First DSLR advice

Ac1dh0u$3. · 25 Jan 2012 at 08:50

Hi there,

I'm about to pull the trigger and buy myself a camera and lens..

I've been looking for a while and have decided that now is the the time.

I've settled for the mean time on a Canon 600d (£470, its a grey import from digital rev) and a Tokina 11-16mm lens (£470 odd from the same place).

I will mostly be looking to take photos of landscapes in low light, and was just wondering if there's any reason why I shouldn't buy this combo?

Thanks in advance

dangermouse425 · 25 Jan 2012 at 11:14

One point to note on grey imports, I don't believe that Canon will fix them under warranty in the UK.

I bought a 600D with kit lens for my first DSLR, it's a fantastic camera, relatively simple to get to grips with, but plenty of room for "expansion" once you're comfortable with the basics and beyond. Though I'm definitely buying a wide-angle lens in the near future for landscapes.

~£1000 on your first DSLR though is quite steep, have you considered getting something like a 550D with kit lens or a Nikon D3100? Could save you a few pennies without losing too much capability.

sbi5ar · 25 Jan 2012 at 12:33

dangermouse425 said:
~£1000 on your first DSLR though is quite steep, have you considered getting something like a 550D with kit lens or a Nikon D3100? Could save you a few pennies without losing too much capability.

Whilst £1000 is steep half of that is on a lens... He could quite easily just the the body and a cheap kit lens for £500(ish).

Beepcake · 25 Jan 2012 at 12:50

dangermouse425 said:
One point to note on grey imports, I don't believe that Canon will fix them under warranty in the UK.

I bought a 600D with kit lens for my first DSLR, it's a fantastic camera, relatively simple to get to grips with, but plenty of room for "expansion" once you're comfortable with the basics and beyond. Though I'm definitely buying a wide-angle lens in the near future for landscapes.

~£1000 on your first DSLR though is quite steep, have you considered getting something like a 550D with kit lens or a Nikon D3100? Could save you a few pennies without losing too much capability.

DR have an excellent reputation and have UK "operators" to handle repairs.

As for £1000 being steep, half of that is the lens, and I'd imagine the fold out screen will be useful when shooting landscapes on a tripod etc.

Ac1dh0u$3. · 25 Jan 2012 at 18:09

Thanks for the advice guys, so do you think I'm spending too much on the camera or the lens ?

£1000 is my budget and I've tired to spread it out even on a camera and a lens, not sure if this is the correct way to go about it

Prehaps theres another way to go about it ?

Does anybody have the 600d and Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8 combo ? and can comment on it ?

fadetoblack · 25 Jan 2012 at 18:24

Why don't you buy the camera first and then fiddle with it and use the lens kit.
When you get good/better buy the upgraded lens?

Ac1dh0u$3. · 25 Jan 2012 at 18:32

the money is burning a hole in my pocket so to speak lol, I see what your saying and it makes sense

Just dont know what to do, looking at some of the sample pictures taken with the lens and its exactly the sort of thing I want to do

Beepcake · 25 Jan 2012 at 18:37

Ac1dh0u$3. said:
Thanks for the advice guys, so do you think I'm spending too much on the camera or the lens ?

£1000 is my budget and I've tired to spread it out even on a camera and a lens, not sure if this is the correct way to go about it

Prehaps theres another way to go about it ?

Does anybody have the 600d and Tokina 11-16mm F/2.8 combo ? and can comment on it ?

If you can afford it then you're doing the "right" thing of spending money on decent lenses, rather than spending your grand on a 7d and using a kit lens

My only question would be whether you need such a fast lens for mainly landscapes, might be worth popping a question on the PoTN forum to see if there are any slower but optically excellent lenses people recommend.

42zx · 25 Jan 2012 at 18:45

Prices sure have gone up since I got my Nikon D7000-18-105mm kit for £950 at Jessops in October. I'd say you have the right combination there for landscapes under £1000, although you save even more money by getting the 550D seeing as the only major difference between that and the 600D is the tilty screen, which I've never felt I need for landscape shots, only low down perspective shots.

ShakenNstirred · 26 Jan 2012 at 08:47

there is also the Nikon D5100(same sensor as the D7000)
they can be had for £595

Alpherah · 26 Jan 2012 at 08:50

Tokina have announced an improved version of their 11-16 lens due for release shortly, might be worth while waiting for this as its better, or so you can pick up the original cheeper.

=XDC=FluphyBunny · 26 Jan 2012 at 11:06

I would add a decent tripod to your purchase, maybe a Manfrotto 055XPROB as even with a fast lens you will find a need for it.