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03/19/2005 01:06:13 AM · #1 |
A family member has offered to purchase a dSLR camera for me with funds up to $2000 USD. I may accept the offer or I may not. But if I do I need your advice on what is the best to buy with the limited funds available. I am leaning towards the Canon 350D with some accessories. I have no idea what the difference is between EF and AF mount lens. I know âLâ glass is the best but I cannot afford that. Here is a list that I have come up with. Do you think this is good or would you exchange anything while keeping within the $2000 USD limit?
1.Canon - EOS Digital Rebel XT SLR 8-MP Camera w/Canon 18-55mm AF Lens, Black: $999.99
2.Canon - 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM EF Lens: $269.95
3.Sigma - 50mm F2.8 1:1 Macro Lens for Canon AF: $249.99
4.Lexar - 2 GB Professional Series 80X CompactFlash Memory Card w/WA: $269.99
5.Tamrac - Quantaray - QDC-900WA Digital Zoom Flash for Canon Digital Rebel: $179.99
6.Tamrac - Digital Zoom 4 Bag 5684, Steel Gray: $49.95
Total @ WolfCamera.com: $2019.96 +tax
The prices above are from wolfcamera.com and we have two local stores in town.
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03/19/2005 01:11:21 AM · #2 |
man.. where are family members like yours when *I* need them.
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03/19/2005 01:13:33 AM · #3 |
Originally posted by Artyste:
man.. where are family members like yours when *I* need them. |
Exactly. I haven't been adopted in a while. I think I'm due... |
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03/19/2005 01:17:52 AM · #4 |
It's a birthday gift from my parents. My birthday is in July but since they have the money now they offered to give me my gift early. I'm not comfortable with that large of a gift thats why I said I may or may not accept the offer. But if I do, I need advice. Especially on the lens.
Originally posted by Artyste:
man.. where are family members like yours when *I* need them. |
Originally posted by aronya1:
Originally posted by Artyste:
man.. where are family members like yours when *I* need them. |
Exactly. I haven't been adopted in a while. I think I'm due... |
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03/19/2005 01:20:27 AM · #5 |
Do you have to do the ritz (wolf) thing? The 55-200mm is going < $200 in most web places...
I had the EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM on my 20D for a short while it's an just ok lens that compliments the kit lens only in focal length. It is another plastic mount low end lens with no scales and rotating front end (drive the polarizer nutz). It sits right on the edge of sharp, plan on using USM a lot. For 269.00 there are probably better choices.
Andy |
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03/19/2005 01:29:17 AM · #6 |
Sounds like a no-brainer to me, take it. Then do something nice for them and show that you aren't taking it for granted by taking care of the equipment. If it was from another family member that you are not as close to maybe declining the offer would be appropriate but I assume your parents understand that you really love photography and that it would be a very worthwhile gift. I don't have a strong opinion one way or the other on the gear as that is more of a personal choice but I would make sure that I came in a little under the 2 grand and not any bit over to show that you are not trying to take any more advantage of the generous gift. Just my 2 cents.
T
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03/19/2005 01:36:18 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by awpollard:
Do you have to do the ritz (wolf) thing? The 55-200mm is going < $200 in most web places...
I had the EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM on my 20D for a short while it's an just ok lens that compliments the kit lens only in focal length. It is another plastic mount low end lens with no scales and rotating front end (drive the polarizer nutz). It sits right on the edge of sharp, plan on using USM a lot. For 269.00 there are probably better choices.
Andy |
No I don't have to go with ritz/wolf. I just don't do a lot of internet purchases so I don't know of a good internet source. If I could get it online for less and get good quality products with good customer service I would be willing to go that route. |
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03/19/2005 01:50:26 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by SDW65:
Originally posted by awpollard:
Do you have to do the ritz (wolf) thing? The 55-200mm is going < $200 in most web places...
I had the EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM on my 20D for a short while it's an just ok lens that compliments the kit lens only in focal length. It is another plastic mount low end lens with no scales and rotating front end (drive the polarizer nutz). It sits right on the edge of sharp, plan on using USM a lot. For 269.00 there are probably better choices.
I would definatly look into it. You will save a hundred on the CF card alone.
Andy |
No I don't have to go with ritz/wolf. I just don't do a lot of internet purchases so I don't know of a good internet source. If I could get it online for less and get good quality products with good customer service I would be willing to go that route. |
I would definatly look into it. You will save a hundred on the CF card alone.
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03/19/2005 01:51:57 AM · #9 |
You may to go body only and add a good walk around lens to cover the range that you was looking at.
Body only at BHphoto is 899.00 (unfortunately black is already sold out)
Grab a Tamron 28-300mm XR Di (or a nice Sigma) for 379.00 and you have a pretty good starter range with a better feel and a tad bit sharper.
Why the Sigma 50 2.8 ($249) over the Canon EF 50 1.8 MK II ($80)? Is it for the Macro?
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03/19/2005 02:06:39 AM · #10 |
| I personally would forgo the flash and apply that $180 toward a better lens than the 55-200. Actually, I might drop the macro lens as well to get a better tele. It all depends on what types of photos you're really into. |
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03/19/2005 02:52:28 AM · #11 |
i think it'd be better to get 2 1GB cards, rather than one 2GB card. then if one fails, you have a backup. not that i've ever had a card fail. but if it did...
the other things really depend on what you shoot, and based on your portfolio, they look about right. not that i know anything... |
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03/19/2005 03:01:06 AM · #12 |
My 2 cents...
Agree on the Rebel XT.
Recommend two 1Gb cards rather than a single 2Gb
Recommend the Sigma 105mm Macro instead of the 50mm as it is better for more 'general' macro photography and I beleive that you will get more use from it.
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03/19/2005 03:08:00 AM · #13 |
That looks like a lot of gear to purchase all at once. I can say from experience that I didn't really know what I wanted until I used my camera for a while. I started with a 50/1.4, needed a sports lens so I got a 70-200/4L, needed a wider lens so I then got a 28/2.8, etc. until I ended up with 5 lenses, 17-40, 28, 28-105, 50, 70-200. I now see less need for the 28-105 and the 28, though they have their place. I now want other things, but it's taken me a while to find out what I need.
My advice is to buy the best you can afford, but buy incrementally rather than all at once. Base this on need. Look at the photos you take right now and note the type of shots, and the focal length. Do you need wide apertures, or will a narrow aperture zoom do the trick?
If I were going with an EF-S camera, I'd buy the 17-85 IS without hesitation, as it's a very useful range for general use. The 17-40 I have is almost always my lens for everyday use, and having that extra reach would be nice. The 50/1.8 would be a must-buy, too.
I'd get those two lenses and then base the rest of your purchases on need. The two kit lenses are not the best and are almost guaranteed to be upgraded from in the future. Why waste money on them now?
Message edited by author 2005-03-19 03:09:55.
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03/19/2005 08:44:47 AM · #14 |
For $2000 Here's what I would get:
Canon 350D - $819 It's on backorder, but you can't beat the price. Also No tax and free shipping
Sandisk Ultra 1GB Compact Flash - $91 Also No tax and free shipping
Canon 50mm f/1.8 - $75
Canon 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM - $229
Canon 70-200mm f/4L - $579
Bogen/Manfrotto Tripod 3001BD w/486RC2 Ball Head - $170
LowePro Nova AW 5 - $65
IMO, this would be a great way to get into the DSLR stage. You will have a wide array of lenses, even an "L" lens. A tripod and a bag to hold everything. It comes to $2028. Hope this helps |
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03/19/2005 08:54:18 AM · #15 |
The only thing I would change is the 2gig card, you should get two 1gig cards. Could you imgine if you were shooting all day and you fill up your card and find that somthing was wrong with it. This way atleast you would still have half your photos. JMO
Travis
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03/19/2005 09:24:15 AM · #16 |
I personally would also look at some Photo Filters
And maybe Remote RC-1 NOT the RC-5, if you are doing any indoor setup shots and you don't want to touch the camera but it's nice for family shot where you might be in the photo also... or to distract the people while you are away from the camera and click... you got them ;-)
NOTE: Nice feature of the 350D/XT is the remote capture software that comes with the camera it's excellent, change all your settings on the computer screen and hit the shutter... watch the picture be taken and transfered to the screen.... WOW... NICE
Instead of all these lens all at once...
my 2 cents |
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03/19/2005 10:26:18 AM · #17 |
I agree with what some said -- that's a lot of gear at once.
I'd say get the 350d with the kit lens and just go at it for a month or so. Then decide what you NEED. If you get everything at once, you're going to be overwhelmed -- just try using only the kit lens for a while if you have to get it all now.
You'll be surprised what you can do with just the body and kit lens...then start getting into the more complicated things.
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03/19/2005 10:37:16 AM · #18 |
Originally posted by SDW65:
It's a birthday gift from my parents. My birthday is in July but since they have the money now they offered to give me my gift early. I'm not comfortable with that large of a gift |
My parents give me a card with a $20 in it - never a cost of living increase in 25 years. Not that I'm ungrateful...
The one rule I have about purchases is never buy the media from the camera place. I usually use a "memory only" store and save enough to buy the filters.
I'd have to agree with what has been stated here already. I bought my D70 and shot with old glass from my 35mm days just to "get into" what I wanted to shoot. I found that macro is important to me, and bought lenses that support that. Body, tripod, nice zoom and a couple of CF cards and batteries to get you started, then take the rest of the gift as a 4th of July or Columbus Day present.
My 2 cents
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03/19/2005 10:39:45 AM · #19 |
| Just one thought on the memory card. Perhaps you could consider a smaller size - which would still hold a huge number of images and be at a relatively lower price. Prices on these will drop forever and a 2GB a year or 2 from now would probabley be well under $100 if you eventually felt you needed the additional capacity. You could then free up some funds to possibly move up the ladder on another piece of equipment. |
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03/19/2005 10:41:00 AM · #20 |
I'm not a Canon shooter so I really can't offer much advise on that, but I do have two small bits of other advise.
One don't go with the 2GB compact flash card. Buying 4 smaller 512mb cards would be cheaper, faster and safer. Don't put all you eggs in one basket so to speak, and also makes your digital work flow easier. Think about back-ups one 512mb card will fit easly on cheaper CD-R media.
I would also not shop from an expensive shop like wolf camera. Buying from someone like B&H will not only save $$ on the inital purchase, but unless you live in NY state it will also save you $$ on sales tax. Also B&H will often offer a package deal on popular DSLRs like the Canon that will include the camera, the same lens as the kit & 1GB lexar CF 80x compact flash card for about $40 more that the manafacturer's packaged kit. That way they can work around the minimum advertised asking price set by Canon.
Good Luck! |
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03/19/2005 12:49:46 PM · #21 |
I just wanted everyone to know I am reading the thread and taking everyone advice. I just wanted to post back to let you know that I was looking. Thanks to everyone for your advice. I like the idea of 2 1-GB CF cards instead of one 2-GB card.
I like the Post about having one L-glass and I want the Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens. Any more help would be nice.
We have an air-show here today and the family and I are going to see if we can get in. Like 100,000 people there so I may have to park outside the airport and watch from there. With my bad back I can't park 3 miles away and walk to the airport..urrrg. If I get any good pic's I will post.
Again Thanks everyone... I am looking at a good starting point on dSLR and then add on as needed, that advice was given in this tread.
Scott W.
Message edited by author 2005-03-20 02:26:08.
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03/19/2005 01:02:31 PM · #22 |
The arguments against multiple small cards instead of one big card:
- more in/out of camera = wear and chance of pin damage
- you'll find that you need to swap cards right at the moment when you'd least want to = missed moments (this is not about only having a few mb's left, but shooting a lot of photos in one session)
- A card that is not in the camera is easier lost (I spent 1 hour on a construction site trying to find a Sony memorystick from my work camera back and fortunately found it in the mud, undamaged, with photos on it that we needed in our favour in a legal action for app $100,000)
- If you backup on DVD, makes the size of the card unimportant
On a sidenote, it will not be long before we'll see terabyte memorycards, with 100mb+/s speed. These will probably not work in any camera on the market now.
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03/19/2005 01:16:31 PM · #23 |
Originally posted by SDW65:
1.Canon - EOS Digital Rebel XT SLR 8-MP Camera w/Canon 18-55mm AF Lens, Black: $999.99 |
Imho (I've spent a lot of time - a year - on Canon gear before I chose a Nikon setup), the 18-55 EF-S lens is of too low quality. I'd seriously consider another lens.
And another possibility: spent less on the body and more on the lenses. So instead of an XT, get a 300D. The lens, at a 2mp difference, is imo going to be a bigger factor in the end-quality of the photo than a 2mp increase. There are some great deals on 300D's at the moment. At 6mp a 1Gb card (only one), might be enough for the first months or year (I work with a 1Gb Microdrive, it is enough for raw shooting at events or for a day in my country, but 15x to small for travel). Memory will only get cheaper. Again, more money for the lenses. Perhaps a 17-85 IS or 17-40L comes in reach (for this budget) this way.
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