What new camera?
Discussion
I'm thinking of getting a digital SLR. I've wanted one for ages and an impending Vegas holiday is making me think now is a good time to do it.
So the question is which one? I'd be looking to spend about £500, and quite happy to get a second hand one. I'm after something to do everything from motorsport (assuming I can get my panning technique sorted) to landscapes.
My g/f has a Canon EOS film camera with a 35-80 lens so I could 'borrow' that lens for a while to save money on the camera if I got another canon.
All advice and recomendations gratefully appreciated!
So the question is which one? I'd be looking to spend about £500, and quite happy to get a second hand one. I'm after something to do everything from motorsport (assuming I can get my panning technique sorted) to landscapes.
My g/f has a Canon EOS film camera with a 35-80 lens so I could 'borrow' that lens for a while to save money on the camera if I got another canon.
All advice and recomendations gratefully appreciated!
jimothy said:
My g/f has a Canon EOS film camera with a 35-80 lens so I could 'borrow' that lens for a while to save money on the camera if I got another canon.
Yes, but it will seem like a 56-128. If you're happy with using her lenses that's fine, but if you later decide that they're not really suitable for what you want to do, you've tied yourself to one manufacturer for nothing.
simpo two said:
My g/f has a Canon EOS film camera with a 35-80 lens so I could 'borrow' that lens for a while to save money on the camera if I got another canon.
Yes, but it will seem like a 56-128. If you're happy with using her lenses that's fine, but if you later decide that they're not really suitable for what you want to do, you've tied yourself to one manufacturer for nothing.
But it's a damn good manufacturer to be tied to...
simpo two said:
My g/f has a Canon EOS film camera with a 35-80 lens so I could 'borrow' that lens for a while to save money on the camera if I got another canon.
Yes, but it will seem like a 56-128. If you're happy with using her lenses that's fine, but if you later decide that they're not really suitable for what you want to do, you've tied yourself to one manufacturer for nothing.
Do focal lengths appear different between film and digital cameras then?
simpo two said:
My g/f has a Canon EOS film camera with a 35-80 lens so I could 'borrow' that lens for a while to save money on the camera if I got another canon.
Yes, but it will seem like a 56-128. If you're happy with using her lenses that's fine, but if you later decide that they're not really suitable for what you want to do, you've tied yourself to one manufacturer for nothing.
But the g/f can use all the nice lenses you'd get and it's a very good purchasing excuse...
ThatPhilBrettGuy said:
Do focal lengths appear different between film and digital cameras then?
Yes. Due to the smaller sensor on some D-SLR's multiply all lens MM by 1.6 for 300/350D and 1.5 for Nikon D50/70.
>> Edited by ThatPhilBrettGuy on Tuesday 2nd August 09:57
Cheers - could be useful as these camera's seem to come with 18-55, so if the existing lens acts as 56-128 then I'll be covered all the way from 18-128.. Just need a goood 300 zoom and I'll be away!
jimothy said:
Cheers - could be useful as these camera's seem to come with 18-55, so if the existing lens acts as 56-128 then I'll be covered all the way from 18-128.. Just need a goood 300 zoom and I'll be away!
Not quite, as the 18-55 will be a 28-80 on the camera, so you're covered from 28-128.
edit to fix my abuse of the apostrophe.
>> Edited by _dobbo_ on Tuesday 2nd August 10:24
_dobbo_ said:
Cheers - could be useful as these camera's seem to come with 18-55, so if the existing lens acts as 56-128 then I'll be covered all the way from 18-128.. Just need a goood 300 zoom and I'll be away!
Not quite, as the 18-55 will be a 28-80 on the camera, so you're covered from 28-128.
edit to fix my abuse of the apostrophe.
>> Edited by _dobbo_ on Tuesday 2nd August 10:24
Ahh, though that the length quoted would be the actual length after any adjustments, seeing as its the lens that comes with the camera.
This is somewhat confusing, I'm sure film SLR's were easier though Photoshop is easier than a darkroom (mind you, might have to get a red bulb for my computer room to make me feel at home...)
_dobbo_ said:
Cheers - could be useful as these camera's seem to come with 18-55, so if the existing lens acts as 56-128 then I'll be covered all the way from 18-128.. Just need a goood 300 zoom and I'll be away!
Not quite, as the 18-55 will be a 28-80 on the camera, so you're covered from 28-128.
Not quite! The focal length of a lens is the focal length, regardless of what you put it on. So 18-55 plus 55-200 will cover perfectly 18-200. Compared to a 35mm film SLR, they will, however 'seem' like 29-320 due to the 1.6 factor Phil mentioned.
>> Edited by simpo two on Tuesday 2nd August 10:48
simpo two said:
jimothy said:
Cheers - could be useful as these camera's seem to come with 18-55, so if the existing lens acts as 56-128 then I'll be covered all the way from 18-128.. Just need a goood 300 zoom and I'll be away!
Not quite, as the 18-55 will be a 28-80 on the camera, so you're covered from 28-128.
Not quite! The focal length of a lens is the focal length, regardless of what you put it on. So 18-55 plus 55-200 will cover perfectly 18-200. Compared to a 35mm film SLR, they will, however 'seem' like 29-320 due to the 1.6 factor Phil mentioned.
Bloody pedants everywhere here!
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