upgrade options

Johnyy wrote:

If i want to buy some good lenses, would you recommend buying L lenses for their better optic quality?

Let's not go nuts here. L lenses are mainly for full frame cameras, not APS-C ones. APS-C cameras typically only start using L lenses in the telephoto range, but at shorter focal lengths instead benefit most from lenses designed for the format.

The best kit lens options for APS-C cameras like the 1000D are not "L" models. The 18-55mm IS kit lens that came with the 1000D is quite good already ... its limited shortcomings likely have little to do with what your mom is complaining about and instead she's just seeing a difference in color processing.

I think something like the new Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4 OS HSM would be a great upgrade to the kit lens if you wanted to do something along those lines ... but your mom may or may not notice the difference. I wouldn't go with any of the big 17-5X f/2.8 lenses ... that makes the camera much less portable.

As mentioned above, I think tweaking the picture style that the 1000D uses will do a lot. I recommend downloading the Autumn Hues picture style, installing it on the camera, and see if she likes it. Landscape picture style is also worth checking out for a more "Nikon-like" look. Probably turn up the saturation and sharpness by a notch (or two for saturation) to give the photos a more point & shoot - like look. (That goes for any of the picture styles.)

If she's shooting during the daytime in a blue-green environment, then "Highlight Tone Priority" (I'm pretty sure the 1000D has this in the custom menus) will help keep the skies from blowing out - it probably makes sense to just leave it on as that's much easier than telling her to dial in -2/3 Ev exposure comp in blue-green circumstances.

Finally, a polarizing filter (The Marumi DHG non-super is great value for money in this category.) will transform outdoor photos ... making greens greener and skies bluer if used properly - but I will add that my wife will only use it properly if I remind her to.