Advice for a Novice please
Advice for a Novice please
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S6 ROR

Original Poster:

1,590 posts

295 months

Friday 4th September 2009
quotequote all
I am in the market to buy a Digital SLR, which will be my first digital camera. (just moving from filmpaperbag)
I am really looking for something that dose it all for you, but allows you to use manually if feeling brave.

I have had a Canon EOS 1000 for the past 20 years, which to be honest, I have found superb, for my limited knowledge of photography.

What would you recommend? and where is the best place to buy from. As I have had a Canon for the past 20 years, feel inclined to continue down this route, but would appreciate any advice.
Have a budget of approx £500
Cheers.

Simpo Two

92,857 posts

295 months

Friday 4th September 2009
quotequote all
wavey

Scott330ci

18,294 posts

231 months

Friday 4th September 2009
quotequote all
Canon 450d


GetCarter

31,273 posts

309 months

Friday 4th September 2009
quotequote all
In your situation I'd definately stick to Canon. You won't go far wrong with that budget either. I'll let the Conofiles take over (being a Nikonian).

S6 ROR

Original Poster:

1,590 posts

295 months

Friday 4th September 2009
quotequote all
Thanks Guys, have seen an offer from Jessops on a EOS 1000D with a 18-55mm and a Tamron 70-300mm lens plus a 8GB card for £539, and a EOS 450D with similar package for £639.
Do these look good value?

Scott330ci

18,294 posts

231 months

Friday 4th September 2009
quotequote all
I have the twin lens eos 450d - can't fault it.

Test shots below

www.flickr.com\scottwmccormack

or

www.trackphotography.co.uk (Majority taken with the tamron 70/300mm - not as sharp due to upload rules for my site (72dpi?????))

Also budget in a 50mm f1.8 iirc £88

I paid £700ish for my kit at christmas

Edited by Scott330ci on Friday 4th September 10:38

havoc

33,428 posts

265 months

Friday 4th September 2009
quotequote all
I'm not a fan of the 1000D - hybrid of slightly-older tech to make it a budget-end body. Better to go for a 450D IMHO.

450D? Warehouse Express are usually a good yardstick of price (i.e. you can get cheaper from a few reputable places, but usually not by that much). They've got the following offers:-
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/category/basecateg...

...the closest of which to the Jessops offer is the 18-55IS + 55-250IS for £699. Canon 55-250IS likely to be a better lens than the Tamron 70-300 (and IS is very useful for both motorsport and low-light conditions), but I'm not sure how much better it will be - I've not owned one.

Re: Jessops - check if the 18-55 is IS or not - the non-IS is an older, cheaper, less-capable kit-lens, whereas the 18-55IS is actually half-decent. IIRC the 18-55IS starts at f/3.5 whereas the non-IS starts at f/4 or f/4.5...


My advice in general?
- Decide what sort of lenses you want (1 all-encompassing super-zoom (I wouldn't, but it's the cheapest option), or 1 med-wide zoom plus one med-long zoom, or a mix of 3, 4 or 5)
- Decide which lenses look both affordable and reasonable (there's a couple of good review websites around - someone on here will post the names/links up)
- Decide if any of the kits offer close to what you want, and how much you'll save by buying a kit. I bought my 20D with the cheapo 18-55 kit-lens and it stayed on there for less than a year before I upgraded.

You might also consider:-
- Canon outlet on eBay does refurb'd ex-demo and discontinued new stuff, often body-only or +1 lens.
- 2nd-hand lenses can be a good buy, although prices seem to always be >>50% of new.

urban_alchemist

607 posts

236 months

Friday 4th September 2009
quotequote all
Forget about a dSLR - get a Panasonic G1.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcg1/

GetCarter

31,273 posts

309 months

Friday 4th September 2009
quotequote all
urban_alchemist said:
Forget about a dSLR - get a Panasonic G1.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicdmcg1/
Damn... I fked up!

ali_kat

32,155 posts

251 months

Friday 4th September 2009
quotequote all
Along similar lines..

My Father has an old Canon EOS SLR & load of lenses/gadgets to go with it. As he is getting on in his years, he prefers to use the little Canon digital auto that I bought him, than lug the big bag around with him everywhere (plus his memory is going and he forgets where he put it... frown)

We were wondering, would the lenses he has already fit a digi EOS SLR? If so, I'll just buy one of those and 'share' it wink


Pvapour

8,981 posts

283 months

Friday 4th September 2009
quotequote all
have a nikon d200 with 3 lenses or canon 5d up for grabs if your interested, i use the 450 & its pretty good tbo.

ALawson

8,054 posts

281 months

Friday 4th September 2009
quotequote all
Pvapour said:
have a nikon d200 with 3 lenses or canon 5d up for grabs if your interested, i use the 450 & its pretty good tbo.
What are the details on the D200 and lenses price wise? If you don't want to put them up on here PM me.

Cheers.

Alex (looking to get his first DLSR).

S6 ROR

Original Poster:

1,590 posts

295 months

Monday 14th September 2009
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies, much appreciatedthumbup
Just purchased a Canon 450D with 18-55mm IS Lense. So, you know what i will be doing for the next few days, trying to get to grips with itbiggrin

havoc

33,428 posts

265 months

Monday 14th September 2009
quotequote all
Nice one! They get addictive, by the way... wink

Reading the manual helps a little, but only if you know what you're looking at. I'd be tempted to leave it in auto for the first few weeks while you get used to how it handles, then read-up on the effects of aperture and when to use aperture- and shutter-priority so you can start 'driving' it properly...and then just see where you want to go with it!

Quick silver

1,387 posts

229 months

Monday 14th September 2009
quotequote all
ali_kat said:
Along similar lines..

My Father has an old Canon EOS SLR & load of lenses/gadgets to go with it. As he is getting on in his years, he prefers to use the little Canon digital auto that I bought him, than lug the big bag around with him everywhere (plus his memory is going and he forgets where he put it... frown)

We were wondering, would the lenses he has already fit a digi EOS SLR? If so, I'll just buy one of those and 'share' it wink
Yes they will fit all DSLR's with EF mounts........you may find it worth looking at used cameras -20D/30D models seem to run out at around £200-300 (body only).