Good DSLR camera

[scruffmcgruff]

You have nice Nikon glass and bought a different brand body?

I bought the Canon dSLR first, before I knew my dad had some Nikon stuff he was willing to part with. *facepalm* I use my film body much more than the digital anyway, but in retrospect it was still stupid.

[entropyembrace]

You have nice Nikon glass and bought a different brand body?

I bought the Canon dSLR first, before I knew my dad had some Nikon stuff he was willing to part with. *facepalm* I use my film body much more than the digital anyway, but in retrospect it was still stupid.

Oh I see! I got some Nikon glass from my mom...it wasnt anything fancy though just a different mid range zoom...I do like using it for landscapes because it works much better at capturing colour in the sky without underexposing the landscape than my kit lens.

[Elarya]

For my business, I use a Canon Digital Rebel (I take photos of my work being modeled). It is the 300d - the first digital slr canon came out with (Yes, I am due for an upgrade, haha). Despite it being old, it is the best out of its level. I have been watching prices of the Canon 40D- which one day I will have Unfortunately, since the D40 is different, I will not be able to swap lenses/ etc. But one day I plan to have the Mark 1D, and the D40 lenses/accessories will all be compatible. I will keep my 300D though as a backup.

I have always had Canons because for one, I am used to them, and they take phenomenal photos!

[scruffmcgruff]

For my business, I use a Canon Digital Rebel (I take photos of my work being modeled). It is the 300d - the first digital slr canon came out with (Yes, I am due for an upgrade, haha). Despite it being old, it is the best out of its level. I have been watching prices of the Canon 40D- which one day I will have Unfortunately, since the D40 is different, I will not be able to swap lenses/ etc. But one day I plan to have the Mark 1D, and the D40 lenses/accessories will all be compatible. I will keep my 300D though as a backup.

I have always had Canons because for one, I am used to them, and they take phenomenal photos!

Why can't you use your current lenses on the 40D body? They're both the EF-S mount (takes EF and EF-S lenses), aren't they? The full-frame bodies like the Mark 1D and such are EF-only though, so they can't take all the same lenses.

[Elarya]

A few people whom told me none of them would work on the 40d?

Let's see- looking now... I have a Canon Zoom Lens EF 35-80mm 1:4-5.6

You are saying this will indeed work on a 40d?

[scruffmcgruff]

I'm not 100% sure, but I thought EF-S lenses worked on all crop-frame sensor bodies. You might want to do some research online, though. I know they work on the Digital Rebel XTi, which is just a pro-sumer/stripped-down version of the 40D. The XTi might be something to consider if you don't need the extra features the 40D has, as it is far cheaper.

EF lenses (not EF-S) work with all Canon digital bodies, so you can go ahead and get some faster glass! 4-5.6 sounds pretty limiting, to me.

[Elarya]

It is very limiting and am so due for an upgrade. Unfortunately, I did not like the way the XS and Xti felt in my hands. Are they smaller?

I will definitely do some more research. I was under the impression I had to pretty much get new equipment for the D40, new lenses at least, different memory, etc But I definitely know the D40 is the one I want after looking at all the specs of them all. Some, the DigicIII, noise reduction at high iso, etc. Here is one of the articles I read on comparison of the Xsi, Xti and 40d

Hmm, are we allowed to post links?

Here is the article (apology in advance if we are not allowed to post links.. will go look again at the rules)
http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/di ... s_40D.html

[scruffmcgruff]

It also depends what you will use your camera for. It sounded like you would be using it for product photography, so the noise reduction you mentioned isn't going to be an issue, as you should be using low ISO and a tripod for this kind of photography. I may have misunderstood though; if you could clarify what your shooting conditions are, and what specific features you are really looking for, that would help.

If you really think you need the high ISO you should probably consider getting some faster glass before worrying about noise reduction; an f/2 prime would be a full 2-3 stops faster (or if you like the zoom, a constant f/2.8 model would be 1-2 stops faster) than your current lens, so you could shoot with the same shutter speeds at a much lower ISO. While you would have to use ISO 1600 with an f/5.6 lens at max aperture, you would only have to use 400 with f/2.8, 200 with f/2, or 100 with f/1.4. I don't know of any noise-reduction processing that can come close to the difference between shooting at 1600 and 100 or 200!

I don't know if the 40D (the D40 is a Nikon model, very different than the 40D) is larger, but it wouldn't surprise me as it is a pro model. That said, you can always buy the battery grip for the Rebels, which will increase their size and weight while adding a better grip for vertically-oriented shots. Also, you have to weigh whether the nicer feel is really worth several hundred dollars when that money could be spent on one or two great lenses!

You will probably have to get new accessories for the 40D, at least according to that article you showed me, but I'm quite confident you can use your EF lens on any Canon camera made since they got rid of the FD mount (a long time ago). In my previous post I mentioned EF-S; I must have misread your lens' description, as I see now it is EF.

[chingwa]

Yes EF lenses will work on any modern Canon SLR. digital or otherwise. The lens you have will work fine on any canon DSLR... you only need to worry about compatibility if you have an EF-S lens, as those will not work on the higher end Canon cameras.

The Xsi/digital rebel series are pretty small plasticky cameras. I think you'll find a 40D will be much better balanced in your hand. However I think you are much better off, as Scruff said, by getting a better lens first and foremost before upgrading your camera. The camera after all is only an image recording device... it's the lens that "sees" and "draws" the picture.

For example, you'll be able to get better photos using a better lens on even the most basic plastic canon DSLR then you will get from using your current lens on a $7000 professional canon DSLR...

chingwa, what body do you have that -lux attached to? I will probably pick up a classic Leica (M4 would be my pick) at some point in my lifetime, but certainly not in the near future, heh. Especially when Hassys are so much cheaper!

It's stuck "permanently" on a leica M8 as I can only really afford/justify having 1 leica lens It is insanely expensive, but it is also the best lens I've ever used as far as sharpness, contrast,distortion, focusing, and depth of field goes (the canon 50 1.4 isn't even in the same league, I sold it off many years ago ). The M8 has it's quirks, both good quirks and bad quirks, and is itself insanely expensive. I've toyed with the idea of "downgrading" (or "upgrading" depending on your perspective) to an M6, but I just can't go back to film... and I can't afford to have 2 leica cameras

[Elarya]

Thank you for all the info! And I definitely do agree about the lens upgrade, as it is always the delimiting factor.

[Victoria]

Thanks everyone, I hope to be looking in stores this weekend.

[hooksie]

Same here, thanks to all who gave advice.

Ordered up a D5000, should be here this week.

[kymidwife]

Same here, thanks to all who gave advice.

Ordered up a D5000, should be here this week.

Hooksie... did you get your D5000 yet? I've been considering diving into photography, and this camera was recommended to me by a leader of the local photography club, along with the 18-200mm lens. I'm squeamish about investing this much into the equipment when I'm not even an experienced hobby photographer yet... but I don't want to buy something low-end and end up regretting it when I get more advanced. I'd love to hear how you are liking this camera.

Sarah

[kymidwife]

I have a camera dilemma... will appreciate some input from you experienced shutterbugs.

I just bought a Nikon D5000, wanting to explore photography as a hobby. I must say I really love the camera so far... I got the basic 18-55mm f/3.5 - f/5.6 DX Nikkor lens plus an add-on in the package of a Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED AF-S DX VR Zoom Lens.

So... there is a "service advisory" recently released on this camera... not a total recall, just an advisory regarding faulty on/off button on a certain batch of particular serial numbers. Mine is in this series.
http://www.nikonusa.com/Service-And-Sup ... isory.page

So my issue is this... if I send the camera body back to Nikon, they will apparently inspect and refurbish/repair it if there is a defect. I don't like the idea of a 10-day-old camera already being refurbished... I just want a new camera in perfect working order, which I feel is what I paid for. If I return it to the retailer, I can't get it replaced with another camera as every camera in the store (and apparently the warehouse too) is also amongst the cameras affected.

So, I can:
-Keep it and hope it is not affected (and worry about it the whole time);
-I can hold onto it and exchange it when/if a fresh batch comes through the retailer, who has kindly offered to extend my return period indefinitely until the situation is resolved;
-I can return it to Nikon and let them refurbish if needed, during which time I will be without a camera, and will end up with a refurb when it's not even 2 weeks old yet;
-Or I can upgrade to a D90 package with an 18-105mm VR for about 250.00 more than my original purchase price; and if I want to not lose out on zoom capabilities, I can get a D90 package with the above lens plus a 70-300mm VR... for about 600.00 more than my original purchase price.

I really like the D90 body... nicer feel than the D5000, slightly bigger display, faster FPS... but not sure it is worth the price for me as a beginner. I know the conventional wisdom is to put $$ into glass, not body, and I agree with this, which is why I went for the D5000 in the first place. But, with this service advisory thing, I am just confused on what's the wisest path to take. I am not into spending unnecessary extra $$$ but want to make a wise choice.

Anyone got any advice to share?

Thanks,

Sarah

[scruffmcgruff]

Are they exchanging your camera for another refurbished camera, or are they refurbishing your camera and sending it back to you? If it's the latter, definitely do that. I don't really see any problem with having it repaired, especially by the original manufacturer.