southerndownhill.com - Forum

Hi guys, im thinking of buying a new camera as my old digital compact just packed up and ive been thinking of getting a digital slr.  Ive had a bit of practise with my dads old film slr learning about shutterspeeds and apertures and that but i want a digital so that i can look at the shots ive taken without having to fill the film up and then take it to be developed etc.  So ive been doing a bit of research and talking to a mate whoes a pretty good photographer and owns a canon eos10d and ive managed to narrow my choice down to either a canon eos350d or a canon eos10d.  However im stuck as to which one to choose, i like the 350d because of the newer sensor on it and the higher resolution but talking to my mate he said that the 10d is better as its bigger and sturdier and that it gives you better images.  So im just looking for more opinions from people.  I need a camera thats easy to get used to but will be a good camera.

Thanks, Jon  :)

Have you found a 10D to buy ? as there arent that many around for sale now.

If you have it's an excellent camera. Very well built.

If you want to talk Canon's add me to MSN

Hi Jim, thanks for the reply.  Yes ive found a 10d body second hand for about

All the cameras you listed would be good and I doubt you would be dissapointed.

What camera does your dad have, because if he has loads of decent lenses for it and it's a Nikon then it may be worth getting a Nikon DSLR... if not then it wouldn't really matter.

Another thing to note is if you bought the best DSLR then a crap lense, you would be dissapointed with the results, so make sure you get a decent lense, even if it is just a 50mm to get started.

Roo, my dads camera is a mamaya (sp?) i think hes only got one lense so ill be starting from scratch.  Ive been recommended a 28-105mm usm canon lense

I think the Mamiya DSLR is around 8k so yeah, probably a good idea going for a canon ;)

I guess most of Canons own lenses would be ok, but it's always a good idea to do a little search for reviews, wish I had when I bought a lens some time ago, would have saved me loads of hassle!

just missed out on this bargain http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7587200695&category=31388&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBUAA:UK:11  i bidded

Another reason to go with the 10D over the 350D is the 350's absolutly tiny, unless its got a battery grip on i cant get all my hand on it and it feels odd.

The Canon SLRs are excellent.  If you are starting from 'scratch' with no lenses, the Nikon range is also worth looking at.

The D50 is pretty affordable and the D70s will do all you need from snapshots to full page magazine shots.  I have a D70 and love it, great camera - just look out as camera gear is as tempting on the credit card as bike parts!

Best resource out there from reviews and dedicated forums is www.dpreview.com - just don't mention Nikon v's Canon depate on there! ;)

Enjoy the camera, whatever you choose!

thanks for the replys, i think i have decided to go with the 10d now after talking to jim and to my mate. 

Yeti, i havent had a chance to hold a d50 or a d70 yet but i have heard that nikons can give you noisy pictures

Both those have a minumum ISO of 200 whereas the Canon (I think) is 100? which is good, also I think the CMOS sensor is less noisy and with the higher range cameras, full frame sensors have less noise, and Nikon doesn't use full frame sensors, so it is true , and then there will be things the Nikon is better at, so up to you.

You say you've gone for a 10D though, so good luck with it, not a bad camera at all :)

Thanks for explaining that Roo, by the way love your work, top notch.

Yea i think i am going to get a 10d, just got to find one now.

10d is awful slow on the old start up times... a 350d may be a bit smaller but it will be muchos faster to react and easier to carry and on batteries etc... I own a 20d and for a newbie Id recommend the 350... for being so practical, I wouldnt be too keen on a second hand 10d...

I love my Canon 300D :)

Works well and quickly. Nicer size than the 350 that replaced it too imo.

Examples of pics on the link in my sig :)

dont i know you from somewhere dave???

Im not sure?

Who are you lol?

do you have a flickr account!!!

I post on your pics on flickr - Dougie Todd!

LOL hello fella!

I didnt realise you used here! I need to have a browse through your latest uploads today at somepoint!

lol the main ones arent all great - i just post nearly all shots and the light was baaaad but the links page on www.darkside-images.com has a slideshow link to allow you to c the best ones.

you got a few good bike shots yourself recently!

Oh and sorry for taking over this topic with non relevant stuff - ill stop posting now ;)

any particular reason why not? I'd sell mine with confidence that it is going to continue to serve any new user very well, as it is doing for me :)

just because the 10d has a slower start up time (which I find important), It has a higher pixel count (beneficial if you need to crop) it can take more frames at 3 fps and is lighter to carry about...

dont get me wrong, the 10D takes brilliant pictures and is packed with great features but for biking I'd suggest the 350D for being so practical, light weight (not much less than 10D granted) and a touch faster. ETTL-2 is also included (but is a minor point)

also the 350D isnt that expensive - its nice to know you have plenty of shutter cycles left in a brand new camera along with a full warranty and canon back up service. You cant be too sure about buying second hand unless you know the person!

either way both cameras will take excellent pictures (provided it is in the right hands)

The 350D is simply a newer camera with superior technology. In an age where technology advances this fast, it's a much better choice unless you have huge hands or seriously bang/drop your camera around alot (Or will be using larger lenses, 70-200 2.8 and upward, as the 10D + Battery grip combo is a HUGE leap over the 350D + Grip combo). Though a nice big sturdy camera isn't much use without a decent sensor. (Not saying the 10D sensor isn't decent, just the 350D one is better)

Don't get too hung up on pixel count either. You shouldn't have to crop your picture that much in the first place, and 6.3 is more than enough for most folk. Especially just biking snap shots.

I have to say that I have been completely satisfied with the function of my 10D, *but* I haven't used a 350D, so I dont know what I'm missing - which is a good thing by the sounds of it.

I have seen Jim's 350D tho, and I really wouldn't want a camera that small. Its so small its verging on compact!! At least with my older slightly slower but still takes a mint picture 10D I have something I can actually hold on to! :) (and I haven't got very big hands!!)

350D is way to small, hence me moving back to something bigger (20+grip)

If you did buy the 350D you would need the Battery Grip as well.

very true, if you have big hands then being comfortable is also a consideration, I have to use xl gloves, so spose my hands are big and I find the 20d without grip perfect, I havent tried one with a grip as I'd end up spending more

"Get a grip man"

;)

Seriously it makes it so comfortable, it's worth every penny.

I wish they made it better though :(

What issues are you having ?

It feels nowhere near as good as the mag alloy body. The 10D grip is really good, then canon realised they could cut corners and make more money, whilst giving users another reason to get a 1 series.. It just feels plasticy and pretty cheap! And the battery door doesnt clip shut properly, and the ever so slight movement annoys me.

Fortunately, i completely forget about it after using my 70-200 2.8 for hours on end when my wrist wasn't falling off. ;)

I've got zero movement on mine even with the 100-400 L on the front. No problems with my clip either. You might have a slightly dodge one.

I think it all comes down to personal preference on the 350d . I love mine to pieces and feel it is a better size than my old eos300. I have got small hands and that might be why , but I really like the size.

Ady are you talking about the 350 here?
Jim have you now sold your 350 and did you not have a grip?

I have got a 350 for my birthday but I am not aloud it untill the 18th March and its starting to kill me  :-[ Is it worth me starting to save now for a grip or should I wait and see what its like once I have used it for a while? I think that the finish quality of the 350 isnt as good as on my 35mm 300.

Ady thanks for that lens its great  ;D

Yeah I've sold the 350d now. I didn't have a grip for it.

What was your reasions for selling? Was it purely the size or was there more to it than that? From what you said at Cwmcarn I thought you liked it? How long did you have it?

Sorry about all the questions  ;)

Ah glad to hear you're getting on well with the lens Si :) Another happy customer.

Hi guys i managed to win this on sunday  http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7588777042  should be here in a few days.  Ive just got to order myself a memory card and a lens now.  This is the lens im going to get i think http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Canon-EF-28-105mm-28-105-F-3-5-4-5-USM-II-Lens-New_W0QQitemZ7583036877QQcategoryZ4687QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

Has anyone ever bought anything from www.digitalrev.com ?

Jon

I brought my camera body plus some other items from Digital Rev, and i can't fault them. They honor there VAT reimbursment and Price Match schemes without quibble, too.

Ive just been looking on digital rev and added the things i wanted to my cart then went to check out to check the price of postage but it also had the cost of import duties.  Just wondering if i will have to pay them the import duties as i checkout and then they mark the parcel as import payed or is this cost what i could be liable to pay when the parcel arrives in the UK.

thanks, Jon  :)

Jon are you buying from the digital rev site? Or through Digital Rev on ebay?

The Digital Rev site itself tends to be no cheaper than anywhere else, however the ebay auctions you can pick yourself up a real bargain, and you only pay the cost of the item plus postage.

If they are charging you import duty at checkout, then this is typically something a lot of overseas sellers do to allow swift transit to your house without having to worry about paying tax. As it's already prepayed.

Hi Ady, i initially found digital rev through ebay when trying to find the lense but then went on there site to find a camera bag that i wanted but there not selling the bag on there ebay shop.  I think ill order the lense from there ebay shop and ill find the bag in this country.

Thanks for your help Ady  ;)

Anytime mate :)

Yes I am mate thanks. This is about the only decent pic I took that day.

Hum... cant get the pic to work. It looks rubbish down at 50k any way.

You'll need to remotely host it somewhere and link to here.