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General => General discussion => Topic started by: mellow yellow on 19 August 2011, 13:39

Title: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: mellow yellow on 19 August 2011, 13:39
as per the title really, these keep popping up on the bay quite cheap, i've read a few reviews but i'm none the wiser on how capable the camera is today?

would it be worth splashing out the £150 they are going for?
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: Diamond Hell on 19 August 2011, 14:16
If it's in good condition it'll be an excellent intro to the world of DSLR.

My parents have one which I use from time to time and rarely find it lacking for taking pictures.
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: Diamond Hell on 19 August 2011, 14:17
Possibly worth looking into 30D units as well.
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: T_J_G on 19 August 2011, 14:25
That'll be 150 well spent!
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: mellow yellow on 19 August 2011, 14:55
missed one earlier for 178 with extra fisheye lense etc.  :cry:

how do they compare to sony a200's as they are on a similar budget, i notice that is is built into the sony's rather than into the lenses on the canon?
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: Diamond Hell on 19 August 2011, 16:16
i notice that is is built into the sony's rather than into the lenses on the canon?

eh?  What's built in to what?
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: mellow yellow on 19 August 2011, 16:55
i notice that is is built into the sony's rather than into the lenses on the canon?

eh?  What's built in to what?

the image stablisation is built into the body in the sony's, rather than into the lenses on the canons

... opinions on the sonys?
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: Toby on 19 August 2011, 19:11
also looking at a dslr! had my photo head on holiday took a few snaps ill upload in a min

but dont really want to soend £££ on something i might not enjoy/ get the hang of!
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: T_J_G on 19 August 2011, 20:07
Toby what model Fuji you got, if it's a bridge camera you may not need to upgrade just yet...
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: Toby on 19 August 2011, 23:17
http://www.fujifilm.com/support/digital_cameras/specifications/j/finepix_j30/index.html

this, what is bridge?
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: shepgti on 20 August 2011, 00:04
http://www.fujifilm.com/support/digital_cameras/specifications/j/finepix_j30/index.html

this, what is bridge?

thats just a compact, a dslr is far superior(even a cheap low end one)
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: Toby on 20 August 2011, 00:06
Yea we only brought it to take pics of holidays etc
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: shepgti on 20 August 2011, 00:33
Yea we only brought it to take pics of holidays etc

perfect for holiday snaps but not so much for 'real' photography
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: Toby on 20 August 2011, 08:01
Yeah which what I wantto try and have a go at, my Gf step dad has a dslr I think it's a nikon and he's got big lenses etc so I'm wondering if it's cheaper for me to grt a nikon as I can borrow his lenses etc?
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: T_J_G on 20 August 2011, 09:57
Nikon d3100 is £399 in Currys/Comet.
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: DubFan on 21 August 2011, 13:46
I got my first DSLR for £150.
It was a Sony Alpha 100 with a 18-70mm kit lens. Which served me very well.
I've since replaced it with a Sony Alpha 350, again secondhand which was £200 for the body, but that wasn't a problem because I already had lenses.

I really rate the Sony Alphas. There's not a great deal of difference between an Alpha 100 and 200. But once you get to the newer 290, 300, 350 you see the better spec.
The image stabilisation in the body is pretty good, and it means you can pick up older secondhand lenses cheap (I got a Tamron 28-200mm zoom for £29)

Here's one I took with my Alpha 350 the other day:
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6209/6060124388_8a0e95fcdd_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47903765@N00/6060124388/)
Love bugs (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47903765@N00/6060124388/) by AlistairBeavis (http://www.flickr.com/people/47903765@N00/), on Flickr

And here's one I took with my Alpha 100 last year.
(http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6148/6030274386_0d90214038_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47903765@N00/6030274386/)
Bee-hind you (http://www.flickr.com/photos/47903765@N00/6030274386/) by AlistairBeavis (http://www.flickr.com/people/47903765@N00/), on Flickr

Just fyi, all except the most expensive Nikon DSLRs use Sony image sensors.

If you only have money for a second hand DSLR, don't worry.
Starting with a Canon 350D isn't a bad place, start with a 17-55mm kit lens, then later add a 50mm f1.8 prime (fixed/non-zoom) lens (probably around £80 new). This will teach you so much just using the 50mm.
You can then upgrade the body to a 450D or 500D in a year or two.

Remember that once you pick one camera make, you'll be best off sticking to it. You can't swap a Nikon fit lens onto a Canon camera or vice versa. So if you get a Canon 350D, you'll have the stick with them once you've started buying lenses and accessories.
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: Toby on 21 August 2011, 16:42
thats why id probaly get a nikon, fatherinlaw has a nikon d7000 i think it was, around £900
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: DubFan on 21 August 2011, 17:46
My dad had a compatible Sigma 100-300mm lens which I've "borrowed" for 2yrs now.
So if your father in law has Nikon, that's a very good reason to go with Nikon.

How about this, D3000 with 18-55mm lens ? £299 s/h
http://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Used/Nikon-D3000-+-18-55mm_40222.html (http://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Used/Nikon-D3000-+-18-55mm_40222.html)
Ok, so not your original £150, but a very recent camera for good money.
Scratch that, you can get a D3000 with kit lens new from Amazon for £299. http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002J9GIAQ/ref=asc_df_B002J9GIAQ4104933?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B002J9GIAQ (http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002J9GIAQ/ref=asc_df_B002J9GIAQ4104933?smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&tag=googlecouk06-21&linkCode=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B002J9GIAQ)
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: Toby on 21 August 2011, 18:13
yaeh i think ill get a d3000 at £300 cant really go wrong, im on call next week so time to earn some ££  :evil: then in 2 weeks ill buy one!
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: Diamond Hell on 21 August 2011, 18:39
These are out of a 350D I've been using today (except the first couple, which are blatantly camera phone  :grin:)
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: Toby on 21 August 2011, 19:08
i see no pics?
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: Diamond Hell on 21 August 2011, 19:11
Doh!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43476789@N00/sets/72157627472366584/with/6066165480/
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: DubFan on 21 August 2011, 19:24
Why'd you use the 350D? What's up with your 500D DH ?
Title: Re: canon eos 350d, good starter dslr?
Post by: Diamond Hell on 21 August 2011, 19:33
Being serviced and recalibrated