New DSLR

[scraverX]

So, I'm looking at upgrading my 4-odd year old Pentax 'Entry level' *istDS.

I'm probably going to go Canon - I blame this on meeting Tenchi at Wakefield park and oggling his Canon DSLR and insanely big lenses.

This is why I comment about expensive hobbies... I was in a camera store today before work looking at choices and well... talking to one of the sales people.

I think I've found my next DSLR but it's a touch on the expensive side and I'm a little worried my other half might think I'm bonkers.

I'm looking at the Canon 7D *droool* I got to handle it and play around...

Very tempting...

Anyway... comment if you like.

[86MIM]

If your camera is 4 years-ish old, I think that it can be considered a good expense because of the interchangeable lenses I sold the idea to the otherhalf (aka the bank haha) as not buying just 'one' camera

[jamez707]

canon is a good choice and iv had a look at the 7D and have heard some good thing. if i qas going to get a new dslr i would probably get the 7D

[SIR-VRX]

As you know mate, 7D is my choice ATM. Just need money LOL

Just do it. You know you want to

[LZY_EYE]

I have a Canon EOS Digital X2, which is the japanese version of the EOS 450D.

I am pretty happy with it, and kills my 300D that I lost custody of

I do want to get some lenses and a speed light.... when I stop spending money on the car!!

[bd-850]

you can always get a better half but a camera is for life

[Aspired]

To help you choose a camera have a look at http://dpreview.com/
Its a great site with heaps of info and reviews

[exaltd]

If only you could stretch the budget....

Canon EOS 5D Mk. II *drool*

That is respect man!

-EXALTD-

[scraverX]

Yeah... the 5D mk.II is a little too much of a stretch for me. Hence the 7D.

Review really helped Aspired. I actually got my current DLSR based on a review from that site and had sorta forgotten about it. lol

[Bandit]

I have a Canon 350D which is now a few years old. I bought a new Tamron lens (which was about $800) 2 years ago and has given the camera a new lease on life. I have no reason to change or upgrade as the camera does everything I want it to.

There are 2 things to consider when buying a new camera )in my opinion).

1. How much you want to play around with features and shooting modes etc etc.

The more expensive DSLR's I reckon don't have all that many features to justify their massive cost over the more standard ones. Sure they may have more megapixels and in some instances, more focal points, but do you really need more than 7 focus points?? If you can't get something in focus with 7 focal points (even if you select only one or two of those as priority) should you really be bothering with a DSLR??!

2. What you are going to do with your photos.

If you are going to make huge posters, give your impages to newspapers and magazines or make A3+ sized prints, you are going to need higher megapixel camera. If you are going to be like 80% of the population and print at 6x8 or 8x12, or view your photos on a computer monitor or worse still, upload them to some photoviewing site that compresses them massively, you aren't going to need more than 7 or 8 megapixels. Anything over and above is just a waste of money. The APS-C sensor on DSLR is the same size - so all 18 megapixles over 8 means the information is more compressed. Maybe I am just a luddite and prefer more simple, honest technology....

I recommend spending the minimal amount you can on the body that has the number of megapixels you need and the features you want and spend the rest on decent lenes. The lenses that come with most cameras usally a bit rubbish and need to be upgraded fairly quickly if you're going to be serious about taking decent pics.

[LZY_EYE]

+1 Bandit.... I had this discussion with customers when I used to sell cameras. Megapixels aren't everything....

My compact is a fuji 6mp. It had the biggest sized CCD at the time, and while it is only 6mp the quality of the shots are fantastic.

I used to print good quality A4 prints with my first digicam, which was only 2mp!

I need to save up and get some lenses for my EOS, the image quality will be so much better

EDIT: when I say size of CCD I don't mean how many pixels, but the physical size of the CCD. Thats the thing with compact cameras today, the CCDs physical size is usually the same, they are just cramming more pixels in.

[jamez707]

i concur. large megapixel is a wast for most people. the only reason i take full resolution photos with my dslr is so i can crop a lot without loosing too much quality. i myself have never printed a photo in my life all my photos are on my comp and you can only see the resolution that the computer displays.

[scraverX]

I currently shoot at 1.5 (max for my camera is 6) There's two reasons for this. 1) I usually post them to websites. 2) I can cram 400 odd shots in my little baby 512mb memory card - Yeah... I haven't upgraded the card in a while >.>

I probably do need better lenses, Though I have Sigma lenses for my Pentax... I could get a bigger memory card but I'd have to Flash the firmware to use the HC SD cards.

[tryg]

Pay more for glass than for body... My daily camera is a D200.. but the megapix issue is moot if you pay for crap glass...

Fast lenses, f1.4 or f1.8 are best, especially fixed glass, impressive shots will be the order of the day!

Good luck with the 7D!

[jamez707]

i really want to get a canon wide lens its costs more than my body but a good investment for the future