First dSLR - Many Questions!

[jezzer256]

Hi

My Dad and I are thinking of going halves on a dSLR. Having just bought the Canon Ixus 850 for P&S photography, we're finding that we miss more of the mannual stuff from our old camera.

So, we went to the shop and tried out the Canon 400d and the Nikon D50. We both decided we liked the 400d better - is this a good choice? We have about £500 to spend.

Now, if we were to go with the 400d, where should we get it from for as cheap as possible? I looked on eBay, saw many auctions something about 'Rebel XTi 400d' - what is this? Also, are the lens that come bundled with these auctions any good? Can someone point me to a decent auction/BIN please?

Finally, does anyone know of a free walkthrough the get us started with the 400d? I'm scared that I'm not gonna know what I'm doing when I take it out of the box.

Cheers guys

Jezzer

[senu]

Originally Posted by jezzer256

Hi
So, we went to the shop and tried out the Canon 400d and the Nikon D50. We both decided we liked the 400d better - is this a good choice? We have about £500 to spend.

It is a (justifiably) popular camera..and a good choice. Its achiiles heel is the Kit lens it is bundled with. That lens is "almost free" , helps you learn the camera and is usable.
I would buy it and save up for better later :

Finally, does anyone know of a free walkthrough the get us started with the 400d? I'm scared that I'm not gonna know what I'm doing when I take it out of the box.

This simple one Here

And This one

Should help you get over that "fear"..and there is no shortage of help on this and other online forums

As for cheap prices there are others here who have a keen eye for bargains and will point you the right way. Im not that hot myself on using ebay especially for high value items

[horribleman]

Rebel XTi is the US version - be careful as the warranty will not apply in the UK.

Canon are doing £50 cashback on the 400D too, so from Jessops website you should use code madness20 and then add a compact flash card if you need one, else a filter or something and that accessory will be discounted by £20.

I think the 400D is about £479, so that makes it £429 with cashback.

Are you planning to be buying millions of lenses? I would also consider the Nikon D40/D40X which both have £60 cashback on at the minute.

The D40 is £349 and the D40X is £478 which means that they will be £299 and £428 respectively.

They also have the capable Pentax K100D for £299 which has an anti shake (image stabilisation) built into the lens.

Pros and cons of each in my opinion (and I have owned both the Nikon D40 and Canon 400D).

Pros:

Canon
More Autofocus points (9 vs 3 on the Nikon)
Anti Dust startup - although in practice this is a bit useless.
10 MP vs 6 (although the D40X also has 10)
Easier to change shooting parameters on the fly

Nikon
Auto ISO. Very useful for me.
Very good kit lens (18 - 55 AF-S DX)
Slightly more comfortable to hold

Pentax
Anti Shake built in
Has a LCD for shooting info on the top, whereas the Nikons and Canon have it incorporated into the rear LCD
Larger camera (might not be a plus for you)

Cons

Canon
Mediocre kit lens
Slightly worse build quality
Grip is a bit small but not too bad

Nikon
No autofocus motor built into camera (Limits to Nikkor AF-S and Sigma USM lenses)
Slightly more difficult to change some settings on the fly

Pentax
Less lenses available
It's a bit of a black sheep (most people use Canon or Nikon)

Hope that's helpful.

[senu]

Originally Posted by horribleman

Pros and cons of each in my opinion (and I have owned both the Nikon D40 and Canon 400D).

...and now the D80!!

Useful post though .
I use both the D80 and Canons 350 and 30D but was trying to shy away from info overload to the OP especially as he has held both the 400D and D50 (Which I quite like BTW) in a shop

[jezzer256]

Cheers guys. Looks like I'll be sticking with the 400D - I really don't want a camera any bigger than this, and I liked the way it felt in the shop.

Now, for deals, does anyone know anywhere that sells it cheaper than £429?

Jezzer

EDIT: Found this, what do you guys think? £399 is a great price! Jezzer.

[bibamus]

I think thats about your cheapest. I would order online from Jessops then pick it up in store ( what i did with my D80)
Then, if anything goes wrong, you take it back to the store instead of posting it off somewhere( with associated costs) You also get the option to take it back for a refund within 30 days if you dont like it ( dont open the software if you want to do this)
There may be cheaper places but none more convenient, assuming you have a Jessops close by. Buy a CF card from elsewhere though! Much cheaper.

(Re your link, do you really want a silver one?)

Allan

[chris1210]

The D40 with the kit lens and the newly released 55-200mmVR is a formidable package. And with the new Nikon cashback offers, will cost you under £450.

I've been really impressed with my newly aqquired D40.... and that is after dropping down from a D80.

Unless you make mahoosive prints, 6mp is much more than enough, and thats what i've found out to my own financial detrement

[jezzer256]

True, I would probably want a black one, but for £20 off, I'm happy with silver! Anyway, I think you're right, it would be better to get it from Jessops just to be on the safe side in case anything goes wrong - I've got one in town fairly near me so it shouldn't be a problem.

I better get reading those guides, and hopefully I'll be able to go and buy it within the next few days, if my Dad can cough up the cash!

Jezzer

EDIT: Sorry chaps, whats the difference between the D40 and the D40X? Is it just the extra 4mp on the X? If so, then maybe it is worth going for the D40 rather than the 400d, and adding a 200mm lense into the package. What do you think?

[horribleman]

The D40X also has a ISO 100 mode (the D40 starts at ISO 200).

In practical terms, you'd be pretty pressed to tell the difference.

What 200mm lens are you looking at?

[jezzer256]

I really am a beginner so I don't know much about lenses; I just want a fairly decent one! Has anyone got any recommendations, preferably from Jessops so I can buy it all together? Also, if I bought a 200mm lens, should I just buy the D40/400D body only and not bother with a 55mm lens?

Jezzer

[horribleman]

Only certain lenses will auto focus on a D40 or D40X, and I think that they are usually quite expensive.

If you are going to be wanting cheap quality lenses, you should stick with the 400D.

[jezzer256]

So, can someone link me a resonably decent and cheap 200mm lens on Jessops for the 400D, that will autofocus?

If I get the standard Jessops package with the 55mm lens, will this lens have autofocus? I presume it will?

Jezzer

[bibamus]

This looks like a bargain here, if they have any left. (I assume it fits the 400d, but you would have to check)

Allan

[Holowlegs]

Hi ya

Why don't you get the 400d from Jessops, with the kit lens. Learn how to use the camera with the kit lens.

Then if you are looking for a cheap zoom lens, Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO DG Macro Lensis well like on here and you can pick it up for £109.99 from OneStop
Who are based in Hong Kong. Or you can pick it up in this country for £140. Jessops do for about £180.

Cheers Holo

[jezzer256]

Wow, that would have been a good deal, but it says its discontinued now . Any other ideas? Maybe I should just stick with a 55mm lens for now, and maybe add a 200mm later when I'm more used to the camera.

Jezzer