wanting to buy a dslr

BradsDad · #1 (**permalink**) 08-09-2008, 05:51 PM

hello all
i am wanting to buy a dslr and have been looking at the canon 450d at the moment i am using a panasonic lumix fz18 (which is a great camera). my main photography that i do is wildlife (animals/insects/flowers/fungi etc) and was wondering what lenses i would need without spending an absolute fortune.
any advice would be much apreciated.
thanks
rob

pressld2 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-09-2008, 07:53 PM

Hi BradsDad,

For the insects/flowers/fungi I shall be the first of many to recommend the Sigma 150mm macro. An absolutely outstanding lens! The 105mm and the 180mm versions get a lot of praise too but the 150 seems to be the favourite as it gives you slightly more working distance than the 105 and is a wee bit lighter than the 180mm.

For birds and mammals you would ideally want 400mm or longer. Many people speak very highly of the "Bigma" - the Sigma 50-500mm zoom and going by the results they post to the gallery I can see why.

Dave P.

Jim Ford · #3 (**permalink**) 08-09-2008, 08:00 PM

I do a lot of low level macro work and the articulating live-view screen on my Olympus E3 is absolutely indispensable - I would now never buy a camera without one.

Try taking a shot of a bog orchid with the camera level with the bog, without actually lying prone in the bog to see through the view finder. Or, shooting a pendulous flower, up at an angle of 45 degrees with the camera body at ground level, without having to excavate a 2ft hole for your head to get behind the view finder!

Jim

wildlifesnapper · #4 (**permalink**) 08-09-2008, 08:49 PM

Hi

Far better to use a right angle viewfinder adaptor, more precise for manual focussing for macro work.

neil

Jim Ford · #5 (**permalink**) 08-09-2008, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildlifesnapper

Far better to use a right angle viewfinder adaptor, more precise for manual focussing for macro work.

Ermm, far worse! You have the choice of x7 and x10 zoom magnification on the E3, which is more than enough for precise manual focussing. A right angle finder still requires you to get your head down to the camera, which is frequently not convenient.

BTW, I've got a right angle adapter for sale with various eyepiece adapters, if anyone wants one. It's a generic Chinese one.

Jim

Meta menardi · #6 (**permalink**) 08-09-2008, 10:27 PM

Having recently done this, my advice is:

Get a short list based on what you want to spend, what lenses you have and ehat you want to use the beast for.

Check out all the possible candidates on your short list.

Prat about on the internet for all you can find about the short list.

Have a good think.

Get some comments from this site.

Go back to the internet and read whatever else you can find.

If by then you have a winner, buy it and be prepared for a lot of reading. Otherwise go back to the beginning and start again.

You make your own decisions. I made my purchase and am now working hard to make it do what I want. I know it will do what I want, I just have to work towards what I want.

And don't get rid of the camera you have that works for you.

RobSutton · #7 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

Having recently done this, my advice is:

Get a short list based on what you want to spend, what lenses you have and ehat you want to use the beast for.

Check out all the possible candidates on your short list.

Prat about on the internet for all you can find about the short list.

Have a good think.

Get some comments from this site.

Go back to the internet and read whatever else you can find.

If by then you have a winner, buy it and be prepared for a lot of reading. Otherwise go back to the beginning and start again.

You make your own decisions. I made my purchase and am now working hard to make it do what I want. I know it will do what I want, I just have to work towards what I want.

And don't get rid of the camera you have that works for you.

Sound advice - the only thing I'd add is to try and handle the one you choose for real. It's funny how certain cameras just seem to fit your hands well whereas others seem to have all the bits in the wrong place - and it's different for everyone.

Hobjob · #8 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 11:27 AM

The pansonic Lumix fz18 is great camera, with a great lens.

I have a nasty feeling that unless you are prepared to pay
tiwce what you pay for the body of the Canon 450 on lenses
you may be dissapointed.

ellen h · #9 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 01:25 PM

I have recently bought an olympus e520,I had a panasonic fz18 before that.I have kept the panasonic because as you say its a great little camera,but must say I am pleased with the oly.
Main reasons I got it were-a/weight,b/price. It is much lighter than other dslrs and the price I paid for the body and kit lens was probably as much as you would have to pay for a lens only with other makes.
I recently invested in the 70-300mm lens and am already getting good results,steep learning curve I agree but enjoying it !
Of course has been said before its a case of finding the "right" camera for you.
these photos were taken with the new lens,they are also in the gallery.
ellen

Jim Ford · #10 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellen h

I recently invested in the 70-300mm lens and am already getting good results,steep learning curve I agree but enjoying it !

I don't want to appear too critical, but Olympus 70-300mm lens users are getting far sharper images than those shown above. It's considered a remarkable lens for the money - sharp, light and compact.

Jim

wildlifesnapper · #11 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

Ermm, far worse! You have the choice of x7 and x10 zoom magnification on the E3, which is more than enough for precise manual focussing.

Jim

Not much good for a Canon though

neil

jacqui · #12 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 03:51 PM

You don't say how much you are looking at spending. Personally I wouldn't be without my 100-400 lens for wildlife photography, but it costs over £1000 (which may be too pricey?).

Jim Ford · #13 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildlifesnapper

Not much good for a Canon though

When Canon have a model with live view with a fully articulating screen, I might consider one.

Jim

BradsDad · #14 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 04:25 PM

Thank you for all of your replies they are very informative and appreciated.
i have decided to go back to the drawing board and give it alot more thought.
i will let you know which dslr i choose.
thanks
rob

ellen h · #15 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

I don't want to appear too critical, but Olympus 70-300mm lens users are getting far sharper images than those shown above. It's considered a remarkable lens for the money - sharp, light and compact.

Jim

Thats ok Jim,blame it on the person behind the camera. It still doesnt detract from the fact I find the camera very good.One day I will no doubt get to be a better photographer,as I said I am on a learning curve.Practice makes perfect eh?
ellen

Kayleigh · #16 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

I don't want to appear too critical, but Olympus 70-300mm lens users are getting far sharper images than those shown above. It's considered a remarkable lens for the money - sharp, light and compact.

Jim

You cheeky oeoeoeoeoeoe..She's not had the camera that long..She will be better than you one day

I think ellen's pics really good.

nightshade · #17 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 05:05 PM

Sigma 150 macro and a Kenko pro 1.4 converter

Jim Ford · #18 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

You cheeky oeoeoeoeoeoe..She's not had the camera that long..She will be better than you
.

I hope so. She won't have to get very good to be better than me!

Jim

wildlifesnapper · #19 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Ford

When Canon have a model with live view with a fully articulating screen, I might consider one.

Jim

To be honest I don't think canon or nikon will bother with such a gimmick.If they were that good they would have done one ages ago.

neil

Jim Ford · #20 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildlifesnapper

To be honest I don't think canon or nikon will bother with such a gimmick.If they were that good they would have done one ages ago.

Olympus lead with live view, Canon and Nikon followed. They'll do the same with an articulating screen.

Jim

DavyG · #21 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildlifesnapper

To be honest I don't think canon or nikon will bother with such a gimmick.If they were that good they would have done one ages ago.

neil

If I recall correctly, Canon and Nilkon users said the same thing when Olympus introduced their dust removal system, both manufacturers have now introduced similar but less effective systems.

I may be wrong, but didn't the same users also called Live View a gimmick when Olympus introduced it into it's DSLR range?, I believe both manufacturers now use it.

Articulating screens will be introduced by both manufacturers within two years, wait and see.

I chose my first Olympus DSLR because of the dust removal system, almost 3 years later none of our 4 Oly DSLRs have ever had a dust speck show on the sensor, I'll stick with their system for a while yet I think.

Dave

bjb · #22 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 09:52 PM

buy a nickon d60 kit u wont be dissapointed

Meta menardi · #23 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavyG

If I recall correctly, Canon and Nilkon users said the same thing when Olympus introduced their dust removal system, both manufacturers have now introduced similar but less effective systems.

I may be wrong, but didn't the same users also called Live View a gimmick when Olympus introduced it into it's DSLR range?, I believe both manufacturers now use it.

Articulating screens will be introduced by both manufacturers within two years, wait and see.

I chose my first Olympus DSLR because of the dust removal system, almost 3 years later none of our 4 Oly DSLRs have ever had a dust speck show on the sensor, I'll stick with their system for a while yet I think.

Dave

From what I have seen in other posts, dust doesn't seem too much of a problem if you are careful. As a relative starter with this, is this a fair comment, and to help the thread starter, what system works well?

pressld2 · #24 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 09:53 PM

I guess that whether you view these things as gimmicks or not depends on how much you make use of them.

I never use the dust removal system on my Nikon D300. Admittedly this is mainly because it doesn't work! But I'm perfectly happy with the visible dust sensor brush so I'm not bothered and wouldn't care if my next Nikon body didn't have this feature.

Similarly, I have never felt the need for an articulating screen. I did buy a zig-view for my D70 but this was so that I could hold the camera over my head at rock concerts to get above the crowd and the D300's live view lets me do that. And that is the only use I have found for live view so far. I've had the camera since early Feb and the only time I have used live view was for Eric Clapton in Hyde Park. When I was taking low-level shots of sundew on very water-logged ground at Thursley I just got wet knees and elbows.

So for me they do seem a bit on the gimmicky side and wouldn't influence my choice of camera. But I can see that others may use them much more than I do and may therefore view them in a very different light.

Dave P.

DavyG · #25 (**permalink**) 09-09-2008, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

From what I have seen in other posts, dust doesn't seem too much of a problem if you are careful. As a relative starter with this, is this a fair comment, and to help the thread starter, what system works well?

I would hesitate to recommend a system to anyone, the choice is down to so many variables.

The Olympus dust removal system works well, the 2 x crop factor is useful in widlife photography and the ZD lenses are excellent.

All of that said, Olympus is the only DSLR system I've owned and used, I've seen excellent results from other systems.

All I'd advise is do your own research, get hands on with as many systems as you can, then make your decision.

I wouldn't go too much on internet forums reviews, most of the sites are supported by the main manufacturers!

Dave