Canon DSLR help

[Franco81]

I have booked a photography course in April but don't currently have a DSLR, this is a requirement of the course. I've had various canon cameras over the years so want to stick with what I know. I have narrowed it down to the 7d mkii, 6d, and 80d after talking with sales people in John Lewis and jessops. Also reading things online. The 6d is probably the best as it's full frame, but this is being replaced this year and I want something now. The 80d for its features etc and the fact it's the newest is what I'm looking to put my money out in the next few days. I was wondering if any of you guys on here had any pointers for me?

Also what should be my first all round lens? I will mostly be taking pics of family, my dog and wildlife whilst on walks/holiday.

Many thanks.


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[VDG]

6D + 24-105mm. No brainier, other opinions are available ;)

[Roy_Drage]

I have a 30d with the 24-105 which works for me in the same sort of situations you suggest

[welshlad]

What are you going to be photographing mostly?

If it's landscapes, then a full frame model like the 6D might be better. With a 24-105 or 24-70 lens and you're good to go.

For most other subjects, a cropped sensor model like the 7D2 or 80D is fine. Both are extremely capable cameras. A 24-105 lens might still be fine with these, but if you want some wide angle options then maybe a 18-135 lens might give you more options.

This is a good website to show most of the best deals around: http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/C...n-Digital-SLRs

[eldrich]

I bought a 70d in December, it was discounted (300 pounds) because the shop had 80d's in and when I weighed it up given my abilities it seems better value to purchase a Canon 70d with a 'stock' 18-135mm IS STM instead of the 80d with 'stock' 18-55mm IS.

What about 2nd hand from a camera shop?

[Omegamanic]

I have a 70D and love it.

[Horologos]

I love my 7D (mark 1) its about 4 years old and still clicking away.

[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.

[Franco81]

6D + 24-105mm. No brainier, other opinions are available ;)

This could be a winning combo with some good deals out there at the mo.

- - - Updated - - -

I have a 30d with the 24-105 which works for me in the same sort of situations you suggest

Thanks, will probably go for this lens with a 80d/6d

[J3w3ll3r]

Having recently swapped from Canon SLR setup to a lighter Sony mirrorless setup I have come to realise that unless i want to be a professional or make bill board size pictures the Camera will always outperform my abilities no matter what camera I'm using

So my advice is pick a camera that feels right for you and go for it, any that you mention will be more than enough for all but the most demanding, just remember walking and carrying a Full frame camera and lens can soon get on your nerves in my experience

[TimeOut]

Make sure you do these mods if you buy a 70d

https://youtu.be/FvhOwpip0K8

[Utred]

As a couple have said - invest in lenses.
Camera bodies go out of date rediculously fast these days (I mean in terms of latest features/tech - realistically actual image quality doesn't really change as much or quickly) a 450d with a good lens in the hands of a good photographer is better than the latest 1D in the hands of a novice.....
Ultimately decent glass, a little skill and an eye for a good photo is what matters!

[VDG]

he he, I knew this would turn into a looong thread :)

Couple of points and my personal observations FWIW, obviously:

- you do not need DSLR to take great pictures or learn the craft.
- DSLR gives you flexibility of the whole system ie lenses, accessories etc, and opportunity to take pictures in a challenging conditions ie low light and/or fast moving subjects.
- not all DSLRs are equal - try before you buy, or at least just look through the 'peep hole' of a couple on your shortlist (with the same lens attached) before you commit your money.
- lenses are forever and your best friends. (c) VDG ;)
- old bodies do not stop taking photos just because MKII/s/x/f is released.
- as with any hobby, there is no limit to how crazy far you can take it. Buy what you need, not what you may need.
- I recently realised that 90% of my (crappy) photos, including holiday/travel snaps nowadays are taken with iPhone

[J3w3ll3r]

[QUOTE=VDG;4244078]he he, I knew this would turn into a looong thread :)/QUOTE]

As a member of Talk Photography I can confirm these threads normally turn into war zones with Canonites v Nikonettes followed by the Sony/Fuji mob throwing barbs for good measure

[eldrich]

As a side note I picked up the 70d as an upgrade of my 8 yr old 1000d (which is the lowest spec DSLR I think Canon ever did). One thing I have noticed is that now that I have switched my 17-85 lens as my walkabout lens to the 70d and put the kit 18-55 back on the 1000d for the first time in about 4 years the 1000d 18-55mm combo is so light that I now have started carrying it almost everywhere with me whereas when it was with the 17-85 it just felt so heavy I would only take it out when I was going somewhere specific.

I've even been taking the 1000d 18-55 places and testing out how to take photographs there (low light no flash) because it's so much easier to carry around.

[Ashtennisguru]

[QUOTE=J3w3ll3r;4244162]

he he, I knew this would turn into a looong thread :)/QUOTE]

As a member of Talk Photography I can confirm these threads normally turn into war zones with Canonites v Nikonettes followed by the Sony/Fuji mob throwing barbs for good measure

Same here - who are you on there!?!?

[tabascokid]

The advice I always give is to go with an included kit lens as long as it isn't going to cost you too much as you will very quickly discover it's shortcomings and want better glass. I'd echo the 50mm prim suggestion as it's the best lens to teach you about composition and the use of depth of field through aperture choice. Enjoy!


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[Franco81]

After all your kind feedback and advice I had sold myself on something second hand from one of the many sites available. This morning I have had a massive spanner thrown in the works in that I have a client who happens to be the head of legal for Canon U.K. And has offered me a 30% discount on anything on their website. Now I don't know what to do again? I'm thinking new body either 760d or 80d and second hand lens from web?


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[catch21]

By way of example, this very lens on SC at £110 today:

http://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.ph...on-35mm-f-1-8G

and reviewed by Ken Rockwell here:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/35mm-f18.htm

produced this shot with amazing edge to edge clarity:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d53...s/DSC_0252.JPG

Coupled with a camera that was advertised a few days ago at £65 here:

http://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.ph...0-with-a-story

would have been a good start...

I'm not a Nikon fanboy, I just have a Nikon system and am reasonably familiar with the possibilities.

[Franco81]

By way of example, this very lens on SC at £110 today:

http://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.ph...on-35mm-f-1-8G

and reviewed by Ken Rockwell here:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/35mm-f18.htm

produced this shot with amazing edge to edge clarity:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d53...s/DSC_0252.JPG

Coupled with a camera that was advertised a few days ago at £65 here:

http://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.ph...0-with-a-story

would have been a good start...

I'm not a Nikon fanboy, I just have a Nikon system and am reasonably familiar with the possibilities.

I think an afternoon with some nikon's may be in order just to definitely rule them out.

[PickleB]

I think an afternoon with some nikon's may be in order just to definitely rule them out.

You haven't got an offer of 30% off of new Nikon equipment...or have you?

Early in the thread a couple of us posted a link to the same price comparison site. As an alternative you might consider these chaps: link...grey market discount sellers (I believe) but with a reasonable reputation, as I recall.

PS Tell us a little more about the course you have booked, can you please? Is it general, DSLR specific, make specific etc etc?

[Mr.D]

I did my A-level photography in one year with a praktica 35mm slr a 50mm and a x2 diopter. ( I was laughed at by the tutors but they all looked a bit sheepish when I gained entry into a very prestigious animation degree course)

I also shot my cousins wedding with it at age 16 and she was extremely grateful as my pictures were better than the professional photographer and a rather snooty distant cousin who was doing a BA in photography. And I was using a really crappy flash which I'd figured out to bounce off the ceiling

So you don't need to spend a lot to learn photography. In fact a more basic rig might force you to study the fundamentals ...like the fact the metering is based primarily around mid gray ( i used to use cement pavements as an improvised gray card then lock the exposure and shoot)

I usually run around with a 5d mk2 or mk3 on film sets these days ( mainly for technical reference). However you could say my clunky praktika my mum got me out of the littlewoods catalogue played a role in getting me a pretty successful 25 year career in the film industry.

Nikon vs Canon...I'm more familiar with the Canon 5d mk2 and later as its often used on film sets ( mainly as it was the first DSLR to give good quality 1080p at 25/24fps). However Nikon is probably just as good if not better for stills work.

Oh yeah : stick it on manual , learn how to expose correctly (tip bracket if you are not sure not like you have film costs to worry about these days) , learn how to prioritse aperture , sensitivty and shutter speed depending on what you want. Always shoot RAW. Learn about magnification vs field of view. Thats you technically sorted ...rest is composition and creativity.

Get your technicals down before you start breaking rules ( its actually quite simple) . You don't want to spend ages waiting for that perfect moment and then mess up because you don't know the technicals .

Don't rely too much on the digital darkroom. Too many people do really terrible misguided work in there that professionals laugh at the instant they see it.

Go and look at some famous photographers : Eve Arnold , Bill Brandt and Q. Winston Link are some of my faves. That will be more useful than worrying overly about the kit. Also get out there and shoot , you'll soon realise a decent bag , waterproofs , thermals and boots are more important than Nikon vs Canon.

[Franco81]

You haven't got an offer of 30% off of new Nikon equipment...or have you?

Early in the thread a couple of us posted a link to the same price comparison site. As an alternative you might consider these chaps: link...grey market discount sellers (I believe) but with a reasonable reputation, as I recall.

PS Tell us a little more about the course you have booked, can you please? Is it general, DSLR specific, make specific etc etc?

Yes thanks for the link. I have been in touch with them as they are very local to me too. Great people with plenary of knowledge. And very cheap.

I'm doing a Intro to photography course at a adults college in twickenham. It's a evening course over 10 weeks that will give me adequate info and skills. I may then do a-level photography in September if all goes well.


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[Franco81]

So I've decided after trying out many that the canon 80d is the one and I've purchased the boy only. I'm going to buy a 50mm lens for portraits. What other lens shall I go for as a main lens. A couple of people have suggested the 24-70mm usm. Any advice? Thanks. And any bag, filter etc advice. Cheers.


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[Marwood]

So I've decided after trying out many that the canon 80d is the one and I've purchased the boy only. I'm going to buy a 50mm lens for portraits. What other lens shall I go for as a main lens. A couple of people have suggested the 24-70mm usm. Any advice? Thanks. And any bag, filter etc advice. Cheers.

The 24-70mm isn't a great combination with the 80D, since it's an APS-C camera. Mount it on an 80D and it'll seem more zoomed-in than it would on a full frame camera. (It'll give the same field of view as a 38-112mm lens would on full frame, so you'll have no wide-angle capability at all). The same goes for any 24-something lens.

The previous poster's suggestion of a Sigma 18-50 F2.8 is a good call (there's now a 17-50mm version). It covers a much more useful range (27-80mm equivalent, so essentially matching the range that the 24-70 is designed to give on full frame), has a usefully fast maximum aperture and image stabilization. Canon also makes a 17-55mm F2.8 IS but that's going to be quite a lot more expensive.

Let me know if any of this is unclear.

[PickleB]

I'd think twice before buying "a 50mm lens for portraits".

Love him or hate him, I think Ken Rockwell is worth reading...Portrait Lenses...before reading up a bit more on the net.

Personally, for portraits I prefer my 85 mm lens on a full-frame camera, if not that then a 70-200 mm telephoto.

Edit: You may get away with your 50 mm lens, if yours is not a full-frame body. It will give you the same FoV as a 80 mm lens on a full-frame camera.

[neillp]

Look up Christopher Frost on YouTube he does reviews on canon lenses, I think he has a top ten budget lenses.
He sounds like a bit of a knob but knows his stuff.
I have the sigma 17-50 f2.8 and it is excellent VFM at £270

If you want some help learning your 80d I would happily help if you are local, you can even try out my lenses.
Cheers
Neill

[Franco81]

Look up Christopher Frost on YouTube he does reviews on canon lenses, I think he has a top ten budget lenses.
He sounds like a bit of a knob but knows his stuff.
I have the sigma 17-50 f2.8 and it is excellent VFM at £270

If you want some help learning your 80d I would happily help if you are local, you can even try out my lenses.
Cheers
Neill

Thanks for your reply, yes I'm in Surrey too so that would be great to learn a little prior to my course starting in April.
I have just found this bloke on youtube and his voice is pretty annoying but he seems to know his stuff so will check out some videos.

Which camera have you got?

[neillp]

Thanks for your reply, yes I'm in Surrey too so that would be great to learn a little prior to my course starting in April.
I have just found this bloke on youtube and his voice is pretty annoying but he seems to know his stuff so will check out some videos.

Which camera have you got?

I have the 80d so can talk you through the setup 😉
I am away next weekend skiing but happy to meet up at some point after that.

[Franco81]

I'd think twice before buying "a 50mm lens for portraits".

Love him or hate him, I think Ken Rockwell is worth reading...Portrait Lenses...before reading up a bit more on the net.

Personally, for portraits I prefer my 85 mm lens on a full-frame camera, if not that then a 70-200 mm telephoto.

Edit: You may get away with your 50 mm lens, if yours is not a full-frame body. It will give you the same FoV as a 80 mm lens on a full-frame camera.

oh really? no its not a full frame camera so I'm reading that the 50mm will be ok, although I'm a complete novice so welcome any expertise in this matter and am willing to learn the reasons why.

I will look up Ken now.

Many thanks.

[PickleB]

oh really? no its not a full frame camera so I'm reading that the 50mm will be ok, although I'm a complete novice so welcome any expertise in this matter and am willing to learn the reasons why.

I will look up Ken now.

Many thanks.

As per my 'Edit', the 50 mm may be the lens for you. The table in KR's article and the section that follows, So what's the optimum portrait lens?, may help you decide. You might like his Crop Factor article if you haven't already read up on the topic.