please help with my newbie start pack!

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Nikon

05/23/2007 09:01:08 AM · #1

Hello everybody,
I'm very new to photography, meaning I always been in love with it, even took courses, but being from a poor family I never evolved past my 2.1MP and my old russian film camera. Finally I have the chance to invest in a more serious photographic equipment and give up my 'child camera' for a better one.

I've decided on a Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (D400) //www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000I1ZWRC/ref=ord_cart_shr/102-4965135-3924137?%5Fencoding=UTF8&m=A17MC6HOH9AVE6&v=glance. Along with it i'll get some accessories and I need some help from all of you so I'll get the one I really nead and not spend my money foolishly. I know that the DPChallenge 'family' is full of great people so please give me a hand. My bydget is a bit over $1000-$1100 (considering Amazon prices).

I think I should start with Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens because it has a vay better quality compared with the default Canon's EF-S 18-55mm, f3.5-5.6 zoom lens and are good for the learning process. Plus it's very cheap.

Also i think i should get Tiffen 62mm Digital Enhancing Filter Kit. These should be all the filters I need for now. I just added Adorama Step-Up Adapter Ring 58mm Lens to 62mm Filter Size and Adorama Step-Up Adapter Ring 52mm Lens to 62mm Filter Size so I can fit them to both lenses (one has filter mount point of 52mm and on 58mm, and the filters are for 62mm). I'm a bit in doubt here not knowing if a filter with a step-up ring is as good as a filter directly mounted on lens. I need your advice here.

Plus, a decent trypod, a special backpack to protect my aquisition, a 2gb card,a ultra fast charger and a wireless remote.

What else do I need? and what should I give up? I'd appreciate any advice.
Thank you in advance!
Cristian

Apple iPhone

05/23/2007 09:11:01 AM · #2

i don't see why you'd need the tiffen filter kit ,,, a uv filter for both lens would be enough. a circular polarizer would be nice for the kit lens

quiet_observation

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/23/2007 09:13:19 AM · #3

Buy a Canon 30D instead.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II

05/23/2007 09:23:55 AM · #4

Originally posted by quiet_observation:

Buy a Canon 30D instead.

well Canon 30d would take all my money. Does it worth it? Taking the 30d and no accesories at all? The differences between 30d and 400d are minor, at least for me (if I think that at least for start I won't be selling my photos, just learn and enjoy).

Message edited by author 2007-05-23 09:26:10.

superdave

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

05/23/2007 02:58:12 PM · #5

The 30d is not worth the extra money for what you are after. I bought the xti to learn and enjoy too. It has helped me learn a lot and it takes fantastic pictures. The kit isn't bad to learn and progress with. Atleast it will give you more range then the 50mm.

Ann

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro

05/23/2007 03:38:19 PM · #6

I'd get the camera with the kit lens, UV filter, polarizer, tripod, 2GB card, and backpack. Use it for a few weeks before buying any other accesories. After you've taken some pictures with it and have seen what it can and can't do, then you will have a better idea what to spend your money on.

edit: depending on the price of the filter kit, it may be cheaper to get the kit than individual filters, and the kit comes with a very nice case.

Message edited by author 2007-05-23 15:40:28.

Elvis_L

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

05/23/2007 03:55:22 PM · #7

if at all possible go somewhere to hold the 400 and the 30d. for me it would be worth the 30d and a kit lens because i like having the bigger camera. some people like the smaller 400. the 400 is a nice camera.

i would go with the kit lens over the 50 because of the range' sometimes you just can't backup anymore and the wider lens will come in handy.

pix-al

Canon EOS-5D

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

05/23/2007 04:02:31 PM · #8

The 50mm on a 400D Xti is roughly equivalent to an 80mm on a film camera. 80mm is really not wide enough for many situations so I would not like to be stuck with that as an only lens

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

05/24/2007 11:06:15 AM · #9

Originally posted by Elvis_L:

would go with the kit lens over the 50 because of the range' sometimes you just can't backup anymore and the wider lens will come in handy.

Yes, I realize that the 50mm lens are not enought. I was thinking to get them together with the default 18-55mm. I've seen some pictures of the same subject taken with the 18-55 and the 50mm and the last were way more clear. plus f/1.8 makes it very veratile to different lightning situations.

Message edited by author 2007-05-24 11:06:34.

Elvis_L

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

05/24/2007 11:18:17 AM · #10

Originally posted by programatorul:

Originally posted by Elvis_L:
would go with the kit lens over the 50 because of the range' sometimes you just can't backup anymore and the wider lens will come in handy.

Yes, I realize that the 50mm lens are not enought. I was thinking to get them together with the default 18-55mm. I've seen some pictures of the same subject taken with the 18-55 and the 50mm and the last were way more clear. plus f/1.8 makes it very veratile to different lightning situations.

Ok good idea. for that orice range it does do a good job.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/25/2007 06:35:41 AM · #11

Anyone else can make an suggestion? How you started, and what have you would at wanted/needed at the begining and you didn't?

Ken

Canon EOS-7D

05/25/2007 07:07:09 AM · #12

Do they make the filter kit in 58mm? That way you'd only have to buy one adaptor ring.

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

05/25/2007 08:26:46 AM · #13

Adapter rings are cheaper than filters, < $10, so definitely, if you're considering filters like a circular polarizer, buy one for the largest lens and step-up rings for the others. The stepup rings have no glass so will not affect the image results.

Message edited by author 2007-05-25 08:27:01.

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

05/25/2007 09:32:30 AM · #14

The kit lens is not THAT bad, at least it is good enough for a start. Don't know why you want to buy a filter kit, go for a circular polarizer instead. The first thing I bought was the battery grip along with a second battery, that way the included charger will do (and it feels almost like the 30D).

flavioalima

Nikon D90

Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

05/25/2007 09:45:28 AM · #15

Haven't you considered other brands like Nikon or Pentax? I really like my K100D.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

05/25/2007 10:00:52 AM · #16

If you do buy filters and step up rings, you might want to consider 67mm. Many popular lenses that would be logical future upgrades (like the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 and Canon 70-200 f/4) use that size.

goc

Apple iPhone 4

05/25/2007 10:28:55 AM · #17

my opinion : get yourself 4GB CF card since learning on 10MPix machine fills up the storage vewy :-) vewy quickly !

and you can save some money on some cheaper backpack to get even, ... umm ... what else, yes ... the infrared remote sucks IMHO, get yourself wired one much more comfortable ...

that it, knock yourself out :-)

05/26/2007 05:34:05 AM · #18

Originally posted by flavioalima:

Haven't you considered other brands like Nikon or Pentax? I really like my K100D.

flavioalima, i did considered other brands too, but the simple reason it that at this point someone is bringing me the camera from us, but then i'll have to buy all the accessories from my country and it's preaty hard (and expensive) to find something else than canon.