Rebel or Rebel XT???

[racefan]

I'm at a crossroads for my first dig slr purchase. I really like the feel of the original dig rebel 300d but with the $100 rebate canon is offering for the xt, the xt is only about $40 more through b&h. however, i the feel and grip of the original rebel is so much better. but, i supposed I could get used to the smaller and lighter rebel..i think

other than the 6 px vs 8 px, is there any performance differences between the 2?

I'm strictly a beginner...have a elan with a 28-105 lense...really like this lense and don't see much of a reason to switch brands and purchase another lense...

camera will simply be used for kid's sporting events, gatherings, etc. no professional here..

[timmciglobal]

Get the Xt with the grip... it'll make it big enough :)

Or get a 20D used, can find them for 799 in good shape on fredmiranda.com

Tim

[racefan]

I'd say the battery grip makes that xt around $120 more than the rebel. is this that better of a camera?

[cdifoto]

I'd say the battery grip makes that xt around $120 more than the rebel. is this that better of a camera?

It starts up faster, has a larger buffer, has a faster burst rate, handles noise better, uses the DIGIC II processor, makes use of E-TTL II flash metering, has FEC control in the body so you don't necessarily need to buy an external flash with FEC controls and/or can actually control the onboard flash's output...

Yeah it's that much better of a camera, IMO.

[coldrain]

Even when you do not use the flash it is a better camera. It gives you full creative freedom where the 300D links a lot of things to automatic programs. The 350D is just a lot more complete.

[Rhys]

I'd stick with the Elan until I could afford something better than the XT. I have an XT and feel that the whole design was done by Mickey Mouse (if indeed Mickey Mouse couldn't have designed it better). It's on my list of things to dump on ebay.

[cdifoto]

I'd stick with the Elan until I could afford something better than the XT. I have an XT and feel that the whole design was done by Mickey Mouse (if indeed Mickey Mouse couldn't have designed it better). It's on my list of things to dump on ebay.

I'll give you 20 bucks shipped for it since you hate it so much. FedEx Overnight please. Great deal for you since you abhor that camera so much. ;)

[coldrain]

Rhys, can you stop giving such ridiculous posts as replies? You always have something as a pet peeve. First it was that no one ever needed more than 3mp cameras. Then You began to fulminate against Nikon (for the ridiculous reasons that your 70's lens system has been replaced, just as every other camera manufacturer has done... it is called progress). At that time you kept on raving about your XT, but you kept on writing how utter crap the kitlens was. Then you began to advice everyone just the 3 lenses you actually have, even though you know the Tamron 70-300 you have is quite crap. And then all of a sudden you found out the cheap Canon lenses you have are not half as bad as you had been writing about for months.

Then your peeve went on to be Windows... yet you never bought or used a Mac. Now all of a sudden there is nothing more crap than your XT. Yet you have never ever used an other DSLR, you have not even seen a Pentax up close. If you had, you would know they are so similar in operation you would "hate" the Pentax as much or even more.

Aother peeve was that you thought RAW was nonsense and you didnt understand anyone using it, you just want to make a photo and be done with it. Now you all of a sudden, without ever having seen one, want a Pentax. Well guess what? You will need to post process, and you will need to buya good RAW convertor too. Since Pentax gives out very soft and low contrast photos by default.

You always base your ideas on fake facts, you kept for months saying the 20D is a 1.3x crop factore camera for instance. You may have the most weird standpoints in the world, that is fine. But airing them in a forum where people come for advice is not right, they get a totally wrong idea about things.

Now if you actually would have used a D50, *istDS or KM 5D, and you could back up what you like and dislike about the different models (or even if you had read reviews and actually knew differences between cameras), it might be interesting and informative. But other than "the XT does not use AA batteries" all your claims, including this new mickey mouse stuff, have been silly and nonsense.

The only 2 cameras that are a bit like you will want it to be are the KM 7D (button for almost everything) and Panasonic LC1 (even shutter time is set by analogue dail).

My point is, try not to hyperbole everything into the ridiculous, especially on threads where people are actually looking for real advice. Since they do not know you and your pet peeve of the month, they might actually take it for real information. The 350D/XT is a fine camera, and like any entry level camera it has a few shortcomings too. And its user interface is actually good, and it really would help your view of the camera world if you would look at how a Nikon and a Pentax are designed.

[cdifoto]

The only 2 cameras that are a bit like you will want it to be are the KM 7D (button for almost everything) and Panasonic LC1 (even shutter time is set by analogue dail).

Actually he wouldn't like either of those. He wants one button and one button only, remember? Has to take AAs and use his outdated lenses as well.

[Rhys]

I'll give you 20 bucks shipped for it since you hate it so much. FedEx Overnight please. Great deal for you since you abhor that camera so much. ;)

I'll willingly sell it in mint condition when the new 10mp Pentax comes out. I've pretty much decided that's the way to go since my photographic style is more landscape and less auto-focus and is more geared toward AA batteries.

What a wonderful time I'm having in Florida. I have my S1 IS with me instead of the XT. I have my hyperdrive and 2 sets of freshly-charged AAs for both. If I run out of AAs then alkaline are just a shop away. Thus far I've not taken as many photos and videos as I thought I might but it's only the 2nd day today.

I would dearly love to use a DSLR but aside from the bulk being inconvenient, it's AAs that drive me.

Incidentally, I see in Florida a lot of dSLRs. None seem to be Canons though.

I find Coldrain's personal attack to be very strange.
Rhys, can you stop giving such ridiculous posts as replies? You always have something as a pet peeve. First it was that no one ever needed more than 3mp cameras. Then You began to fulminate against Nikon (for the ridiculous reasons that your 70's lens system has been replaced, just as every other camera manufacturer has done... it is called progress). At that time you kept on raving about your XT, but you kept on writing how utter crap the kitlens was. Then you began to advice everyone just the 3 lenses you actually have, even though you know the Tamron 70-300 you have is quite crap. And then all of a sudden you found out the cheap Canon lenses you have are not half as bad as you had been writing about for months.

Then your peeve went on to be Windows... yet you never bought or used a Mac. Now all of a sudden there is nothing more crap than your XT. Yet you have never ever used an other DSLR, you have not even seen a Pentax up close. If you had, you would know they are so similar in operation you would "hate" the Pentax as much or even more.

Aother peeve was that you thought RAW was nonsense and you didnt understand anyone using it, you just want to make a photo and be done with it. Now you all of a sudden, without ever having seen one, want a Pentax. Well guess what? You will need to post process, and you will need to buya good RAW convertor too. Since Pentax gives out very soft and low contrast photos by default.

You always base your ideas on fake facts, you kept for months saying the 20D is a 1.3x crop factore camera for instance. You may have the most weird standpoints in the world, that is fine. But airing them in a forum where people come for advice is not right, they get a totally wrong idea about things.

Now if you actually would have used a D50, *istDS or KM 5D, and you could back up what you like and dislike about the different models (or even if you had read reviews and actually knew differences between cameras), it might be interesting and informative. But other than "the XT does not use AA batteries" all your claims, including this new mickey mouse stuff, have been silly and nonsense.

The only 2 cameras that are a bit like you will want it to be are the KM 7D (button for almost everything) and Panasonic LC1 (even shutter time is set by analogue dail).

My point is, try not to hyperbole everything into the ridiculous, especially on threads where people are actually looking for real advice. Since they do not know you and your pet peeve of the month, they might actually take it for real information. The 350D/XT is a fine camera, and like any entry level camera it has a few shortcomings too. And its user interface is actually good, and it really would help your view of the camera world if you would look at how a Nikon and a Pentax are designed.

And all that because my experience of the XT proves it to be unresponsive and fiddly to use. Definitely not intuitive design and the depenance on non-standard batteries is not all that handy. I can't nip into a shop to buy a battery for the XT unless I use the battery grip in which case I have to carry the AA battery holder as well as the other holder. I'm just not keen on the power source. The focus is a bit iffy too and there's no manual focussing aid unlike the Pentax.

[cdifoto]

Rhys,

If you ONLY like the AA batteries, you don't need to carry both inserts. Just carry the AA one! And on top of that, you claim that being able to readily buy batteries is your main concern. Are you that often finding 1200 shots between charges insufficient? Do you really need to go through 100 sets of AA batteries before you can find a wall outlet? Seriously? The reason I ask is you can hold 2 of the battery packs in the grip and easily get 1200 shots before needed more juice. That's a lot of shots. You already said you haven't taken as many pics with your S1 than you would have liked/expected for whatever reason, and it's been 2 days. Are you nowhere near a wall outlet for 2-3-4-5 days at a time? I find myself near more wall outlets than retail stores most of the time...

And the XT + Grip + 2 battery packs + charger is a lot lighter than XT + Grip + 100 sets of AA batteries. A lot cheaper too. Buying AA batteries is really really expensive unless you're buying rechargeables...but then that puts you back to where you would be with the proprietary battery pack.

The personal attack, while harsh, was IMO necessary. Your complaints never follow logic.

I do agree with you on the point about XT focusing being iffy. Mine are both in for service in that regard. However, most of your other complaints are either universal to digital SLRs, digital cameras, or consumer level dSLRs. Or even just your complaint and your complaint alone. I haven't come across too many people wishing their dSLR ran on high drain, expensive, heavy AA batteries.

[TheObiJuan]

... it's AAs that drive me.

:p It's all about word associations.
I hear "Nikon" and I think of George, I think "gear collecting", I think of Don, I think of "AA's", I think of you.
:D

[coldrain]

How on earth can one be comfortable with an S1 IS and not with an XT. I have used an S2 IS, S30 and A70 and know how similar they are in operation menu wise, and I know the XT is a lot less fiddly than an S1. Also, did you by now actually TRY any other DSLR, Rhys? Like an *istDS for example?

NO, you did not, huh? Well, surprise surprise, you will find itvery donald udck I am sure. Or Ken. (If it was Barbie it would be pink I guess).

This is what I mean with your hyperbole, Rhys, you just type nonsense to not back down on your former claims. Well, like I wrote in that other thread you refered to me about in, I did hold a Pentax *istDL this weekend, and I can promise you, its controls feel very iffy, plasticy and have a very cheap and weird pressure point. And that is not something personal, just a real fact about the controls of a Pentax. And like I wrote before (to which you did not reply, you never reply meaningful) you wrote that what is iffy about the XT is that some buttons have 2 functions depending on context. Yet a Pentax has one FN buttun that activates a menu, where you then have to choose what youw ant to set, ISO, WB, AF, and such.... how do you think you would like that, mr FM? You would not like that at all.

I know, you will keep on ranting about the XT for a month, like you always do, but please do not do this in threads where people come for help because they may not know you and think there is actual information there... That was, and is, my point about this "personal attack" as you call it.

[cdifoto]

:p It's all about word associations.
I hear "Nikon" and I think of George, I think "gear collecting", I think of Don, I think of "AA's", I think of you.
:D


Hey now. I don't just collect gear. I use it too!

[Rhys]

you just type nonsense

I am sorry you feel this way. I am also sorry that you could not use a mature and adult approach to discussing issues on the board.

[Ray Schnoor]

Well, like I wrote in that other thread you refered to me about in, I did hold a Pentax *istDL this weekend, and I can promise you, its controls feel very iffy, plasticy and have a very cheap and weird pressure point. And that is not something personal, just a real fact about the controls of a Pentax.
I agree that Rhys does seem to have a pet peeve of the month, and I don't really understand why it is easier to recharge AA batteries 3-4 times instead of recharging a battery pack once. What I don't agree with is when Rhys says he thinks the Rebel XT menu/focusing/whatever is "iffy" it is Rhys typing nonsense, but when you say something similar about the *istDL being "iffy" it is a fact about the camera. Maybe to you, but I'm sure it isn't to a lot of others.

Ray.