Let me first start of saying this is the first time I have posted on this forum, and from the look of all the posts, I think it is the best best to ask the questions that I need answered.

I started getting into photography about 2 years ago, mostly landscape. It was with a Sony FDMAVICA. However after a while a friend of mine let me borrow his Canon 10D and I was hooked on the dslrs ever since.

Now I am looking to buy a dslr and after much deliberation I found two to choose from: the Canon xti and xt.

The question I am asking is what would be the best deal between either of the two to have for all around photography? I am joining yearbook next year so I want to be able to explore how to really take control of taking pictures. Would it be better to get two lenses because of the generality of my needs? Also I really need it be at 800 or a little above that. And remember I am 16 so a teen + no job = very little ways to get cash.

Any help would be appreciated
Mdashoff

...And remember I am 16 so a teen + no job = very little ways to get cash...
"...are there no work houses? No debtor's prisons?" :D [Can you guess the quote?]

Well, then... how about Parents? Aunts? Birthdays?

...I know about the parent thing... I've had five teenagers... as for the camera...
I'm not a dSLR user, but have you consulted... http://forums.dpreview.com

If you can swing it, I would go with the XTi. You will get better image quality at higher ISO with the XTi vs the XT. It will cost you a little bit more, but if you're going to be shooting at ISO 800 a lot, you will be happy you spent the extra money. Since cost in a big factor, I would consider getting it with the kit lens. It's only $100 more, and despite some bad reviews, the lens really isn't bad. If you don't want to go with the kit lens, I have heard good things about the 28-135mm IS lens, but that's $400.

A great, inexpensive lens is the 50mm f/1.8, but you may want to start out with a zoom to give you more options. Once you use it a while, you will get a better idea of what else you want.

"...are there no work houses? No debtor's prisons?" :D [Can you guess the quote?]
Dickens, A Christmas Carol.

Dickens, A Christmas Carol.
...the one and only Ebenezer Scrooge!

I have been also wondering if the quality of the 10 to the 8 on the xt will not be as nice, because they are squeezing more mega pixels onto a sensor.

The 10mp of the XTi will give you better image quality than the 8 of the XT, and you will have more cropping options. The sensor in the XTi is newer technology than the XT.

michael, that's not ALWAYS the case. most of the time it is, but sometimes it can work strange ways. take for example the 10d and the 1d. 10d was released around 2002-3, i believe, with 6 MP. 1d was 2000, with 4. I would take the 1d images over the 10d anyways, because the image quality is much higher. Sometimes when they cram more pixels onto the same size sensor the quality of the individual pixels are decreased. Kind of counterproductive. But in this case, I think you are right, and the xti is better.