Any owners of the 10.1MP Digital Rebel XTi? If so, what are your overall thoughts after using it? Pros/Cons? Would you buy it again?

Well.. I wouldn't be able to afford anything more! I like it due to the size and everything but I think others may point you into the direction of the 40D (if you're going with a Canon) if you have the money. I'm yet to get a decent pic of a plane but it could be me or the lens or the settings i've been using. Some others use this camera or the 350D (Rebel I think) and get good pictures from it. My 18-55mm lens (the standard one) produced this nice picture:

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Photo © Nicholas Young

Quoting SAN787 (Thread starter): Any owners of the 10.1MP Digital Rebel XTi? If so, what are your overall thoughts after using it? Pros/Cons? Would you buy it again?

I own it. I love it. If you would like to check out my photos in the DB taken with the camera, check out the link. All photos since December 2006 were taken with the Xti.

http://www.airliners.net/search/phot...an%20Pastorino&distinct_entry=true

Like I said, I love it. I have owned it for just over a year now and I have been very pleased. I recently purchased some L glass to go with it and WOW...

It's a great camera, especially for an entry level SLR. Combine it with some good glass and it can compete with the big boys!

I just purchased one for Christmas, and so far I love it. I'm just using the 18-55mm lens that came with it, which doesn't produce great results, but get some good lenses and you'll see some stunning things.

But the 18-55 (kit lens) can still take some decent photos.

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Photo © Willson Moss

Quoting DeltaAVL (Reply 3): I'm just using the 18-55mm lens that came with it, which doesn't produce great results

Actually, it's not that bad. Sorry for the self-plugs here, but for demonstration purposes...

All taken with the Rebel Xti + 18-55mm kit lens.

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Photo © Ryan Pastorino

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Photo © Ryan Pastorino


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Photo © Ryan Pastorino


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Photo © Ryan Pastorino


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Photo © Ryan Pastorino


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Photo © Ryan Pastorino


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Photo © Ryan Pastorino


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Photo © Ryan Pastorino


Now, I realize my access helps...so for aviation, unless you can get really close, the kit lens won't cut it. But this was simply a demonstration of a variety of results produced by the camera plus the kit lens.

For travel/scenic landscape stuff, it also does pretty well.

Quoting DeltaAVL (Reply 3): But the 18-55 (kit lens) can still take some decent photos.

My goodness that shot takes me back to my C150 days...


The 18-55 is fine. Gives great results for the money - it's a really nice walkaround lens.

View Large View Medium Photo © James Trimbee

View Large View Medium Photo © James Trimbee

Very nice for travel too.






The XTI/Rebel is a super camera, you'll have loads of fun with it.


J

The replacement for the XTi/400D is soon to be available so it may be worth hanging fire for a few weeks. In Europe it's the 450D but I'm not sure what it is in the US. Rebel XTi II or something like that?

I once had a 350D and loved it. Many of my pics on here were taken with it. Just remember that having good glass is the main thing. Later I switched to a 400D but was not impressed, however I believe the bug I encountered was later fixed in some firmware update. If so, the 400D is a very capable camera, and the new 450D looks even better!

Karl

Great!! Thanks all!! More posts welcome...

Quoting JakTrax (Reply 6): Rebel XTi II or something like that?

I think it's going to be called the Rebel XSi ?

I've got a 350D and I was toying with the idea of the 450D but I think I'm going to spend my money on the 100 - 400 L IS USM instead. My standard Canon 75-300 is terrible!

Quoting LHRjc (Reply 8): My standard Canon 75-300 is terrible!

Aaaaargh!! Yes, indeed, spend the money on 'L' glass instead. I used to have a 350D with the 75-300, which I swapped for a 70-200 L, and the difference was very noticeable. Same camera, so the better results were certainly due to the new lens.

A 350D with 'L' glass will definately be better than a new 450D with that 75-300!!

Karl

Quoting Silver1SWA (Reply 4): Sorry for the self-plugs here

Is that not allowed/appreciated?

Quoting JakTrax (Reply 9): Aaaaargh!! Yes, indeed, spend the money on 'L' glass instead. I used to have a 350D with the 75-300, which I swapped for a 70-200 L, and the difference was very noticeable. Same camera, so the better results were certainly due to the new lens.

Ive just gone from a Sigma 70-300 to a Canon 70-200 f/4 L, and I must say that the better quality is noticeable through the viewfinder alone and the photos are simply astounding in difference.

Quoting JakTrax (Reply 9): Aaaaargh!! Yes, indeed, spend the money on 'L' glass instead. I used to have a 350D with the 75-300, which I swapped for a 70-200 L, and the difference was very noticeable. Same camera, so the better results were certainly due to the new lens.

Quoting Moo (Reply 11): Ive just gone from a Sigma 70-300 to a Canon 70-200 f/4 L, and I must say that the better quality is noticeable through the viewfinder alone and the photos are simply astounding in difference.

Well that settles it then.. Thanks! Hopefully my acceptance ratio might go up a little with some new glass   

You may want to check out the new XSi/450D.

http://dpreview.com/

I own it and I love it, I really can't think of any complaints except for the 3.5 fps I believe it is, I wish it was a bit faster, I do sports photography for my school, but for aviation I really have no complaints.

-Matt

I just got one too, Wish i'd waited just a little longer to get the XSi, but I got the XTi,standard kit lens, 75-300 Lens and the Canon bag with UV Filter and extra Battery for $850 So I can't Complain.

I do Like it a lot though, And i'm sure you'd be happy with it. But as someone else mentioned, You could wait for the XSi or take advantage of the really good post christmas rates.

Now I Just have to learn to take sweet photos with it. Anyone know where I could find a nice tutorial for it?

P.S. When should I use that UV Filter?

[Edited 2008-01-29 05:36:46]

[Edited 2008-01-29 05:40:44]

Quoting BlueElephant (Reply 15): P.S. When should I use that UV Filter?

You don't need UV filtering on a digital sensor, but common practice is to use it as a protector for the front element. Personally I don't worry too much about that, and it's just another bit of glass to shoot through anyway. I had a filter on my 70-200 for three years before realising it actually performed better without.

Whatever you're comfortable with.

J

Lenses will perform slightly better without that 'extra bit of glass to shoot through' (i.e. a filter) but the improvements are minuscule. I've always had a skylight 1A filter on simply to protect the glass of the lens, and I'd always recommend this. No matter how careful you are it's easy to scratch the front element of a lens and once you've done that you might as well bin it. Skylight filters also control the amount of glaring blue light entering the lens, which I suppose is kinda useful when shooting outdoors.

UV filters actually work to slightly reduce haze when shooting over long distances or long focal lengths. Of course some filters are better than others and therefore results differ.

Karl

Quoting LHRjc (Reply 8): I've got a 350D and I was toying with the idea of the 450D but I think I'm going to spend my money on the 100 - 400 L IS USM instead. My standard Canon 75-300 is terrible!

Quoting JakTrax (Reply 9): Aaaaargh!! Yes, indeed, spend the money on 'L' glass instead.

I'm not saying my EF75-300mm 1:4-.6 III USM lense is bad as it produces fairly good quality photos but I was also thinking of buying the 450D since I have the 350D but I will instead buy the 100-400mm L lense once I have the money that is. I think it is much more worth the money as my 350D camera is still working well. But I will be honest in that it will still be a long time from now before I can afford the 100-400mm lense.

Regards,

A388  

The EF75-300 F4-5.6 USM III isn't a bad lens, especially given its low price, and in the right hands it will produce quality images. Just not L quality, obviously.

Karl

Quoting JakTrax (Reply 19): The EF75-300 F4-5.6 USM III isn't a bad lens, especially given its low price

You said it right Karl. I am still happy with my 75-300mm lense and the price I paid for it was good too. My next investment camerawise speaking will be a 100-400mm L lense but this will take some time.

A388

Quoting A388 (Reply 20): Quoting JakTrax (Reply 19): The EF75-300 F4-5.6 USM III isn't a bad lens, especially given its low price You said it right Karl. I am still happy with my 75-300mm lense and the price I paid for it was good too. My next investment camerawise speaking will be a 100-400mm L lense but this will take some time.

I must agree, I've been using the 75-300mm for a year and have found it excellent for the price, but having bought a 100-400L a month ago, the difference is extremely noticeable.

On the camera front, the 400D is an excellent piece of kit for the price, and I am certainly enjoying using it  

.mic

Quoting Mictheslik (Reply 21): but having bought a 100-400L a month ago, the difference is extremely noticeable.

I borrowed the 100-400mm L lense on my spotting trip to FRA last year and the results were nice but not much different than my 75-300mm lense but probably I need more experience with the lense. I used the same settings for the 400mm L lense which is Av-mode set at 8. Are the settings much different on the 400mm L lense compared to the 300mm lense? Even so, the more I read about the 400mm the more I want it!

Quoting Mictheslik (Reply 21): On the camera front, the 400D is an excellent piece of kit for the price, and I am certainly enjoying using it

The 400D probably is a good camera but as the others have said, the 450D is just released so it will be better worth it to wait for that camera if you want to invest in a camera anyways.

A388

All of my photos on this site (and others) were all taken with my XTi but I am seriously considering upgrading to the 40D. A link to my photos here can be found on my profile.

Quoting Flynavy (Reply 23): A link to my photos here can be found on my profile.

Nice pictures you have in your profile Christopher. You are a flight operations employee at DL? DL recently started ATL-CUR nonstop flights (since December 22nd 2007). I hope the route will become a success. You can see my photos taken from the ATC Tower in CUR the day the first DL flight arrived. Just search under Curacao in the database and you will find my photos (Roger).

About the cameras, I still have the XT which is still doing a good job so far. I don't know when I will upgrade to a new camera but I am thinking of buying a 100-400mm L lense before buying a new camera. This all is still pending though.

A388