Begginer gear...(Help needed)

anda

anda

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Hello,

The situation is that I liked photography for some time now , but never thought about serious gear to make the most of it. I have played with friends dSLR but thats about as much experiance as i have. I have red few articles on cameras and lenses etc, and been reading topics on here but still confused on what to get.

My budget I say is about £500 for camera with the lens at the moment.

So i was looking that its possible to get a second hand 40d with a kit lens and sometimes a better lens if i am lucky. Also there is the d300 which i know is much more expensive but i read many positive reviews, both of them feel good in my hand.

In this review http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Nikon_D300s/noise.shtml the colours of the d300 seem to be sharper or is it of the processing software?

I am looking to do landscapes, macro for a hobby and then also use the camera at parties and events.

Or maybe there are other cameras in the price range that i missed, which would do the job well. I am looking at nikon or canon because i feel the amount of lenses available for the 2 makes is much greater then the rest.

Thank you in advance...
 
Just get a Nikon or Canon, with the kit lens (great value), that fits your budget. Take it from there.

There is frankly nothing to choose between the various makes and models when you compare them pound for pound. Sony are also good but don't have such a wide range and there's a lot less available secondhand.

It's more important to get one that you like the feel of - that's the major difference. Used 40D is a very good choice IMHO.
 
Also if you can get the same brand that your friends use you can always try to borrow lenes until you can afford extras.

Paul
 
There is very little between either Nikon or Canon so really its up to what feels better in your hand. You might pick up a 40D for £400-£450 dependant on condition......with as you say a D300 being a fair whack more.......both lovely cameras though.
 
I'd get started with a new 450d with kit lens (£380 at digigood on ebay - we've bought several cameras off them over the last two years). It's a great starter camera capable of results that pretty well match the 40d and with easier handling.

Very highly recommended - we have two (bodies only £309 from digigood) and when I took the wrong bag I used one for a family photoshoot (with a sigma 50mm f1.4 which is why the bag was heavy and grabbed in error) and the results were superb.
 
i was looking at ebay just now and i there are options for 450d second hand with couple lenses for similar amount as 40d with kit lens

Thank you everyone for helping me out, now its just a matter of waiting for the best deal to come along...
 
Very different feel to the cameras even if IQ is similar, 450d light plastic, 40d mag alloy with weight and a pro feel.
 
anda said:
i was looking at ebay just now and i there are options for 450d second hand with couple lenses for similar amount as 40d with kit lens

Thank you everyone for helping me out, now its just a matter of waiting for the best deal to come along...
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Don't be taken in by a couple of cheap lenses, go and try a couple of different Canon and Nikon models in a shop and see which feels right to you. Personally I just can't get on with Canon cameras, but there are others on here who are the same with Nikon. Both will do the job perfectly well, get the one that feels "right" when you hold it, otherwise you'll neer use it.
 
HoppyUK said:
Just get a Nikon or Canon, with the kit lens (great value), that fits your budget. Take it from there.

There is frankly nothing to choose between the various makes and models when you compare them pound for pound. Sony are also good but don't have such a wide range and there's a lot less available secondhand.

It's more important to get one that you like the feel of - that's the major difference. Used 40D is a very good choice IMHO.
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I agree. Although this like the feel of term is used a lot, and being a user of both Nikon and Canon they both feel great! It is probably what you get used to in terms of buttons, wheels, menu etc. IMHO.

HoppyUK thanks for your reply on the 5D2 thread BTW...much appreciated.:thumbs:
 
anda said:
My budget I say is about £500 for camera with the lens at the moment.
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Just a nod to you about this... bear in mind that doing landscapes you may want to invest in other things too.

For example, I was in a similar boat a couple of weeks ago and I bought a camera and lens from a member of these forums for £300 which i was (and am) very happy with.

I've also spent a further £145 on extras such as tripod, camera bag, filters and a remote release - and that was me working on a fairly tight budget

So if your overall budget is £500 then you may need to allocate some of those funds to things other than the camera.
 
Braeden i hear what you say, i already looked at those extras, and boy do they add up :) so i thought i will get the camera, for the £500 and then every week get bits and pieces for the camera itself (need to learn to use dSLR first) .
But i am looking at cheaper cameras that are for sale, would consider getting a cheaper body but with better glass.
 
Just got myself a 50d, and i think i made the right choice. There is always options to upgrade...
 
anda said:
Just got myself a 50d, and i think i made the right choice. There is always options to upgrade...
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Nice one, enjot it & I look forward to seeing your results.

Have fun:thumbs:
 
HoppyUK said:
Just get a Nikon or Canon, with the kit lens (great value), that fits your budget. Take it from there.

There is frankly nothing to choose between the various makes and models when you compare them pound for pound. Sony are also good but don't have such a wide range and there's a lot less available secondhand.

It's more important to get one that you like the feel of - that's the major difference. Used 40D is a very good choice IMHO.
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ah not when you consider the minolta age of lenses where there are hundreds second hand including the three most popular, 70-210mm f4, 35-70mm f4 and the 50mm f1.7
 
mastertrinity said:
ah not when you consider the minolta age of lenses where there are hundreds second hand including the three most popular, 70-210mm f4, 35-70mm f4 and the 50mm f1.7
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Check the for sale forums on here. Ten times more Canon/Nikon than anything else.
 
Thanks guys, its a great camera, already started to play with some macro photography. Uploading what i took today to flicker.. Will put the link latwer in my signature!
 
anda said:
Thanks guys, its a great camera, already started to play with some macro photography. Uploading what i took today to flicker.. Will put the link latwer in my signature!
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50D? Post em up fella :)
 
For some reason my signature isnt displayed here, but the link to my flickr acc is Flickr
 
anda said:
For some reason my signature isnt displayed here, but the link to my flickr acc is Flickr
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Very good! More close-up than macro, but a great start :) What lens did you use?

Your sig only appears with your first post on a thread.
 
Ok will know now, was wondering why it didnt show :P Yeah but thats as close as i can go with my lens, unless i crop the images. I used 17mm - 85mm IS USM lens.

Can you point me towards a good tutorial on shutter speed and aperture because i want to start learning to tune my pictures with creative modes because i think it will make a difference in a long run then using the already set up modes.
 
Thanks Richard, will have to deff consider the close up filter. I have my eyes on a lens going on ebay:

Sigma 105mm EX DG Macro lens for Canon AF

Is it better to go with a bigger lens like 150mm sigma or maybe you have some better recommendations? I am really interested in macro photography.
 
anda said:
Thanks Richard, will have to deff consider the close up filter. I have my eyes on a lens going on ebay:

Sigma 105mm EX DG Macro lens for Canon AF

Is it better to go with a bigger lens like 150mm sigma or maybe you have some better recommendations? I am really interested in macro photography.
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Macro is a whole subject in itself and there are various ways of doing things. It mainly depends on the kind of magnification you want.

Flowers and stuff are not that close and, for various reasons, are not that critical optically. Close-up lenses are a really good option. Cheap. Easy.

Next up is extension tubes, which give you a choice of magnifications up to quite high. Very versatile with a medium zoom lens, eg 70-200-ish. Quality is better than close-up lenses. Set of auto Kenkos is £120 and will get you to 1:1, ie a subject 10mm long will be 10mm long on the sensor. That's pretty close, good for bugs and beetles etc. It's what I use, but I'm not that into macro.

Then there's pukka prime macro lenses like the Sigma. It's hard to go wrong with a macro lens - they're all good, as it's not a very demanding optical spec. The advantage of longer focal length macros is more working distance - room to work, room to get some light on the subject etc. They go down to 1:1 directly, and more with a couple of extension tubes on them. 100-105mm macro is usually a sound choice, and they take a teleconverter quite well to give you a 140mm option.

There are all sorts of difficulties with high magnification macro and you'll be wanting a ring-flash or something similar to do it properly. And immaculate technique.
 
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