The next Canon Digital Rebel?

[BakedBeans]

i agree with mad max,

basically

nikon snobs will say nikon
cannon snobs will say cannon

i would probably say the d70 is slightly better than the rebel, but for d70 money you could get a 10D, which is nicer camera than the D70, it really depends what your going to be doing with the camera...

a d70 or 300d/rebel will satisfy most enthusiasts, they both have fair specs,
but to say a digirebel is a glorified point and shoot.... 🙄 😱 😉

we all have our preferences but woooow

 

[Moxiemike]

Well I love Minolta camera's but they really need a good budget DSLR or SLR type camera. Panasonic is doing lovely things with their Leica Lenses with optical stabilizing, if only they would make a budget DSLR. If money is tight I might just get a panasonic like the FZ20 or FZ7 until I can afford a rebel and the $500 EF-S 17-85mm (isn't the fastest lens out there).

Why not get the Maxxum 7 Digital??? It should be on shelves soon, 6mp is probably MORE than enough for, especially if you shoot raw, and it has STUNNING image quality (i gotta hand it to Minolta there-- the 7d looks to be nicer, image-wise, than any of the other DSLRs in its range, including the D70) AND it has mage stabilization built it! So no need to buy expensive IS Canon L lenses or VR Nikkor lenses......it's compelling, for sure!

 

[jared_kipe]

Why not get the Maxxum 7 Digital??? It should be on shelves soon, 6mp is probably MORE than enough for, especially if you shoot raw, and it has STUNNING image quality (i gotta hand it to Minolta there-- the 7d looks to be nicer, image-wise, than any of the other DSLRs in its range, including the D70) AND it has mage stabilization built it! So no need to buy expensive IS Canon L lenses or VR Nikkor lenses......it's compelling, for sure!

Because the 7D is supposed to be like $1600-1700, thats quite a bit more than the D70, thats above the Canon 20D at $1600. That said the 20D would most likely be the camera I would get if I had $1600 to spend, and I don't think I do.

 

[madmaxmedia]

If you really want a DSLR, you might be better buying a DRebel and just using the kit lens until you can afford another lens. If you buy a compact digicam, you'll just end up losing money later on it when you do buy a DSLR.

Minolta is coming out sometime with a Maxxum 7D digital, but I believe it will be much pricier ($1600 or so for body alone.) Olympus is coming out with their E-300 camera which looks very interesting, based on the new proposed 4/3 format. It seems to be in your price range-

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/olympuse300/

Another option would be to look for older models on EBay, such as the 10D, or even D60 which would save you more money. I personally bought a D30 a year and half ago (loved it!), and just sold it to get a DRebel (the advantages outweighed the disadvantages for me.) You should really consider what you want to do with the camera, only then can you look at the Rebel feature list and determine if it will hamper you in any way. I can live without things like flash exposure compensation, especially because I use natural light as much as possible. Some of these features can actually be restored with a widely available firmware hack... 😉

I'm not familiar with the Nikons so I don't know what options you would have with older Nikons, but I'm sure there are some good ones.

PS- Also, both Nikon and Canon are offering substantial rebates, you should make sure you check them out. For Canon, I got a $100 rebate off the DRebel kit, bringing the price to only $700. If I buy one of the selected lenses (I'm looking at the 50 mm 1.4), I'll end up getting $30 off the lens, and my Rebel rebate doubles to $200. The 50 mm 1.4 normally costs around $300 (too much for me when the 50mm 1.8 is a super, super value), but for essentially a $130 discount it's very tempting...

 

[dweebert]

Well I love Minolta camera's but they really need a good budget DSLR or SLR type camera. Panasonic is doing lovely things with their Leica Lenses with optical stabilizing, if only they would make a budget DSLR. If money is tight I might just get a panasonic like the FZ20 or FZ7 until I can afford a rebel and the $500 EF-S 17-85mm (isn't the fastest lens out there).

The Rebel's kit lens isn't *that* bad. It's obviously not as good as other lenses, but it's not really going to be any worse than you find on a $500 P&S.

The way I see it, if you spend $500 on a P&S camera, that's $500 more you have to save before you can get your SLR, and you have no upgrade path. Why not buy the Rebel (or D70) with whatever lens you can afford now, and then start saving for the better lens? (There are some great deals available on used lenses BTW.)

 

[madmaxmedia]

The Rebel's kit lens isn't *that* bad. It's obviously not as good as other lenses, but it's not really going to be any worse than you find on a $500 P&S.

Most reviews say it is better than most compact digicams (at least under $500 or so.) It's cheap because it's not a full-frame 35 mm lens, and is made of cheaper materials. Just like consumer digicam lenses.

 

[lasuther]

Here is a review of the lens that comes with the Digital Rebel.

http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/efs18-55/review/\

As stated before, there is a rebate out on the digital rebel. You get double or triple the rebate if you buy multiple products. If you buy two additional lenses, you’ll get $300 off of the price. That makes the Digital Rebel about $480. I was looking at getting the Digital Rebel ($780-$200 rebate) and the 28-135mm IS lens ($410-$30 Rebate). Both will run me about $960. I think that’s a good deal.

lasuther

 

[bousozoku]

...
Olympus is coming out with their E-300 camera which looks very interesting, based on the new proposed 4/3 format. It seems to be in your price range-

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/olympuse300/
...

The 4/3 format hasn't been just a proposition for almost a year. If my experience with the E-1 is indicative of what is coming with the E-300, it's going to have a bright future. The pricing should be good and they've delivered on lower cost lenses.

 

[madmaxmedia]

The 4/3 format hasn't been just a proposition for almost a year. If my experience with the E-1 is indicative of what is coming with the E-300, it's going to have a bright future. The pricing should be good and they've delivered on lower cost lenses.

Sorry, bad choice of words. I actually knew that it was a real system, I guess I meant "new 4/3" format...It's just the E-300 camera that isn't out yet.

 

[jared_kipe]

If you really want a DSLR, you might be better buying a DRebel and just using the kit lens until you can afford another lens. If you buy a compact digicam, you'll just end up losing money later on it when you do buy a DSLR.

Minolta is coming out sometime with a Maxxum 7D digital, but I believe it will be much pricier ($1600 or so for body alone.) Olympus is coming out with their E-300 camera which looks very interesting, based on the new proposed 4/3 format. It seems to be in your price range-

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/olympuse300/

Another option would be to look for older models on EBay, such as the 10D, or even D60 which would save you more money. I personally bought a D30 a year and half ago (loved it!), and just sold it to get a DRebel (the advantages outweighed the disadvantages for me.) You should really consider what you want to do with the camera, only then can you look at the Rebel feature list and determine if it will hamper you in any way. I can live without things like flash exposure compensation, especially because I use natural light as much as possible. Some of these features can actually be restored with a widely available firmware hack... 😉

I'm not familiar with the Nikons so I don't know what options you would have with older Nikons, but I'm sure there are some good ones.

PS- Also, both Nikon and Canon are offering substantial rebates, you should make sure you check them out. For Canon, I got a $100 rebate off the DRebel kit, bringing the price to only $700. If I buy one of the selected lenses (I'm looking at the 50 mm 1.4), I'll end up getting $30 off the lens, and my Rebel rebate doubles to $200. The 50 mm 1.4 normally costs around $300 (too much for me when the 50mm 1.8 is a super, super value), but for essentially a $130 discount it's very tempting...

OMG I had no idea people were selling the 10D for less than the digital rebel on ebay, usually when I look I only see basically the same price as if you went out and got one yourself. And thanks for the heads up on the firmware update. I know about the rebates, and since canon has theirs till end of january, maybe thats what I'll do.

Yet, the reason I started this I forgot about, with both manufacturers having the rebates it would make sense that they are getting rid of stock to release an update to the line. Does anybody know of any canonrumors.com or something that could shed some light on this matter?

 

[MacBandit]

OMG I had no idea people were selling the 10D for less than the digital rebel on ebay, usually when I look I only see basically the same price as if you went out and got one yourself. And thanks for the heads up on the firmware update. I know about the rebates, and since canon has theirs till end of january, maybe thats what I'll do.

Yet, the reason I started this I forgot about, with both manufacturers having the rebates it would make sense that they are getting rid of stock to release an update to the line. Does anybody know of any canonrumors.com or something that could shed some light on this matter?

It's unlikely that Canon plans on replacing the 300D anytime soon as they just announced a black body model. The rebates are most likely simply promotions to sell Christmas presents.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0411/04110201canon_rebelblackus.asp

But if you are truly a rumor and speculation fan read this thread at DPReview.com.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1000&message=11006182

 

[madmaxmedia]

OMG I had no idea people were selling the 10D for less than the digital rebel on ebay, usually when I look I only see basically the same price as if you went out and got one yourself. And thanks for the heads up on the firmware update. I know about the rebates, and since canon has theirs till end of january, maybe thats what I'll do.

Well, I don't know what the going prices are, I just meant that it was another option. I would expect that the D60 could be found for cheaper, but not too much if you end up using the Rebel rebate and buying a lens to double the rebate.

The Rebel has better AF than the D60 though (same AF system as the 10D.)

 

[jared_kipe]

Well, I don't know what the going prices are, I just meant that it was another option. I would expect that the D60 could be found for cheaper, but not too much if you end up using the Rebel rebate and buying a lens to double the rebate.

The Rebel has better AF than the D60 though (same AF system as the 10D.)

That in mind, I think the rebel with the firmware hack would be the best option.

Oh and the black one has been available for quite some time, just not in america, there was even a guy on macrumors selling one he bought from canada a while back.

 

[madmaxmedia]

Don't forget the 2x and 3x rebate-

That in mind, I think the rebel with the firmware hack would be the best option.

Oh and the black one has been available for quite some time, just not in america, there was even a guy on macrumors selling one he bought from canada a while back.

I pretty much agree, especially if you can take advantage of the double and triple rebate offer.

Even if you only want 1 extra lens, if you have some experience/feedback on EBay, you can sell the extra lens as brand new and get almost full retail value. You thus net another $100 back from Canon.

I am going to buy the 50 mm 1.4, and 85 mm 1.8. I will be keeping the 50 mm 1.4 as an upgrade over my 50 mm 1.8 (will sell that too for a little extra cash), and will be selling the 85 mm 1.8 as well (I'm not going to even try the lens out, so I can sell it as brand new.)

My total rebate from Canon? An eye-popping $390!!! (3x $100 for the Rebel, 3x $15 for each of the 2 lenses.)

 

[iGary]

I'm a 300D owner.

If you are buying in the next three months, bite the bullet and spend the extra bucks for the EOS D20 - I'll be buying one soon and keep the 300D as a second body.

The D20 is close in price, has a magnesium body (versus plastic), a larger sensor, larger burst rate, mirror lockup etc etc etc

If you can afford it, go with the D20.

 

[efoto]

Interesting that you mentioned Tamron.

From my experiences and from many many reviews, you might want to walk, or preferably RUN away from Tamron lenses. Some third party vendors make some decent glass (Sigma in some cases) but it is lens specific, so make sure to read reviews on it prior to purchasing it. I have not read many good reviews of Tamron however, so there is my warning...proceed at your own risk.

 

[bousozoku]

From my experiences and from many many reviews, you might want to walk, or preferably RUN away from Tamron lenses. Some third party vendors make some decent glass (Sigma in some cases) but it is lens specific, so make sure to read reviews on it prior to purchasing it. I have not read many good reviews of Tamron however, so there is my warning...proceed at your own risk.

Yes, and in the old days, I would not have recommended any 3rd party glass. Vivitar sold pretty well in the small telephoto range but that was a long time ago.

The Tamron lens is question had won some important award but I was not familiar with it since I don't have a camera to which it would mount. The salesperson at the store is knowledgeable and made his assessment over all 3rd party lenses and their ability to work with Canon bodies. Nikon, Minolta, Pentax--yes, Canon--don't bet anything on them working.

 

[jared_kipe]

I'm a 300D owner.

If you are buying in the next three months, bite the bullet and spend the extra bucks for the EOS D20 - I'll be buying one soon and keep the 300D as a second body.

The D20 is close in price, has a magnesium body (versus plastic), a larger sensor, larger burst rate, mirror lockup etc etc etc

If you can afford it, go with the D20.

You've gotta be kidding right?? I can find the Digital Rebel for $730 without kit lens, and the 20D for $1500, last time I checked that was more than twice as much. Thats like saying, if you're going to be getting the high end 17" imac right now, you might as well bite the bullet and get a Dual 2.5GHz Powermac. Some of us have $1500 to blow on a camera, and the rest WISH they had $1500. But they aren't the same people, not by a long shot.

 

[jared_kipe]

On second thought, maybe I could make your 20D price lighter, say... by 600-700 depending on color and the inclusion of the kit lens.