Digital BW, The Print

That's what I've been wondering about the XT.  I currently shoot with a 10D (and sometimes a D60 and still have one of the D30's);  I had access to an XT and suspected it would feel very out of balance with one of the larger zooms.  I use both primes and zooms depending upon the situation and have considered the XT as an interim body until I buy the 20D successor or a FF body.  I'm finding your assessment of the 8MP to your MF and others perceptions of the prints to be very interesting.

Diane
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Paul Roark 
  To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2005 6:04 PM
  Subject: RE: [Digital BW] Re: What do forum folks use most for image capture?


  Frank,

  I've compared tests with the cheap but considered "good" Canon 18 - 55 mm
  zoom against my 1.8 Canon EF 50 mm.  The 50 mm is a cheap but very good
  lens.  At f 11 they are essentially the same.  Wider than f11 both suffer at
  the edges, with the zoom suffering more.  Wide open the zoom contrast at 55
  mm is visibly low.  

  So, with limited testing, my initial view is that lens quality continues to
  be a significant factor.  On the tripod at f11 and f16 (a very pleasant
  surprise) the zoom is probably going to be good enough.  

  I don't do serious hand held shooting (yet), so the zoom is probably going
  to be fine for me and my tripod shooting, where I want the smaller
  apertures.  It has the quality at f 11 & 16 that I need.  

  I think the Rebel XT is going to be terrific with the fast single focal
  length lenses at 1/250 and faster.  So, while the zoom will probably stay on
  the camera, I may carry my 85mm 1.8 lens for hand held telephoto shots.
  It's the equivalent of a 135mm -- a nice light and fast 135.  (I think I
  like the smaller format.)

  Paul
  www.PaulRoark.com 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]