Help, photography beginner.

smithblack

I'm in the process of buying a Canon 400D & after alot of research have decided on Elara for 670 euro. I'm just a beginner with my last camera being a Sony T10. I want to get into DSLR photographt like a kid wants the latest bike. Can anyone tell me if I'm better waiting for the 450D in March?? Also what is a good compact flash card to go with? Any help is greatly appreciated.

CH3OH

It is actually cheaper in Argos @ 620 euros

I would recommend a couple of 2 GB cards such as the following from :
http://www.dvd.co.uk/Hw/Sandisk-Extreme-III-Performance-Range-2GB-Compact-Flash-Extreme/SDCFX3-2048-902/product.htm

£ 13.95 each + 1.99 for the first item and 0.99 for each subsequent item

so 2 cards would cost you approx 42 euro delivered.

7day shop are advertising the 450 on preorder for around £529 +£ 8 delivery which is around 735 euro
http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_1&products_id=103551

KStaford

smithie

I'm in the same boat as you, beginner getting into DSLR. I am gonna wait for the 450D. It is so superior and streets ahead of the 400D and it is a great great camera for DSLR newbies thru to seasoned amateurs.
I strongly recommend the 450D.

Thirdfox

^ well that's just on paper... no one has done a proper review of the camera yet.

The 400D does not become useless once the 450D is introduced. Ask yourself do you need the extra features that the 450D has? Does it justify the extra cost? Can you spend that money on something else (e.g. flash, nifty fifty lens) that will benefit you more as a photographer?

Someone who was satisfied with the 400D should be glad that it's price will now drop with the announcement of the 450D. If you had wished that the 400D had some extra features realised in the 450D then by all means get that instead.

KStaford

Thirdfox wrote: »

^ well that's just on paper... no one has done a proper review of the camera yet.

Hi thirdfox
Regarding your statement that no one has reviewed the 450D, I have to tell you that I have been researching this camera and the web is absolutely full of reviews

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08012403canoneos450d.asp
http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/digitalcameras/0,39005881,42622361p,00.htm
http://www.photographybay.com/2007/09/27/canon-rebel-xti-replacement/
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/18066/canon-eos-450d/
http://www.popphoto.com/cameras/5067/hands-on-canon-eos-rebel-xsi450d.html

etc etc

Videos here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lCejH6zPZM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvZZo-0Xl0Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr3t7XmsVDI

Manufacturer link and video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr3t7XmsVDI

Your other points are absolutely right for those who already own a 400D (a great camera also) but for those of us about to take the first leap into the world of DSLR surely this new camera is the way to go. It's worthwhile doing a product comparison between the two. The 450D offers a whole lot of new features, some great for learners etc. Technologically it is way ahead from what I can gather.

Thirdfox

What you've linked to are previews and repeats of press statements and/or speculation. I would want to get a proper "review" of the camera before committing a large amount of money.

Here is an example of a proper review:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos400d/
contrast that to your first link:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0801/08012403canoneos450d.asp

KStaford

well no one can really review it yet as it's not out until March. anyhow nice chattin with ya and I do take your point about consumer reviews

Thirdfox

Exactly - with any new product there could be bugs and kinks to be ironed out (see the AF problem with the 1D MkIII or the Leica M8 IR filter debacle) and a review will tell you about the potential problems.

Buying it in the first wave as an early adopter might not be the best idea until given the green light by an in-depth review of the product.

Just like Windows...always wait for SP2 - in this case wait until they get the reviews out (unless you really do need a dSLR right away and are willing to take the risk on an untried product which admittedly many people do and do not have problems with).

Calina

KStaford wrote: »

smithie

I'm in the same boat as you, beginner getting into DSLR. I am gonna wait for the 450D. It is so superior and streets ahead of the 400D and it is a great great camera for DSLR newbies thru to seasoned amateurs.
I strongly recommend the 450D.

This is naive. While the 450D has a very nice spec it is not all that superior to the 400D to be honest. You don't have a 450D yet and no one has tested it properly so it's irresponsible to recommend it over the 400D - in fact to do so makes you look like a sales man. Plus, at the end of the day, the toys which the 450D does have over the 400D will not make anyone take better photographs. There are a bundle of extremely good photographers on this board still shooting off 350Ds and some of them would still recommend the camera for a starter on the grounds that it is less expensive albeit getting more difficult to get.

OP, there is a an ongoing trend of releasing new cameras every short while. The 400D is not all that old a piece of technology and from the people here are using it, it appears to be a very nice camera. You're welcome to wait until the 450D comes out in five or six weeks if you like and the key practical consideration there would be that the 450D doesn't use CF, I think it uses SD cards. But the point to remember is that you could be waiting for the next release for the rest of your life.

If you do go for the 400D and want advice on what CF cards to use, I use Sandisk cards by and large, and specifically Extreme IIIs and Ultra IIs. I have a Fuji card somewhere as well. I have never had any problems with any of them.

ThirdFox, in principle I agree with you but the 40D and 400D defied that although the 1D Mk III was a bit of a screw up (am I ever glad I didn't go there). But that took a lot of battling on the part of one reviewer to get Canon to admit a problem.

Paulw

Calina wrote: »

ThirdFox, in principle I agree with you but the 40D and 400D defied that although the 1D Mk III was a bit of a screw up (am I ever glad I didn't go there). But that took a lot of battling on the part of one reviewer to get Canon to admit a problem.

The problems with the 1D MkIII were only effecting a small number, in specific circumstances. For the vast majority of photographers, the camera is a stunning piece of kit. I know that mine is used a lot, and I have yet to have issue with it.

There are a few users on boards here with 1D MkIII and I don't think any of us have any problems with the AF on it.

Thirdfox

I wasn't trying to bash Canon or anything like that (I couldn't think of a Nikon example to give but remembered the Leica M8 one). Just that it might be a good idea not to be the earliest adopter of new equipment/technology. The D40 was slated for not having an AF motor in the body...after a few months it turned out to be exceedingly popular with most people but some people did realise that this limitation was not for them and informed others through personal experience. Always make an informed choice is what I'm trying to advocate here.

smithblack

Thanks everybody,reckon there is enough info there to keep me busy until the 450d arrives.

KStaford

phew