Banner Sponsors
For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
Posts: 751Hi
I am doing a camera course in August and am thinking of purchasing this camera.
I have a Cannon Powershot compact which is a lovely camera, takes super photos but I would like something more "professional". I would be really grateful for any opinions on this camera. There seem to be some good deals on it at the moment - an extra lens, plus case, memory card and tripod. I know I would also end up forking out more money for a macro lens too.
Karon
I have one and absolutely love it! I've had it a while and would suggest if you get one, you hold fire on buying a separate macro lens until you've tried the lens it comes with.
I've used mine to take pics like these:
It's great for bears too!
And landscapes:
I think it's a great camera and wouldn't be without it now!
Posts: 751OMG, love it love it!
I see what you mean about holding fire on the macro lens. The flower pictures are just superb - particularly the rose with drops on it. Thats what I had in mind!
Thank you so much for showing me.
How long have you had yours for?
The price in Jessops is £669.00 including an extra lens, tripod case and card.
Karon
Superb photos Paula!
Hugs
Marilyn
Hi Karon,
I can't remember how long ago I bought mine ... I think I bought it in 2008. I like Canon cameras and had a non-digital SLR previously, so on advice from my sister (she's a professional photographer) decided to buy the digital version because the lenses were interchangeable with my non-digicam.
The Jessops price sounds quite high to me, have you tried searching on the internet for other suppliers? Sometimes Canon do cash back deals ... from memory I saved £50 by using a cashback deal on my purchase. I just did a quick search and this company sells the same camera at a great deal less ... http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/1911597 … ePromo=oui I think the initial purchase price of my camera was in the region of £500.
If you want the others bits 'n pieces, it's always worth looking on Ebay or Amazon ... you can pick them up pretty reasonably if you hunt around - www.7dayshop.co.uk is pretty good for cheaper memory cards for example, but they take a wee while to deliver. To get you started, really all you need is the camera and the lens it comes with, a memory card (you should be able to pick up a 4gb card for about £10-£15) and a case to protect the camera (I found one I can sling over my shoulder on Ebay for about £12). It's also handy to buy a spare battery so you never have to be without a fully charged one, but you don't need to spend a fortune on that either, just buy a compatible one rather than a Canon and you'll save yourself £'s!
By the way, my Mum recently did a camera course using exactly the same make of camera and she now takes fab pics!
Oh and for anyone wanting a compact to pop in their pocket whilst out and about, I can recommend the Canon Ixus 210, a lovely point 'n shoot, touchscreen camera which takes lovely pics too! I just bought one and think it will be perfect for my holidays!
Taken on the Canon Ixus 210
The Littlest ThistleHi Karon, i got your pm, but thought I'd reply in the forum in case it benefited anyone else.
I have a Canon 20D, an aging version of the big brother to the 450D (though I'm hoping to get to ugrade to the 7D soon!). My best suggestion is that you go and handle all the similar cameras in the same range from the different manufacturers and see what you like the feel of best. The Canon 450D, Nikon D5000, Sony Alpha A380 and Olympus E520 are on the same sort of level (although actually that's the latest from Nikon/Sony and Oly, the Canon one is now 2 versions old). The current Canon in that range is actually the 550D. Bearing that in mind, Jessops are definitely ripping you off at that price, and just trying to shift stock!
Best place to compare prices is http://camerapricebuster.co.uk/ which often also tells you of discount codes you can use online at a number of shops. It thinks Wilkinson's is best price for 450D body + kit lens is £478.49 (including p&p) I imagine any lens and tripod they would throw in at Jessops would be bottom of the range, and possibly the lens would not be a length you'd ever use. I'd start with the body and kit lens, then work out what you want to do more off to help influence further lens purchases down the line. 7dayshop and pixmania, as Paula says, are best for memory cards, and 7dayshop own make batteries are excellent back ups, and about 1/10th the price of the Canon brand ones.
Really though, handle them in a shop - Jessops, Jacobs, Wilkinsons, Currys, Comet and PCWorld are all likely to have this range in stock, as they are considered 'entry level' (that's not actually a bad thing btw, just the higher up the range the bigger the body, and more weatherproofing etc, for the most part they can take the same photos with the same lens). Don't feel pressured to buy in the shop, arm yourself with the camerapricebuster prices before you go to give you an idea of what a good price is, and happy shopping. If it helps, take a man with you - he can amuse the sales staff while you actually play with the thing, they assume women never know anything about 'technical things' and it really annoys me, so I usually take along a decoy 
I have a 450D as well, and I love it. I bought it with the 18-55 IS and 55- 250 IS Kit lenses, and since bought the 100mm macro, 50mm 1.4 and a Tamron 18-55 ( I think lol) 2.8. I have to admit if I had time over again I would have skipped getting the Canon 18-55 kit and just got the Tamron, as I love having the 2.8 for the light and shallower depth of field, even tho it is heavier.
I agree with Katy, the handling different cameras is the decider- I was debating between the Canon and a Nikon, but when I went to look at them in the flesh, the Nikon just felt too big in my hands, the Canon while large (after using a little point and shoot for a few years) was a much comfier feel.
Good luck and have fun!
Incidentally, if later on, you decide you would like a nice meaty extra zoom lens for this camera, the 75mm-300mm is great! It takes a bit of getting used to because it makes the camera quite a bit heavier to use, but having said that, it's great for getting outdoors and catching up with the local wildlife!
I think the current price for this kind of lens is around £300.00 ... it was this lens that convinced me to buy the digital version of my old Canon camera, because I already had the lens (I've had it a good few years) and didn't want to fork out for another one.
Taken using 75mm-300mm zoom lens - without tripod.
I find the Canon comfortable to use. My photographer sister (she runs her own photography business and takes fab pics!) swears by Nikon, but I'm completely untrained in photography and wanted a camera I could teach myself to use easily and I have found my Canons to be very good in this respect.
Posts: 751Gosh - I've got a lot to think about!
Thankyou all so much for you information. The 450D is definately a lot cheaper, believe it or not, in Jessops than in Argos - and this really surprised me. I will look out the sites you have suggested.
Thanks - I nearly gave in today till I read posts.
Karon
