is it a good choice

[lukem]

August 7, 2010 at 9:55 am

hi folks..

just about to purchase my first slr..

one bundle deal is canon 5d body canon Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens and Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM,, 1150 pounds

or would i be better off buying aCanon EOS 7D with Canon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens Kit 1200 pounds..

mainly for wildlife…

some guy are saying 7d is only a good for wildlife…

help me confused…lol

[brendancullen]

August 7, 2010 at 11:11 am

Hi,

The 5D is a full frame and the 7d has a 1.6x sensor..meaning a 100mm lens will be a 160mm lens effectively.

I have a 7D – and it is indeed good for sports (with the correct lens) – but its good for just about everything else too.

Both full frame and 1.6x sensors have the advantages and disadvantages. You can google them.

Here’s just one YouTube Video which may help you decide. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGFG9UapCFU&feature=related

I would think you are ‘serious’ in the choices of camera you have made.

My advice would be to look at your investment in photography in the long term – and just buy ‘the body’ only without kit lenses. You’ll very soon want to replace them anyway – so don’t waste money by getting them now.

Here’s a very useful price comparison chart for all makes of cameras & lenses.
http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/cat1.html

You should be thinking in the medium term about getting this lens for wildlife (and many other uses) Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8L USM £980.47 (there are 3 variations on this lens. (NO IS, IS and ISII). The cheapest one is still top notch. but if i was you, today, i’d get the either the EOS 7D or the cheaper – but near equally as good EOS 550D and the EF 55-250mm (gets better reviews than the others you mentioned in all the magazines). This will be your cheap ‘starter’ and its resale value is high when you want to get better quality glass in hopefully the not to distant future.

The 100-400mm is also a top class ‘wildlife’ lens. I’ve used it in the last two weeks and am very impressed. £1200 though!

See what ‘bundle’ offer price they will do for you on a EOS 550D & 55-250mm – then save the money left over to get the 70-200mm later this year.

Around £650-700 i would guess.

Hope this helps a little in the ‘minefield’ of your purchase.

bren

[MMX]

August 8, 2010 at 1:15 am

Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is an EF-S lens which means that it won´t work with a full frame body. Moreover putting this lens on 5D would be like putting 15″ steel wheels on a Ferrari.
Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM is at least usable, but if I had a FF body I would use something better.

Canon 7D has a new fast AF system, I don´t understand why would somebody kill it with a EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS which doesn´t have USM motor (which will make focusing slow no matter how good the body is)

If you are serious about wildlife photography, buy the Canon 7D and Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM, you won´t regret. Later you can add Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM for wider shots and 1.4× extender for close-ups.