A post I frequently see in online photography forums goes something like this:

I’ve been using a P&S camera and I want to move up to a DSLR. I don’t have much experience with these cameras, and I’m not sure what to get. Also, can you recommend what lenses to get when I buy the camera? I’m going to use this mostly to photograph my family, vacations, and so forth.

My perspective as a Canon user* is that the best camera for new DSLR photographers in this situation is likely the Rebel XTi (aka the “400D”) and not one of the more expensive models such as the 40D.

Cameras like the XTi were designed with such users in mind. The cost is significantly lower than that of the prosumer-level 40D. The camera provides a wide variety of automatic functions for casual photographers, yet it also has full manual controls for those who understand the camera a bit better. The smaller body size is generally more convenient than the larger bodies of the more expensive cameras – one is less likely to leave the camera at home.

Image quality on this camera is outstanding. It has a 10 megapixel sensor, which is more than enough for making letter size prints or sharing photographs electronically. In fact, with a good lens and good technique you can make photographs with this camera that will look great printed at 12″ x 18″ and even larger. The 10 MP sensor is essentially the same one used in the more expensive 40D, so the XTi gives up nothing in this regard.

What does the buyer miss out on by getting the XTi instead of the 40D? Very little, actually. Burst mode (which lets the camera automatically fire off several shots per second while you hold down the shutter) is faster on the 40D, but the XTi is plenty fast for almost all photographers of the sort we are considering here. The 40D has a bit more rugged body, though neither competes with the fully sealed (and extremely expensive) professional cameras. There are some other technical difference, but they will not likely make a significant difference to most new DSLR photographers.

Some new DSLR photographers worry that they’ll buy “too little camera,” and then find that their camera isn’t good enough a year or two later. The XTi will still produce photographs equal to those from the 40D in two years. If the 40D won’t be “obsolete” then, neither will the XTi. However, the DSLR technology improves so quickly that should your photographic skills and needs advance sufficiently you’ll probably sell any camera you buy today and replace it (or demote it to backup status) in a couple of years anyway. If your needs remain typical of those who buy entry-level DSLR bodies, you’ll be fine with the XTi for quite awhile. If your needs surpass what the XTi provides, they will also surpass what the 40D provides – and you’ll join the many photographers who upgrade after a couple years.

Finally, what about lenses? Should you buy a full selection of lenses at the time you purchase your camera? Should you listen to photographer friends or those who participate in the online forums who tell you to get expensive and highest quality lenses? In a word, no.

In general I strongly recommend that you begin with the 18-55mm “kit lens” that comes virtually free with this camera. No, it is not a “professional” lens. Yes, it can provide quite good images – certainly of sufficient quality for those letter size prints and more than enough for posting online.

There is another reason to start with the kit lens. Choosing the right lenses is not straightforward, and is very personal. What is right for one photographer is wrong for another. The “right” choice depends on a lot of things: personal preference, subjects to be photographed, conditions in which the photography is done, and so forth. As a beginner who has really figured out his/her style yet, you don’t have a context for sorting this out. Do you like to shoot wide angle? How wide? Do you shoot low light without a tripod? Will you use a flash or shoot natural light? Do you like zooms or primes? Will you end up shooting landscapes? Sports? Weddings? Without knowing the answers to questions like these, there is a very good chance that lens investments you make now will turn out to be wrong in the future.

A better approach is to shoot a lot with that kit lens. Learn about how different focal lengths do or do not work for you, and discover what kinds of shots you cannot get with the kit lens. If you find that you are running out of room at the wide angle end, you may want a wider lens. If you discover that 55mm is not long enough you can start thinking about longer telephotos. If the maximum aperture is frequently not wide enough you can consider lenses with larger apertures. If it turns out that the kit lens doesn’t capture enough fine detail in your landscape shots you can investigate lenses with greater resolution. Slowly and carefully add lenses to your kit as you find you need them and as you develop knowledge that will permit you to make good choices.

On the other hand you may find that the kit lens is just fine for your style of shooting – and remain happy shooting with it for as long as you own the camera.

* Although I only mention Canon lenses – that’s what I’m most familiar with – there are similar models at similar price points from other manufacturers such as Nikon, Sony, and Pentax.