Canon - buying advice

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MrJon

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Posted this in the intro forum but not many replies, so posting here instead, hope I don't cause any offence :)

I am upgrading from film to digital. Currently have a EOS 500 along with a Canon 35-80 (f/4-5.6) and a Tokina 100-300 (f/5.6-6.7) (as well as some older FD macro lenses I have yet to get an adapter for, unsure if this would actually benefit me or not)

I am not sure what I am really looking for in a DSLR other than it has to be a Canon! I am in 2 minds if to buy a 550D/600D/650D/700D/etc (eg something on the 18mp sensor) or look to get something like a 12.8mp 5D second hand. Eitherway my budget will probably be around the £500 mark and further on down consider if I need to invest in a newer lens(s) along with a new flash since I doubt the one I have currently will work with a DSLR. Is there any advantage in buying a older 'pro' body second hand, or get something new along with the warranty.

With a little one soon on the way, that will become my main subject to photograph, though also like to photograph nature and flora in my garden, and anything "industrial" that I come across while on holiday along with more family stuff.

Any advice/thoughts would be most appreciated :)
 
MrJon said:
I am upgrading from film to digital. Currently have a EOS 500 along with a Canon 35-80 (f/4-5.6) and a Tokina 100-300 (f/5.6-6.7) (as well as some older FD macro lenses I have yet to get an adapter for, unsure if this would actually benefit me or not)
Click to expand...

With respect, I think your lenses are rather ho-hum and that you should factor in getting a lens as well as a camera if at all possible.

FD lenses are a bit of a problem for Eos bodies and the normal thinking is don't bother... you'll need an adapter with some sort of corrective lens in it, although I'm not sure if you need one for macro... maybe someone else can help with that.

On the subject of going from film to digital and full frame or APS-C the general consensus seems to be that full frame is best but after spening seven years with an APS-C and then switching to full frame I wasn't exactly blown away. At low to middling ISO's after processing each shot for best effect I'd say that the difference between my 20D (APS-C) and 5D (full frame) is minimal. At the higher ISO's the 5D pulls ahead but at no time did the difference slap me in the face other than at ISO 3200.

There are obviously field of view differences between APS-C and full frame and with full frame you may end up using longer lenses or shooting closer to your subject and these things influence the depth of field and the look you get. There's good and bad to be had depending upon your point of view and how and what you shoot.

A budget of £500 wont leave you much for lenses if you go full frame but if you go for a base new APS-C body or a used APS-C you'll have more cash to play with. Personally I'd go for a either a new entry level APS-C or a used one and have money left for a couple of fastish second hand primes. Maybe a "kit" lens and a 28 or 50mm f1.8 to get started with.

Another way forward could be.... wait for it... to go for a compact system camera. You wouldn't be able to use your Eos lenses with a CSC but you could use your FD lenses via an adapter. I have a first generation Panasonic G1 (you can get these for under £100) and just like the 20D, at low to middling ISO's and when processing shots to get the best out of them images are next to indistinguishable from 5D shots unless you start pixel peeping and looking for minute clues.

Good luck choosing, but I personally wouldn't expect to be satisfied with your current lenses for too long on a DSLR.
 
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I'll suggest a Canon 650d, comes with the kit lens that covers 18-55mm. It's £483.23 from asda direct here. Delivery will be a few quid extra.

The 650d has a flash built in, and although built in flash is limiting at least theres no immediate need to squeeze a new external flash into the budget. It's also nice for video, which I'm sure you'll be doing a fair bit of with a baby on the way. The vari-angle LCD screen may prove to be useful for photo's in the garden as well. SD cards are cheaper than CF cards as well which always helps.

While the 18-55 kit lens isn't great it can provide some good results and as it's supplied along with the camera then what's not to like ? Even taking the 1.6x crop into account it'll certainly give you a wider angle than you've had with the Canon 35-80. :)
 
Thanks for the replies and the input :)

The FD lenses are macro ones, so while it would be nice to have some use from them its not that important in the grand scheme of things (they were handed down to me from a family friend)

I have found that a work colleagues husband has a 600D along with some expensive lenses so am going to make a visit.
 
700d won't be out for a while and even then it'll have a bloated price for a while. I got my650d with the 18-135STM kit lens option whilst the price was still a bit bloated but I didn't mind so much since I liked the idea of the touch screen and the lens was new.

Definitely a good start and I'm still enjoying it a year on :)
 
Don't rule out something like a 40D.It was and still is a cracking camera.You can pick a good quality 2nd hand one up for about £200.That leaves plenty of money to pick up a 18-55is and 55-200 is.You'd have a very nice kit to start you off and still have plenty of change left.
Don't be put off by the kit lenses being cheap.I've had plenty of double page shots in magazines and front covers taken with the original 18-55 kit lenses and much worse cameras than the 40D.

Gary
 
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