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Camera for wife, she wants a DSLR ($600 max)

IHateMyJob2004

IHateMyJob2004

Lifer
UPDATE 4 (Nov 5):
THANK YOU ALL FOR HELPING!
I ordered! Recap:

1 - Canon LP-E5 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack (7.4V, 1080mAh)
$40

2 - SanDisk 4GB Extreme SDHC Memory Card
$57

3 - Tamrac Express 6 Bag
$49

4 - Canon EOA Rebel XS package deal (comes with 18-55mm and 55-250mm lenses)
$570

5 - Canon Zoom Pack 1000 Holster Case
$25

6 - shipping
$0

TOTAL
$732

I AM VERY HAPPY! Only $142 over budget! But well under $800 for the two lense budget. In the future I will be getting the 50mm lense.



UPDATE 3 (Nov 5):
I am getting the body/18-55 kit and 55-250 lense. And the 55mm lense in the future. What bag should I get? Inexpensive bag that is? Also need holders for an extra battery and maybe an extra memory card.

UPDATE 2 (Nov 4):
My wife wants soemthing good for portraits of our kids. Also, I am willing to go beyond $600 if there is a good reason. Up to $800 if the 18-135mm lense makes sense.

UPDATE:
It is down to the Nikon D3000 or the Cannon Rebel XS. I'm leaning towards the Rebel XS.

ORIGNAL POST:
So, I need a good SLR for my wife.

It's going to mostly be used for taking pictures of the kids both indoors an out.

She has no interest in photography. I mean that she could care less to learn about techniques, etc.

So, I am saying $600 max but hopefully it will come in much lower. I need something that does a good job of auto adjusting for light conditions along with little to no lag between pressing the button and the picture being taken. Some pics will be of the kids from a distance (like when playing soccer) so a good amount of zooning is desired. Any sort of image stablization is a plus. The image stableization is something I would pay a premium over $600 for.

Any and all help is appreciated. her birthday is at the end of the month, but she wants this next week for my sons birthday party which is 11 days away.

Where to buy online for the best prices? J&R? Newegg?
 
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For what she wants to do, a DSLR is not necessary. A good, top drawer P&S should be a better choice. Suggest a visit to a retail store where she can touch and feel different cameras. When I buy cameras on line it is usually from B&H.
 
We've been happy with our Canon EOS Rebel XS. We haven't explored the features yet, but for an entry level DSLR it's easy to use and takes great pictures.
 
ya, she wants a DSLR. Truth be told, I was thinking abotu it a few weeks before she asked. I don't really care for our current P&S camera and it was well researched, etc.

For what it is worth, we need something better than what we have (P&S). I really want something that has little/no delay when pressing the button and the photo being taken. And we need more zoom than we get with our P&S.
 
MrChad said:
We've been happy with our Canon EOS Rebel XS. We haven't explored the features yet, but for an entry level DSLR it's easy to use and takes great pictures.
Click to expand...

Talking to a co-worker into cameras. He recomends Nikon or Cannon.

If I go Cannon, I hink I am goign with the Rebel XS. Good to see it get a nod from someone.
 
Looking at things, I am geting the entry level Nikon or Cannon.

So, it's the Nikon D3000 or the Cannon Rebel XS. Similar price, similar features.
 
Rebel XS is what...$400 new?

Maybe look at used or even older Rebel models. Use the saved money on lenses. I single kit lens can get old real quick.
 
speedy2 said:
Rebel XS is what...$400 new?

Maybe look at used or even older Rebel models. Use the saved money on lenses. I single kit lens can get old real quick.
Click to expand...

$499 at B&H
$499 at Best Buy ($599 as combo with an 75-300 mm lense. $620 for that and a bag)
$499 at Newegg

I should clarify that I am goign to buy new. That $620 combo deal looks very tempting. A bag is a good idea. The lens is this:
Canon 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Zoom Lens
Which I am pretty sure is this:
http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/ef_lens_lineup/ef_75_300mm_f_4_5_6_iii

That lens goes for $150 at B&H:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search...227+4293918168
 
If I was gonna spend $100 on any lens it would be a Canon 50mm f/1.8 II. If not, a good telephoto like a Tamron 17-50mm F/2.8 is a good "walk-around" lens. For long stuff, I would get a prime or a short zoom. That 75-300mm is useless unless you're in full sun, and even then it's not impressive. Plus the build quality and SLOW focus. It's a purchased that will quickly be regretted. I know, I had one.
 
speedy,

Advice taken. Won't burn the $100. Best BUy isprobably trying to blow out their stock of them.

I think I am going with the entr level Canon (EOS Rebel XS). Any thoughts?
 
My wife says that she wants a good camera for portrait type photography. Any opnions on getting the Canon body only (Rebel XS) and the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens?

I think the Rebel XS that coems wit the 18-55mm will be a leap up in everything. But will the 18-135mm lense be an additional leap for a total cost of $800 or so?

So, I am basically asking if there is a big improvment in getting the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS over the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
 
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IHateMyJob2004 said:
My wife says that she wants a good camera for portrait type photography. Any opnions on getting the Canon body only (Rebel XS) and the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens?

I think the Rebel XS that coems wit the 18-55mm will be a leap up in everything. But will the 18-135mm lense be an additional leap for a total cost of $800 or so?

So, I am basically asking if there is a big improvment in getting the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS over the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Click to expand...

so getting the 18-135mm is an extra +$300??? that's a bit excessive...
 
Do you have any older canon point and shoot camera's lying around? Canon has a great trade-in program:

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=212129

Here are some of the latest prices for trading in a S class or above camera:
XS with 18-55 lens 319.99
XSi with 18-55 lens 399.99
T1i body 415.99
with 18-55 lens 479.99 (was 455 for the body and 519 for the kit last week)
40D body 559.20
with 28-135 lens 719.20
50D body 719.20
with 28-135 lens 839.20
7D body 1087.20 (was 1119 for the body last week)
5d mark ii body 1599.20 (was 1679 last week)
 
IHateMyJob2004 said:
My wife says that she wants a good camera for portrait type photography. Any opnions on getting the Canon body only (Rebel XS) and the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens?

I think the Rebel XS that coems wit the 18-55mm will be a leap up in everything. But will the 18-135mm lense be an additional leap for a total cost of $800 or so?

So, I am basically asking if there is a big improvment in getting the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS over the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Click to expand...

If it's portraits she wants, look for a 50mm f/1.8 II. The results will far exceed any "kit" lens. It's just a no brainer purchase if you can live without zoom.
 
Speedy,

I think we pretty much want zoom (for now). Maybe a dedicated lense will come down the road.

Also (metalmania), I am willing to go beyond $600 if there is a good reason. Up to $800 if the 18-135mm lense makes sense.

I have read reveiws on Canon and Nikon lenses and that Canon 18-55m is hard to beat. I think it is really coming down to do I want an 18-135mm or an 18-55mm lense. Forget price other than the fact that I am getting entry level consumer grade stuff.

I also need this lense to take pictures when my kids are in plays (30-40 feet away) as well as when they are 5 feet away (playing on the floor). So, a zoom lense is pretty much required. At longer distances, isn't 18-135mm pretty much a necessity?

FWIW: I am leaning towards Canon for now but I will pretty much go with the less expensive setup unless we are talking $20 difference in total cost.
 
Makes sense. Here's some examples from when I first got a 50mm. With an old Rebel XT, before I started messing around with RAW.

4wheelertire8x6jo9.jpg


gulfarium4av5.jpg


gulfarium7yd2.jpg


flower12.jpg


I actually picked on of them up for $85 the other day for my sister.
 
IMO, go with the cheaper kit with the 18-55mm lens, and pick up a 55-250mm IS lens for telephoto (sports etc.)... runs about $210. It is heads and shoulders over the ancient 75-300mm. Personally, I would rather have the two-lens 18-55+55-250 combo than the single 18-135mm lens. I would also look to buy a 50mm f/1.8 prime in the next year or two for a birthday, etc. It will be your "go-to" lens for portraits and low-light photography (school plays probably count as low-light photography). If portraits and low light take a priority over sports, get the 50mm first and save the 55-250 for later.
 
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