[Ben]

Not that the camera really makes any difference (it's all about the lenses) here are a few pics I just took with the XTi





















In the end, just like cars, it's more about the driver (photographer) and mods (lenses) than it is about the stock car...

If you do go the Canon route, I highly recommend the EF-S 10-22mm 2.8, EF-S 17-55mm 2.8 IS, and EF 70-200mm 2.8L. They aren't cheap, but they're worth it!

[STinsane]

Ive gone the nikon way and havent looked back, Im shooting on a D200 which is out of your price range, but its an amazing camera. The D40x that is in your price range uses the same sensor as my $2,000 D200. Its also small and compact.

Few shots off the D200

[Ben]

I just realized that I posted a bunch of pics of nature and animals on an STI forum...lol. Sorry for the lame post, here are some cars:

[RdRacer301]

Great pics, guys. This IS another STi vs. EVO comparison. I'm just gonna have to test both out.

I'm hearing mixed opinions on the limitation of D40- the lack of autofocus mechanism for the lenses. I don't have any older lenses nor will I ever have access to them, unless I buy one new. THat being said, will I be kicking myself few months down the road with the D40 because of the missing autofocus mechanism?

[Ben]

I doubt you'll need it, honestly. If you plan on buying older used lenses you'll kick yourself, but that doesn't sound like your plan.

Also, a nice feature of the XTi is the self-cleaning sensor. It might sound stupid, but I've had the camera for almost a year and I have no sensor dust. My friend's DSLR (with no self-cleaning sensor) had visible sensor dust after just 2 months, so it definitely works! Cleaning a sensor isn't the end of the world, but it's a pain.

I actually chose the XTi (400D) over the 30D for the extra 2 megapixels and self-cleaning sensor. Price wasn't a factor. When the 40D comes out I might sell my 400D for it as it should be atleast 12.8mp and self-cleaning with all the other 30D goodies.

[RdRacer301]

Didn't know about the self-cleaning sensor. I'm a lazy beast, so I'll cut corners where I can. Decisions, decisions. megapixels don't really concern me as all of them have enough MP for my NOOBness. I'm sure I'll step up if I really get into this photography thing.

Great info, guys. Thanx.

[S4toSTI]

They actually say the self cleaning sensor isn't worth it. My opinion on that is take care of your gear.

[Ben]

Originally Posted by S4toSTI

They actually say the self cleaning sensor isn't worth it. My opinion on that is take care of your gear.

I agree with the "take care of your gear" attitude. I always change lenses with the camera facing the ground, I never leave it open for more than a second. My lenses never get dirty, always have a hood and filter on them, etc...

But the dust remains. I know several people (mostly finantical macro photographers) that bought a second camera just so they could mount their macro lens on it ONCE and never take it off. After 4 months, their sensor was dirty. "WTF?!" They all thought. While taking lenses on and off increases the chance of getting the sensor dirty, dust can still get in, clump together, and spot on the sensor even if you never take the lense off. Thanks to the self-cleaning sensor, dust never gets a chance to clump together because it vibrates it all off the sensor every time you turn the camera on or off.

It might seem trivial, but I hate sensor dust, so it was a deciding factor for me. Cleaning a sensor isn't so bad, but if you **** it up, you're looking at buying a new camera. If you have Canon / Nikon do it for you, more often than not they don't actually get all the dust off. In some cases, people get their cameras back with MORE dust on the sensor than when they sent it in. It's a hassle that I basically don't have to worry about anymore, and I couldn't be happier.

I'm not exactly sure who it is that you've talked to that says the self-cleaning sensor isn't worth it, but odds are, they don't have one. (There are plenty of WRX owners that say the STI isn't worth it... )

[Parker]

Originally Posted by S4toSTI

They actually say the self cleaning sensor isn't worth it. My opinion on that is take care of your gear.

they tested it with 3 other cameras and found that it doesn't do much more than move the dust around instead of getting rid of it. while it sounds like a great feature, what people fail to understand is that if you dust off the sensor, the dust will either fall to the bottom or continue floating around in your camera, leading it to fall back onto the sensor. The best way to clean your sensor is with a rocket blower (for beginners) or a sensor swap (for advanced users).

[S4toSTI]

From what i have read it only catches the dust that falls off the sensor it doesn't clean the actual sensor. So to me ehhh.

[johnny--2k]

I love my Canon 350D (XT). The Kit lens is not as bad as everyone says. Personally, I dont have the funds to spend $800+ on a camera then another 500+ on lenses. Just cant fork out the money right now.

Here are a few pics taken with the 18-55 kit lens, and minimal (read: resizing & small touchups) photoshop....

[Ben]

Originally Posted by Parker

The best way to clean your sensor is with a rocket blower (for beginners) or a sensor swap (for advanced users).

Using a rocket blower to clean your sensor is extremely dangerous, and if you don't break your camera using it, all you're doing is blowing dust around the chamber.

A sensor swab is the ONLY real way (and best way) to clean a sensor.

I guess what people are not understanding is the self-cleaning sensor doesn't swallow dust. It's not some magical invention that eliminates dust or makes your sensor never get dirty. What it does is vibrate a plate on the sensor and shakes dust particles off the sensor and makes them fall in to the chamber. To most, that sounds like a completely useless function. Who gives a **** if it vibrates dust and moves it around, it's still there! True, but it's not ON the sensor, and you don't see one little SPEC of dust. Sensor dust becomes a problem when it clumps together and you start seeing spots. That basically can't happen on a self-cleaning sensor.

[johnny--2k]

can you tell me why this would be dangerous? I have some dust on my sensor of my XT and I need to clean it. I have already been told to use the blower (not specific ones though) but have not done it yet.

Any advice for a noob at sensor cleaning?

[Ben]

Assuming your rocket blower is prefectly clean, you don't squeeze it really hard, and you're in a perfectly clean room, it's not going to hurt your camera. I didn't mean to scare you away from a rocket blower (I use them all the time...for lenses).

Make sure if you do want to blow air in your camera that you DO use a rocket blower though, using canned air or an air compressor is a REALLY bad idea.

The fundamental problem still exists though. If you have dust on your sensor (and in your chamber) blowing air on it is just going to move it around. If you're lucky, some of it will come off. If you're like most people, it will just move to a new place on the sensor. If you're unlucky, dust from the chamber will get blown around, come up, and land on the sensor, and now you'll have MORE dust than when you started.

If you have to use a rocket blower, make sure the camera is facing the ground and blow UP on to the sensor. Still, this probably isn't going to accomplish much.

The reason wet cleaning is so much better is that it will un-stick the dust from the sensor on the wet swipe, and then pick it all up on the dry swipe. It's the only real way to clean the sensor and get 99% of the dust off.

If you can afford it, this kit is awesome, but it's pretty over-priced:

http://www.delkin.com/products/sensorscope/index.html

Otherwise SensorSwab or Eclipse work just fine.

[S4toSTI]

Originally Posted by Ben

Using a rocket blower to clean your sensor is extremely dangerous, and if you don't break your camera using it, all you're doing is blowing dust around the chamber.

A sensor swab is the ONLY real way (and best way) to clean a sensor.

I guess what people are not understanding is the self-cleaning sensor doesn't swallow dust. It's not some magical invention that eliminates dust or makes your sensor never get dirty. What it does is vibrate a plate on the sensor and shakes dust particles off the sensor and makes them fall in to the chamber. To most, that sounds like a completely useless function. Who gives a **** if it vibrates dust and moves it around, it's still there! True, but it's not ON the sensor, and you don't see one little SPEC of dust. Sensor dust becomes a problem when it clumps together and you start seeing spots. That basically can't happen on a self-cleaning sensor.

Actually the canon version has sticky paper in it to catch the dust.