Hi guys, I know a few of you are rather knowledgable when it comes to cameras, so I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice about cameras
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MWUAHAHA another dslr camera noobie fiend such as i!!
The one i've decided upon was the Canon 400D but if you're only looking up to 6megapixels i think the Nikon D40 might be a better option simply for the value. The one thing that the pros have told me is that the Camera doesn't matter too much, the lens is where it's at. I started off with a sub $1000 price line for the camera and lens i want, but i think that's slightly unachievable with the 400D being ~$900 w/o lens. I've read the kit 18-55mm lens is also worth replacing asap (so i'm steering clear of that bundled kit).
I would suggest you look at the kind of photography you're interested and trying to find camera and lens that best suit that.
Atm i'm trying to find the most bargain decent lens, and i'm after something with lowish f-stop and wide angle focal length so the 17-70 Sigma f2.8-4.5 is what i'm after, and then going to try and find a zoom lens later.
They say teh price of the lens shows you exactly what you are getting. the more expensive the much higher quality everything about it will be. Check out the 2nd link i posted to find a lens that will suit what you are after, and there are 3rd party lens makers like Tamron and Sigma that make cheaper but still decent lenses to rival 1st party Canon and Nikon ones.
I'm not sure how achievable sub $1000 AUD will be, but i wish you luck!! I think my list is something like this: Camera body Lens(es) Memory Card Extra Battery (perhaps)
Thanks for the advice, looking at the Digital SLR Guide you mentioned helped a lot! I've had a good look around now, and now I'm leaning more towards the Nikon D40X and the Canon EOS 400D (yeah, I might as well pay a little extra for 10 megapixels). I'm planning on heading out to the shops tomorrow to see what they're like first-hand.
As for lenses, I'll just go with the kit lenses for now; I can always buy alternative lenses at a later date if I'm not happy with the quality.
The other camera you could look at would be the Sony Alpha A100, It has a lot of features in the camera itself and is able to accept old Konica Minolta lenses. It has built in Antishake for the body meaning all the lenses you attach will thus be antishake unlike the 400D and Nikon where you could end up paying another $300 for antishake per lens. The A100 also has a $200 cashback offer til january sometime so if you're REALLY on a budget it could be the way to go, espes with being able to ebay the old minolta lenses and use them perfectly well.
I found both those sites useful but the slr guide one very useful in cutting through all the information to find what I specifically should be getting rather than just wanting every lens out there XD
Additionally if you want the Canon 400D and don't mind the kit lens. quikshop online has the 400D plus standard 17-85mm lens and zoom 75-300mm lens AND a 2gb CF for $1232. Throw in another $50 or so for the shipping and you'll be getting it in less than a week?
I went off to JB Hifi and Camera House and got a few quotes today. JB were offering kits for $1100 with both the standard and zoom lenses for the Canon 400D, so I'm planning on going back to buy it on Thursday. =)
I haven't seen a kit with both lenses for a better price online, and a number of the places I've seen selling them don't seem to offer extended warranties. So yeah, I think I'd be better off buying it from JB.
wow i didn't really think JBs would give such a good deal! Just wondering does it come with a bag? I keep thinking that's something i need in the back of my head.
I had almost given up on the thought of asking around town for prices since people have told me stores won't match online prices, but you just gave me the motivation to try in anycase!
Is the extended warranty with the manufacturer or JBs?
Yeah, I was pleasantly surprised! I'd gone in expecting to be all "Hi, can I look at your cameras? Great! Thanks! I'll just ...er... go home and buy them online. Kthxbye!"
They do sell bags at JB; they were about $70 each. I think the warranty was through JB, though I'm not 100% sure.
The one i've decided upon was the Canon 400D but if you're only looking up to 6megapixels i think the Nikon D40 might be a better option simply for the value.
The one thing that the pros have told me is that the Camera doesn't matter too much, the lens is where it's at.
I started off with a sub $1000 price line for the camera and lens i want, but i think that's slightly unachievable with the 400D being ~$900 w/o lens. I've read the kit 18-55mm lens is also worth replacing asap (so i'm steering clear of that bundled kit).
I would suggest you look at the kind of photography you're interested and trying to find camera and lens that best suit that.
Check out this page for general DSLR information
and this page for help in choosing camera/lens
Atm i'm trying to find the most bargain decent lens, and i'm after something with lowish f-stop and wide angle focal length so the 17-70 Sigma f2.8-4.5 is what i'm after, and then going to try and find a zoom lens later.
They say teh price of the lens shows you exactly what you are getting. the more expensive the much higher quality everything about it will be. Check out the 2nd link i posted to find a lens that will suit what you are after, and there are 3rd party lens makers like Tamron and Sigma that make cheaper but still decent lenses to rival 1st party Canon and Nikon ones.
I'm not sure how achievable sub $1000 AUD will be, but i wish you luck!!
I think my list is something like this:
Camera body
Lens(es)
Memory Card
Extra Battery (perhaps)
Reply
As for lenses, I'll just go with the kit lenses for now; I can always buy alternative lenses at a later date if I'm not happy with the quality.
Reply
The A100 also has a $200 cashback offer til january sometime so if you're REALLY on a budget it could be the way to go, espes with being able to ebay the old minolta lenses and use them perfectly well.
I found both those sites useful but the slr guide one very useful in cutting through all the information to find what I specifically should be getting rather than just wanting every lens out there XD
Reply
quikshop online has the 400D plus standard 17-85mm lens and zoom 75-300mm lens AND a 2gb CF for $1232. Throw in another $50 or so for the shipping and you'll be getting it in less than a week?
Reply
I haven't seen a kit with both lenses for a better price online, and a number of the places I've seen selling them don't seem to offer extended warranties. So yeah, I think I'd be better off buying it from JB.
Reply
Just wondering does it come with a bag? I keep thinking that's something i need in the back of my head.
I had almost given up on the thought of asking around town for prices since people have told me stores won't match online prices, but you just gave me the motivation to try in anycase!
Is the extended warranty with the manufacturer or JBs?
Reply
They do sell bags at JB; they were about $70 each. I think the warranty was through JB, though I'm not 100% sure.
Reply
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