My first DSLR

[alex3410]

Hey all i am looking at getting my first DSLR i currently have a bridge camera and a point and shoot

but i am in need of some advice my current thought is to get a Canon EOS 1000D (known as EOS Rebel XS in the USA) its £500 and has 2 lenses the Canon EF-S 18-55mm zoom lens and Canon EF 75-300mm zoom lens

what are peoples thoughts on the camera? and are there better alternatives for same price? £500

thanks in advance

[bono]

The image quality of the 1000d is said to be good. If you want a better liveview and in body image stabilisation have a look at Sony Alphas.

[alex3410]

Originally Posted by bono

and in body image stabilisation

which is better in body or lens?

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by alex3410

which is better in body or lens?

Neither and both.

In-body stabilization isn't as effective, but it works on ALL lenses. Lens stabilization works only on that lens, but is more effective. 6 and 1, really.

[inkista]

The real problem with going Sony is that all the really good lenses are the ones with "Zeiss" on them that have four-figure price tags. And those four figures tend to be a little higher than the ones on comparable Canon/Nikon gear. And then there's that proprietary Minolta hotshoe. ...

The XS is a good choice. But you could also consider looking at used gear. A used 40D is going to handle much more nicely than an XS, and the image quality is likely to be nicer, and a used XSi might be cheaper.

[alex3410]

thanks for help so far

the cannon has lots of lenses avaliable on ebay that will fit it (old film ones) which would be a good source of cheap lenses

would the sony have the same thing? or is thier lense attachemnt to new? (sorry if its a stupid Q :P )

[bono]

For Sony you can use every Minolta AF-lens. The Minolta AF-system was introduced in 1985. There are only some rare Sigma and Tokina lenses that aren't compatible. But the rest of the bunch works. Just have a look at Dyxum: Minolta Sony alpha lens database - Dyxum.com

[GadgetRick]

Sony may be an excellent choice--I have never shot Sony--but you'll find it much easier to find support from the (literally) hundreds--if not thousands--of sites with lots of Canon and/or Nikon info on them. Much harder to find others shooting with some of the other brands. Not that they're not out there but much harder to find.

Also an extremely robust used equipment trade available for Canon gear. Again, you're just not going to find as much available for something like Sony.

If these things are a factor then I'd probably stay away from Sony. If it's not a big deal, then it's up to you.

[Dodge]

This thread may be of interest Alex if you haven't checked it out already, Why Not Sony???

I was in a similar position to yourself a year ago, with the same £500 budget and went the Sony route. After reading lots of reviews at the time, I was still really none the wiser as each brand has its highs and lows. In the end I chose based on what I was getting for my money and Sony were doing some great deals at the time.

I started out with the a350 and two kit lenses. To me these lenses did the job whilst I was learning my way around the camera. Since then as I have progressed I have picked up four used but better quality lenses off ebay, grabbing them when the price was right. These included a macro, a 50mm 1.4 and a 11-18 wide angle, giving me more options as well as better glass.

There are some really nice condition Minolta lenses available around the £150 mark so long as you read up and make sure you get the right version.

Still needing a better Zoom, I only just bit the bullet and got an 'as new' copy of the Sony 70-300 'G' SSM lens for £420 which has completely blown me away already and tbh the kit lenses can't hold a candle to it. But that said, I'd guess whichever brand you choose, you will eventually want to upgrade from the kit lenses anyway. You don't have to go as high as the Zeiss lenses though, the 'G' glass seems to me to be remarkably sweet and is Sony's mid priced range I think. (The dogs and lighthouse on my photostream will give you an idea how sharp this lens is, first time out with a DSLR newbie). I'd hazard a guess that if you were buying a lens comparable to the Sony Zeiss range, in any brand it's going to cost a bomb, regardless. It's really just a very high end option for those that need it or want the 'mutts nuts'. I would say that the 'g' lenses were more sensible for the average user looking for a good quality upgrade.

Finally, a handy way I compare 'bang for buck' on lenses is by using the Dyxxum site in conjunction with Amazon and Ebay to get an idea of what things are likely to cost me, quite a good way to compare brands too I would imagine, before commiting. Another useful tool is Flickr, just search the groups for whatever camera or lens to check out the images people are getting with specific kit as well as some user feedback on what they think of it.

Good luck and I'm sure whichever you choose, you'll be happy with it as at the end of the day, they all do what it says on the tin. It's much, much easier getting to know the ins and outs of the lenses once you've made your choice and only have to concentrate on one brand of body too.

[alex3410]

thanks for all the help, allot to think about - its a good job i have a few weeks before getting the money lol

sorry to be slow but i want to make sure i am looking at the right type of lens

what would i need to look for to make sure it works with the sony? (ie cannon ef/ef-s mount but for sony) - the older ones ie old film ones


thanks for all the replies so far you have all been really helpful