Replacement Camera Advice Needed.....

[jona100]

My Canon EOS450d was recently stolen at Johannesburg airport on a trip back to the UK (long story short, camera in luggage booked direct, and due to 8 hour wait between domestic landing and international flight take off my luggage was in airport luggage bay for a long time and some bastard stole it (although they left the 18-55 kit lens, even thieves don’t want that!)).

The 450d was my first step into the DSLR camera world; and I loved it. Now Camera-less I need to replace it. My exploration into photography however has been spent on taking photos and learning about photography, not about the kit that is out there, so I need some recommendations from you guys.

To add to this, I will soon be emigrating to South Africa, and my trade in Corporate IT Sales is of little demand in the Northern Cape town of Upington, so when I return to SA I will most likely need to make a living from photography, for a while at least. So any camera I buy must be capable of this.

Since all my lenses (except the nasty 18-55 kit lens) were stolen, my next camera does not specifically have to be a Canon. I have though looked at what’s out there, and noticed that the EOS 50d has great specs, is less than 2 years old and being replaced by the 60d, so there is some great deals out there for this model, but thought it would be wise to consultant those more knowledgeable others than me on the subject who can steer me in the right direction.

So over to you guys (and gals) what should I buy?

P.S, oh yeah, I need some lens recommendation as well.....(18-200 ish)

[Photologyst]

Both Canons and Nikons are great with few differences. I am a Nikon person because their lenses, even old film lenses, can be used on Nikon SLRs.

If you don't have the money for the truly professional SLRs then get a "pro-sumer" D300 or D300s. These take superb photos. You could probably purchase the D300 used for a decent price.

Check reviews here: Nikon D300S Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

My “all around” lens tends to be the AF-S Zoom-Nikkor ED 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF DX VR lens because, it’s a “do-all, be-all” lens for virtually everything except extreme wide angle, extreme telephoto, extreme macro, and extreme low light. (Although I have taken great no flash, manual photos in almost pitch-black church niches.) With the 18-200 I don’t have to carry a bunch of lenses most of the time.

This comparison review might help: http://www.bythom.com/18135lens.htma

______

Reminder. You have just learned this: NEVER, ever leave your camera in a bag that you do not carry on your person at all times.



I wish you much luck with making a living at photography. Find a niche.

[GadgetRick]

Well, if you're going to make a living at it, I'd probably not get an 18-200mm lens. Just not good enough (imo) for that kind of work overall.

Canon/Nikon, both make great products. I find Canon to give you more bang for your buck (for the most part). The 50D is an excellent body and can handle most things you'll throw at it. Price is reasonable as well.

Nikon's (sort of) equivalent (price-wise anyway) would be a D90. A great body itself as well but I found the menu system to be confusing and some things weren't as easy to get to. With the 50D everything is very accessible.

As far as lenses, it all depends on what type of photography you plan to do.

[gturner]

I feel your pain. It has been a while since a client has lost anything at the airport, but I guess a camera was just too much temptation for the pond scum working in luggage!


You say you are moving to Upington? That is big country and reckon it would be a great place to start up with a full frame camera. You have some of the best skies in the world (Square Kilometre Array (SKA) South Africa)
and some awesome landscapes and light to work with.
A full frame camera with be able to grasp the vastness of the place (even when photographing people if that makes any sense)
5D, 5D Mkii

[jona100]

Thanks for all of your replies, I guess i missed some pretty crucial info at of my original post; namely budget and "what do you plan to shoot".

Well, budget wise alas a Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III is out of my price range, and would invoke the ire of my mrs and the mortgage company (although the temptation didn't immediately go away!), so we are talking about £1500 - £2000 (UK sterling) for a camera and a couple of lenses.

As anyone has ever lost their camera will know, your mind does do little crazy and considers what would normally be off limits, to get the cash for the replacement.

Considering, I will most likely need to use the kit to earn a living for a while when I move to SA its going to need to be at least prosumer quality, since you cant really cheapskate on the tools of your trade.

Shooting, is portraits and sporting events.

[gturner]

Then look at the 50D - you can get them at pretty good value, excellent AF and enough FPS to keep the sports happy. You can also get away with some the cheaper primes (35mm and 50mm) that show up bad corners on full frames.
Nothing wrong with ISO up to 1600 on mine.

Get a external flash, 24-105L and a 70-200 L (any version)

[GadgetRick]

Originally Posted by gturner

Then look at the 50D - you can get them at pretty good value, excellent AF and enough FPS to keep the sports happy. You can also get away with some the cheaper primes (35mm and 50mm) that show up bad corners on full frames.
Nothing wrong with ISO up to 1600 on mine.

Get a external flash, 24-105L and a 70-200 L (any version)

Have to agree. That's (more or less) my setup and I do mostly sports. A 7D (or 1D) would be better but, for the money, the 50D will give you quite a bit of room to grow.