Canon camera recommendation

TimJ

TimJ

Well-known member
I'm looking at picking up a used Canon DSLR. I'm not someone who needs the newest, fastest or biggest thing. Letting someone else lose over 50% of the value in a couple years is fine with me. I also have little interest in video at this time, and I doubt I'd print anything bigger then 8x10.

Mostly going to be used to get better photos of my art, fish reference, general garden and nature stuff. I'd like a sensor with a some useful iso range and some decent mp's but I don't think I need 15 or 18 for what I want.
I have a couple third party (Sigma) lenses for my old eos 35mm that I'd like to still use. I've read that some of the earlier rebels and even some mid-level models like the 20d didn't always focus with them.

Do you think it's better to go with a 30D or 40D with 30-40,000 clicks or something like an XSi with 5-10,000? I've seen some people putting a lot of shots through their rebels. I know buying used they can go bad at any time but I can buy 3 of some of them for the price of a new one.

Any recommendations for a several year old canon model?

Thanks,
Tim
 
I'm looking at picking up a used Canon DSLR. I'm not someone who needs the newest, fastest or biggest thing. Letting someone else lose over 50% of the value in a couple years is fine with me. I also have little interest in video at this time, and I doubt I'd print anything bigger then 8x10.

Mostly going to be used to get better photos of my art, fish reference, general garden and nature stuff. I'd like a sensor with a some useful iso range and some decent mp's but I don't think I need 15 or 18 for what I want.
I have a couple third party (Sigma) lenses for my old eos 35mm that I'd like to still use. I've read that some of the earlier rebels and even some mid-level models like the 20d didn't always focus with them.

Do you think it's better to go with a 30D or 40D with 30-40,000 clicks or something like an XSi with 5-10,000? I've seen some people putting a lot of shots through their rebels. I know buying used they can go bad at any time but I can buy 3 of some of them for the price of a new one.

Any recommendations for a several year old canon model?

Thanks,
Tim

Hi Tim -

I used a rebel XS for about 2 years without problem and sold it on this site. They are often sold with a "kit" lens, 18-55, which is pretty good for close subjects and also for landscape shots. I also had an entry level telephoto zoom 55-250 which gave me nice magnification and some decent results on moving subjects. Not sure of the duty life of the different early rebels but you should find many with light use from people who either lose interest or move up. Not sure about your older lens on rebels or 20d or 40d etc. but remember that these SLRs use a compact sensor compared to 35MM and the result is an increase in magnification by 1.6. So the 18-55 lens is really equivalent to about 29-88.

sarge
Click to expand...
 
Thanks guys.
Nothing against Nikon, I suppose I just got myself stuck in the canon "rut". :)

Tim
 
I needed to replace my Canon Rebel Xti because of a duck hunting "episode". I've been extremely pleased with the photos produced by this camera. Having purchased a few things from B&H Camera before, I searched their used inventory for a few weeks.

Finally, a used Canon Xti just like mine came up. It was rated at 9 (used, but like new). Having read up on the used camera market and finding that B &H's reputation is highly touted, I bought it. I am extremely happy with this replacement. Experience had me purchasing a Pelican waterproof case, too.

After checking their used inventory tonight, I see they have a Canon Xti (rated at 9) listed at $220. That price includes other "stuff" (battery, charger, manual, etc.) which makes it a huge bargain.

Here are several photos taken with my Canon Xti using a relatively inexpensive Canon lens.


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[img]http://kwicklabs.com/images/Nov2012/b5SwansWEB.jpg

ZGunnyAngleWeb.jpg



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bCruiseShipWEB49.jpg



06WEBDaisy16CW.jpg

 
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I use the Canon T3i for my magazine work, and it is very good at what it does. Mostly I shoot things that are outside and action shots with some indoor studio-type product shots. I'm not a pro photographer but use the camera to illustrate what I write.

There are advantages to this model over previous Rebels, and if I were to buy a new camera, I would get another or one of the D series. The best thing about this camera is that I bought a factory-refurbished kit that included an image-stabilization (IS) lens. The IS function is a big help and will be on all my future lenses. I can't say enough about the clarity of the shots from the IS lens; it's like you're always using a tripod.

I also can recommend B & H. I have had only good service from that company.
 
Tim,

I have had my Canon Rebel XS for 3 years now and it has served me well with no issues even with me not babying it. I bought a used 75-300mm lens from B&H photo to go along with the 18-55mm that the camera came with and this set-up is effective for the uses of capturing photos during hunts, close shots and regular photo taking with the family etc...

However, I am starting to find a niche in wildlife photography and have found my set-up isn't quite up to snub with some of the flying bird shots that are at a resonable distance. Granted I am still trying to fully grasp the changes in settings, I think this a constant learning experience, and I am very sure this has a lot to do with my stuggles on some more advanced shot taking.

This is a good example, just doesnt have good enough clarity imo:
IMG_8558.jpg


Another exapmple. Cool photo but just not all there clarity wise. Birds are at about 30 yards.
IMG_5558edit.jpg


Hope this helped. Good luck in your search
 
I found myself in the same place a you. I chose Canon because I have 2 brothers with Canons thereby making it easier for me to get advice. One brother who is a successful (published and has sold photographs), the other who has been a buff. With their advice, I bought a used 40D from Craigslist cheap and then scoured for lens deals. I picked up a high end 70-210 for outdoor photography, 28MM 1.2 for indoor, and a nifty 50 for all around. Every once in a while the kit lends comes out. Thier biggest advice/comment "Its so much more about quality lenses than camera"

This guy is reduced in quality for publishing purposes but this was my Canon 70-210 L2

loonhead.jpg

 
Thanks for the info guys.
I think I know what I'm going with but I need to increase my camera fund a little more before I buy so I can get a newer lens or two at the same time. Now as long as I don't find a rifle I need before I get a camera. :)

Tim
 
Andrew, I understand the "issue" of using high end lenses. I presently cannot afford even one.
However, to compensate, my photo editing program does an amazing job of improving photo
quality. For example, (and I hope you don't mind me using your photo as an example) I did a
rather quick edit using the only the program fuctions of "brightness", "fill flash" and "sharpness"
(there are many more editing tools). Using just these three makes a lot of my photos look like
they were taken with a more expensive lens.

However, I'm still saving up for an upgrade (or two)

"before"
IMG_5558edit.jpg


"after"
IMG_5558editmore.jpg

 
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