Which of these is the best deal?

[rebel328XtI]

I'm new to DSLRs, but I've always wanted to get more familliar with them.

Which of the following packages would be the best deal for me? (I want to keep it under or as close to $650 shipped as possible)

1) Buydig.com - $652.95, free shipping, ships in 1-2 business days. Includes:
* Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi (Silver) with EF-S 18-55mm II Kit
* Sakar 800mAh Replacement /Extra Battery for Canon NB-2LH
* Dane 2GB Compact Flash Memory Card
* Digital Concepts 58mm Multicoated UV Protective Filter--offers lens protection & clearer pictures
* GGI Compact Flash USB 2.0 Hi-Speed Card Reader
* DigPro Deluxe SLR Holster Case - DP4000


2) B&H Photo - $664.85+12.25 shipping. ($677.25) 3-5 business days. Includes:
*EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens (with lens cap and dust cap)
*Sandisk 4GB Extreme III CompactFlash Card
*NB-2LH Battery Pack, Battery Charger, CR2016 Lithium Battery
*USB Interface Cable
*Video Cable, Neck Strap
*Viewfinder & Body Caps
*EOS Digital Solutions v.13.0 CD-ROM (EOS Utility, ZoomBrowser EX, ImageBrowser, PhotoStitch, Digital Photo Professional), Instruction Manual CD-ROM (PDF versions of the instruction manuals)
*User Guides
*1-Year Canon U.S.A. Limited Warranty
*GGI CompactFlash Memory Card Reader - USB 2.0


3) SonicCameras.com - $559.00, free shipping, ships in 8-10 business days. Includes:
* Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi (a.k.a. 400D) 10.1 Megapixel, SLR, Digital Camera Body (Black) With 1-Year USA Warranty
* 28-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Auto Focus Lens
* 1GB CompactFlash Card
* CompactFlash Card Reader
* Deluxe Digital Camera Carrying Case
* Deluxe Lens Care & Maintenance Package
* Full Size Tripod
* Pack Of LCD Screen Protectors
* CapKeeper


I'm leaning towards the Buydig offer, but the other two are tempting also. I haven't heard much on the 28-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Auto Focus Lens. I've also heard the 18-55mm kit lens is sub-par. I'm thinking it should be fine for me as a beginner though. I'm not worried about the CF card, I can always pick up a larger one later.

Which do you think would be the best for me?

Thanks in advance!

[TenD]

The first two stores are fine, but I would have nothing to do with Soniccameras. They have a lifetime rating of 3.20 on resellerratings.com (http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Sonic_Cameras).

[rebel328XtI]

The first two stores are fine, but I would have nothing to do with Soniccameras. They have a lifetime rating of 3.20 on resellerratings.com (http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Sonic_Cameras).

Thanks for the quick reply! I was a little leary of them to begin with. The package they are offering seems decent though, and could be good for discussion if nothing else.

Is the lens in the sonic package miles ahead of the kit lens?

[bauerman]

I would highly recommend Buydig - they are a great company and on par with B&H in my book. I would probably lean towards just buying the camera and lens package for $573 and buy the other items (if desired) on your own. I'm not a big fan of retailers putting a "kit" together for me and in general you are getting lower quality products as accessories in those kits.

[TenD]

If it were me, I wouldn't go for a "package". Usually those packages are good for convenience, but contain items you'll find you'll never use. I would probably buy the body alone, then the 18-55 IS lens. The "IS" version of this lens is very sharp, much better than the older one without IS(image stabilization). I would get at least one CF card(I like Sandisk Extreme III)and some kind of bag to carry it all in(I again would avoid generic and look toward Lowepro or Tamrac). I would also consider a second battery. This will get you started nicely. I have a Tamrac Velocity 7 bag that I use for a quick kit, I like it for grabbing my camera and a couple of lenses.

The B&H kit you mention is the standard Canon XT kit with the exception of the flash card and card reader. They've just broken down what's in the package. The Buydig package pretty much has everything you need to get started and if you are looking for convenience that's the one I would go with. I would throw the UV filter away and plan on replacing the camera case pretty quickly.

The lens on the Sonic package is simply OK. It has quite a range, but at the expense of image quality. The "jack of all trades" lenses usually have some compromise and can't do it all very well.

So again, I would probably get something like the package I outlined above, or the BuyDig kit.

[SpecialK]

I forgot to vote.

No packages, because...
Filters - many think useful, many thnk useless, but all agree good ones are not cheap, and cheap ones are crap.
Tripods, as above.
Bags. You need to buy one at a store and put all your stuff in it and allow some extra room. Make sure the zipper does not go right across the LCD, etc.

[fotogmarc]

The B&H is not really a package. All that is extra is the memory card, everything else comes with the camera. Or am I misreading this? :confused:

[Ray Schnoor]

2) B&H Photo - $664.85+12.25 shipping. ($677.25) 3-5 business days. Includes:
*EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens (with lens cap and dust cap)
*Sandisk 4GB Extreme III CompactFlash Card
*NB-2LH Battery Pack, Battery Charger, CR2016 Lithium Battery
*USB Interface Cable
*Video Cable, Neck Strap
*Viewfinder & Body Caps
*EOS Digital Solutions v.13.0 CD-ROM (EOS Utility, ZoomBrowser EX, ImageBrowser, PhotoStitch, Digital Photo Professional), Instruction Manual CD-ROM (PDF versions of the instruction manuals)
*User Guides
*1-Year Canon U.S.A. Limited Warranty
*GGI CompactFlash Memory Card Reader - USB 2.0
I assume that this "package" includes a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi. The other 2 "packages" list this, but the B&H "package" does not. How much are the cameras without the package. Unless you need the things included in the package, you will just be paying extra for the camera.
Is the lens in the sonic package miles ahead of the kit lens?
The 28-200 lenses are not necessarily that great on APS-C dSLRs since the wide end starts at 28mm. 18-55 may be a better range to start. As to quality, there is no way to know because you do not list what brand of lens it is. Coming from SonicCameras, I would assume that it is the cheapest POS that they could find. In that case, the kit lens is probably better.

Ray.