Complete SLR newbie needs advice

[DistortionNat]

Hi,
After spending the last good few years trying to get half decent shots from the usual range of compact digital cameras I have taken the plunge and got myself a Canon 400D.
I have heard a lot about dust and I am wondering what is the best way to store the camera when not in use.
Should I get myself a kit bag and remove the lens from the body and store away like that? Or should I avoid removing the lens at all costs - even though it does seem that these kit bags arent anywhere near big enough to house a body and lens together.

Thanks,

Nat.

[netronelson]

Hi There,

Congrats on your first DSLR! - remember, you'll have to post up some shots when you have some too

Get yourself a Lowepro camera bag, the most popular by far and they have a good range, get one that is big enough to future proof and hold all the new lenses you're about to buy !

Don't worry about dust too much when storing. Keep the lense on and only change when you need to. When changing lenses, do it quickly, preferably indoors or at least out of the wind and remember to replace the end caps on the other lenses when not in use.

[Jedfordski]

Agree with above.

Also, turn the power off when changing the lens. When you turn it back on the automatic dust removal thing will kick in and hopefully remove any dust that has landed during the change.

I've got the Lowepro Slingshot A200 which has enough room for my 400D, Canon 60mm Macro, Sigma, 70-300mm and 17-85 Canon. I've rearranged the internal pouches so that the camera with 300mm lens attached will fit in snugly. Plenty of room also for my Epson P2000, JVC HDD camcorder, spare batteries, cables, flash cards etc. However, the new A300 is bigger again and so would comfortably hold another few lenses. It wasn't out when I bought mine though.

[Pirate!!]

FWIW, if in doubt, look in the Argos catalogue. Shed loads in there.

[lightpainter]

Lowpro for me as well, I’ve got the Slingshot 100, plenty of room for my Canon 20D with 17-85 IS attached and room for a 75-300 USM and standard lens, also storage for spare cards as you can see in the photo, it has a pocket at the top that I keep my spare Fujifilm S602Zoom, a pocket on the back I keep my binoculars in.

[DistortionNat]

Brilliant!
Thanks guys for your replies.
I will definatly post some pics when I have some!!
Those Lowepro bags look great, Ill have to see if Jessops have any in stock so I can go look at them and try them out for size.
I really dont know where I am going to go from here. I dont have a lot of knowledge just yet so I have no idea what lenses to get or indeed how many I am going to end up with, so choosing a bag is going to be tricky.

[ilweran]

Don't forget the cashback offer - http://www.daymen.co.uk/promos/cashback/CashBack-tc.htm