Canon XTI

aguerra.1993 · Nov 17, 2012

Hey guys, let me start off by saying I am pretty broke and I want a camera. I do a lot of skating and and it's always been a hobby to film and I want to photograph as well. I don't plan on making profit or anything from this, I really just want a decent camera. I know some basics of cameras from watching videos and using my friends' cameras. What is a decent camera that I can get for very cheap? Thank you!

*Sorry about the title, I was originally going to ask about the Canon XTi but I read it doesn't film, and then I posted the thread without realizing.

MLeeK · Nov 17, 2012

If you want the video capability the XTi won't give you it. If you want to shoot at indoor rinks, the XTi is going to be very limited.
I take it you want a DSLR?
And what is your budget?

aguerra.1993 · Nov 17, 2012

Yea, a DSLR. My budget is maybe $350 or $400, and I don't mind having an older or used camera.

MLeeK · Nov 17, 2012

aguerra.1993 said:
Yea, a DSLR. My budget is maybe $350 or $400, and I don't mind having an older or used camera.

You've got a decent budget to start with! I forgot to ask if you are choosing the XTi because you want Canon?

aguerra.1993 · Nov 17, 2012

I don't mind, learned a little bit on a Canon T2i and it was great but I have used a Nikon before and it was nice as well. I was looking at the XTi because I found a pretty cheap one here locally.

MLeeK · Nov 17, 2012

The Canon T1i has video capability as well as still. It's considerably newer than the XTi. Here's a used body for $249 Used Canon Eos Digital Rebel T1i 15.1 Megapixels Slr Black Camera Body
And an excellent starter lens that will allow you to use it for a little bit of zoom as well as fairly wide Used Canon Ef 28-105 3.5/4.5 Macro Usm *58
Total of $383
I can find the kit lens that came with the T1i cheaper if you need to bring the price down. That one just allowed you more zoom, so I chose it.

MLeeK · Nov 17, 2012

aguerra.1993 said:
I don't mind, learned a little bit on a Canon T2i and it was great but I have used a Nikon before and it was nice as well. I was looking at the XTi because I found a pretty cheap one here locally.

If you're buying the XTi it needs to be priced under $200

aguerra.1993 · Nov 17, 2012

Wow, thanks a bunch! Would there be any major differences with that lens over the stock lense a T1i brings? I didn't know Macro lenses worked for normal shooting, I just assumed they were for the close range stuff.

MLeeK · Nov 17, 2012

aguerra.1993 said:
Wow, thanks a bunch! Would there be any major differences with that lens over the stock lense a T1i brings? I didn't know Macro lenses worked for normal shooting, I just assumed they were for the close range stuff.

You can shoot anything with a macro lens. They are just denoted as macro lenses because they can produce an image that is 1:1.
The stock 18-55 has about half as much zoom as the one I gave you. 50mm is just a slight bit more zoom than the human eye sees on a crop sensor camera. So if you want to actually zoom in on anything you will have to do it by using your feet.