Digital SLR recommendsations

[Freewheelin Franklin]

It's time for me to upgrade my photo gear so I'm hoping to get some recommendations form the group.

For the past few years I've used a Canon S3is because I found it to be the best compromise between an easy to use point and shoot and a more flexible SLR.

It worked fine for a while, but I now find that it's too big to be ultra-convenient (i.e. extremely pocketable) and doesn't offer the flexibility of an SLR. It looks like the best solution is to go with two separate cameras.

For the SLR, I think it'll be the Canon Rebel XSi and the Canon SD1100 IS for the P&S.

To go along with the SLR, I'd like a general purpose zoom lens as well as a fast fixed focal length lens. I'm thinking about the Tamron 18-270mm and the Canon 50mm 1.4 USM.

Any thoughts, comments, suggestions?

 

[DATYdude]

Sounds like you know what you want already.

I'd take a serious look at the Nikon D90. Personally I shoot video sometimes and the new D90 is the first dSLR to have video capability, and a good Live View mode. Nikon glass is expensive but so are all the decent lenses for dSLRs.

If you're going Canon anyway, consider refurbished at factorydirect.ca:
Rebel XTi http://factorydirect.ca/catalog/product_spec.php?pcode=CA1010
30D body only http://factorydirect.ca/catalog/product_spec.php?pcode=CA0030

 

[Perry Mason]

Fixed focus lenses are a waste of money today unless you are doing something that specifically requires a very high quality lens.

An 18mm zoom... do you know how many times you are likely to use 18mm over the life of your camera?

I would rather have, say, a 35-80 and a 80-200 and use a doubler for those really long shots... better quality, faster lenses in the ranges you will use 85% of the time. Those one-lens-fits-all-situations, large focal range lenses like the 18-270 can't provide the same resolution, speed, quality, price, light weight, etc.

That was my rig when I was into SLR's before digital came along. And I have lots of great photos to prove it!

Perry

 

[fashionboy]

If you want a fast prime, the 50mm 1.4 would be a smart choice in terms of quality/economy. Probably the cheapest fast prime in Canon's line up. I do hear a rumour however that they will be updating the lens formula soon...
For zoom stay away from Tamron etc... stick to Canon, go for a quality zoom like the 24-70 f/2.8 or the 24-105mm f/4.