View Full Version : Buying a dSLR and lens
SidewinderINC
22-02-2008, 15:52
Righty, I've wanted to get into gig photography for ages (a couple of years now) and last night I got the opportunity to get into it. Met a guy at the Volbeat concert I was at and he said he has his own review/interview website that he's looking at getting more photographers for, it's unpaid but I wouldn't be looking to do it for the money (at first)
He said he has one this sunday for Megadeth that he can't make and as I seemed very keen he'd let me do it for him!
I'd love to do it but obviously can't because I don't have a good camera yet :p and as such also don't have that many skills in using them with full control either.:o:(
As for cameras I have an idea of what I can afford, and have been looking at the D40x for a while now, and a 50mm f1.4 lens.
Can any of you photographers give any insight into my current options?
Cheers
Matt.
Well, whilst the 50mm 1.4 would be a great lens to do gig photography with, pairing it up with the D40x will lose you the ability to autofocus. Whilst not normally a huge problem, a gig is not somewhere i'd personally like to be forced to manually focus every shot, especially at F1.4.
So, this leaves a couple of options...
D40x + Sigma 30mm HSM is one.
D70 + 50mm 1.4 is another, though the D70 will cry if you go above ISO800
Or you could go Canon
400D/450D and the lens of your choice...
Another thing i'd say is perhaps start off with a decent normal range zoom, as it will be far more versatile initially then gradually build on that with higher quality primes. Else you might find yourself always thinking '**** this 50mm is too long' or something, where a nice F2.8 24-70 lens will let you learn well and cope well with different, offer decent low light performance and be a good base to build around.
SidewinderINC
22-02-2008, 19:25
Should have checked for the autofocus motors before hand really :( /noob
http://www.boudist.com/archive/2007/02/07/concert_photography_masterclass.php
Just been having a read of this :)
If it's your first camera maybe think about buying second hand. I got mine for £150 with the 18-55mm kit lens and I've been really happy with it. Also if it's your first camera it's not quite so devastating when it gets bashed or damaged if it didn't cost £500+ and you can really give it some abuse without worrying too much about it ;)
Then when you've learned the ropes you can invest in some more serious kit.
I can't just pass through here... you used the N word...
stop now.
buy a Canon.
"with Canon - You can!"
and tbh - with nikon you can't.
And do indeed take a look at the second hand market... I got my 50mm f1.8 off OCUK MM for under £30 about 3 years ago!!
keep an eye on - http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=15
a mate of mine recently got a 50mm + adapter + lens hood + 3 filters for £75!!!
SidewinderINC
27-02-2008, 18:15
ALL of the canons I've held have felt like they're going to break if I so much as sneeze whilst using them. My fisher price camera from when I was 4 was better built!
I'd feel too scared (even if it was a cheap s/h camera) to get into a crowd with it.
The new Nikon D300 + D3 put most current Canon cameras to shame. I'm a Canon user too.
SidewinderINC
27-02-2008, 20:40
The new Nikon D300 + D3 put most current Canon cameras to shame. I'm a Canon user too.
Waaaaaaaaaay out of my budget pete :p
Maybe if I was being paid a lot more for my current job, or ended up getting paid for my photos I'd think about one of those :p
The new Nikon D300 + D3 put most current Canon cameras to shame. I'm a Canon user too.
we (i) don't admit to that though
a woman tried to give me a nikon bag with mags promoting the D300 @ focus - i said no.
Shame, it might have persuaded you into buying a decent camera for once :p
Shame, it might have persuaded you into buying a decent camera for once :p
I've got a decent camera - i've got a Ricoh R7 ;D
I don't like the user interface on that new Nikon. Day to day things I do on my camera with two button presses need rooting through menus on the Nikon and I wouldn't get on with it. Nice feeling camera though.
SidewinderINC
28-02-2008, 18:28
Definately looking second hand now and on the heirarchy(sp) I have...
For Nikon: D80
For Canon: 400D > 20D > 350D > 300D
Looking to spend no more than £200 on the body alone if possible heh (that probably strikes the D80 and 400D out)
I don't like the user interface on that new Nikon. Day to day things I do on my camera with two button presses need rooting through menus on the Nikon and I wouldn't get on with it. Nice feeling camera though.
Which new one?
I wasn't aware of the D300/D3 having changed control systems significantly, so I assume you mean the D60?
Can't remember which one it was, it was someone's christmas present and got shoved into my hand and I had about a half hour playing with it. Maybe I'm just used to the menus on mine but I didn't get on with it.
I think it's a very personal thing. You either prefer one or the other and there doesn't even have to be much reason behind it. I've not spoken to anyone yet who was still undecided between Nikon/Canon after they'd had a play with them.
Can't remember which one it was, it was someone's christmas present and got shoved into my hand and I had about a half hour playing with it. Maybe I'm just used to the menus on mine but I didn't get on with it.
Was most likely a D40x I expect which has some stupid godawful excuse for a menu system that someone at Nikon needs shooting for. It's entirely different to every other Nikon SLR.
It seems someone decided it would be a good idea to strip half the physical controls off the camera and bury them in a silly menu thing which just doesn't work.
I hate the way they do that sometimes. Why ruin a good thing?
Just googled up the D40x and it looks like the one I used with very few buttons on the back and SD card.
SidewinderINC
04-03-2008, 19:39
Right, I've been scouring eBay for 400D bodies and they all seem to be coming up around the £250 mark, which is only £50 less than what you can get them for brand new at the moment (warehouse express)
£305 for body only
£355 for body and kit 18-55mm lens
Do you guys recommend spending the extra £50 to get the kit lens?
I already own a 1GB CF card - how many images will that hold?
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=51485]
400d for £320 with kit lens!
do it.
I already own a 1GB CF card - how many images will that hold?
enough for now.
but i'd seriously consider a SanDisk Extreme III 4gb CF card - I've had mine for about a week and love it - it holds silly amounts aswell - too many for the camera to display (got a max 3 digit readout and under jpg compression it constantly reads 999)
SidewinderINC
05-03-2008, 18:21
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=51485]
400d for £320 with kit lens!
do it.
enough for now.
but i'd seriously consider a SanDisk Extreme III 4gb CF card - I've had mine for about a week and love it - it holds silly amounts aswell - too many for the camera to display (got a max 3 digit readout and under jpg compression it constantly reads 999)
As I've said already (twice) it's only £35 more for brand new, but I'll see what the guy says in the thread :) Thanks for spotting it for me :)
SidewinderINC
07-03-2008, 18:52
So, I ended up buying the second hand one :)
£310 including postage, rather than new which would have been £375 including postage.
All paid up, just waiting for delivery now - will take it to the scientology protest with me next saturday and see if I can get any good mob shots :D
Also bidding on a Sigma 30mm f/1.4 on the bay at the moment :)
SidewinderINC
26-03-2008, 18:18
Had it delivered a while ago now, feels really nice, haven't had too much of a chance to play with it yet in low light. Got my first gig *job* coming up soon, Ill nino gig somewhere :p
Chuckles
28-03-2008, 01:19
Did you win the Sigma dude? It goes so well with the 1.6 crop cameras.
SidewinderINC
28-03-2008, 01:49
No mate, didn't win it in the end - though depending on what paytime brings (a few hours away - WOOOO) I might buy it new at £195.
Chuckles
28-03-2008, 01:50
That's a decent price for new. I flogged my old one for £190 second hand.
SidewinderINC
28-03-2008, 18:23
http://www.onestop-digital.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=122
Unless anyone knows any reason not to buy from these guys?
Chuckles
29-03-2008, 12:55
Yeah, I don't they they are UK based.
Edit : Confirmed, they are based in HK. You may as well get one of ebay if you are going to go down that road.
SidewinderINC
29-03-2008, 12:57
OK, so what's the problem with all the *new* ones on ebay?
any problem with fakes?
I've used onestopdigital before and would again.
http://www.onestop-digital.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=122
Unless anyone knows any reason not to buy from these guys?
Not 1, but 2.
1 - Your warranty for the lens is only valid in HK and not the UK.
2 - Long way to sent it back if the lens don't work.
but that's it, that site is reputable. I've bought from, and so has countless others online. If you get a custom's bill, they even refund you for that.
Check these threads for a start.
http://www.thedvdforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=444983&page=35
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=46962&highlight=stop+digital
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=54306&highlight=stop+digital
Chuckles
29-03-2008, 13:16
OK, so what's the problem with all the *new* ones on ebay?
any problem with fakes?
As long as you go with a big seller with good rep it's OK. The point I'm making though is if they are shipped from HK, it'll take longer, but more importantly you might get stung with customs charges.
I'd buy it from OSD than ebay mostly, the only person i would get from ebay is Kerso.
Chuckles
29-03-2008, 13:21
I'd buy it from OSD than ebay mostly, the only person i would get from ebay is Kerso.
Yeah Kerso is awesome, although I don't think he does Sigma stuff.
Yeah Kerso is awesome, although I don't think he does Sigma stuff.
Yeah he has taste ;) *runs*
SidewinderINC
29-03-2008, 14:26
Yeah he has taste ;) *runs*
I need a short, fast lens that will fit on a 400D.
More important than that, it can't cost more than £250
Go.
Canon 50mm f/1.8, f/1.4. Canon 85mm f/1.8. Sigma 30mm f/1.4 (£260).
SidewinderINC
29-03-2008, 16:06
only one short enough is the Sigma 30mm :) Can be had for £200, so is within budget.
The only other one I was looking at was the Canon 28mm f/1.8 but I had a look at a direct comparison that said the Sigma was much sharper at 1.4 than the Canon was a 2.
Ah thats not short thats wide :p
SidewinderINC
29-03-2008, 16:15
Ah thats not short thats wide :p
Ah okay, must get my terminology right hehe :p
Chuckles
29-03-2008, 16:34
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SIGMA-ULTRA-WIDE-WIDE-PRIME-LENS-30MM-F1-4-EX-DC-HSM_W0QQitemZ160222874097QQihZ006QQcategoryZ30070Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
UK based. That's the cheapest I can find.
SidewinderINC
29-03-2008, 16:39
and then they'll add another 17.5% after you win.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SIGMA-ULTRA-WIDE-WIDE-PRIME-LENS-30MM-F1-4-EX-DC-HSM_W0QQitemZ160222874097QQihZ006QQcategoryZ30070Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
UK based. That's the cheapest I can find.
PLEAE NOTE 17.5% VAT WILL BE ADDED TO THE FINAL PRICE FOR UK & EU BUYERS
£220 = £258.50
Then £15 Shipping.
Chuckles
29-03-2008, 17:09
Good spot :p
****'s :p
Chuckles
29-03-2008, 17:10
The seem readily available for £255-260. I'd be inclined just to spend the extra £40 to get it from a UK retailer.
SidewinderINC
29-03-2008, 22:45
out of the blue I was called just now, my first gig is tomorrow at the camden underworld..
a lovely band called Dismember
http://www.myspace.com/dismemberofficial
Not for the faint hearted.
Chuckles
30-03-2008, 02:00
They're heavy :p
SidewinderINC
30-03-2008, 13:18
TBH I'm not really looking forward to it tonight, it's only the 2nd support band that I really can enjoy the sound of as well as enjoy taking pictures.
I know I'm not there for the music when I'm working for soundshock but I still have to enjoy it :p
EDIT - couldn't make guestlist at 10 hours notice, so not on this one tonight. Does mean I can buy the memory cards I need and some extra gubbins.
Tysonator
03-04-2008, 22:23
Sidewinder
Glad u got the 400D, a good buy. I have a 400D with a Sigma 17-70mm, Tamron 55-200mm Di Macro, and the daddy of my lens a Canon EF 70-300mm USM IS. As the EF lens is for full frame and not APS-C sensor like the 400D I get a 60% extra up scaling on the magnification, wicked ! ! ! !
We must meet up for some camera shoots dude !
vBulletin® v3.7.4, Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.