Reccomendations for Christmas.

[machineman9]

My mum has agreed to look into a new camera for me this Christmas.

I currently have either an old (and semi-broken) Olympus which is only good for zoom, but otherwise requires a very good natural set-up to take a good photo, or my phone's camera which lacks zoom but does some quite nice macro focus shots.

I know you are likely to say "get the technique right before getting the camera" but I have been practising for quite a while... Just my olympus is point and click, so I am hoping for something with good automatic functions but that could also allow me to practise and enhance my skills too.


I have been currently looking at 2 in particular:

Nikon D40 -

[MWISimmer]

My first, and only advice to you is try, try, try... Make sure the camera store you try at thinks you'll be buying from them. Ask them if you can take pictures with the cameras you're interested in. Take a CF or SD card in with you, take a few pics with your card, take it home and view them on your PC. If they refuse ask them why.

You wouldn't buy a car without taking it for a test drive...

[beaky]

My first, and only advice to you is try, try, try... Make sure the camera store you try at thinks you'll be buying from them. Ask them if you can take pictures with the cameras you're interested in. Take a CF or SD card in with you, take a few pics with your card, take it home and view them on your PC. If they refuse ask them why.

You wouldn't buy a car without taking it for a test drive...

Good advice. If they don't have floor models available for demos, go somewhere else.

[machineman9]

Yeh, my mum and I are going into town at the weekend, hopefully this Saturday, to Jessops or somewhere and test them out.  Just really trying to find out which of those is the better choice, and if there is anything else I should look out for whilst I am there.

[Hagar]

I would read some reviews first & check on the specs. Omag can give you links to a good review site. A lot will depend on which sort of photography you're interested in.

I don't know anything about NIkon cameras. I've heard the lenses are expensive compared with the Canon equivalents. Canon has a far better range of compatible lenses.

Edit: One thing worth mentioning is that I am named, by my sister, as the shaking photographer. Any stabalising on those?

From a quick punt around I found the image stabilising is in the lenses on both cameras. The 18-55mm kit lens supplied with the Canon 1000D is IS. I read this was done to compete with another entry-level DSLR (might be the latest Olympus) with image stabilising in the body. Again, it will depend on the type of photography but I'm not sure IS is necessary for this type of lens.

Take a CF or SD card in with you, take a few pics with your card,

The Nikon D40 takes an SDHC card. The Canon 1000D will accept either SD or SDHC. Quite honestly I don't know the difference.

[Mictheslik]

IMO I'd give the 1000D a miss.....If you can stretch to it go for the 450D, but if not, get a cheap 400D. It's a great camera, with equivalent specs to the 1000D but cheaper now the 450D is out

You could even go for a second hand 20D for 300 quid.

Bare in mind that the D40 has a curious autofocus system which means it wont work with older Nikkor lenses, whereas the canon will work with the whole EF and EF-S range. I echo the sentiments about trying stuff out....

Also remember that for aviation you'll probably need more than the 18-55 (which isn't a brilliant lens anyway) and this will set you back at least another 70 quid (for a cheapo 75-300)

.mic

EDIT: Having seen the recent post....

by all means try stuff out at Jessops but it's probably not the best idea to buy from them......I've seen lenses that cost

[machineman9]

450D is pushing it on the price by a long shot.

Any reason why to avoid the EOS? My 10x magnification Olympus seemed pretty good at airshows, so if it is anything like that (and with a higher MP) then I think it would suit me. Lenses and attachments can come as they are needed.

[Hagar]

450D is pushing it on the price by a long shot.

Any reason why to avoid the EOS?

Make sure you know your facts before going to the shop. EOS refers to the lens fit. The Canon 300D, 350D, 400D, 450D & 1000D are EOS cameras. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_EOS

[machineman9]

450D is pushing it on the price by a long shot.

Any reason why to avoid the EOS?

Make sure you know your facts before going to the shop. EOS refers to the lens fit. The Canon 300D, 350D, 400D, 450D & 1000D are EOS cameras.

I was just using EOS to differentiate the Canon and the Nikon. But fair do's... what are the bad points to the 1000D?

[Mictheslik]

450D is pushing it on the price by a long shot.

Any reason why to avoid the EOS? My 10x magnification Olympus seemed pretty good at airshows, so if it is anything like that (and with a higher MP) then I think it would suit me. Lenses and attachments can come as they are needed.

All I'm saying (and this is entirely my opinion) is that given the choice between the 1000D and the 400D I'd go with the latter.....it's cheaper and the specs are pretty much the same (if not slightly better).

Here's a good comparison.....all the 400D is lacking is live view, which tbh is not the greatest feature in the world.....the 400D also has 2 more AF points


.mic

[Hagar]

what are the bad points to the 1000D?

I'm not qualified to answer that. The 1000D is very new & I don't know anyone who's tried it. From what I understand it's a "bitzer" incorporating parts & features from the 350D, 400D & 450D. One reviewer describes it as "depending from which angle you look at it, the new model is either a stripped down 450D or a 'reheated' 400D."

You might like to read a few reviews. http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=canon+1000d+review&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B3GGGL_enGB255GB256&aq=t

[Omag 2.0]

Sorry I missed this thread, but here I am...  ;)

www.dpreview.com for camera-reviews

www.photozone.de for lens-reviews

The Nikon is a pretty old cam nowadays, the 1000D is newer and does have a higher pixelcount. The D40 can't take all sorts of lenses. You need the versions with a build in focusengine. Most manufacturers do produce all their stuff with onboard autofocusengine nowadays, so that disadvantange is disappearing. But I'm not sure if you can allready find every prosumer-lens adapted for you camera. Prosumer lenses are less expensive and probably the first type that will appeal to beginning photographers or people on a budget...

My idea? Try to find a 1000D or 400D package with the EF-S 18-55 IS and EF-S 55-250 IS lenses. Be VERY sure they are the version with IS ( stabilisation), because the former non-IS versions aren't any good really. The IS-copies get good reviews and will suit most people.

Another tip... try to check the prices of lenses and accessories for the system you choose. In the end, your camera-body will be replaced from time to time, but lenses will stay. So, if you choose Canon/Nikon/Olympus/Pentax/Sony, you'll probably stick to Canon/Nikon/Olympus/Pentax/Sony in the future. Be aware of that, as some types of lenses aren't available for certain manufacturers, or there might be huge price-differences...

Take the famous 70-200 L - line from Canon. 4 type, starting at

[machineman9]

Ah, that would be what the 'IS' stands for.

One question, can you explain that 'focus points' bit? You said the 400D has 2 more focus points (It has 9), but what does that mean?



Also, just looking at Canon EF-S attaching lenses, atleast on Jessops, there are only 2! Surely that's not right?

[Mictheslik]

The amount of points in the viewfinder that the camera uses to autofocus on....

EF-S lenses are designed only to work with digital SLRs whereas EF lenses work with both Film and Digital

.mic

[machineman9]

Ah right.

Amazon, at the very least (just for purposes of checking) has plenty of those then.