I had nothing but a 50mm prime on my 30D for a while. For portraits it was fine but it was too long for everyday use IMO.

Oh ya second the 20 or 30D they are killer cams and will outclass any Nikon in the same price range.
Doug

Is there a big diff in quality between the 30D and 20D? Based on what I'm reading, looks like the 20D is pretty close and could save a few bucks. Or between the 20D and Rebel?

Same body, same AF and same sensor (20D and 30D)

Spot metering and the bigger LCD turned it for me though. Us newbies chimp like crazy!

the 20D is a considerable step up over a rebel in terms of AF, frame rate, the PC sync socket for studio flash, and the fact that it's magnesium/plastic instead of just plastic

the 30D is basically a 20D with a larger monitor and different software, if you can get a good deal on one then ok, but don't bother if it's a big price difference over a 20D

the 40D is a minor step up over the 20/30D but not a quantum leap; plus they tend to be out of your price range

the sigma / tamron 17-55 f/2.8 lenses are good, either one would be a good first lens. the 50 f/1.8 is however good for learning photography, because you get the wide maximum aperture to work with, plus having the prime lens makes you work more on position, composition, etc... the up side is you can probably fit both into your budget

Dang, great info, thanks! Time to hit the B&S Forum...Christmas will be here soon.

Don't forget about Canon's 35/2 either--quite the performer, especially on a crop sensor.

D

She is really going to lug around a DSLR and lenses to college classes? Unless she is required to have one, cameras like the panasonic LX3 will take great photos and can actually be carried along with all her books and notebook. I think a DSLR is overkill, but I've heard of strange requirements before, like the local high school photography teacher requiring a MINIMUM 8MP point and shoot for beginning photography students. I really doubt if he knows what he is doing. Sure, 8MP cameras are cheap, but a excellent 6MP would do just fine. Even a 3MP like the Nikon 990 takes fantastic photos.

MSC wrote:
Thanks all! The 20D does look like a bargin out there. A decent lens is good but not a hign end one. But the XTi looks like it made for this kind of situation...decisions, decisions, The darn thing likey to be stolen or broken or lost or who knows what. Time to hit the B&S forum this weekend.

Oh, I think Canon. That was if ever need be...she can borrow a lens or some other part of my kit.

The XSi is a better camera. It picks up the AF system from the 30D, which is more advanced than that of the 20D. It also includes stuff like dust reduction and live view, along with a sensor with more photosites. It includes some other more advanced features that are probably not relevant here. (The latter is not a major issue in this case, but it is at least a small improvement.)

If your student is doing professional runway shooting then something "bigger and badder" makes more sense, and expensive IS and large aperture lenses could be useful. But from your original post, I don't get the impression that this sort of use is what you are thinking of. The IS kit lens should be just fine.

Keep it simple and cheap and small.

Dan

How about a lightly used G9 ? Who'd know the difference based on the results ?
Unless she's got to have a dSLR.

PetKal wrote:
How about a lightly used G9 ? Who'd know the difference based on the results ?
Unless she's got to have a dSLR.

In all honesty, a decent P&S would most likely be fine for what she is likely to need it for.

Dan

I dunno...my wife indicated that an SLR was required by the school, but not sure if that is exactly so. I'll dig into it more when my kid comes home for the holiday. What I do know is that she needs it to augment current project assignments and to shoot her own fashion designs for a portfolio. She is first year foundation at VCU Arts. At the end of the first year, they have to submit a second portfolio for the particular BFA track they want to concentrate in...re-applying to the specific program. In her case, Fashion Design. So my guess is that for various reasons, she will want to do some runway photography. But I'll get the scoop this weekend and check back with you all. If interested, the Art School's website is: http://www.vcu.edu/arts/

Thanks for all the suggestions and will check back with you and an update...you guys have made great points.

i think if you are on budget, you might consider other system...Canon and Nikon system are more expensive than other systems (they get too many lens, and you might end up of buying them all) You can consider Pentax and Olympus system, they dont have so many lens like Canon and Nikon, so it can save you a lot of $, especially for sutdent. I dont think there are a lot of difference between these systems in entry level.

oajlu wrote:
i think if you are on budget, you might consider other system...Canon and Nikon system are more expensive than other systems (they get too many lens, and you might end up of buying them all) You can consider Pentax and Olympus system, they dont have so many lens like Canon and Nikon, so it can save you a lot of $, especially for sutdent. I dont think there are a lot of difference between these systems in entry level.

don't forget that Canon has low-end, mid-grade, and high-end lenses for pretty much all focal lengths, not to mention that you can go sigma/tamron/tokina as well on pretty much all of theirs... Pentax and Olympus don't giev you that flexibility... other systems all seem to have low-end, some of them have high-end, but only Canon gives you the "mid-grade" option... plus a lot of the sigma/tamron/tokina lenses are only available in canon/nikon mounts... not to mention the fact that the used market has a whole heck of a lot more canon stuff on it...