Still choosing!

[nic bike]

Ok I still haven't rushed in to getting a camera as to making sure I get the best camera for my budget so I was wondering
what is beter for bird photography a 30d with a sigma 70-300m DG lens or http://www.jessops.com/Store/s73813/0/Digital-SLRs/Canon/EOS-400D-(Black)-Value-Bundle/details.aspx
with a Canon EF 50mm f1.8 MK2 ? (and there is cash back on the 400d) if anyone knows anything that may be just as good/ better around the 500-670 pounds price range please tell me!

 

[StewartR]

For bird photography you need the longest focal length you can get. 50mm is useless for birds. 300mm is half-way decent.

The 400D has an advantage over the 30D for bird photography because it has more pixels on the same size sensor, which can be really useful when you need to crop the picture. Overall the 30D is a better camera, but the 400D and the Sigma 70-300 is the right combination for your needs.

 

[Sheep]

The 50mm lens wont get you close enough to the birds where distance is usually necessary to avoid scaring them off.

 

[nic bike]

Well I was thinking of just getting the 50mm for portrait/landscape shots.

 

[StewartR]

On a 30D or 400D, 50mm will be fine for portraits but it won't be wide enough for landscapes. (That's why the "kit" lens is 18-55mm; 18-24mm is great for landscapes and 50mm is great for portraits.)

The Canon kit lens doesn't have a great reputation though. Many people rate the Sigma 17-70mm very highly, and that would be a useful "walkaround" lens covering your portait and landscape needs.

That's pushing your budget a bit: 400D from £345, Sigma 17-70 from £215, Sigma 70-300 (make sure you get the APO version!) from £135, total £695. But you'd have some pretty decent kit there.

(Incidentally, you didn't mention portraits or landscapes in your first post: you specifically asked about bird photography. If you want help in deciding which equipment will be best for you, you really need to give us all the relevant information!)

 

[W.Smith]

for birds. 300mm is half-way decent.

For birding you need 600mm and up.

18-24mm is great for landscapes

Sure, if you want landscapes with strong perspective distortion.

and 50mm is great for portraits.

No, sir, that is a very UNflattering perspective for people('s faces and bodies). For portraits pros use between 85mm and 135mm.
50mm is good as a general walk-around lens, for small group shots, and for landscapes IF you want to catch landscapes in one shot (stitching a tilted sequence with 85mm/100mm focal length is better: far less perspective distortion).

Have fun!

 

[foodpoison]

For birding you need 600mm and up.

No you don't. I don't do bird photography, but I've seen perfectly good shots taken with 300mm and 400mm.
It just depends on how far away the birds are.

Sure, if you want landscapes with strong perspective distortion.

Seen many landscape shots taken with focal lengths wider than 18mm and have never once thought, "ooh, that just screams perspective distortion."

No, sir, that is a very UNflattering perspective for people('s faces and bodies). For portraits pros use between 85mm and 135mm.

50mm on a 1.6 crop sensor is 80mm.