Camera Advise

[BAW0343]

Ok so here we go, in about a month im going to be buying a DSLR Camera and I would like some input.

[fighter25]

I like my Nikon D40 a lot. It has a 50 to 225mm lens. Don't know if it is standard though. $800 US

[Mictheslik]

I love my Conon 400D (probably the XLi in US)...I use it with the canon EF75-300mm F4-5.6 which you can pick up for

[Iwannabeapilot]

I like my Nikon D40 a lot. It has a 50 to 225mm lens. Don't know if it is standard though. $800 US

I love mine  8-) mine has the 18-55mm lense f/3.5-5.6 AF-S. The only catch with the D40 is that it has very limited lense compatibility. There are only a few models that will work with it  :(

[61_OTU]

I am saving up for a bit of L glass at the moment...possibly 100-400mm or just the 400mm ....gonna rent one for the air tattoo and see if I like it

Watch out for the crop factor, the smaller sensor will multiply the focal length on anything but the EF-S lenses.

A fixed 400mm will be........what......640mm  :o

You'll need to stand in the car-park to get them in the frame  ;D  ;)

Where can you rent lenses?

Steve

[F3Hadlow]

I am saving up for a bit of L glass at the moment...possibly 100-400mm or just the 400mm ....gonna rent one for the air tattoo and see if I like it

A fixed 400mm will be........what......640mm

[Mictheslik]

Where can you rent lenses?

I'm gonna ask at my local camera shop, as I know the owners very well, but if they refuse I'll pay Calumet for their weekend service...the problem is you have to put down a deposit of the full cost of the lens...luckily they take credit cards

.mic

[61_OTU]

I was on the crowdline at Breighton. Even that amount of zoom isn't enough for anything at RIAT bar straight and level passes and takeoff/landings really.

Ah....that's true, I keep forgetting that your 10D has the same crop factor......when are you going to upgrade to a 5D Steve?  ;)

[F3Hadlow]

I was on the crowdline at Breighton. Even that amount of zoom isn't enough for anything at RIAT bar straight and level passes and takeoff/landings really.

Ah....that's true, I keep forgetting that your 10D has the same crop factor......when are you going to upgrade to a 5D Steve?

[61_OTU]

People overestimate the value of having a super duper camera body, it's the lens that makes or breaks image quality, unless you're a pro you don't really notice the differences between two slightly different level DSLRs.

A fair point.......meanwhile this thread has become a bit Canon-centric. I really liked the look of the Pentax K10D, with all it's fancy weather seals and image stabilisation built in.....not sure what the US model/price is though.....

[BAW0343]

Thanks for the info, but so far it seems nobody has used the Rebel XLI. I was hoping to get some opinions about that.

As far as lenses, I'm aware that its the lens not the camera body that makes the shot. So where would I find a good lens and where would you guys recommend to look?

[Hagar]

Thanks for the info, but so far it seems nobody has used the Rebel XLI. I was hoping to get some opinions about that.

I can't find the XLi listed. http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=111

The orginal DSLR in this range was the Digital Rebel or 300D. Several forum members use it including Craig. I have the Canon 350D which is known in the US as the Digital Rebel XT. I'm very pleased with it but, as Heathaze points out, the lens is the important bit. I would have gone for the later 400D (Rebel XTi) if it had been available at the time.

One thing nobody seems to warn you about with DSLR cameras is the problem with dust on the sensor (dust bunnies). This can be a real nuisance, especially if you swap lenses several times during a session. Cleaning the sensor is tricky & not recommended for the faint-hearted. The 400D (XTi) is the first Canon DSLR to address this problem with the EOS Integrated Cleaning System including an automatic self-cleaning sensor that operates every time the camera is switched on. I don't know how successful this is. Perhaps Mic or other 400D users can tell us.

[Roughrider]

I have the XTI. I have had it for 4 months, One of the best things I have ever bought, but I am a Canon fan, I've been using Canon since 1980, without any problems, I read alot and asked all these guys in this forum (who are some great photographers), when I was trying to decide on what to by.  The XTI is what I got.
http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2 ... 1174700220

As far as dust, I have not had any problem with that, so I guess the cleaning system works. Steve and Doug are correct in the infomation about the len is where you want to put the money, in a few years you might want to get a new body with all the new advances that they will have by then, so it less expensive to get a new body that will work with all the lens you collect. Thats why I stay with the Canon lens. On where to find lens, there are alot of On line photo stores, that give alot of information. I found a lot of the stores in the back of a Photography magazine. Hope this helps, Mark

[Rifleman]

There is still an unmentioned line of D-SLRs ........

[Hagar]

[quote]As far as dust control, I have changed lenses many times over, by crouching down beside the runway, on the grass, and often put one lens down while switching the mount-cap between the lens from the bag and the one from the body.
I haven't had anything resembling dust on any image so far.....none which I have seen, and nobody here has mentioned any to me.