So I finally decided to get a digital camera. I've decided that (1) basic DSLR prices won't drop much in the foreseeable future - there's really no incentive for them to, and (2) there's not much point in waiting to see whether one is better than others in terms of Q&R - they all have issues, pretty much to the same extent. So I might as well get one and stop spending money on film.

As for which one, although I'm not really invested in a lense collection, I figured it'd be nice to be able to share lenses between my digicam and film cam - which, coupled with my budget, clinches it for the Digital Rebel. Make some space for me on that bandwagon, will ya?

(Actually, I played with the Digital Rebel at a store a couple of months back. My gut said, ohmigod, this is what I need. My mind said, not so fast, let's sit on this for a while.)

One decision yet to be made is which basic zoom lense to get, since I don't think the kit lense will give me the zoom I want. I'd like one in the 28mm-105mm or 28mm-135mm range. I'm trying to decide between:
- Canon 28-105mm 3.5-4.5 II USM
- Sigma 28-105mm 3.8-5.6 UC III
- Sigma 28-135mm 3.8-5.6, which has semi-macro ability (9.4" focus distance) at the tele end

Opinions would be appreciated.

Rest of my shopping list:
- Two 256MB cards: SD 256MB Ultra II (is there a point in a Lexar 40x if the camera doesn't support WA?); mem card reader; mem card wallet
- Extra battery pack (Power-2000 version; any advantage in a genuine Canon?)
- The Phase One s/w for Digital Rebel RAW processing
- A couple of Tiffen Haze-1 UV filters to sit on both the kit lense and the other lense
- Carry case: Yet to figure this one out...

And maybe, if I have the gumption:
- Circular polarizer to play with
- LCD screen protectors (or is this a scam?)


- Yaron