What shall I buy next? Recommendations Please :o)

amumonamission

amumonamission

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Name
Sarah
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Hi,

I have a Canon 400d and have taken nearly 8000 photos in the two years that I have owned it. As it was second hand when I got it I have decided that I would like to move on to something better but I am not sure what to move on to. I mainly use the camera for taking photo's of my children. I would like to stick to Canon, I am not interested in taking videos. I have tried to look around on the web but there are so many that I am not sure which is best! :help:

What can you recommend and what does it have thats different to the 400d?

Thanks in advance for your help everyone. :)
 
What glass do you have at the moment? You will achieve better results with a top quality lens on your 400D, than a lesser lens on a upgraded camera.
 
It's not that it doesn't do what I would like it to. I would just like something newer!! lol!!

It must have done over 10,000 shots now and I suppose I'm just worried that it will start to deteriorate. Not that I haven't looked after it as I have, and I've looked after it well.

I would like something newer, I don't mind 2nd hand. If I'm going to get something newer I figure I may as well get something better.
 
Canon 17-55 f2.8 and a 70-200 f4l. ;)

What is your budget? Anything that your current lenses don't do for you?
 
menthel said:
Canon 17-55 f2.8 and a 70-200 f4l. ;)

What is your budget? Anything that your current lenses don't do for you?
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Ummm buget, I suppose £500 but could rase more in time if the lens was what I really wanted.

I suppose I find that it's annoying changing to and from the two lenses I've got so something with a bigger range would be good....
 
swag72 said:
What focal length do you find you use most often? Or which one of these gets out of the camera bag most often?
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It depends where I am really, if I am out and about like the park,etc then I use the 75-300 as I like shots where the subect doesn't know the photo is being taken.

Inside I use the 18-55 as the rooms in my house aren't that big so can't really use the 75-300 any sense!

Not very helpful really am I!! I suppose the I use it more outdoors than inside though so the 75-300 get used most!
 
If you only take shots of your children I wouldn't see the point in a newer camera just for newness sake.

My advice would be instead of spending money on another camera that will do the same job, spend some money on software and get into the fun of editing. This way you can achieve vastly 'never seen before' results and its newness should stave away the boredom until next time.

I don't know what (if any) software you have but Lightroom/Elements with Niks Silver Efex Pro would give you hours of fun and meaning.

Rgds
 
Digifrog said:
If you only take shots of your children I wouldn't see the point in a newer camera just for newness sake.

My advice would be instead of spending money on another camera that will do the same job, spend some money on software and get into the fun of editing. This way you can achieve vastly 'never seen before' results and its newness should stave away the boredom until next time.

I don't know what (if any) software you have but Lightroom/Elements with Niks Silver Efex Pro would give you hours of fun and meaning.

Rgds
Click to expand...

I have Photoshop elements. Although I don't know how to use it!:bonk:

I am planning on doing a course in Photoshop though.

What is Niks Silver Efex Pro like then? What can it do?
 
amumonamission said:
I have Photoshop elements. Although I don't know how to use it!:bonk:

I am planning on doing a course in Photoshop though.

What is Niks Silver Efex Pro like then? What can it do?
Click to expand...

Elements, learn it, it will be worth it.

Silver Efex is a powerful tool for converting images into black and white.

http://www.niksoftware.com/silverefexpro/en/entry.php

You will find plenty of Elements tutorials on Youtube and the basics you should pick up quite quickly. Keep watching them/learning them, it will be far cheaper than splashing out on college tuition.
 
If you have decided that your most used lens is probably the longer length, then you really couldn't go wrong with a 70-200/4 IS. I am sure you can pick then up second hand within budget and it's a real cracker. Will improve your pics much more than a new camera. Then get saving and replace the kit lens with a 17-55/2.8 IS, a real stonker of a lens.
 
Digifrog said:
Elements, learn it, it will be worth it.

Silver Efex is a powerful tool for converting images into black and white.

http://www.niksoftware.com/silverefexpro/en/entry.php

You will find plenty of Elements tutorials on Youtube and the basics you should pick up quite quickly. Keep watching them/learning them, it will be far cheaper than splashing out on college tuition.
Click to expand...

Cool thanks for that, I will definitly start to look on youtube :)
 
swag72 said:
If you have decided that your most used lens is probably the longer length, then you really couldn't go wrong with a 70-200/4 IS. I am sure you can pick then up second hand within budget and it's a real cracker. Will improve your pics much more than a new camera. Then get saving and replace the kit lens with a 17-55/2.8 IS, a real stonker of a lens.
Click to expand...

Great, thanks for the advice. You've been a real help :)
 
amumonamission said:
It must have done over 10,000 shots now and I suppose I'm just worried that it will start to deteriorate.
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IIRC, the 400D is estimated at 50,000 shot shutter life.

Just thought you might like to know that :)
 
lens to consider:

Walk around

Canon 17-55 f2.8
Tamron 17-50 f 2.8
Canon 24-105 F4 (some consider 24 too long on cropped body)

Prime

Canon 50mm f1.8 or f1.4

Zoom

Canon 70-200 F4 or IS
There are other longer zoom it depends on if you need the extra range. Canon 100-400, Sigma 50-500 or Sigma 100-300 F4

All will give you a marked improvment in quality over your current lens.
 
I agree with the previous posts. You're not going to wear the camera out any time soon, so don't worry about that. Upgrading the lenses is usually a better investment (good lenses hold their value, bodies generally don't) and the 17-55mm and 70 - 200mm F4.0 are a brilliant pair.

I wouldn't replace the camera until you find that it's holding you back. I still use my Nikon F2, which is over 30 years old, because it does everything I want it to and I haven't found a film body that I like more.

OTOH, new cameras are fun and that's why most of us take photographs. If you really want one, check out a used 40D or 50D, unless you prefer the small body XXXD series. The XXDs are larger and heavier, which I find more comfortable, and have more features, particularly the second control ring on the back.
 
amumonamission said:
It's not that it doesn't do what I would like it to. I would just like something newer!! lol!!
Click to expand...

Exactly. You've had the camera for a few years and you want a newer, more up to date one, even if it doesn't necessarilly improve your pics that much. It's normal. It's a guy thing.

So although all the advice about lenses, etc, is good, if you want a new camera then get it cos if it makes you feel better then you might enjoy your photography even more and that in itself may translate into better pics.

I'm not ashamed to say that most of my camera updates have been because I wanted something newer rather than because I really thought they would improve my pics. It so happens that they did but that wasn't the main reason for upgrading.

As Nike says "Just Do It" :thumbs:
 
tris101 said:
lens to consider:

Walk around

Canon 17-55 f2.8
Tamron 17-50 f 2.8
Canon 24-105 F4 (some consider 24 too long on cropped body)

Prime

Canon 50mm f1.8 or f1.4

Zoom

Canon 70-200 F4 or IS
There are other longer zoom it depends on if you need the extra range. Canon 100-400, Sigma 50-500 or Sigma 100-300 F4

All will give you a marked improvment in quality over your current lens.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I have made my decision and I am currently looking for a Canon 70-200 F4. Any idea how much I should pay for one of these second hand, assuming it is mint and comes with box and case?
 
MartynK said:
I agree with the previous posts. You're not going to wear the camera out any time soon, so don't worry about that. Upgrading the lenses is usually a better investment (good lenses hold their value, bodies generally don't) and the 17-55mm and 70 - 200mm F4.0 are a brilliant pair.

I wouldn't replace the camera until you find that it's holding you back. I still use my Nikon F2, which is over 30 years old, because it does everything I want it to and I haven't found a film body that I like more.

OTOH, new cameras are fun and that's why most of us take photographs. If you really want one, check out a used 40D or 50D, unless you prefer the small body XXXD series. The XXDs are larger and heavier, which I find more comfortable, and have more features, particularly the second control ring on the back.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your advice. I've decided to start looking for a canon 70-200mm F4. Does anyone know that a good price would be for a second hand one?
 
Jackwow said:
Exactly. You've had the camera for a few years and you want a newer, more up to date one, even if it doesn't necessarilly improve your pics that much. It's normal. It's a guy thing.

So although all the advice about lenses, etc, is good, if you want a new camera then get it cos if it makes you feel better then you might enjoy your photography even more and that in itself may translate into better pics.

I'm not ashamed to say that most of my camera updates have been because I wanted something newer rather than because I really thought they would improve my pics. It so happens that they did but that wasn't the main reason for upgrading.

As Nike says "Just Do It" :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Yes thats what I was thinking. However I have changed my mind and decided to go for a new lens, it's a girl thing, we change our minds often ;)
 
70-200 f4 L seem to go for about £375-400 in minty mint condition
the IS versions are a lot more dearer roughly around £650.
 
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