Any camera people on here for advice?

Chunkford

I want to invest in a camera (for business and pleasure) and can't make my mind up on which way to go.

Been looking into buying an DSLR camera (either the Nikon D3000 or the Canon 450D but i borrowed an SLR the other day to try it out and I didn't really get on with it. So i have been looking at the Canon G11 instead.

I just don't know what to do tho? as going for an DSLR seems more of the 'route' to go when getting into photography?
Also how would you view someone that came to a business to take photos using a G11 over using an SLR?

Thanks in advance

Paul

Ruralweb

The g11 is an excellent camera for general work but the 450d is the one you need IMO as it will give better pics by using a wider range of lenses and it can be connected directly to a laptop so you can see exctly why you are getting which is great if you are taking pics at a clients. So you don't have to do it all again plus the client can ok the pictures as you take them

darren at parklife has a 450d which he is using for some excellent product photography.

Parklife

Ruralweb said:

darren at parklife has a 450d which he is using for some excellent product photography.

In some ways I wish I did have the 450D, I went mad, completely blew the budget and got the semi pro 50D and have since found it to have one of the steepest learning curves in its sector, although just starting to enjoy it as a hobby as well as workhorse! Have a look at the dedicated Canon user forum, it will give you some good advice, there's even a section just about the G series here. For a review of the Canon 450D look here or here

Also how would you view someone that came to a business to take photos using a G11 over using an SLR?

Chuck them out on their ear and tell them never to darken my door again!! A DSLR certainly looks more 'pro' than the more compact G11 and some people may take it that you are there taking snapshots rather than decent images albeit the G11 is very well rated and will give quality images. Personally I would opt for at least the 450D.

Chunkford

Thanks guys, I thought that would be the case with using a G11.
It's had great reviews and they talk about it having DSLR features on a compact, but wasn't too sure what impression it would give off if i had to use it to take photos for a client.
I want to get into photography, and i thought going for a G11 would give me an 'easier' route to learn, then bump up as time went on.
But i think i will persevere with a DSLR. Now off to find the best deal on a Canon 450D :D

drounding

You might be able to get £30 cash back from Canon till 30 April 2010: http://www.canon.co.uk/eoscashback/

Chunkford

Thanks Duncan

Darren

FM i was only talking to the wife yesterday about buying one for me - perhaps i noticed this thread in my subconscious

*now following with interest*

Quarm

I bought a 450D about a year or so ago and can also recommend it, although once you take it off auto it is a steep learning curve. I subscribe to PhotoPlus magazine which is a Canon exclusive mag, although not affiliated with Canon and they have some really good advice and help, I've bought a lens and tripod on their advice and workshops, which are very helpful.

The 450D seems to have been around forever and a purchase in this sector is usually with you for a while, so i'd actually recommend the 550D which is a new one recently out. I think that future proofs you better.

Learn manual (M) mode would be my best advice, concentrate everything on learning that, i wasted too much time learning things i will rarely if ever use. Once you grasp aperture, exposure, ISO etc. the fog clears and the mag i mentioned is great at helping in those areas.

Darren

hmmm says the 450 is not availible but i also found this http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/76113/show.html?cm_vc=PPZ1

anyone tried this?

believe it or not john lewis came up competative http://www.johnlewis.com/230588198/Product.aspx?source=14798

Darren

and the one leee suggest http://www.johnlewis.com/230882210/Product.aspx?SearchTerm=550d

Chunkford

What about the Nikon's? I keep reading they're better for N00Bs!, but then i have always had the canon point and shoot cameras and really liked them :D

I might pop down Jessops and have a quick look in a mo

Darren

Chunkford said:
What about the Nikon's? I keep reading they're better for N00Bs!, but then i have always had the canon point and shoot cameras and really liked them :D

Me too im currently on my third canon ixus this one is the 110

Parklife

The good thing about Canon is the line up of their associated products, Camera's, Lenses, Printers and so on. There any many good cash back deals on at the moment. Whatever you do, nip in somewhere that stocks them and have a play before going about finding the best deal.

Warehouse Express have a few 450D bundles currently available and are a very good company to deal with, pretty much dedicated to all things photographic and a wealth of information. (Other suppliers are available, as the BBC always tell us)

Ruralweb

Ive had a 350D for years and it produces pictures as good as any - but was looking at the G11 a while ago as I want a more compact point and shoot for when Im out and about.

drounding

I just bought a cheepy point and shoot, an AgfaPhoto DC-1030, at ASDA for £40.
Amazing little camera that takes excellent pictures for the price. Don't care if I loose it or break it. The biggest problems I've had over the years is not the camera but the ability to stuff it in my pocket and not care if it gets damaged. I have fancy SLR cameras but they're either bulky or a lot of money and as a result have hardly ever used them.

Darren

drounding said:
I just bought a cheepy point and shoot, an AgfaPhoto DC-1030, at ASDA for £40.
Amazing little camera that takes excellent pictures for the price. Don't care if I loose it or break it. The biggest problems I've had over the years is not the camera but the ability to stuff it in my pocket and not care if it gets damaged. I have fancy SLR cameras but they're either bulky or a lot of money and as a result have hardly ever used them.

thats why i always buy the ixus they are tough and small so the wife likes it as it goes in her handbag nicely. this one did cost me a couple of hundred quid but excellant pics 12.1meg pixel aswell

Chunkford

Oh dear, just come across Micro Four Thirds cameras!! A cross between a DSLR and a compact.
I think i'm digging myself a bigger hole, lol

Research mode tonight me thinks!

Darren

Im now stuck on wether to spend the extra and go for the 550 now Thanks Lee :rolleyes:

Chunkford

Darren said:
Im now stuck on wether to spend the extra and go for the 550 now Thanks Lee :rolleyes:

Try this Darren. Might help :confused:
http://www.canon.co.uk/for_home/compare_products/index.asp

Parklife

Darren said:
I'm now stuck on whether to spend the extra and go for the 550 now

The 550D is meant to be a very good camera and is the latest (launched feb 10) in the xxxD line up, it is, according to the write up here, seen as the baby of the 7D with is an exceptional camera.

Chunkford

I suppose like Lee said you are also paying for future proofing also.
But i'm thinking the 550D is over kill as i need to learn and get familiar with the whole terminology and setup first (even tho i have been reading up on it before). Also the camera bodies have a limited life (something like 50,000 snaps) before they need replacing. So i'm thinking when that is due i will be some bad ass photographer needing a more up to date model with features i will need and know how to use.
That's the stance i'm coming from anyhow :)

Ruralweb

See if you can get a second hand 350D - they are much the same to use and the lenses all interchange. In a year or so you can then decide where to go next

Parklife

Ruralweb said:
See if you can get a second hand 350D - they are much the same to use and the lenses all interchange. In a year or so you can then decide where to go next

Probably a good idea, here's a 2nd hand 300d with
- 18-55 EF-S lens
- BG-E1 grip
- 1x battery
- 1x charger
- 1x 512mb San disk ultra 2
- 1x 512mb Lexar pro

as new and all for £180 inc delivery, use it for a year, see how you get on and you'll sell it for £150'ish this time next year

Chunkford

What do you guys reckon to this deal?
http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/77436/show.html?cm_re=220310-_-Home-_-rotate1_450dtwinkit

Parklife

All depends what you plan to photograph, you won't really need the 75-300 if you're taking product shots but will come in handy for out and about but unless it has IS you'll need a tripod for most shoots. The problems with bundles they always give you things you don't need/not the best or accessories that you'll want to upgrade in a few months.

drounding

I've got the same lenses (IS) for my older APS EOS camera and found the 'bundle' good enough for most things I've needed to do in the past. I've often wondered about getting a digital body to replace the old APS body. It's unfortunately gathering dust on a top shelf somewhere these days.

Chunkford

Parklife said:
and about but unless it has IS you'll need a tripod for most shoots. The problems with bundles they always give you things you don't need/not the best or accessories that you'll want to upgrade in a few months.

Yea, i noticed after i posted that the extra lens hasn't got IS, which probably explains the tripod that comes with it.

Chunkford

How useful is live view on a DSLR? The Nikon D3000 hasn't got it you see, but the price is good.

Parklife

Again will depend on what you are photographing, if it's still life or that kind of thing and set on a tripod Live View is superb, otherwise you'll be better off using the viewfinder. If the 450 comes with the EOS utility software you'll be able to tether it to your pc making things a but easier especially for studio product shots

Darren

I found this while i was looking aorund at the 550D
[YOUTUBE]3f7l-Z4NF70[/YOUTUBE]

Darren

OK i brought the 550D - thanks Lee i think.

Im extremely impressed, ended up buying a bundle from jessops, got a few things thrown in for free so worth going to your local store and having a chat.

I have everything i need, well for the time being anyway, now to get the hang of tis camera. The last time i get heavily involved in photography was with my olympus OM10 i actually still have all the kit here. Im sure once i get the hang of it it will come back to me. Obviously theres alot more to learn now plus all the bits i forgot.

All i can say is im pleased with it but its early days however i dont think i can go wrong. As Lee says its future proofing to an extent

Darren

Chunkford

Nice one Darren, glad you've made a decision. I'm still ummming and bloody arrrring :(
Thought i made a decision and liked the canon systems (just felt better in Jessops), but my mate turned round to me in the pub last night and said 'Oh, i have a DSLR i'm selling, its a Nikon D80 with a shutter count of 4225, a battery grip, 2x batteries, remote, and a 4GB SD card, but hasn't got a lens. Yours for £350" As if i needed to be distracted again!

Ruralweb

Watch out as decent lenses can cost more than the camera body. I paid over £1000 each for some of mine so IMO it's better to get one bundled with the camera. The one that comes with the cannon is a very good alrounder.

Chunkford

Don't get me started with the lenses! I was shocked with the prices and confused with the jargon - F3.5-5.5 IS LII 10-50mm USM EF-S, say that again! and its different with each manufacturer - Do i dare say it..... I think i need one of those dummy books (shock horror!)

Besides, i don't think i will go for that D80, been looking and after i've brought the lens for it, i could pay an extra £100 for the D90 which is 10x better.

Quarm

The stock Canon lens along with the "Canon EF-S 55-250mm IS" should be more than enough to get you up and running, both are great lenses at this stage.

You want a decent bag to protect it all, a tripod is a must for certain things and a spare memory card (or two).

That should be all you need at this stage IMO. Next stage will probably then be lighting solutions.

Chunkford

Well, i've gone and done it! Brought the Nikon D90 (with the SD card, and free bag).
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-nikon-d90-with-18-105mm-ed-vr-lens-plus-free-gadget-bag/p10000941

All i can say is that these last two weeks have been soooooo intense. Learn't lots (at least i've got my head round the jargon now!) and can't wait to get stuck in! :D

Parklife

Chunkford said:
and confused with the jargon - F3.5-5.5 IS LII 10-50mm USM EF-S, say that again! and its different with each manufacturer - Do i dare say it..... I think i need one of those dummy books (shock horror!)

Wait till you get studio lighting, doubles the confusion!!

Darren

Nice one, glad you have sorted one out

Chunkford

OMG, these photos are amazing.

http://www.younggalleryphoto.com/photography/brandt/brandt.html

I want to do photos like theses...... one day :)

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