Canon 400D or 450D for amateur?

[pinkmelody]

I am new to SLR cameras but very keen to get one now. Which would you recommend?

1. Canon EOS 400D kit I (EF S18-55)
2. Canon EOS 400D kit II (EF S17-85 IS USM)
3. Canon EOS 450D kit I (EF S18-55)

[Headshotzx]

If you're keen to get a dslr soon, I suggest you channel all that keen-ness into doing a bit of research on a better lens based on your budget.

I suggest you get the 400D body alone when the 450D comes out, and buy another lens that you think will suit you. I doubt many new features of the 450D will be worth the S$300-400 or so for you as a beginner.

Hope this helps =)

[pinkmelody]

Thanks for ur reply.

I went to the superstore and asked the sales about the cameras and lens. He suggested to but the Canon EOS 400D Kit I (18-55mm) which is selling at 1,199 now instead of the Kit II (15-85mm) selling at 1,849 now as the difference in price can be used to buy a better lens (55-200mm) which is selling at 400+.

U r right, most probably 450D may not be useful for me since I am still green. Do you know where else can U get a good price for the EOS 400D Kit I?

[Kit]

The 450D will not be that much different from the 400D. If you can handle the 400D, the 450D will not render you completely clueless.

[CanonEOS]

Originally Posted by pinkmelody Thanks for ur reply. I went to the superstore and asked the sales about the cameras and lens. He suggested to but the Canon EOS 400D Kit I (18-55mm) which is selling at 1,199 now instead of the Kit II (15-85mm) selling at 1,849 now as the difference in price can be used to buy a better lens (55-200mm) which is selling at 400+. U r right, most probably 450D may not be useful for me since I am still green. Do you know where else can U get a good price for the EOS 400D Kit I?

Hi,
450D has a few features compared to a 400D. Firstly it has live view, 12mp vs 10mp, spot metering, auto optimiser and of coz spot metering. If all these are unimportant to you, by all mean go ahead for the 400D. Now got promotion. Come with 2gb card and an extra battery but promotion end 20 apr you student or working adult?

[cheezycool]

Originally Posted by pinkmelody Thanks for ur reply. I went to the superstore and asked the sales about the cameras and lens. He suggested to but the Canon EOS 400D Kit I (18-55mm) which is selling at 1,199 now instead of the Kit II (15-85mm) selling at 1,849 now as the difference in price can be used to buy a better lens (55-200mm) which is selling at 400+. U r right, most probably 450D may not be useful for me since I am still green. Do you know where else can U get a good price for the EOS 400D Kit I?

I got mine from MS color for $1060 cash abt a mth ago..with 2gb ultra II, and extra battery.

[tayshinmin]

I'm also another amateur who is thinking of getting a DSLR. Was recommend a 400D, and also buy a L lens. Also, thinking of buying a 2nd hand, since I"m not sure how long I would be interested....

In buying a 2nd hand - what should i be looking out for?

[2ichigo2]

Originally Posted by tayshinmin I'm also another amateur who is thinking of getting a DSLR. Was recommend a 400D, and also buy a L lens. Also, thinking of buying a 2nd hand, since I"m not sure how long I would be interested.... In buying a 2nd hand - what should i be looking out for?

Wa... so fast begin recommended to get L lens dah
Getting a DSLR doesnt mean just lens and a body item.

You might need accessories (like tripod, cleaning kit) and dry box/cabinet...
You have take into consideration of ur budget into these items...

As for 2nd hand body, you can look into this forums selling section.

[felixcat8888]

The alternative is to get the 400D body and a Tamron 17-50mm F/2.8 which is a much faster lens than the 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 Kit lens.

I have the 400D kit I and i am going to spend extra for the Tamron lens. If you have a tight budget, go for this alternative way.

For 2nd hand, ther are some in the Buy & Sell Thread who are selling waya their 400D bodies. Then look at the lens and flash section to look for budget lenses/flash also

[Isaiahfortythirtyone]

hey the new IS kit lens is great! don't look down on it. i rationalise it this way:

For tamron 17-50, at 50mm, you can shoot at f/2.8

For the IS kit lens, at 50mm, you'll prob be at f/5.6

therefore, ceteris paribus, at 50mm, the tamron is 2 stops faster than the kit lens.

however, the kit lens comes with a 4-stop IS mechanism. therefore, overall you can still gain about two stops in handholding. so if handholding is your concern, you're not that much worse off with the kit lens. but if freezing motion is of concern, then the tamron is the way to go. of course the tamron also gives better background blur and colour and contrast, but whether it is $300 better than the kit in that respect is up to you to decide

Oh and please DO NOT buy from any superstores. you're getting a real bad bargain. for newbies, goto John 3:16. very safe place to buy from.

[christopherchen]

Thanks for the input. If I am going to buy extra lens other than kit ones, it would be Tamron 17-50 first. But is it true that the IS mechanism could spoil easily?

[2ichigo2]

IS and f2.8 cant replace each other.
If you need to bokeh produced by f2.8 then u sure need to pick the tamron lens.

[Isaiahfortythirtyone]

Originally Posted by christopherchen Thanks for the input. If I am going to buy extra lens other than kit ones, it would be Tamron 17-50 first. But is it true that the IS mechanism could spoil easily?

anything can spoil easily. if you're going to have such a mindset, then you wouldnt be buying lenses in the first place. because lenses are high precision instruments, anything from a bump to a jolt to dropping it could potentially dislodge elements in the lens (perhaps i exaggerate but you get my drift). is that your definition of 'spoil easily?'

just buy the lens and use it. whatever you choose, make full use of it. don't be so worried about things will spoil or malfunction etc.

[christopherchen]

Originally Posted by Isaiahfortythirtyone anything can spoil easily. if you're going to have such a mindset, then you wouldnt be buying lenses in the first place. because lenses are high precision instruments, anything from a bump to a jolt to dropping it could potentially dislodge elements in the lens (perhaps i exaggerate but you get my drift). is that your definition of 'spoil easily?' just buy the lens and use it. whatever you choose, make full use of it. don't be so worried about things will spoil or malfunction etc.

Is it? I totally didn't know that.

[mismis]

Ive only heard of IS issues on the 17-55. But turning off IS when you're not shooting preserves the IS mechanism

[christopherchen]

Originally Posted by mismis Ive only heard of IS issues on the 17-55. But turning off IS when you're not shooting preserves the IS mechanism

I've read this too somewhere in the forums and other sources. Can't remember exactly where. Some mentioned about a year of "moderate" shooting before it needs to be replaced. Well "moderate" is quite vague but then again it's good to have a 2nd lens handy as a backup.

[toledosun]

I've the 400D. Given a choice, I would go for the 450D because:

1) it's processor is one generation after that used on the 400D It's the same as the one used on the 40D and from the reviews, it is better;

2) 450D comes with highlight priority optimiser. I'm sure you've come across pictures on a bright day where the sky looks just white (over-exposed). This new feature is supposed to help prevent that overexposure to a certain degree.

For those two reasons alone, I would favour the 450D over the 400D.

[Isaiahfortythirtyone]

Originally Posted by christopherchen I've read this too somewhere in the forums and other sources. Can't remember exactly where. Some mentioned about a year of "moderate" shooting before it needs to be replaced. Well "moderate" is quite vague but then again it's good to have a 2nd lens handy as a backup.

well i believe it was snoweagle who reported that IIRC...can't be sure. but snoweagle's situation was different because his company used the 17-55 to shoot in extremely dusty places like worksites. as the 17-55 is not an internal zoom lens, it sucks in dust quite a bit. so that could potentially have affected the IS mechanism. (:

and besides, look at the pro lenses that have IS. 70-200, 300, 400, 500, 28-300...if the IS mechanism were not good enough to last more than a year of moderate shooting, do you not think the pros would be up in arms by now? these are thousands of dollars per lens.

i use the 400D now. i wouldnt change to the 450D as it's not worth it to change my batts, my grip and memory cards. but two features of the 450d stand out

1) improved AF
2) spot metering.

other than that...the other features are not that attractive

cheers

[tayshinmin]

Thanks for the response.....
So - my objective is to take kids. And generally i need to take:
- motion
- low light
- from afar...

Would the tamaron meet that need? and I can't understand all the f2.8 etc etc.... I'm REALLY amatuer....

[Isaiahfortythirtyone]

Originally Posted by tayshinmin Thanks for the response..... So - my objective is to take kids. And generally i need to take: - motion - low light - from afar... Would the tamaron meet that need? and I can't understand all the f2.8 etc etc.... I'm REALLY amatuer....

well it's alright if you can't understand all that. (: nothing to be ashamed about. we all start somewhere.

perhaps you could give an indication of how far is 'afar?'

to give you an illustration, the tamron lens would allow you to shoot kids playing/running/walking about 5 - 8 metres away. it's not exactly a very long lens (i.e. it can't zoom that far). the tamron would be decent in low light, not excellent, but better at capturing motion than the stock lens that comes with the camera.