Equipment 450D over 400D?

Im looking to get my first DSLR but is the 450D with kit lens really worth the extra over the 400D in terms for a amateur like me?

 

As a user of a 400D I can tell you that its a good starting point, as far as my experience goes (haven't used one, just read a lot about spec and things) they strike me as very similar cameras, the 450 essentially being a slightly upgraded 400. Most of it will probably vary on your needs (live view for example is handy but generally regarded as a waste). If I remember, I will whip out a Canon comparison table tomorrow when I get time and make a more accurate comparison and pass judgment (or someone will beat me to it).

Dont rule out the 1000D either, Amazon has it for less than the 400D and it comes with a better lens and is probably just as good.

I would go for the 400D and use the £70ish saved (from amazon again) to get the EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens, its generally considered an essential lens for entry level (gives alot more creative control than you get with the standard zoom).

 

Well i am in 2 minds what to go for still. On ebay the 400d is really pretty cheap but i will have this thing for years so im very tempted to invest a little more now. As for the nifty fifty lens is it really needed, as i was thinking maybe get the hang of this first lens before spending money on more? What benefits will the 50mm lens give?

 

It has a maximum aperture of 1.8F over the 5.0F-5.6F that the 18-55mm kit lens will have at that zoom level.

I'm a little hazy on how the whole stops thing works out (so someone pick me up on this if I'm not understanding it right) but that should mean that it lets in 8 times as much light, meaning in low light situations you can use a faster shutter speed to freeze motion and still have it exposed properly compared to the kit lens.

Dan

 

The kit lens lens with the 450D is the IS version which is, by all accounts, quite a bit sharper as well as having IS.
Depends on the price difference.

 

Well i think im set on getting a 450d with kit lens + 4Gb SD card and lowepro fastpack 100 for a little over £500 next day delivery then you get £50 cash back after from canon. I will stick with this first lens for awhile before i start investing in other lenses/batterys/flashes etc. Seems a pretty good price for it all.

 

DeMob you are just about right on the aperture thing. Counting stops from the kit lens 5.6 back gives 5.6, 4, 2.8, 2 and 1.4. That would give you 8 times the light input but the fifty is 1.8, its almost 8 times.

The main advantages of the fifty are you can pull off outragious depth of field photos (flower head in focus, everything else well out of focus) or low light without a flash (I got mine for photograping gigs). I havnt really used my kit lens since, only for wider angle things and my tele zoom for the longer end of things.

If youre new to this, dont forget that your cameras sensor is not the size of 35mm film, its smaller. Remember to multiply the length of lenses by 1.6 to get the effective length. 50mm on a 35mm (or full frame) will give you about 0x enlargement, 50mm lenses on your 450 will be effectivly 85mm long and zoom in somewhat.

 

Well since my last post i actually ordered a 400D with kit lens off the bay. i was offered a iphone and i just couldnt pass it up as i miss my old one so i had to cut back a little on the camera. Thanks for all your comments. chances are i may end up getting a 50mm before a trip im going on.