canon digital camera jessops image
Oil & Wate
I want a digital camera that would be suitable for use as a pro photographer?
Answer
The Nikon D300 and Canon 5D are both out of your reach - and that's just for the body.
For image quality, the lens is of greater importance than the body anyway. Focus (pardon the pun) on that first. For general use, and on a budget, I usually recommend the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8. This lens costs £350. The image quality is almost the same as with the vastly more expensive Canon/ Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8 lenses. The Tamron version just doesn't focus quite as fast, and it's not built to the same high standards (the Nikon version has a metal lens barrel & weather sealing, etc.; the Canon version has Image Stabilization.) Tamron makes lenses for all major camera brands, so you can get one for whatever body you select.
A Nikon D80 costs £480, and a Canon 450D costs £460 (for just the body, prices from Jessops). Try them both in a camera shop and take your pick - they are both excellent. You can find cheaper bodies, even from Nikon and Canon, but I wouldn't recommend them. With cheaper Nikon bodies for example, you won't be able to auto-focus with fixed focal length lenses (if you decide to add one to your collection at a later point.) Other camera brands also produce good entry level bodies, but if you want to start a pro kit, start with a brand that has a pro line of gear. With Pentax, Sony, Olympus, etc, you will eventually run out of upgrade options.
So with a decent lens and an entry level body you´re already up to £820. Add a quality UV filter to protect your lens (B+W and Hoya are excellent), 2 memory cards (for example Sandisk Extreme lll, 2 GB), a spare battery, a cheap card reader, and a lens cleaning kit, and you´ll be very close to £1000.
If you don´t already have image editing software, consider Adobe Photoshop Elements. It´s inexpensive and it does a very decent job.
If you were hoping to include additional lenses, filters, a tripod, an external flash, a camera bag, etc. all for under £1000, you´re out of luck. You would have to economize on the body and main lens, as well as get cheap extras, and as a result you would end up with a bag full of amateurish gear.
The Nikon D300 and Canon 5D are both out of your reach - and that's just for the body.
For image quality, the lens is of greater importance than the body anyway. Focus (pardon the pun) on that first. For general use, and on a budget, I usually recommend the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8. This lens costs £350. The image quality is almost the same as with the vastly more expensive Canon/ Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8 lenses. The Tamron version just doesn't focus quite as fast, and it's not built to the same high standards (the Nikon version has a metal lens barrel & weather sealing, etc.; the Canon version has Image Stabilization.) Tamron makes lenses for all major camera brands, so you can get one for whatever body you select.
A Nikon D80 costs £480, and a Canon 450D costs £460 (for just the body, prices from Jessops). Try them both in a camera shop and take your pick - they are both excellent. You can find cheaper bodies, even from Nikon and Canon, but I wouldn't recommend them. With cheaper Nikon bodies for example, you won't be able to auto-focus with fixed focal length lenses (if you decide to add one to your collection at a later point.) Other camera brands also produce good entry level bodies, but if you want to start a pro kit, start with a brand that has a pro line of gear. With Pentax, Sony, Olympus, etc, you will eventually run out of upgrade options.
So with a decent lens and an entry level body you´re already up to £820. Add a quality UV filter to protect your lens (B+W and Hoya are excellent), 2 memory cards (for example Sandisk Extreme lll, 2 GB), a spare battery, a cheap card reader, and a lens cleaning kit, and you´ll be very close to £1000.
If you don´t already have image editing software, consider Adobe Photoshop Elements. It´s inexpensive and it does a very decent job.
If you were hoping to include additional lenses, filters, a tripod, an external flash, a camera bag, etc. all for under £1000, you´re out of luck. You would have to economize on the body and main lens, as well as get cheap extras, and as a result you would end up with a bag full of amateurish gear.
What is the cheapest European country to buy Canon Lenses?
James C
I'm Going on a two week road trip around Europe and im looking to buy a Canon 28mm ef F/1.8 usm lens.Which would be the cheapest Country to get it in or is it the same roughly everywhere?
Answer
Look for a used copy before you leave. This is a great lens to have for the entire road trip. You won't find it sold for less retail, and you probably won't find a used copy at all during your 2 week trip.
If you can't find one, consider the Sigma 30mm f/1.4. It's the same price as the Canon and half a stop faster. The Sigma is a bit soft towards the edges, but otherwise very good - sharp in the center, fast AF, etc. For night time street photography, I'd probably prefer this lens. (I personally use a 50mm f/1.4 for this and a 17-55mm f/2.8 for just about everything else.)
If you live in the USA, forget about buying gear in Europe. A used Canon 28 f/1.8 in mint condition goes for $375 (craigslist.org in NYC) and retail it's $420 (bhphotovideo.com). In most of Europe, expect to pay 390 Euros retail (kamera-express.nl - I picked a Dutch website because I live in Holland). This translates to $610. Prices in the UK are a bit higher still: there you can expect to pay 325 Pounds (jessops.com), which works out to $645.
If you're shooting digital, also bring a laptop or stock up on memory cards before you leave. Two weeks is a very short time - you don't want to waste any of it in camera shops, waiting for your pictures to transfer to DVDs.
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Nathan, the thumbs-down wasn't mine. Although... you know, I can't actually think of too many department stores that carry the Canon 28mm f/1.8.
Look for a used copy before you leave. This is a great lens to have for the entire road trip. You won't find it sold for less retail, and you probably won't find a used copy at all during your 2 week trip.
If you can't find one, consider the Sigma 30mm f/1.4. It's the same price as the Canon and half a stop faster. The Sigma is a bit soft towards the edges, but otherwise very good - sharp in the center, fast AF, etc. For night time street photography, I'd probably prefer this lens. (I personally use a 50mm f/1.4 for this and a 17-55mm f/2.8 for just about everything else.)
If you live in the USA, forget about buying gear in Europe. A used Canon 28 f/1.8 in mint condition goes for $375 (craigslist.org in NYC) and retail it's $420 (bhphotovideo.com). In most of Europe, expect to pay 390 Euros retail (kamera-express.nl - I picked a Dutch website because I live in Holland). This translates to $610. Prices in the UK are a bit higher still: there you can expect to pay 325 Pounds (jessops.com), which works out to $645.
If you're shooting digital, also bring a laptop or stock up on memory cards before you leave. Two weeks is a very short time - you don't want to waste any of it in camera shops, waiting for your pictures to transfer to DVDs.
---
Nathan, the thumbs-down wasn't mine. Although... you know, I can't actually think of too many department stores that carry the Canon 28mm f/1.8.
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