Camera Choice For A Noob

Prometheus

Prometheus

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Hi all,

I've been interested in photography for a while but up until now I've only been using a normal digital compact. Decided to move to SLR's as I want to take better landscape/scenery pics and night/low light shots.

I can afford the Canon 40D but would there be any reason to choose the cheaper 450D. I've heard a lot of people say save on the body and spend it on the lens but between the two bodies i'm looking at which would be the better choice? i.e. is it worth buying a slightly cheaper camera (and sacrificing some features) in order to spend slightly more on a lens?

or is there too much of a difference between the two bodies?

I would prefer to buy the best body I can afford rather than upgrading it in future and am currently leaning towards the 40D but just wanted some advice before commiting.

Thanks in advance :thumbs:,

Stu.
 
i would go for the 40d myself, the body is bigger and feels better in my hands, also im pretty sure the ISO handling is better on the 40D, meaning less noise in low light shots.

im sure someone will come along to confirm or correct me shortly though. have you ppped into your local camera shop to see how these feel? and which lens you thinking of getting with it
 
The first thing is not to get sucked into the Canon/Nikon is all there is.

Go out and handle the bodies from all the different manufacturers and see which feel most comfortable with intuitive button layout for you.
Then when you narrow it down we can give more tailored advice.
 
Thats what i thought regarding the camera shots. Im going to go to Jessops to buy one today but would prefer advice off here rather than from someone who is trying to get a sale out of me.

I have seen two lens' to decide between both seem similar as to start with i just want a walkabout lens.

They are:

Canon 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Mk2

or

Sigma 18-125mm f3.5-5.6 DC OS (Canon AF)

Would either be suitable as a walkabout or am I way off target?
 
PsiFox said:
The first thing is not to get sucked into the Canon/Nikon is all there is.

Go out and handle the bodies from all the different manufacturers and see which feel most comfortable with intuitive button layout for you.
Then when you narrow it down we can give more tailored advice.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice,

I have handled several in the shops and like the feel of both of these. I'm aware other manufacturers make equally good cameras but from the ones ive seen i like these two. I have also read the reviews on DPreview to get additional advice.

Cheers,

Stu.
 
Hi i have the sigma and it's a great len's, i need the OS as this helps every shoot i take ( shaking hands), i find it very sure and takes cracking pictures hope this helps


Regards Mercmanuk
 
mercmanuk said:
Hi i have the sigma and it's a great len's, i need the OS as this helps every shoot i take ( shaking hands), i find it very sure and takes cracking pictures hope this helps


Regards Mercmanuk
Click to expand...

Thanks and yes I have the same shaking hands ( which is another thing that can ruin the shots i take with a compact, even with IS :'( )
 
Prometheus said:
Thats what i thought regarding the camera shots. Im going to go to Jessops to buy one today but would prefer advice off here rather than from someone who is trying to get a sale out of me.

I have seen two lens' to decide between both seem similar as to start with i just want a walkabout lens.

They are:

Canon 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Mk2

or

Sigma 18-125mm f3.5-5.6 DC OS (Canon AF)

Would either be suitable as a walkabout or am I way off target?
Click to expand...

If you after a single lens walkabout and it has to be one of those then the sigma is a much better focal range the 28mm just isn't wide enough on a crop body to be a walk about. Personally if I wanted a single lens solution on a canon crop body I'd be looking at the OS version of Sigma's 18-200.
 
a1ex2001 said:
If you after a single lens walkabout and it has to be one of those then the sigma is a much better focal range the 28mm just isn't wide enough on a crop body to be a walk about. Personally if I wanted a single lens solution on a canon crop body I'd be looking at the OS version of Sigma's 18-200.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion,

Ive just checked the prices and its just within my budget :thumbs:
 
I love my 40d, its performance and handling is amazing.

However, with regards to the lens, look at the Sigma 17-70 and then look at either a 70-200 or 70-300
 
RobertP said:
This thread might help if you are buying your first DSLR :)
Click to expand...

Thanks for your info. I read it several times (and the vistek guides) before decideing on the two bodies. I appreciate the time you went to to write that guide so thank you again.

Stu.
 
MJ Stebbings said:
I love my 40d, its performance and handling is amazing.

However, with regards to the lens, look at the Sigma 17-70 and then look at either a 70-200 or 70-300
Click to expand...

I had a look at the lens i noticed that there is no OS is the stablisation that's built into the camera sufficent? As stated before im just worried that shots not taken with the aid of a tripod will be ruined.

Cheers
 
Prometheus said:
Hi all,

I've been interested in photography for a while but up until now I've only been using a normal digital compact. Decided to move to SLR's as I want to take better landscape/scenery pics and night/low light shots.

I can afford the Canon 40D but would there be any reason to choose the cheaper 450D. I've heard a lot of people say save on the body and spend it on the lens but between the two bodies i'm looking at which would be the better choice? i.e. is it worth buying a slightly cheaper camera (and sacrificing some features) in order to spend slightly more on a lens?

or is there too much of a difference between the two bodies?

I would prefer to buy the best body I can afford rather than upgrading it in future and am currently leaning towards the 40D but just wanted some advice before commiting.

Thanks in advance :thumbs:,

Stu.
Click to expand...

Go for a 30D instead, slightly older but larger body and still uses CF which writes faster. You do give up a newer processor so higher ISO is slightly noiser cropped but not an issue.

Save the moneys on a decent bit of glass.
 
PSi Fox wrote:-
"Once a Nikon man, always a Nikon man. etc. etc."

I was a Nikon 35mm man for 20+ years. Now a Pentax man. Just personal preferance though. Nowt wrong with Nikon.


Main thing for the new guy looking for a camera is to be sure to handle it in a shop before buying.
You can check the technical performance & reviews on the web.

I like my cameras to feel sturdy and hate kit that is flimsy or feels that way.

Try to think ahead as to what lenses you may want in the future then check to see if the independent makers do them in your cameras mount type in case there is an advantage to be had by buying independent.

Good luck with your DSLR when you get it.
 
Thanks to you both for your advice.

Although i have already had a look at several in the shops i will do so again to ensure i'm 100% happy before buying.

Teshi, I considered that but as a personal preference i prefer to buy the body new.

Thanks again.
 
I had the self same problem you have in deciding which body to get. I went for the 40D over the 450D as i know that i would only upgrade later and spent all my time wishing i had gone for the 40D in the 1st place.

I'm VERY happy with my 40D :thumbs:
 
I have a 450d and don't like sd cards they are slower than cf, so if you do sports/ intend to progress to a better body eventually get the 40d as everything but the 450d and 1000d use cf (i had a 400d before and it wasn't as good a camera generally but could write significantly faster to the card than my 450)
 
Prometheus said:
I had a look at the lens i noticed that there is no OS is the stablisation that's built into the camera sufficent? As stated before im just worried that shots not taken with the aid of a tripod will be ruined.

Cheers
Click to expand...

The lens is light and shouldnt cause you to shake. My misses loves this lens and she isnt the strongest lady in the world. Plus it does have the added bonus of the fact its f2.8-4 across the zoom range so you can step up the aperture and increase shutter speed
 
Prometheus said:
I had a look at the lens i noticed that there is no OS is the stablisation that's built into the camera sufficent? As stated before im just worried that shots not taken with the aid of a tripod will be ruined.

Cheers
Click to expand...

There is NO stabilisation built into the Canon cameras, -just thought I should point that out-

Go for the 40D over the 450D, if you get serious about your new hobby, you'll kick yourself for not having done it first off, I went for the 400D to start with and soon(ish) upgraded to the 40D.
 
Thanks for you help

and I'm sure will all (or most) be pleased to know when I went into the shop yesterday after handling it and a few other different makes I came away with the 40D (well sort of, its on order ;) )

To sum up I bought:

Canon EOS 40D + 17-85mm IS USM Lens (decided to start with this lens and buy another when funds allow)

Sandisk 8GB Ultra II (or Ultra III can't remember) Compactflash Card

Lowepro Slingshot 200AW

Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flashgun

and just wated to reiterate my thanks to the people that gave me their advice, suggestions and opinions. This is one of the friendliest forums I joined for quite some time :D.

Cheers,

Stu.

P.S. turbotoes yea the guy I got served by (a mate from 6 years ago small world eh!) told me that when i was comparing makes/models. I think when I wrote that I was getting confused with another camera!
 
Very good choice sir!:D Also theres nowt wrong with that lens, it's a corker!

Looking forward to seeing some pics.

Enjoy!
 
got that lens, and started me on the long slippery slope, got a decent enough range for most things. when you get it post up some shots:thumbs:
 
fletch5 said:
got that lens, and started me on the long slippery slope, got a decent enough range for most things. when you get it post up some shots:thumbs:
Click to expand...

Yea, I though it would do until I can afford another.

Yea will do, I should be picking it up on thursday so after some practice and a bit of educating myself I'll post some up.

The pic in my avatar is my best shot to date but unfortunately it was taken with a digital compact while on a boat on the nile and with no post processing. I wish I had had a SLR to take it with but hey that's life.
 
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