Equipment 1st DSLR Advice

Although out of my budget, how do you think this would fare?


Its a Nikon D5000 with 18-55 and 55-200mm VR Twin Lens Kit for £500.

 

That was in response to Gryphon's post. Assuming of course that the 500D is around the same price as the 40D.

It will be nice to have a good burst rate for motorsport and the 40D appears to shot faster than the 500D.

 

You might find the prices of the d5000 are starting to drop, as the d5100 has now been released for preorder.

 

Canon 400D + 18-55 £225

55-250 EF-S IS £163

 

Thank you for all the input so far on the thread.

I recently borrowed a Sony A350 DSLR from a friend and took it to brands hatch. Most of the shots were nothing special but a couple turned out okay.

I also took a couple shots of my cat. Denzel.

I uploaded a couple here

He doesnt rate the camera very much......I might ask him if he wants to sell it to me

 

EF-S Lens are made specifically for APS-C sized sensors. Canons intent is clear for this, but I would not waste any money on one. Always try and get a EF lens - it will work on EVERY SLR canon makes. Some debate that the lens will only be used on a APS-C camera, but I look at it as the lens is a better investment than a body. Bodies change, lenses really dont (the day canon stops using the bayonet style lens connection is the day I stop using canon)

 

EF-S lenses hold their resale value very well, some as well as L lenses. The same applies to some third party lenses designed for APS-C (i.e. Tamron 17-50).

 

I suppose it depends where you think you might go with your photography, if it's always going to be a hobby crop body is fine because of the significant price reduction.

 

Forums are the best place to be to snag yourself a bargain of an SLR. I was in the same boat just before xmas last year, I#d been wanting an SLR for ages.

I'd narrowed it down to two, either the EOS 1000 D or a Nikon D3000. I was all over the forums like a hawk, keeping an eye out for a Camera in my price range. I happened to be on OCuK forums and saw a chap selling a Nikon D3000, when I asked him how much he wanted I thought I was dreaming. So £260 got me the Body, standard 18 - 55 MM kit lens, 4 GIG SD HC card and a UV filter.

It's a lovely bit of kit and it goes everywhere with me, although I'm looking at buying a new lens filter, I've scratched the hell out of my UV one by trying to clean it with a micro fiber cloth. D'oh !

 

Can anyone recommend me a CF card? The camera has a 2gb one in it, but that only holds about 250 photos and when i go to bsb next week i want to be able to take loads of pics.

Im thinking 8gb, any decent ones about? (nothing too special, but something suitable for action shots if possible)

 

Anything Transcend--I've become a huge advocate. Reliable and relatively inexpensive.

 

Actually, how do you feel about the lesser known brands? Pentax does a pretty good and cheap dslrs. (K-x, K-r, K-7, K-5) Pretty much has all the bells and whistles too. In-body anti shake, lens af motor. Makes future lens purchases that little bit cheaper (Provided you intend to get more of course)Does a fairly high burst rate. Even takes AA batteries when necessary. Just a suggestion though, as some people aren't too comfortable with the lesser known brands.

And as for SD cards, you'll probably want to get something class 6 or higher since you'll be taking lots of bursts while shooting motorsports. You don't want to be waiting for the camera to finish writing while everything worth shooting is zooming past you.

 

+1. I have only used my Transcend CF card for 7-odd months but I have dozens of other Transcend flash memory products that I bought because they were the cheapest around and they're amazingly solid. I have a 4GB USB stick from 2007 that I still use and my dad uses my 512MB drive that I bought in 2003. Awesome x100.

 

Cool thank you - i appreciate the opinions.

Any particular speed i should be looking for with motorsports photography? Im not after a professional grade, but something that will be fast enough and take decent shots

 

Depends on the camera. You can have the fastest card they make but it'll be useless if your camera is unable to take advantage of it. If you are using an older rebel (or similar) model 133x will be fine given the relatively slow frame rate and buffer. However a 400x card wouldn't be that overkill and you'll be able to use them in the future if you decide to upgrade to a camera that will match it's performance.

 

Il be using a Sony A350.

Il have a shop around to see what i can get. Unfortunatly if i want it in time for the BSB il have to buy in store Maybe il take a look in jessops.