Michael is looking for a new lens setup for his Canon Digital Rebel XSi Wants lenses that are fast and a decent zoom too. Also asked about flash, filters and lens hoods

Michael currently has the Kit lens - on the early models, Rebel and Rebel Xt, the Kit lens was pretty atrocious, slow and quality was just nothing to get excited about. More recently the new version that includes IS, the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS SLR Lens, is fine and suits 90% of the rebel users out there. I feel strongly that it is not worth replacing unless you frequently find yourself in low-light situations where a faster lens would help. If I was going to replace I would take a look at the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC SLD ELD Aspherical Macro Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras Lens Highlights: fixed f/2.8 Allows great bokeh throughout the entire zoom | Sharp - many photographers compare this lens to the "L" series canon's professional lens that easily cost 2x-3x as much. | Comes with petal style lens hood.

You lose the IS but gain 2 stops which can help with both focusing and capturing w/o having to switch to a higher ISO. Higher ISO equals noisier images.
BUT! I think a much better next purchase would be an external flash like the Canon Speedlite 430EX II Adjustable and comes with a built in diffuser although you may want to buy Sto-Fen OMEW Omni-Bounce Diffuser This is going to give your indoor and even your outdoor pictures a whole new dimension and flexibility. My favorite technique with an external flash is too point it at the ceiling and let it fill the room with light. You subject will be well lit but not suffer from that flash blowout that happens when objects & people are directly lit by the flash.

To add a zoom I suggest the excellent Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras This is a nice lens at a great price.

About lens hoods and filters. Lens hoods should come with every lens and if they don't it is well worth the ~$30 to buy. I have heard multiple stories of lens hoods taking the brunt of damage in a fall and protecting the expensive lens. UV Filters are a toss-up, if you have small kids it may be worth it to slap one on as little fingers like to touch and smudge your glass but otherwise it is just another piece of glass between your lens and the beautiful photo you want to capture. Now specific filters like a B + W 58mm Circular Polarizer is well worth the money for reducing reflections and increasing the color saturation in your photos. 58mm will fit on the kit lens and the zoom listed above.

Please let me know if you have any questions about these lenses, flash, filters or anything else you come across while shopping.

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Valerie wants a camera with a big zoom and the possibility of interchangeable lenses that provide neat effects and creative opportunities.

The Good news- DSLR prices are dropping and the XS is an affordable, easy to use, full-featured DSLR for ~$525 including an image stabilization lens. The bad news - you don't get much in the way of zoom, but you do have the option, as your budget allows, of buying a nice zoom or any one of hundreds of canon lenses giving you huge flexibility and photographic freedom.

Canon Rebel XS 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black) Camera Highlights: 10MP | 2.5" LCD | 18mm-55mm lens with image stabilization | Live view | decent low-light performance | Auto Lighting Optimizer & Picture Style settings- styles you can apply in real time to change the look of the photo.


To add a zoom I suggest the excellent Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras


And if you want to get really creative take a look at the Lensbaby Creative Aperture Kit

Buy the Canon Rebel XS 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)

Possible Alternatives:

If you want serious zoom now and need to keep the price below $700 you want to consider the Canon Powershot SX10IS 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Camera Highlights: 10MP | 2.5" vari-angle LCD | 20x Zoom with Image Satbilization| 30fps VGA movies | Face detection & Face self-timer | Ability to add external Flash

Please let me know if you have any questions about these cameras or anything else you come across while shopping.

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Jamie wants a DSLR that is easy to operate or a top of the line Point & Shoot. She takes 100's of photos a week and plans to frequently shoot videos too.

How about a DSLR that includes HD movie mode! Released May 2008, the T1i is getting rave reviews for its HD movie mode on top of taking stellar 15MP photos.

Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS LensCamera Highlights: 15MP | 3" high-resolution LCD 3x the resolution of your standard P&S screens | 18mm-55mm lens with image stabilization | HD movie mode | Live view | Excellent low-light performance | Auto Lighting Optimizer & Creative Auto - shooting guides on the LCD screen enable you to make corrections based on simple to follow guidelines.

Why the T1i is perfect for Jamie:

• She is ready to move up to a DSLR. The T1i is now Canon's most approachable DSLRs with several features designed specifically for photographers new to DSLRs.
• She has kids, kids are constantly on the move and you don't want to miss one of those moments because of your camera. The T1i has virtually no shutter lag and can take pictures at 3.4 fps.
• Jamie needs video- T1i has HD movie mode 1080 @ 20fps and 720 @ at smooth 30fps
• Hundreds of photos a week adds up and it sounds like Jamie is ready to get even more serious. T1i is ready for that kind of shooting. Durable shutter, rugged body and of course the possible addition of thousands of lenses giving you incredible photographic flexibility and room for growth.

Buy the Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Possible Alternatives:

The T1i is excellent camera but not something that is incredibly portable, no DSLR is. But you can get near DSLR quality with a little more shutter lag in the Canon Powershot G10 14.7MP Digital Camera with 5x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Camera Highlights: 14MP | 3" LCD | 5x Zoom | Smooth, 30fps VGA movies | 26 Shooting Modes including 17 Special Scene Modes | Shoot in RAW - few P&S offer this

More zoom than the G10 above & HD video but no Raw mode in the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCDCamera Highlights: 10MP | 12x Zoom & 25mm Wide | HD Video | Intelligent Auto (iA) mode = a suite of features that help you take the very best photos possible

Please let me know if you have any questions about these cameras or anything else you come across while shopping.

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ProGression wants an ultra-compact between $200-$250. It is important that the camera has a solid movie mode and a decent wide angle lens

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Camera Highlights: High resolution 3" LCD | iA mode - 7 features work together to pick the perfect settings for each shot, includes Auto red-eye removal and image stabilization | 10x Zoom & Wide Angle (28mm) Lens | HD Movie Mode | 400+ Near perfect reviews on Amazon Site

Possible Alternative:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX500S 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized ZoomCamera Highlights: 3" Touchscreen LCD | iA mode - 7 features work together to pick the perfect settings for each shot, includes Auto red-eye removal and image stabilization | 5x Zoom & Wide Angle (25mm) Lens | HD Movie Mode

Panasonic dominates the ultra-compact wide-angle market. Especially when you are looking for a camera that also does high quality video. The Powershots in the price range cap video at 640 x 480 - decent but not exciting and some new models from Samsung and Nikon are too new for me to be comfortable recommending them.

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Steph wants my best pick in a compact camera under $400. Emphasis on Movie Mode

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD Camera highlights: 12x wide-angle optical zoom | Beautiful 3" LCD screen | Face Detection | HD Movie mode, 60fps!!! optimized format, movie files are not as gigantic | iA mode for photos AND movie mode = a suite of technologies that ensure the best settings for the scene, stabilize the image and auto adjust for lighting | Face detection AND recognition = auto focuses and optimizes exposure on faces and gives priority to faces the camera has seen before | Stylish black, blue or silver

You can get quite a bit of camera around the $400 mark and this Lumix is currently at the top of the pile. Reviews of this camera and previous ZS & TZ lines have been very positive, even earning DPreviews "Highly Recommended" designation. Inside and out this is a really nice camera.

Possible Alternatives:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Camera Highlights:3" LCD | iA mode - 5 features work together to pick the perfect settings for each shot, includes Auto red-eye removal and image stabilization | 10x Zoom | HD Movie Mode | 400+ Near perfect reviews on Amazon Site |

Canon PowerShot SD880IS 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized ZoomCamera Highlights: 3" LCD | Face detection for focus, auto scene selection, auto red-eye removal and image stabilization | 4x Zoom |
Lows: 640x480 Movie mode - decent but not exciting | LCD is 1/2 the resolution of the Lumix

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization (Black) Camera Highlights:12MP | 3" LCD | Face Detection, Priority Face, Smile Shutter technology, Anti-Blink technology | 5x Zoom | HD Movie | mode Beginner mode
Lows: LCD is 1/2 the resolution of the Lumix | captures to Memory Stick media - Sony proprietary |

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Ann is looking for a stylish cam that takes good photos and great movies. Budget is $100-150

Casio Exilim EX-Z80 8MP Digital CameraCamera highlights: 8MP | 2.6" LCD | 3x Zoom | Excellent video includes a Youtube ready mode - fit 2 hours on a 2Gb memory card.

Possible Alternatives:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ10K 10MP Digital Camera with 5x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Camera highlights: 5x wide-angle optical zoom | 2.5" Intelligent LCD screen | Face Detection | 848 x 480 Movie mode, 30fps | iA mode = a suite of technologies that ensure the best settings for the scene

Canon Powershot A1000IS 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Purple) A little less stylish but hey it's purple. Other camera highlights include 640 x 480 30fps Movie Mode | 10 MP | 4x Zoom | Excellent user reviews | Canon reliability

Sony Cybershot DSCW130/P 8.1MP Digital Camera with 4x Optical Zoom with Super Steady Shot (Pink) It's PINK! | 2.5" LCD | 4x Zoom | 640 x 480, 30fps movie mode | Smile Shutter technology takes pics when subject is smiling and Face detection help optimize lighting and focus on subjects faces

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Maggie is looking for something to replace her trusty Nikon CoolPix 5900, a 5MP camera that served her well. Budget is $250-400

Three Solid Contenders. I have ranked them in order of best value based on reviews and features. But, all three are excellent cameras and I feel confident that Maggie would be happy with any one of the three.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5S 9MP Digital Camera with 10x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Camera Highlights: Large and Beautiful LCD screen (3") for composing and reviewing | iA mode - 5 features work together to pick the perfect settings for each shot, includes Auto red-eye removal and image stabilization | 10x Zoom | HD Movie Mode | 400+ Near perfect reviews on Amazon Site | Size compared to the Coolpix 5900- Width is 1/2" larger, height and thickness is a smidgen smaller.

Canon PowerShot SD880IS 10MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized ZoomCamera Highlights: 3" LCD screen but 1/2 the resolution of the Lumix above | Face detection for focus, auto scene selection, auto red-eye removal and image stabilization | 4x Zoom | 200+ favorable reviews | Size compared to the Coolpix 5900- The 880 is 0.2" wider but much slimmer and slightly shorter

Nikon Coolpix S630 12MP Digital Camera with 7x Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD (Jet Black)Camera Highlights: 2.7" LCD | Nikon's portrait system - Face detection for focus and proper exposure, auto scene selection, auto red-eye removal and image stabilization | Smile Mode automatically fires shutter when subject is smiling and Blink Proof which takes two pics when the subject smiles and saves the shot in which the subject's eyes are open | 7x Zoom | Early reviews are good, this camera has only been on the market for a few months | Size compared to the Coolpix 5900- The S630 is 0.3" wider but slimmer and slightly shorter

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