More help please (final choice?)

[Llamaman]

Further to my previous thread (I haven't linked as I don't know how this forum feels about cross-threading!), I went into Jessops and got more confused. The very-helpful chap managed to convince me (almost) that the Canons would be easier to use than the Nikons for a noobie as settings are less hidden in the menus. As previously discussed, I'm not particulalry fussed about movie modes or the LCD (as I intend to mainly use the OVF).

As a result, I'm now looking at the 1000D or the 500D (the 550D is out of my price range if I want more than the kit lens).

Ideally, I'd like a slightly longer reach than the kit lens to negate the need for a seperate zoom (it will be used as a travel camera a lot), so I quite like the look of the Canon 18-135 f2.5-5.6 IS lens. (EDIT: 3.5-5.6. If it was f2.5 it'd be a bargain!)
I'd also like to add a prime lens, primarilly in order to achieve shallow DOF effects.
My photography to date is mostly landscape, cityscape etc, a bit of wildlife, but no sports and not many portraits (is it wrong I prefer scenery to people? ) - so I think a 35mm might be better for me than a 50mm?

This gives me the following options;

500D + 18-55 kit £519 (same price as the body only in Jessops!)
Canon 18-135 £379
Canon 35mm f/2 £209
Total £1,107 (plus SDHC card)

1000D+ body only £299
Canon 18-135 £379
Canon 35mm f/2 £209
Total £887 (plus SDHC card)

Hopefully I can negotiate a discount on the 500D if I don't take the kit lens (otherwise, I'll have to get the 50mm instead of the 35mm or lose something as I don't want to spend £1000)

What would you recommend for a complete noob? Is the 1000D so stripped-down that it's poor value compared to the 500D, or will it still make a good 1st camera (I don't want anything too dumbed-down as I want to use this as a learning machine, not a full-auto point-and-shoot SLR)

Or should I just stick with the
Nikon D5000 body only £429
Nikon 18-105 VR £249
Nikon AF-s 35mm f1.8 £169
Total £847
and ignore the advice from the Jessops guy?

PS I intend to buy from Jessops as they've spared a lot of time to talk to me and I don't believe in getting advice in-store and then buying online. use them or lose them! Plus, there's a store conveniently near work.

 

[birdy961]

On the question of 1000D vs 500D I would go 500D, just because I believe the 500d to be a bit better camera

I have never used Nikon so cannot fairly comment on the ease of menu's etc.

If you really cannot decide between the two and like the feel and handling of them equally go with the cheaper option, then at least you might have something left for a Tripod etc!!

 

[MadMacro]

Hmmm. there are some idiots working in Jessops apparently.

I've used both and there's no difference in menu useability imho. The menu is something you get used to, the positioning of the various controls/buttons is another matter and if you don't find they fall easily to your fingers you won't give an ess-aitch-one-two about the menus. :shake:

Buy the one you like and feel you can use easily. Play with the controls, preferably without a Jessops flea buzzing in your ear - tell him/her/it to leave you alone with some of the kit you fancy so you can think while you're playing with it. Take your time.

Take your custom somewhere other than Jesspoops if need be. It's a lot of cash so only buy if you feel you're on the right track.

Me? I'd have the Nikon bundle but that is UTTERLY irrelevant to you as you may find it awkward in use. :bonk:

 

[Deleted member 29733]

Having got a Nikon D5000, I would say definitely the D5000 over the D1000. As for being loyal to jessops I would sooner get the D5000 kit from CameraWorld for £700, or any other supplier, and then spend the £147 you saved on or towards some other lens or accessories for your camera.

I don't want to be rude but to give jessops £147 just because they have given you time and information, thats their job. You will be spending a lot of money on your hobby and every penny/pound you can save goes a long way.

 

[TCR4x4]

The guy you spoke to is obviously a canon user.
You should buy the camera that feels right for you. They should let you fiddle in the menus and then you can make up your own mind as to which you prefer. I personally find the Nikon menu easier to use, but thats because its what Im used to. In a year I will be saying the opposite I expect as Ive only just switched to Canon, I havent got fully used to it yet.

 

[Llamaman]

Before this thread turns into Jessops-bashing, I think one should recognise that in order to compete with online sellers, their wage structure means they can probably only afford one experienced shooter per store. The others will be teenager school-leavers, full of enthusiasm but lacking in-the-field experience.

And Canon/Nikon fanboyism is hardly a rare thing in photography (although remarkably restrained in this forum – I’m surprised this thread hasn’t kicked off yet).

I think my error was in not explaining my lens wants/needs well enough – I think he thought I was obsessed with long zooms, and I made the mistake of letting him serve other customers rather than hogging him for a bit longer.

The D500 body-only price also makes it seem a little uncompetitive – for the £898 to get the 500D with the 18-135, one could pick up the 550D kit with the same lens for £799! Or the Nikon D5000 w/ 18-105 for £678 or the D90 w/ 18-105 for £799. Add on the expensive Canon 35mm (compared to the Nikon 35mm) and the Canons get knocked out of the park. But I imagine another user’s needs would swing it the other way (the Canon 50mm is absurdly cheap).

I’ll go in during a quiet period and see what kind of deals they can do before I abandon them for the dark side of mail order…

 

[magicaxeman]

The 500D body is £439 at cameraworld
with the 18-135 £639.99
with 18-55 +55-250 £689.99
the 18-135 on its own is £269.99
and finally the 35 is £199

So for the 500D +18-135 +35 £838.99, that's a lot of difference over Jessops.

Please note cameraworld is a real high st shop with branches in Essex and London as well as an online seller, their service is typically that of a small family run firm, ie personal and efficient, I really cant fault them for the service given to me and tailored to my needs (disability).

http://www.cameraworld.co.uk/ViewProdDetails.asp?prod_code=PON09J000125&Prod_name=Canon+EOS+500D+%26+18-135mm+f3.5-5.6+IS+EF-S&CAT_CODE=5&SUBCAT_CODE=51

 

[Llamaman]

Great. I'll see if I can get there during my lunch hour!

 

[Yardbent]

no discussion - just what I would buy again

Nikon D5000
18-55 AF-S DX VR....cheapest from Parks Cameras
[sold mine for a Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4.5 HSM]
55-200 VR .......£120 from here
[or 70-300 if you can afford]

hold fire on the 35mm AF-S till you find a "need"....I bought one - never used and sold

 

[Deleted member 29733]

....Please note cameraworld is a real high st shop with branches in Essex and London as well as an online seller, their service is typically that of a small family run firm, ie personal and efficient, I really cant fault them for the service given to me and tailored to my needs (disability).

I have to support everything Ian has said re: CameraWorld - as I use the Chelmsford shop as well.

I bought a Nikon D5000 and 2 weeks later my 55-200mm lens was not autofocusing, so I went back to CameraWorld where I was greeted like an old friend, the guy knew what camera I had bought and now they are getting me a replacement lens no questions asked and loaned me a lens til my new one comes in.

I went there for a flash unit as well, when I asked he suggested the Nissin Di622 for £109, but the ones I had in mind were about £40-£60 more, but he told me thay the Di622 would do what I wanted it to do and more, so he was not interested in the extra money only what was right for me.

CameraWorld Chelmsford out of

 

[Llamaman]

I've arranged to leave work early today so I can get down there!