The most glaring flaw of the 18-55 she has will be poor performance in low light. You could get a decent 3rd party flash and go a long way towards remedying that deficiency. Bower, metz, Sigma, Vivitar.

She might even have enough for a flash AND something else, like a tripod or a 50mm f/1.8. The flash plus the nifty fifty would address low light in 2 ways, and (to an extent) also address image quality.

 

[AnselA]

It is interesting to read a posting where people are thoughtful and trying to be thrifty. I find that the discussion here fall quickly to which L is the best choice for any situation.