40D? Advice please

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For some bizarre reason my wife wants to get a digital SLR.

She knows she does not like 'plastic' bodied ones and after playing with a few in shops likes what she has seen of the Canon 40D. We have no 'legacy' to worry about - her last SLR was an T90 (now has the shutter problem) but has a couple of Contax 35mm (T2 and G1) that are lightly used.

She has been offered what she thinks is a reasonable deal for A 40D with a Sigma 18-105 (@£880) and in the near(ish) future wants a w-i-d-e zoom to match and has been advised that Sigma are bringing out an 'f4' version of the 10-20 that will be 'worth the wait'. She is not even slightly bothered with long lenses. Will probably end up with just the two and the body. A relatively easy carry.

Since I care less than nothing about digital SLR's I'm looking for advice of the forum - do you think she is making a wise choice?

If you don't, what would you do with the 'same' budget? Second-hand is an option - not that enamoured with a used 5D as the 'same' package would probably have a lot of heavy and expensive lenses. Will try to buy from a local shop rather than an internet supplier every time.
 
The price sounds about right. Another alternative is to get it with the 17-85 IS kit lens which by all accounts is a pretty good lens. Is it definately 18-105? I thought Sigma only did an 18-125mm? If it is the 125 its a very good walkabout lens (as is the Canon) and if she doesnt want to change lenses, and doesnt want a long lens, it would be ideal.

Its £870 at Camerabox for the body and Canon 17-85 combo. I know you dont want to go via the internet but I've used them before and they offer excellent service with very quick and reliable delivery - http://www.camerabox.co.uk/product1.asp?ProductName=Canon-EOS-40D-17-85mm-IS-Lens-Kit&ProductID=1538

The 40D body only plus the 18-125 at camerabox is only £798... Worth considering.

Off the shelf it would be considerably more (with limited stores...)

The 40D is a very good camera, you can't go wrong with this.
 
odd jim said:
Is it definately 18-105? I thought Sigma only did an 18-125mm? If it is the 125 its a very good walkabout lens (as is the Canon) and if she doesnt want to change lenses, and doesnt want a long lens, it would be ideal.
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I may not have been paying attention - it gives an approximate equivalent to an 28-200 on 35mm (quick bash on the calculator...) yeah - 18-125.

It is a 'rated' lens is it? I believe the sales bloke when he said something along the lines of 'lighter' (than an 18 -200 zoom with image stabilising) and with 'better' glass.
odd jim said:
The 40D body only plus the 18-125 at camerabox is only £798... Worth considering.
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We know but would rather support a 'real' shop who give advice and let you play hands on with the kit before you buy - once they are gone we are in the hands of internet retailers and their (possibly) marginal support and the everlasting wait for City Link to deliver the goods. No thanks - not for a saving of £80.

(Also note that Camrabox are 'out of stock' of the Canon fit Sigma lens and the total would be £805.97 - but the 50D and Canon lens is annoyingly tempting....)
 
I think its a wise choice. I consider myself to be a novice, but i love my 40D.
 
After loads of soul searching and comparing various Canon DSLR's I've just purchased a 40D after upgrading from a 350D that I've had for several years.

The 40D does seem to get the best results and actually beats the newer 50D for NOise control, etc. Saying that if your wife has no experience of a DSLR you may be better off starting with a 450D or 500D which is easier to control and smaller than a 40D.
 
The basics on the 40D are no more difficult than the xxxD series, if anything the big wheel on the back and the screen on the top make things easier.
 
I agree that the basics are no more difficult but there are loads more options, more control, etc on a 40D.
 
Shadow said:
Saying that if your wife has no experience of a DSLR you may be better off starting with a 450D or 500D which is easier to control and smaller than a 40D.
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Thanks, but she does not like the feel of the smaller 'plastic' bodied cameras. (Actually she works with cutting edge digital cameras - like the Arri D21 - in advertising and TV drama production so has a reasonable grasp of the technical nuances)

OK so the general consensus seems to be that the 40D is not about to become an obsolete pile of junk.

What about the Sigma lens choice?
 
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