First DSLR - Which camera to get + when?

[inkista]

Originally Posted by bugmenot

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.

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.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by inkista

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.

They do but it's sometimes cheaper to drive down and get it in person

[FormElement]

Don't overlook the possibility of buying a used XSi off of craigslist or something like that. They go for about $450 (and less) with the kit lens, and will give you plenty of good service.

I do recommend that you get a body that has live view (The XSi does). When you are composing shots on a tripod, you will find it is indispensable to really nail your focus manually. Autofocus is great...until it isn't. Sometimes it absolutely refuses to focus accurately on the actual subject you are trying to capture.

If you save the $300 difference between a brand new body and an older one, you can invest in at least one very good prime lens (start with a 35, 50, or 85). A good prime lens will not lose value, every camera body will.