Need feedback on selecting a Canon DSLR body

Bill, my apologies in advance, but to be honest, I think you're "all over the place" with your proposed selections & proposed camera choices.

If it were me, I'd drop the prime selection in favour of a couple of high-quality zooms (perhaps 24-70/2.8L and 70-200/4.0L IS) - mount them on a 40D - job done.

BTW, the Canon TC1.4 won't work with any of your lenses.

Hi Bill, I'll second Colin on the two high quality zooms he's mentioned above. If the 40D is too much money, or out of your price range than you can pick-up a 30D fairly cheap. The quality from a 30D is very good, it was my first dive into digital, and i still use it and have not up graded to a 40D yet. When the replacement for the 5D comes out, maybe sooner than later you will see many discount prices on the 5D as well. Hope this helps, Snakeman

XT is still very capable and 8Mp will do fine. Build isn't any worse than other Rebels', you can't hammer nails with it but for normal use I wouldn't worry. Sure, it doesn't feel very pro but it won't just break apart either. I suggest you try it with the battery grip though, changes the handling considerably. Viewfinder will be horrible after film cameras, same goes for XTi, XSi has a bit better one, more like xx-series bodies. Which reminds me, you could look into used 20D.

It will take some time adjusting to digital work and especially post processing to get most out of your lenses. Cheaper body should work fine until you want to upgrade. You seem to know what lenses you want and they're more important than minor image quality upgrades that newer Rebel body would bring.

Are you sure about the Tamron 17-35/2.8-4? Tamron 17-50/2.8 is very capable normal range zoom with constant fast aperture and it's not very expensive.

What's wrong with primes? They're all high quality and fast aperture. Zooms are nice but they're not f1.4-2.

Thanks for the responses. When I reviewed camera bodies, the one I liked best was the 40D. When I checked it out in person, I just didn't like the size. I have large hands but preferred the smaller bodies. With the 40D combined with a zoom, it would be quite heavy to carry around. I should have mentioned, I prefer prime lenses as they have the faster aperture, thet're lighter and better quality. Thats a nice combination! One of the X series camera with the 100mm 2.0 would be very light and easier to carry than the 40D with a zoom. Although the Canon 24-70/2.8L would be wonderful, but its too expensive.

Jeff... Is the 30D the same size as the 40D?

Colin... I was under the impression that the Canon 1.4 teleconverter worked with the 200mm 2.8 & the 100 2.0 ? What kind of lens is the 1.4 tele suited for?

Kari... thanks for the advice... You said "Viewfinder will be horrible after film cameras" You're right. When I first looked thru a DSLR viewfinder, I said "Where's the split screen?"

If you're more comfortable with primes, go with primes. You have a very nice lens lineup there, and the extender will work with the 200 2.8. Rather than the XT, I'd go with a 20D or 30D if you don't want to spring for a new 40D. They're both very capable cameras and the control layout is better, the bodies themselves are made out of the same material the rest of the Canon lineup is made out of while the Rebels are all plastic bodies. The viewfinder is much better and the shutters are rated at twice the life of the Rebels. You can pick up a used 20 or 30 for little more than a Rebel XT. Good luck.

> BTW, the Canon TC1.4 won't work with any of your lenses. <

This statement is incorrect.

> I was under the impression that the Canon 1.4 teleconverter worked with the 200mm 2.8 & the 100 2.0 ? What kind of lens is the 1.4 tele suited for? <

The canon x1.4MkiII will work on the EF200mmF2.8LUSM.

That Canon teleconverter will NOT work with the EF100F2.0.

I apologize if it was implied that it would, as you might have thought that form my response to your previous question.

The Canon teleconverters are designed to work with L series primes including FL 135L and beyond.

There are special circumstances for the zooms with which they mate.

WW

"When I first looked thru a DSLR viewfinder, I said "Where's the split screen?""

Actually you can get a split screen if you want. :) But It's $100 and XT vf won't get any bigger. :(

http://www.katzeyeoptics.com/cat--Canon-DSLRs--cat_canon.html

> Is the XT a good enough camera to get the most out of these lenses? Or would it require an SXI to do so? <

IMO any of the three bodies you are deciding between will give good (and very similar quality) pictures with the lenses. I doubt if you lined the bodies up and shot comparisons, any of us could tell the difference on a 10x8 held at arm`s length.

Major factors in getting `better quality` out of the camera is: 1 correct exposure and; 2 knowledge in post production, especially sharpening, IMO.

WW