Jump into DSLR?

[Spod]

Field of view?
Noob question I know but I'm looking into getting a DSLR most likely a Canon 450D with the usual 18-55mm lense but I'm looking at an extra lense from day one for motorsport and such most likely something along the the lines of the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS AF, now the question being reviews of the lense talk about the effective focal length on a full format camera and quote higher ranges, what is this and would it apply to the 450D

Good starter package?
Would this body and two lenses be a good starter or would I be hankering after something more powerful within the year?

Cost?
I'll be flying to NY April next year which is ages away, having looked about there's a few options, buy it all here along with the £50 cash back, buy at airport on tax free but are their prices higher anyway or buy in the states where prices don't seem that much cheaper and no warranty etc.

Choices choices...

[RvanR]

Originally Posted by Spod

Field of view?
reviews of the lense talk about the effective focal length on a full format camera and quote higher ranges, what is this and would it apply to the 450D

Good starter package?
Would this body and two lenses be a good starter or would I be hankering after something more powerful within the year?

Cost?
I'll be flying to NY April next year which is ages away, having looked about there's a few options, buy it all here along with the £50 cash back, buy at airport on tax free but are their prices higher anyway or buy in the states where prices don't seem that much cheaper and no warranty etc.

Choices choices...

The size of the sensor in the 450D is smaller than a normal 35mm negative. Standard lenses are designed to produce an image the size of a normal 35mm negative (actually the image is of course a circle.) When you use one of those lenses on a camera with a sensor that is smaller, you only use the central portion of the image produced by this lens. The smaller sensor size means that the edges of the image (wich are usually where the lens produces the lowest image quality) are not used. This of course is a good thing. However, the S lenses Canon sells as part of the kit are designed to produce a smaller image so the edges of the image are the real edges of the image produced by the lens.

A result of the smaller sensor size is that the 'effective' focal length of these lenses on your camera is: focal length x 1.6

Good starter package?
Whether this is a good starter package mainly depends on the size of your wallet. If you intend to go full frame at some point in the future your Canon S lenses cannot be used on your new camera.

On the other hand if you stick with the smaller size sensor (and many enthousiastic amateur photographers do) this is a good starter package.

I would not wait until April next year if you have the money now. As you said the difference is not that great and it is easier to get 'support' from the supplier if you buy locally.

[ryart]

Originally Posted by Spod

Good starter package?
Would this body and two lenses be a good starter or would I be hankering after something more powerful within the year?

It is a not only a good starter package but a good all round camera to carry on using. If you are the sort of person who likes the equipment as much as the photography (as a lot of people on techie forums seem to) then you probably will want something more in time. Speaking as a retired photographer who had the dubious pleasure of using Hasselblads, Sinars, Linhofs, Leicas etc, etc day in day out, I find the Canon 450d and its kit lenses fine for most (non-professional) needs, but then again I long ago lost the obsession with bigger, better equipment. Cameras are just tools and it is a question of finding one that does the required job to the required standard.

if you must have the ultimate then bear in mind that you could end up with a full size sensor camera eventually and it might be wise to bear this in mind when buying lenses now. You may find an upgrade useful if you start shooting for Vogue, producing exhibiton stand sized prints, or become a pro sports photographer. If you just want to enjoy taking pictures to a high standard, go with the 450 and kit lenses, save a barrel load of money and save your back from the strain of humping heavy equipment about.
Cheers, Malcolm

[Spod]

Thanks, I think I understand the whole effecive focal length better now and I ultimately want to just take better pictures, with the point and shoot now I'm limited to what's in my hand and at times it's just that, limiting.

Some reviews talk down the ability of the thrown in 18-55mm lense, would I be better in getting the body only and sourcing a different 18-55mm type lense if so what, I know I'd ultimately end up with a better lense but at a massive price increase? The 450D bundle + 55-250 lense and bag etc is already on my ideal budget.

Cheapest I can find it is £469 + the £50 cashback but on Dixons tax free it's £425 + £50 cashback, do people think the price has stabilised now? I can see it dropping slightly before April next year but not loads, it's more a case of do I want to save £50 and wait or get it now

[ryart]

I seem to remember reading that Canon have a 9% price rise in the offing, I might be wrong but worth checking.

There is a tendency to look down on the kit lenses. They don't have such good build quality but the optical quality is surprisingly good. You can compare MTF charts for Canon lenses on Canons US web site, these are very revealing about the sort of contrast and resolution you can expect and are very useful to balance against the annecdotal opinions people have. FWIW I have, in the past, used some of the best optics produced, but I am quite happy with the current Canon kit lenses. Bear in mind that the final use for my pictures these days is up to an A3 print and projecting at 1920x1080.

Horses for courses really, the difficulty can be avoiding tech lust . It all comes down to a compromise between price, weight, quality and build quality.
Cheers Malcolm