Canon DSLR help

[PickleB]

I'm a Nikon user, so no advice on which model from me. What I will say is that you should consider size and weight if you're going to be carrying your purchase on walks.

You can get decent shots using any modern camera body, so think more about the lens(es) you want. A telephoto lens is where most of us start and I see that Canon offer packages with a 18-135 mm lens. Research that one and see if it gets decent reviews. Once you have done your course (good idea) and done a bit of photography you'll know more about what you really need to achieve what you want.

For prices you can look here and elsewhere on the net.

Oh...an afterthought. Is there a camera club near where you live? They will be a good source of advice.

[MCFastybloke]

I know of a 5d MK11 and a 300mm,50mm and grip for sale.

[Yeti]

I have the 6d withe the 24-105 kit lens. Absolute amateur am I, but I get beautiful photos. My only gripe is that the 6d doesn't have many focus points so anything other than portraits with still subjects gets a bit tricky for me. I will be upgrading along the line probably to the model above mine mk5 in some guise, as I think I'd get a lot better shots with more focus points. I wouldn't consider a 7d as it is not full frame.

[PickleB]

Just found this: Considerations for buying a canon dSLR.

[Franco81]

I have the 6d withe the 24-105 kit lens. Absolute amateur am I, but I get beautiful photos. My only gripe is that the 6d doesn't have many focus points so anything other than portraits with still subjects gets a bit tricky for me. I will be upgrading along the line probably to the model above mine mk5 in some guise, as I think I'd get a lot better shots with more focus points. I wouldn't consider a 7d as it is not full frame.

for this reason I think I'll go for the 80d as it has plenty of focus points, I think from what everyone says the 24-105 is the lens to get. and the 6d mkii will be around soon. but I will wait a year for this to drop in price.

Thanks

[michalko82]

£1.6k for a camera to take pics of the dog and family seems a bit steep if you ask me... (yes, it's a great combo)

but for learning on...even 450d with a decent lens would produce very respectable pictures in the right hands and you can get that for well under 500 quid...no big loss when you come to sell it after you decide what type of photography you'll be really into.

[Ashtennisguru]

Does it have to be an SLR? Surely something like the Fuji X-T10 with the XF18-55 or XF18-135 would be ideal if you're buying it purely because of the course - lightweight, all the same controls as an SLR (and all on dials as opposed to in menu's) - the Fuji refurb store has some cracking deals on them at the moment as the X-T20 is due any time soon. You'd be looking at half the price for body+lens of just the canon body alone and Fuji glass is as good as it gets!

Appreciate you wanted to stick with Canon, but I think looking further afield could be beneficial.

[Mr.D]

I echo the sentiments of paying less. A 450d is plenty decent to learn photography with.

I personally would recommend a used 5d mk2 or mk3 for the benefit of being able to buy full size lenses.

And before you start messing about with cheap nasty zooms get yourself some primes . A good 50mm is an essential inexpensive lens and indeed you may find you use it way more often than any zoom and even a cheap one will be sharper and faster than all but the super expensive zooms.

[Franco81]

I echo the sentiments of paying less. A 450d is plenty decent to learn photography with.

I personally would recommend a used 5d mk2 or mk3 for the benefit of being able to buy full size lenses.

And before you start messing about with cheap nasty zooms get yourself some primes . A good 50mm is an essential inexpensive lens and indeed you may find you use it way more often than any zoom and even a cheap one will be sharper and faster than all but the super expensive zooms.

A 50mm is a must by the sounds of things, you are the 4th person to say that i should get one and they are cheap!
I want to future proof myself so will probably go for a new camera.
thanks.

[Franco81]

Does it have to be an SLR? Surely something like the Fuji X-T10 with the XF18-55 or XF18-135 would be ideal if you're buying it purely because of the course - lightweight, all the same controls as an SLR (and all on dials as opposed to in menu's) - the Fuji refurb store has some cracking deals on them at the moment as the X-T20 is due any time soon. You'd be looking at half the price for body+lens of just the canon body alone and Fuji glass is as good as it gets!

Appreciate you wanted to stick with Canon, but I think looking further afield could be beneficial.

I think so through the flexibility of what a SLR can do, I have a canon G12 and that is fully adjustable but i want more creativity.
thanks.

[Gromdal]

Although it sounds like you've settled on the combo you want to get, just wanted to add in my experience as a DSLR newbie - I bought the other half a 1200d with a 18-55 kit lens for £200 2 Black Fridays ago and then this year we've added the Canon 55-250 lens for £115 and a 50mm Yongnuo that for £40, does a remarkably good job. As a step up from her Lumix point and shoot, it's been absolutely fantastic. We're well aware that we're never going to be using it for anything other than dabbling but it's been producing absolute treats of pictures even in auto mode. So, all in for ~£375 including filters it's done everything we want it to cover from a first time use DSLR.

[chrisparker]

I think so through the flexibility of what a SLR can do, I have a canon G12 and that is fully adjustable but i want more creativity.
thanks.

The Fuji system is as flexible as any other brands. £1600 would get you an Xt-10 and some lovely prime lenses. My current favourite is the Fuji prime 35mm lens, paired with an xt-10, and a whole lot smaller and lighter than the canon SLR it replaced.

Some recent pics @ www.instagram.com/c_p

[Ashtennisguru]

I think so through the flexibility of what a SLR can do, I have a canon G12 and that is fully adjustable but i want more creativity.
thanks.

There's pretty much nothing that an SLR can do that a mirrorless system like the Fuji X-T1/X-T10 cannot - sure the AF system on high end bodies will likely be faster or better with tracking, but the X-T2 is right up there to the extent that one organisation who specialise on motorsports photography and swapped out all their Nikon DSLR's for X-T2's.

You won't lack for creativity with a mirrorless system camera and for what you are looking to shoot that's where I would be looking to get maximum bang for buck.

The G12 is a compact camera with a 1/1.7 size sensor (effectively a 4.6x crop) - this isn't really comparable to a mirrorless APS-C system.

[Franco81]

£1.6k for a camera to take pics of the dog and family seems a bit steep if you ask me... (yes, it's a great combo)

but for learning on...even 450d with a decent lens would produce very respectable pictures in the right hands and you can get that for well under 500 quid...no big loss when you come to sell it after you decide what type of photography you'll be really into.

I can get a decent lens camera combo for around £1000 after shopping around. and as you say I will probably get around half that back in a couple of years if upgrading.
thanks.