help needed which camera please

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by mh68

Nah Rich,just the cock-eyed photographer (sloping horizons are my specialty )

Mark H

that'll be all the newcastle brown

seriously tho - you might want to look at getting one of those little spirit levels that clip onto the hotshoe - they are only about a tenner

[mh68]

Originally Posted by eeyore

this one on the other hand really shows how you do it



I'd stress that this isnt mine - its Rob Ts i merely found it in our Gallery - he doesnt say what lens he used but he does record that he had to comando crawl 150 yds to get the pic - which is what i meant about field craft

Yep Pete, thats a fine example of fieldcraft at its best, hats off to Rob for such a great shot

Mark H

[Geoff F]

If I may be so bold as to give Trampas45 a quick update on my finances along with my recent camera history, it might hopefully help with the original question.

I started digital photography with a Canon Powershot G2 which I bought secondhand for £350. It was a useful camera and I took some reasonable photos (still use it occasionally), the price has dropped amazingly and quality has become even better. The screw on optional teleconverter made a lot of difference but you have to use the viewing screen to eye up the scene, which can be a problem in sunny weather.

Wanting something better, I bought a secondhand Canon 10D with a Sigma 28-300 lens for £500. I soon regretted this lightweight cheap lens so eventually purchased a new Canon 70-300 IS. Image Stabilisation is invaluable for those slower shutter speed shots. This is a good general purpose lens but I am finding it isn't quite long enough for what I now require and won't take a converter. Currently, I have been saving up for a bigger lens, haven't fully decided yet but expect to pay around £1000 to get what I want.

Unexpected expenses with my self employed business have meant a delay but my mortgage will be paid off next month and I will get a very small personal pension soon. So, for me, a £1000 lens isn't easy to acquire but rushing in and getting the wrong equipment works out even more expensive.

I agree with the comments about multiplication factors of P&S cameras but, once again, repeat that I am amazed at the quality of my friend's Panasonic, especially considering he prints with no editing using a very basic printer.

What I'm really trying to say is that it actually works out cheaper to wait a while and get exactly what you need. There are good P&S cameras around now but my advice would be to take your time and look for a good secondhand 'real' camera then get additional lenses as required, but once the equipment bug bites you, expect to keep buying more gear.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

So, for me, a £1000 lens isn't easy to acquire but rushing in and getting the wrong equipment works out even more expensive.

Thats certainly true and it is definitely worthy saving up for the right gear if you are serious about photography as a hobby.

I'd just point out that long glass doesnt have to cost a grand - the sigma 170-500 (which ive used for the last 3 years) goes for about 400 notes new - and is frequently seen second hand for under 300 , while the sigma 50-500 is arround 600 new circa 400 second hand. Both are good lenses tho they lack IS which is useful but not essential.

if you must have image stabilisation the sigma 80-400 OS goes for arround 800 new - not many second hand examples arround as this is a fairly new lens , while both the canon 100-400IS and the Nikon 80-400VR although over a grand new can be found second hand in mint condition for under 800 notes
checkout camtech and mifsuds for example (web addys easily found via google)

Also the Pentax and Sony DSLRs have anti shake built into the bodies which while not as good as the lens based image stabilisers will go someway to helping get a decent pic - the downside of these systems tho is that it can be more difficult to get third party lenses for them as they are in less demand

[Geoff F]

At the risk of wandering away from the original question; I've been researching lenses for several months and the Canon 100-400 is currently being discussed on this forum. From the independent reviews (if there is such a thing) Canon lenses are rated above Sigma and Tamron but none of these 'cheaper' large lenses get high praise. That is reserved for those in the £3000+ range, which is a tad above what I intended to pay.

I did consider a Sigma but as I already have a Canon 1.4x converter and an extension tube I am thinking more about the Canon 100-400 IS which I can get for £976 or the 400 prime which doesn't have IS but at this size we are really looking mostly at tripod shooting anyway. One other factor is that I want the lens for both distant work (birds etc) and close ups (insects etc) so this limits the choice.

Last week I got a little present from Ernie, so now that he knows where I live he may be a little more generous next month and price won't matter anymore.

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

At the risk of wandering away from the original question; I've been researching lenses for several months and the Canon 100-400 is currently being discussed on this forum. From the independent reviews (if there is such a thing) Canon lenses are rated above Sigma and Tamron but none of these 'cheaper' large lenses get high praise. That is reserved for those in the £3000+ range, which is a tad above what I intended to pay.

I did consider a Sigma but as I already have a Canon 1.4x converter and an extension tube I am thinking more about the Canon 100-400 IS which I can get for £976 or the 400 prime which doesn't have IS but at this size we are really looking mostly at tripod shooting anyway. One other factor is that I want the lens for both distant work (birds etc) and close ups (insects etc) so this limits the choice.

Last week I got a little present from Ernie, so now that he knows where I live he may be a little more generous next month and price won't matter anymore.

Have you looked at the Sigma 120-300mm F2.8? It's one that I'm seriously considering. I've seen some extremely positive reviews on it, sharp at all settings, plus takes converters very well, even the 2X gives excellent results. This means you've the possibility of a 600mm F5.6, at a fraction of the cost of a Canon 500/600mm, plus the added flexibility that a zoom lens gives. It's also "reasonable" in the weight department, being "only" 2.6kg, this compares very favourably when looking at any other F2.8 alternatives.
It should also be pretty good for insects, with a minimum focus distance of 1.5-2.5 mtrs, especially if you've got a 1.4X or a 2X TC on it.
I'm almost sold on it myself, I'm even going to be carrying a bit of extra weight on my Sigma 50-500mm, to see if I can manage the extra.

[GerryNick2]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

Last week I got a little present from Ernie, so now that he knows where I live he may be a little more generous next month and price won't matter anymore.

I got a present from the Lottery this week, problem is difficult to find a decent lense for £10.

Gerry

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by GerryNick2

I got a present from the Lottery this week, problem is difficult to find a decent lense for £10.

Gerry

lol you could probably get a canon 18-55 efs for that on ebay mind you you did say a decent lens so may be not

[Dae]

If I may be so bold as to suggest a point and shoot for a solution, if you're comfortable with "commando crawling" as these guys put it, then I'd suggest a Fuji Finepix S series. They're not exactly compact, but they get excellent reviews and many models will fit into the budget.

I've got a Fuji Finepix S7000 and I adore it. I still use it to this day for macro photography where I just don't have the lenses to do this with my Canon DSLR. You can get this camera and a load of accessories from Amazon.

Hope you find what you're looking for, and good luck!