New Rebel XT owner, with some questions

[Smile]

I've just bought the kit camera yesterday, and I even though my first shots were at ISO 400, I'm very pleased with the results. Very smooth nose-lvel control and good colors with parameter 1

I have five questions:
----------------------

1) Need to purchase a good fast lens, EF or EF-S. While the latter is digital, I was thinking of the 50mm f/1.4 USM, which I've previously used on the 20D and it is such a wicked lens! Should I only use EF-s or is EF still recommended for D-SLR? I looked also at the 17-85 and testes I've read were average. Any recommended lens other than the EF 50mm f/1.4 and that 17-85? My budget is around $ 500.00.

2) Need to purchase a flash. I need the ability to bounce it both vertically and horizontally. My budget is around $ 200.00

3) Sensor cleaning: I've perused the forum and being totally new to D-SLR, I am still confused as to what a flexible and safe method should be. SensorBrush or VisibleBrush for non-adhering dust, CoperHill or else for wielded dust? I already have two tiny smudges that show up at f5.6 and so I need to swipe the sensor. I would actually love some kind of a portable brush that I can use while on vacation.

4) Sport photography. Can I choose dedicated focus points or am I at the mercy of the chip? In other words, I'd love to select and lock a few points other than letting the camera randomly choose them for me. Which focus is prefered: I've read that AI Single is more accurate than AI Servo, even though the latter is designed for moving subjects?

5) Where is Spot metering? It seems that partial is the equivalent, though 9% of the center frame seems bigger that pin-pointing a focus area.


Thank you all for your responses.

[capedeci]

2. 430EX is $250 approx, while third parties like Nissin PZ400 (hard to find) costs slightly more than 100, 40 power, swivel and bounce head.

5. spot metering is missing. I'm not aware of spot focusing is there though.

[jamison55]

2. 430EX is $250 approx, while third parties like Nissin PZ400 (hard to find) costs slightly more than 100, 40 power, swivel and bounce head.

5. spot metering is missing. I'm not aware of spot focusing is there though.

And that is helpful, how? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[JTL]

And that is helpful, how? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:Jamie:
At first he was content with giving people uninformed advice...and now this guy has turned into a troll...

[jamison55]

I've just bought the kit camera yesterday, and I even though my first shots were at ISO 400, I'm very pleased with the results. Very smooth nose-lvel control and good colors with parameter 1

Congratulations! The XT is a great camera.


I have five questions:
----------------------

1) Need to purchase a good fast lens, EF or EF-S. While the latter is digital, I was thinking of the 50mm f/1.4 USM, which I've previously used on the 20D and it is such a wicked lens! Should I only use EF-s or is EF still recommended for D-SLR? I looked also at the 17-85 and testes I've read were average. Any recommended lens other than the EF 50mm f/1.4 and that 17-85? My budget is around $ 500.00.

That's the toughest of your questions. I would spend some time reviewing the lens posts here as this topic has been discussed in detail. For example, the 50 f1.4 is a great lens, but can you live with just that focal length? Your budget's not huge, but you might want to consider a walkaround zoom (like a Canon 28-105 f3.5-4.5 USM or a Sigma 18-125) and the 50 f1.4. The 58 f1.8 is a pretty solid option as well for quite a bit less. For sports, you'll need something long and fast (like an 85 f1.8 or 135 f2.8).


2) Need to purchase a flash. I need the ability to bounce it both vertically and horizontally. My budget is around $ 200.00

A used 420EX will set you back around $150 on ebay or Fredmiranda, or you can stretch it to $250 for a used 550EX. Both are solid flashes with bounce and swivel functions. I use 550's with no complaints.


3) Sensor cleaning: I've perused the forum and being totally new to D-SLR, I am still confused as to what a flexible and safe method should be. SensorBrush or VisibleBrush for non-adhering dust, CoperHill or else for wielded dust? I already have two tiny smudges that show up at f5.6 and so I need to swipe the sensor. I would actually love some kind of a portable brush that I can use while on vacation.

For light dust, a bulb blower will suffice. Otherwise, I use the Copperhill method. I have heard pretty good things about the sensor brush.


4) Sport photography. Can I choose dedicated focus points or am I at the mercy of the chip? In other words, I'd love to select and lock a few points other than letting the camera randomly choose them for me. Which focus is prefered: I've read that AI Single is more accurate than AI Servo, even though the latter is designed for moving subjects?

You can select from any of the 7 focus points by holding down the focus point button (it's the one next to the * button) and scrolling the wheel. The top lcd will display the focus point you are choosing as well as in the viewfinder. Remember, the center point is the most accurate.


5) Where is Spot metering? It seems that partial is the equivalent, though 9% of the center frame seems bigger that pin-pointing a focus area.

There is no spot metering on any Canon bodies cheaper then the Canon 5D. You can play with partial, or do what I do, and eyeball the scene, using AV comp and the histogram to judge the exposure.

[Smile]

Lens
-----
So, is EF a good choice on D-SLR or should I exclusively use EF-S? I know, that the 5D takes the former lens type only, so it might be one thing to consider for a future body upgrade.

Metering
--------
No Spot is weird, given that it is a fairly common photography technique, at least for 35mm cameras.

Sensor Cleaning
---------------
What do you use and recommend? This seems quite intimidating at first, but I'm sure after a few cleaning sessions, I'll be fine:)

[Rhys]

1) Need to purchase a good fast lens, EF or EF-S. While the latter is digital, I was thinking of the 50mm f/1.4 USM, which I've previously used on the 20D and it is such a wicked lens! Should I only use EF-s or is EF still recommended for D-SLR? I looked also at the 17-85 and testes I've read were average. Any recommended lens other than the EF 50mm f/1.4 and that 17-85? My budget is around $ 500.00.

I have a Tamron 17-35 f2.8 and a Tamron 28-75 f2.8. I'm happy with them and they're both EF lenses. It's up to you whether you go EF or EFS but if you later buy a full-frame camera then you might regret having bought any EFS lenses.


2) Need to purchase a flash. I need the ability to bounce it both vertically and horizontally. My budget is around $ 200.00

I hav ethe 420EX which is pretty good. I thought about the 430 but couldn't really justify it.


3) Sensor cleaning: I've perused the forum and being totally new to D-SLR, I am still confused as to what a flexible and safe method should be. SensorBrush or VisibleBrush for non-adhering dust, CoperHill or else for wielded dust? I already have two tiny smudges that show up at f5.6 and so I need to swipe the sensor. I would actually love some kind of a portable brush that I can use while on vacation.

How on earth did you get smudges on the CCD? I have had mine a year now and there's not even a spec of dust there!


4) Sport photography. Can I choose dedicated focus points or am I at the mercy of the chip? In other words, I'd love to select and lock a few points other than letting the camera randomly choose them for me. Which focus is prefered: I've read that AI Single is more accurate than AI Servo, even though the latter is designed for moving subjects?

If you look at the back of the camera, there are two buttons at the top right. One has focus point selection. These focus points are the red dots in your viewfinder. I have mine left permanantly on centre-spot.


5) Where is Spot metering? It seems that partial is the equivalent, though 9% of the center frame seems bigger that pin-pointing a focus area.


I'm not sure that there is spot metering. I leave the camera to work out the metering with its own methods. Honestly though, if it were not for the fact I'd have to change lenses, I think I'd go for the Pentax *ist D for the features offered.

[Smile]

EF vs. EF-S: 5D is in my plans, let's say 18 months from now, so I have to be careful here. I just thought that EF-S delivers more light than EF for D-SLR.

As for dust, I do see two when I took a portrait picture, against my light yellow wall. No biggie, as I cloned it out in Photoshop.

Focus points: I know and played with that button, and what I'm looking for is more of a group selection vs. one point only

Pentax: was never in my plans. I instead debated a lot between Olympus E-500, Olympus E-1 (very good camera and excellent price), and Nikon D50. Olympus has very good lenses, really, but poor high ISO and average focus tracking. The D50's lack of RAW+Fine JPG along with its no lit LCD were a deal-breaker. Canon seems very fast to use and with my Lexar 80x, the write speeds are almost inexistant. At then end, I was really torn between the Olympus and the Canon offerings.

Guys, I really appreciate all your help.

[jamison55]

It's very unusual to see sensor dust at f5.6 (I never see it unless I am at f11 or higher), are you sure the dust is on the sensor, and not on the wall? You can test for sensor dust by stopping your lens down to f18 and shooting the sky.

As for EF vs EF-s, the EF-S are designed specifically for small sensor DSLR's like the XT and 20D. If you buy a full framed 5D, they will not work right. It's not about more light, but about less glass. Your XT doesn't need as much glass in the lens since the sensor is smaller. If you plan to upgrade, you should stick with EF lenses and stay away from EF-S (and their Sigma -DC- and Tamron - DI-II - equivalents.

And you're out of luck with the ability to group focus points; it's all-or-one...unless you upgrade to a 1D series camera... (even the 5D doesn't let you do this).

[ktixx]

How on earth did you get smudges on the CCD? I have had mine a year now and there's not even a spec of dust there!

I would like to see a shot of the sky or a white box at f/13. Cameras come with dust, it isn't anything you do, it just happens. I guarantee you that you have dust on your sensor, you just probably don't shoot stopped down enough to notice. now smudges on the other hand...I cannot comment on that...:confused:



3) Sensor cleaning: I've perused the forum and being totally new to D-SLR, I am still confused as to what a flexible and safe method should be. SensorBrush or VisibleBrush for non-adhering dust, CoperHill or else for wielded dust? I already have two tiny smudges that show up at f5.6 and so I need to swipe the sensor. I would actually love some kind of a portable brush that I can use while on vacation.
Clean your 'sensor' with the copperhill method, there is very little risk as long as you are careful. When you clean your 'sensor' you are not actually touching the sensor, but instead a pice of glass on top of the sensor. As long as you have the proper tools there is nothing for you to worry about. I am against blowers as they may temporarily fix the problem, however all in all you are just putting more dust into the camera. I have actually heard of people using a blower and making it worse because some form of moisture or lubrication is inside the blower and it gets on the sensor. the copperhill method is very compact and could easliy fit in a larger camera bag while on vacation.

Good Luck
Ken