Is this a good deal for a digital SLR camera? (Canon EOS Rebel XSi)

Question

http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-EOS-Rebel-XSi-450D-Digital-SLR-Camera-NEW-5-Lens_W0QQitemZ290251397637QQihZ019QQcategoryZ31388QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The reason why I'm getting this kit instead of some of the other ones is because I heard the 18-55mm EF-S lens isn't a great lens, and this kit comes with some other ones. I'm not really sure, though, because I'm a beginner. Is this kit too advanced for me?

Answer 1

as for me, CAnon XSI is a practical DSLR, since canon40D is much more expensive.. and the difference of the price between the two is just a price of a telephoto zoom lens..

the Canon XSI kit lens is great deal..since the EFS 18-55mm has a built in Image Stabilizer and good for low light shot.

So i can suggest you grab the XSI and invest yourself for better lens.

Answer 2

IMO you should just buy the standard Canon kit with the 18-55mm lens. All those "extras" are likely junk you'll soon toss in the garbage.

Once you have the XSi and kit lens you can devote your time to learning how to actually use the camera.

The only accessories I suggest buying immediately are a quality Haze/UV  filter to protect the front element of your lens and a lens cleaning cloth. Heliopan, B+W, Singh-Ray, Tiffen and Hoya are all good filter brands.

Check prices at

http://www.bhphotovideo.com

http://www.keh.com

http://www.adorama.com

http://www.ritzcamera.com

http://www.beachcamera.com

http://www.uniquecamera.com

Be absolutely certain you are buying a camera with a full USA warranty. Many sellers sell "gray market" cameras and lenses and Canon USA will NOT service them. They have to be returned to whatever country their warranty is in.

Answer 3

If you are a beginner take it slow. Buy something cheap like under $300. Get a decent point-and-shoot with full manual modes. Don't buy into DSLR until you've become more experienced. You're just burning money on equipment without understanding technique. Knowing how to take pictures should come BEFORE investing in equipment.

Answer 4

As LEM made clear, those "super" kits you get on ebay are a waste of your money. They sell you the cheapest lenses they can find and a bunch of crappy accessories all for an inflated price. I don't have a problem with ebay but I do have a problem with those "kits".

Who told you the 18-55 EF-S is a crappy lens? That lens actually comes in 5 versions but the XSi comes packaged with the newest 'IS' (image stabilization) version. That version of the lens is actually quite excellent for the money and would be great for a beginner.

As for XSi vs. 40D: I learned how to use an SLR on a 20D (earlier version of the 40D) and had no problem with it. You'll probably do fine with either one. That being said, I'd get the XSi if I were you. The reason I say this is that you're just getting into photography and the 40D is $400 more than the XSi. You could buy the 40D and get bored of photography and waste $1200. If you get the XSi you can learn on it and build up a stash of good lenses. If you decide you really like photography you can eventually upgrade to the 40D (or maybe 50D at that point) or even the 5D.

Answer 5

I'd skip on this deal.

1. eBay - you are about to invest $1000 of your money into fragile and expensive equipment, better buy from a reputable retailer like B&H or Adorama or Amazon.com, where you can be sure it will be replaced if dead on arrival and that Canon will in fact back the warranty (they don't back many eBay sellers, though do back some).

2. Lenses - horrible choice!!! If you were told that Canon 18-55mm lens is too low of a quality for you, wait 'till you get the Tamrons. They are cheap budget lenses that are far-far lower quality than genuine Canon ones. The only worthwhile lens in a kit is Canon 50mm prime. The tele and wide converters are junk that will degrade your photo quality significantly, and you'll miss dearly the 18-28 range that is not covered by the lenses provided (without converters).

3. Rest of extras - they don't tell you brand names, which probably mean no-brand products. Again, I suspect cheap memory card, that you will entrust your pictures to, a wal-mart quality tripod, worth about $15, couple of questionable bags, filters made by God only knows whom and from what glass (and if your filter is bad, the rest of lens won't be able to fix that), a flash that is again so generic they didn't mention the brand (and it is probably fully manual, not TTL or even auto, because description doesn't say so), etc....

So I'd say - this kit has two useful pieces: Canon Rebel xti body and Canon 50mm lens. The rest are gimmicks. You can get it for a lot less without them.

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Canon 40D is a low level professional camera (vs. xsi that's high level consumer). It has lots more extra little things that professional wants on their camera, but it's much older design. Unless you plan on shooting professionally, I'd stay away from it...

In fact.. I'd even skip xsi and go for Rebel XT or XTI, that are much cheaper. Then I'd spend the rest of the money on good quality glass. Only Canon, no Tamrons, no Sigmas, etc. Because your lenses are your long term investment. When you are ready for the next body, the lenses will remain. But bodies will become obsolete in a few years, with the pace the technology advances today!

LEM.

P.S. Also, consider Nikon lineup. Nikon D60 is a great camera that is about the same level as XSI, a bit older though, and D40 would be XT competitor. If you decide to bite the bullet and go pro - D80 is one that is in the same market as Canon 40D. Check them out, they are great cameras. And by the way Nikon's 18-55mm kit lens is a bit better than Canon's kit lens, at least per dpreview feedback of either one. I personally haven't dealt with Canon one, but I do have Nikon version, and it is very good!