New SLR before holiday

[Conanius]

Last year I did a thread about buying a new SLR camera. We never got round to buying one, and now with our 70-300 lense on the blind well and truely, and a new holiday booked for September we need to get this sorted.

We've seen a package on Jessops that appears ok, and is the right sort of thing for what we want.

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/85580/show.html?cm_re=Home-_-Rotate3-550dtlk-_-060712

£550 quid delivered for a 550d, and then two lenses - 18-55mm DC Lens and a Canon 75-300mm DC Lens

Those are the lenses that we'd like (well, 18-55 and 75-300 at least..) and my wife would ideally like another Canon camera.

Features we want is the HD movie (this one apparently does 1080p) and those two lense sizes.

Budget? We'd consider going up to say, £700 if we would get significant benefit over the above.

Interested to know how fair that deal above is, and if any one would recommend other options up to that £700 price.

 

[theheyes]

I would have a look at the 600D if you intend to use it as a video camera. It has a few extra goodies in that department.

 

[Conanius]

I would have a look at the 600D if you intend to use it as a video camera. It has a few extra goodies in that department.

Ok thanks, in real terms from anyone who has used both cameras, what are the differences?

 

[Phal]

650D has even more video stuff but you'd have to buy the version with the 18-135mm STM kit lens which is a bit dearer

Was about £730 ish from ******* when I got mine

 

[James J]

I'd look at this from digitalrev if you fancied doing video.

Top package here has a Canon EOS 600D with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens Kit + EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS + EF 50mm f/1.8 Mk II + Sandisk 8GB SDHC Ultra II + DigitalRev CityTraveller 200 for £664.55 inc del.

 

[theheyes]

Ok thanks, in real terms from anyone who has used both cameras, what are the differences?

Flip out screen and manual audio level adjustment are the two main things I recall from memory. It will be worth a little extra for the screen alone IMO.

 

[Conanius]

I'd look at this from digitalrev if you fancied doing video.

Top package here has a Canon EOS 600D with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens Kit + EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS + EF 50mm f/1.8 Mk II + Sandisk 8GB SDHC Ultra II + DigitalRev CityTraveller 200 for £664.55 inc del.

That looks pretty decent, cheers for the tip. Am I allowed to ask in here what our old SLR might be worth?

 

[pecnarf]

600d can record at a higher frame rate at 720p than what the 550d.

 

[Schizophonic]

Talking about video, you know the focus is manual only and not auto like many P&S

 

[JRJ]

Ive got a 550d but running magic lantern firmware which brings a whole host of new features if you wanted to keep the outlay down!

 

[An Exception]

Talking about video, you know the focus is manual only and not auto like many P&S

This.
For capturing family videos I preferred used a TZ10 than my 550D.

 

[Conanius]

For us the reality is we don't want a million and one difference devices. Photos are the primary desire, but video would be a great bonus.

I'd imagine if we put this magic latern firmware on the camera it will invalidate the warranty?

 

[Vertigo]

I don't know which exact model of the 75-300 it is but none of them are up to much to be honest. I think the 55-250 would be a far better bet for the telephoto.

There's also very little info on the kit lens. The picture suggests it's not the IS version, despite every 550D kit I've seen coming with the IS lens.

I'd be careful if I were you. Personally I don't trust Jessops as far as I could throw them.

 

[Conanius]

Thanks for the update Vertigo, long time no speak !

I like the idea of the 600d, do you have any thoughts on the deal offered from digitalrev further up the thread?

 

[Vertigo]

The packages on DR do look good value. They're effectively a grey-import retailer, which is how they keep the costs down, which means the warranty isn't valid in the UK, but they say they'll pay for any repair costs which would normally fall under the warranty.

To be honest I've heard a lot of good things about DR so wouldn't be too worried about dealing with them. As for what to get, I'd certainly recommend either a 550D or 600D together with the 18-55 IS kit lens and the 55-250 telephoto. Which exact package you go for depends on which body you want and what other bits you need

 

[James J]

To note, my girlfriend bought her nikon J1 from DR and the service they offered was brilliant. Really cannot fault the company at all and if you get hit by customs charges, they'll refund you them in full without any fuss.

 

[Trojan]

Whilst the video on the 550D is really good quality, I find the manual focusing to be a pain. I also find that the noise made when focusing is picked up in the video and as such can be distracting, unless you're going to overlay a soundtrack on it.

 

[Phal]

Continuous autofocus on the 650d hehe although its far from being just like a camcorder! It's definitely easier than manual focus though!

 

[Energize]

Also consider the D5100 with 18-55mm + Tamron 70-300mm or used Nikon 70-300mm for £708. Flip out screen, continuous AF and much better sensor than the Canon cameras. Modified firmware also removes video recording time limit.

 

[Phal]

Also consider the D5100 with 18-55mm + Tamron 70-300mm or used Nikon 70-300mm for £708. Flip out screen, continuous AF and much better sensor than the Canon cameras. Modified firmware also removes video recording time limit.

Didn't think it had continuous video AF but after a little reading it does although it's apparently a bit sucky.

Much better sensor than the Canon cameras? All of them?