Can you obtain a decent Canon for £250-£300?

[dTEA]

Fast glass is a must. Honestly. A good walk around lens, and get a reasonable 17/18mm-50-70mm at f2.8

Should cover the shot of the little one and night time photography. That's my 2peneth

[Diamond Hell]

Full frame realises the full potential of the 50mm focal length.

I have a very good friend who lectures in multimedia at UWE who nearly exclusively uses a 50mm F1.8 on his 5D2.

[bobbarley]

I do love my 50mm prime. I'd definitely be looking to buy one for the Canon. Friend pointed out a nice 40mm which could be a nice alternative.

[DubFan]

I love my 50mm, but on a crop sensor, sometimes it's just not wide enough, particularly with the kids; you need to be able to zoom out wider when they are moving so much. Hence why I upgraded from the kit lens to a Sigma 18-50mm f2.8. The image quality isn't quite as good as the 50mm, and it doesn't go as low as the f1.7, but it's a decent lens.

I would second dTEA, but if you can only get one lens right now, get a prime, but if you can afford to, get a prime and a Sigma 18-50 (or 17-70) or Tamron 17-50 f2.8, skip the cheap kit lens stage completely.

Oh that new Canon 40mm f2.8 STM is meant to be quite nice, but costs a bit more than the 50mm f1.8.


Or, if you have the money, get the new Sigma 18-35mm f1.8. It looks great and the f1.8 will give you effectively the same depth of field and low light ability on a crop sensor as you would with an f2.8 on full frame.
DPReview link (I have no idea how expensive this will be though)

[ajmoir36]

My story....

I started with a 450D 18-55mm mk1 IS and a 55-250mm IS kit from Argos.

I added the 10-22mm EF-S USM (fantastic lens, money well spent - bought in New York from B and H).

I then added the 17-55mm EF-S F/2.8L IS USM used, (this was a good lens although started the dreaded lens creep when looking down) - and it started to get dust inside it. Takes absolutely fantastic photos on the 450D. (Traded in the 18-55mm IS for £50 too).

I then went mental sold the 55-250mm on eBay and bought the 70-200mm F/2.8L IS USM mk2 in San Diego whilst on business, best money I have ever spent on a lens. Was on at an instant $200 dollar rebate paid just a hair over £1500 new. (thanks overtime). This was my demise really, it produced such great quality images I was ruined and wanted more.

I then made the decision that I wanted a 7D so I picked up a refurbished 7D on eBay from Canon themselves for £750 with 12 months warranty. Sold the 450D on eBay. So at this point I owned the 7D, 10-22, 17-55mm, 70-200mm. I then splashed out on a 100mm macro IS USM F/2.8L courtesy of some Jessops vouchers for birthday e.t.c.

I was never really impressed with a the IQ/ISO of the 7D and I actually thought the 450D was better. So after a year of owning it I decided full frame was the way forwards. So the 17-55, 10-22 all got sold on eBay and the 16-35mmL mk2 arrived and 24-70mmL mk1 arrived for the 7D.  Used this for a bit longer before eventually selling the 7D and buying the 5D mk3. I suppose I have been a FLICKR member since June 2009 so it all started just before that.

So my advice, buy the best body you can afford and slowly buy the lens afterwards, but whatever you do make sure you choose wisely and buy lenses you intend to keep.  Try and figure out in advance where you are going with photography i.e. should I spend money and buy EF to start with as I would like a Full Frame eventually or I'll never buy that ever so EF-S is good enough.

I have taken some of my best photos with the 450D and the cheapo lenses, but there are certainly many more keepers now that I have better kit.

[DubFan]

Might I suggest you watch these from DigitalRev:

Pro SLR & cheap lens vs Cheap SLR & pro lens. http://youtu.be/hk5IMmEDWH4

Canon 1100D vs second hand 40D: http://youtu.be/ujAwXVF_X-E

Might help you decide about where to spend the money.

[ajmoir36]

Might I suggest you watch these from DigitalRev:

Pro SLR & cheap lens vs Cheap SLR & pro lens. http://youtu.be/hk5IMmEDWH4

Canon 1100D vs second hand 40D: http://youtu.be/ujAwXVF_X-E

Might help you decide about where to spend the money.

If I interpret those videos....

Buy good glass...cheap body to start with.

Buy used semi-pro body for the same money as new cheaper body.

[T_J_G]

Yes, in hindsight exactly what I'd do!