Camera Shopping Online

Great wide-angle
I am very pleased with this lens. Images are sharp all the way to the corners. I can't see any chromatic aberration. Recommended.

very pleased indeed
If you like an artistic style and really want to get a wider picture, then you will certainly not be disappointed with this lens. The color and clarity of this lens is fantastic and it's a blast to use! Just be sure to practice with it first if you take shots with people in it...as it will distort.

So much fun and a must have for any non traditional photographer!

Very disappointed with this lens
I purchased this lens for my Canon 40D and have been very disappointed with the extremely soft images throughout the focal range of the lens. Yes, you can get a great wide angle shot on 1.6 factor cameras (Rebel, 10D, 20D, 30D, 40D and 50D) but the shots look like they were made with a barely acceptable point and shoot camera. I had hoped for much better from Canon. I've sent it to the factory for repair/adjustment 3 times, and it's always come back the same, with a lack of definition, barely acceptable saturation and no "pop".

I did some test shots comparing the Canon 10-22mm with Sigma's 10-20mm, and the Sigma won by a mile, with at least twice the sharpness and saturation. Why buy a pricey lens only to get mediocre images--and my wife's cheap compact Fuji actually takes better images than this lens.

I love shooting with Canon, but this lens now just sits in my bag, and I don't even feel good about selling it to someone else. Canon should never be putting out a lens with such obvious inferiority, especially at such relatively high cost. I don't know if mine is simply a bad lens, but I'd have expected that Canon's repair department would have corrected it with its 3 trips into the factory. Right now I just have a very expensive paperweight. My advice: Only buy at a local store where you can test each individual lens before buying to make sure you get a good one.

Love it!
Here's my personal pro/con list after I took this lens out to DC for a weekend.

Pros:
Extremely wide - WOW!
Lightweight. Can't believe how light this. Probably the lightest among wide angle lens.
Interesting effects can be achieved which is normally difficult in normal zoom lens.
Fast focus, and very quiet.

Cons:
My most expensive lens. For sure will take a bite out of your wallet.
Bad lens distortion wide open 10-12mm. Can be corrected slightly in photoshop, but sucks for architecture because lines become bent.

Overall, a great lens for traveling. One of my favorite lens.

Love it!
This lens is so much fun to play with, and really gives a unique perspective to your photos. Would definately make this purchase again!

Great lens but expensive
I think this lens is great but it is pretty expensive especially if you're not an "advanced" amateur. I mean you have to be honest with yourself and ask yourself if you're really going to be able to tell the difference between like a Sigma generic lens versus paying the difference for a Canon lens. No doubt the Canon lens is better quality but are you really that "advanced" to be worth spending this kind of money on a lens?

My XTI everyday
Upgraded almost a year ago from the very average 18-55 kit lens that came with my XTI. Wanted more color, contrast and IS and the best autofocus I could find without being too spendy. USM on the 17-85 snaps to attention almost instantaneously, and the stabilization works great. Nothing worse than a lens that you have to wait on while it hunts to find focus, and although the f/4-5.6 is nothing to write home about, the IS helps compensate for the slow aperture when you need it the most.

I also have an EF50 f/1.4 for low light indoors, and an EF70-300DO for compact tele, but the 17-85 is what I keep going back to for general applications. IQ is really quite good and the range somehow just fits most composures I come across. Small and light, this EF-S lens is a perfect mate for a APS-C DSLR to use for everyday snaps.

I also bought (and sold) an EF24-104L, but the low end was always too tight, and the tele end wasn't far enough (great images though). Also considered the EF-S17-55 f/2.8, but eventually decided to save the dollars.

The 17-85 does show a little distortion and vigneting at 17, but easy to fix by 19 if that bothers you (not obvious enough to bother me). 20-85 is always really sharp. Did not really consider any 3rd party lenses, and this was the only Canon lens I could find with IS + USM + Range + IQ + Price. Doesn't seem prone to flare or CA. No dust or problems to report. Zooming is smooth without any creep. I keep a polarizer on most of the time since this is usually used outdoors.

Great images, great versatility
The Canon EF-S 17-85mm zoom lens is a great alternative to the 18-55mm kit lens. I use it on a Canon EOS Rebel XTi. It produces higher quality images and the greater zoom range is very handy. The auto-focus is very accurate and it's easy to manual focus as well. The image stabilization circuitry is great: I've shot pix from a moving cable car in San Francisco, panned, caught birds in flight, and captured moving surfers -- all without shake or blur. The 17-85mm zoom range (27-135mm on a camera with an APS-C sensor like the Rebel I use) gives you everything from wide-angle to medium telephoto in one lens. There are a lot of great photos to be captured within that zoom range. And you can capture them without carrying multiple lenses. In the high-priced world of camera lenses, it's a relative bargain, too.

Not cheap but the only lens you'll need
In my film days I shot only with prime lenses and never owned a zoom, the reason being zooms normally have smaller maximum apertures,often incorporate optical compromises, and shoot through more glass than a prime lens. That was then, this is now. Canon has overcome the small maximum aperture with the Image Stabilizer (IS). This means that if the camera tells you you can only shoot a particular scene at f/4 at 1/15th of a second which is very hard to shoot without blur, the IS compensates for the motion resulting from being handheld by actually moving the elements within the lens. The result is you can shoot at a much lower shutter speed and get away with it -- a tremendous advantage for a lens that only goes down to f/4. The 17-85mm zoom range is equivalent to 28-135mm in 35mm. Seldom have I felt the need for either a wider or longer focal length and constantly switching lenses only adds to the dust problem inside the camera. And the image quality is superb as always. Canon optics have been ahead of Nikon optics for many years which accounts for why so many have made the switch from Nikon to Canon. And please don't forget to order a UV filter with it. Put the filter on and never take it off.

Gran lente.
Lamentablemente no pude comprar la versión que es más luminoso. La foto del lente no corresponde a la escala real. Se ve más pequeño de lo que realmente es.
Estoy satisfecho por la calidad, pero como les dije con la versión de mayor apertura este lente hubiese sido ideal.

Perfect lens
This is a great step up from the kit lens. Tack sharp, amazing speed, excellent color. Glass is where all upgrades should be made and this is the perfect one.

Great budget lens for upgrading your kit lens, but not as good as Canon's 17-55 IS
Alot of people are choosing between the Tamron 17-50mm and the considerably more expensive Canon 17-55 IS. Canon obviously believes this focal length will appeal to the broadest group of consumers, hence why the 18-55 IS is included with the XSI kit. I personally have both the Canon 17-55IS and the Tamron 17-50 and like them both for very different reasons. There are alot of technical reviews that discuss barrel distortion, vignetting, etc, but my review is focused on how well the lens performs if you're a first time DSLR owner like myself who has barely a clue about photography.

What I like about the Tamron 17-50:
-Very small and lightweight. I have it mounted on my Rebel XT, so it makes for a very compact DSLR with a range great for wide angle shots and portraits of people.
-Images are VERY sharp, pretty comparable to the 17-55IS. I shoot in RAW, so I can't comment on color quality much.
-I like the lens cap; its easier than the Canon lens cap to remove while the hood is on.
-Barrel lock: you can lock the barrel so if the lens is stored facing down, it doesn't extend. My Canon 28-135IS does that, and it is annoying.
-It has a maximum constant aperture of 2.8. It is very difficult to find a zoom lens that is this fast for as price as low as this Tamron (the Tamron 28-75 being the other lens that comes too mind). Definitely, NONE of the fast Canon zoom lenses with a constant aperture are in that price category. I think the closest may be a f/4, of you're looking at consumer grade lenses that have apertures that change with the focal length (i.e. f/3.5-5.6).
-Price: It is less than half the price of the 17-55IS. If you have the skill to coax the best out of the lens, your prudent purchase will reward you handsomely, and you'll have money left over to buy a nice camera body.

What I don't like about the Tamron 17-50 as compared to my 17-55IS:
-Autofocus isn't as precise as with the 17-55IS. I have a higher percentage of blurry photos with the Tamron than I do with the Canon.
-Focus ring turns in the opposite direction of the Canon lenses. This makes removing the lens kind of annoying.
-No IS. Some people say that you don't need IS at this focal range. But I do. Maybe I drink too much coffee, but I love IS. I have less blurry photos of my dogs using the 17-55IS than I do with the Tamron. I do get sharp photos with my Tamron, but you don't want to have to sort through literally hundreds of photos just to find a few sharp ones.
-Low light/indoor performance not as good as the 17-55IS. I've discovered I love photos with great depth of field/bohkeh, so I tend to shoot on wider apertures as often as possible. Even when its wide, the Tamron doesn't perform as well as the 17-55IS in low light situations. It is likely a result of a combination of its autofocus/lack of IS. If you're out and about on a sunny day, or are using a tripod, you will likely not experience this too much. But if you're inside on a rainy day, you'll notice this.

The Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 lens will certainly give you better photos than the kit lenses will. If you have a smaller DSLR like the Rebel XT, XTI, XS, or XSI, you'll appreciate the small size of the Tamron while giving you very sharp photos. However, I believe you need to have some skills in order to reap the benefits of this lens. Price is a considerable factor as well; you could purchase this lens and an XS body for about the price of the 17-55IS lens alone. We actually picked up this lens and highly discounted Rebel XT as our *small* camera because combined it was about the price of a G10. We bring our 40D w/17-55IS out when we want the low light performance, of we know we're going to take photos. We bring the XT/Tamron 17-50 combo out when we want a camera just-in-case, and we want the photos to be really good. We bring our Canon A570IS when we want something that's very small and don't really care about photos.

If you have the funds, or only want one lens, I would recommend the Canon 17-55 over this lens. It is better built (though its a considerably larger lens), has IS, and has the same optics that Canon's "L" series lens has. On average, the photos of family and friends that I take with the 17-55 turn out better and sharper (and I have fewer discards) than with the Tamron. My skill level is mediocre at best, so I need all the help I can get, and the Canon provides, while the Tamron emphasizes how bad I am at holding the camera steady, though it does reward me just enough that I kept it.

You won't go wrong with the Tamron lens, and for the money and size, it is a great lens. It is worth upgrading to this lens if you only have your kit lens. But keep in mind that after purchasing the Tamron, you'll still want the 17-55IS.

This is a very nice lens for a cropped-sensor Canon
For an amateur like me, my Canon prime lense are the gold standard. I compared this against two of my Canon primes using tripod, same scenes with main detailed foreground object in all. I kept apertures the same and double-checked that the speeds were very close and spot-focused at the same point.

First at the 50mm setting, I compared it against my Canon 50mm f1.4 lens at f2.8, f4 and f11. At f2.8 it was a little softer in a portion of the image when zoomed in completely but nothing for me to get upset about.

Then I compared it at the 20mm setting against my Canon 20mm f2.8 which is an expensive piece of glass (mostly because it will really do 20mm on a film or full-sensor body). Also compared at 2.8, 4, and 11. The Tamron was as sharp as the 20mm everywhere, and in fact, looked a little sharper at 2.8 - I think the contrast was slightly higher so maybe that's why it looked slightly sharper.

So I'm very happy with this lens. I have read reviews here and elsewhere with complaints occassionally about getting a bad copy of this lens, and then usually happy afterwards. My copy was made in Japan.

The specs here say that the closest focusing distance is 10 inches. But at 50mm setting on my Canon Rebel XTi it focuses fine at about 4 inches away?

Other things - 1) there is a zoom lock that you can set so that it won't extend while it's around your neck. 2) I don't attach the included hood because it seems to be tight and I don't want to damage the front element. But the hood doesn't bother me. 3) The front element does not rotate during focusing so no problems with polarizer filters. I had to buy a step-down adapter for the expensive filter I use on my 20mm.

(For serious amateurs, I think this lens combined with the Canon 55-250mm IS lens makes a great combination covering any range you need with excellent quality. The 55-250 lens is VERY sharp, and the Image Stabilization is excellent.)

The only dig against this lens, and the Canon 55-250 IS, is that they are for cropped-sensors and you won't be able to use the lens if you upgrade later to a full sensor. But that's part of the reason why these lenses don't cost more. Enjoy the quality.

Great lens! See the results for yourself.
This is a really nice lens. It's almost as sharp as a Canon Compact Macro EF 50mm. Excellent color accuracy. Very little distortion. I used this lens (on a Canon EOS 40D) to shoot most of the product shots for our jewelry catalog.

You can see the results for yourself at http://www.azuliskye.com/Our-Products.html. Just click on "Browse our catalog" to see the hi-res version. The extreme closeups (you'll know what pictures I'm talking about when you see the catalog) were shot with the Canon lens mentioned above.

I'm very happy with the Tamron!

Focus Problems Abound - Had 2 copies, both bad, returned for refund!
Although the lens is fast and built well enough I got two copies with the "front focus" problem. I returned both without hassle from Amazon and am going to buy the 18-200mm Canon lens instead, along with the 50mm f1.4. I found that most of my "portrait" type shooting was done at the 50mm end of the 17-50 anyway so the 50mm prime lens from Canon will fill that niche. Too bad the Tamron had the Front Focus problem b/c I did like the lens. Some, very few, of the autofocus pics were sharp but most were too soft to be acceptable. I found myself sitting in Manual Focus mode almost all the time (any time that an in-focus picture was important, which is "always"). MF was very sharp though.

If Tamron fixes the AF problem then this would be a great lens. Too bad.

Pretty Nice so far
This is a pretty good camera so far, I don't really see many problems with it. However there are a few things that bother me right now, on is that it's a slightly smaller size than I need with my hands anyway, I did read the specs just the feel of the camera is a a bit off compared to my previous canon film slr's and there is no surprise there. Another is that the digital noise has been somewhat bothersome on some of my night photography but no more than anticipated, noise doesn't have the same charm that film grain has though. Aside from a few minor complaints about size and noise of the camera, I'd like to be able to step down to 50 iso or even 25 maybe that could be done with a firmware update down the line. And I would have loved it to be full frame at this price but I can't complain I don't have enough money to buy a higher end camera. The lens is nice but nothing fantastic, IS works good for about 2 or maybe 3 stops which is swell. I've been using it heavily since late December and so far I feel confident in my decision to buy this camera. The colors are accurate and shooting in RAW helps to maintain great detail in the image. All in all its a nice camera for an introduction to digital nothing spectacular but its doing well enough for me.

On a side note I've been playing a lot with mounting other brand lenses on this camera coming up with somewhat of a lomo feel to the digital world without messing around with photoshop. So far I've used a holga, and diana lens and been able to produce some lets call them interesting images, still working on the best way to mount them but I'll try to post some images once I get it worked out.

I hope the review helps and that I didn't babble on too much, its a nice camera but you get what you pay for don't expect the best but you can make great images from it still.

Amazing camera
I have been waiting for DSLR technology to reach this level: 12.2MP, better than 3 frame/s speed combined with an 8GB memory card which holds 1300+ images at full resolution make this camera perfect, being a Canon with their wide range of lenses makes it the perfect DSLR. I had been watching prices for a while and Amazon not only had the best price, but also delivered the camera to my door on Christmas eve. Good vendor, great camera, and the best price what more could I ask!!

Great Camera & Software but bad manual
The camera is exceptional for the money. The manual that comes with it is dry however and makes it hard to grasp the concepts of how and when to use specific functions. In order to quickly learn how to use all that it had to offer, I bought a training video and I am very happy that I did as it saved a lot of time. There are many out there but I can only speak to the one that I bought which was "Canon Rebel XSi DVD Training Guide Tutorial Lessons XTi".

The software that comes with the camera is excellent as well but again the instructions are sorely lacking. [...]. There are a series of Canon sponsored videos that will guide you in using this powerful software.

Lens: I have the 18mm-55mm and 55-250mm kit lens. These work well. I wanted to do portraits and closeups with a beautiful "bokeh" (which is Japanese for the blurring effect behind the subject due to a shallow depth of field). For this, I also bought the Canon f1.4 50mm, which is my best lens.

I also got the Canon 580EX II flash. Again, poor instructions and confusing but just Google for help as there are only a few things that a beginner needs to know. Get a "diffuser" with it as well to help control the shadows that it can cast.

If you want to use the "mirror lock" function on the camera you should also get a wireless/RF (not infrared-IR) remote. Just be careful to make sure that it works with the "mirror lock" function as some do not.

So, if you like photography and are a serious amateur, you can't go wrong with the Canon xsi in my opinion.

Had High Hopes!
After reading countless reviews and fighting with the wife about what camera we should buy to replace a 3yr+ Old Canon 5Mp Powershot 610 we decieded on the Rebel EOS XSi. This camera turned out to be terrible in numerous apspects. Auto-focus is next to useless. Nothing seemed to be in focus, even pics taken with our old Powershot 610 were better indoors and out. Flash is worse then a candle for typical lite rooms. Expect to have to buy an add on flash with any of these DLSR the image processors just dont work with adundant light just like camcorders. Pictures were either under or overexposed and sometimes the flash wouldnt even go off. The camera grip is aweful and you constantly either cover the red eye reducer or the flash with your hand while trying to hold it. Even my wife who has small hands had a hard time holding it. The auto-focus issue seems to be a recurring issue with the this camera for months now after reading reviews. These entry DSLR dont seem to be living up to the expectations one would expect for a 0+ camera plus lenses and accessories.

This camera is the bomb!!!!
Im not to experienced with cameras. Matter of fact im not that experienced at all. However I wanted to invest in a better camera than my plain digital camera. I researched cameras for over a month and I always read great reviews on the Canon XSi and my fiance and I just bought one a couple of days ago and we can not put it down. This is the best camera you can buy for your money.

Amazing
This package is amazing. The package shipped quickly and arrived at my house safe and secure. The camera is better than expected. It takes crystal clear images and has so many options. The only complaint I have with this package is the accessory bag. I had it for about a week and the zipper on the inside of the bag broke and fell off. This was fine and then a couple weeks later I went to buckle one of the buckles and one of the prongs broke off so now I am not able to buckle that side. Other than that the entire package is well worth it and such a deal. Totally worth the money.

Canon EOS 450D XSi Rebel
I received a Canon 450D XSi Rebel from Amazon in a great condition with all the kit along. The camera is really a piece of art, m enjoying it a lot.
I encourage people looking for a great deal of camera to buy the canon 450D and trust amazon services and delivery.

Thank you Amazon!

Great Starter DSLR camera package!!
Title says it all...

I was shopping around for a month or so researching which camera to buy. I looked at the Nikon D90, Canon 40D and 50D anda few others (like the new Sony). I decided on this camera and am glad I did.

This is a great package deal as well, the case is big enough to hold a flash, the camera with battery pack and lens attatched and then 3 other lenses. Other pockets allow you to carry all the accessories.

Shipping was fast, and the price was great, compared to buying from a chain retailer and no sales tax!!

Money well spent!!

Great digital camera outfit!
Canon Rebel xsi digital camera outfit is great for novice photographers who want quality photos without confusing details. The automatic features make it easy to take photos like a pro, but the advanced photographer has the flexibility of using manual adjustments. Package is super complete and ready to start taking pictures upon arrival -- just charge the battery and begin clicking! Recommend highly!

Canon Christmas
Loved getting most of the things I will need with the camera all in one package. The camera is great. I like the versatility and the great pics that I can get with it.

works well so far
The product seems to work just fine. I give it 4 stars instead of five because I think it is quite overpriced for being just a little piece of plastic. I paid the money anyway after reading bad reviews regarding the quality of the cheaper third party remote switches. I will consider the money well worth it if the canon model lasts a long time. We'll see.

Also, the cord is quite short...kind of a pain if you're trying to get away from the camera at all.

Canon quality, as usual
No surprises here, the remote works perfectly, and is an indispensable accessory for any serious photographer!

Does what it needs to do but a bit pricey
After reading reviews of cheaper (less expensive) aftermarket versions of this device I decided to spend the extra money and get the Canon branded item. Works perfect but then it should for such a simple device for this much money. I took one star off for the excessive price.

Does the job
I bought this for my Canon EOS 40D. The cable is a little short which is fine for me, but if you need some distance from the camera you'll need the extension cable or a wireless remote instead.

The button responds well and slides up into a detent to allow for prolonged exposures (bulb setting) without having to hold the button yourself. Unfortunately, it does this so easily I'm always getting the button stuck down without realizing it. Since I bought this for astrophotography, I just have to remember this so when I try to set up the next shot I'm not fumbling around with the camera trying to figure out why it's not working!

A must have
I take this remote to every shoot. Helps to minimize movement when using slower shutter speeds, and also allows you to capture some more candid shots when your subject doesn't think you are snapping photos.

Some rob you with a gun....
Canon knows that this is a must if you have an expensive lens to protect so they pick your pocket for this .95 piece of plastic. Yes it fits well and is nicely made, but , should come with a tube of Vaseline... Watcha gonna do?

Very Good Lens Hood
This lens hood was purchased for Canon 50mm 1.4 lens.
It is good and performs as designed. Highly recommended.
No complaints other than Canon should include lens hoods
with all lenses, should not have to purchase separately and
Pricey for plastic is why only 3 stars.

Does the trick - a must have accessory
A little pricy but you gotta have it if you have the Canon f1.4 lens. It reverses on the lens for compact packing in your bag. These hoods aren't as needed for low light conditions obviously but I use it all the time if for nothing else but to add some protection to the front of this little lens.

Fits the lens well
I was considering a third party lens hood for about half the price for my Canon EF 50mm f/1.4. After reading some of the reviews stating that the third party hoods sometimes are either too tight or too loose I purchased this Canon ES71II and have no complaints about it. It fits the lens very well - not too tight not too loose. Maybe a bit on the tighter side, but it's not a problem.

Overall, this hood does what it has to do, albeit for somewhat high price (as for a simple piece of plastic and felt)

simple, effective
works fine. wish it were made out of metal though. the plastic feels a little cheap. the inside of the hood is coated with a nice matte fuzzy material to avoid reflecting light; a really nice touch.

Hood included
Great lens. I'm writing this review to let others know that a lens hood was included with the one I purchased; something I haven't seen in the product description.

Perfect Wide Angle Lens
I just received this lens today and I have to say, I am pleasantly surprised. I took a few shots in our vineyard (being that I bought this lens for landscapes) and the contrast and sharpness are very good. I've worked with other "L" series lenses and the 17-40 doesn't disappoint compared to what I am used to. Highly recommended if you are looking for a wide angle lens.

Fantastic Lens
I had received this lens as a gift and I love it! The picture quality is great, as is with all canon lenses. The angle is beautifully defined. A great all purpose wide angle. The additional items came in handy as well-lens hood and leather tote for protection! Highly recommended!!

Think I got the wrong lens
Hello Amazon,
Now that I have taken some pictures and compared them to my 18-55 USM lens that came as "standard" with my Canon EOS Rebel XTI, I see NO advantage or difference. I'm comparing by taking a picture, changing lenses, taking the same picture with the new "Ultra Wide Angle" USM lens that cost almost as much as my whole camera/lens/lens package, and see NO DIFFERENCE. Is this the wrong lens? The instruction manual makes no reference to "Ultra Wide Angle" anywhere. Please advise. Thank you. William

Great wide angle range.
I got this lens for my full-frame camera (5D), and it's a great lens to get into wide angle photography - sharp and versatile, plus it's very nicely priced for an L lens. Be aware that the crop factor of APS sensor cameras makes this lens more of a 27-64mm. If you have one of these cameras and you really want to have ultra wide-angle capability, you might be better off with something like Canon's EF-S 10-22mm.

Excellent experience!
I am very very happy with the quality and service I received from Cameta Camera.

Great camera
I was missing moments of my children with my regular point and shoot camera and upgraded to the xti in march. This camera is easy to use and takes great pictures. I took a photography class thru adult education and learned about night photography, taking potraits, and getting the instant of a balloon popping. All of my pictures came out awesome. I recomend purchasing the Canon digital rebel XTI field guide book. Many things I learned in class are explained in this user friendly book.
Overall, a great camera that is fun to use! Take the time to play with all the settings and features.

PROFESSIONAL CAMERA, AT BEGINNER'S COST
First off, I would like to say that this camera is a very, very good camera. I am sure that there are some deffective cameras out there, but that goes for anything else you buy. One bad apple shouldn't ruin the whole bunch. Everyone who is having problems with the slowness of taking pictures, for example, waiting for 60 seconds after taking a few pictures, is mostly because of the memory card that you have in your camera. You need a faster memory card, to produce faster shooting and shooting more images. I have no problems at all. Sometiems I can shoot 30 pictures in a row, and that's not even the fastest card they make. In my opinion, no one should even be shooting that fast, but if they need to, they can. now for the exposure problems indoors. Well, there is no problem in manual mode. If it shoots too dark, then adjust the settings, and fix the problem. Now here again, isn't that what an SLR is for? For manually picking your settings? They can be adjusted within seconds properly manually. Everyone that is having problems with dust, you can clean the sensor off, if you are very careful. Changing lenses with any camera, no matter how careful you are, you will get dust. It's part of the game. And last, everyone getting blurry pictures, it's not the camera. you should know it's the lens. Even going as far back to the old SLR'S, you should know the lens is what makes the camera. Not the body. Look up cannon lenses, and look at all the customer pics, ranging from the 100 dolalr lens, to the 1,500 dollar lenses. You will see the MAJOR difference in the pictures... all because of the lens. So blame it on the lens, not the camera. This camera is always with me, shoots very sharp photos (with the right lens), is very light, fits in my hands perfect, shoots fast, is very reliable, captures color amazingly, and is one of the best cameras out there. Hand's down. No to mention, you can just about do anything possible with it on the manual settings (what it's made for). If you have seen some of the pictures I have taken with this camera, you would think they came from a 2,000 Nikon. Just remember, don't let one bad apple ruin the whole bunch, when 90% of the time, they don't know what they're talkign about.

Fantastic Beginner SLR
I purchased this camera in April of 2007 and i have been loving it ever since. In terms of SLRs this one is very entry level. It has a lot of different auto modes to chose from but i always shoot in P or "program mode". The reason i gave it 4 stars is because of the lens that comes in the kit with it. The Kit lens is crap! I would recommend buying this camera body only! then buying a good lens. Something more all purpose like an 18-200mm. Just make sure not to lose your eye cup!

Will not power up... Hasn't anyone else had this issue???
Well, I bought this camera from another store locally to use on a trip to Europe. I should have bought their ridiculous warrantee, though :(. Two days into the trip, it stopped working. I tried cleaning battery leads, the flash leads, the lens leads - EVERYTHING. Still, no worky! Then a couple days later it decided to work again. Came home from the trip - has worked fine for 6 months... then this past week I tried to get a picture of my son and daughter with Santa - the camera decided it was a good time to stop working again!! I bought a new battery from Amazon - I mean, it HAS to be the battery, right? NOPE. Charged the battery, took a couple pictures - all is good, right? WRONG. Went to turn it on this morning and have the same issue - says to recharge the battery and shuts down as soon as I turn it on :(.
Now what am I supposed to take Christmas pictures with? And I am sure Canon CS will just send me back the same lemon after I send it in to them :(. I can always hope that they don't, because I do not believe this is a fixable issue... This camera was to expensive for this problem to happen.

My first telephoto lens
I just bought my first SLR and quickly realized that I needed a telephoto lens for the type of pictures I want to take. I didn't want to spend a large amount of money on a practice lens and the price for this one was perfect. It's a really decent lens for the price. A tripod is a must when using the maximum zoom (perhaps that is the case with all telephoto lenses?). So far, I've taken some really nice shots with this lens. Overall, I'm pleased with this purchase.

Nice lens for the money
I don't understand people who give this lens a low-rating and compare it to other telephoto lenses that cost 00 and up. There's no comparison at all. For under 0, its a quality item. Just be aware that its a 0 lens and you get what you pay for. The glass is clear and the action is firm and smooth. When attached to my XSi hanging around my neck, the lens doesn't slide out to full extension like other telephotos I've used -- thats what I mean when I say the action is firm. By smooth, I mean it doesn't hang up, stutter or slip mid-zoom. At 300mm, you will need a very steady hand or a tripod. Also, don't make the mistake of thinking this is a macro lens. You will not be able to focus on near objects with this lens. If you're an amateur or beginner and need some quality range on a shoestring, its worth a try. If you're like me and do alot of outdoors shooting and don't want to worry about banging up expensive glass, then this is a must-have. For 0, I'll take this lens anywhere with no fear of breaking an expensive accessory.

I'll try to post some objective pictures showing the range and quality of the lens. Most of the pictures I saw posted didn't really give a good idea of what to expect. Instead people posted pictures of their kitty-cats, kids or flowers, as if thats helpful in making a buying decision...

Love it!
I love, love, love this lens. It's a bit long so it's not ideal for a walk around lens...but MAN, oh man does it capture some amazing shots. I first tried it out on a windy day at the lake with my nieces and nephews and caught some absolutely amazing shots. The clarity of the images even at full zoom is incredible, and don't even get me started on the bokeh! It is just a wonderful lens...now if Canon would only make it a bit more squat, it would be perfect!!

Great value....great lens!
You can't beat the price. My dad bought the same lens about a year ago, and he paid almost twice the price! There was absolutely nothing wrong with this lens. It was identical to the one my dad bought at Best Buy. I highly recommend it!

New Lens
A great lens for the money. I am shooting pictures of 2 sons competitive soccer games for their respective teams. Posting pictures on line for the teams. We are getting great reviews by all who see them. Great clarity on distant shots.