When we first started shooting digital photography we went out with little more than Canon’s Digital Rebel XT and two inexpensive lenses, including the 18-55mm kit lens. While this lens leaves something to be desired, that Rebel proved to be an outstanding choice for up-and-comers like us.
Right out of the box it looks cool and takes great pictures. Even before you learn to use manual settings (and you will learn manual settings) you take this great little toy out on vacation and impress yourself with shots that you always missed with the old point-and-shoot. The ability to adjust aperture and shutter speed, in addition to plenty of lens options for those with the budget for such things, means higher quality images that you are pleased to post on Facebook and share with your friends and family.
Unfortunately, the Rebel inspired the shutterbug spirit in both of us. This little SLR led to fancier and more expensive accessories like nicer lenses and fancy Pocket Wizard flash goodies. Our Orange County photography business doesn’t rely on the Rebel anymore, but it’s good enough to function as a backup camera in case something goes wrong on site—and in fact we still carry the camera on photo shoots.
Over the past year, a number of our clients have been searching for their first digital SLR camera. When they ask us for advice on a good camera to start with, we always recommend the Rebel. Canon’s latest version is the Digital Rebel XSi. This 12.2-megapixel beauty with its 3″ LCD should definitely get you excited about taking your photos to the next level. Check it out on Amazon.
And if a new camera doesn’t quite fit your budget, consider purchasing a used one from our favorite camera store, B&H Photo Video. Their used equipment is top notch. We’ve never been disappointed with the used lenses or camera bodies we’ve bought.
by Lori
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