Canon DSLR for beginners... help pls :(

[thekingb]

I agree with neuroanatomist: if you're not sure how serious you will be about photography, get the XS with the 18-55 IS kit lens and the nifty fifty ($600 total). Great way to start. Remember you still need to get a decent SD card and case too.


If you want the 550D, here's a wrinkle: packaged with the kit lens it is hard to find online right now at the right price. It's out of stock at B&H and Adorama and way overpriced through an Amazon reseller. It should cost $900 as a kit and $800 for just the body.

[crosbyharbison]

and case too.

I still don't have a case :P I just use my regular backpack.

[Bujji]

@neuroanatomist -- one more option for me then





sorry if im pestering u guys too much, its jus that im not able to decide and since its my first DSLR its all the more hard to decide


now im thinking about buying a 1000D and investing in lens coz, from wat i understood lenses never get outdated, so after two yrs when i start earning i can buy a high end DSLR and still use the same lens . so now comes the harder part, the lens


i like to shoot tiny things ( the macro mode on my powershot has been very satisfying ), portraits n landscape.


1. guess the 18-55 kinda covers landscape n portraits but is it good while used indoors?


2. and can i use a 85mm f/1.8 for portraits indoors?

[neuroanatomist]

guess the 18-55 kinda covers landscape n portraits but is it good while used indoors?

Not great for portraits - the narrow aperture means you won't get much background blur. Also, not very good indoors - you'll need flash.

can i use a 85mm f/1.8 for portraits indoors?

Absolutely! It's a great lens for portraits and the wide aperture means it's usable indoors. But, you'll get pretty tight portraits (head/shoulders) unless you have pretty big rooms.

i like to shoot tiny things ( the macro mode on my powershot has been very satisfying ), portraits n landscape.

You might consider the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro - it's not as fast as the 85mm f/1.8, but will do nicely for portraits (indoors and out), and is a full 1:1 macro lens.

[Bujji]

i hate using flash, it makes things look bad ...

You might consider the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro

and thats one more lens option now

unless you have pretty big rooms.

how big exactly?

[neuroanatomist]

i hate using flash, it makes things look bad ...

It doesn't have to...but that's one more accessory to buy. The reason the flash on your PowerShot 'makes things look bad' is because it's right next to the lens. Same will be true of the onboard pop-up flash on a dSLR. That results in harsh, unflattering light (and often red-eye, too). The solution is an external flash (in the hotshoe mount), which you can bounce off the ceiling for more flattering lighting. Here are two images from Bryan's review of the 430EX II - built-in flash on the left, bounced 430EX II on the right. See the difference?

unless you have pretty big rooms.

how big exactly?

Well, an 85mm lens on a 1.6x crop body at a subject distance of 8 feet will frame about 1.5x2 feet - that's a head/shoulders shot. To take a full-body portrait with an 85mm lens on a crop body (in portrait orientation), for a 6-foot tall subject you'd need to be ~23 feet away.

[Bujji]

jus a thought... how abt the 18-200mm and 50mm f/1.8


does it cover my needs?


1.8 for indoor and 18-200 for general purpose...


will it be a good choice?

[Sheiky]

now im thinking about buying a 1000D and investing in lens

i like to shoot tiny things ( the macro mode on my powershot has been very satisfying ), portraits n landscape.

Good choice I think. If I may say, I think the 18-55 you get with the camera is definitely not the idea of putting money into glass.


An 85 1.8 or the 60mm macro would be great, although it would be your only good lens. And it will limit you in some ways.


I personally would have chosen for a better quality general lens. And safe money to buy more specific lenses like a macro or a 1.8 lens later on.


My advice is to really take a look at the Tamron 17-50 f2.8. It offers you very high image quality for a low price and it will give you a great general purpose lens. The f2.8 constant aperture can be well used for portraiture and also indoors, although there will be occasions when you'd need a flash, but that's something you can't get away from. With a f1.8 lens you might have more low-light capabilities albeit at the cost of depth of field, which might be required also. It also means you'd need a faster shutterspeed to handhold it which is also a negative point for inside/low-light photography with it. So even with a f1.8 lens there will be occasions when you need a flash indoors.


If you would choose to buy a better general-purpose lens like the Tamron, I would advice you not to buy the 18-55 with the kit. Just buy the 1000D body.

2. and can i use a 85mm f/1.8 for portraits indoors?

Yes you can, but at the cost of depth of field (which can be good, but can also work against you) and the need of a fast shutterspeed

i like to shoot tiny things ( the macro mode on my powershot has been very satisfying )

I'm also a huge macro-fan, although I wouldn't advice you to base your gear on it. I personally think a solid base (read: general purpose-lens) is more important.


Good luck with your decision!


Jan

[TakahiroW4047]

i like to shoot tiny things ( the macro mode on my powershot has been very satisfying ), portraits n landscape.

This might be raising the hurdle a little too high for someone just learning dslr, but just had to throw my 2cents in from my personal experience []


Another cheap macro alternative: 50mm f/1.8 + Kenko Extension Tube Set Total: ~$270


As opposed to: 60mm f/2.8 Total: ~410


You have the benefit of being able to have the 50mm f/1.8 for nice indoor portraits, as well as having macro capabilities by mounting the extension tubes with the 50mm []


Here's some examples with the 50mm f/1.8+Kenko Extension Tubes: The flower is less than a size of a dime.


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.39.83/Macro-1.jpg[/img]


[img]/cfs-file.ashx/__key/CommunityServer.Components.UserFiles/00.00.00.39.83/Macro-2.jpg[/img]

[TakahiroW4047]

Although I would also throw in there and say that macro shooting with this set up can be very difficult for those without steady hands.


The depth of field (the range that the lens is in focus) is RIDICULOUSLY THIN. And I'm talking a matter of a cm moving forward and back and you will be entirely out of focus.


The autofocus is pretty much unusable, so you have to manually rock back and forth to get it in focus.


Does anyone have experience with autofocus on the 60mm macro? Is it a bit easier to handle?


Also, not to get into anything too technical, just know that if you are serious about getting into Macro photography, a speedlight will be VERY essential down the line. So you will probably need to set aside a budget for that as well. So if you are tight in the wallet, it wouldn't hurt to save a little where ever you can!!


Just tryin' to save you some money! []