DSLR's

[elephino]

The trick with a UV filter is to spend up pretty big. There are some where the image through the filter is higher quality than without (though these are the expensive end). You'd be looking at about $100 for a good quality one. Cheaper ones can give ghosting under some circumstances, but it's not always the filter that causes that. And as mentioned above, it can save the lens and you should get all the protection you can get.

The 18-55/55-250 kit lenses are at the lower end of the quality range, the 18-135 is a better choice (and there's nothing wrong with the 18-200 but it depends on what you want to use it for).

[rayray086]

Hey Mac, I haven't read all the replies in this thread so hopefully I don't sound like a broken record.

The 600D is plenty good for the beginner DSLR user, I'd go for the 600D over the 650D mainly because it'll be cheaper. I started with a 450D and I learned in no time; Canons are really user-friendly and provides an easy learning curve for the beginner. I moved on to a 1000D for a while and although it was a lesser model compared to the 450D, I still found it great to use and more than capable for the amateur photographer. If you're short on money, I'd recommend the 1100D. The best thing about DSLRs is that you can start a collection of lenses and when you feel you've progressed, you can just upgrade the body. I've went through about 4 camera bodies so far and I'm using a 60D now - I'm no professional, and probably the only big feature that I use on the 60D is the high ISO, otherwise I could still use the 1000D and still be happy with it.

My opinion is to buy a second-hand body and second-hand decent zoom lens, maybe a Tamron or Sigma 17-50mm, Sigma 17-70mm or a Canon 15-85mm. I've been having good experiences with buying second-hand; the only new item I have in my collection is my 430EX flash and camera bag, everything else is second-hand. Maybe since this is your first DSLR purchase you'd want to go new, that's fine.

Edit: Oh, and I shoot without UV filters. If you take care of your camera and lenses and maintain them, a hood is more than enough to protect the front element from mishaps.

[Cookie28]

Thanks for all the replies again guys another option just opened up to me and that is that my cousin has just gotten a new camera and has offered me their 450D for next to nothing so I'm thinking it would be better to get that and then spend some more on lenses and upgrade the body at a later date.

If I do this I would probably look at getting the 15-85mm that Adam suggested and a 50mm prime. I probably wouldn't brought looking to spend too much more on the lenses initially but I am more than open to suggestions from the more experiend photographers on here

[McDub]

Amazing photography.

Cheers
Actually just updated with photos from Laos

[epicmac]

My 450D body with a couple of accessories is on ebay...
eBay Australia: Buy new & used fashion, electronics & home d

[rayray086]

Thanks for all the replies again guys another option just opened up to me and that is that my cousin has just gotten a new camera and has offered me their 450D for next to nothing so I'm thinking it would be better to get that and then spend some more on lenses and upgrade the body at a later date.

Perfect!

[Stan]

recently bought a 650d myself - awesome camera

a big part of the dslr is the imaging sensor
650d is the later digic 5 where the 600 is a digic 4
if you want even better pics you can step up to a full frame sensor like in the 7d, but for what most people shoot, it isn't really necessary.

good lenses are important. the larger the zoom range, the more of a compromise the lens is.
for example a 18 - 200 zoom wont give you the same image quality a set of lenses like 18- 135 and 135 - 200 would.
lenses with big ranges have the advantage of one lens for all, whereas a selection has the advantage of quality.

canon make nice cameras and lenses. where financially possible get the canon branded stuff, it's better. tamron are a pretty good after market alternative

where lenses with the biggest zoom ranges fall down a bit is at either end of the extreme, eg at the 18mm end and/or the 300 mm end.
whilst general quality overall is usually fine you run into trouble with large enlargements when the lens was working at one end of its limit.
The average photographer doesn't really need super quality, most just shoot snaps. If you do want a one lens for all occasions then stick with canon branded.

try the kogan Australia website of all places, quite possibly the single cheapest place in the universe for canon cameras and lenses. Got my 650d from there - backed with Aussie warrantee. Item does ship from Hong Kong though, via DHL.

The 450d would be a fine start

I was a photographer for the RAAF for about 8 years

[THE_EGG]

recently bought a 650d myself - awesome camera

a big part of the dslr is the imaging sensor
650d is the later digic 5 where the 600 is a digic 4
if you want even better pics you can step up to a full frame sensor like in the 7d, but for what most people shoot, it isn't really necessary.

good lenses are important. the larger the zoom range, the more of a compromise the lens is.
for example a 18 - 200 zoom wont give you the same image quality a set of lenses like 18- 135 and 135 - 200 would.
lenses with big ranges have the advantage of one lens for all, whereas a selection has the advantage of quality.

canon make nice cameras and lenses. where financially possible get the canon branded stuff, it's better. tamron are a pretty good after market alternative

where lenses with the biggest zoom ranges fall down a bit is at either end of the extreme, eg at the 18mm end and/or the 300 mm end.
whilst general quality overall is usually fine you run into trouble with large enlargements when the lens was working at one end of its limit.
The average photographer doesn't really need super quality, most just shoot snaps. If you do want a one lens for all occasions then stick with canon branded.

try the kogan Australia website of all places, quite possibly the single cheapest place in the universe for canon cameras and lenses. Got my 650d from there - backed with Aussie warrantee. Item does ship from Hong Kong though, via DHL.

The 450d would be a fine start

I was a photographer for the RAAF for about 8 years

+1 here.
I usually don't nit pick, but quite a lot of people mistake the 7d for having a full frame sensor. I believe the 5D is the 'lowest price' canon camera that has a full frame sensor.


I don't want to thread hi-jack but I am looking for a decent zoom lens. What do people think of the Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L USM? (Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L USM - Ted's Cameras). It would be mainly used on a 550D but it would also be shared occasionally with a 5D Mark II.

[rayray086]

+1 here.
I usually don't nit pick, but quite a lot of people mistake the 7d for having a full frame sensor. I believe the 5D is the 'lowest price' canon camera that has a full frame sensor.


I don't want to thread hi-jack but I am looking for a decent zoom lens. What do people think of the Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L USM? (Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L USM - Ted's Cameras). It would be mainly used on a 550D but it would also be shared occasionally with a 5D Mark II.

I think 5D is the only full frame DSLR in the Canon EOS range. The 1D is 1.3x crop.

I had the 70-200mm f/4L non-IS for a short period, sharp photos even at f/4, accurate focus though a tad slow. If your budget allows, get the version with IS. I had a hard time with it in average lighting, even though f/4 is pretty wide for this focal range. I just recently bought a Tokina 70-200mm f/2.8, so I'm keen to test it out and compare the experience with the Canon.

[AdamD]

Thanks for all the replies again guys another option just opened up to me and that is that my cousin has just gotten a new camera and has offered me their 450D for next to nothing so I'm thinking it would be better to get that and then spend some more on lenses and upgrade the body at a later date.

If I do this I would probably look at getting the 15-85mm that Adam suggested and a 50mm prime. I probably wouldn't brought looking to spend too much more on the lenses initially but I am more than open to suggestions from the more experiend photographers on here

Sounds like an absolutely ideal option to me. I would highly recommend the 450D as a starting camera - I had mine for 2.5 years before upgrading to a 7D, and it was an outstanding camera. Only issue I had was a fair bit of noise at higher ISOs, and that's where you can't beat a physically larger sensor (regardless of full-frame or crop).

I don't want to thread hi-jack but I am looking for a decent zoom lens. What do people think of the Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L USM? It would be mainly used on a 550D but it would also be shared occasionally with a 5D Mark II.

I owned the 70-200 f4 L IS, and loved it. A good mate owns the non-IS model and we did a number of shoots together comparing the two lenses (including one shoot doing A/Bs using the same body). Overall the results were extremely similar, although the IS did tend to produce the more consistent quality results. If you're keen on investing in a lens, I'd recommend you spend the extra coin on the IS model, unless the majority of your shooting is done on a tripod.

I think 5D is the only full frame DSLR in the Canon EOS range. The 1D is 1.3x crop.

Canon only sells the 1D-x these days, and that is full-frame (as is the 5D MkI - MkIII; the 7D is a 1.6 crop). In previous generations, the 1Ds was full-frame and the 1D was a 1.3 crop.