Cameras, Lenses and Accessories

baz995 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 19:17

Hi all

i am trying to decide between the canon 450d, sony a350 or nikon d60, i am leaning more to the canon but i am getting really confused about lens, all this IS, USM, non USM. Should i just get the kit lens or by body only and then get a better lens, my heads hurts i have been trying to work it out for so long. It also doesnt help that i am in the middle of the SOuth Atlantic Sea with a satelitte internet connection at 1.2 kpbs !! any help would be great, might take a few days for a reply though as each page normally takes over 5-6 mins to load

carregwen · #2 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 19:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by baz995

Hi all

i am trying to decide between the canon 450d, sony a350 or nikon d60, i am leaning more to the canon but i am getting really confused about lens, all this IS, USM, non USM. Should i just get the kit lens or by body only and then get a better lens, my heads hurts i have been trying to work it out for so long. It also doesnt help that i am in the middle of the SOuth Atlantic Sea with a satelitte internet connection at 1.2 kpbs !! any help would be great, might take a few days for a reply though as each page normally takes over 5-6 mins to load

Had a look at your website. Your shots of machines are much better than the others. Is that what you prefer to shoot? I like the MR2 shots. The Canon 40D is still available, and a better camera than the 450D, and not a lot more expensive. The 50D (I have one) is better still but about £250 more than the 40D. If you have a reasonable budget I would go for a body only, and buy better quality lenses to suit your type of photography (which is why I asked). It costs more, but if you want to take good shots you need good lenses. It does make a difference. Can't comment on the other cameras, but Canon and Nikon will give excellent results if you spend a reasonable amount.

**Ogofmole** · #3 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 19:53

As well as reading up on all of these cameras, you do need to visit a camera shop at some point where you can physically handle all of the possibility's. As if a camera just does not feel right in your hands, you may not use it as often as you had intended.

As Rob said, the better glass that you can afford the better.

tobyphillips · #4 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 20:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by baz995

Hi all

i am trying to decide between the canon 450d, sony a350 or nikon d60, i am leaning more to the canon but i am getting really confused about lens, all this IS, USM, non USM. Should i just get the kit lens or by body only and then get a better lens, my heads hurts i have been trying to work it out for so long. It also doesnt help that i am in the middle of the SOuth Atlantic Sea with a satelitte internet connection at 1.2 kpbs !! any help would be great, might take a few days for a reply though as each page normally takes over 5-6 mins to load

Had a look at your website too, some good stuff on there...what camera do you have at the moment? it looks more than capable. DSLR?

**Ogofmole** · #5 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 20:18

Just been looking at your website and you have some excellent Aircraft shots.

**Dennyboy** · #6 (**permalink**) 07-02-2009, 20:37

Sony A350 but as i own i am biased, major for me the excellent live view and the in camera anti shake so any lens is VR

baz995 · #7 (**permalink**) 08-02-2009, 17:37

Many thanks for all the help and all the kind comments, Toby all the shots on the site are taken with a Finepix F610 or a Fuji S9600. I am trying to get more into RAW and i find the RAW from my S9600 is pretty pants and always very noisy despite different settings. I was drawn to the Sony as well because of the in camera VR, but liked the canon. It is really the lens thing that is confusing to me, would it be better to buy body only and then get a lens? and if so which one would give me best scope, i dont mean budget wise but can a 50 mm just do a certain range? or would i need a big 70-300mm lens to get good close shot and good distant shots? I am gutted being onboard as i have accumulated another 12Gb of stuff from Sealion Island, the Falklands, Rio etc etc and cant get them on the site until i get home. I think on Amazon the 450D is about £50 more with the kit lens, is it worth saving the money, most lenses i look at before i get bored waiting for the pages to load on the ship are quite expensive.

**Dennyboy** · #8 (**permalink**) 08-02-2009, 17:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by baz995

Many thanks for all the help and all the kind comments, Toby all the shots on the site are taken with a Finepix F610 or a Fuji S9600. I am trying to get more into RAW and i find the RAW from my S9600 is pretty pants and always very noisy despite different settings. I was drawn to the Sony as well because of the in camera VR, but liked the canon. It is really the lens thing that is confusing to me, would it be better to buy body only and then get a lens? and if so which one would give me best scope, i dont mean budget wise but can a 50 mm just do a certain range? or would i need a big 70-300mm lens to get good close shot and good distant shots? I am gutted being onboard as i have accumulated another 12Gb of stuff from Sealion Island, the Falklands, Rio etc etc and cant get them on the site until i get home. I think on Amazon the 450D is about £50 more with the kit lens, is it worth saving the money, most lenses i look at before i get bored waiting for the pages to load on the ship are quite expensive.

My kit lenses which came with my camera were pants, if i had time over again i would buy body only, then if on a budget a 18-200 zoom or if a bit more cash 28-70/75mm 55-200mm or thereabouts.

carregwen · #9 (**permalink**) 08-02-2009, 19:26

Barry

It might help if we knew what your budget is. If you want to PM me and let me know, I have a pretty good feel for Canon gear, and someone like Barry (Ogfmole) knows Nikon.