Yet another newb... sorry

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P-Chan

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Ramon
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Sorry to bother some simple anwers would suffice. As title says new to photography in general. So far only used the simple powershoots and likes but photos are average to poor at best when u want wow pics.

:help:

Mostly interested in wildlife, scenery etc and def not to be a pro. Im highly interested in Canon 500d or 450d. 500 is prefered option. 450 2nd best.

Am trigger happy so am looking for a camera that I can pretty much shoot without having to wait for it to reload (like most powershots do)

My questions...

Is 500 d an overkill for a newb like me?

What is the use of the standard lens it comes with? Is it worth getting it or just going for the body and buying a better lens separte? I would like both great zoom and wide angle.


For any help on these questions and maybe some more info would be greatly appreciated :)


Why Canon and not something else? Im more comfortable around them
 
Hi, and welcome!

Re body choice - Have a look at the features you want, whether it's weather sealing, high fps, high iso performance, full-frame, whatever and then choose based on that vs what you can afford. Used might be worth considering from the for sale section on here, i.e. used 40D.

P-Chan said:
I would like both great zoom and wide angle.
Click to expand...

You will quickly find this pretty unachievable with a DSLR. Forget 450mm equivalent lens lengths attainable in £200 PnS or bridge cameras, this on DSLR will cost plenty. The best thing is to go with the basic kit lens or an equivalent (17-55mm f2.8 springs to mind) and then look at add additional lens(es) when you find "I would like a lens to....".

HTH
 
I can understand you frustration with P&S cameras, They do seem to take ages to operate.

Choosing a camera is a very personal thing. Whilst both cameras you mention are excellent cameras in their class, have a look at other models in the price bracket. If you can find a decent independent dealer have a look at what is available at the price.

As far as the lens choice is concerned, the kit lens does offer usually value for money , so it may be a good initial option. Once you've a chance to develop your skills you can then decide what additional lenses you may want.

Remember though the camera is just a tool. It's the photographer that makes the difference
 
Welcome to the forum. I'm very new here myself and learning loads so stick around and read the posts.

To answer your question, I bought a Canon 400D when they first came out with kit lens and a cheap zoom in Malaysia. This was to upgrade my Panasoic FZ20 (which i still have)These done ok for the holiday but once i came back home and read more into photography i promptly changed the kit lens and zoom to some moderately more expensive glass, A Canon 17-85 USM IS and a Canon 70-300 USU IS and these had a majot impact on the quality of pics i was taking.

I think you will be dissapointed if the kit lens is of the same quality that came with the 400D but they may have improved it. I'm sure you know but the most important part of the camera is the lens and it's this you should invest the most money on. My camera was the equivelant of about £350 when i got it but spent £750 on 2 lenses within a fortnight getting home :(.
 
P-Chan said:
Mostly interested in wildlife, scenery etc and def not to be a pro. Im highly interested in Canon 500d or 450d. 500 is prefered option. 450 2nd best. Is 500 d an overkill for a newb like me?

What is the use of the standard lens it comes with? Is it worth getting it or just going for the body and buying a better lens separte? I would like both great zoom and wide angle.
Click to expand...

The problems you will face if you move to a DSLR is that you have moved too a interchangeable lens system. Unlike a P&S or Bridge camera's with built in zoom giving you a 28-300mm zoom lens, the 1 lens fits all for DSLR's doesn't really exist or at least they aren't that good.

You're looking at several lenses to cover that range. Wildlife lens your looking at 300mm minimum more like 400mm + 100-400mm £1100 or cheaper alternative sigma 120-400mm £700, a separate lens for wide angle and your scenery shots. Canon 17-55mm or 17-40mm £600, tamron 17-50mm abit cheaper which can be used as a walkabout lens.

You could look at the 2nd hand market to reduce costs, have a look at MPB, Ffordes, Mifsuds, Park Camera's or London Camera X (high street), but costs will still mount up.

Of course the best recommendation is go to your local camera shop and try before you buy, very important, don't ignore pentax, sony, nikon, olympus as they all have good beginner models.

Don't expect the wow factor, straight away all because you have a DSLR, you have to understand how to compose images, set up the camera, understand histograms, about light conditions, its very much a learning curve which will take time to master.
 
wow tnx for the great ino guys.

As for camera so far I have personally a power shot. Its good for some fun, family parties and a day out with my gf but when trying to take a particular beutiful view it falls down short. Same as when i try to take some wild bird. Fed up of showing pics and "look u see the black dot???? thats the bird"

Hence why my 1st option is D500. From my country was way too expensive but checking on ebay and amazon its literary half the price. Plus since im used to Powershot the D500 is right about the older way cooler bro. So the feel i already got it in a way.

My 2nd camera is the work camera a Fuji s5800 which personally i use it more and prefer it to the powershot. But its older bro the S200 though nice looking new and cheaper has a fixed lens which pretty much kills all the fun and buzz I am looking forward to. And thats it different lenses :)

Thus those are my only 2 options. Nikon is nice but never seen one live and on pics screams not me.

As what sort of photos Im looking for its something which myself havent experienced yet so what my buy gives pretty much is. And I do love taking lots of random pics. Old buildings and wildlife again are high on agenda. Scenery is a must the type as I see it its on pic. We all know that PS and cheap cameras just dont bring that.

And so I figure that if 500d it is ill buy with standard lens change later :love: Just hope I dont get a bad buy from inexperience :shake:
 
Another tip i can give you is before you go spending a lot of money on equipment is to read a good book such as "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. I honestly think this book should be given with all SLR cameras sold as the information inside is invaluable. You'll see the difference in pictures being shot at different F stops, etc and see what sort of lenses you think you will need to get the results you are looking for. If you're not to familiar with Shutter speeds, ISO setting, Apertures, framing, etc this book gives a overview of them all

I'm no relation to the author and i'm sure there are many as good and probably better books out there but this was the one i was pointed too and i'm very glad i was
 
pete.rush said:
The problems you will face if you move to a DSLR is that you have moved too a interchangeable lens system. Unlike a P&S or Bridge camera's with built in zoom giving you a 28-300mm zoom lens, the 1 lens fits all for DSLR's doesn't really exist or at least they aren't that good.

You're looking at several lenses to cover that range. Wildlife lens your looking at 300mm minimum more like 400mm + 100-400mm £1100 or cheaper alternative sigma 120-400mm £700, a separate lens for wide angle and your scenery shots. Canon 17-55mm or 17-40mm £600, tamron 17-50mm abit cheaper which can be used as a walkabout lens.

You could look at the 2nd hand market to reduce costs, have a look at MPB, Ffordes, Mifsuds, Park Camera's or London Camera X (high street), but costs will still mount up.

Of course the best recommendation is go to your local camera shop and try before you buy, very important, don't ignore pentax, sony, nikon, olympus as they all have good beginner models.

Don't expect the wow factor, straight away all because you have a DSLR, you have to understand how to compose images, set up the camera, understand histograms, about light conditions, its very much a learning curve which will take time to master.
Click to expand...



learning and improving in itself is a wow. Any chance of some explanation of what histogram is and how to best get light conditons :bonk:

Thanks Sib Ill def go for the book
 
i was in the same boat as you recently and i made the descision to but the canon 500D with the standard kit lens
i have had numerous sony digital compacts and then a canon g10 but i longed for better quality images
that was almost two months ago and i have since added
canon ef-s 55-250mm f4-5.6 is lens
canon ef 50mm f1.8 lens
canon ef-s 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 is lens
i have not used the 18-200mm much yet but if i get along with it then i will sell the kit lens and the 55-250
i am more than pleased with my purchase so far and i am looking forward to getting some good pictures over the next few years
 
I am also new to photography but I think that top lens does not have auto focus. It also has a “f” of 8 so it would be very dark in the view finder. You would also have to have a really slow shutter speed or run some really high ISO or both. The pro guys on here may be able to make it work well (or not? i dont know if its any good) but from what I have found there all really bad points for a beginner. Also the higher the zoom the harder the lens can be to use. Just noticed as well its not a 500 to 1000 mm as such but a fixed 500mm just with a doubler by the look of it.

As I said I am new so some one please correct me if I am wrong :S
 
granted the pteka one I have seen some shots are quite lacking.

The Sigma dont know

But for a good ZOOM lens in region of 300 can I find compatible to 500D that wont have me struggle like hell to get some good photos?

For wide angle I could always use the standard one. Its always better then a power shot
 
The Canon 70-300IS USM will give you good results at a not-too-extortionate cost. You can pick one up second-hand through the classifieds on here for around £300.
 
As you are moving from a compact, I would expect any lens on an SLR to impress you. My recomendation would be to look for the 500D with Canon EF-S 18-200is which is sometimes sold as a kit. With the crop factor it is equivalent to about 28-300mm. You could also consider the Tamron 18-270 for more range (x1.6 crop factor). Of course the more expensive lenses mentioned above are better, and the kit 18-55 plus 55-250 is also a good "cheap" option. It would help with suggestions if you had a budget in mind.
 
Tnx for the info

On Amazon i have seen 500Ds going at around 550sterling more or less for the kit.

My Bro is coming up to England next week and was wondering if you can get a camera off a shop at that price. If yes which shop would be advisable in the area of central london (oxford street wereabouts)

As for an extra zoom lens I was thinking in the region of 300 sterling. If there exist maybe he could buy off the shop as well at one go.

That is always if i aint day dreaming. If yes id have to get me off Amazon and chance postage
 
The 55-250IS is around £200. Don't know about london shops, but Amazon and other places can do next day delivery.
 
Dixons/ Currys are only £20 more than Amazon but you can walk in to them.
 
Dixon seems great. the 500D camera alone plus the 55-250 IS lens seems the way to go. Hope its the right chioce cause it seems from my view.

Tnx for all the help guys u were highly helpful. Just in your opinion should i get the standard lens too or just go 55-250 alone


or get the standard and an additional macro lens...... Oh God I love em all want them all :(
 
For the relatively small additional cost, you should get the kit lens too. Unless you want to spend substantially more money on something "better".
 
Image how do kit lens work? Kit lens I belive are those separte small lenses that I belive u stick them to the bigger lens. Do they come available for macro too? And what Macro would be at around 300ish?
 
The kit lens would typically be 18-55is. This is a stand alone lens which attaches directly to the camera body. The range matches nicely with the 55-250is. An alternative to the Canon kit lens is the Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 EX DC Macro which is around £300, doesn't have is but optically better than the kit and has 1:3 macro capability. There is also the Canon EF-S 60mm f2.8 Macro USM which is a fixed focal length but proper 1:1 macro, also around £300.
 
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