Hi there, new forum member and I am very sorry to ask as you will have probably heard this question a thousand times and I know there will be varrying responses but I really could do with some impartial, knowledgable advice. I am taking the plunge and buying my first DSLR camera and have fallen into a bit of a quandry as to which camera to buy. I took a photography A-level back in the days before digital, (It doesn't seem that long ago) so I have an old 35mm Canon EF-M with a 35-80 lens that served me very well and I do like canon so I have been concentrating on them. My budget is roughly £300 - £400 and I think I am looking at either a canon 30D, 400D or if I can find one in price a 450D. I am thinking of buying body only as I have a lens currently sitting on my old SLR and it will enable me to buy a better camera if I do not have to purchase the lens with it, are they compatible and of the three which is the camera to go for. I have a young daughter and will be primarily using it to capture images of her as she grows, we tried the camcorder route but neither my wife or I like appearing on tv so I would like to go back to stills and to be honest I prefer them! It will also be used for landscape images. Many thanks in advance for your responses.
Sorry- what to buy?
- Thread starter marvic18
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well at the end of the day the lenses matter most so buy a cheap body and spend the rest on lenses. seens as you have decided to go with canon you could get a second hand 400d or 30d. if you wanted a different system i would have said a sony a200 but in the end it your call.
Hi
both the 30d and 400d (even the 350d) are all very capable cameras, there is a size difference between the XXd series and the XXXd series, so if you can, get yourself down to a shop and have a hold of whatever ones they have in the shop (prob a 50d or 450/500d) as they are much of a muchness for size compaired to the older models, you may find one of them much more comfortable and that makes a difference when shooting, if it feels right .. it often is
good luck and enjoy
Phil
both the 30d and 400d (even the 350d) are all very capable cameras, there is a size difference between the XXd series and the XXXd series, so if you can, get yourself down to a shop and have a hold of whatever ones they have in the shop (prob a 50d or 450/500d) as they are much of a muchness for size compaired to the older models, you may find one of them much more comfortable and that makes a difference when shooting, if it feels right .. it often is
good luck and enjoy
Phil
Thanks for the replys, I live in birmingham so a bit of a way to travel for that, I will have to go and have a try of the different bodies, my other question was is my current lens compatible with any of these bodies, it seems silly to buy a camera kit with a similar lens to one I already own, that way I can put the money towards a better lens. Many thanks
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Any Canon EF or EF-S lens will fit and function fine on the new cameras. The bad news is that consumer DSLRs use a much smaller size sensor than 35mm film and if you want to retain the same angle of view as your 35-80 lens, you would need a 22-50mm zoom. Which is why you'll see most cameras for sale with an 18-55mm kit lens. Put another way, if you fit your 35-80 on a current crop sensor DSLR such as those you mention, it will be like you have a 56-128mm lens. The crop factor with Canon is 1.6x focal length.
The only reason to keep your old lens is cost, but since modern kit lenses are only about £100, frankly I would bite the bullet now and scrap it.
If you do that, you can get any brand of new camera you want. I use Canon, but really like the look of the latest Nikons. Sony are very good on price. There are no bad DSLRs currently on the market and they are all massively capable compared to what you are probably used to. It basically boils down to what you like the feel of best, at the price you can afford.
And welcome
The only reason to keep your old lens is cost, but since modern kit lenses are only about £100, frankly I would bite the bullet now and scrap it.
If you do that, you can get any brand of new camera you want. I use Canon, but really like the look of the latest Nikons. Sony are very good on price. There are no bad DSLRs currently on the market and they are all massively capable compared to what you are probably used to. It basically boils down to what you like the feel of best, at the price you can afford.
And welcome
IMO the lens you already have isn't useful of valuable enough to write off the possiblity of switching manufacturers, that said I like Canon gear and you've already got an insight into the user interface and handling with your old body.
The 35-80 will fit and function perfectly on DSLR bodies, but isn't the best of lenses and as others have said might seem a bit long with the crop factor.
The 400D and 30D are both very capable cameras; personally I'd go with the 30D as the ergonomics and user interface are much nicer.
The 350D is also a great piece of kit (my first DSLR) although the A/F is notably better on the 400D and 30D.
In your position I think I'd go with a 30D and your kit lens for the time being, add a few cheap primes in the future (35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8) and perhaps start looking at the 17-55 or 17-85 for a standard zoom when you want something wider.
The 35-80 will fit and function perfectly on DSLR bodies, but isn't the best of lenses and as others have said might seem a bit long with the crop factor.
The 400D and 30D are both very capable cameras; personally I'd go with the 30D as the ergonomics and user interface are much nicer.
The 350D is also a great piece of kit (my first DSLR) although the A/F is notably better on the 400D and 30D.
In your position I think I'd go with a 30D and your kit lens for the time being, add a few cheap primes in the future (35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8) and perhaps start looking at the 17-55 or 17-85 for a standard zoom when you want something wider.
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I bought a Canon 450D for my first DSLR and i love it. I am now saving for the Canon 70-200 F4 to go with it. I would tell you to go for the 450D if you can get it. It's great although i have never had anything to compare it against. I just love the pictures i am taking and thats with the kit lens.
I personally like any of the xxD (especially the 30D or 40D which may or may not be in your price range) instead of the 350D or any of the newer xxxD models.
I like the control system of the 30D/40D better than the controls of the xxxD cameras and I like the size of the 30D/40D better than the smaller xxxD models; however, if your hands and exceptionally small, an xxxD model might suit you well. As advised above, try out a new 450D or 50D at a local camera shop to get a feel for the size that suits you.
However, if price is an issue; you can probably find a 350D or a 20D at a fairly low price. I would not, necessarily consider the older 10D because that camera cannot accept the newer EFs lenses. However if you found a 10D body alone or combined with a 28-75mm f/2.8 Tamron or a 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens at a REALLY-REALLY GREAT PRICE, that combination would be an option and certainly be capable of attaining the images you need.
The 35-80mm Canon zoom is not a front-runner of the Canon lens selection but, will get you images and the price is right since you already own one.
If finances allow, one of the very best combinations would be the 30D or 40D matched with a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 lens. This would be an outfit which would serve you well for years to come.
I like the control system of the 30D/40D better than the controls of the xxxD cameras and I like the size of the 30D/40D better than the smaller xxxD models; however, if your hands and exceptionally small, an xxxD model might suit you well. As advised above, try out a new 450D or 50D at a local camera shop to get a feel for the size that suits you.
However, if price is an issue; you can probably find a 350D or a 20D at a fairly low price. I would not, necessarily consider the older 10D because that camera cannot accept the newer EFs lenses. However if you found a 10D body alone or combined with a 28-75mm f/2.8 Tamron or a 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens at a REALLY-REALLY GREAT PRICE, that combination would be an option and certainly be capable of attaining the images you need.
The 35-80mm Canon zoom is not a front-runner of the Canon lens selection but, will get you images and the price is right since you already own one.
If finances allow, one of the very best combinations would be the 30D or 40D matched with a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 lens. This would be an outfit which would serve you well for years to come.
My main consideration is something that is going to offer me the most flexibilty in the years to come in terms of expanding my kit levels. I am a big guy with hands like shovels so something small and compact might be lost in my hands. I have seen a few 30D on ebay for not a great deal of money which is what got me thinking about them. There also seems to be a lot of these far eastern and american imports on offer, is it worth buying one of these or do the warranties not transfer if your are in europe??
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Try going to your local London Camera Exchange, they usually have a few used bodies to handle and try.
Can anyone give me some advice, I have found two very reasonably priced camera kits on ebay. The first is a Nikon D60 VR kit and the second a Canon 400D both used but from what I can see only lightly and at very good money. My thinking is any saving on the camera can be put forward to some good quality glass, what to go for?? Thanks.
Just bought an 8 month old Canon 400D off ebay, well looked after complete with a Brand new Manfrotto 679b monopod, 2 sandisk extremeIII cf cards and a host of photoplus canon edition mags and cd roms and a new canon bag for £270 thanks to a nice little 10% off voucher courtesy of ebay!