Canon Digital SLR's, EOS 350D vs 20D

I've been re-jigging my own lens line up since getting the DSLR, and so far the most useful and interesting lens I've added is the Sigma 10-20mm F4-5.6. It's designed to work with APS-C sized sensors only but gives the equivalent of 15-30mm on my DSLR.

I've only had it a short while and so far only managed a few snaps round the house and near my office, but they give some idea of just how wide it goes:









Sharpness and colour rendition appear excellent - can't comment on flare resistence yet.

Returning to the original question, you do know that the Canon 30D is now out.....?

Did you consider an equivilent Nikon or Lumix?
Jag

Ali

have the D70, and enjoy it very much, I was faced with the same decision process as you for similar reasons about 18 monthas ago. Back then the choice was a little more simple, either D70 or 300D (Canon). I imagine I would have considered the D50 had it been availible.


I have the 18-70 kit lens which is not bad, and the 18mm end is usefull, however I found the lens generaly too slow, particularly for indoors - and to make things worse I favor availible light to flash even though i have an SB-600, which rarely gets used.

The answer to this problem is the Nikon 50mm f1.8d - this is only about £100 and is my favorite lens (I also have the 24mm f2.8d, and the 70-300D)

The 50mm f1.8 is so fast and so sharp and has the best bokeh of any lens I have ever used.

taken using Nikon 50mm f1.8d

I took these at a friends wedding with no flash, mostly wide open at f1.8 or 2.0 and at iso's between 400 and 1600.

Simon

A 50mm prime wakes a good portrait lens on a APS-C sensor size DSLR, but be aware once you're used to their quality then the kit lenses might take a bit of going back to.

Fast lenses are very useful in combination with a DSLR's adjustable ISO - for my Pentax I have an AF 85mm F1.4 and an old manual focus 55mm F1.2 (which cost £25) which see a fair bit of available light use.

quote:

Originally posted by Jo Sharp:
Returning to the original question, you do know that the Canon 30D is now out.....?

I knew I should have changed the name of this thread.....or started a new one! (No offence Jo)

My mind is definitely made up on the Nikon D50, especially after having a play with it in the shops, a couple of times, last time home. If I buy from costco, to save a few quid, I won't have any choice but the kit lens, plus they won't take the vouchers (capital bonds) I have....

Would most retailers be willing to negotiate on price with other lenses apart from the kit ones do you think....??

Simon/Steve,

thanks for the advice, and some interesting wide images Steve....

I had in my head a short list of the lenses I would like, but not necessarily own all at once!!

A fisheye wide angle, except the're about £500 .
A macro lens
A decent, fast, wide angle
A couple of zoom lens, 24-50 and 70-300 (for example)

From the list there, and I've just had a scary look - there's LOADS of lenses to choose from, what would you say should be my first choice......???

I'd rather buy the camera body and spend a bit more cash on a lens I can use for years, than buy the kit and up-grade to a better lens a few months or so down the line.....same philosophy as the Naim we're about to buy I guess.....

Cheers,
Ali

quote:

Originally posted by arf005:
A fisheye wide angle, except the're about £500 .

Is it really a fisheye you want? If so there are Russian made M42 ones that can be used on Canon bodies with an adaptor and they're a lot cheaper. No AF but it's not necessary with that sort of lens anyway. If it's ultra-wide that you want rather than necessarily fish-eye then there is the Canon 10-22mm or a Sigma like mine, which is considerably cheaper than the Canon but optically offers a very similar performance.

quote:

A macro lens

There are quite a few decent 3rd party macro lenses available (it's probably quite true that there is not such thing as a bad macro lens) - at the very cheap end there are the Vivitar/Cosina/Pheonix 105mm F3.5. The build quality isn't the best but optically they're supposed to pretty decent and they can be had for well under £100 posted from the US via Ebay.

quote:

A decent, fast, wide angle

How fast and how wide? I used to have a 24mm F2 but it was quite expensive (£500 or so) and no longer all that wide when used with a APS-C sized DSLR.

quote:

A couple of zoom lens, 24-50 and 70-300 (for example)

Are those 35mm equivalents or the actual focal lengths you want?

With 35mm film my most used zoom lenses were 19-35mm, 80-200 F2.8 and 28-200 (used for family snaps etc) and my most used primes were 24mm and 85mmm. For digital I've been rejigging things and it looks like it'll be the Sigma 10-20mm, a 24-70 F2.8 (probably also a Sigma) and the 80-200 F2.8 with a good quality 2x convertor for zooms plus various primes for low light and special purposes - 50mm F1.7, 50mm F1.2, 55mm F2.8 macro, 85mmm F1.4 and 500mm F8 mirror.

Ali

When I got my D70, I realy wanted a fisheye, but I agree they are exspensive, and apart from the novelty factor, I would question the need for one, so far I have done without and I no longer lust after one.

Since buying my first prime lens, I do not think I will be that happy with ny zooms, save for the very exspensive ones. I find that it is not that much hassle to swap a lens if you want a different focal length, and you can always move closer or step away from your subject!

I think the Nikon 50mm f1.8d, it is cheap and all nikon owners should have it.

I quite fancy the Sigma 30mm f1.4 EX DC HSM which is only about £280. I have not used it but i would hope it delivers the goods. Essentialy it is the poor mans equivilent of the much coveted nikon AF 28mm f1.4D which is £1400! (but rember the Sigma is only for APS size sensor, hence the better price as there is less glass in it).

On the D50 with its crop factor this comes back up t circa 50mm equivilent, hence you have an ultra fast "normal Lens".

In terms of macro, depending on how serious you are going to get, you can always get a maginifying fliter for one of your other lenses. The reduce the minimum focus disdance, but they also stop lenses focusing to infinity which is limiting. However you can get 1:1 magnification for about £20.

Kind regards

Simon

Here is a couple of macro shots using the 70-300 nikon with a 4X filter Seiko Samurai (You can see me and the tripod in the reflection)


Seiko Bullhead face

hi Ali
I just bought the 350d that last time home with the Shell vouchers. It didn't seem like I was spending real money!
I agree that The body felt kind of small, but as soon as the battery pack was fitted it felt just right.
If you have any vouchers to use up I would recommend that one!!!!!

Cheers Ian

Hi Ian, thanks for that....
I've got £100 of the capital bond vouchers we got last year (so I'm thinking Jessops, or Black&Lizars if they take them) But my mind is made up on a Nikon, and probably the D50.....I already have a couple of Nikon lenses and to me the D50 just felt right in the hand....not sure when I'm buying yet though, so there might be a D60 out by that time!!

Off to the Ritchie's tomorrow for another demo........

Cheers,
Ali