Which Canon

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Skids72

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Simon
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Hi All

New to this forum and DSLR Cameras. After trying a few out I have decided that a Canon is for me (As my brother has a 600D with a few lenses).

Thing is he knows what he wants from his camera (having owned a 300, 450 and 50), and hires the big lenses for airshows etc. Me I want a camera for primarily taking pics of my family, and my other hobbies (art and model kits), with an occasional airshow.

So I was looking at a few cameras, second hand and new but it seems that the lens is almost more important than the body.

So which one would be better for me?

40D with EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens (second Hand)
or
550D with 18-135 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens
or
600D with 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens

any tips or advice would be helpful
 
Welcome to the forum Simon. First question, do you need a DSLR?

The smaller format interchangeable lens cameras have come on massively in the last two years. For general family photos, hobby photos they are smaller and still produce good quality images.
 
For what a semi-decent new small camera costs one could be a fairly good older dSLR.

My advice would be 40D + maybe tamron 17-50mm f/2.8. The glass in front is the really important bit, and by getting something cheap f/x.x-5.6 you really won't be doing yourself any favours. I'd rather get 20D and better lens if it boils down to it.
 
Hi Simon and welcome. What sort of budget do you have for a setup and do you see yourself getting very involved and using lots of top class expensive lenses. I started with a 550D and 18-55 IS kit lens and the quality of the photos were outstanding. I then got a few new lenses which were decent performers, however one of the best lenses I got was a second hand canon 55-250 IS which cost £110 off the forum.
With the camera bodies, the fewer numbers before the D ie 7D, 5D, 1D generally mean better quality bodies. Generally faster burst rate, better AF and better build quality. Which means the 40D is likely to be better quality than the 550D or 600D. I've never used a XXD body as I went from 550D to 7D and 5DMkII but I can and still do recommend the 550D to people starting off.
 
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About to purchase a 550d myself at the moment. I plan on taking pics of motorsport. Is the 55-250 IS lens good enough for this? Im a complete newbie myself...

Sorry for the thread hijack. But this is an interesting thread..
 
To OP, I found this link really helpful while picking out a Canon recently:

http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/cameras

Ensure you tick the box to include discontinued models too. Here you can grab a handful of camera's and line up all the specs side-by-side, some of it may not mean much as a new DSLR user, but I found it helpful and it got more useful as I familiarised myself with the range and the features that I wanted. Good luck!
 
Hi All

Thanks for the replies. I will start looking at lenses and body prices separately now.
Alastair, perhaps I dont need a DSLR but I have had a few smaller format cameras and while they have got better they will never be as good and I want to get something that will last, where I can upgrade the body but keep lenses that I like.

modchild, I suppose about £600 ish will be my budget. So I know I could could get a second hand 40D with the Tamron lens. But open to suggestions. Any do's and dont's suggestions for looking at second hand camera's would be a help. I am looking at it for just starting out at the moment but who knows how involved I will get. Just looking at this site I like the idea of close up work and lots of other avenues. Cant believe some of the top quality work on here.

Thanks for the site Jimwah

Thanks all
Simon
 
Just get the best you can afford, I started with a 350d now look at my Sig.
 
I would suggest buying second hand to get your moneys worth.

Body for £300 or less
Tamron 17 - 50mm 2.8 bin vc around £200
Canon 50mm 1.8 around £60

Use the rest for memory cards, bag etc or maybe spend less on the body and get a flash if you will be using indoors
 
Best advice is handle the new 600D and 60D and you get a feel for comfort of use and access to all the controls. I found the xxxD series too compact and preferred the xxD series of bodies because it handled better for me and the controls were at my finger tips.

20D still a good camera, around the £200 40D would be better on ISO and MP's but you adding another £150-200 and a Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 IS about £300

mbp photography
ffordes
mifsuds
camtech
digital depot
park camera's

all have used equipment.
 
Hi Guys

wow info overload, so many things to look at. Thanks all for the replies I am starting to work it out. Looking at getting a 40d. doing my research.

One thing I wanted to ask was about actuations (shutter count), for a second hand camera what would be a good amount and what would be a bit high?

Also would it be better to go to a proper second hand camera site or would the ones that pop up on amazon or auction sites be worth looking into?

Thanks
Simon
 
I would suggest the best place to buy a camera would be here on the forum. I've bought two 40Ds on here (one for my daughter which I liked so much I bought myself one) plus lenses, bags and flashes.

Like you suggested I started with a 40D and EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM. I personally thought it was adequate for my needs initially and I've just upgraded the lens and sold the old one on here.

The advantage of buying for here rather than Ebay is you have the opportunity to buy from an enthusiast who will be more honest and will have looked after equipment better. Prices are often better as well.

If you are looking for a 40D there is one for sale here, if you don't want the grip you could sell this here easily.
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=377270
 
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Thanks kickstart

Can't use link yet, not been on here long enough I think.
That's ok, just reading forum rules again

Simon
 
If I were you id definitely get the post count up and look at the forum Classifieds. Some good kit available, from good people at good prices.
 
why dont you look at the 50D, great camera. i moved from the 1000D to the 50D. i am also fairly new with only a year under my belt. But the 50d has taught me so much
 
Would be worth waiting until you can get on the classifieds in the forum. I've bought a couple of lenses off here that have been as good as new and there's always stuff coming on here daily. You'd get a good listing to look through and most people selling bodies try and list a shutter count and the lower the better for the bodies. Up to 15,000 should be a breeze if it's been looked after well.
 
Thanks for the lowdown, Im not in any major rush, got the big 40 birthday this Saturday so hopefully get my funds up to where they need to be.

Plus its giving me time to look at loads of stuff on here which is really interesting.
 
Ive used to 1000D for 2 years now and its very versatile. Its an amazing camera and its a lovely starter camera. I'm about to upgrade to a 7D so let me know if you want to buy it off me. Its a perfect little starter camera.
 
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