What to get? ... down to a couple of kit choices...

Rudders

Rudders

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Dave
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I'm looking at getting my first DSLR however I'm now dithering over what to get...

I'm torn between a 550d and a 50d, but before I commit I'm interested in what the equivalent Nikons are...

I'm interested in most types of photography but have done very little portrait.

(title edited to be less vague)
 
If you havn't already done so, get yourself to a camera shop and try out the ones you have shortlisted here. See how they feel in your hand.


I would go with the 50D, I have one as my back up and its a cracking peace of kit.
 
I realise the best way to decide between makes is how they feel to use etc, however I'm really after advice on what Nikon would be recommended to someone looking for a camera similar to a 50d / 550d?

Just so I know to ask the shop assistant to get the right ones out to compare...
 
From the Nikon stable I would include the D90. Price-wise in between the 550D and 50D with kit lens. I have not used Canon so can't comment the 550D/50D however I owned the D90 for 12 months before upgrading to the D300s. The D90 is imo very good, cracking image quality, great ergonmics, and the 18-105 VR kit lens is pretty decent as well.
 
Strobe said:
From the Nikon stable I would include the D90. Price-wise in between the 550D and 50D with kit lens. I have not used Canon so can't comment the 550D/50D however I owned the D90 for 12 months before upgrading to the D300s. The D90 is imo very good, cracking image quality, great ergonmics, and the 18-105 VR kit lens is pretty decent as well.
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What he said.

I've had a play with the 550D, and have to be honest, it's a really nice camera. However, imho, the kit lens is a poor match for it. After inspecting some of the photos taken with it using the kit lens, I came to the conclusion that the kit lens doesn't have the resolving power to REALLY show off the resolution of the sensor. As such, L lenses would suit it best imo. Something like the 17-40 L on the crop sensor would be a far better match.

That aside, the ISO performance of the 550D was very good, and I was quite impressed with the camera as a whole.

...However. For me it feels naff (as does the 50D), and that alone is enough for me to go D90, given the short list you provided. The 5D II however.... now that feels nice!
 
Thanks for the input everyone.

Woodsy said:
I came to the conclusion that the kit lens doesn't have the resolving power to REALLY show off the resolution of the sensor. As such, L lenses would suit it best imo. Something like the 17-40 L on the crop sensor would be a far better match.
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As I know I won't really be able to spend medium to large amounts on a lens, I'll ask a stupid question...

Given that the kit lens stifles the quality of images the 550d can take, I presume the images are still as good as can be taken by, say, the 50d with the same len?

When looking at the quality of the lens I'm hoping that the quality of even the poorer lenses like above is better than the the ultra zoom on my Fujifilm s8000fd...
 
Rudders said:
Thanks for the input everyone.



As I know I won't really be able to spend medium to large amounts on a lens, I'll ask a stupid question...

Given that the kit lens stifles the quality of images the 550d can take, I presume the images are still as good as can be taken by, say, the 50d with the same len?

When looking at the quality of the lens I'm hoping that the quality of even the poorer lenses like above is better than the the ultra zoom on my Fujifilm s8000fd...
Click to expand...

Ok, technically speaking, the slightly lower resolution of the 50D sensor (compared with the 550D) will yield slightly sharper images when at 100%. If, however, you don't really pixel peep, and look at images taken on both cameras (using the same lens) at say 60-70%, I highly doubt you'll notice a difference in sharpness.

In the real world though, I think my point may have had a bit more weight than I intended. Please bare in mind, I am used to lenses such as my 24-70 and 70-200 on my D700. This is about as sharp as I have seen an image on the kit I have had a play with, ever. That said of course, if there was not any advantage in L lenses over non L, then there would be no point in them existing. 18MP is a lot of pixels on a 1.6x crop sensor, and as such, the pixel density is high enough to begin challenging the resolving power of the lenses you stick in front of them. It is simply my opinion that whilst the images were perfectly acceptable from the kit lens, the sharpness of L glass would be suited to fully take advantage of the sensor. Hope that clears things up :)

EDIT: oh, and yes, the quality will indeed be higher than the S8000FD :)
 
I've Found the following deals from Jessops (I'm restricted in my shopping by needing interest free!)

Canon EOS 450D
Canon 18-55mm
Canon 75-300mm
Centon DSLR Outfit Bag (5124395)
Sandisk Extreme 8GB SDHC Card (5135390)
Hahnel HL-E5 Li-ion Spare Battery (5155661)
Lenspen Lens Cleaner (1019406)
Jessops 58mm UV Filter (1020735)
£679

Canon EOS 550D
Canon 18-55mm Lens
Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 Lens (5123011)
Centon DSLR Outfit Bag (5124395)
Sandisk Extreme 8GB SDHC Card (5135390)
Lenspen Lens Cleaner (5116506)
£899 - £50

Canon EOS 50D
Canon EF 18-200mm IS lens
£1029 - £65

Nikon D90
18-105mm VR Lens
Tamron 70-300mm F4/5.6 DI LD Macro (Nikon AF)
£898 - £60

and at Warehouse Express (only 6 months interest free not 12 as at Jessops)
Canon EOS 550D
Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 EF-S IS
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS Lens
SanDisk 4GB Extreme III 30MB/Sec SDHC Card
£924 - £50

I'm worried by the quality of the Tamron 70-300mm lens but would it still be a step up from my Fujifilm s8000fd?

Any thoughts purely on the quality of images/features of the camera? (especially in comparison to my existing camera)

(I still realise I need to go into the shop to try them out but I'm worried if they only have one of my options in stock I might get over excited and plump for the first one I see and regret it later :bonk:)

I'm never going to be able to spend much at all on future lenses :( so it will always be photography on the cheap. If this could be kept in mind before recommending £500+ lenses.
 
I've nipped into Jessops and I've now narrowed it down to between

Canon EOS 550D
Canon 18-55mm Lens
Tamron 70-300mm f4-5.6 Lens (5123011)
Centon DSLR Outfit Bag (5124395)
Sandisk Extreme 8GB SDHC Card (5135390)
Lenspen Lens Cleaner (5116506)
£899 - £50

Canon EOS 50D
Canon EF 18-200mm IS lens
£1029 - £65


I'm worried by the quality of the Tamron 70-300mm lens but would it still be a step up from my Fujifilm s8000fd?

Any thoughts purely on the quality of images/features of the camera? (especially in comparison to my existing camera)

I'm never going to be able to spend much at all on future lenses :( so it will always be photography on the cheap. If this could be kept in mind before recommending £500+ lenses.

Please :help:!!!
 
I'd go with the 50D myself, but thats only because it's a bigger more solid camera than the 550D.

The xxxD series are smaller and probably more comfortable for little hands but for blokes the 50D will feel better.

Instead of Jessops why not look at Wharehouse express, they do finance. Better still see if your own bank will give you a personal loan.

CF cards are cheaper at places like 7dayshop, picstop and a few others.

Lenspens I'd never use althoughmany do.

As for bags, get a second hand one of one of the members here, a Lowepro Mini trecker is a superb bag to look for.

If you get a personal loan you can almost make the kit up of your choice and probably save money.

As for Tamron I've had a few and they are great lenses. The 18-250 went all over europe on my 350D with great results.

Remember all in one deals aren't always they best bargains.
 
I've got a 40D with the 18-200mm IS lens and it is a great combination. I'm not sure that you will get the full potential of the 50D with that lens, but it is a good starter lens until you know what type of photographs you want to take, then you can look at getting more specialised lenses.
 
Perhaps get D90 body only option and find a good Tamron 17-50mm lens. Any bundles you have listed have poor optics and are complete rip off. I am against the 2 Canons as they don't really offer a decent autofocus (I am getting rid of 40D very shortly as it nowhere near as good as 1-series). 18MP with poor noise control and the requirement for super sharp lenses is not a great start either. A good clean 12mp sensor is plenty. If you want canon look at 5D or 1D mk2 in the used market instead. They are much better cameras that deliver results.
 
Don't get fixated on Canon or Nikon. Try other brands before you commit, and other retailers. Jessops may be biased/limited in what they recommend.
 
JohnX said:
Don't get fixated on Canon or Nikon. Try other brands before you commit, and other retailers. Jessops may be biased/limited in what they recommend.
Click to expand...

I agree... for budget cameras, I'm a big fan of sony... you could get an alpha 380 or 450 or 500 or 550...

All very good choices in my opinion. You do have to remember that the hotshoe is different than most other cameras, but this hasnt caused me a problem in any way. Also, it has Vibration compensation built into the body, which saves money or VC lenses in the long run.

Just a thought!!

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy...tal-slr-with-18-55-and-55-200-lenses/p1033335

Note... £80 cashback at the moment!! Enough to get you a memory card or 2, and/or a bag!!
 
Thanks for the input everyone.:thumbs:

I decided to go for the Canon 50d with the 18-200 IS kit lens.

I decided to go with Canon and knew I'd always wonder if I'd done the right thing if I'd gone for a ***d camera.

I'm made up with the camera and the lens, comparing them to my old bridge camera the quality is so much better. :D
 
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