Tough Choice - Please Help!

JohnK

I *think* I'm finally ready to take the plunge but I'm still a little undecided about which camera to choose. This would be my first "real" camera so I dont know what I'm getting my self in for; with that in mind and since the Canon 450D is out I was thinking that would be a good starting place but would that actually be the best buy? I was reading another thread where someone mentioned a 40D (a step up?) and thats not too much price difference at the moment so would that be a better one? I like its faster photo taking but that seems the only feature it has over the 450D since they both have live view or am I wrong - is there something else? I realise the 450D is a 12mp versus the 40D's 10mp but lets face it I'm not going to be printing poster size so thats not really relevant. So which would you go for?

This is the current pricing in a local shop here in Sydney - are these good, ok-ish or crap prices?

Canon EOS 400D IS Twin Kit (AUD $1,250 | EUR 735)
Canon EOS 450D IS Kit (AUD $1,400 | EUR 825)
Canon EOS 450D Twin Kit (AUD $1,600 | EUR 940)
Canon EOS 40D IS Zoom Kit (AUD $1,700 | EUR 1,000)

Lastly, I read somewhere that Canon dont do world wide warranties - does that mean I'm screwed if anything happens to it? I'll be coming back to Ireland in July so anything goes wrong after that I cant bring it back to the shop...

Oh and maybe a stupid question but the 40D zoom kit, I presume thats going to be capable of taking pictures without me being miles away from the subject right? Or does it mean its purely a zoom lens? There is a 40D body only for AUD $1,450 | EUR 855 if that would be better with a different lens that could be bought separately.

Borderfox

The 40d zoom is a 17-85 so covers more of the wider end of things. Tough choice alright, I first thought the 40d but the 450d looks tempting..

PaulieC

you should also find out more about which lenses come with each kit e.g. the 400D is listed as an IS zoom Kit, whereas the 450D is listed only as a zoom kit...Some of Canon's consumer telezooms would not be the best in terms of quality so you may be better off buying body only and getting some 3rd party lenses ??

Duchovny

Well MP is not everything and I'm sure you get better quality with the 40D with 10Mp then with the 450D with 12...
Also depends of the lens you will get, but if money is not a big problem i would go to the 40D.

But now if you decide that you would get the 40D but worst lens because of the price then i would go for the 450D with better lens...

Roen

The IS version of the 18-55mm kit lens has surprised everyone with how good it is. I wouldn't fully discount it.

JohnK

Thanks for the replys everyone!

The lens included with these are:
400D IS Twin Kit: Canon EFS 18-55mm Image Stabiliser Zoom and Canon EFS55-250mm Image Stabiliser Zoom Kit
450D IS Kit: Canon EFS 18-55mm Image Stabiliser Zoom
450D Twin Kit: Canon EFS 18-55mm Image Stabiliser Zoom and Canon EFS 55-250mm Image Stabiliser Zoom
40D IS Zoom Kit: Canon EFS18-55mm IS Zoom with image stabiliser

It seems that they all have image stabilisation which to be honest is something I really need as I dont have the steadiest of hands

AnimalRights

Roen wrote: »

The IS version of the 18-55mm kit lens has surprised everyone with how good it is. I wouldn't fully discount it.

I'd like to find out more on this, have found very little to read online so far.

MartMax

AnimalRights wrote: »

I'd like to find out more on this, have found very little to read online so far.

Is this the glass that u guys talking about?

http://www.photozone.de/Reviews/Canon%20EOS%20Lens%20Tests/45-canon-eos-aps-c/181-canon-ef-s-18-55mm-f35-56-is-test-report--review

OP, having not used any of those cameras I can't tell much but may this brief comparison will be a help :

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_EOS_450D_Digital_Rebel_XSi/verdict.shtml


Good luck,
Marty

mathias

Regarding the differences , the 40D is a much bigger camera so handling is much easier , that sort of wins it for me , and if you have shaky hands a bigger camera will help too , weight wise and function wise , bigger and heavier means better if you have shaky hands.

Another thing that wins out for me is the second LCD screen with the main setup features on it , the 450D doesnt have that , and for a quick set up I find it pretty much essential , on the 40D thats on top of the camera in the usual place , on the 450D its on the main LCD screen , which I dont like at all.

Besides the main features like live view , faster shooting and all that , there is a host of features on the 40D like the above that makes it a better camera , for me at least.

If I were you I'd go for the 40D , you wont regret it , Ive never seen anyone who made that choice that wished they had bought the 450D instead.

PixelTrawler

I have the 400D and the 40D and theres no comparison - get the 40D if you can stretch to it - i outgrew the 400D pretty quickly and theres nothing about the 450D that would suggest getting it over the 40D either

JohnK

Thanks everyone!

Well it certainly sounds like the 40D is the way to go but I'm just wondering now after reading mart_max's thread http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055272292 if there is a significant difference between the kit lens in the one I was looking at (EFS18-55mm IS Zoom) and the one mart_max got (17-85mm) and is it worth getting one over the other or would I really even notice the difference?

mathias

The standard kit lens , which is 18-55 with no IS , is very basic , and very average performance wise.

The newer 18-55 IS is supposed to be way better , but Ive never seen one of those yet so I cant personally say.

The 17 - 85 is a major step up over the kit lens and is well worth the money , there is a very noticeable difference in quality between this and the standard kit lens.

AnimalRights

Roen wrote: »

The IS version of the 18-55mm kit lens has surprised everyone with how good it is. I wouldn't fully discount it.

I was impressed with it too, used it all day yesterday and then used it for a pub gig up in Dalymount.

JohnK

Thanks I'll try and call in there tomorrow and ask them if they have the 17-85 IS kit and what the price difference is. The other one is on special offer so they might not have a worthwhile price for it but its worth asking them anyway I suppose :cool:

JohnK

Right so I called in there today and the 40D with the 17-85 IS kit lens is AUD $2200 or EUR 1290. Would it be worth the extra EUR 290 just to get this lens? If I'm spending so much on a camera I dont want to skimp on the lens yet at the same time I do need to pay rent and that.

But I have to say it did feel mighty nice when I held it in my hand

JohnK

Well I went ahead and bought the 40D with the 17-85mm IS kit lens. Turns out the store a friend works in sells cameras too so he was able to get me AUD $300 off the price bringing it down to EUR 1120. Wont have it in my hands till mid/late next week but getting excited

just pete

Congrats John.
''Its all about who you know''