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Buying equipment
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I have been doing some photography for sometime off and on, more off than on. Some time ago my Camera was stolen….I am now in a position to buy some new equipment the point is I dont know where to start. Cannon is my make of choice and I have about ?2000 to spend over the next few months. What I would like is if someone in the know would advise on what to get etc…This need not be new equipment!
Hi and welcome Tommy. If you’ve got about 2000 to spend you can get some very good kit. If Canon is your choice of weapon you could pick up a eos 350d (8.2mp)new or used with two lenses. You could also consider the eos 30D (8.2mp) If you could consider the new Sony A100 (10.2mp) it is getting some fantasic reviews and winning all the head to head reviews of similar budget. The Sony’s are based on the Minolta’s as Sony has bought over Minolta. I’m on the verge of buying the Sony myself.
Welcome Tommy !
I’m a Nikon user so can’t comment on the Canon cameras, however I’d be slow to buy the new Sony just yet as its only just been released.
I’d wait until its seen some use by photographers.Mark
Mark wrote:
Welcome Tommy !
I’m a Nikon user so can’t comment on the Canon cameras, however I’d be slow to buy the new Sony just yet as its only just been released.
I’d wait until its seen some use by photographers.Mark
That’s sterling advice for any camera, regardless of marque, especially with digital. I didn’t buy my 30D until some six months after it’s release for this very reason and the fact that the price of most digital cameras tends to fall quite rapidly in the early months before stabilising at a sustainable level.
– Thorsten.
There is a canon outlet store on ebay that has refurbished (under guarantee) kit at very good prices.
Si
You should consider the Nikon D70s 18-70mm kit – its a beauty – just got one myself!
Thank you all, Its just that I feel that if you wonder into a camera shop you will prob get sold something way ahead of your standards or just a wast of money. I will keep you informed.
Regards,
Tommy.
Hi Tommy,
I’ve only recently bought myself. I had a choice of buying a D70 and using the excess to buy a decent 2.8 lens or i could buy the D200 and stick with the 18-70
kit lens for the time being. I chose the latter and i havent looked back. I wont be changing my camera for a while and in the mean time i can play around with the 18-70mm and see where my interests lie and in a while invest in decent glass. I’d forget about investing in decent lenses for the time being and use the money to buy a decent body that comes with a kit lens and see where you develop from there.Ali
Ali wrote:
I’d forget about investing in decent lenses for the time being and use the money to buy a decent body that comes with a kit lens and see where you develop from there.
My advice would be the exact opposite, for a number of reasons. Firstly, remember that the image has to travel through the lens before it hits the sensor. In the days of film cameras, the advice would always be to spend the money on lenses before camera – a “cheap” camera will give you the same image as an “expensive” camera when using the same lens. Use the same poor quality lens on both cameras and you get the same poor quality image. Use the same high quality lens on both cameras, and you get the same high quality image. After all, a camera is just a light-tight black box. I realise this argument may not hold true with digital cameras as you have the imaging device (the sensor) and the quality of the image processing software to consider. However, at the upper end of the scale, you’ll probably not see any significant difference between a shot taken on a D200 and one taken on a D70 with the same lens.
The other thing to think about is that a decent quality lens will always be a decent quality lens. Digital camera bodies, however, have a lifespan no longer than 2 years at best. Yes, they’ll keep working beyond that, but by then there will be something better around that you will want. And a quality lens will hold it’s resale value quite well over the years, whereas a digital body will depreciate quite rapidly.
When I first started shooting digital, it was with an EOS 10D. When the 20D came out, I was tempted to upgrade to that but held off as I didn’t want to fall victim to the continuous upgrade cycle. Instead I invested in some good quality lenses, and I was glad I did so – the quality improvement was far greater than it would have been had I kept my old lenses and bought the 20D instead.
Just something to think about.
Tommy if you do change your mind and opt for Nikon, I’m selling my D70 (used for less than 12mths).
Canon of course if a fine brand also. Its about the person :)Have to say, think I agree with ecp here.
Spend as much as possible on the lenses. They can move up with your camera if you upgrade.
Also they do have a decent resale value.Definitely a catch 22, that said, i’d rather invest the time waiting and saving for a new lens than spend money on something i know i will inevitably change.
A personal choice really.Ali wrote:
Definitely a catch 22, that said, i’d rather invest the time waiting and saving for a new lens than spend money on something i know i will inevitably change.
A personal choice really.Ali,
if i were in that situation I’d probably do the same as you. As long as I know I had a decent body I’d wait to get enough together to get the lens I really…. really wanted. Of course I can see Thorston’s point also and he is also right…….but knowing me ….I would go for the body firstHello everyone,
Thank you for all your replys, I have desided to buy the Nikon D70 from Mark, I will be in touch and I find this site very interesting and usefull.
Regards,
Tommy.
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