Used Rebel XT DSLR Body

I'm brand new to the SLR world and decided about a month ago I'd continue a hobby I had started in middle school. I was torn between the XTi and the XT. After doing much research, learning, and getting information overload, I decided for my needs, I'd pick up the XT. From what I read, the difference in MP wouldn't be much of an issue for me. The self cleaning on the XTi would be awesome. It came down to an issue with money and "wife" approval. At just under $600 with kit lens, the XT was "psychologically" a little easier to buy than the XTi. Anyway, I'm in the tech field and began thinking of the bodies like computers. New and better stuff will keep coming out faster and cheaper, in this hobby the lenses seem to be the real investment.Anyway, so far I love the camera. I'm learning still but I do like the creative modes the XT offers. Kind of like step learning. I've got down all the terminology and what each thing does, but need to learn how it actually works and think the creative modes offered on XT are the perfect bridge.I have absolutely no complaints so far about the camera (although i did get the dreaded 99 error that I've read about, but I turned off the camera and it went away. I hope I didn't get a dud).The Good:1. Great value in my opinion2. Camera feels good overall (some have complained about it being too light or feeling cheap). I don't get this impression at all. Although one of the cons I'm listing does have to do with the shape.3. Easy to use with plenty of different modes to help you along the wayThe Bad:1. Like others have complained, the grip feels a bit compacted. I don't have really big hands, but it feels a tad unnatural holding the camera. Its not terrible though, but its a little annoying2. Not necessarily against this camera, but one thing I didn't think about is that you can't shoot with glasses on. Too hard. But it does have an adjustment that goes to -2.5 (right at my vision) and I can shoot with no glasses, or contacts.3. The kit lens leaves something to be desired. I'm a newbie and I can already feel the limitations of this lens. Under sunny conditions, the lens performs pretty good, no complaints. But indoor photography sucks for lack of a better word. Plus the range doesn't seem useful. Its a short telephoto and maybe a long wide. Would I buy it with the kit lens? Yeah, for only $70 or $80 more, I think its worth it. However, if choosing b/w the kit lens and picking up the nifty fifty (Canon 50mm prime), I might have been better off picking up the body only and getting the nifty fifty. I'll know when I actually order the nifty fifty. I guess I felt I wanted some range, so I went with the kit.I am going to pick up the nifty fifty to see what this camera can really do. I'm pumped about the hobby and so far so good. I think I'd be even more excited if I had better glass on the cam. But I'm still learning. Maybe the kit lens isn't all that bad and its the photographer.The only bad thing about this hobby though is that initially, I thought I would be happy with the body + kit lens. Now I want more glass, better flash, monopod, etc, etc.

The XT is amazing. The battery comes partly charged so you can immedietly start using the camera (thank you Canon!) I've already shot about 200 pictures with it and the battery hasn't died yet.I can't give you a comparison between the XT and the 20D as I haven't owned a 20D, I can tell you a few things you may wish to know before buying.This camera, is TINY. Extremely tiny. I'm a woman in my early twenties and I have small hands. The camera fits just right in my hands, but honestly, I don't see how someone with bigger hands would be 100% comfortable holding this. If my hands were any larger, they would be slipping off the bottom.I had tried holding a 20D at a camera shop once and it felt too large in my hands to grip. The camera size is perfect for me, but just beware if you have larger hands. You may want to look into the battery grip, or test out holding the camera at a store before you order it. See the picture I uploaded above to get a size relation and how the camera fits in my hands.For anyone who is migrating to this camera from a standard point and shoot digital camera, you cannot frame the image you are about to take using the LCD screen on the back. You must look through the viewfinder. The LCD screen is soley for menu use and preview mode after the picture has been taken, nothing more.Something I've noticed is the camera makes a ratteling sound when moved around. I couldn't figure out what the heck it was, and then I finally reazlized it's the hinges from the pop-up flash. It sounds like they are loose when the flash is closed. I went to Best Buy and looked at their display model, and yep, it has the same problem. Well, it's not really a *problem* but frankly something ratteling around like that sounds cheaply made to me. My Canon film SLR doesn't make that sound.I use a 420EX Speedlite flash with my SLRs so the popup flash doesn't concern me, but it was something I noticed and thought I would share.I love that Canon gave the option to have a black finish over a silver one.The startup time is instantaneous which is absolutely wonderful.The burst mode is excellent with 3 fps.It's extremely quiet.The image quality is excellent. You can get photo quality prints at 20x30, and even then I bet you could push it further.I really can't elaborate more then what other reviews have said. If you are looking for a step into the digital SLR world, this is the ticket. Or you can even check out the newly reduced original Digital Rebel, but for the extra hundred bucks or so, I would just get the XT. You will not be sorry.Two upgrades I would make right away: Get a Speedlite flash and the Canon 28-135mm lens.Also, I don't know why people are submitting bad reviews grading Amazon on shipping for the Rebel XT. When I preordered the XT from Amazon (not from another 3rd party), it said it would be released March 20th. I got my Rebel XT in the mail yesterday (the 22nd) which if you ask me, is pretty darn good. Want something right away? Then walk into a store and buy it instead of ordering from the internet.