When I first got my XT, it was offered to me by a good friend who was looking for a new owner. We were casually talking about photography and my desire to get something better than my loveable point and shoot (Canon Powershot S2IS). I bought it because he gave me a good deal, and it was something to start learning with. And boy did I learn (and still learning).
It was some 3 years before I decided to upgrade to the D series. I researched for months what I wanted with the budget I had. I almost went for a 20D but knowing they're actually pretty old, I started looking at 40D's because it was an established prosumer camera that was old enough but upgradeable to and still in my budget.
I ended up selling my XT to another friend who was interested in learning, so I am glad I was able to pass it on to someone who was in the same place I was once in. I replaced my XT with a full-frame 5D because I was convinced that if I was going to spend money on upgrading, it should be a full-frame. And I'm glad I did.
I will be with these two bodies for a very long time to learn with, to shoot with, and to work with. I don't plan to up
Now for image editing, I am comfortable still using CS3. I love it. I was on Photoshop 6 for years, and before that, Photoshop 2 for a while (since college). I don't even know what Photoshop I used in high school when I would sneak on my brother's mac and make really ugly collages from scanned pictures. The only reason why I would want or need CS5 is for potential employment. A lot of companies only want to hire those who have experience with CS5 now. I say, if you know what you're doing on Photoshop, you can accomplish anything. I had a design teacher that told us that there are several ways to achieve the same thing on Illustrator. It's a tool -- you use it to make something with. There are no hard rules or anything to create! With that said, software is software and the version you use doesn't need to be upgraded right away if you have no real reason to. CS5 doesn't make you better than someone still using PS7.
It was some 3 years before I decided to upgrade to the D series. I researched for months what I wanted with the budget I had. I almost went for a 20D but knowing they're actually pretty old, I started looking at 40D's because it was an established prosumer camera that was old enough but upgradeable to and still in my budget.
I ended up selling my XT to another friend who was interested in learning, so I am glad I was able to pass it on to someone who was in the same place I was once in. I replaced my XT with a full-frame 5D because I was convinced that if I was going to spend money on upgrading, it should be a full-frame. And I'm glad I did.
I will be with these two bodies for a very long time to learn with, to shoot with, and to work with. I don't plan to up
Now for image editing, I am comfortable still using CS3. I love it. I was on Photoshop 6 for years, and before that, Photoshop 2 for a while (since college). I don't even know what Photoshop I used in high school when I would sneak on my brother's mac and make really ugly collages from scanned pictures. The only reason why I would want or need CS5 is for potential employment. A lot of companies only want to hire those who have experience with CS5 now. I say, if you know what you're doing on Photoshop, you can accomplish anything. I had a design teacher that told us that there are several ways to achieve the same thing on Illustrator. It's a tool -- you use it to make something with. There are no hard rules or anything to create! With that said, software is software and the version you use doesn't need to be upgraded right away if you have no real reason to. CS5 doesn't make you better than someone still using PS7.
