Many of you have asked about my new camera.
It is a Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)
. I bought it from Amazon. I paid $699 for the camera and $19 for an 8 gig memory card. Amazon was not the cheapest, but I felt they were the most reputable online dealer and the price difference was about $20 between them and the cheapest store.
I have been looking at digital SLR camera’s for months. Over the past month I had narrowed it down to 4 cameras, the Nikon D60, D90 and the Canon XSi and 40D. I was actually leaning towards the Nikon until I went to the store and held the Canons and the Nikons. The Canon just felt “right” in my hands. I really don’t know how else to explain it. The Canon also had a few features that the Nikon didn’t have, but the decision was made after I held the cameras. Once I decided on a Canon I looked at the XSi and the 40D and decided that the 40D was really more camera than I needed. It is an awesome camera, but I wouldn’t get my money’s worth because although I am not a beginning photographer, I am no MckMama.
It is too early for me to write any sort of meaningful review about the camera, but I will say that I was taking the pictures you see below less than 15 minutes after I opened the box. It is set up so that if you just want to point and shoot, you can do that and get great pictures. It also has a fat manual and lots of options that I have yet to explore.
Now, the big question… how does The Happy Housewife get away with spending over $700 on a camera? I saved my money. Every month my husband and I each get “blow” money. That money is ours to spend however we would like. Dave Ramsey recommends budgeting blow money and I completely agree. It gives each person freedom to have a little (or a lot depending on your budget) of spending money that is not controlled by the other person.
In our budget we each get $50 a month to spend. I have been saving my money since last August. All you math majors will quickly see that $50 a month x 10 months does not equal $700. The other $200 came from Swagbuck’s gift cards and blog money.
As I am sure you have noticed, many blogs run ads on their sidebars. I decided to run ads to help pay for the site, since before December any costs related to the site were paid for out of the family budget and I didn’t think that was fair to my family. Since ads are paid based on traffic and my blog has grown over the past several month the ads on the sidebar have paid for all site costs and brought in a little extra.
I decided (and my husband was in agreement) that the extra money would go towards the camera since I take a lot of pictures for the blog. I also take a lot of pictures for my family. In fact I would guess that less than 5% of the photos I take end up on the site. I love taking photographs and most of the pictures on the walls of our house are pictures I have taken of my family. It is what I love!
So, there you have it. I plan to write an in depth review of the camera later this summer once I have a chance to explore more of its features, but I hope that answers your questions for now.
Oh, one final point. You don’t need a $700 camera to take great pictures. There are many great photo blogs that share all sorts of tricks and techniques to help you create beautiful photos. Some of my favorite pictures were taken with my $150 digital Fuji camera. Also, photo editing software can turn so-so photos in beautiful photos. Picnik is a great program and it is free!
A few pics from my new camera.
What are your favorite photo sites? Share them in the comments below.
A note to Katie: No, I have not figured out Adobe Photoshop Elements 6
yet. I have only owned it for 24 hours though. I plan on checking Photoshop Elements 6: The Missing Manual
out from my library and trying to figure it out.
Stephanie says
Your camera looks fantastic…and what a great investment! I’m sure you’ll use it almost every day.
Oh, and YOU look fantastic too. You already look trim again…and you just had your baby!
– Stephanie
nell@shesnaps.com says
Fun stuff! Awesome pictures.
Nell
SheSnaps.com
jen says
I too recently bought a Canon DSLR camera. They’re named a bit differently in Aus. Its a Canon 450D, but I think it’s actually the same camera as yours. I’m in love with it.
Nicole says
I LOVE Picnik – I use it to edit all of my pictures, make collages, make invites, etc. When I get married and need to edit my wedding photos, I think I will pay for a year of the premium service they offer – it’s only about $25 and you get a lot more features. But the free version is so great!
Patty says
Oh – I love new cameras!! There’s tons and tons of photo websites out there.
One for lighting tips: strobist.blogspot.com
General photo tips: Digital Photography School (just google, it comes up first)
Digital Pro Talk is another good one with helpful tips from a range of areas.
Have fun! Can’t wait to see more pictures!
Mama Bird says
We’ve been looking for new camera too. Funny that you considered the Nikon D60 and D90, but not the D80. Any reason why? I’m looking at the Canon XSi as well. I’m not sure I want to go Canon again (I had an Auto SLR years ago). I’m interested in what the extra features are that sold you on the Canon (other than just the ‘feel’). I also like the lens size you got. Did you buy a ‘kit’ or the body and lens separately?
Have fun playing with it.
jami says
I love Adobe Photoshop Elements. I would really suggest spending the time to learn the program. There are lots of wonderful books to help with tips. I now do all of my own photocards which I then print from my local Costco for about $0.15 each for a 4×6 and they look better than the templets you can use at shutterfly or snapfish.
Sheila Gregoire says
First–
Way to go for saving your money like that! That’s exactly how it should be done. If everybody did that, and our government did that, we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in. And now I’m sure you can really enjoy your camera since you did it responsibly!
Second–
Thanks so much for this post! I’ve been praying about what sort of camera I should buy (I have money for one, too), but didn’t know what direction to go. I’m heading to the camera store today with your recommendations and I’m going to try that one out, too!
Take care, and have fun taking pictures!
Visit To Love, Honor and Vacuum today!
Patti says
I love taking pictures and video. My camera is very important to me and right now I am strating to look around for a new one. My current camera has had the tar beaten out of it and it’s just time to move on. I authored a post on my blog about my camera that you may appreciate. http://cminamerica.blogspot.com/2008/10/little-mommy-aggravation-here.html
Somebody's Mimi says
Funny, I just received a Nikon D60 SLR for my birthday. I immediately started taking pictures. I took over 200 for the Porsche club last weekend. I just set it on automatic and changed my lens a couple times. Not sure if the pictures are any better than the ones I shot with my little Casio or my Kodak Z612. I have about 60 more days to play with it beforn I can return it for a full refund. We’ll have to discuss over load on a camera.
Lucinda Perry says
We got this same exact camera just hours before our little peanut came…six hundred (or so) pictures later, we LOVE it!
Lisa @ Crazy Adventures in Parenting says
We’re going to have to celebrate our new camera purchases together!! 🙂
Upstatemomof3 says
Very cool camera!! I just ordered the Canon Rebel XS – I considered the one you got – but I thought that was more camera than I needed. I am just simply upgrading from a point and shoot. It isn’t here yet but I cannot wait to use it and take really nice pictures. 🙂
Vicki says
Love all the new pics!!! Congrats on the camera!! AND more congrats on the recent success with your blog!! I know that my sister-in-law told me about it, I told 3 more friends (who love it!!!) and today, one of those friends told me how she was telling HER friends and sister-in-law about it!!! I guess good news travels fast!! I am excited for you, God has really allowed you to have a forum with which to inspire and encourage other women. Thank you for stepping up to the challenge.
Amy says
While I don’t have a nice camera, I do have Elements 7 (and actually the professional version CS4 on my work computer). You’ll find the Missing Manual VERY helpful. I would check it out from the library like you said, to make sure, but I’m guessing you’ll want to buy it. There are just too many things you can do and you’ll want to go back and refer to it often! Jealous of your new, nice camera!
Jendi says
My husband has a DSLR Canon Rebel. He loves it and spends lots of time dreaming of more lenses and attachments. His favorite online site is http://www.bhphotovideo.com/. We love that B&H!
Amy says
I had an older version of that camera (the Rebel XT) and it was great! My only complaint was that in the point and shoot mode the flash didn’t perform so great indoors. I upgraded to the 40D once I started my photography business officially and it’s wonderful. You should get the 50mm 1.8 lens! It’s pretty cheap and it takes nice portraits.
Jessie says
I love looking at photography – a friend of mine just launched her photography biz full time – I could look at her pictures all day
http://aturnerphotography.com/
have fun with your camera! it’s on my wish list too – but probably a few years down the line. I will live vicariously through all you photo savvy folks until then!
Frugal Girls! says
Your camera sounds absolutely amazing! I love taking pictures too, but was lacking photo editing software {and I just didn’t want to pay for it either}. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing about Picnik! I’m definitely looking forward to trying it out!
Stephanie says
thanks for the heads up.. since you know I am looking at cameras. I have a friend who told me to do what you did, go to the store and hold them and look at then and then decide and go online and see what deals you can find!