Not a beginner...... next step D-SLR

[MCTheDog]

I'm a relative newbie to Landscapes/Macro work.....Currently have a FujiFilm Finepix s7000 but want to venture into true D-SLR....... budget around for cam around £500 to £750, max £1000. Looking at anything Canon with a Digic IV processor in it initially....... any other cam suggestions to improve my Landscapes?

[pavman]

HI suggest you have a look here:
http://www.canon.co.uk/products_solu...ubcat=3&list=1


you will be able to compare the entry level D-SLR models 1000D, 50D and 450D

also suggest if you buy an entry level D-SLR then look at the EF-S 10-22mm lens for you landscapes

[lifecapture]

Well why do you want digic 4 so much? if your serious about landscapes a used 5d will be of more use to you than say a new 500D, they seem to go for around £800 leaving you £200 ish on a lens which is a reasonable budget, it wont afford you an L lens but it should buy you something decent say a 28-105mm and perhaps enough change for a 50mm 1.8.
You will find that you get far more for your money second hand, if your set on the canon brand then google POTN its a dedicated canon forum that you will find to be a good resource when researching your purchase- it also has a fantastic buy and sell section; last year i purchased a 400d and 10-22 for £550 total, bargain

If you dont like the idea of used gear the 50d is a great camera at a great price, though whether it is due for replacement any time soon is anyones guess. I would recommend an XXD line over the XXXD due to the ease of use of the dual jog dials and the more robust grip and metal chasis. Dont be afraid of a kit lens, if you dont mind stopping the lens down and using a tripod its a fairly capable performer.

Best of luck with your purchase.

[MCTheDog]

Yeah you read my mind on a used 5d mark II with good glass. That's EXACTLY what I'd rather spend the old dosh on!!!!!! there's a BUT though..... and a legit one at that.

The added complexity from my point of view is that I have paralysis of my left arm, with no use of fingers or lower arm and I believe the 5d requires external flash gun etc which makes it tricky!!!!!! The 50d has everything on board.

Digic IV not a necessity but I read the specs and it seems to do what I need - that is NOT serious pro work more an enthusiastic amateur... but getting better by the shoot and absolutely enthralled at getting a top flight DSLR.

Have done the Canon site compare gizmo - and hey, wouldn't that be a nice COMPARE facility if it went across Manufactuters too - allowing comparison based on budget etc like the mag cam tests do!!

Cheers for the response and thoughts gents - much appreciated.

[ap4a]

The 5D doesn't have a built in flash, but it doesn't 'require' a flash. If your main use is for landscapes then you won't necessarily find much use for a flash, except for the occasional fill flash. If you hope to also use it for portraiture then you will need one, however there's no requirement to have it mounted on the camera, and you would get better results with it off-camera anyway - a simple light stand, or second tripod, with the flash mounted would give you good results. However, if your budget is a max of £1,000 then you're not going to get that kind of kit together anyway if the body is going to set you back £800. The 5D will show up all the inadequacies of cheaper lenses and you wouldn't have enough left over for a flash unit.

A 450D (£408) or 1000D (£311) would leave you with enough left over for a Sigma 10-20mm (£350), a Canon 50mm f/1.8 (£82) and a 430 EX II flash (£188) or a 3rd lens such as a 55-200 or 75-300 which while not great will give reasonable results for a bit of nature photography.

[siodre]

i'd say canon 50d and some good glass (16-35mm L, 24-70mm L). i'd shy away from the 500d if i were you because it doesn't have a wheel on the back that controls the aperture. you would have to press the av button then rotate the dial you normally rotate to change the shutter speed. it can be a tricky process for someone with two good arms.

i noticed a big difference between digic 2 and digic 3 (canon 20d to 40d), but not as great of a difference between digic 3 and digic 4 (canon 40d to canon 5d mkii).