Canon 500D (T1i)

If you are the kind of person looking for a really good all-round camera, but also like the physical burden of it to be minimal, I think one of the best bids for it right now is the new Canon 500D (called T1i in the US, oddly).

I've just ordered one. I almost bought that Olympus Pen I've written about endlessly, but while the Canon is not quite as compact as the Olympus, it has several advantages: most importantly, much faster autofocus (an archilles heel for the Olympus Pen). A much bigger collection of lenses, of which I have a very nice selection already. A bigger and higher resolution LCD screen. And better low-light performance due to the larger sensor.

And the Canon, amazingly, is barely heavier than the Olympus, if it is at all. Through much use of plastic (which does not bother me), it is really small and light-weight.

The same is true for the two "standard" zoom lenses, the 18-55mm and the 55-250mm. They are both really small and light, and cheap, and yet very high quality optically. Really, surprisingly good. Just like the 500D, which amazes reviewers at this point, you get the same image quality as cameras weighing and costing twice as much.

This is all quite plasticky, so it's not for the rough-and-tumble world of the professional photographer, but for the discerning weekend photographer, it's ideal.

I should add that competition is very hard in this market, and all these cameras from different brands are really good. And Nikon is bound to soon come out with a replacement for the D60 camera, which will be as good as this Canon, at least. But for now, this is just a good tip.

(Note: amazingly, on Amazon UK currently, there is just 15 pounds ($25) difference between body only and body with kit zoom (which like I said is excellent). So I took the latter, at that price you might as well take one as a backup.)

Update: you might wonder why would I want this one when I already have the excellent Nikon D90? Just one reason: size and weight. When the Nikon D90 came out, it was the smallest camera you could get which could make good, usable pictures at 3200 ISO. Now this Canon has the same, but in a smaller package. I'm keeping the D90, because it's still a more professional camera, for example it takes five pictures per second if needed, the 500D only goes up to three.