Time for a new camera

[Minda]

It time for me to get a new camera, looking for a digital SLR, with no real knowledge about them any advice would be appreciated. A friend has recommended canon and have been looking in a 500d, possibly

[Sanj]

Not the most knowledgeable on this subject Minda but the Cannon DSLR EOS range are said to be one of the best.

Have you thought about the eBay offerings first - since Knowledge is limited and they will be half the price...

[Minda]

Thinking about ebay, i'll see what i can find over the next few weeks.

[pvr]

Canon is excellent. I have a 20d, with image stabiliser lenses. Forget about the pack lens that comes with it, that is useless.

The question really is: what is the budget ... My tele IS lens was £1600 alone so it really depends what you want.

[Minda]

wow, was thinking 500-1000

[Chompers]

Have to agree with the Canon EOS range. Purchased a 350D about 2 years ago and takes some very good pics, clearly out of date now but I'm sure replaced by better models for the same/less money. Sony is also worth a look from what the likes of Stuff and T3 say. Both these gadget mags would be woth purchasing to get an over view of whats available on the market at the moment. Might also be worth a PM to Condor as She has just purchased a new camera too http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=283

[CondorX5]

Minda, that's a bit like saying, "Time for a new car - what should I buy?" Seriously, lots of good gear out there, you need to give a few more clues, like: 1) Budget for camera 2) Do you want a full size (bulky / heavy-ish)DSLR or a smaller (micro-4/3 system - still has interchangeable lenses) . I've got fullsized Canon kit at home with quite a few lenses, but invariably, it lands up staying at home, unused for the most part. Agree with pvr, its a great system - also have a 20D plus some IS lenses. Nikon's system has the added advantage of being able to "geotag" your photos, which Canon hasn't quite grasped yet. Nice feature - you can take pics of a holiday etc and if they are geotagged, you can follow your holiday route via google maps ...... there are SD cards you can use called Eye Fi cards which give similar capability but need wireless internet to geotag.

Then there's the micro 4/3 systems - Panasonic really the forerunner here - take a look at the Guernsey pics I took and also those I've posted of my X- shot on a Panasonic G2 which is a micro-4/3 camera, quite a bit smaller and lighter than the Canon 550 and much more likely in my case, to actually be lugged around. I've enjoyed using mine since I bought it in Guernsey last month.
Panasonic also make a compact body which takes these micro 4/3 lenses, the GF. Even lighter, but lacks the viewfinder and a few other features. Sony do an oddball camera called the Nex, which is also very compact but has interchangeable lenses in 4/3 format.

Another very pocketable and excellent camera used by pros as a "pocket" camera is the Canon G-series - currently on G11, but all the models from G7 onwards are superb and built like tanks - metal casings, lovely cameras. I've got a G7 in its box no longer used, as new, which I need to advertise sometime along with all my other redundant stuff including my P38 Range Rover!!!!

Try to actually look at and hold a few of the cameras which interest you after looking them up on line - even if Jesspos are rubbish, they sometimes have the more popular makes in which you can at least see and feel in your hand before buying !!!

Have fun looking - a good camera is a great gadget! But digital ones really don't hold any value just like compters - buy one and use it, don't just let it moulder away doing nothing indoors!!!!

[X5Sport]

If your budget can stretch a bit then look at the Canon EOS 550D which is a newer model, just don' t go for a kit with the EF-S18-55mm Lens included. That lens has a plastic mount and is aimed at the very cheap end of the market. See if you can get a kit with the EF-S17-85mm IS lens included (it's a stabilsed general purpose lens). If you can extend up to around £900 then go for an EOS 50D kit with the same lens. My wife has this kit (bought for her by me) and it works very well. She's a novice but is really getting to grips with it now. I'm a semi-pro photographer and all my kit is Canon. The only other lead choice is Nikon. The key thing is to decide what you want to do, and then what your maximum budget thst will allow you to do thst is, along with do you want it all NOW!

I have learned that this one hobby that can get very expensive! I started with the then excellent 20D and now have several Canon bodies and lenses. My small budget went out of the window years ago!! When you are putting a package together, always remember to factor in spare batteries, lens filters, lens hoods, possibly a battery grip and a flash and tripod - although they can come later and in stages (which keeps the Bank Manager & your partner happier ). You will need to add memory cards too. Don't go cheap on them as you may find reliability issues. Memories are worth a few extra quid on the decent memory cards always.

There are a couple of good stores to look at in the UK, Park Cameras or Warehouse Express. They'll give an idea of what's around and then you can look elsewhere on the web to source the kit. Beware of apparently legit UK companies offering kit at cheap prices. It's usually grey import and you get no UK warranty!! Some of them bury the fact that you may also be liable for import duty and VAT in the micro print too. Canon will walk away, or charge you for any repairs. It may not be an issue for everyone, but always better to know what to watch for!!

Canon lenses are expensive but there are good alternatives from Sigma and Tokina. Good glass is never cheap though. My lens budget is around £3k per year and that may only cover 1 new piece of glass.

As has been suggested, if you can find somewher to have a play, even better.

[drb5]

Is your budget of 500-1000 for the whole kit?

Will this be your first DSLR?

Got into a shop like Jessops and get a hold of a 550D and a 50D. These two will give you a good idea of how different they are.

After that, decide if you want new, or if your happy with secondhand.

Also, try and think what/where you'll mostly be using the camera. If you use it mostly indoors, then you'll be needing a fast lens, or if it's mostly landscape, then you want as wide as possible.

[squeaky2]

As has been mentioned already this is almost like a diesel / petrol debate and everyone will have there own opinion. Im a canon advocate and have had DSLR for about 8 years now and love them but you will get people who love the Nikon. Best go into jessops or a camera store and have a feel and a play with them and then head home and find them on the internet

The other things to consider are the full frame sensors against the APS but i think that will be more down to budget.

Ive found the standard lenses that came with the canon fine but with hindsight i would probably be tempted to just get the body and then get a different lens altogether.

Good luck whatever you do.

[squeaky2]

Oh and consider an external harddrive or dvd writer so that you can back up regularly!! quite upsetting when your computer hard drive dies and u loose all the photos you had

[Sanj]

OK Minda - now I'd be shi**ing myself at the can-of-worms you 've just opened for yourself!

[Minda]

Yep alot to take on, will try an get into jessops, what should i be paying for a used 500D?

[kena]

Take a look at Talkphotography.co.uk
A lot of your questions my be answered on that forum.

[jeegnesh]

Dude you got a brand new e70 to match that you need a Cannon 5D will blow your budget.

THe kit come with a decent zoom lense if you add a prime 50mm lense to that your all set. Oh you'll want the flash after that, ha ha ha.

BTW I got a Nikon but that's because I always liked them however the latest craze seems to be Cannon at the moment.

Good luck buddy.