Earlier this week I decided that things just could not get worse. Yes, there are a lot of horrible things happening in my life in addition to the drama that has been shadowing me for the past few months. And no, I am not exaggerating.
But as they say, the only way to go from here is up. I won’t go into details other than that things are finally starting to get better.
After getting our mortgage, hospital bills, and other financial responsibilities situated, I pulled in some extra work and decided to treat myself to some retail therapy.
I had wanted a DSLR for quite some time now and had my sights set on the Nikon D90 since it was first announced last year. However, when Canon released the latest addition to its popular EOS Rebel line, I decided to reconsider.
Each camera has its pros and cons (you can read extensive reviews on both at Digital Photography Review) and neither seemed to be glaringly better than the other. In the end, it came down to personal preference…and once I tested each camera in person, I found myself leaning towards the Canon.
Announcing my new baby: the Canon EOS 500D / Digital Rebel T1i!
I haven’t been able to play with it yet because the battery is still charging! (Isn’t that the most annoying part of every battery-operated technology purchase?) But I’m undoubtedly über-excited, and can’t wait to get started!
I have some photography experience from a class I took eons ago. Fortunately, J grew up with advanced SLRs (courtesy of his father) and has volunteered to answer any questions I may have.
We decided not to purchase any accessories yet (save for a memory card) so that we can do additional research and look up the best prices online first. At the moment, these two accessories look like great starting-off companions to the camera:
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens |
Canon Speedlite 270EX Flash |
Now, I have a question for you, my readers:
What accessories you would recommend to a first-time DSLR owner?
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Congrats! That’s great news! I have a Rebel as well and I adore it.
That 50mm lens you have pictured is amazing. It’s also really inexpensive. I use mine all the time. As for anything else you get, it depends on what you want to do with your camera. A telephoto lens is awesome to have, but you might not have much use for it. You might want a tripod, or you might not. I don’t have an external flash yet, but I don’t do a lot of portraits. I’d say start playing with the lens you have and see what you want to do. If you find yourself wanting to take photos of far off games, you might want a telephoto lens. It all depends on your preferences.
Let us know what you start deciding on!
YAY congrats! I have a Rebel too. I also have the 50mm/1.8 lens and can’t recommend it enough. I use it mostly for food photography, but pretty much always keep it on the camera even when I’m not shooting food. Also you can’t beat the value for the price, so even if you’re not sure about it, it’s a great way to start out, see what you like and don’t like about it, and go from there. Keep us posted!
a camera bag.
an extra set of batteries – keep ’em charged.
an extra memory card. you just never know.
and joy joy joy – you got an amazing camera!
yes, the 50 mm f1.8 is indeed amazing. Manual is the way to go, for sure. I shoot with a Nikon D40 and the results that I get with the 50 mm would make you swear it’s a more expensive camera.
Have fun with your camera, and congrats on the blessings in your life.
I’d pass on the speedlight, honestly! Your Rebel should have a strong enough to get you by for awhile. Invest in a second battery instead! And make sure you get a mongo card, like 16GB. Amazon.com is THE least expensive place to buy accessories. Also, think about used basic lenses–i have a very basic lens I bought for $90 and I have 2 prime lenses, a 50 and an 85. The 50 is still my favorite. Have fun!!!
sweet camera jenny!!!! take more pics of comang 🙂
I got the older model the XTi so here are some accessories that I got:
camera bag – Crumpler 6 MILLION DOLLAR HOME Shoulder Photo Bag
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens – works really great for portrait and close up shots – I also got the magnifying lens to zoom in more on close up object like on flowers and insects
I got one lens hood the for the standard lens 50 – 80mm lens
Enjoy photo snapping and it’s a great hobby to start with.