What camera?

[Duckydoodle]

I'm thinking of buying a Canon EOS 350D 18-55mm EF-S. Does anyone have any advise?

 

[Ladybird]

You may find someone will give this a shift to Camera, lenses and accessories, you may get sensible advice there!

 

[Milestone]

great camera. what advice are you looking for ?

 

[Duckydoodle]

Is there one you could recommend?

 

[mattyh]

What are you wanting to shoot with it?

 

[Duckydoodle]

As I said I'm new but I see the perfect picture in all sorts of situations and places and things. I love nature with it's natural colours and vibrance. I've taken pictures of spiders in their webs, squirrels in trees, raindrops on the handlebars of my sons bike just cause of the way they glistened and hung there. I enjoy taking pictures of my young children as they play and act naturally. I have an Olympus camedia 5000 at the moment so I'm limited and want to move on to a camera that will help me in my quest to move my photography on to a more serious level.

 

[8utters]

Yep the 350D is a good camera.

Also look into the 400D if you can afford it, I have one and it's great. Has some good features compared to the 350D that are worth the extra cash.

How much are you looking to spend?

 

[theMusicMan]

Take a look also at the olympus E-510, as Olympus are offering £100 cashback if you purchase now. Great value, loads of features, and in-camera IS (not in the lens) so you get Image Stabilisation in every lens you put on the camera.

 

[Duckydoodle]

Thank you for all the advise. It's much appreciated. I will have a look at all the cameras suggested. My budget is a bit limited at the moment. I don't really want to spend more than £350.
Could anyone suggest a good photography book for beginners. I want to do a course next year too. I don't just want to point and shoot I want to understand what I'm doing and how I can get the best shots.

 

[theMusicMan]

Hi Duckydoodle - as you're strapped for cash at the moment, I'd suggest you save the £20-£30 you'd spend on a book and put it towards your camera purchase. You can learn loads from reading threads and posts here on tp.

 

[Glen]

If you can strecth that little bit etc, I'd go for the 400d personally. You have many add ons compared to the 350
(not that the 350 is bad as I've got one) but the 400d gets you a bigger screen, I think more focus points in your view finder, etc 2 mega pixels, the dust cleaning mode and a few others.

Have a quick look at the bargins thread, as I found a good price for a 400d, but then Jimmy_L found that Warehouse express were doing the body only for £365 the minus £50 cashback which you would apply for if you got the camera before 31st december 2007. The kit version will be about another £40-50 more as it comes with the lens.

PS as Musicman has said save your cash on books, you'll get all the help you need on here.

Here you go...

EOS 400D
With a broad array of functions designed to deliver optimal performance in a compact chassis, the EOS 400D Digital offers advanced features for precision shooting and ease of use. The EOS 400D is the first camera to incorporate the EOS Integrated Cleaning System. Based on significant research into the causes of dust in D-SLR cameras, the system combats dust in three important ways: Reduce, Repel and Remove. For more details click here


• Sensor: CMOS - 10.1 Million pixels
• Image Size: 3888 x 2592 Pixels
• Lens: Canon EF mount
• Focus: TTL 9 point focusing/Manual
• Exposure: Auto/Program/AP/SP/M
• Metering: 35 Zone Eval/CW/Partial
• Monitor: 2.5" TFT
• Other Features: EOS Integrated Cleaning System
• Movie Mode: No
• Storage: CompactFlash 1/11
• Batteries: Rechargeable Lith-ion
• AC Adaptor: Optional
• Size/Weight: 126x94x65mm - 510g
• Transfer: USB 2.0
• Technical details: click here
Included accessories: Rechargeable battery NB-2LH, Charger CB-2LTE, Eyecup EF, Neck strap, USB & Video cables, CD ROM software, User guide


Canon EOS-400D plus
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II £409 or £19mth
Only £359 with Cashback

Here is the 350d spec to....

• Sensor: CMOS - 8.0 Million pixels
• Image Size: 3456x2304 Pixels
• Lens: Takes all Canon EF lenses
• Focus: TTL 7 point focusing/Manual
• Exposure: Auto/Program/AP/SP/M
• Metering: 35 Zone Eval/CW/Partial
• Monitor: 1.8" TFT
• Other Features: Simultaneously RAW and JPEG capture
• Movie Mode: No
• Storage: CompactFlash 1/11, Microdrive
• Batteries: Rechargeable Lithium-ion
• AC Adaptor: Optional
• Size/Weight: 126x94x64mm - 480g
• Transfer: USB 2.0 (Mac & PC)
• Technical details: click here

£369 for the camera and Kit.

So It would actuall be cheaper, if getting it from here to buy the 400d

 

[Ian T]

I know 350D and 400D users, and they're very happy with what they've got. As has been said, if you can stretch to it, get the 400D.

Personally I was going to buy a 350D last year, but bought a Nikon D50 because I couldn't afford the extra £100 at the time!! I'm obviously now a Nikon user, and have no regrets, but I still regard the 350D/400D as excellent pieces of kit. You shouldn't be disappointed with either.

 

[StewartR]

I have a 350D and I'm very happy with it.

The main extras in the 400D are 2 extra MP, a faster autofocus system, the anti-dust sensor thingy, and a larger LCD on the back.

Always check prices on Camera Price Buster. They're currently showing a best price of £349 for the 350D and £409 for the 400D, both including the kit lens. But the £50 cashback on the 400D makes it a no-brainer in my mind.

 

[8utters]

Yep i'd again reccomend the 400D, the price difference isnt HUGE, it's worth that little bit extra. I'v used a 350D loads of times, it's similar to the 400D but odviously I prefer the 400.