Im a beginner what equipment do i need and which canon camera is best and cheapest.

B

bono1985

Messages
28
Edit My Images
No
Im just starting to become interested in photography and was wondering if anybody coule tell me what kit i need to begin with and which reasonable price Canon digital slr is best.
 
Would really depend on your budget, which is?

Basic setup would be:

camera + lens (probably kit stock one)
tripod
camera bag

that will get you up and running
 
If you are just starting out buy second hand. As for which camera, that will depend on which body size best fits wour hands and you feel most comfortable with, pay a visit to your local shop and try out a 1000D, 500D and 50D, that will give you some idea of which size of body best suits you and open up used 400D and 450D or 20D, 30D or 40D.

As for lenses, well this all comes down to budget, a good all round starter lens apart from the kit lens would be something like the 18-200mm (either sigma or canon) until you get a feel for what type of photography works for you.
 
Whichever camera you go for, get spare batteries!!!
 
Also what's your definition of "reasonable"? ie what budget did you have in mind?
 
Again as said above, second hand gear something like a 400d or a 450d is a good starting camera. Get used to it without a grip then try it with a grip. Grip is the better option as you have that bit more to hold, easy rotation on portrait shots and obviously better battery life. Kit lens something like an 18 - 55 then maybe get a 70 - 300. Again it depends on budget. Also need a tidy bag something small.
 
Sorry I have to disagre with Dan, don't buy second hand you don't know the true history of the camera. It may have been dropped/soaked/ packed up/high shutter count or sent for repair then sold on. Also with a second hand camera 9 times out of 10 there will be no warrantee with it and if there is it will be registered to the original purchaser and cannot be transferred.

Mini Mad has the right idea go to a shop and try out which suits you best, and while your there compare the prices of lenses with other makes as they will be your future purchases.

Realspeed
 
IMHO 500D is the best to start these days but to enjoy it more I would buy a second hand 350D-400D learn the basic stuff and selling it in 3 month or so and them buy the 500D (you will notice the huge step more ISO, Liveview, LCD resolution, etc.).
 
I also would go straight for new as a first dslr, over the years as you learn more you'll then be more savvy about what to look for in a 2nd hand one and what they are worth. 500d or 450d is my recommendation, get it with the kit lens, a bag and a memory card. Grips, tripods, spare batteries, telephoto zooms can come later
 
My budget is about £1000 for everything, i want to take landscape and nature photos and also sports photos.
 
That's a healthy amount, you should be able to get some sort of a deal on a 450/500D with both 18-55 and 55-250 lenses as a bundle and still have money over for a bag and tripod. Warehouse Express has the 450D with the lenses I mentioned for £683 or the 500D for £755 at present.
 
It sounds like you have your heart set on a Canon which is fine but go to a shop and hold the cameras and see which one you are happy with as they all feel different.

As a starter lens, the 18-55mm IS kit len will get you going for landscapes and nature (unless you mean wildlife?).
For sports, it will depend how close you are to the action and if the lighting is good.
If the lighting is good then a Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM will be the maximum zoom for your money.
However, with low lighting you will need a fast lens (f/2.8) and this will be quite expensive.
Most people tend to start of with the body and kit lens then invest in lenses later.
Within your budget you could afford a 500D with a kit lens and a Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM or a 50D and an EFS 17-85 IS lens.
Another good lens for the price is the Canon 55-250mm IS but it might be a little short for sports.
The other option is the 2nd hand market.
Some people shy away from 2nd hand bodies but you can get some very good deals.
Another option is a new body and buy 2nd hand lenses.
Lenses rarely go wrong and this is the approach many people take.

The lenses I've mentioned are just a starting point as there are lots of options.
In the future you might decide that you want a super wide angle lens for landscapes but don't build up your kit slowly.
You need to get used to the camera and learn to take good photos before throwing lots of money in it.
 
TRy and find a Nikon D40 - perfect starter cam and incredible image quality
 
mikeyw said:
TRy and find a Nikon D40 - perfect starter cam and incredible image quality
Click to expand...

It might be the perfect starter DSLR for you but not the OP.
This is why it's important to hold a various range of bodies before making a purchase.
 
If you are only just becoming untested in photography, have you actually held any brand of camera yourself?

If not do not become brand fixated.

Any DSLR will take good shots, it is up to you to make them great.

It is important as you may find some bodies do not fit comfortably in your hands as both size of bodies differ and your hands are not the same as every other person.
Remember form your own opinion don't buy because someone else likes a particular camera, we are different which is why there is not only 1 camera to buy.
As a rule the entry level bodies are generally smaller than the more advanced cameras.

Also get hold of a copy of "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson it is a good read.

Finally welcome to TP and enjoy:)
 
I've never really got the hand thing. I've must have held 50 different cameras in my time and none of them have felt better than another, they all feel the same in my hands. I always go with all the other things to decide, like iso, image quality, lens availability etc
 
bono1985 said:
My budget is about £1000 for everything, i want to take landscape and nature photos and also sports photos.
Click to expand...

£1000 sounds a lot to spend in one go before owning any DSLR before. I would buy something cheaper to make sure what I really need in the future.

with £1000 you can buy a 5D MKI and one good prime landscape lens or a 50D and three kit lens or a Nikon d90 (which also have video like 500D) and a couple of kit lens. but all depends of you needs

go slowly to enjoy it more
 
ClickClocks said:
£1000 sounds a lot to spend in one go before owning any DSLR before. I would buy something cheaper to make sure what I really need in the future.

with £1000 you can buy a 5D MKI and one good prime landscape lens or a 50D and three kit lens or a Nikon d90 (which also have video like 500D) and a couple of kit lens. but all depends of you needs

go slowly to enjoy it more
Click to expand...

5d mk1 is not a beginner dSLR though so I wouldn't go there :thumbs:
 
I recommend:

Canon 1000d- 500d + kit lens
sell kit lens
buy a superzoom i.e. 18-200
Filters- UV , CPL, GND, ND
Good quality tripod
Decent bag to carry your kit and some more

Some will probab say with a superzoom you'll be sacrificing image quality etc, but then again, having a budget in photography is already sacrificing IQ!

If budget allows:

flashgun
fast prime for low light
nice wide/nice tele
 
evo456 said:
I recommend:

Canon 1000d- 500d + kit lens
sell kit lens
buy a superzoom i.e. 18-200
Filters- UV , CPL, GND, ND
Good quality tripod
Decent bag to carry your kit and some more

Some will probab say with a superzoom you'll be sacrificing image quality etc, but then again, having a budget in photography is already sacrificing IQ!

If budget allows:

flashgun
fast prime for low light
nice wide/nice tele
Click to expand...

You'd be better buying the 500d with the 18-200 as the kit lens, save yourself £100 rather than buying it with another kit lens, selling it and getting the 18-200 separately.
 
joescrivens said:
5d mk1 is not a beginner dSLR though so I wouldn't go there :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Remember Edinburgh Gary. By his own admission he new zilch about photography but bought the best he could afford.

He learnt quickly and produces stunning work.

So not always a bad idea to go high end at the start.
 
yeah it could go that way, but a friend of mine bought a camera that was very high end and it was too complex for him and he ended up selling it and losing interest in photography so it can go both ways
 
joescrivens said:
You'd be better buying the 500d with the 18-200 as the kit lens, save yourself £100 rather than buying it with another kit lens, selling it and getting the 18-200 separately.
Click to expand...


Oh okie, wasn't aware of that, I'm not well versed with canon kits, thats cool or alternatively the Sigma (HSM?) 18-250 OC gets pretty good reviews
 
yeah i'm sure there are other zooms that you can get for a better price doing this method of selling the kit lens
 
I would echo the Canon 450D as a great starting place, why get the more expensive 500 with its rather ropey video capabilities?

Agree get the kit 18-55 IS lens & would add 70-300 IS, I had a ball last summer with both those lenses. Lowepro slingshot 100 bag will carry the lot with cards & filters, lens pen etc, and sandwiches ;-)

Add a 430EXII flash.........might scrape in under £1000

Enjoy!
 
Mad Badger said:
I would echo the Canon 450D as a great starting place, why get the more expensive 500 with its rather ropey video capabilities?

Agree get the kit 18-55 IS lens & would add 70-300 IS, I had a ball last summer with both those lenses. Lowepro slingshot 100 bag will carry the lot with cards & filters, lens pen etc, and sandwiches ;-)

Add a 430EXII flash.........might scrape in under £1000

Enjoy!
Click to expand...

have to agree with this suggestion, before I upgraded to my 7d I had exactly this setup plus a 50mm 1.8 prime.
 
tijuana taxi said:
Maybe the superb screen for a start
Click to expand...

Fair enough screen prob better, but many threads on the net suggesting image quality possibly no better & it's more expensive than the 450D.

If the OP wants video in their first DSLR then fair enough, otherwise they could save some money & buy more glass with their £1000

I have nothing against the 500D :thumbs:
 
Get out to the shops and play with all the cameras out there not just cannon, thats what i did before I got my first Nikon D70s and now I am on to D700 so go and play find one then price hunt good luck.
 
realspeed said:
Sorry I have to disagre with Dan, don't buy second hand you don't know the true history of the camera. It may have been dropped/soaked/ packed up/high shutter count or sent for repair then sold on. Also with a second hand camera 9 times out of 10 there will be no warrantee with it and if there is it will be registered to the original purchaser and cannot be transferred.

Mini Mad has the right idea go to a shop and try out which suits you best, and while your there compare the prices of lenses with other makes as they will be your future purchases.

Realspeed
Click to expand...

Yes a very fair point there realspeed, thats just my opinion as i have always bought second hand. If your serious about going into photography then buy new but if you do get one new make sure its going to last you a good few years.

Regards
Dan
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top