Canon 450D - and Lens for RC Photography

[neiloliver]

I am looking at getting a 400D or 450D. I want to use it for landscape, familiy and RC car photography. What would people advise re a lens other than the 18-55 bundled? My total budget is around £700.

Neil

[Stu]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-EOS-400D...713.m153.l1262

+

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-EF-S-17-...713.m153.l1262

+

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-EF-70-20...713.m153.l1262

[mole2k]

You could probably squeeze a 2nd hand 70-200 f4L into that budget, its a fantastic lens for the money and would be very good for getting close into the action.

[Stu]

Sound advice.

Neil, don't rush anything - come see me or Jimmy at Talywain.

[neiloliver]

thanks guys, i have a lot of research to do I think. The 400 really has come down in price. I wont me at Tally Stu unless i come down for the day to watch

I was looking at this Tamron lens -

http://www.jessops.com/Store/s66320/...)/details.aspx

hero or zero?

N

[Stu]

Tamaron (& Sigma) suff is good - but if you can afford proper Canon lenses (and it seems you can afford Canon L at that) then get proper Canon ones.

For what you say you want the camera for 300mm is OTT.

As Mole says - the 70-200 F4 L is ace - it's what I use for all the RC & rally stuff, and I suspect Mole uses his for all the rally stuff also.

Try to avoid the Canon 17-55 lense that often comes with the kit - it's crap. You can afford the 17-85 instead which is much better.

[JCJC]

Canon Outlet is back on eBay they have some of these, worth a look
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-Outlet-D...742.m153.l1262

thats 400d with the 18/55 stock lens at £299 + £5.99 post, or others you can bid on. also 70-200 F4 L's to bid on

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Canon-Outlet

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-Outlet-E...742.m153.l1262

[Stu]

Good skills Jordan.

[JCJC]

Hi Stu, its Jordans dad, we found a second hand 70/200 f4 L late last year , great lens, and great advise from you last year, will use it at Swindon on Sunday.

Look at these, someone had a couple of good buys:

http://search-completed.ebay.co.uk/s...p=1%26fsoo%3D1

[Stu]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-Outlet-D...713.m153.l1262

That will be a super buy.
The 350 is essentially the same as the 400/450. It has a smaller screen and a lower pixel count (that makes no difference) plus a few other unimportant things.
What is important is it comes with the much better 17-85 lens - instead of the 18-55.

Canon are ace - they bring out new models almost every day, generally with gimmiky extras that make little difference to the photographs produced. It keeps the prices in Jessops sky high, and the cost of the 'old' models drops like a stone.

Canon outlet's ace - I think I'm gonna get a 5d from there, hopefully they will bring out a 6d, then I can cash in on the price crash.

[neiloliver]

Stu,

I have been looking at the Canon lenses on this page. On the first two in the list, what is the difference between EF and EF-S ?

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/cate...=3077&brand=37

I am thinking of either the 400D or 450D with the 18-55 lense and then getting one of these 55-200mm lenses. Is that a better choice than 75-300?

I sound a right noobie!

[Stu]

You have a £700 budget man - you can do better than that.

Forget the 18-55 lens - it's crap.

You can afford a body with a 17-85 lense - which is much better.

You can also afford a 70-200 F4 L - which is, as stated above, ace.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-Outlet-D...713.m153.l1262
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-EF-70-20...713.m153.l1262

Both those two shops are good - I've had stuff from the both on more than one occasion.

[jimmy]

I think the EF is normal full-frame format lens, the EF-S is for compact sensors like the 300D/450D 20D-40D etc etc. I think.
Agree with Stu, the sort of setup he's shown is great.

[Stu]

You may be able to afford a 30d - which is better class of body.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-Outlet-D...713.m153.l1262

[mole2k]

EF-s lenses are made for 1.6 crop camera's like the 20/30/40D and 350/400/450D, they wont work on full frame cameras.

As stu said above deffinately go for the 17-85 and 70-200 instead of the kit 17-55 and 55-200. The lenses are a world of difference its like comparing toy camera's to professional gear.

[Jonathan]

(ok, Im too slow, you had a couple of answers to this already !)
EF-S lenses only fit digital cameras with cropped sensors / are specifically designed for the smaller non full frame sensor. However you still have to multiply the quoted zoom by 1.6 to give the equivelant focal lenght.

Ive had an EFS 17-85 IS on my 20d for nearly 4 years. Turns your SLR into a great walk arround / travel camera and can take a nice picture but it is limiting in creative and low light action photography.

Its nice to have the wide angle though.

Originally Posted by neiloliver

Stu,

I have been looking at the Canon lenses on this page. On the first two in the list, what is the difference between EF and EF-S ?

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/cate...=3077&brand=37

I am thinking of either the 400D or 450D with the 18-55 lense and then getting one of these 55-200mm lenses. Is that a better choice than 75-300?

I sound a right noobie!

[neiloliver]

Thanks all, The ~£330 (inc postage) for the EF 70-200 F/4.0 L USM is far better than the £450 in Jessops. I will try to get down to Tally' to take a look at people gear, in the mean time i will continue my research.

Cheers
Neil

[tjpMT2]

Originally Posted by Stu

Forget the 18-55 lens - it's crap.

You can afford a body with a 17-85 lense - which is much better.

You can also afford a 70-200mm F4 L - which is, as stated above, ace.

The original 18-55 lens was crap, there were rumors that it cost canon a couple of quid to make The new IS version is meant to actually be alright for 'happy-snappy' use and small prints. The EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM is meant to be a great lens. People have said its a EFS lens with L class glass but it will put you over budget though... If your budget ends up being stretched which everyone’s ends up doing have a look at the EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM is a great lens its got to be the best for RC use. Takes great shots and as its a L lens which means its 100% sealed so no dust getting in I’ve got a 400D and use the EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM (MK 1 is pictured not MK 2!)which was recommended to me by the photographer for the MaxBashing magazine (its a RC Mag I promise ) and its been great for RC and every day use, however slightly poor in low light.

Heres a few pics, all are by me and first 4 are of same event,

Canon40D w/70-200

Canon 400D w/28-105

Be careful of Honk Kong sellers a lot of the stuff over there is fake. Make sure it has the little Gold label on the camera. A great place to pick up a cheep 70-200 is from a seller who is located in Scotland on eBay. I can't seem to find him now but ill go and find a link to him, in the item name it norm says *IN SCOTLAND*. Edit: Cant find him anymore seems he no longer sells as his link comes up as invalid, but THIS is in the UK and is the same price as the one from HK...

I hope Jimmy doesn't mind me linking to other forums but a great forum for cameras is DPreview...

[mole2k]

I think the scotland seller you are talking about is called Ian kerr or Kerso. He sells a lot of stuff on a photography forum I frequent (www.talkphotography.co.uk) comes very well recommended.

[tjpMT2]

Originally Posted by mole2k

I think the scotland seller you are talking about is called Ian kerr or Kerso. He sells a lot of stuff on a photography forum I frequent (www.talkphotography.co.uk) comes very well recommended.

Yes thats him