What an "old" XT can do (imgs)

I've not been very active here anymore. Concentrated my time&effort away from pixel peeping, update race, latest gear etc etc and really started to think more about photography.

I have to say that since I give up on dpreview forums I feel like coming out of a tunnel. I am very dissapointed to say this, because I still feel this place is a great starting point, where you can learn a lot, but after a certain point you have to move on. I really respect long-time posters that still hang around here (although not that many anymore), and their patience to put up w it all !

Now I'm currently working as a freelance photog. for an international magazine shooting mainly interiors and jewellery, and occasional events/cerimonies.

Anyway, long story short, what I wanted to say is that there's no need for the latest body to enjoy photography and have wonderful results. ALWAYS update the glass 1st to your needs, as other members pointed out many times!

My XT has brought home a total value of more than x20 times what I paid for it and still going strong!
Who said it can't do BIFs
1. Common Spoonbill (Platalea Leucorodia)



2. Mallard male in-flight



3. Another Spoonbill



4. European Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)



5. Eastern White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus)



6. Mallard siesta



7. Male Smew (Mergellus albellus)



8. In-flight again



9. One 1 of my shots for the magazine (PLEASE DO NO NOT USE THIS IMAGE IN ANY WAY):

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Canon 350d + Tokina 12-24mm F4 Pro + Canon 50mm 1.8 + Sigma 50mm 2.8 Macro + Canon 100mm F2 USM + Canon 70-300mm USM IS + Kenko 1.4 Tc + RC5 remote

very nice usage of 350D and lens on a pair of skillful hands and sharp eyes.
thanks for sharing.

alien

Nello said:

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Canon 350d + Tokina 12-24mm F4 Pro + Canon 50mm 1.8 + Sigma 50mm 2.8
Macro + Canon 100mm F2 USM + Canon 70-300mm USM IS + Kenko 1.4 Tc +
RC5 remote

Click to expand...

Just goes to show what is achievable.

Congratulations ! It's well known but not to everybody rule "the most important is the user".
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Best regards, swnw.

Good to hear. Just picked up the 17-55 to add to the 70-200 F4, Tokina 12-24 and 50 1.8 and will keep my ol XT until I save up for the 40D or even 50D. Will improve my skills with a proven peformer and when I get a better AF cam it will just add another dimension.
Great shots from the man behind the camera.

... I just got my XT, coming from a G6. Right now I am using the kit lens and am planning to purchase a new lens when finances are right. I won't have a large budget and was thinking the Canon 50mm 1.8. I have found one for $90. I am really interested in taking photos like these, although not necessarily of birds.

Thanks

JP

Thx everybody for the kind words. I was affraid that maybe someone will missunderstand my message as often happens (english is not my main language).

These photos were taken w the 70-300 IS mainly, some w the 100-400 IS and the watch w Sigma 50mm f2.8 EX Macro.

I agree that the AF on the XT gets a bit flimsy sometimes but w good eye, practice and good experience on knowing where to place the Af point you can make up for A LOT of its weaknesses I think.

Excellent shots. It shows that a good lens plus a capeable photographer can capture great pictures with a lesser than pro camera body. Very well done.
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Milt

Nello said:

I agree that the AF on the XT gets a bit flimsy sometimes but w good
eye, practice and good experience on knowing where to place the Af
point you can make up for A LOT of its weaknesses I think.

Click to expand...

That's what almost everybody forget ! Most of photographers expect that camera can do everything.
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Best regards, swnw.

Beautiful photos!!!

What are the forums that photographers go after dpreview?
I like the photos published in photo.net.

Moris

All of your photos are striking, but I love the colors of the Kingfisher in No. 4. Clearly you are a talented photographer.

Fortunately, there are lots of helpful people here at dpreview to help those of us trying to learn and improve. I can understand where someone who has reached your skill level might find the "OMG here's my amazing first photo with the XXX camera/lens" tiresome after awhile.

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Shazza
http://shazza53.smugmug.com/

No, no shazzaoz...the 1st shot posts are cute! everybody has to start from somewhere!

It's the fact that many people rely on internet "wisdom" rather than actual facts, and base their judgement / actions on that. You can find a lot of good/helpful information on-line but also just as much cr*p!

What I find really said is that all these great technology in our hands, instead of making us better photographers is quickly turning people into better consumers instead!! I started w a complete manual (not even batteries, not to mention AF) film Slr at about 11-12 yrs printing from my allowence money so every missed shot was a small tragedy LOL
Anyway...that's just my point of view and I know many will disagree

shazzaoz said:

All of your photos are striking, but I love the colors of the
Kingfisher in No. 4. Clearly you are a talented photographer.

Fortunately, there are lots of helpful people here at dpreview to
help those of us trying to learn and improve. I can understand where
someone who has reached your skill level might find the "OMG here's
my amazing first photo with the XXX camera/lens" tiresome after
awhile.

--
Shazza
http://shazza53.smugmug.com/

Click to expand...

Fredmiranda's Nature&Wildlife, People, Landscape forums for instance.

People don't care about what brand you used...just sharing & comment the specific type of photography your into! Actually fred's forums are now just as popular as this forum here. Just look at the last post posted...same frequency.
On both pages last post is about 13 hours ago!
Ok enough otherwise they'll cancel my post LOL

moris said:

Beautiful photos!!!
I like the photos published in photo.net.
Moris

Click to expand...

Nello said:

I agree that the AF on the XT gets a bit flimsy sometimes but w good
eye, practice and good experience on knowing where to place the Af
point you can make up for A LOT of its weaknesses I think.

Click to expand...

I agree too (I have the XT). However, would you also not agree that an XSi or a 40d would serve you better for BIF? Not saying that you have to have one of those to take great pics (as you have proven), but perhaps your keeper rate would be higher with the newest gear? I think so anyway.

That first shot of the Spoonbill is to die for. I love it.

Great shots, and yes, I agree with you about gear, and about the XT in particular. It is a very fine dslr and will continue to use mine until it stops working.

--
bryan
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http://bryanw.zenfolio.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oakandacorns/sets/

Juardis said:

I agree too (I have the XT). However, would you also not agree that
an XSi or a 40d would serve you better for BIF? Not saying that you
have to have one of those to take great pics (as you have proven),
but perhaps your keeper rate would be higher with the newest gear? I
think so anyway.

Click to expand...

Oooh yeah definetly! I would be crazy not to agree

A 40D would land a MUCH bigger % at BIFs, but even w the XT you can get keepers on regular basis, just in a lower % of course!

if I'd be a professional sports photog. I wouldn't be shooting w an XT that's for sure! You can't risk your job

Thanks for posting your XT shots. I too have XT but only kit lens and a 75-300. When I'm away from the gear-head talk for awhile, I appreciate my own gear a lot more.

Also started at ten years old with Brownie, moved up to viewfinder 35 mm at age 19 then followed the changes in technology over the years to internal light meter, then automatic/manual (photogs choice) over the years. Three years ago I switched from a good Minolta film camera with decent glass to the Canon XT. Big jump for me.

I went from about 100 rolls a year to 15,000 shots a year -- and increasing still. My delete rate is also growing!

When I'm not being influenced by the "Buy Bigger, Buy Better" talk I remember that I am most grateful and happy with what I can do now with my digital camera.

I've been told online that my telephoto lens is cr*p and my camera is too. TOUGH! I'm not in debt for gear, I use it in my travels. I have dropped it in the dirt, I've had sand blown into the open front when changing lenses outdoors and got caught in drenching rain. I do use zipper plastic bags to protect my equipment in wind and rain but I use my gear a lot and it gets dirty. I clean it and use it again. And, I love it!

When I win the lottery, I'll get that $25,000 US dollars outfit. Besides, if I wait a year or two the price will come down for the current best quality as the technology advances on the upper end! : ) And maybe they really will re-engineer the whole outfit and build that 10-600 L IS lens that someone "saw in Japan on April 1 this year". [April Fools Day joke for anyone not familiar with US traditions.]

Have a good time, enjoy the equipment you have now. Life's too short to wish it away waiting for equipment you may never be able to afford!

P.

Thx Bryan..that is one my fav. too I only wish I didn't clipped the very last feathers! it would've been perfect! I took a look at your website! Some great images you got there! #12 Milo is awesome!

Oak and Acorn said:

That first shot of the Spoonbill is to die for. I love it.

Great shots, and yes, I agree with you about gear, and about the XT
in particular. It is a very fine dslr and will continue to use mine
until it stops working.
bryan
http://bryanw.zenfolio.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oakandacorns/sets/

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the "old" XT is an antiquated piece of junk. it's too old to do anything useful. that's why i upgraded mine to a 20D a few months ago...

all joking aside, yeah, i think we are starting to see a lot of the hmm... how shall i put it... carryovers from the P&S world in the rebel forums. when i bought my XT it was a pretty rare thing to have an SLR camera. now the SLRs are hitting mainstream, per the manufacturer's design. and that's not a bad thing, not at all. BUT with the additional people shooting SLRs you also get the added people who dnot' exactly know what they are doing... well you know what i mean...