Would you get anything else?

[Happy_Mummy]

I will start by saying I'm not sure that I'm in the right thread, but wanted to post here in hopes of getting more views. Also all prices are in Canadian dollars, aside from the camera I really am clueless on prices, but figure they can't vary that much in price.

To give some background, I'm not planning on doing anything more than photos of my kids, mostly candid photos, but every now and again I like to set them up for family photos. Since it seems that winter lasts 8 months of the year, and our chilly fall and spring last 3 months we spend too much time indoors, where most of my pics are taken of the kids. I find now that either the flash is very severe, and when I turn off the flash my current camera can't handle the higher iso so I get lots of noise and although I can adjust the shutter speed, obviously once it is slow enough to allow enough light it there is lots of movement, I realize that the T2i may not fix this issue, but having seen friends' pics with their xsi (which they keep on auto at all times), they seem to handle the lighting MUCH better than my camera and the flash glare is better.

We *think* we have enough saved for a Canon T2i, and this weekend we saw there are some sales on that include 2 kit lenses (18-55 and 55-250 if memory serves, I don't remember the rest of the details, but figure that would get me started, even if they aren't the greatest quality.) for $1000 which is $330 savings. VERY TEMPTING!!! These deals that I saw were from Future Shop and Best Buy, is there any reason to avoid the "big" companies? Other than to keep money local?

Anyways, the reason for my post is I'm wondering what else I should get. I currently have a 4gb sandisk sdhc memory card and would like to get another, probably bigger card. Is the sdhc extreme worth getting? Currently it is on sale - 8gb for $89.99 and 16gb for $129.99. I haven't had a chance to look into how that compares to the cost of other cards. I don't see myself using the continuous shooting for now as I find that I have enough photos to go through at the end of the month, the last thing I need are even more!!! That said, I will use it every now and again. I'm also trying to figure out what size card to get - if I shoot jpg files about how many will fit on a 4gb card? I typically take 500-1000 pics a month, and only like to clear my card once a month. I'm anal with back up and prefer to do my extra computer back up at the end of each month (so glad that I am so careful with backup as very little was lost when my computer died in the summer. I would be HEARTBROKEN to lose the pics of my kids when they were growing up!).

Other accessories that I would like to get off the back is an extra camera battery and a wireless remote (I use my current one all the time for family pics, so much easier than running and posing for each pic!!!). I think the camera bag that we have for our video camera may work for and slr, just not sure that it would fit the extra lens, so I have considered that too.

On the note of the video camera. It works fine and we hardly used it as it uses tapes and it is a pain to transfer the videos to the computer and unless it is transferred on the day that it was taken there is no date stamp (I don't like the date stamp on the video). I have heard discussion of a canon camera trade in option to reduce the cost of a new camera. How does this work and can it be used through places like future shop or best buy? Or is it only through canon? It is still working, and we have all the cables and manuals, etc that came with it. We figure we wouldn't get much for it by selling it as it is 3-4 years old now, so I;'m curious how the canon discount works - the video camera is a canon as well.

As for other accessories, I don't think I will need an external flash immediately, as I would like a chance to play around with the camera to see what it can do, and what adjustments I want to make with it.

Sorry for the novel and thank you in advance for any advice you may have for me.

Tori

[OsmosisStudios]

Take a look at some of the smaller retailers too: specifically Henry's (in Ontario) and Black's (national). Both offer price matching and are fairly lenient with it, as well as considerably better information and support.

As for memory cards: I personally don't go above 4GB cards. I just get a whole wack of them. This allows me to compartmentalize my images, and provides a certain level of redundancy and protection should one card go wrong. I get 250 RAW files on a 4GB card, so thats about 800 JPG. Should be plenty for following the kids around.

[Happy_Mummy]

Good to know about the retailers, that was my gut. I've never heard of Henrys, I guess they aren't in Alberta. I may see if Don's Photo would honour it. I"m assuming by Blacks you mean McBains now? The people there don't seem to know what they are talking about. If I was in Calgary I would go back to the Camera Store. Those guys knew what they were talking about and you even got a class on using your camera included in your purchase (which was competitive with Future Shop and Best Buy's prices).

As for the memory cards, I was thinking of getting a bigger card for times when I do videos for concerts, etc (not used often).

[OsmosisStudios]

I've never heard of McBains: it should still be Black's out in Alberta (it is everywhere else).

[Sterling]

I've purchased at and have had good experiences at McBains, Vistek, and Memory Express in Edmonton. You'll find Black's in the malls (Never shopped there, I hate malls).

[inkista]

Sounds like your equipment choices are good basic ones. I've only got two suggestions.

If you're getting a remote, make sure you've got a tripod. Something's gotta hold the camera if you're not. Also, be aware that Canon remotes are infrared-based, like a tv remote. They work great indoors. Outside in bright sunlight can be another issue. The sensor for the remote is the white dot on the front of the grip, so the remotes work great from in front of the camera. A little less well from behind it.

Also, since you're buying this camera in winter, you may want to consider whether you want the 55-250 IS or if you want to swap for the $100 EF 50mm f/1.8 II (or maybe an EF 35mm f/2) instead. (see: max aperture). For shooting portraits or indoors without a flash, a fast prime may be more useful than a relatively slow telephoto zoom.

I would, however, wait on getting an external flash, (although next winter, you'll probably have a helluva lot of fun playing Strobist). Until you're comfortable shooting in full Manual mode, and swapping stops among the ISO, aperture, and shutter speed, adding a flash will just confuse you more. If you ignore this (which is perfectly fine), and feel like getting one anyway, just make sure you get one that swivels and has a Manual mode (i.e., don't get the 270EX just to save cash). You want tilt & swivel to choose the direction when you're bouncing. You want manual for going off-camera.

As for the video function on a dSLR, don't expect it to replicate what a camcorder can do. Autofocus during video more or less is useless. And the HD is huge and eats your cards, so you can't just leave the camera running. It's more like digital filming than it is video recording. If you want something digital to replace the camcorder for casual use, maybe a Flip is something to look at.

[Happy_Mummy]

Thank you everyone for your guidance. THis site is such a good resource because the people here are so helpful!

Sterling - I do go into malls on the odd occasion, and stores that used to be Blacks still look the same other than the McBain store name.

I would also like to add that I meant to say that I already have a tripod. It is very sturdy with my current olympus, so I'm assuming that it will be ok with the new camera, but probably not with a big lens on it. I think we paid $50-$80 for it at the time, so not a high priced one, but not bottom dollar either.

Not sure about going with a prime lens. While I realize my post seemed to be leaning towards portrait photos, I use candid portraits much more. I have found with my current camera that using it in portrait mode makes the depth of focus too narrow and parts of the child are blurry due to this. Also I was thinking that higher telephoto range would be good - I find with my current camera I tend to take photos with the extremes (mostly zoomed all the way out (27mm equivalent) or zoomed all the way in (I think it is 110, but my memory could be off). I don't typically take photos in between those, thus why I was thinking of going with more distance.

Inkista - I agree that adding a flash in for now would be too much of a learning curve. As it is I'm sure I will be using auto too much in the beginning, but will make times to play around with the manual modes as well. As for the video, that is good to know. We will keep our current camera for now for concerts. I'm sure for every day use we will wind up using the T2i for the short video clips.

Just one other question now that it is freezing cold here, does anyone know how well the batteries last in the cold?

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Happy_Mummy

Thank you everyone for your guidance. THis site is such a good resource because the people here are so helpful!


Just one other question now that it is freezing cold here, does anyone know how well the batteries last in the cold?

Those black's stores may have been closed: It's still Black's out west.

Batteries in the cold will lose their charge faster: its often a good idea to have 2 and have one in the camera and one in an interior pocket. This way when the first one drops you can sub in the warm one from inside your coat, and so on. When you put the "dead" on into your jjacket, it'll warm up and magically regain power.