Canon move from SLR to DSLR - advice?

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I'm after some advice on the Canon D350 and D400.

I have currently got an EOS 300 with Canon 28-90 USM and 90-300 USM lenses, I treasured it for the first few years but never really experimented properly to get the best results from the photos because it cost me a fortune to process the film and it has been languishing for a while in favour of a various digital compacts.

However I spotted an add on a totally unrelated forum recently for a 350D at £200 with it's original 18-55 lens or £170 without and I have realised that the DSLR is finally within my reach! So, my question is should I go for a 350D at this kind of price now or is it worth waiting a bit longer for the 400D to come down further? As someone who has never used a DSLR before will the difference it the photos be noticeable or is the limiting factor at the moment likely to be my inability to use the camera to it's best?!

Next question is whether for the extra £30 or so is it worth also getting the 18-55 lens - I think I will need a wider angle lens to get the same kind of results with a DSLR as I currently get with the 28-90 and SLR?

Any advice would be welcome - thanks
 
well, if the 350d is in budget, then go for it. works well and a lot better than digital compacts. i would probably get the kit lens, since it covers more wideangle than you have and at £30 cant go wrong really.

i assume that your existing lenses are ef lenses so will work ont he 350d as well.

welcome to the forums:wave:
 
Nothing wrong with the 350D.

Personally i'd look for a used 20D as a starting camera. the picture quality will be the same but coming from a film camera you will already know a bit about fstops and shutter speeds so you will not be using the auto modes (at least you shouldn't be!) - and the adjustment on the 20D is all done from direct control wheels. On the 350 and 400 etc. you have to go into the menu to choose settings. (someone correct me if wrong as i've never had a 350D).

Your EF lenses will work fine but it is worth getting the kit lens as the smaller sensor will mean 28mm is not very wide.

Short answer - do it! No film processing costs etc is a very liberating experience :)
 
The Canon 350 and 400D have a crop sensor so to work out the equivalent focal length you need to muliply by 1.6.

18-55 would equal 29-88mm on a 35mm camera so you would have a familiar focal length to get you started.

Grab a bargain!
 
These lenses were supposedly $100 new? Which is about £50 GBP new. It's a cheap lens designed to produce a average performance. I think given the price I'd spend the money on a 50mm mkII 1.8 prime, nice sharp lens with excellent aperture range but without the zoom and wide angle. Depends how much wide angle stuff you expect to do.

There's a good review of the kit lens HERE -
 
Thanks for the quick responses folks!

fletch5 - Thanks for the welcome. I wouldn't exactly say that it is 'in budget' :) as I wasn't planning on a new camera! But £200 is coming down to compact camera prices and the kind of amount I can justify as a newbie who doesn't yet know how much they'll use a DSLR and what kind of results they could get. Yes, my existing lenses are EF lenses so I'll be able to use them.

RobertP - Thanks for the input. I have to confess that I do on occasion use the auto modes (this forum really needs an embarrassed smiley!) and the 350D appeals because of it's similarity to my existing EOS 300.

AliB - Thanks for explaining how to convert, I was aware there was an issue with the lenses but had no idea how to convert. I have to admit it's looking like a bargain - especially as it's local so I could see and poke the camera before I pay up!

ianmcg - Thanks, I had heard the kit lenses are a bit mediocre which was why I was wondering whether it was worth taking (thanks for the link). At an extra £30 I think it probably will be as the zoom gives me a bit more flexibility and will be close to what I'm used too. Once I settle in to using the camera and have a better idea of what kind of photography I prefer I might go for a better quality wide angle.

Another question. The reason I mentioned the 400D is that I have a friend who's got the 40D and says that a lot of the technology is the same and the 400D is a real step up from the 350D. The 400D apparently has a sensor cleaning system that the 350D doesn't - is this likely to be an issue and worth the difference in price (or rather, waiting until the 400D decreases in price a bit more) or is it one of those things that sounds useful but isn't?!
 
The differences really aren't that great sensor cleaning, 10mp, slightly improved AF system, larger LCD etc Defn better to put the money you would have spent extra on a 400D into better lenses for the 350D and sit tight until Canon have a new version of the 400D.

If google 350D vs 400D you'll find lots of views on blogs and forums all over the net.

:naughty:

Ian,
--------------------------------
LBIPP
http://www.photosavings.co.uk
http://www.ianmcgrawphotos.co.uk
 
if your careful, the sensor cleaning wont matter to you. it isnt a perfect system, and you prob will need to have it done properly at some point anyway.
the 400 has more pixels, so larger picture, but not enough to bother you i wouldnt have thought.
the 350d does have a seperate screen on the back though for veiwing settings in, not too sure what it shows you in it, but if you pm someone like foodpoison, who actually has the camera, he will be able to tell you some more.
 
It is, and I am seeing 400d with kit lenses for around the £375 mark new, so wont be long before they are more afordable secondhand.
 
There is indeed a 450D and 400D prices are coming down so waiting it out for a second hand 400D is definitely an option. However, by then there will probably be a 500D and the 450D will be looking attractive! :)

I guess the issue is knowing when to jump - going for a model where the spec up is not much different rather than where the technology moves on a whole level.

Views on here seem to suggest that the 350D is a perfectly good camera to start with secondhand and that the 400D is not a vast improvement on it. I will indeed go and google 350D vs 400D, I've looked for both separately but it didn't occur to me to put vs in the middle - doh!

Thanks again for all your help folks - more comments and advice always welcome.
 
until VERY recently i shot weddings (with swmbo and her 5D), with a 350.and i,m just learning my way round the 30D
ok mine 350,s wearing a 17-85 IS USM.
but for a first dslr, the kit lens isnt bad at all.you got a decent pixel count , and its pretty easy to navigate around.
theres loads about now , so prices have come down.
good buy.
 
I came the same route as you. I had (have) an EOS 620. It's very old and I hadn't used it in a few years but I still had a couple of lenses. So I went with the 350D about2 or 3 years ago and have been content until quite recently when I really started to get the bug again.

In short, the 350D covered a wedding, a number of motor sport events, some great landscapes and sunsets while on a cruise, plus the odd family gathering.

Go for the 350, you won't regret it. The only other thing you may need to replace is your flash gun (if you have one).

Oh, and welcome.....

Steve
 
I still have my EOS 650 - I remember lusting after the data back but it was woefully out my budget - a very well made series of cameras.
 
RobertP said:
Nothing wrong with the 350D.

Personally i'd look for a used 20D as a starting camera. the picture quality will be the same but coming from a film camera you will already know a bit about fstops and shutter speeds so you will not be using the auto modes (at least you shouldn't be!) - and the adjustment on the 20D is all done from direct control wheels. On the 350 and 400 etc. you have to go into the menu to choose settings. (someone correct me if wrong as i've never had a 350D).

Your EF lenses will work fine but it is worth getting the kit lens as the smaller sensor will mean 28mm is not very wide.

Short answer - do it! No film processing costs etc is a very liberating experience :)
Click to expand...


I just sold my 350D and have to say it was a great camera. It does have the control wheel for changing f stops and exposure etc. You do have to go into the menu for ISO, WB etc but there are short cut buttons to get you there quickly. If you go for it you won’t be disappointed but as already has been mentioned the 400D prices are starting to drop now the 450D is here so I would have a good look around before you buy.
 
Thanks for all your input guys.

I have had a search around looking at the different models new and secondhand. The 400D looks to have come down to a best price of around £350-375 new with the kit lens, potentially with another £40 back from Canon which is a really good deal, as the best I have seen it for second hand is £300. The best price on the 350D new is strangely almost identical but without the cashback from Canon so actually more expensive!

The secondhand 350D that I am looking at now is £200 but it's a couple of years old and so out of warantee etc, although the seller says that it has been recently serviced and cleaned. It comes with camera, kit lens, manual and cables etc and a bag although it's not boxed as new.

Given that the general consensus is that the 350D is a perfectly good DSLR that takes decent photos to get started with and that I can afford (just about!) the £200 but not the £300, I think I may be raiding my savings at the weekend. :)

If people have views on whether this is a good idea or whether I really should save up the extra £120 or so and hang on for a new 400D, please shout!
 
Sounds a good deal to me.

You could sell it again in 6 months time if you want an upgrade for very little loss of money.
 
Right - done! I've told the seller I'll take it as long as everything is OK when I see it. :)

So... now, any hints and tips for obvious things to check on a secondhand DSLR? I'm assuming scratches on lens / LCD screen is the obvious one, does it switch on, does it take a photo? Are there any particular faults or issues to check for with a 350D?

Sorry for all the questions but since you've been such a helpful bunch I thought I'd keep asking! :)
 
Hi Folks - I thought that since you'd been so helpful I'd update this story.
Sadly, when I turned up to look at the camera it wasn't a 350D it was a 300D and the American version so I politely declined :(

So - now I've got all excited about getting a DSLR I might be keeping an eye on the classifieds here for a 350D or even a 400D if they come into my price range.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply to me though and I'll continue lurking on the site and asking questions. :)
 
I would consider Robert's advice very seriously about starting out with a 20/30D

I bought my 350 and ended up buying a 20D not long afterwards. Nothing wrong IQ wise with the 350D but the 20/30D is simply so much more camera from a build and performance perspective...

Get to play with them and you will see...:thumbs:
 
RobertP said:
Nothing wrong with the 350D.

Personally i'd look for a used 20D as a starting camera. the picture quality will be the same but coming from a film camera you will already know a bit about fstops and shutter speeds so you will not be using the auto modes (at least you shouldn't be!) - and the adjustment on the 20D is all done from direct control wheels. On the 350 and 400 etc. you have to go into the menu to choose settings. (someone correct me if wrong as i've never had a 350D).

Your EF lenses will work fine but it is worth getting the kit lens as the smaller sensor will mean 28mm is not very wide.

Short answer - do it! No film processing costs etc is a very liberating experience :)
Click to expand...

on the 350d you have 1 control wheel and have to press a button to change the function of it. no menus.
 
I agree on the 20d,you can pick them up now cheap,it will mean you get that bit extra for your money.
 
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