what to get from Santa??

[wrogers]

I am unsure what to get from Santa...

I have a list of several things...

Upgrade 400D to 40D
Upgrade my Sigma 100-300 F/4 for something bigger
Buy a macro lens
Upgrade 18-55 kit lens for a better one
buy a flash gun and off-camera cable

or save up for a second hand prime telephoto lens...

what do you think is the best idea??

I mean I have £400-500 to spend and kit to Part-Ex
however I have no idea what they are worth...

I have a 400D
18-55 kit lens
50mm F/1.8
Sigma 100-300 F/4 EX DG (slight light marks on front element but works fine)

what do I do???

I am tempted to save up for a secondhand sigma 300 F/2.8 or 500mm F/4.5
they are about £1000

time to check the bank account (to see if it has gone into administration!!!)


Will

[wrogers]

probably best to say that I mostly attempt wildlife, motorsport (hopefully to goodwood for my 18th)

and also general close up shots of fungi, moss, bark and other nature stuff.

Will

[tufftie]

Wrogers - I seem to remember my mum telling me what you ask for you don't get..so be careful!

[tufftie]

Personally - I want some bird and squirrel food...plus some plants / seeds Though the best thing is to spend it with family - gifts are but material items...time spent with family counts for so much more

P.S. - sorry thought this thread was in Treehouse...drunk on coffee!!!

[Geoff F]

If buying new, I would prefer the 40D but I wouldn't bother to change from a 400D to a 40D, unless there is something you are particularly unhappy about with your 400D. They are both good cameras.

I would definitely go for bigger glassware. Don't make a temporary 'best I can afford now' purchase. It always works out cheaper in the long run to wait and get the equipment which you really need.

[wrogers]

Tufftie:
just hope that the reindeer don't eat it)

as for spending time with family, some of my family members spend most of xmas asleep in front of the telly waiting for the queens speech which they inevitably miss!!!

as for me, it's time to persuade santa that his little elves can rob a bank in order to fund a 100-400 L!!!

or time to check the piggy bank, and then lots of websites for prices!!

I hope canon introduce cashback!!

erm, can anyone suggest good websites for new and 2nd hand equipment??

also what tripod would you reccommend for using a 100-400L in a hide all day??
(I am hoping to visit Gigrin Farm in wales to see the red kites, unfortunately I live in Suffolk, several hours away)
Currently I have a Manfrotto 190XDB + 390RC2 Head (bought in last xmas's promotion)


Thanks

Will

[Vectisbirder]

Prices should be a little better soon if, as they tend to think in the media, VAT comes down to 15%. A 2.5% drop isn't much, but as a certain supermarket chain's ads say, 'every little helps', so it should soon be a good time to buy stuff.

You could also hunt for secondhand gear as well, always worth a look. London Camera Exchange, etc, do a range of second hand stuff.

As for using a tripod in a hide, personally I think you'd be better off with a bean bag or a hide clamp. A tripod would be guaranteed to annoy others if it is a busy hide.

[cosmicma]

if you decide on a camera body skip the 40d and go for the 50d i know it's more expensive but the price is dropping all the time
i own both and i shoot wildlife mostly the 50d allows you to crop closer to the subject without too much loss ( you can never get too close to your subject ) besides that it's just a better camera

if your going for a lens consider the Sigma APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM it's an ideal lens for wildlife if canon prices are out of the question

link to a review
Sigma APO 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM: Digital Photography Review

as for a tripod for use in hides have a look at some hide clamps also get yourself a bean bag

miles easier than lugging a tripod about

edit..
vectisbirder beat me to the tripod bit

[wrogers]

Thanks for the help guys...

Vectis: true they are speculationg about VAT drops, but still 2.5% on a £600 lens is £15 towards other stuff!
LCE havent got much I like the look of, but i will keep checking

Cosmic: RE the 50D, true prices will drop, so maybe if I get cash from my parents...
as for the better camera bit, I have seen samples in 2 different magazines, and the ISO quality at 800+ has been poor, so the 12800 option seems pointless!!
however the other upgrades are tempting
as for the sigma, I had discounted that, but i will read around.

Tripod wise, I will keep my tripod and maybe get a beanbag/clamp if somebody moans!!

as for the kitty, it seems to be at the pessimistic/optimistic divide (half-way)

so should be Ok for new kit!!


Thanks

Will


edit: last note, is digiscoping practical on an slr??

[cosmicma]

Originally Posted by wrogers

Thanks for the help guys...

Cosmic: RE the 50D, true prices will drop, so maybe if I get cash from my parents...
as for the better camera bit, I have seen samples in 2 different magazines, and the ISO quality at 800+ has been poor, so the 12800 option seems pointless!!

you see thats the mistake people make it's what they've read about the 50d without actually putting it to the test themselves
most samples in magazines was done with early production models with a firmaware version of v1.0.1 the later 1.0.2 firmware revisions are significantly better with noise levels more or less matching the 40d and now they have released a v1.0.3 firmware revision to sort out some of the bugs that was inherant with the early models

another point do you use iso levels of 800 and above ?
i know i tend to limit myself to around 500 iso and the noise level is barely noticable
gotta admit though the 12800 iso is a joke totaly unusable