To be sure the camera is right for you, could you maybe borrow from friends or rent different ones for a couple of weeks at a time? Play with some different ones and see which ones feel best and are easiest for you to maneuver.

Finally, remember that it’s not the camera–it’s the artist. If you’re good at what you do, you can make almost any setup work for you, but it IS good to have a rig with some flexibility.

Jen M.

You’ve made a good point about me being absolutely sure that this is the right camera for me.

Now, how do I get to that point when I AM absolutely sure?
It’s very hard for me to decide; the overall offer in that price-range is overwhelming, the information as well, and I’m scared to end up with something I will outgrow.

I use my camera for my hobby, which is stock photography, and my family photographs. I’m not planning to go pro, but I would like a bit more traffic on my micro-stock profiles.
I’d like a camera which is fast enough to take my child’s photographs (she’s tired of posing, and I’m tired of blurry pictures!), and I’d like the camera and lens that take decent evening and night shots acceptable for stock sites, without a lot of noise and blur.

This is what I think I need right now.
Would Canon Eos 500D give me that, with those twin lenses? How can I be sure?

Sorry, all, I know it is a simple enough and stupid enough question, but with recent economy, taking the plunge is a big deal.

If you decide that is the right camera for you, I would jump on that deal. It sounds like a pretty good one; however, be absolutely SURE that is the right camera for you before you plunk down the money.

Good luck!

I still haven’t upgraded , I asked previously a question here about Sony DSLR, but I didn’t get it.
I would still like to upgrade and go DSLR. I’ve been looking at Canon EOS 500D kit with two lenses, 18-55 and 75-300.
The price for this lot is 940 US $.

I’m still learning about DSLR photography, and I’ve read somewhere that 18-55 lens is pretty basic and doesn’t get you far (in terms of really good photography and stock-wise, as I’m a microstock contributor), but I’m thinking that the second lens in that kit, 75-300, might get me covered. Am I wrong?
The lenses alone are very expensive, so the whole deal (camera + two lenses), financially, might be good for me.

Photography-wise, would you say it is justified? Those of you who had or have that camera/lenses, what are your experiences? Please share .

Many thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Canon EOS 450D and Canon Rebel XSi are not exactly the same…

Thank you.

With a dSLR, the amount of available zoom is not determined by the camera at all, but by the type of lens you attach to it. It’s also not measured in 10x, 20x, etc…but rather in mm (millemeters). So, let’s say you have a Canon 450D (ie. Rebel XSi like I have)….you can buy a telephoto zoom lens with a rating of 75mm-300mm. That means the lens at its closest is 75mm and when you zoom out far away, it’s 300mm.

Also remember…if you plan on going up to a dSLR, do your research first to determine what you consider the best type of camera for your needs. Once you start buying a certain brand of lens, you are kind of locked into that brand from there on out. If you buy a Canon lens, you cannot turn around and use it on a Nikkon, and vice-versa. However, if you want to save some money, you don’t HAVE TO buy the same brand of lens as your camera. For example, Tamron makes some really nice quality lenses for both Canon and Nikkon (and others) for less than the cost of the Canon or Nikkon brand lenses.

The most important thing to consider when upgrading to a dSLR is not the camera body, but more the glass (ie. lenses). Get the body you can afford with the features you want, but don’t skimp on the glass. The better quality lens, the better your pictures will look as you get more proficient with your new dSLR.