What to buy?

Mr.Orb

Mr.Orb

Mr.Orb

Soldato
Joined
12 Nov 2004
Posts
2,527
Location
Bath
I am going to be buying a SLR in the next few weeks and the following items I have on my list to buy:
Canon 400D Kit
LowePro Mini Trekker AW Backpack (probably)
SanDisk CompactFlash 2 GB Extreme III (will get a second later)

I just need some buying advice/help with some more bits and bobs.

Lens...
I will mostly be taking photos of landscapes and other out door ‘stuff’. I will also be going to New York in march, so my question is what lens should I get? I have a budget of around £200 (not much :( ).

I have seen the following:
Canon EF 28-105mm 28-105 f3.5-4.5 Mark II USM UK

SIGMA 18-50mm F3,5-5,6 DC + 55-200mm F4-5.6 DC

Canon EF 55-200 mm f4.5/5.6 USM II

Any of these good? Can anyone recommend something different?

UV Filter
I read these are pretty good at protecting the lens, I have seen a Hama one for £13. Is it that cheap because its rubbish?

Cleaning equipment
Are these Rocket Air Blower things any good for getting dust of the lens and sensor? What other cleaning equipment would you recommend?

Tripod
Not got much of a clue when it comes to these, don’t really want to spend more than £50. Remember it will be used outside.

Think thats everything I need.

Cheers :)
 
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From what you describe you'll want a wide lens :) You can get the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 for £220 which is very highly rated.
 
Agreed, replace the kit lens with a Tamron 17-50 2.8. Maybe even dont buy the kit lens if you can help it.
 
If you want to do landscape and urban photography you will need a wider lens than the ones you have listed. The Sigma 10-20 (around £300) and the Canon 10-22 (around £400) are both very good lenses for this type of photography but both are over £200 new and don't that often come up 2nd hand.

Rather than getting something else I would save up to buy one of the above. I would be very tempted if I were you to check out the prices in NYC as the US pricing is normally good and the £ to $ exchange rate is very good at the moment.

UV filters are an argument that will go on from now until you leave for NYC in March. So people swear by them, others don't. Personally I only use one if I know I will be getting peppered in something like mud.

The Velbon Ultra Luxi F is the perfect travelling tripod but is found closer to £70. A lot of people on here (me included) got one for XMAS so you will here a lot of good stuff about them at the moment :D Again, I would save up for that rather than get something cheaper.

Most people use Eclipse cleaning solution and Pek Pads or Sensor Swabs to clean the sensor.
 
Tamron 17-50 f2.8 or Sigma 18-50 f2.8.

Both weigh in a little over the £200 mark, but are worth the extra. I think most people tend to favour the Tamron.
 
Having trouble finding the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 for a good price.

I have found a Sigma 17-70mm F/2.8-4.5, and a Tamron AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 are these going to produce some good results?

Might just bite the bullet and buy the 17-50 if not. :(
 
Mr.Orb said:
Having trouble finding the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 for a good price.

I have found a Sigma 17-70mm F/2.8-4.5, and a Tamron AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 are these going to produce some good results?

Might just bite the bullet and buy the 17-50 if not. :(
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The Sigma 17-70mm F/2.8-4.5 and Tamron AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 both change aperture where as the Tamron 17-50 is f2.8 through out the range so will perform better.

I think you should try out a camera in a high street store (can't mention names due to forum rules) and see if 17 is wide enough for you before parting with cash. You may find 17 isn't wide enough. This is why I own a Sigma 10-20 and a Canon 17-40 L.
 
^^Gord^^ said:
The Sigma 17-70mm F/2.8-4.5 and Tamron AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 both change aperture where as the Tamron 17-50 is f2.8 through out the range so will perform better.

I think you should try out a camera in a high street store (can't mention names due to forum rules) and see if 17 is wide enough for you before parting with cash. You may find 17 isn't wide enough. This is why I own a Sigma 10-20 and a Canon 17-40 L.
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Yeah, we have a few camera stores here, already tested the 400d in one. So it shouldn't be a problem testing a lens.
 
Ive never seen a Tamron 17-50mm for £220 :confused:

I've wanted a Tamron as its had smashing reviews but cant find it in stock. Theres a new lens from Sigma I'm interested in. The Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC MACRO. I cant find any reviews for it however :(
 
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Matt said:
Try looking harder :)
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Awww!! It's the lens I want next!! I'm on nightshift just now so I am going to dedicate the next 7 hours to finding it! Checked all the usual places and cant see it there :( Most places seem out of stock for the Canon fitment too :(
 
number41 said:
Awww!! It's the lens I want next!! I'm on nightshift just now so I am going to dedicate the next 7 hours to finding it! Checked all the usual places and cant see it there :( Most places seem out of stock for the Canon fitment too :(
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I have been searching for hours, no luck yet :(
 
Found it. But that place is in Hong Kong so you'll get charged VAT, Import tax, postage, etc on top I would have thought. Best I can find is £275 so I'm sticking to that figure as being best :p
 
number41 said:
Found it. But that place is in Hong Kong so you'll get charged VAT, Import tax, postage, etc on top I would have thought. Best I can find is £275 so I'm sticking to that figure as being best :p
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7. Do I have to pay any import charges when I receive my package?

The prices you pay do not include VAT and import duty. Your government may charge you import tax and duty. If you are asked to pay such charges, please pay these charges and we will reimburse you in full. Please refer to our "VAT Free" Guarantee for more details.

If you have any queries on any custom issue, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you in any way.

8. What is "VAT Free" guarantee?

We offer "VAT Free" guarantee on all of our products for FREE, meaning we guarantee that you will not have to pay any import charges (namely import duty, courier handling fees, VAT and GST), i.e., DUTY FREE. If you are asked to pay import charges when you receive your package, please pay for these charges as requested and send the original VAT receipt to us. We will then reimburse such charges upon receiving the receipt. We would like to remind our customers to make a photocopy of the receipt before posting the original copy.

This VAT Free guarantee is only available for orders shipped to the United Kingdom at the moment.
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;)
 
Lol that will teach me for not reading properly :p I've just ordered it from there and the money I saved I have just spent on a 50mm 1.8 too :D
 
I love these threads.

1. The OP asks for advice, people point OP in various directions.

2. Other people come along and are lead like sheep to the checkout with their credit cards at the ready.

3. OP still hasn't decided.

4. 15 people buy the recommended product.

5. OP wonders why the lens isn't in stock anymore.

/where's my credit card.... :p
 
:D I've been after the tamron for a while now but was going to leave it for a bit until the price came down. God damn the person who pointed out they were £220. Night shifts are bad for buying stuff, I'm easily swayed!
 
^^Gord^^ said:
The Velbon Ultra Luxi F is the perfect travelling tripod but is found closer to £70. A lot of people on here (me included) got one for XMAS so you will here a lot of good stuff about them at the moment :D Again, I would save up for that rather than get something cheaper.
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Found one for 59.95, you can get some real bargins if you hunt around :D
 
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