Think I finally found a good camera!

[colintrax]

If you guys remember me, I've been looking to get my girlfriend a camera for a while now, and I think I finally found a good one! Canon EOS Rebel XT + standard lens (18-55)
I'm going to look at it Wednesday, anything I should look for? Is this a good price?
I appreciate all the help, thank you! :thumbup:

 

[fokker]

I'll be honest, I'm not 100% up to date with prices but that seems expensive for what is effectively a very old and outdated camera. Not saying it's a bad camera - my first DSLR was one of those and they are great to learn with, but I think you could doa lot better for the same money.

 

[fokker]

Actually after having a browse of your area on craigslist and on ebay, it seems that maybe prices are higher than I was expecting, meaning the one you linked to isn't really that bad a deal. But still be aware that it is an old camera with a lot of limitations.

 

[colintrax]

Is it that old? Wasn't it made in 2006? And unfortunately that's the cheapest I can find. Is Georgia a bad place to be buying cameras? I could try to find some in Arkansas, Florida, or California since I have family there and have them ship it. Just trying to save money, we've only been dating a year but I love her and Kroger just doesn't pay me enough

 

[MLeeK]

Considering that you can purchase a brand new Canon T3 with the kit lens for $440... it's not so hot a deal. It was introduced in 2005 and is REALLY outdated in terms of it's abilities.
I wouldn't pay $200 for an XT, to be honest. I'd save until I could afford the current entry level. After it came the XTi, then the XSi then the XS, then the T2i THEN the T3. Leaps and bounds in between there.
It will work and you can use it, but it's got some real hard limits.

 

[colintrax]

What are the limitations? Also $440 is out of my price range, $275 is already pushing it and I'm trying to do some trading with the seller

 

[MLeeK]

Why compromise and buy RIGHT now instead of saving the money for the better camera? The biggest limitation on the XT is the low light ability. You can't shoot indoors without adding flash in the best of situations.
Limits on ISO to 1600. I am shooting OFTEN at 12,500. USEABLE at 400 with noise issues. Possibly useable at 800 with noise. What does that mean? You will need an f/1.8 lens to shoot inside with every light in the house on. Bright. The cheapest f/1.8 lens will run you about $130.
You won't be able to shoot inside without adding on flash in almost every situation. The on board flash is almost gauranteed to ruin every photo you take with it, so add on a speedlight. Cheap, crappy one will cost you $100. Your budget just shot up.

MUCH better sensor with much better image quality on the T3.
ISO up to 6400. That's significantly lower light ability.
Expanded ISO up to 12800 on the T3
No live view option on the XT.
No video on the xt
less dynamic range on the xt
better focus system in the T3

 

[colintrax]

Ok, that's some good points. So pretty much, I should just buy new?

 

[fokker]

Don't forget the tiny 1.8" LCD on the XT, which I personally hated. Newer models, in addition to everything mentioned above, will have better battery life, sensor self-cleaning, more megapixels, refined user interface, plus some other stuff I can't think of right now. It might seem like 2005 wasn't that long ago, but in terms of digital camera's it was eons ago. Keep in mind that the model before the Xt (the original rebel or 300d) was basically the first consumer DSLR.

It seems unlikely that you could get a T3 and lens for $440, but if you can then it's a much better deal hands down. If you can't afford that, keep looking perhaps....

 

[fokker]

Ok, that's some good points. So pretty much, I should just buy new?

I should say that I'm always a fan of buying used - I've bought every single piece of camera gear I've ever owned (getting to be quite a few items now) used, usually without issues and always at prices that make the gear impossible to resist. You just have to find the good deals.

 

[MLeeK]

I wouldn't say you have to buy new, but it makes a WHOLE lot more sense in this situation. I wouldn't purchase anything older than the XSi and I probably would not purchase the XS either. There was a huge jump in technology from the XTi to the XSi. I'd want to go with the T2i or the T3 if at all possible. Otherwise you will be tossing this camera and buying another within a year at the very best case scenario.
Besides not knowing how many actuations are on that XT... It's an old camera. It could be damn near the end of it's shutter life and is probably fairly likely.

 

[colintrax]

Ok thank you, I do remember canon does a upgrade program. Any guesses on what an upgrade from this would cost? Might be cheaper to buy it, and let my girlfriend get some practice with a real camera, then call canon and do the upgrade

 

[MLeeK]

You'll get less than the $250 from Canon to trade in. You'll get roughly $75 off a refurbished new DSLR.

 

[KmH]

I think learning how to use flash is 10x more valuable than just using a high ISO setting.

Photography is all about using light. By using flash (strobed light) you have a lot more control over the light in a scene. You can also control the ambient light exposure separately from the strobed light exposure.

Using the flash off the camera opens up a whole realm of artistic possibilities both indoors and out.

 

[scorpion_tyr]

Go to a pawnshop and buy an old Canon film SLR, one of the cheap ones for $25.00 or so. Then call 1-866-443-8002. That's the number to Canon's Customer Loyalty Program. Pick out a refurbished DSLR such as the XS, or T3 or something and they will take 20% off of the refurbished price for you trading in "your old broken camera". The refurbished cameras are a good way to go, they come with a 90 day warranty and are just as good, or even better, than new.

This is the cheapest way to go buying what I consider new. I wouldn't buy a camera body off craigslist or anything like that unless you REALLY know what to look for since testing out all of the features of the camera can take a lot of know how and time.