 | Canon Rebel XS 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)
Buy new: $456.00 / Used from: $500.00 This is Canon's entry-level D-SLR. I'm often asked if I recommend Canon or Nikon and why... the truth is, you're not just buying a camera, you're buying into a system. Both camera systems are awesome, so the the intelligent thing to do is buy into the system that your friends/family already have. That way, you can borrow all their fancy gear!
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 | Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)
Buy new: Too low to display / Used from: $539.99 An incremental improvement over the XS. Some advantages over the XS:
12 megapixel vs 10 megapixel
3" screen vs 2.5" screen
3.5 fps shooting vs 3 fps
Note: you can purchase the XS or XSi without a Lens which is marginally cheaper
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 | Sandisk 8GB SDHC Memory Card (SDSDB-8192, Bulk Package)
Buy new: $13.45 8gb of storage for your camera. This will hold between 400-500 RAW images or THOUSANDS of jpegs - It doesn't get any cheaper than this.
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 | Lowepro Rezo 140 AW Camera Bag
Buy new: $39.95 / Used from: $25.00 This is the bag I use when want to pack lite. It has enough room for the rebel with a lens mounted, extra batteries, CF cards and a second lens. As a bonus, there's a special fabric stored in a pouch which makes the bag water resistant.
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 | Sony VCT-R640 Lightweight Tripod for DSCV1/P41/W1/P93/P73/P92/P100/P150/F88/F828 Digital Cameras
Buy new: $28.95 I needed a tripod, but I didn't want a silver one. This tripod by Sony is compact, lightweight and black. I don't need a shiney brushed aluminum tripod. Black = stealthy!
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 | Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens
Buy new: $99.95 / Used from: $89.99 One of the first things people ask me is "How do I make the background blurry, but the foreground sharp?".
You'll need a fast lens with a large aperture -- just like this one. There are 2 other versions of this lens. One is $330 and the other is $1400. So consider this one a steal at $85
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 | Canon Wireless Remote Control RC1 for Digital Rebel
Buy new: $21.89 Perfect for self-portraits, initiating long exposures and practical jokes. I once mounted my camera on a tripod, held the reflector for the model and took the shot remotely. How cool is that?
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 | Canon LP-E5 Battery Pack for Canon Digital Rebel XS & XSi Digital SLR Camera
Buy new: $41.09 / Used from: $16.49 Always keep an extra on hand just in case you run out of juice on the field
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 | Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
Buy new: $250.00 / Used from: $229.99 Having a Speedlite attached to your camera opens up a whole world of opportunities. This little puppy allows you to take brightly lit, nicely saturated photos in room with no other light sources. It's nothing like the built-in pop-up flash.
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 | SANYO eneloop 4 Pack AA NiMH Pre-Charged Rechargeable Batteries
Buy new: $11.19 / Used from: $8.99 Not only are these batteries rechargeable, they allow your flash to cycle faster than non-rechargable batteries
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 | Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR ZL Di LD Aspherical (IF) for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
Buy new: Too low to display By now, you're realizing that the kit lens just doesn't produce images like a Pro. This lens is the perfect replacement... it's half the price of the Canon-banded equivalent and complete blows the stock lens out of the water.
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 | Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM SLR Lens for EOS Digital SLRs
Buy new: $720.00 / Used from: $649.99 This is the newest lens in my stable and is quickly becoming a favorite, especially since I'm a huge fan of negetive space and dramatic angles. I've been told that it would qualify as an "L" lens if it were an EF with contained weather stripping. Judging from the sharpness of the photos it produces, I wouldn't be surprised.
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 | Westcott 301 Photo Basics 40-Inch 5-in-1 Reflector
Buy new: Too low to display This is the simplest and most utilized light modification tool in my arsenal. Use the silver side to reflect light on your subject to remove unwanted shadows and balance out the entire scene. Use the golden side to please the ladies (it's like an instant tan).
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 | Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
Buy new: $358.00 / Used from: $305.00 So you bought the 1.8 and started to notice that it feels like its falling apart and you could never really get it to focus in the dark... If i could do it all over again, this would have been my very first lens. But the price, at the time, turned me off. You'll want it even if you have the 1.8... you'll see...
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 | Canon BG-E5 Battery Grip for Canon XSi Digital SLR Cameras
Buy new: $111.95 It adds a little weight to the camera which is a good thing, especially if you've mounted a heavier lens. Not only does this balance the weight of the camera, it also adds redundant camera controls for better portrait shooting.
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 | Canon Deluxe Photo Backpack 200EG for Canon EOS SLR Cameras (Black with Green Accent)
Buy new: $41.89 Now that you have all this gear, you're going to want a bigger bag. This bag will carry it all, and for half the price of the nearest competitor. I recommend removal of the shiney "canon" logo, unless you want all your gear stolen..
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 | Bamboo Fun (Medium) Black Tablet with Pen, Mouse & Graphics Software
Buy new: $164.95 The Wacom tablet reduces stress on your wrist (a plus if you plan to work in front of a computer for a few years...). Plus it's much faster and more accurate than a mouse. It took about 2 weeks to adapt to it, but now I can't imagine working without one. I wouldn't be exaggerating to claim that it has boosted my efficiency at photo retouching by at least 50%.
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