£300 budget. Panoramic and landscape views.

RoboCod · 11 Mar 2006 at 10:25

Hey,

Ive posted in the wanted section that Im looking for a 300D. Ive been doing a little research and believe this to be the best camera for my travels. I am going around several hiking areas around the UK this year and would like a decent camera to take nice detailed and colourful shots of the landscape and sky. I just want to be sure this camera will be best for this. Of course the £300 budget would only get me a used model and my photography skills are still at the "dont have a clue" stage but after a little research I see this as the best camera to get started.

Would you recommend this camrea or could I do better? What lens should I be looking for? Anything else I should know/be wary of?

Many thanks

CP

SDK^ · 11 Mar 2006 at 10:29

The best (only) wide lens that will fit into budget is the Canon 18-55mm Kit lens. Don't expect super sharp images but for the money (under £100) it's superb.

fearby · 11 Mar 2006 at 11:43

SDK^ said:
The best (only) wide lens that will fit into budget is the Canon 18-55mm Kit lens. Don't expect super sharp images but for the money (under £100) it's superb.

I'd also reccomend the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II as a sharp lens which is good for landscapes. Some examples here:

http://www.pbase.com/cameras/canon/ef_50_18ii

Sleepyd · 11 Mar 2006 at 11:45

Captain Planet said:
my photography skills are still at the "dont have a clue" stage but after a little research I see this as the best camera to get started.

The 300D is a good starting camera as is the 10D.

Captain Planet said:
Would you recommend this camrea or could I do better?

The 10D and 350D would be more flexible, with landscape shots I doubt you would see much difference when using the 300D and you'd be paying £100 more for the 350/10Ds.

Captain Planet said:
What lens should I be looking for?

As SDK^ says, the kit lens is the only wide one within your budget.

Captain Planet said:
Anything else I should know/be wary of?

Hyperfocal distance / Depth of field

Try to use the camera before and become familiar with its operation. When I used my 300D in auto mode it often selected F3.5-F5, which isn't a good setting for the kit lens. The kit lens is best at F8, so I would keep it set at that in bright conditions.

RoboCod · 12 Mar 2006 at 00:35

Thanks for the advice. Are there any decent photography forums about?

RichDay · 12 Mar 2006 at 10:00

Captain Planet said:
Thanks for the advice. Are there any decent photography forums about?

This one? LOL!

RoboCod · 12 Mar 2006 at 10:22

RichDay said:
This one? LOL!

har har

Im looking at lens filters. Will the 55mm hoya's fit fine on the lens I get with the camera? (18 - 55)

Sleepyd · 12 Mar 2006 at 10:49

The kit lens is 58mm

themask70 · 12 Mar 2006 at 11:04

tbh, i think that the Canon 350D is a pretty good beginners camera, it is the one i started off with in december. probably the kit lens will do for wide angle shots. i found a great photo stiching program which is totaly free, it works like a charm. just open your pictures and it will do the rest to create great pics. go to http://www.cs.ubc.ca/~mbrown/autostitch/autostitch.html to download it.

hope this helps.

Have fun!