Thoughts:

I owned several SLR cameras over the years. My first was from my uncle when I was 16. I kept my Minolta SR7 for more than 30 years. My last one was a Nikon N6006. When I got my first Digital camera in 2000, I did not think DSLR could match my old SLR besides they were very expensive.

To say the least, SLR users are aging and some of them don't care to learn the new tricks; replacing the dark-room with a PC. Young people find DSLRs too expensive. I believe this will change rather quickly as income of the younger generation is on the rise and they will enjoy the SLR that their parents or grand parents were using do have the advantage in quality photography. For photography enthusiasts, without saying, the one camera they carry likely be DSLR.

Yes, initial investment is higher than a regular digital camera. Plus the facts that most users will find the packaged lenses aren’t the best. Adding a better more versatile, multi-purpose lens say 28-135mm or 35-200mm lens will come to above $600 depending on the brand. Factor in the length of service a DSLR of over 15 years if not more, I think my next DSLR will last my life time.:)

Lastly, the new Canon EOS Rebel XTi comes with self cleaning:

Dust Delete Feature
(1) Auto Sensor Cleaning
(2) Dust Delete Data
(3) Manual Sensor Cleaning

According to Canon, "To combat against stray dust that enters the camera and adheres to the image sensor during a lens change, the Digital Rebel XTi features an all-new, Canon-designed Self Cleaning Sensor Unit. The low pass filter cleans itself automatically with ultrasonic vibrations, removing dust from the sensor assembly."





Dust Delete Data Detection




My beautiful 6-month old Jada, taken in Black & White: click to enlarge

I am glad that my family tradition carries on; from my father to me, and now my daughter using SLR. What will digital SLR camera be like when my grand daughter Jada is ready to carry on the tradition?

Conclusion :

Canon EOS Rebel Xti is priced very competitively against Nikon, Pentax, Panasonic and Olympus. I found the lowest price at Sam's Club for under $740. I recommend taking your time in choosing a DSLR camera; ask your friends around I am sure there are camera enthusiasts in the circle. Don't be afraid to walk into an old fashion camera store to ask for help and inputs; most importantly, put one on your hands; glance through the optical viewfinder; push the shutter button and forget about price tag for a moment. Compare the same motions and image quality with a smaller non-SLR camera, if you are not convinced, DSLR is not meant for you. If you are convinced and the high price scares you away, you will be back when you are ready. :-)




Coincident or not, the Canon PowerShot SD1000/IXUS 70with dust found inside the optical viewfinder was returned for new replacement. This Canon EOS Rebel was also returned due to malfunction flash light activation. Although Canon was responsive in answering question via email and offered repair or replacement by mail, two out of two purchases found to be defective could be quite disturbing and frustrating.