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Old 12-21-2009, 10:15 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: San Diego, CA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bugmenot View Post
Amazon.com doesn't ship to Canada, and .ca doesn't have them . The T1i/D80 may be a bit expensive for me.
Ah, sorry. And, just a tiny footnote, but this is one reason why putting what country you reside in into your profile can be useful. I've heard B&H and Adorama ship to Canada.

Quote:
I don't really plan on buying many lenses - I'll maybe buy one to three, after I learn more about them of course. How long should a 2009 model last ('til I would need to upgrade to a better model)? Do you think I should wait?
How long the model lasts in the lineup is not how long you'll need before you want to upgrade. These are two different things. You'll need to upgrade when a) the camera stops working, or b) it's becoming an obstacle to your getting the shots you want to get. You'll probably want to upgrade sooner than that. But buying a camera body is rather like buying a computer--there's never a "best" time, and if you always want to wait for a better one, you never actually get one. They come along all the time.

Most entry level cameras have a lifespan of about 18 months. Most people upgrade bodies every two or three generations of cameras (3-5 years). Some people do it more frequently than that, but they tend to be either professionals who need the latest gear for a specific reason (and can write it off on their taxes), or someone who's got a lot of money to throw around. Or maybe someone who's more into collecting camera gear than into taking pictures.

The main thing to know is that camera product announcements tend to cluster around two points: Feb/March for PMA, and Sept/Oct for Photokina, or the pre-Christmas ramp-up. So, if you're close to either one of those, and you can wait, it may make sense to see what comes out, and if it changes the landscape of purchases choices for you.

I'd say if you need a camera badly enough that you can't wait, then don't worry about it. Right now, I think the XS is at the lowest price it's ever going to see ($450 for the kit here in the USA). Waiting is more easily done if you already have a camera in hand. But if you know that you're the kind of person who, if you bought an XS now, and then found out in February that a better featured (but more expensive) replacement model was coming out in March and you'd be kicking yourself for not waiting, then maybe waiting is a better choice.
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I shoot with a Canon 5DmkII, 50D, and S90, and Pansonic G3. flickr stream and equipment list
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