Cheapest Digital SLR/Zoom Lens option?

[Monie]

What's the cheapest option (ebay fine) for a Digital SLR Camera (ideally that's as idiot-proof as possible) and a decent heavy zoom lens.

I'm after something that I can use to get reliably good pictures from pitchside at a major sporting event, and my Bridge Camera just ain't likely to cut it.

[DrKazza]

not sure about cheapness but the lessons I learned were.

a) Nikon and Canon are pretty much as good as each other... people usually end up sticking with one for the rest of their life, because lenses aren't interchangable between makes not many people switch... that said there's very little difference in terms of performance between the two.

b) if you get a lens... get one with Image Stabilising... (that's the canon term... I can't remember what they call it on Nikkor lenses)

[shardy]

Whats your budget?

[Monie]

Like i say, cheap as possible. I'm not really sure what price i'm looking at. The Cannon 400D seems like a sensible enough option?

[Tonster]

Not sure what happened to my last post. Meh.

Like Kazza said bear in mind you're basically buying into an upgrade route as lenses and many other upgrades are manufacturer specific. You certainly won't go wrong with Canon, Nikon being the other major player currently.

I have a 400D and love it, though it has been superceded by the 450D which has extra features like Live View (see what you're shooting on the LCD), 20% higher resolution (ish), Digic III processor (faster capture, higher quality noise reduction), larger LCD and better basic 18-55 kit lens (same lens, only improved). You can get a 450D + 18-55 & 55-200 zoom for around £675. I'd go for that if your budget allows. The 400D is not so easy to find any more at reputable dealers now it's been superceded.

I wouldn't get a DSLR wqith just a zoom lens though, it will frustrate you for those medium to short range moments, and the basic 18-55 kit lenses are cheap and good in anything other than low light.

An interesting example of 400D vs 450D pricing
450D with 18-55 & 55-250 £ 674
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/product ... ku=1025953

400D with 18-55 £389
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-Digital-C ... B000IKVOE8
Plus 55-250 £193 (total £582)
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/product ... ku=1021795

For the extra £90 I'd get the 450D

[shardy]

I only ask that as i have a canon 350d package complete with grip and 18-55 kit lense + sigma 70-300 APO DG f/4-5.6 that I would flog for 300 plus delivery

[Monie]

Oooh, interesting..!

[Tonster]

Gotta fund that 5D MKII somehow eh Mr Shardy

:jealous:

[shardy]

lol I wish more like a 40d

[Monie]

OK - Firstly i'd like to curse amazon and all they stand for because of their refusal to ship electrical items to Ireland.

Second, thanks for the offer Shardy, but I ended up going for the 450D, and have talked a m8 into letting me borrow his 300mm zoom lens for the actual match.

For those of you more into the SLR scene is there any accessories/kit beyond what you get in the usual bundle that you'd consider essential purchasing (ie beyond a big memory card etc)

[LSM]

Some sort of monopod might be a good idea if you want to keep everything blur-free.

[Monie]

Aye way ahead of you there, got that ordered with the camera

[Tonster]

Basically you've got everything you need. I would recommend getting a fast memory card as for sports photgraphy speed can be critical. Sandisk Extreme IIIs seem to be the card of choice from what I remember.

A half decent bag is useful, though any rucksack will do. For sports you may not have many options for sitting position so a lens hood to prevent sun reflections across the lens might be useful. Quite expensive for what they are though.

It depends on what kind of photography you want to get into, if it's sports that pretty much coveres the basics (including a tripod/monopod like LSM said).

Personally I've just bought a decent flash (plus diffuser and TTL cable) and have immediately found it invaluable for indoor photography. A flash is also good for outdoor portraiture to remove deep shadows on bright days. Useless for sports photography though, like I said it just depends what you want to focus on (fnar).

A costly addition at £200 is Adobe Lightroom, but it's the mutts nuts for image worflow (storage, retrieval, editing, keywording etc). Works best when combined with the ever expensive Photoshop (for those delicate retouches). Picassa (free) isn't bad as a stand-in for Lightroom and there are plenty of Photoshop alternatives (don't know what's good, I worship at the altar of Adob€).

[Monie]

I already have Lightroom for the less costly option of *ahem* acquisition, and as you rightly say, it is the shizzle.

[Monie]

One last bot-wiping job - Anyone know of a good place to get one of those SLR+Laptop carrying bags beyond ebay?

The type with the one pocket for the laptop and a zip away section for the camera and stuff?

Might as well ensure i don't smash the thing up on my travels

[Cacker]

you're first filter should be a polarizer .. a must. does amazing things for colour saturation when dealing with skies, water or any other reflective surface.

[Promac]

How you gettin on with that 450D Monie? I'm looking at getting a camera as well and that one seems to keep coming up in conversations.

Or if anyone could recommend a better one for the same price that'd be lovely.

[Monie]

Love it - can't really fault it.

Only thing i've encountered was the lack of expanded ISO - but that's only really relevent for sports shooting in shitty light situations.

[Promac]

Had a muck around with one in pc world in the jervis center and it looks the dogs.

My first job was as a freelance photographer years ago, colour & b/w etc, darkrooms and all. All my gear was olympus and bronica though and all film obviously. Wish I could get the image quality on digital that I got with my 120mm bronica!

Anyone know if digitals work the same as non-digitals for settings? I.e. Does 250 at F8 still mean what I think it means or am I gonna have to mess around with it and learn it all over again?

[larchy]

Nah it's the same m8

The only new thing is ISO, which is the sensor sensitivity. Higher lets you use a faster shutter, but introduces more noise.