Simple(ish) photography question?

[MisterTommyH]

Is this a good deal?

Canon EOS 1100D + lenses

I don't know that much about 'advanced' photography yet. But from what I can tell this has a kit lens and a telephoto lens? Which are the two best starter lenses.

2 Biggest problems i see there Tom,
Its a Canon,
Its from Currys.

Surely they cant be the cheapest for cameras? have you considered buying a 2nd hand one?
For the same money you could pick up a good guranteed 2nd hand one from a dealer.
I subscribe to practical photography and there are dealers in there who specialise in pre owned stuff.

[MisterTommyH]

Can get the same price from Jessops with a bag, but the 70-300 lens wouldn't be Canon.

Isn't the whole Canon Vs Nikon argument a bit like curvies vs pointies? I have a sony compact, but have been told that to move up you should really be looking at one of the above makes.

Any links you can share?

Just to add confusion to the mix. Sony are apparently catching the other big two SLR companies. So if you're a sony fan...

try digitalrev.com and compare their prices.

Originally Posted by Tommy H

Isn't the whole Canon Vs Nikon argument a bit like curvies vs pointies?

The debate is moot, they are both good in their own right, there is nothing to say you can't swap later on although it can be expensive but as for one being "superior" its a non issue IMHO.

Personally I've always used http://camerapricebuster.co.uk/ since I discovered it, great for getting a feel for prices and trends of prices.

I'd say the deal looks alright, might be able to save some with shopping around but there is something to be said for the ability to walk into a shop and pick an item up or hand it back to a real customer service desk (even if you buy online) so that has to be weighed against a potential saving.

and +1 to the Sony comment BTW, heard a lot of positive things about them as a nice entrance. My only hangup with it is they are still the smaller player and there aren't quite as many accessories made. There are a lot of cheap chinese knockoffs of canon/nikon accessories which are perfectly serviceable but I don't remember seeing many Sony things, but that might just be because I haven't been looking I guess.

Second hand might be a cheaper entry into the DSLR world as people have said but I was apprehensive about buying second hand when I first started and don't regret spending on a new one even now, when I don't use it as much as I should I know I have a camera that still exceeds my requirements.

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by Tommy H

Isn't the whole Canon Vs Nikon argument a bit like curvies vs pointies? I have a sony compact, but have been told that to move up you should really be looking at one of the above makes.

+1 I agree with Brettus.

For the money its going to be far superior to your compact, plus your getting 2 lenses.

Last year Jessops were doing a similar deal on the Nikon 5000 as they tried to off load surplus stock before the 5100 arrived.

No such luck this year on the Nikon, but even so I'd still be happy with the Cannon at that price, which is what the Nikon bundle was going for last year.

Its better than the compact you've got

I got in on the Nikon D5000 with 2 lenses last year. Glad I did!
Looking up the price of a package deal against buying a single lens is a good idea. I wouldn't have bought the 2 lenses at their retail prices, but I was happy paying a little extra for the camera and getting it all together.

Try it!!!! If you like it, fair enough. If not find something else.
I went in to the shop already knowing what I was after but I tried the Canon equivalent as well just in case. Compare pictures.

[stormingjoe]

Go to Jessops, handle the cameras, I had, Canons better for smaller hands/fingers, Nikon better for pudgy hands. You can get real good deals at mo. I am using Nikon D5000/40 as got pudgy hands(had Canon film cameras before) my first digi was an Olympus C2500l first consumer slr/bridge digi camera.

P.S As an after thought try and get a kit with vr/image stabilizer, god send with the longer telephoto


Podgey on a bike

[jambo]

As above, I have an old EOS 400d, which is in every way less advanced than the 1100D you're looking at now.

I clubbed together with my sisters and bought my dad the 1000D a couple of years ago and he's loved it.

Try a Nikon and Canon, one will feel slightly more natural I suspect. The other consideration is whether any of your mates already have cameras of a certain type. I've got a few good friends with Canon gear, and it's meant I could borrow an item from them, or loan one so we don't all have to own everything we might want. For an item that's used infrequently this can be brilliant.

There is, of course an argument that an older, higher-spec body can be had for the same money as a new base model. And that's true, but you then consign yourself to ages of learning camera histories, which can be exceedingly tricky. Then you need to buy the camera (with no guarentee, usually) and hope that it will be reliable, and that they older interface is as easy to get on with as the one you tried in the shop.

I, for instance, have always bought 2nd hand bikes. More bang for your buck, certainly, but I've never owned a bike with a warrently and been lucky only one, exceedingly cheap one was a dog

Jambo

[ophic]

Bought the 1100D for my mrs for xmas. I'm no expert on modern cameras but it seems to do everything you could possibly want, + a lot more.

They build a lot of features into entry-level SLRs these days. I was once quite experienced with old 35mm kit, and none of my old cameras did a tenth of what this one does.

So ummm... it's really good. And use quidco for a few pennies back.