Reading mode: Light Dark

XT, when to buy?

Go to last post
B

Benoit Martin

Member
Messages
27
Reaction score
0
Location
Kailua, HI, US
I've read a lot of threads about the 18 months cycle for Canon and the possibility of a replacement for the XT in August. I can't wait to buy my first DSLR (the XT of course) but now I have the following questions:
  • how sure are we that the XT will be replaced in August?
  • if it does, is it beginning or end of August
For people who have experience with Canon:
  • what is the likely price range of the replacement?
  • how low will the price of the XT drop?
I am just trying to figure out if I should take advantage of the Canon $100 rebate befor July 15 or if I should wait for August? I am expecting my first child for end of August so I can't wait to get my hands on a DSLR to get up to speed before he gets here but I don't want to buy too early and miss a better deal.

Thanks
 
I can't comment on the Canon cycle. I have the xt and really like its size / weight, etc.

The canon will certainly be a good camera for your "new addition" and I wouldnt expect the prices to go down more than $150 if a new camera were to come out. It can be had pretty cheaply on special (I don't know what price you've seen it for currently-or if you're one of those 'net-savy shoppers).

I'd say price pressure would be applied to the xt as much from the soon-too-be released Sony A100 as from a replacement. You may want to consider the sony as well...but then you have to wait for the release (soon) and reviews, etc.

I"d say go for the xt, but make sure to get a good deal online (not from retail).

Good Luck

--
ErikH
Equipment in Profile
http://www.pbase.com/snapman/350d_xt
 
I already chose the XT because it is in the right price range for me and I can borrow Canon lenses from a friend of mine who owns the 20D.

I am currently set on B&H but I'll do one more round when I am ready to buy.
 
upgraded the XT won't be upgrade. If anything they'll give a slightly bigger LCD screen, maybe 1/2 or 1/3 step iso, slightly bigger buffer, probably no spot metering, and a slightly lower initial list price - maybe $800 w/o lens.

The XT is a steal now with the $100 rebate. I wouldnt wait because if you're in the northern hemisphere it's summer and that means light! If you wait until the XT2 comes out it'll be late september or october before you get your hands on it! Get it and shoot!
 
Look at it this way: There's always going to be something else new coming along.

The XT is priced attactively right now. Typically when new cameras are introduced they are not discounted very much, helping to move the older stock, and helping to promote profits on a sought after item. The better "deal" would be the XT with rebate.

You are expecting a new arrival! WAY TO GO!!!

Ok, get the camera with a known proven track record, no firmware issues, etc etc. Its a known commodity - no suprises. Get it now. If you get a camera that has an issue, you'll still have time to get it exchanged if you need to... before "da big day!". Speaking of which, are never when you think they'll be!

The rebXT is a great camara. Does lots really well! Has a few shortcomings, but mostly in the "ease of use" dept, not in picture quality, which is pretty darned good.

May I also suggest, in addition to the kit lens, a 50mm/1.8, for those available light pictures of mom and the new arrival. Your woking distance will be a bit more, and you'll get a nice perspective of them. The kit lens will give you the perspective, but not the low light ability. The 50mm/1.8 is not too terribly expensive either, and you can really throw the background out of focus when the lens opening is larger.

Good luck! WE WANT PICTURES!!! (when they're available)
-Livin' the blues, one note at a time
 
Thanks everybody for responding so fast. I'll follow the advice and I'll purchase it as soon as I am done saving for it (really soon).

I am planning on getting the kit lens until I learn and get better than the lens :) and I am also planning on getting the 50mm 2.8. It is getting so much praise on this forum that I can't pass it.

Thanks again for all the good advice and I'll try post my best shots of the big event
 
..as someone said before.
I'm still using a 300D and getting good results for Petes Sakes!!!!



Ubilam.
 
Benoit Martin said:
I've read a lot of threads about the 18 months cycle for Canon and
the possibility of a replacement for the XT in August. I can't wait
to buy my first DSLR (the XT of course) but now I have the
following questions:
  • how sure are we that the XT will be replaced in August?
Click to expand...
Not one bit.
Benoit Martin said:
  • if it does, is it beginning or end of August
Click to expand...
Your guess is as good as any.
Benoit Martin said:
For people who have experience with Canon:
  • what is the likely price range of the replacement?
Click to expand...
Below $8000.
Benoit Martin said:
  • how low will the price of the XT drop?
Click to expand...
about 14 centimeters.
Benoit Martin said:
I am just trying to figure out if I should take advantage of the
Canon $100 rebate befor July 15 or if I should wait for August? I
am expecting my first child for end of August so I can't wait to
get my hands on a DSLR to get up to speed before he gets here but I
don't want to buy too early and miss a better deal.
Click to expand...
Don't worry overmuch about missing "the next great model"; you end up never buying anything (perhaps not necessarily a bad thing).

Given that you've decided on a Canon lens camera, ask yourself if the 350 has the feature set you are looking for. If so, buy it. If not, look at a different model, or look at competitor's products (all of which are good too).

Just waiting for something as yet undefined "better" is always a sucker's game.

--
Japan: http://lucs.lu.se/people/jan.moren/log/current.html
Images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jannem/
 
I know the party line is buy now and stop waiting but personally, I think it is not unwise to wait a short period of time when it comes to purchasing major electronics. Given the immeninat arrivel of the Sony A100 and the June 30th expiry date on the Rebel rebate it seems pretty obvious there will be either a new Rebel model or another price drop before summers end with an announcement probably before then to counter Pentax, Sony and Samsung.
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rogues-gallery/
 
eyeonwinnipeg said:
I know the party line is buy now and stop waiting but personally, I
think it is not unwise to wait a short period of time when it comes
to purchasing major electronics. Given the immeninat arrivel of
the Sony A100 and the June 30th expiry date on the Rebel rebate it
seems pretty obvious there will be either a new Rebel model or
another price drop before summers end with an announcement probably
before then to counter Pentax, Sony and Samsung.
Click to expand...
But there is always a new model on the horizon, an imminent arrival of a competitor, a new breakthrough in resolution/power use/speed/size/weight/Hello Kitty-ness.

It's one thing to wait for an announced new model with a set release date in the near future, but another entirely to wait for some model - features unspecified - at some unknown later date.

Do we know there will be an update to the 350D in the near future? No. Development pace has clearly slowed and the 350D is selling very well. I don't think anybody would be all that surprised if the sucessor was announced this winter, or even next spring, bringing the generation time up to two years rather than 18 months.

Do we know the future update will be meaningful? No. In fact, as the 30D shows, any update is going to be pretty minor. In fact, the 30D sets the upper limit; Canon is not going to give the entry-level model capabilities matching or exceeding the 30D. Changes will largely be cosmetic.

So the poster can elect to buy a camera now (a camera he'll need fairly soon if I read the post right), or wait, possibly fruitessly, for a possible future revision that may or may not have any worthwile improvements.

--
Japan: http://lucs.lu.se/people/jan.moren/log/current.html
Images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jannem/
 
Canon may announce the Rebel XT's replacement in August, but it probably won't be available until September to coincide with the Photokina show (which is at the end of September). Or they may wait until September to introduce the Rebel XT's successor at the Photokina show, with availability in October. I think it is very unlikely that you would actually be able to buy the Rebel XT's successor in August because it simply would not be in stores at that time. You're probably looking at late September as the earliest time you would be able to get the Rebel XT's replacement.
Benoit Martin said:
I've read a lot of threads about the 18 months cycle for Canon and
the possibility of a replacement for the XT in August. I can't wait
to buy my first DSLR (the XT of course) but now I have the
following questions:
  • how sure are we that the XT will be replaced in August?
  • if it does, is it beginning or end of August
For people who have experience with Canon:
  • what is the likely price range of the replacement?
  • how low will the price of the XT drop?
I am just trying to figure out if I should take advantage of the
Canon $100 rebate befor July 15 or if I should wait for August? I
am expecting my first child for end of August so I can't wait to
get my hands on a DSLR to get up to speed before he gets here but I
don't want to buy too early and miss a better deal.

Thanks
Click to expand...
 
If it does come out in August, then I'll just be an announcement. You’ll have to wait 3 months before you see one in stock at the camera shop.
--
Ed
 
Wouldn't you want to have a camera and be familiar with it when you have the new baby? Those are times you don't want to miss by a) not having a camera, and b) not being familiar with the one you do have

-Kones
--

 
Thanks a lot for all the opinions and insights.

By reading all the posts, I think that my questions or intentions were a little bit misunderstood. I know I asked for the eventual price of the XT replacement but my concern was more about missing great savings than waiting for the latest and greatest.

I would hate it if I bought the XT now and found out that I could have saved a significant amount of money by waiting a few weeks.

That said, all these great posts answer my questions and make me feel better about investing in the very near future and not waiting to see what will Canon do next.

Thanks again and looking forward to be a proud XT owner very soon
 
by waiting for the new model release which wouldn't be before the end of the summer. Is it a big deal? I don't think so since you won't have the camera for the whole summer.
--
Nimnar
 
I agree, $50 to $100.

I wouldn't worry about it. The body dosent' cost much compared to how much a collection of good lenses will cost you.
--
Ed
 
Benoit Martin said:
  • how sure are we that the XT will be replaced in August?
Click to expand...
I would put money on it!
Benoit Martin said:
  • if it does, is it beginning or end of August
Click to expand...
they ship a week or 10 days after annoucement (if the past is any measure), so figure the date of the show + 14
Benoit Martin said:
For people who have experience with Canon:
  • what is the likely price range of the replacement?
Click to expand...
Cheaper than the current XT... I would guess $500~$600
Benoit Martin said:
  • how low will the price of the XT drop?
Click to expand...
Not much before they get scarce. Probably the new camera will be $50 more (after the drop). It isn't going down to $300!
Benoit Martin said:
I am just trying to figure out if I should take advantage of the
Canon $100 rebate befor July 15 or if I should wait for August? I
am expecting my first child for end of August so I can't wait to
get my hands on a DSLR to get up to speed before he gets here but I
don't want to buy too early and miss a better deal.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you would miss some serious shots if you play this to the deadline... the improvements will be minimal.

--
-CW
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top