For my birthday (gee, talk about a great birthday weekend) I got the new Canon Digital Rebel 400D/XTi/Kiss Digital X digital SLR camera! I've been patiently waiting to enter the world of dSLR photography and now was the perfect time for me to do so (no taxes on electronics + cheap prices make for a great deal). My trusty Canon SD400 will still be my side (especially when I need candid videos of the Homever parking lot guy), but this new digital SLR will enable me to have greater control over the pictures I take (and it's more fun too).


If you're looking to buy a digital camera in Seoul, the best place to buy a camera is in Namdaemun. I've checked out Yongsan and Techno Mart, but they cannot compete with the prices of the camera shops in Namdaemun. Especially if you are looking for a digital SLR, as Yongsan was overpriced and Techno Mart stalls did not have the new model. The shops are located near Namdaemun Market and there are many to choose from. I decided to make my purchase from Canon Plaza, an authorized retailer of Canon products. If you want a good website to compare online prices, check out Omi. It will give you a good ballpark of what prices to expect--and to know if you're getting a deal or not.


The model I bought (with a generous donation from Devante I might add; yes, I know I'm very lucky) was the Japanese model--the Kiss Digital X. It's the exact same camera as the 400D/XTi (English menus, not to worry), but since it has the Japanese warranty, it was a lot cheaper. I bought the 50mm f/1.8 prime lens to start with, a one gigabyte compact flash card, an extra battery, the Lowepro 100 AW slingshot bag, and the owner threw in a free UV filter!


Namdaemun is littered with camera shops...if you're a Canon or Nikon (or name your favorite brand) user, you'll be in heaven:




Canon Plaza...that's the guy I dealt with, he spoke good English:




They have a lot of lenses here...take your pic!




My new baby...here's the front:




...and the back:




Here's a cool feature...the 2.5" LCD automatically turns off once your face nears the sensor:




Now...where should I go to take pictures? Recommendations?