View Full Version : £500 on a DSLR?
Chivalry
22-07-2009, 19:21
recommendations please :).... annoyed the Nikon D90 is out my reach... as it seems the perfect camera for its price.. but i cant justify that much :0(
Sooo,,, if u had 500 notes burning a hole in your pocket,,, what would be your weapon of choice? :)
Im no expert... had a old Minolta A1 b4 that didnt get used half so much as it should have ,then the CCD packed in and it all turned red.. think i saw somewhere it was a common fault and was repairable under a freebie but i imagine far to much time has passed now,,,, and with the prices dropping so much on DSLR kit now i thought i would just go all out for a new camera..
i do like to mess around with manual settings alot so not after a point and shoot... just want something that takes good pictures in most conditions.. but after a few days looking my head is spinning with the choices available
So any advice is more than welcome.... :)
thanks all!
Canon 450D with 18-55mm lens for me. £514 at Warehouse Express (http://www.thedvdforums.com/affiliatelink.php?localaffiliateid=384&url=http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-canon-eos-450d-with-ef-s-18-55mm-is-lens/p1024467), or save some money and get just the body and pick up the 50mm f1.8 lens.
Chivalry
22-07-2009, 20:06
must admmit... im tempted with the 450d.... i also see Argos are doing the TWIN lens kit with the 18-55 and the EF-S 55-250mm IS f/4.0-5.6 for just £636!! gotta be worth an extra 120 quid for that lens.... gets great reviews for a "kit" lens as well it seems...
i know its more than i was looking to spend but u do get alot for your money.....
RobDickinson
22-07-2009, 20:23
Add in a bag & memory too!
But the twin lens kit is nice, that 55-250 is quality for the price.
That is a good price and it is meant to be a decent lens though I have no experience with it. You'd soon want another lens anyway so probably worth making the saving if you can stretch.
the ghost
22-07-2009, 20:41
just put this on another forum
SHAME i never come hear first But yo never know
Hope you understand this
removed - as in wrong forum
Olympus E-520 SLR Twin Lens Kit (ED 14-42mm + 40-150mm)
£439.96
http://www.fotosense.co.uk/olympus-e-520-slr-twin-lens-kit-ed-14-42mm-40-150mm.html
just put this on another forum
SHAME i never come hear first But yo never know
If you want to sell this then please use the Classified Forums only.
Either of the two Canon models mentioned would do you, though it does mean you will get shunned by us studly Nikon owners and won't get invited to our free beer and strippers Xmas bash. Sorry.
the ghost
22-07-2009, 22:01
If you want to sell this then please use the Classified Forums only.
did not sell it on here just stating i had put it elsewhere
if i was going to sell it i would put it in the appropriate place Alan..
were did you put it as i was goig to delete it but cant find it
It read as if you were trying to sell it on here as well as it had a price and everything. I didn't put it anywhere as I just deleted it.
the ghost
22-07-2009, 22:40
thanx Alan
cheer's
RobDickinson
23-07-2009, 00:07
Either of the two Canon models mentioned would do you, though it does mean you will get shunned by us studly Nikon owners and won't get invited to our free beer and strippers Xmas bash. Sorry.
What they dont tell you is nikon parties have male strippers and low carb non alchaholic beer...
Body and prime!
It was good enough in the seventies, it's good enough now!
Who needs a horrible zoom? :)
RobDickinson
23-07-2009, 00:17
That worked when 50mm's where cheap and the right focal length.
Tho a 450D and sigmas 30/1.4 would be a nice combo.
I wouldbt be without my 10-20 tho. Would swap for a 10mm prime..!
50mm on a crop IS the right focal length!
OK, OK, I know I'm in the minority, but I tend to 'see' in short telephoto, so my 50mm F1.4 is just about perfect for me.
OP, ignore me, I have fairly non-conventional tastes :D
Chivalry
23-07-2009, 06:01
:( dont even know what prime means . . . Or what makes a right or wrong focal length . :-(
RobDickinson
23-07-2009, 06:10
:( dont even know what prime means . . . Or what makes a right or wrong focal length . :-(
You've ot a lot of (usualy expensive) learning to do ! :D
Prime = lens with no zoom, ie one focal length.
Focal length = field of view, 10mm = realy wide (140degrees, usualy landscapes) , 500mm realy narrow (5degrees, birds & sport).
The kit lens goes from 18, wide, to 55, short tele, or decent portrait length.
What they dont tell you is nikon parties have male strippers and low carb non alchaholic beer...
Hey, it's still free beer and strippers. :D
looking at getting a canon DSLR next month, is the 500D worth the difference over the 450D?
I could stretch my budget for a 500D but not sure it's worth the £100 ish extra. After just drowning a camera I really need a good bag so tempted to go for 450D + more extras.
what is battery life on these cameras like? Will be mostly used at work & on dog walks so presumably I don't need a spare?
:( dont even know what prime means . . . Or what makes a right or wrong focal length . :-(
Maybe you should have a look here (http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=341332&highlight=photography+book) for some books on photography / techniques to give you some info. You can ask anything here as well.
looking at getting a canon DSLR next month, is the 500D worth the difference over the 450D?
Main differences here (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos500d/), and the 500D looks a considerable step up technology wise from the 450D, but the 450D is still a very good camera (do you need video?). The idea of going with the previous spec camera and more / better accessories is a good idea.
I just brought the 450D, I spent a long time considering getting the 500D instead. But to be honest the image quality on the 500D is not really any better than the 450D.
Only true benefit of the 500D is the higher ISO ability. However you can get 3200ISO and 6400ISO out of a 450D by with stopping down the exposure and then using the Canon tools or Photoshop to compensate.
Also the 500D has video, if you really need it.
In the end though I don't feel the additional £120 on the 500D is worth it. Jessops have the 450D for £499 - and you get a pretty decent camera bag for £25.
I've had the camera for 3 weeks now and haven't looked back. One of the best purchases I have ever made...
do you need video?
tbh no, is something I rarely use, do have a camcorder as well, ta for the link, the 500D plus extras is probably over budget, after last week I really do need a bag ;)
I've had the camera for 3 weeks now and haven't looked back. One of the best purchases I have ever made..
ta for that, I will prob go for the 450.
RobDickinson
23-07-2009, 09:09
The 500D doesnt offer the (still) photographer anything worthwhile IMO - from an end image POV.
The LCD is better though. I dont think the ISO ability is improved any, and the extra resolution isnt all that worthwhile.
All the other advantages are 'fluff'. (I notice the 450D doesnt get a green line for 0.1 fps faster shooting...)
RCW - all dslr's can shoot 500+ shots on one battery, usualy closer to 1000.
If it was my money I'd get the 40D.
I mean 450D and toys.
Uh no , the 40D...
Chivalry
23-07-2009, 20:22
ARRGGHH !!! ive spent hours researching and reading reviews and opinions,,,,,,, and it just gets more complicated!
So far... i seem to have a few deals that stand out for me..
1 = Pentax K20D 18-55mm II Lens Kit for £549 deliverd
2 = Canon 450D with 55-250mm lens and 18-55mm lens for £636
3 = I rememberd i had a SLR Minolta Dynax 700Si with a sigma 100-300mm zoom and a Minolta AF 28-80 lenses ,,,, i beleive that Sony still use the same mount system... so another possible choice is the A700 body and use the 2 lenses i already have (if i am right and they fit!!)
4 = Olympus E-620 either single lens kit 14-42mm for £555 .... or the twin lens kit which adds a 40-150mm lens for £649
theres probably 1 or 2 others that have come to my attention.. but amongst all the reading and trawling the net.. i have forgot...
SO,,, whats choice u reckon? :)
A few weeks ago I was in the same position as you. I had spent ages reading reviews and checking information and narrowed it down to a few cameras. I just could not decide which was best - and everyone on the various forums all had their own opinions.
In the end I went into Jessops to handle each of the cameras - and that's what was the deciding factor...
In the end I went into Jessops to handle each of the cameras - and that's what was the deciding factor...
Seconded. All these are equally good choices, so unless you need a specific feature exclusive to one of the models, it comes down just how much you'd enjoy using one over the other.
Yep, get to a shop and grapple with the cameras you're thinking of. That'll let you know what size & ergonimics fit best with you.
Also, I wouldn't bother* with Oly or Sony, but do consider the Pentax & Canon offerings.
mikegray
23-07-2009, 22:13
If it helps, Peter Walnes has a second hand 450D in at the moment for £345 including a spare battery. I've not used them myself but photographer friends say they're fine.
http://www.peterwalnes.com/component/option,com_virtuemart/page,shop.browse/category_id,122/Itemid,1/
That would leave you £150 to get a lens?
AdminSpod
24-07-2009, 11:13
Do you really have to buy right now? Could you save for that D90 you really want?
You have already expressed that as a preference - how long would it take to save the extra £350?
Alternatively how about a Nikon D5000? It is about £600 with 18-55 VR lens but there's £50 cashback at the moment - although that does take a few weeks for Nikon to send out.
Yep, get to a shop and grapple with the cameras you're thinking of. That'll let you know what size & ergonimics fit best with you.
Also, I wouldn't bother* with Oly or Sony, but do consider the Pentax & Canon offerings.
bah - the Olympus e620 is fabulous :razz:
seriously Olympus are worth considering: especially if you don't want to spend a fortune on lenses. The zuiko kit lenses are excellent value.
Chivalry
24-07-2009, 22:14
More choices. . . Went jessops to have a looksee . . general concensus in the shop after i mentioned my choices of the 450d , the e620 , pentax and sony a700 . . . Was that the a700 was in another class compared to the other 3, but now im thinking my 2 10 year old cheap lenses just wont do the a700 justice so in gonna need to buy a new lens anyway :( . . . so may as well go all out and get the a700 with the 16-105 lens thats meant to be amazin . . BUT . . . now im up to the price of the D90 with the 18 - 104 vr lens , also meant to be amazin . . Oh bugger . . . So now its lookin like the d90 or the a700 . . .Decisions decisions . . :)
Unfortunately it's catch 22 - once you have extensive experience of photography, you'll be more sure of the manufacturer that you'd prefer.
For instance, I love available light work, which at the moment is dominated by the high-end Nikon bodies. Sadly, I'm entrenched in the Canon system and I've no way of moving across.
Someone who likes a smaller body would be better suited with the Oly kit (and they do VERY good quality lenses too - Zuiko r0xx0rs!, but they're not strong on primes).
Canon has an extensive range of primes (which I love).
I believe Pentax gives you more pro features than the other brands at a lower price bracket (I think you get better weather sealing than the equivalent model for instance).
If you had more information on what type of photography you prefer, then people might be able to recommend a system that it's worth investing in (not a body - this would be with a view to growing into the system).
That said, you can get by with any system and they're all extremely capable - you get way more for your money these days, but there's enough difference to make pros (like Radiohead) invest huge sums of money swapping from one system to another because of the benefits.
And of course, over time the manufacturers will leap-frog each other on features, which complicates things!
Edit: Digital SLRs aren't forgiving of older SLR lenses. I chose Canon because I had a couple or three lenses from my old EOS film gear. It turned out that only the prime was worth using on the DSLR - the other lenses were glaringly flawed once I used them for digital. If you're going to be swayed by your old system lenses, then try and find some reviews of them on line and see what people really think of them.
seriously Olympus are worth considering: especially if you don't want to spend a fortune on lenses. The zuiko kit lenses are excellent value.
The Zuikos are considered by many (me included) to include the best quality lenses across the board of any system. There isn't a single average mid-level and high-level Zuiko, either. All are exceptionally good.
The other benefit of going with one of the Olympus options is that the kit lenses work perfectly on the Micro Four Thirds cameras with the appropriate adapter, giving a a versatile system overall.
The combined weight of all FIVE of my 'standard grade' Zuikos (9-18mm, 14-42mm, 40-150mm, 70-300mm and 35mm macro) comes to less than 1.5kg
Additionally, Four Thirds is the only system that gives a choice between image stabilised bodies and image stabilised lenses.
I agree Four Thirds doesn't have as many prime options as others, but the primes that are available are stunningly good, from the Zuikos, to the Leica's and even a couple of the Sigmas.
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