Digital BW, The Print

In a message dated 7/17/06 12:41:45 PM, joshrandall@... writes:


> I am finally ready to stick my toe in the wave of digital and need
> some assistance.  I am getting ready to purchase a digital slr camera
> and am not sure which to get.  I am inclined toward the canon rebel xt
> due to the fact that I have several EF lenses already.
> 
Thats one reason users lean towards Canon, though its also a reason for going 
with a full 35mm sensor Canon...

>   Is this a good
> camera for digital b&w?  Color?
> 
Reasonable for both. But as a serious photographer, I predict you will 
migrate towards the pro Canons over time, and if money will allow, I'd suggest 
starting there now, instead of buying the little plastic chicklet body first...

>   Can raw files that it creates be
> uploaded into photoshop?
> 
Sure, its files can be opened by CameraRAW into Photoshop...

>   Also, is there a significant difference(to
> the naked eye) between the film based EF lenses and the ones custom
> made for digital?
> 
A number, but only a few of them are specifically about digital. The reduced 
sensor size of the Rebels means your lenses are a whole different field of 
view than on a 35mm camera (or full size sensor digital) and that trye wide angle 
is hard to get (a significant factor to many landscape shooters). There is 
nothing wrong with having a collection of old Canon primes, but I think you'll 
find the new image stablized zooms to be pretty alluring too. I'd avoid 
investing in the reduced-format-only glass, as it won't move to full frame with you 
when you go, and I suspect you will go...

>   And finally, is there any word from Canon that a
> new camera is on the horizon that is in the price range of the rebel
> xt? 
> 
Always a replacement in the works, especially for consumer cameras like the 
Rebels. Photokina (in September) will tell; but you can wait forever for the 
next generation, as there will always be one.

>  I would hate to buy only to be out of date a few months later. 
> 
Depending on your definition of "a few" this will always be the case...

> Thanks in advance.  I plan on using this camera for color work and to
> experiment with digital b&w.  I currently use a pentax 67 with slow
> b&w film for my serious landscape work and then I scan the negs. I
> plan on continuing to do that and using the rebel xt as a backup or
> when logistics don't make carrying the beast 67 with me.
> 
> I would recommend starting   with a 5d   and skipping the reduced sensor   
stage of things entirely. If you do that, you may find yourself gravitating 
towards digital capture, and retiring the Pentax... or not. But the Rebel is not 
going to be a good counterpoint for the Pentax, as the 5d would. Shoot high, 
migrate once, not twice!

C. David Tobie
Product Technology Manager
ColorVision Business Unit
Datacolor Inc.
CDTobie@...
www.colorvision.com



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