A200 v 450D

johnfás

I'd like to get into digital SLR photography but the price is a big stumbling block.

Essentially I would like to know your opinions on exactly why the Canon cameras are so popular. Here is my dilemma, the cheapest place I can find a 450D at the moment is 7day shop. It will come in at around 630 euro before the cashback offer of £50/€65. That is for the camera body and the 18-55mm lens kit.

Now, on the other hand I have a friend who works in Sony and can get me the Sony a200 + 18-70mm lens kit + 75-300mm lens for 595 euro.

How much is the 450D worth it over the Sony? Is it worth paying more and sacrificing a lens?

Ricky91t

Well Canon is always going to be around!You could pick up a used lens like a 70-300 fairly cheap now a days'.On the other hand sony have been round 2 maybe 3 years not at much used / new stuff avaiilable.

The best thing to do is stick with the top dogs (canon and nikon) They'll always have a huge selection of new stuff and always loads of used stuff if you dont want to spend alot on new stuff

mathias

You need to be looking at more than just the body when considering an SLR.

Any SLR camera is a system , and you will eventually end up spending way way more on lenses than on the actual body , Canon and Nikon are way ahead of anybody else here in the range of quality lenses and the prices they are available for.

So While the Sony looks cheaper for the body , take a look at the prices of the Sony lenses.

Canon on the other hand , have superb lenses for way less money. A prime example of this ( pun intended ) is the nifty 50 , a pin sharp lens for less than 100 euro , and they also have the superb L glass lenses , again , many at more affordable prices than Sony equivalents.

duffarama

Ahem...
Sorry to interject on this Canon love affair, but all the Sony DSLR's can accept Minolta and Konica Minolta lenses and from all their old autofocus digital and film cameras.

Also some of the Sony Zeiss lenses are of very good optical quality and Sony are fully committed to supporting the Alpha system for quite some time. They've now got 4 bodies for sale and another due for release soon.

madison91

Sorry to highjack, but I have also been looking to getting into SLR photography and trying to decide on a starter camera. Want to get something which can be used for general photography from portrait to landscape and that I won't outgrow too soon, but as I am only a beginner I don't need anything too expert.

Don't really want to spend anything over 600-700 euro so had been looking at the Canon 400D and the Nikon D40 and D60, and are wondering what people would recommend? As a beginner would I notice much difference between the D40 and D60, or would I better off going for the Canon? Have gone in and handled both but still cant decide which one!

Would appreciate any advice - thanks!

Morrisseeee

Also take a look at : www.connscameras.com/
They have good enough deals there.
Like:
OLYMPUS E-410 TWIN KIT WITH 14-42MM & 40-150MM LENSES
for €499.
This is a great camera for a beginner.

CabanSail

If I were just starting out as a beginner now I would probably look at a good bridge camera. Look for one that has the Manual Functions, a Hot Shoe & preferably can shoot RAW too (but not essential at this stage) You could probably even get a decent enough used one if someone is upgrading to a DSLR. The reason I say this is that you will have a similar functionality of a DSLR wth a Kit Lens at a fraction of the cost. It will let you get out & learn how to shoot in Aperture & Shutter Priority modes as well as manual. You can learn a lot about Composition & manipulating light.

Will it do everythiong you want to do? No, of course not, but you will know more about the limitations & what is important to you when you then start looking at a DSLR. Then you can move on to a decent Nikon & some Glass to suit & pass on your Bridge Camera to another Beginner.

duffarama

Morrisseeee wrote: »

Also take a look at : www.connscameras.com/
They have good enough deals there.
Like:
OLYMPUS E-410 TWIN KIT WITH 14-42MM & 40-150MM LENSES
for €499.
This is a great camera for a beginner.

I second that!
Mostly because I have that camera and those lenses...

melekalikimaka

ricky91t wrote: »

Well Canon is always going to be around!You could pick up a used lens like a 70-300 fairly cheap now a days'.On the other hand sony have been round 2 maybe 3 years not at much used / new stuff avaiilable.

they have the best value lens second hand, by far

jackdaw

SONY = SHÍT for photography...

stick with Canon/Nikon ..

melekalikimaka

jackdaw wrote: »

SONY = SHÍT for photography...

stick with Canon/Nikon ..

... utter tripe, dont post crap unless you can back it, sony are excellent, i'd put them jusr behind olympus.

why the sony hatin?

duffarama

jackdaw wrote: »

SONY = SHÍT for photography...

stick with Canon/Nikon ..

This post makes no sense....

Also Sony are one of the leading sensor producers and have made many a sensor for Nikon through the years.

Shiny

I had this dilemma a few years ago.

I was advised to look at the cost of lens's and after
that the choice becomes obvious.

You can't go wrong with a Canon/Nikon system and
remember not to buy it in Ireland.
Have a look at the ebay shops first. Even the UK ones.

RichyX

jackdaw wrote: »

SONY = SHÍT for photography...

stick with Canon/Nikon ..

In fairness Sony's bodies seem to be quite good aside from the retarded way they deal with noise reduction.
The issue is more the currently limited range of decent new lenses and the silly price of a lot of them.
Sony seem to be primarily reissuing Minolta lenses, some of which are decades old designs.

I'd go for Pentax, Nikon or Canon ahead of them.

I suspect that many of the people that boast of the vastly superior range and quality of Nikon and Canon's lenses don't really know what the other brands have to offer.
Pentax bodies can use virtually every Pentax lens ever made, and image stabilize them into the deal.
A fantastic feature that neither of the big 2 can offer.

Freddie59

Shiny wrote: »

I had this dilemma a few years ago.

I was advised to look at the cost of lens's and after
that the choice becomes obvious.

You can't go wrong with a Canon/Nikon system and
remember not to buy it in Ireland.
Have a look at the ebay shops first. Even the UK ones.

Ditto to that. I bought the 450D from www.komplett.ie I think you can get it delivered there now for around €660. Can't go wrong with it.

Freddie59

melekalikimaka wrote: »

... utter tripe, dont post crap unless you can back it, sony are excellent, i'd put them jusr behind olympus.

why the sony hatin?

I have to agree. I saw a few photos taken by a two-year old Sony (don't know the particular model) at Waterford Spraoi recently. It really shone in low light. My 450D keeled over at the same time.:o

BanzaiBk

I got the chance to play with an A200 recently at work. It felt very nice in my hands. Have you held either of them? Defintely go to a shop and see how they feel in your hands before commiting to any purchase.

Freddie59

BanzaiBk wrote: »

I got the chance to play with an A200 recently at work. It felt very nice in my hands. Have you held either of them? Defintely go to a shop and see how they feel in your hands before commiting to any purchase.

TBH I spent an AWFUL lot of time deliberating between an Olympus e-510 and the 450D, because I had an olympus P & S several years ago. It's quality was stunning. What swung me in the end was the availabilty and pricing on Canon lenses and accessories. Plus the uncertainty about the Four Thirds system. There were also reported problems of the 510 strobing in low light. But if I could have afforded it in the long term I probably would have went for the 510. But I couldn't justify the expensive cost of the Olympus lenses and accesories.

Now, I love the 450D, but, like all cameras it has its flaws. But they're few and far between. Only one so far has been shooting handheld at night. At Waterford Spraoi festival I had the 1.4 50mm lens with me and the camera went nuts (I had it in manual). It would take a shot, then lock up as if it was ranging for some measurement or other). I got about six useable shots - and all the time P & Ss going off without any problem all around me!:o:)

PalerPaul

Like a few others here, I'm thinking of putting a bit more focus on photography. I have to say, I'm still at odds as to what camera to buy. On conscameras.com, they have the Sony E200 for €399 which seems quite reasonable. I'm looking for something that I can learn with really. I don't want to pay 200 more for a few features that I might never use... Is the lense you get with the Sony and evwen the A350 which is nearly the same price as the others any good. Would that not be a good all rounder to start using? Of the people who've posted here looking to start, has anyone bought anything yet, and if so, any thoughts?