I am trying to decide between the Sony A350 and Canon Rebel XSi, I would sure appriciate any advice.

I most definatly want a Digital SLR, I would like to stay under $1000, using SD cards is a plus but not necessary. I shoot a lot of very low light no flash pictures, but also want good daylight and indoor. Old film camera's I had figured out, but the DSLR's are a new breed of camera.

Santez,

While the Sony A350 does have a higher resolution than the Canon XSi, I'm not too sure it measures up in other specifications other than price. What do you get with an extra $100 on the Canon?

The Canon does accept SD and SDHC while the Sony used CompactFlash cards. Both cameras have next generation processors, and auto or fully manual settings. The Sony has a longer flash range (39 ft vs 12 ft), but an external flash will fix that. The Canon comes with a multi-point AF selector that ties your exposure metering to that point.

In my opinion, you need to ask what you want more. If you have lenses that will fit either camera, I would go with whatever they fit. Your real budget is going to go towards the lenses. If you want to stay under $1000 for a complete kit. I'd actually recommend a lower priced version of either camera.

A good lens is going to run you a couple extra hundred dollars if not more if you want good night shots. Things you'll need to invest in for low light shooting with these cameras are a tripod and/or monopod, and a fast lens (F2.8 or wider). A good multi-purpose lens of that caliber will run a minimum of $400 to $500 by itself. That's the price of quality in your photography. You need to ask yourself if it's worth it though.

I would also recommend picking up a higher capacity memory card, an extra battery or two, a good camera bag, and some lens filters for different lighting situations. That can set you back another few hundred dollars. I'm not saying you need all this at once. The camera with basic lens and a bag should be enough to start you off, but you'll find yourself wanting the extras sooner rather than later. Good luck and happy shooting.

Andrew

Andrew,
Thank you so much for your reply. There is so much to think about when weighing cameras, the help is VERY much appriciated. I really should have worded my question better I think. I keep retyping to try to get it right. I do a lot of Theatrical Photography, not professional or anything, but, I am getting asked more and more to come at take pictures. I love it, and my current camera is very cool, it has full manual so I can get some good shots. But I think it is time to move up to a DSLR. The fixed lense just does not have a low enough F stop on it to get what I want. Both the Canon and Sony will take some older lenses, which are not too hard to find, but that just makes it harder to decide. I looked at the Nikon D60 also, but the higher resolution on the others is just pritty darn tempting to see, but do not really know how much difference that will make. But, I just love taking pictures so the theatrical stuff is not all I do...gee now I'm rambling.
Again, thanks for the help, I appriciate all the good points you brought up and I know I will want the extra's sooner than I feel like I should.

Many thanks,
Santez

Thanks again, your help is VERY much appriciated. I have been a little confused by the processor information, but it is getting clearer all the time.

Again, many thanks. I will start shopping now.

Santez,

I'm glad we could be of assistance. Please come back with any other questions or issues.

Andrew

Dear Santez,
Even I,m weighing the Sony A350 as compared with some others. I cant ignore it's few unique features like the live view,tiltable lcd panel and compatibility with the great Carl Zeiss optics!! . Add to these-14.2mp and more powerful in-built flash.One draw-back I read somewhere is getting the subjects' eyes closed (after pre-flash) in many of the flash snaps.

I have the old Minolta X700 SLR 35MM with F1.7 50MM len & 2 zoom lens one 70-210MM F4 to F32 & a 35-105MM F3.5 to F16. I also have a Minolta Flash Auto 360PX can any of these be used on the A350 Sony Digital camera.

Bill

i wanna a dslr camera but i m confused between sony and canon . i dont know nothing abt cameras but i want a camera in which 14-15 megapixel and should be optical nd digital zoom nd one thing more m not professional i just want a gud camera with this i can shoot any kind photos even day time or ngt time or in sunny or cloudy day
plz reply me and suggest me if possible my budget is under 1000-1200$