Canon 400D plus which lenses????????????

[jig]

Hi all,

New to the camera game but have decided to get myself the following kit(with prices for the cheapest supplier I could find!). However im struggling on what lenses I should be getting??? Its quite confusing should I just get the kit ones or are these poor? What should I get as a minimum? how much should I budget?

Shopping List
Canon 400D with EF-S 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 (£475 RankHour)
General Lens:Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II (£55 Onestopdigital)
Macro Lens:Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Macro (£210 Onestopdigital)
Wide A Lens:Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM (£260 Onestopdigital)
Telephoto Lens:? (? )
Canon Battery Grip BG-E3 (£80 Park Cameras)
Compatible NB2-LH battery twin pack 1000mA (£15 Ebay)
Lowepro Slingshot 200 AW (£48 Jessops)
Memory CF 2x1GB Disk - Sandisk Extreme III (£34 myMemory)
Canon Speedlite 430EX (£143 Onestopdigital)
Canon iP6700D Printer (£106 Amazon)
Hama Tripod Star 700 EF Digital * (£13 Amazon) (*cheap and cheerful only for occassional use unless someone can find me a manfrotto on the cheap?!)

Grand Total so far: £1496!!!!

Looking forward to getting involved with photography but want to take the time to make sure I am buying the correct gear. Thanks in advance for all the help/advice.

Thanks
Jig :thumbs:

[splobber]

The kit lens is not brilliant but is OK to begin with, but you'll soon get upgradeititis. I've only had my camera for 2 weeks and have just ordered a Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1 Di as well as the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens, which is cheap but very good. Apart from telephoto all the bases are covered then.

TBH, you are better off sticking with the kit and see how you go rather then forking out for stuff like battery grips which, IMO, were not needed. I also bought a Crumpler bag as they are pretty cool. You can also get a twin pack of higher rated mAh batteries cheaper from eBay (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-582776-5826355) when you factor in postage from 7DayShop (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=530&gid=6083&id=30372)

I paid less then your 400D price with a 1gb CF card included btw. I got it from Dixons (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://clkuk.tradedoubler.com/click?p(1468)a(60823)g(16569)) for £463 delivered for the pair.

[baffled]

Dixons (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://clkuk.tradedoubler.com/click?p(1468)a(60823)g(16569)) now want £556 for that now although they kindly throw in a case as well, £475 is about the best you will get without going to ebay.

I to have just bought one too and the itch that is lense buying has already begun :)

[jig]

The kit lens is not brilliant but is OK to begin with, but you'll soon get upgradeititis. I've only had my camera for 2 weeks and have just ordered a Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1 Di as well as the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens, which is cheap but very good. Apart from telephoto all the bases are covered then.

TBH, you are better off sticking with the kit and see how you go rather then forking out for stuff like battery grips which, IMO, were not needed. I also bought a Crumpler bag as they are pretty cool. You can also get a twin pack of higher rated mAh batteries from eBay (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-582776-5826355) when you factor in postage from 7DayShop (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=530&gid=6083&id=30372)

I paid less then your 400D price with a 1gb CF card included btw. I got it from Dixons (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://clkuk.tradedoubler.com/click?p(1468)a(60823)g(16569)) for £463 delivered for the pair.

Thank Slobber, good advice. How did you get that price from Dixons?

[Professor Abronsius]

It certainly is a nasty itch! Currently looking around for a Wide Angle Lens. :D

Worth checking with Jessops to see if they are still Price Matching Internet Prices... ? When i was in they just called up Pricerunner on the PC in Store and got me the best Price... :thumbs:

[splobber]

Thank Slobber, good advice. How did you get that price from Dixons?

It was £488 with a FOC 1gb CF card and I applied a £25 voucher that we posted in the bargain forum.

FYI, I ordered my lenses from our sponsor, OneStop Digital (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://www.onestop-digital.com/). Ordered yesterday and shipped this morning. :thumbs:

[jig]

It certainly is a nasty itch! Currently looking around for a Wide Angle Lens. :D

Worth checking with Jessops to see if they are still Price Matching Internet Prices... ? When i was in they just called up Pricerunner on the PC in Store and got me the best Price... :thumbs:

Which wideangle lens have you narrowed options down to and prices please?

[splobber]

I've heard good things about this (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://www.onestop-digital.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=24_43&products_id=340) one.

[Professor Abronsius]

A mate in work has the Sigma 10-20mm here (http://www.onestop-digital.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=130).

So going to have a look at it first.

Cheers. :)

[Sam]

The Canon 10-22 although more expensive is a stunning bit of glass. I have no doubts that if Canon gave L badges to EF-S lenses then this would have one. Optically its one of the top lenses I own.

[Professor Abronsius]

It's the wrong time of year for this (http://www.onestop-digital.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=32) Lens... :D

[1966]

I went for the Sigma 10-20mm (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://www.onestop-digital.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=130) to cover the wide end. The Canon 10-20 is lovely, but too expensive for something not used that often, and for me the Tokina isn't quite wide enough for my liking; a couple mm makes a fair difference at this end of the scale.

I've not had much time to use it yet, but it seems great so far.

[splobber]

a couple mm makes a fair difference at this end of the scale.

I've never heard anyone say that to me before. Perhaps you're special?

:suspect:

[John C]

I've never heard anyone say that to me before. Perhaps you're special?

In terms of the available field of view, he's right.

At telephoto range, 204mm isn't so different to 200mm - however, you get a lot more in a shot taken with a 24mm wide angle than you do with a 28mm wide angle (for example). (I did have a reference for that, but I've lost the link) :(

Edit: Can't find the one I was thinking of, but <a href="http://www.nikonians.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=read_count&om=19401&forum=DCForumID6">here's a table of barely intelligible figures</a> :) Compare the difference between 10 and 12mm, and 200 and 210mm.

10 is very, very wide though, and you might find the 20mm a bit too short at the long end. (One of the things I like about the Tokina is that the 24mm long end is approaching the field of view of a "standard"/mild angle lens, meaning less lens switching (for me at least)).

Giving both a go is a very good idea (and a good excuse for a forums meet up :) )

[Tastydirt]

I'd prefer the Tokina because of its bulletproof build, but it's heavier because of that. You also have to question when you're actually going to need to go all the way to 10mm from 12mm, which is probably not much.

[Taq]

get them ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Taq

[jig]

get them ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Taq

I would if i had the £$!! :brickwall

[John C]

Memory CF 2GB Disk - Sandisk Extreme III (£45 7DayShop)

If you don't mind changing the card occasionally, mymemory.co.uk have 1GB CF in their Extreme III and Ultra II varieties for £17.99 (comes to £21.94 incl of postage).

I've used the Ultra IIs a lot, and found them to be good, and my Extreme III from this offer arrived today :)

[Ono]

Spend the money on a decent flash. Just got a Canon Speedlite 430EX and it makes a huge difference to my indoor shots.

[Taq]

I'd second that; well it made a difference to my shots too and was well worth it!

[Woz]

Thirded!
A flash was not something that excited me in any way, but it's made a huge difference to the quality of people-shots.

[Professor Abronsius]

Fourth'ed! :D

Also got the 430EX.

Took a lot of Photos in a Nightclub recently and not sure how they would have turned out with the built-in Flash, but they turned out great with the 430EX. :thumbs:

[ajoh198]

I got the 50mm lenses, which I haven't used that much, but I don't take many protraits.
I got the 10-20 a couple of weeks back and it's an excellant lens and I've got some great shots with it, I didn't think it worth getting the canon equivalent.

Also I haven't got the battery grip and have found the 350d (which looks to be the same size as the 400d) to be perfectly comfortable and handle well despite large hands. The extra 'compatible' battery was well worth the £15 I paid on ebay.

Also I'd lok at the cheap 4Gb cards on ebay - to me space is more important than speed even the slower generic cardsget 5-6 shots before having to wait. unless you're taking action shots all the time you're unlikely to need the speed.

Something you may to add is a photo tank hard drive, I got a cheap DIY job off ebay for £35 plus £30 for a 30Gb hd to put in it. It works really well and is really needed if you go on holiday away from a computer to download to.

[1966]

Canon Speedlite 430EX (£155 Techno)[/B]


It's £12 cheaper at forum sponsor OneStop Digital (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://www.onestop-digital.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=173)

[GarethH]

It really depends what you're doing. Nobody here can tell you the best options without focusing on your primary goals. As somebody said, buy everything...pretty much the case if you're going to take everything at top quality.

My personal goals were:

1. General shots.
2. Telephoto
3. Macro

Obviously your ordering might be different. You may have already some knowledge of the workings of SLR's, but this site is great for educating:

http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/enjoydslr/p_1_001.html

Check out this site for comparisons of the different lesnes:

Lens Comparisons (http://www.photozone.de/active/survey/querylenstxt.jsp?filter=%22brand='Canon%20EF'%20OR%20brand='Sigma%20AF'%20OR%20brand='Tamron%20AF'%20or%20brand='Tokina%20AF'%20or%20brand='Vivitar%20AF'%22)

I personally never had a kit lens. I went straight for the Tamron 17-50mm as a general purpose lens. I later got the Canon 70mm-200mm (My best performing lens) and recently the Tamron 90mm Macro (need to use it more!).

[jig]

Shopping list updated

[John C]

I'd seriously suggest sticking with one, maybe two lenses to start. Using the kit lens (and maybe a 50mm f/1.8, these are cheap, and good, and everyone should have one) will give you a much clearer idea of what you want next.

Everyone seems to want a telephoto when they start (I know I did) but I found I never used the long ranges much, and my money was better spent on a good ultra-wide lens.

[Taq]

Yeh I guess it depends really what kind of thing you prefer taking pictures of. I'd often thought about getting a macro lens but I don't think I'd really use it that much, especially as I have to do that kind of thing at work.

http://www.flyseq.org.uk/ed/misc/J6_CFP_Adult5_colour_800.jpg
(Drosophilia melanogaster adult showing cyan fluroescent protein expression in the eyes and ocelli, taken with a Leica MZ16F - not the best for dof!)

Taq

[Tastydirt]

Looks like there's a small mouse with a big mouth on top of its head!

[jig]

updated