What Canon to get ?

just pete

Hi,
I am about to get a new camera, and not just sure what model to get. I wll be taking pictures of mainly motorsports, horse shows and general other stuff.
I am looking to spend about 1500 euro on a Canon.
Thanks,
Pete

Paulw

For what you want, you'll probably want a 40D. the faster fps (6.5) will be useful for sport, and the quicker AF useful too.

Calina

Pete,

for the sports stuff I'd agree, the 40D is probably the best camera in your budget range. But what you'll be able to do with it is dependent on the lens you attach to it. Do you have Canon lenses already? The 40D comes with a 17-85 which is probably not going to be adequate for sports although it's a very good general walkaround lens.

Rojo

There's a rebate on tje 40d at the mo!

just pete

@ Calina,
Its an empty tool box at the mo,I have nothing and cant wait to start buying. What lenses would you advise me to get ?

Paulw

For what you want, the 70-200mm f/2.8 would be the lens of choice, or failing that the 70-200mm f/4 (cheaper without IS on both lenses).

Calina

It depends on your budget for said lenses plus your lighting conditions.

My experience of motorsports is fairly limited but I know the fieldsports guys will all recommend the Canon 70-200 2.8L I don't have it myself. I shoot watersports by the way, and I do it with the following:

1) Sigma 70-300mm DG APO - cheap as chips, has the range and is a great learning range. It has also been at the root of most of the photographs I've had published. ca 200E

2) Sigma 50-500mm - has a longer range, soft at the far end, not as fast as the Canon. ca 1200E

3) Sigma 10-20mm ca450E

I've a couple of Canon kit lenses as well which I tend not to use for the sports stuff.

If you really need the lowlight stuff, you're looking at the Canon 2.8 but again...if you're starting I'd go with the Sigma 70-300 as a learning lens which allows you to figure out what your priorities are. The prices are roughly what those lenses would cost in Dublin.

The Canon 70-200 2.8 is around 2000E in Dublin but you will find it significantly less expensive on the web.

OnLooker

Paulw wrote: »

For what you want, you'll probably want a 40D. the faster fps (6.5) will be useful for sport, and the quicker AF useful too.

Found out my job are now paying for health insurance so I have an extra €600 to spend on gear. I think the 40D might be coming my way soon. :D

just pete

Thanks Calina,
Your help is greatfully accepted, Its a good indication what to look for kit wise.

YogiBear

I'm upgrading from a 300D.. I want a wide angle lens but I think I'd be better off upgrading body first. I saw that SineadW is going with the 5D and here a 40D is being suggested.. Is there a link to some help with which Canon to choose? or anyone have any advice.
I'm willing to pay up to €1500 too or 2000 if it's really worth it.

whyulittle

I upgraded from a 400D to a 40D, and was very happy with it. Great fps, high ISO, better build. Am thinking of swapping the 40D for a 5D though to get the full benefits of wide angle on a full frame.

FX Meister

Thinking it's finally time to move on from my 300D myself. The 5D is 1900 on computer universe which is pretty good. Really missed using my fisheye when I got the 300D with 1.6 crop factor so would love to have full frame again. Leaves me with a 10-22 EFS to sell which is a lense I really liked.

Fenster

Why skimp?

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0708/07082009canoneos1dsmarkiii.asp

quilmore

best way to spend your money, get a humble camera (400d or 450d) and superb lenses
get a 17-55 2.8 or something like that, something renown for its quality
I'm not into canon lenses, but the recomendation is always the same
it's the glass that takes the picture, not the camera

Paulw

quilmore wrote: »

it's the glass that takes the picture, not the camera

Not exactly. It's having the right combination of glass and camera that are needed. A poor camera with high quality glass won't get you very far, and a high quality body with poor glass will be about the same.

You need the right body with the right glass.

But, people need to decide for themselves what is the right combination, especially when considering budget.

Psychobiker

quilmore wrote: »

best way to spend your money, get a humble camera (400d or 450d) and superb lenses
get a 17-55 2.8 or something like that, something renown for its quality
I'm not into canon lenses, but the recomendation is always the same
it's the glass that takes the picture, not the camera

QFT!!!!!!

I'd go with an okay camera and great lenses first, then get a really good camera, 1D/5D. Better than getting mediocre lens and goodish body

jackdaw

Psychobiker wrote: »

QFT!!!!!!

I'd go with an okay camera and great lenses first, then get a really good camera, 1D/5D. Better than getting mediocre lens and goodish body

+1 , I got the 400D and its a grand camera, I got some new lenses
a canon 70-300 EF IS USM f4-5.6 (maybe not the best for sports)
but fine for wildlife .. €475 ..

I got the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 to replace the kit lens, its a quality lens
almost like a Canon L !!!

my point is spend the € on lenses .. and then later on you can upgrade
lenses will still fit the body...

quilmore

Paulw wrote: »

A poor camera with high quality glass won't get you very far

can you name a bad camera?
the oldest I can think of (thinking old technology to "poor" camera) is a 300d or a nikon d70
both 6-7 years old
I've seen and photographs of a 300d with an L glass and they were superb by any mean, I've also seen and taken photographs with my old d70 and an 80-200 2.8 of extreme quality even printed at 12x8

of course, a better/newer camera gives you more options and better chances of getting keepers

but when you see a good picture you may think of what lens it was taken with, not what camera was it

FX Meister

I have decent lenses so I'm upgrading the body. The 5D doesnt have the Self Cleaning Sensor Unit, does anyone think this makes much of a difference?

FX Meister

Just wanted to ask about the Canon Cashback pffer but didn't want to open a new window. Gonna get the 5D from computeruniverse.de. Will I have any problems with getting the cahback offer if I buy from them? Has anyone here had a similar experience?

mathias

The 5D doesnt have the Self Cleaning Sensor Unit, does anyone think this makes much of a difference?

It doesnt really , the self cleaning sensors only get rid of light dry dust , anywhere you use the camera thats dusty the stuff thats most likely to get in is stuff the self cleaning sensors cant handle anyway , so regardless your going to be cleaning sensors sooner or later.

Cleaning the sensor is easy to do , so dont make the lack of a self cleaning system a buying decision.

The 5D is a great camera by the way , good luck with it.

Roen

mathias wrote: »

It doesnt really , the self cleaning sensors only get rid of light dry dust , anywhere you use the camera thats dusty the stuff thats most likely to get in is stuff the self cleaning sensors cant handle anyway , so regardless your going to be cleaning sensors sooner or later.

Cleaning the sensor is easy to do , so dont make the lack of a self cleaning system a buying decision.

The 5D is a great camera by the way , good luck with it.

+1

Cleaning sensors is as much part of Dslr life as spotting prints was in the good old days. I don't miss the good old days.

FX Meister

The deal seems pretty good with computeruniverse and it uncludes the 24-105L at a good price.