Canon EOS 350D, opinions ??

KTRIC

I'm getting a bit sick of my old Mustek (stop laughing!!) digital camera and I'm thinking of taking the leap and getting a big boys Digital SLR.

I can across the the Canon EOS 350D in a shop on my lunch break for €499 (incl kit bag) and I was wondering if it's any good ??


Would it be too complex for a NooB ? and would I be getting well in over my head ?

5uspect

Great camera, But with any SLR the lenses you use are of upmost importance.
Get a decent set of lenses for it and you'll be sorted.

Like any SLR it has fully automatic settings so you can still point and click, but you'll also have the manual (creative, canon calls them) to play with.

SteadyEddie

Get the 400d - its a little more expensive but you will appreciate the larger screen etc. Like the person before me said, the lens is the most important. I would still get the kit, and maybe the fixed 50mm 1.8 (100 euro). After that you can then start to look at some telephoto ones if it interests you.

KTRIC

Not really that bothered with the screen size to be honest and I think the 400d isn't much different in regards specs.

5uspect

The 400D and the 350D are very similar TBH.
The 400D has better resolution and noise performance sensorwise and the newer image processor. It also has a vibrating anti dust thingy that isn't all that great, but may be useful.
That said I perfer the dual screen layout of the 350D.

If you can get a 400D for similar money to that 350D then definately get the 400D cos of the newer bells and whistles. The 350D is still a capable body.

Also see the thread on the cheap Argos 28-135 IS USM lens, only €290.
Not a bad alternative to the kit, only not as wide unfortunately.

gandalf

I have the 350D and would recommend it wholeheartedly. I would also recommend you get the 50mm f1.8 Canon lens to go with it. I weighted up the 400D and the 350D in Jan and felt for the little extra you get the 400D the 350D was better value. At that price then its far more attractive now.

Rojo

I've got a 350 and I'm very happy with it!

Rob_T

I had a 350 and now have the 400, neither will disappoint and both are good to learn the dark arts of photography on. Definitely consider spending a little on some decent lenses and the 50mm 1.8 is a real steal.

KTRIC

anyone got any examples of what can be achived with this camera ?

m_stan

Rob_T's flickr account above is largely 350, and recently some 400. My flickr (link below) is pretty-much all 400 but as previous posters said you wont see any difference in the shots taken with these two bodies - its the lenses that make the difference.

If you're still interested in what the 350d is capable of, irrespective of lens, check out Flickr's camera finder (the 350d is called the Digital Rebel XT in the US).

Calina

My flickr is predominantly 350D for what its worth. The lenses I use are the kit, a Sigma 10-20 for the wide stuff and the 70-300mm and 50-500mm zooms. One or two photographs recently were on a borrowed 30D, but I have over 4000 shots with the 350D on flickr. all the sequence shots were done with a 350D.

Fionn

for value it's gotta be the EOS 350D
i had one - loved it

so EOS 350D
FTW

311

Is there any truth that if a camera is not used for a long period of time ,there is a chance the shutter wont work properly??

5uspect

I'd be more worried the battery would age.

KTRIC

Just picked up the 350D for the princely sum of €499 and a Hama 4gb CF card for €44.99 on Friday. I had a little fun with the camera at the weekend when I was home in Dublin, but I really need to sit down and read the manual.

Can anyone recommend a site for getting decent (cheap) lenses ? and what size would be a good all-rounder ?

bovril

_Brian_ wrote:

Is there any truth that if a camera is not used for a long period of time ,there is a chance the shutter wont work properly??

That has happened me before with a film camera alright.

5uspect

Kea on ebay is the first choice of most posters here.

http://stores.ebay.ie/Kea-Photo

m_stan

5uspect wrote:

Kea on ebay is the first choice of most posters here.

http://stores.ebay.ie/Kea-Photo

I'll second that, and I'll also recommend the Canon 17-85 IS as a good carry-around lens for all sorts of shots. Also can't go past the 50mm f/1.8 which although a little more specialist just can't be passed up at the cost and the quality of shots it delivers.

Echelle

Hello all, thinking of buying a CANON 400D, but cannot find much information on the memory cababilities of say a 2Gb card at medium to high level resolution ie how many images could I expect to get on average?
I would hope to print at at A4 size. Thanks.

challengemaster

one sec let me check *pops in 2gb card*

hq jpeg @ 1/4 | f5.6 | iso 100 - 531 (showing for me)
@iso 1600 - 390

RAW @ 1/4 | f5.6 | iso 100 - 205
@iso 1600 - 185

m_stan

CF cards are so cheap now that this is a non-issue. You can get a decent 4gig Compact Flash card for 75 Euro now. This should be all you'd ever need, unless you are shooting RAW+L over the course of a two week holiday. In which case, just get a few of the buggers !

Placebo

SteadyEddie wrote:

Get the 400d - its a little more expensive but you will appreciate the larger screen etc. Like the person before me said, the lens is the most important. I would still get the kit, and maybe the fixed 50mm 1.8 (100 euro). After that you can then start to look at some telephoto ones if it interests you.

why would you use a screen when you have a view finder :S