Need your advice before I do something stupid

Tobes · 7 Sep 2007 at 21:55

Why hallo thar,

I just started college. 3 years late but at least I'm the guy who can drink in the student bar

I'm taking photography and I need a camera. Now most people would spend £150 on a camera and be done with it. But sadly... I like to get the best I can and something that will last. So I started looking at SLRs. I then had to look at the best Canon camera on OcUK. The 400D.

Some questions.

Am I being stupid in thinking of buying this?

If no, is buying second hand cameras (auction sites etc) OK?

What else would I have to purchase along with the camera? Spare batteries. case, lenses etc.

Thanks people,
Tobes

alexisonfire · 7 Sep 2007 at 22:07

Tob3z said:
Am I being stupid in thinking of buying this?

No. It all depends what you want from a camera, basically put, a compact is a highly versatile camera in a variety of different situations, with the cost of losing quality and usability. An SLR provides the best usability and quality available, but they cannot be adapted to the same amount of various situations a compact can, without spending a considerable amount of money. Bridge cameras are pointless.

Tob3z said:
Am I being stupid in thinking of buying this....on OcUK.

Yes.

wez130 · 7 Sep 2007 at 23:11

in your situation, i'd be looking for a used 30D, now the 40D has been released there can be some bargains to be bagged for the price of a new 400D, and the 30D is a much better camera - not that the 400D is crap because it simply isn't, it's great, just the 30D is better

Cookie-Monster · 8 Sep 2007 at 09:02

there are a couple of devoted photography forums that have pretty active classifieds,

I just picked up a couple of sweet lenses for my 5D on them and prices can be very competetive on there.

also there are a couple of very reputable Ebay sellers and also some grey importers that are very competetively priced as well.

Cant go into much detail on these forums as they would class as ocuk competitors but feel free to drop me an email

[email protected]

Tobes · 8 Sep 2007 at 12:54

alexisonfire said:
Yes.

Yeh I had a quick google and realised I could get it for a whole lot less.

That's the thing really. Compact camera bore me and just don't get the results I want. I have never used a SLR but I would assume it has some nifty tricks and should get me the results I want.

30D better than the 40D. How come?

Cheers Cookie Monster. Will drop you a email later

wez130 · 8 Sep 2007 at 13:02

no, the 30D is better than a 400D

It's designed more than an entry level dSLR body aimed at enthusiasts and semi-pro users.

Tobes · 8 Sep 2007 at 13:13

Ahh sorry. I assumed you were using Camera talk lol.

Looking on a auction site at listings ending very soon. The 30D seems to be out of my price range. I think £400 is the highest I can go for a camera and suitable lens.

iBot · 8 Sep 2007 at 14:36

How old are you? Wheres there a student bar if no one else can drink?

Tobes · 8 Sep 2007 at 14:39

I am 19 years and 3 quarters old. You mean "why" is there a student bar. I guess because of people like me who messed up 3 years of their life and have to go to college lol. Nah I would assume the 2nd years are probably 18.

Mikharper · 8 Sep 2007 at 23:25

I took photography at college, and at the beginning of the first year had the Canon A80. 3 months in I bought the 300D and right now I'm going to say yes get one, definatly.

It will last you for years, the IQ is a lot better, its quicker etc all the usual plus points over a p&s.

Where it really shone over other classmates cameras was when I could use the colleges lens', they had 3, all canon (60mm macro being my favorite) but no canon slrs, film or otherwise. The longer shutter speeds helped for the photography I wanted to do, external flash also (I got the Sigma) high usuable ISO, - which has only gotten better in the newer 400D/30/40D.

My highest IQ lens at the time, and still now, was the 50mm f1.8 - a good quality print from that totally blew away my photography teacher (who was naff, but that's not the topic here)

Bit of a ramble, but once you go black you'll never go.. um, back to a P&S me thinks.

sean · 9 Sep 2007 at 00:22

Tob3z said:
That's the thing really. Compact camera bore me and just don't get the results I want. I have never used a SLR but I would assume it has some nifty tricks and should get me the results I want.

If you generally enjoy photography as a hobby you'll get a lot out of a digital SLR. The learning curve's pretty gentle, photo tutorials are freely available online and you can always ask here for advice.

Have a play with Canon's 400D and Nikon's D40 and D40x in a highstreet shop. They're the current entry-level cams from the "big two" and well tbh you can't really buy a 'bad' DSLR nowadays.

wez130 · 9 Sep 2007 at 14:52

Tob3z said:
Ahh sorry. I assumed you were using Camera talk lol.

Looking on a auction site at listings ending very soon. The 30D seems to be out of my price range. I think £400 is the highest I can go for a camera and suitable lens.

I've seen a few 30D's go for less than £400 in the last few weeks, watch them all flood onto ebay now as lots of people will be upgrading to the 40D, honestly, some people have more money than sense