Canon 40D

Whiteflag12

Hi
Looking for a bit of guidance. I have a Canon 40 d for a few years now and I am considering either changing to a Nikon 5100 or buying some add ons for the canon, lens and maybe a flash.
The canon bugs me a bit for indoor shots, I find the flash is quite poor. I have the standard 18-55 lens at the mo.
can anybody give me some guidance whether it would be better to change camera or just improve my accessories?
Cheers :-)

dirtyghettokid

if you are taking low light indoor shots, you need to have a lens with a large aperture & increase your ISO.

nikon/canon.. different strokes. they all do the same jobs. it's about learning how to get the most out of what you have.

for suggestions... if you wanted a better flash, you could pick up a yongnuo YN-560 II for about 60 lids on ebay.

lenses.... 50mm f/1.8 will set you back about €100.

what type of pics do you like to take? that would give us a better idea of what to advise you.

the_syco

Whiteflag12 wrote: »

The canon bugs me a bit for indoor shots, I find the flash is quite poor.

I think I've used the on camera flash maybe 10 times. Would primarily use a "Nissin Di622 Mark11 Canon Fit" that I picked up in for 150 blips in Camera Exchange on George's St (Dublin). Would advise getting a flash that you'd mount, and I'd say the one dirtyghettokid referenced should also fit the bill.

Either way, tell us what your shooting; are you taking portraits, or what?

Cienciano

I have a 40d. Here's what to do.
Go out and buy the 17-55 2.8f
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-EF-S-17-55mm-2-8-Lens/dp/B000EOTZ7G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382692564&sr=8-1&keywords=canon+17-55mm
Sell the kit lens or put it in a box, you'll never use it again
Come back here and thank me

You'll have the same problem with the nikon. Upgrade the lens, not the camera. It's an expensive lens, but any large apeture lens is. Picture quality from it is up there with the L lens range, if you google or search the photo forums for the 40d, it's the lens everyone uses.

pullandbang

Whiteflag12 wrote: »

The canon bugs me a bit for indoor shots, I find the flash is quite poor. I have the standard 18-55 lens at the mo.

There's your problem. The pop up flash is next to useless and the kit lens is not fast enough. Either get an external flash and/or get a fast lens and the 50mm f1.8 is the place to start. You should pick up a 2nd one for around €90.

Nothing wrong with the 40D, it's a fine camera.

Whiteflag12

Thanks for all the tips !!! I think a lens upgrade is my best bet so. I mainly take pictures of people and to some extent landscapes/architecture.
I'm starting in a camera club in the next two weeks so I really want to make the most of the camera.

dirtyghettokid

do you have a budget for getting some gear?

i still maintain that a 50mm f/1.8 & a yongnuo YN-560II would be your best bet. would set you back less than €200 shipped for both items.

if you are into landscape, a sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 is a good lens too, but it varies in price around €4-500. i find that once you have a few lenses that are good enough quality & covers different focal ranges, you won't touch your kit lens.

Cienciano

The 50mm is great, but it's worth trying to get the 17-55 imho. It's a good lens that covers a lot of stuff.
I have the canon 10-22mm, the 50mm, and a cheap 70-300. TBH, the 17-55 is on it 99% of the time. Of course it depends on what you're taking photos of!
I have kids, so take a lot of them. The 50mm isn't too useful for that.

But dirtyghettokid, I wouldn't mind getting a flash but don't want to buy a canon one. You reckon the yongnuo YN-560II is a good alternative?

dirtyghettokid

yea i have two YN-560's (not the 560II) .. full manual, but i really like them! they do the job for sure. i've had them over two and a half years, and no hassle.

Whiteflag12

Well I bought the 50mm online today so looking forward to delivery.... Next will be to look at. Flashgun!

FoxT

Whiteflag12 wrote: »

Hi
Looking for a bit of guidance. I have a Canon 40 d for a few years now and I am considering either changing to a Nikon 5100 or buying some add ons for the canon, lens and maybe a flash.
The canon bugs me a bit for indoor shots, I find the flash is quite poor. I have the standard 18-55 lens at the mo.
can anybody give me some guidance whether it would be better to change camera or just improve my accessories?
Cheers :-)

I've a 40D for a few years now, and you are right, the onboard flash does not give good results in bad light. All onboard SLR flashes are poor, because they arent powerful enough, they are physically too small, and you cannot bounce them. It comes into its own, though, on bright sunny days, as a fill-flash. Really helps to take the strong, harsh , shadows off people's faces, etc.

Now, I use the onboard flash on sunny days, and a flashgun in the dark.
Overall, I find it is a fantastic camera.It is starting to show its age a little, and better high ISO performance can be got from newer models. I havent seen anything yet, that offers a compelling upgrade story.(newer models have some better features, especially high-iso performance, but the cost does not IMO, justify the marginal improvement).



-FoxT