- Tamron 28-75mm 1:2.8
- Canon EF 50mm 1:2.5 Compact-Macro
- Canon EF 28mm 1:2.8
- Tamron 17-50mm 1:2.8
- Canon EF 24mm 1:2.8
- Konica Hexar AF
- Sigma 12-24mm 4.5-5.6 EX DG HSM
- Minolta MC W.Rokkor - NL 21mm 1:2.8
- Canon BG-ED3 Battery Grip
- Canon 10D
- Sigma EF-500 DG Super EO ETTL
- Minolta Dimage Scan Elite II
- Sears 55mm 1:1.4
- Minolta X-370
- Canon EF 28-90mm 1:4-5.6 III
- Canon 400D (Rebel XTi)
Canon 400D (Rebel XTi)
Date:
9/23/2009 It seems only fitting to offer, as the first review, my first taste of Canon's EOS camera system. It would be nice to tell a tale about seeing this camera and falling in love at first sight but that wouldn't be fair to my true love, now would it. The real story involves a more sophisticated creature by the name of 30D. My brother in law picked one up in the first month they were available and casually allowed me access to it. It was love at first sight but she was outside my means. I 'settled' for the 30D's cheaper sister until my means matched my desire. But 'cheaper sister' isn't accurate so let's get to the good stuff.
The important part about the Rebel or 'three-digit' line is that they allow a modest entry price into the capable EOS line of cameras. My 400D Rebel provided me exactly that. In addition, it has been a capable camera in most every way. Unlike the point-and-shoot digital cameras my family typically owned the 400D clearly worked for me. When I asked it to shoot, instead of taking it's time to find proper focus, it just shot. And stepping into the EOS line allowed me lots of lens upgrade choices when the time was right.
Although I secretly yearned for that 30D, the first year and a half with the Rebel could be considered the honeymoon. At first the camera and I were just getting to know each other. As we danced I began to learn and appreciate more and more about this body. I also learned just how much the EFs 18-55mm II kit lens held it back. Good photos could certainly be made, but the slow kit lens challenged the steadiness of my hand and also my patience. The kit lens saw less than six months of service before being replaced with a Tamron 28-75mm 1:2.8. This lens stayed on for the next year and was an excellent match.
It was during this time that my appreciation for the 400D really started to grow. With the 10 megapixel sensor and the fine Tamron lens I was out of excuses. I quickly learned that when I did my part the images stood on their own. Knowing this, the downside was having to admit that when they didn't stand, only the loose nut behind the viewfinder was to blame.
During this time most of my shooting was daytime outdoor kid photography. Many of the images were of my own daughter but more and more were being produced during my volunteer time as Unofficial Third Grade Field Trip Photographer. Chasing third graders and catching honest expressions was good exercise for me and 'easy money' for the 400D. The fast handling, focus, and easy portability of the 400D all worked in my favor on these outings. My formula:
1. Choose 'P'rogram mode and appropriate ISO.
2. Lurk, hide, wait, etc until kids stop hamming for the camera.
3. Shoot, shoot, shoot.
The 400D has multiple focus points but I evolved into using only the center. Too often, during an outdoor field trip, a branch or other foreground object would be caught in a focus point. The camera probably knew to ignore it but I'm not the 'probably' type and quickly changed my style and process to utilizing only the center focus point. I can imagine that others might 'poo-poo' this technique but it works for me. My attention stays on just one sensor and my subject.
After a year or so I was tempted again. Not by the 30D specifically, but by a new shooting process. I was exposed to David Hobby's Strobist.com website. If I were to explain it in one sentence I would say something like 'shooting DSLR's in full manual mode utilizing off camera flash(es) that are also in full manual mode'. I started learning/experimenting/shooting utilizing some Strobist techniques and realized, at least on the technical side, some success. But running the 400D in all manual didn't work great. Having to adjust the ISO via a menu and not having both a dedicated aperture and shutter speed dial felt clumsy. I started to yearn for a thumb wheel.
And my 'Event Photography', as I began to call the Unofficial Third Grade Field Trip Photographer gig, started to mature enough that I wanted more control over the exposure of some of my shots. The exposure compensation function of the 30D thumbwheel started creeping into my subconscious.
So while yearning for a little more control I was also thoroughly enjoying the portability of Canon's smallest DSLR. It was small enough to not hinder while on field trips, short hikes, boating trips, etc. With the factory strap adjusted as long as I dared, I could put the camera strap over one shoulder, under one arm, with the body 'upside down', and have it rest comfortably against my back with the weight of the Tamron 28-75mm 1:2.8 lens orienting it into a lens pointed down position. I really though I was onto something. Getting it into shooting position wasn't very quick, but I accepted this as it was a secure 'both hands available' carry option. Then I found something better.
While evaluating an EF 28mm 1:2.8 lens I realized just how nice to carry the 400D can be. No need to spin the body backwards. No need to hide an attention grabbing zoom. This combination turned out to be nearly perfect.
And it was this lens, and they way it worked in harmony on the 400D body, that sealed the deal. I continued using the Rebel for all my DSLR photography for about one more year. But a plan was put into motion that would, eventually, allow both a 'two digit' EOS DSLR and the 400D to reside on my photography shelf. A 'two-digit' body (40D) would soon be doing 90% of my DSLR photography and the Rebel would be called on when weight, size, and/or portability would be a part of the equation.
Image Gallery
Church in Portsmouth New Hampshire
ISO 100, f8, 1/500th.
Looking up while strolling the town.
Stop for a Pint at the Rusty Hammer?
ISO 100, f8, 1/320th, custom white balance, crop to square.
After walking the town for a bit, what sounds better than to enjoy a Pint of local brew in the Rusty Hammer? When I was visiting friends last summer I couldn't think of anything.
Stuck in the Fence or Just Horsing Around?
ISO 800, f5.6, 1/125th, Custom White Balance.
Decent, but not great, higher ISO performance allows 400D users (and their subjects) to play a little longer into dusk.
Unwin Lake From Tenedos Trail
ISO 100, f9, 1/80th, exposure adjusted 1 stop darker in post processing.
Even on the crop sensor 400D the 28mm is wide enough to take some of the scenery in.
Silly
ISO 100, f5.6, 1/160th, cropped and blue/purple channels adjusted. Off camera flash.
The long end of the Tamron 28-75mm 1:2.8 combined with the 1.6x crop sensored Rebel 400D equates to 120mm in traditional 35mm terms. Serious portraitists often gravitate towards lenses in that focal length range. Silly subjects seem attracted also.
Sunset Bridge
ISO 100, f:10, 1/125th, 12mm. Post process: Increase saturation, crop.
I guess this is what a Troll looks at every evening. At least when the sun isn't obscured by rain clouds.
Don't Look Into the Sun
ISO 100, f:14, 1/320th, 12mm. Post process: increase saturation, tone curve adjustment.
To my eye this image is all about shapes and colors. And I'm not referencing the tiny blue circles caused by lens flare.
