Digital Photography

Originally Posted by linco

350D bodies can be got new for around £400 if you look hard enough.

Yeah but for an extra £100 you can get a 400D and an EF S 18-55m Canon lens

Save your money and buy DSLR. There can be no comparison made between this and a high end compact. With the exception to that rule being the Sony R1 with its superb glass. But thats all all.

I agree, I bought a Panasonic FZ30 8mp compact (bridge camera) with a 12X Leica lens which set me back a fair bit of cash. But I found it just wasn't responsive enough for sport photography and also I wasn't always getting what I thought I should be getting from my photos. Don't get me wrong it was a great camera capable of producing great images but if you are more into photography than just being a snapper you really need an SLR.

I sold my bridge camera within 4 months and bought a Nikon SLR and have not looked back since.

Originally Posted by Jdubya

Yeah but for an extra £100 you can get a 400D and an EF S 18-55m Canon lens

Totally right. That lens gets bad reviews from most but when you're talking lens you get what you pay for and thats what happens with this lens. Its not a bad lens considering its price. The USM is a touch better but only in terms of its focusing motor.

And once you get hooked, do what I did and buy L glass. It will outlast a budget DSLR body many times over.

Good luck whatever you do!

Dunno about your theory on the lens...for the type of shots most people take that is a pretty good lens. I think the only people who would notice the difference between L Glass and your run-of-the-mill lenses would be pros...and for the money you're paying for it, unless your camera pays your bills I dont think its worth it.
Just my 2p worth.

Originally Posted by Jdubya

Dunno about your theory on the lens...for the type of shots most people take that is a pretty good lens. I think the only people who would notice the difference between L Glass and your run-of-the-mill lenses would be pros...and for the money you're paying for it, unless your camera pays your bills I dont think its worth it.
Just my 2p worth.

Well i'd disagree. To an extent. I bought a 70-200m f4 L USM lens to replace my EF 100-300 f4.5-5.6 USM. The step up in speed and image quality spoke for itself. Now in fairness I do alot of motorsport photography so I seen it as an advantage. I'm not saying that the consumer lens arent up to mcuh because you are right when you say that that kit lens will suit most people.

I remember shooting my kickboxing event with a friend just for the experience. I HAD to borrow his 20D body and his 17-40mm f4 L lens. If I'd used my 350D and my kit lens, i wouldn't have got one shot to keep

But its horses for courses as you have said.