The Adventures of Cindy Li

Why I love my Canon Rebel Xti(400D) even after over a year

December 7 , 2007 10 comments

Once upon a time

I took pictures everywhere I went. If you asked me what I did, I’d sit you in front of my photos. :P I’ve been asked by a few people what I got. It’s been over a year now since I purchased the Canon Rebel Xti (400D for the Europeans).
Prior to the SLR (I still have it), I got a point and shoot camera, it was a Canon A95. I even got a waterproof case for it when I went to Hawaii to go snorkeling (Canon makes a great waterproof case).

Tips:

• Get UV filters for all your lenses so that you can protect them from the dust, and finger prints that WILL happen.
• Get a lens wipe cloth. You will get fingerprints. It will happen or dust.
• If you click on the photos they will take you to the Amazon store so you can what the latest prices are. Plus keep an eye out on the Canon Promotions for the rebates.
• This tip I learned from Jason, the battery comes with a cover. On the cover, there is a cutout for a battery shape and the blue square on the bottom of the battery. If you have used the battery flip the cover so it isn’t blue. That way you know if you’ve used the battery or not without putting it in the camera.



Which Canon and why?

I got a Canon Rebel Xti/400D. Why did I get it? My friends had Canons so we shared lenses. Why didn’t I get a Canon 40D or something like that in the professional series? My hands are smaller. I think it is a great camera for women or anyone that doesn’t want the extra bulk. But if you have big hands then you probably won’t want this camera because of the grip. Go test it out for yourself. For me being 5’2” it works for me.



What lenses did I get?

I bought the “kit lens” the lens that came with the camera (you can just purchase the body).
I got the kit lens because I didn’t have a Canon lenses at all.
Pro: Good for taking group shots
Con:Not great for low light situations.

• Canon Macro Lens EF 100mm: Pro:Great for macro shots plants, “blurry” background photos, Con:If you start taking portraits with this then your friends may not appreciate their pores being enlarged

  

  Example of the a picture I took with this lens.

  

• Canon 50mm F1.4:
  This is the basic lens I would get. People love the portraits I’ve taken for these. Here’s a link to some of the portraits. I’ve taken using this lens.

  Pro: Great for portraits, great at low light situations
  Con: isn’t good for group shots unless you enjoy being across the room (which I’ve had to do when I forget to bring another lens).

  

  Here’s a photo I took in an Arby’s (fast food) restaurant in Dec 2006 of my friend’s daughter.

  

 

• Canon Ef-S 10-22mm F3.4-4.5:

  Pros: Great for shots like the Grand Canyon/outdoor wilderness shots, has some zoom abilities. If you are in a tight indoor space you can get everything in the picture Con: It stretches people and things out on the edge of the frame, people do look fat and get annoyed at you later even if you explain they haven’t gained weight but it’s really the lens. :P

  

  Examples of what photos look like with this lens:

  

  Look at the edges of the photos (people are stretched out):

  

  Outdoor shot:

  

What Accessories?

• SanDisk 2G Compact Flash II: I got two of them so that I could switch it out and if I for some reason one of them malfunctioned then I’d have the spare.

  

 

• Canon Wireless Remote Control RC1
  Pro:I wanted to be in some of the photos and who doesn’t love a remote. :D
  Con: You have to be in the front of the camera. It comes with a holder that you put on your camera strap but you MUST remember to put it back. I am on my second remote now.

  

  Check out the photo of me using the remote it is in my right hand:

  

 

• Canon Rebel Xti Battery:
  Why? You will need an extra battery. The camera does have an indicator but it is always good to have a spare.

  

   

• Canon Speedlite 430EX:
  I got this because my friend Jason had one and I got to try it out. I used it to take photos for the Leukemia Lymphoma event in Feb.
  It was great because you can bounce light up and then people don’t look washed out or have that deer in headlights look in the photos.

  

Hope this helps :)