Lens requirements for beginner

[944gav]

After previous advice on here, I have decided a DSLR is for me. As recommended I have looked at Canon & Nikon and it would appear the D40 and EOS350D or 400D are within my budget. I think I prefer the D40 but I have read that it can only use AF-S or AF-I lenses. I have seen kits with 18-55 and 55-200 lenses. Do you think these would be adequate to start with? I will be mainly photographing motorsport, stationary cars and some landscape.

Gavin

[gregorio!]

The D40 might wind you up in the long run as AFS lenses are pretty expensive.
I have Nikon stuff, but in your position would opt for the 400D, unless the D80 was within reach.

[bd02]

...and I can heartily rcommend the D80...

[stigmundfreud]

I wouldn't dismiss the 350d though, there isnt really much between it and the 400d other than ££££.

[Mr E]

stigmundfreud said:

I wouldn't dismiss the 350d though, there isnt really much between it and the 400d other than ££££.

From memory, another couple of megapixels (who cares, really), some self cleaning cleverness and 9 point autofocus appear to be the important bits. It's also got a bigger status LCD and some sundry stuff.

I'm probably going 400D over 350D, I just need to identify a suitable general purpose lens to go with it as the standard kit lens is rather poor by all accounts.

[stigmundfreud]

standard kit lens being the 18-55? It isnt that bad at really

[Mr E]

stigmundfreud said:

standard kit lens being the 18-55? It isnt that bad at really

18-55, yes.

From various reviews it's a bit plastic, a bit slow, a bit soft and has a nasty habit of fishbowling. Not had personal experience of using one yet, so the reviews are all I have to go on.

I really don't want to spend a chunk of cash on a body without a lens that can do it justice. So I either buy the body alone and something else decent, or I buy the kit knowing that I'm going to need to replace the lens pretty sharpish....

[stigmundfreud]

yes it can fishbowl at 15 mm but thats what wide angle lense do unless you spend a wedge on a correcting one, I personally like fishbowling on funky portraits

The lens aint that bad for an all rounder kit lens but what sort of pictures do you want to take.

Personally I can recommend the sigma f4 24-135 lens as a great alrounder with no fishbowling, on the 400 though its more like a 40-216 lens or they do a ef-s mount too I believe

[Gemm]

stigmundfreud said:

standard kit lens being the 18-55? It isnt that bad at really

Although it may not be the best lens around, I've seen some good results from it. So don't write it off completely before even using it. It's up to the user in the end. I still think it's a good starter if you are on a budget. I believe if you think the lens is crap, then the images will come out crap.

[Mr E]

Gemm said:

stigmundfreud said:

standard kit lens being the 18-55? It isnt that bad at really

Although it may not be the best lens around, I've seen some good results from it. So don't write it off completely before even using it. It's up to the user in the end. I still think it's a good starter if you are on a budget. I believe if you think the lens is crap, then the images will come out crap.

With me taking them, I suspect you may well be right....

[944gav]

Having looked at lots of old posts, it appears that 18-55 and 70-300 will fulfill my needs initially. The AFS 70-300 for the D40 is around £250 but a non AFS 70-300 is only about £85. Is the more expensive lens better, or is it just dearer as it has an auto focus motor? The D80 was recommended above. Would this be suitable for a beginner like myself? I like the fact the D40 has an auto mode for me starting out, does the D80 also have this?

Sorry for all the questions but choosing a camera makes picking a car look easy!

[RobDickinson]

Dont get the d40, as soon as you look for a replacement lens you'll be out of pocket.

Macro = nikon 105mm vr = 460quid, tamron 90= 200quid...

Long zooms are a lot more (no cheapies sorry) and even consumer walkabouts are limited, dont even go near primes, your left with one sigma 30mm I think.

You could always manual focus.

I own a 350d and have used a 400d a bit, not a lot in it realy, extra megapixels just take up more space, the screen is very nice tho much improved, AF is a little better, sensor cleaning OK I guess.

As for the canon kit lens, I chose not to have it and got the 50mmf1.8 instead, I'll be getting something like the tamron 17-50mmf2.8 one day.