DSLR's

[rayray086]

Thanks for all the replies again guys another option just opened up to me and that is that my cousin has just gotten a new camera and has offered me their 450D for next to nothing so I'm thinking it would be better to get that and then spend some more on lenses and upgrade the body at a later date.

Perfect!

[Stan]

recently bought a 650d myself - awesome camera

a big part of the dslr is the imaging sensor
650d is the later digic 5 where the 600 is a digic 4
if you want even better pics you can step up to a full frame sensor like in the 7d, but for what most people shoot, it isn't really necessary.

good lenses are important. the larger the zoom range, the more of a compromise the lens is.
for example a 18 - 200 zoom wont give you the same image quality a set of lenses like 18- 135 and 135 - 200 would.
lenses with big ranges have the advantage of one lens for all, whereas a selection has the advantage of quality.

canon make nice cameras and lenses. where financially possible get the canon branded stuff, it's better. tamron are a pretty good after market alternative

where lenses with the biggest zoom ranges fall down a bit is at either end of the extreme, eg at the 18mm end and/or the 300 mm end.
whilst general quality overall is usually fine you run into trouble with large enlargements when the lens was working at one end of its limit.
The average photographer doesn't really need super quality, most just shoot snaps. If you do want a one lens for all occasions then stick with canon branded.

try the kogan Australia website of all places, quite possibly the single cheapest place in the universe for canon cameras and lenses. Got my 650d from there - backed with Aussie warrantee. Item does ship from Hong Kong though, via DHL.

The 450d would be a fine start

I was a photographer for the RAAF for about 8 years

[THE_EGG]

recently bought a 650d myself - awesome camera

a big part of the dslr is the imaging sensor
650d is the later digic 5 where the 600 is a digic 4
if you want even better pics you can step up to a full frame sensor like in the 7d, but for what most people shoot, it isn't really necessary.

good lenses are important. the larger the zoom range, the more of a compromise the lens is.
for example a 18 - 200 zoom wont give you the same image quality a set of lenses like 18- 135 and 135 - 200 would.
lenses with big ranges have the advantage of one lens for all, whereas a selection has the advantage of quality.

canon make nice cameras and lenses. where financially possible get the canon branded stuff, it's better. tamron are a pretty good after market alternative

where lenses with the biggest zoom ranges fall down a bit is at either end of the extreme, eg at the 18mm end and/or the 300 mm end.
whilst general quality overall is usually fine you run into trouble with large enlargements when the lens was working at one end of its limit.
The average photographer doesn't really need super quality, most just shoot snaps. If you do want a one lens for all occasions then stick with canon branded.

try the kogan Australia website of all places, quite possibly the single cheapest place in the universe for canon cameras and lenses. Got my 650d from there - backed with Aussie warrantee. Item does ship from Hong Kong though, via DHL.

The 450d would be a fine start

I was a photographer for the RAAF for about 8 years

+1 here.
I usually don't nit pick, but quite a lot of people mistake the 7d for having a full frame sensor. I believe the 5D is the 'lowest price' canon camera that has a full frame sensor.


I don't want to thread hi-jack but I am looking for a decent zoom lens. What do people think of the Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L USM? (Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L USM - Ted's Cameras). It would be mainly used on a 550D but it would also be shared occasionally with a 5D Mark II.

[rayray086]

+1 here.
I usually don't nit pick, but quite a lot of people mistake the 7d for having a full frame sensor. I believe the 5D is the 'lowest price' canon camera that has a full frame sensor.


I don't want to thread hi-jack but I am looking for a decent zoom lens. What do people think of the Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L USM? (Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L USM - Ted's Cameras). It would be mainly used on a 550D but it would also be shared occasionally with a 5D Mark II.

I think 5D is the only full frame DSLR in the Canon EOS range. The 1D is 1.3x crop.

I had the 70-200mm f/4L non-IS for a short period, sharp photos even at f/4, accurate focus though a tad slow. If your budget allows, get the version with IS. I had a hard time with it in average lighting, even though f/4 is pretty wide for this focal range. I just recently bought a Tokina 70-200mm f/2.8, so I'm keen to test it out and compare the experience with the Canon.

[AdamD]

Thanks for all the replies again guys another option just opened up to me and that is that my cousin has just gotten a new camera and has offered me their 450D for next to nothing so I'm thinking it would be better to get that and then spend some more on lenses and upgrade the body at a later date.

If I do this I would probably look at getting the 15-85mm that Adam suggested and a 50mm prime. I probably wouldn't brought looking to spend too much more on the lenses initially but I am more than open to suggestions from the more experiend photographers on here

Sounds like an absolutely ideal option to me. I would highly recommend the 450D as a starting camera - I had mine for 2.5 years before upgrading to a 7D, and it was an outstanding camera. Only issue I had was a fair bit of noise at higher ISOs, and that's where you can't beat a physically larger sensor (regardless of full-frame or crop).

I don't want to thread hi-jack but I am looking for a decent zoom lens. What do people think of the Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L USM? It would be mainly used on a 550D but it would also be shared occasionally with a 5D Mark II.

I owned the 70-200 f4 L IS, and loved it. A good mate owns the non-IS model and we did a number of shoots together comparing the two lenses (including one shoot doing A/Bs using the same body). Overall the results were extremely similar, although the IS did tend to produce the more consistent quality results. If you're keen on investing in a lens, I'd recommend you spend the extra coin on the IS model, unless the majority of your shooting is done on a tripod.

I think 5D is the only full frame DSLR in the Canon EOS range. The 1D is 1.3x crop.

Canon only sells the 1D-x these days, and that is full-frame (as is the 5D MkI - MkIII; the 7D is a 1.6 crop). In previous generations, the 1Ds was full-frame and the 1D was a 1.3 crop.

[THE_EGG]

Alright thanks people. The lack of IS on the lens has me a bit worried. I think I'll invest a bit more for the IS model, although it does seem quite a bit more pricey compared to the non-IS.

I'll see if I can borrow mum's Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM and see what it's like with IS turned off to get a bit of an impression of what the 70-200 is like without IS. Although she still hasn't allowed me to touch it

I see that a few of you guys have bought second hand before. So what about this http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Canon-EF-...44795564923666
As a uni-student every bit counts, and so long as it doesn't have damage (it doesn't look like it) then I am happy buying second hand.

Cookie, enjoy the DSLR man You will love it. A 450D is a great camera to enter the DSLR world with.

[rayray086]

Canon only sells the 1D-x these days, and that is full-frame (as is the 5D MkI - MkIII; the 7D is a 1.6 crop). In previous generations, the 1Ds was full-frame and the 1D was a 1.3 crop.

Ahhhh, gotcha!

[AdamD]

Alright thanks people. The lack of IS on the lens has me a bit worried. I think I'll invest a bit more for the IS model, although it does seem quite a bit more pricey compared to the non-IS.

I'll see if I can borrow mum's Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM and see what it's like with IS turned off to get a bit of an impression of what the 70-200 is like without IS.

Your biggest issue with the lens is weight. It's not a heavy lens per se, but when attached to an extremely compact body like those of the Canon consumer range (xx0D, xx00D), the lens tends to be the balancing point and it's all too easy to get movement. Without IS turned on, I was seeing disappointing blur softness as fast as 1/100 when hand-holding. Admittedly my hands aren't the steadiest.

[Stan]

Egg man, if you are looking at second hand, that is fine.
make sure of a couple of things - physical condition - you don't want scratches, knocks , bumps etc - if it has been treated rough, then that may hide other pricier issues. A camera is a delicate instrument - it needs to be taken care of to function its best.
The other is frame count - how many photos has it taken. image sensors have a life like everything else, and if it has taken a bazillion pics, then quality will be down.
accessories and lenses - someone else kit can be a really good value buy. Tripods, flash units, lenses etc all add up
know your prices - if it only costs a little more to buy new, then do so. you get a nice new camera and a warrantee.