New purchase

[Stuart]

Well, spurred on by Garlick playing with his new toy around the office I decided to start checking out 40Ds on eBay with a view to upgrading my 350D (borrowing this camera in Geneva was what Garlick thinking about buying an SLR).

In typical style I missed out on a 40D/17-40 F4L package (it did look too good to be true) and then bought, entirely on the rebound, an immaculate used 40D, for under £500.

So hopefully this lovely new gear will get me out snapping again.

Now, I think I need to get myself some 2.8 glass...

I'm really tempted to get the Canon 50mm F1.8 to go with it. I can't afford L series lenses, but I'd quite like to do some better shallow DOF photography than my 17-85mm 3.5 will allow. This seems to be a well rated lense in this forum - anyone got experience of it with the 40D?

[RobDickinson]

50f1.8 is a mixed bag, but awsome all the same.

Mine isnt too sharp wide open f1.8, but usable. Its quite sharp f2.2 and f2.5 on its pin sharp.

Unfortunatly f2.5 and on the 5 straight aperture blades come into play and start ruining the bokeh, which is nice at f1.8...

Focus - is slow and clunky and iffy in poor light and I need a slight microadjust on the 7D but even without on the 350D it was good.

Build is like a poor chinese childs toy.

Some shots, f1.8:


Full size : http://www.zarphag.com/images/7dstuff/bowlfull.JPG

f1.8:




f2.0:


With Extension tube:

[BlueMR2]

Stuart said:

In typical style I missed out on a 40D/17-40 F4L package (it did look too good to be true) and then bought, entirely on the rebound, an immaculate used 40D, for under £500.

Went just under £800 in the end.

Some more have come out on the Canon outlet as well.

[Simpo Two]

Blimey, more top brass piling in!

I think we should withold all photographic advice until we get a stake in Haymarket!

[Stuart]

Thanks for those shots - absolutely the sort of thing that I can't get to at present so I've gone ahead and bought the 50mm. I've read a few reviews much like yours and the build is something I can live with at that price, plus warehouse express had it for under £100.

We have our first baby on the way in the summer so I'm looking forward to getting some nice bokeh heavy shots of our new arrival.

So, quite an expensive day then. Please don't tell the wife...

[4hero]

Congrats on the new purchase, the 40D is an excellent camera, love mine to bits (along with the growing collection of Lenses I know what you mean about the wife, mine still thinks I only have one cream zoom

Congrats on the baby also!

Edited to add a couple of my 50mm shots, great lens for the price.

Edited by 4hero on Thursday 18th March 22:38

[Dogsey]

Stuart said:

Thanks for those shots - absolutely the sort of thing that I can't get to at present so I've gone ahead and bought the 50mm. I've read a few reviews much like yours and the build is something I can live with at that price, plus warehouse express had it for under £100.

We have our first baby on the way in the summer so I'm looking forward to getting some nice bokeh heavy shots of our new arrival.

So, quite an expensive day then. Please don't tell the wife...

Congrats on the camera, all the best tog's on here use the 40D

Lesson one however: Camera Price Buster

A couple of my nifty fifty shots.

[Stuart]

Well it all turned up yesterday, and I'm absolutely loving it. I haven't really had much natural daylight to play around with it yet so I'm looking forward to the weekend.

First impressions are very good though. The 40d body is a world away from my old 350d. Feels much better in my hands, far more controllability than I'm used to and the larger rear LCD is a joy.

The lens is also lovely. This is the fastest (1.8) lens I've spent any time with, and I'm loving what it'll do. There is some criticism of the quality of the bokeh on this lens in comparison to the USM version, but I'm impressed so far.

A few very basic test shots, some of which are wide open at 1600 (but remarkably free of noise given so). Roll on the weekend!

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

Stuart said:

...good stuff...

With the 40D Liveview with wide open lenses is the way I find. Find the point you want in focus then zoom in x10 and either focus or just move yourself back and forwards a bit.

Small F numbers are addictive...

[Yellabelly]

^^^^^Cracking photo Phil, but who left the bike in the background!!!

[RobDickinson]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

Stuart said:

...good stuff...

With the 40D Liveview with wide open lenses is the way I find. Find the point you want in focus then zoom in x10 and either focus or just move yourself back and forwards a bit.

Small F numbers are addictive...

Thats with the f1.0 though isnt it?

The Bokeh on th f1.8 isnt too bad shot wide open, it does tho get rapidly poorer stopped down when the aperture blades come into use.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

Yellabelly said:

^^^^^Cracking photo Phil, but who left the bike in the background!!!

Just drove in the garage, parked, snap, time for a cup of tea...

RobDickinson said:

Thats with the f1.0 though isnt it?

It is, but I was just pointing out the progression:-

You have a 1.8, then think, now a bit wider say a 1.4 and I'll be really happy. Then....

You have a 1.4, then think, now a bit wider say a 1.2 and I'll be really happy. Then....

You spent HOW much???!!!