Iso want a more btterer camera

[Tonster]

Did you mean 18-55, not 18-155? Amazon seem to be the cheapest for that.
£417.47

[Karver]

Yes, but that amazon linky is the non stabilized lens, and for a mere tenner and some change more, Bristol cmaeras will do teh stailized lens + camera for 429.

I can't find anything to beat that without hitting ebay or looking at the rebel T3 imports.
Just wondering if it will drop much as its only just out, or if it will go up in prce and piss I orf a little more.

[Karver]

Changed meh mind. Hoping the 550D will drop a tad more and I'll bag one of those instead as it looks like its alot better for the not-very-much extra. (Canon doing £30 cashback on them atm too).

[LSM]

Good call, I bought one a year ago and they are very very good, versatile but you will have to treat it to a decent lens. The 18-55mm IS one that is often bundled with it is great for general purpose use.

[Karver]

Well, been looking long enough to go blind, so finally gave in to the urge- 550D ordered with the bundled 18-55 IS kit lens, so I have something to play with soon. (wasn't a terribly bad deal from Currys with 7% off taking it to 557 and then 30 cashback incoming c/o canon).

Seen em go for more on ebay for refurbs.

Now I need to learn a whole new language involving f-words and things alien to me..... next on the shopping list wil be a macro lens I think, saving a decent telephoto for crimble/next year as I now understand more about focal lengths, numbers and LSM ...erm USM

[Tonster]

That camera and lens will do you well for a long time. I was actually a bit disappointed with the 18-55 at first when I was learning the basics, the snob in me wanted L glass and not the tat they give away with the camera. Truth is it's a damn good lens.

I've used L lenses since and I was disappointed they didn't automatically make each one of my photos instant masterpieces. There's some moral in here about being skilled being far more important than the price of equipment you're using, but frankly I'm too arrogant and shit to accept that. The reason everyone's better than me is they have better equipment. End of.

If portraits are your thing then look into a nifty fifty (50mm 1.8 prime (fixed focal length)) lens. Cheap as chips (circa £80... ok that's a lot of chips) and bloody amazing, I love mine. Literally.

As for learning the basics, read the manual. Then read it again. Seriously, they're very good.

[Monie]

I thought the kit lens was awesome tbh, was never left in a situation where I felt it was holding me back from when i bought my 450D to when I upgraded to the 5D II.

Even most reviews I've read could only find fault in 'feels light and plasticky', which sounds like bullshit to me. If the worst you can find fault in a lens is that it feels plasticky then it's pretty good.

[Tonster]

Being picky the only down side to it for me is low light performance, I don't like flash in photos if possible so it's not ideal for a lot of indoor photography of people (movement) without it, unless you have a camera with good low light ISO performance to compensate (I don't). I use the 50mm in such cirsumstances where possible to get the speed without compromising on quality, except to get a person in the frame XXXD series you do need to be 3 rooms away.

Recently I was mightily impressed with an 18-200 I was able to play with for a while, for about £350 it's basically the same lens, just more reach making it more versatile.

There's a comparable Tamron for half the price too.


BTW, welcome to the "how many ways can I burn a hole in my bank account this week?" hobby.

[edit]Ooh, 7,000 posts. phear teh spamm!

[Karver]

BTW, welcome to the "how many ways can I burn a hole in my bank account this week?" hobby.

Aye, thanks ... bastards

Already getting a semi over some nice 75-300 glass lol.

[TK421]

I bought a 100-400L and a 16-35L last month, nearly 3 fucking grand. Stupid hobby.

[Tonster]

Already getting a semi over some nice 75-300 glass lol.

I think lots of people have that one (I do and I know several others here do), good bit of kit for the price. That said it's actually my least used lens (of 3) as I tend to shoot people. It's quite good fun for shooting insects etc in the absence of a macro lens

[Klors]

My 200L prime followed by my f1.4 50mm prime are my two most used lenses I think.... maybe I just don't like zooming...

[LSM]

It's handy to be able to use the zoom to frame subjects but such is the resolution of sensors now and the power of post production it's becoming much less important and even I have been eying up primes that are suitable for landscapes and portraiture and an f1.4 for that purpose gives me an instant chubby.

[TK421]

I use my 50mm 1.4 quite a bit, next buy for me is the 24mm 1.4 L, or the 8-15mm if the fucker ever comes out!

[Karver]

Phoned Currys.. backorder for at least 2 weeks, went to the store and had a chat, walked off with their display one minus the charger, another 25 quid off the price.
Ebay will sort that out for me by monday no probs, + extra batteries until I get me a fancy batterygrip that will take AA's in emergencies.

So, briefly skimmed the book, point + shoot, have a crapload of images to play with. Just need to nip out and "buy" photoshop ? I guess thats the tool of choice ?

Cheers
K

[Tonster]

Adobe Lightroom is a great program too and considerably less to buy than Photoshop, plus there's usually a trial version kicking around. It's meant for photographers and combines well with Photoshop if you have both. I actually find it better for editing images unless you want to go as far as very specific stuff like dodge and burn areas, removing major objects from a shot, selective recolouring and that sort of really detailed stuff. It completely kicks Photoshop's arse when it comes to image file management (meta data, multi image edits such as auto-levels, export to other programs and websites, browsing image directories, exporting galleries etc).

What Photoshop is to image manipulation, Lightroom is to image library management. From the sticky thread, "This is like Picasa and Photoshop had a baby genius".

Yes I am on commission

[Karver]

Found a demo version and some dodgy text files, will have a play later

[Tonster]

By the way the 550D has been succeeded by the 600D
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos600d/

Cocking expensive for a supposedly entry level (enthusiasts) model And from what I read only a swivel screen and remote flash added over the 550D, which is nice, but not worth paying the premium over IMO.

[Karver]

Its loads more cash than I had to spend but tbh, I'm more than happy with getting a 550D for a monkey. Its a huge step away from the 1100d I was originally looking at anyway.. and no, you fuckers aren't going to convince me to get a 5D before the month is out.

[Monie]

By the way the 550D has been succeeded by the 600D
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos600d/

Cocking expensive for a supposedly entry level (enthusiasts) model And from what I read only a swivel screen and remote flash added over the 550D, which is nice, but not worth paying the premium over IMO.

They do seem to have been steadily ramping up the price of the 'entry level' thing along with each upgrade. I have the 450D and it's still pretty awesome. While I do like everything they've done with the various successive upgrades, I'm not sure they're worth paying for.

If you're looking for an entry level thing I'd be thinking about starting off with a 2nd hand 400/450D and then stepping up to something more serious once you've reached the limitations of the 400/450D (I'm relatively sure I never did!)


Thoroughly 2nd the Lightroom recommendation btw. Like photoshop, except everything operates via idiot-proof sliders. Also has one of the best noise reduction things i've come across, inc better than specialist focused programs.