View Full Version : Any good?
Looking at getting into photography as a (serious) hobby. Came across this, but wondered if it is any good?
http://bit.ly/13x6Ikx
Price drop to £296 in the cart.
Thanks for any advice.
Tom
In general you'll find two camps. Canon and Nikon; owners of each will tell you why they are so much better than the other but at the end of the day they are all pretty good. Personally I'm in the Canon camp. I had a 350 which was OK and changed that for a 30 which was a much better bit of kit.
Typically the kit lens that comes with these is not going to give you the best results but will still give you the opportunity of taking much better pictures than any point and click camera. However unless you have an eye for a good picture, spending £1000 on a camera will still give you the same mis-framed, poorly constructed garbage that you can get with a point and shoot, but possible better focussed.
If you have the chance to get a second hand "better" camera you'll get better results than a new "OK" camera but obviously it'll come at a risk. If you get a camera "body only" chances are you'll get a better deal as it takes a bit more effort to go and buy a lens so will put some buyers off. You can get a reasonable sigma or tamron 18-200ish lens for about £150 which will give you loads more flexibility than the standard kit lens without spending loads.
If you want to come have a play with mine at some point let me know so you can get a feel for what's going to make a difference to you before you spend the money.
I'm sure someone more expert than me will be along shortly to declare me an idiot but I'm very happy with my set-up and it cost me less then the equivalent new kit (450d) at the time.
I found this site particularly useful when looking for stuff. http://www.dpreview.com
Go to a good camera shop and play with the Nikon and Canon. Find out which one is best for you, and what is more intuitive.
joshwalker094
02-03-13, 09:13 PM
I love 10 ways :D
Littlepeahead
02-03-13, 09:29 PM
Mark. You're an idiot. Only kidding. You are right. Kit lenses are adequate when you start. But it's a slippery slope to spending a lot of money. I'm a Canon user. If you can pick up a second hand 30d and a decent lens you won't go far wrong. Someone Nikon can give you the equivalent in Nikon terms.
MPB photographic and London Camera Exchange websites are worth a browse.
Thanks Mark, may come and have a play with your.........camera sometime.
Yes I will be popping into the shop on the high street in cambo on wednesday Job.
Of course Josh :) very useful!
Littlepeahead
02-03-13, 09:32 PM
And I can recommend this guy for a fun, informative selection of courses.
http://www.photographycourses.org.uk/about.php
I got my 30d from LCE in the strand for a stupid price. Was a good price as a kit, told them I didn't want the lens and they went stupidly cheap on the body and gave me a 3 month warranty. They even gave the sensor a good clean after I found a few spots on it a few weeks later. Batteries cost bugger all from 7dayshop.com.
I see, looking at seperate lenses and bodies does seem cheaper. Thanks for the heads up LPH, found some local that i may be able to go look at aswell!
A quick search shows up these which may well be worth a look at.
Am I right in saying all canon lenses go with all canon cameras? (will do a google search and read some of the mags my dad got me in the meantime)
Body - http://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Used/Canon-EOS-400D-Body-only_69318.html
lens - http://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Used/Canon-EF-S-55-250MM-IS_69260.html
With canon, fewer digits = better. XXXd = OK, XXd = much better, Xd = daft expensive
First digit = how old it is. Probably want at least a 3 or 4.
Depending on what you think you'll be taking pics of, go for a wider lens with a smaller zoom. you can always crop for zoom later. ie, 18-200 will be far more useful to you than 55-250.
Littlepeahead
02-03-13, 09:58 PM
You have to take into account sensor size as on a 30d the lens size isn't what it sounds like and I can't be ar$ed to type it all up. So er, pm me your mobile number if you want me to explain and I'll give you a call tomorrow.
You have to take into account sensor size as on a 30d the lens size isn't what it sounds like and I can't be ar$ed to type it all up. So er, pm me your mobile number if you want me to explain and I'll give you a call tomorrow.
Sorry out riding my motorsickle tomorrow :) will have a read up and if i get stuck will give you a shout :) Muchos Grassyarse LPH!
Sorry out riding my motorsickle tomorrow :) will have a read up and if i get stuck will give you a shout :) Muchos Grassyarse LPH!
You have a bluetooth headset you can use ;) LPH knows her stuff when it comes to cameras! Better than a salesman trying to make a sale and pitch across things that are crap
Littlepeahead
02-03-13, 10:16 PM
Evening is fine or Monday. Just let me know if you need any info. Simon can give you my number.
Evening is fine or Monday. Just let me know if you need any info. Simone can give you my number.
It's the weekend, i've corrected his name for you :smt040
With the smaller sensor on the 30d you end up with something like 1.6x the effective focal length of the lens. Or basically anything over about 250mm is going to be like a telescope. 18-200 on a 30d will cover most usual stuff. If you want to go super-long or super-fast you'll need to do a lot more homework before you spend your money because you're going to be spending a lot of it.
Littlepeahead
02-03-13, 10:31 PM
I spent a lot of money. But my lens is longer and faster than Simone on a weekend ride out. It also performs better in low light.
But my lens is longer and faster than Simone on a weekend ride out. It also performs better in low light.
Si, you have something you want to share before LPH does?
Will be doing mainly still and nature photography to start. May move onto some moving stuff, possibly at a track day or something but once I have played for quite a bit. Will be the sort of thing in the photo a day thread. That's what has mainly got me thinking as some of those pics are awesome!
Littlepeahead
02-03-13, 11:06 PM
For wildlife a 70-300 is best to start with. Unless you've got a spare grand to buy a second hand 70 - 200 L series f2.8 with image stabilizer. I'll be bringing my one to AR if you want a play.
Ill check the bank, but i doubt it! I would love to play with your camera at the AR :)
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