DSLR - quick advice please :)

[David A]

Cheeky request for some advice if anyone is bored and has time for me

I've always fancied having a "real" camera as opposed to a point and click effort, yes it will be a toy for a bit, no I'll never learn to use it properly, yes I'll buy all the gear use it a while and stick it in a drawer, sooooo....

I've been thinking about the 350D but haven't a clue what lenses to get. I guess i'd like a cheap example of each type. To me theres the close up lens, normal photo lens and the zoom/telephoto type (the close up lens isn't that critical really). I've got a good tripod already, can get memory cards cheap.

So if anyone has 5mins to type a reply as to what to get it'd be a great help. N.b. I'll be buying in USA prob via amazon (its easy for delivery) so want to get it ordered in the next couple of days! (buying on a whim you see)

All advice welcome.

Thanks


ETA - Or is it simpler to get a kit like this off fleabay? http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-EOS-Digital

Edited by David A on Friday 18th May 19:54

[VxDuncan]

That kit doesn't look great - the 70-300 is the very basic (slow, poor quality) canon. You want the USM modl if possible. If I were you I'd get the basic camera plus kit lens, and either the Sigma APO 70-300 Macro(make sure it's the APO) or Tamron LD Macro 70-300. Both these are better than the Canon USM/non USM lenses and have a useful 1:2 macro feature (ie you can reproduce something half the size on the sensor, so for instance a 5p piece will fit roughly twice across the frame) - far better than most other zooms with a "macro" feature. They're around £150 in the uk if you get the right place. Dedicated macro lenses are expensive about likely to cost nearly as much as the camera its self.

If you can get an upgrade to the 18-55 kit lens - something like the Sigma or Tamron equiv (pref. in F2.8 form) will be a good step up.

[David A]

This fella then : www.amazon.com/Sigma-70-300mm-Telephoto-Cameras%2B-Accessory/dp/B000NNSCMM/ref=sr_1_8/002-3291807-8728869?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1179517489&sr=1-8

Can you point me to the normal everyday lens you mean ?

Thanks for the advice

[VxDuncan]

Yup that's the fella. To give you an idea, this was taken with the cheaper (non apo) version of that lens:
www.pbase.com/duncan_c/image/66618073

But you really do want the APO version as the Chromatic Abberation on that lens has ruined loads of my shots 8o(

Not sure what you mean by a "normal" lens? THe kit lens? THat's the one for everyday shots, if that's what you mean?

[David A]

Yup the kit lens. Is this the one? www.amazon.com/Sigma-18-50mm-3-5-5-6-Digital-Cameras/dp/B000C1Z674/ref=sr_1_5/002-3291807-8728869?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1179521907&sr=1-5

and is this what you mean by the non-apo and one I shouldn't get:
www.amazon.com/Sigma-70-300mm-Telephoto-Filters-Warranty/dp/B000KDSIOM/ref=sr_1_7/002-3291807-8728869?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1179522031&sr=1-7