what EOS to buy in Australia

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as a beginning photogrepher with biggish ambition should I buy what is here called an EOS 3000 or a EOS 50E/50? The use is a bit of outside slow wildlife and nature photography plus a bit of domestic use.I can afford either... what sort of lens to go for? Thanks folks.

-- jane hunter (susans100@optusnet.com.au), January 14, 2002

Answers

G'day Jane,

Nice to see another Aussie in the forum...

The EOS50E and EOS50 are now discontinued - they were replaced by the EOS30 and EOS33 respectively.

The EOS3000 is an entry level camera. As you're a beginner this may be ideal, but if you want to grow in your hobby then you may find it limiting after a while.

You haven't given a budget, so allow me a little latitude here! I have the EOS30 with the 28-135 IS lens. I'm very happy with it (I've been doing photography for many years but this is my first autofocus camera) and I know it will serve me well for a long time to come.

This combo cost me a shade under $A2,100 at G&V Imaging in Sydney. Of course I went out and got the BP300 battery pack and 420EX flash (another $A580, but it was a VERY good price. Normally the flash alone is c.$600) but these aren't mandatory.

Anyway, if you didn't want to spend this much, there's the EOS300. A great camera (but no eye controlled focus like the '30) and reasonably priced. Just check out a couple of online stores like http://www.camerastore.com.au

As for lenses, the 28-135 is very good, with great optics and image stabilisation. Also, there's the 28-105 which is also a great lens. Most people in this forum will advise against the standard 28-90 lens that comes with most Canon cameras, but I don't think it's that bad.

Depending on what kind of wildlife you're photographing, these may suit.

Well I've rambled on long enough. Hope this helps!

Nik

-- NikB (ndb_letters@yahoo.com), January 14, 2002.


hi there jane...

actually me a beginner too...so just like to share my rationale with u..maybe it helps...

i have an EOS 300 which is so to speak an entry level camera...but its nifty and has a lot of features which were previously unheard of in a camera of this class..i'm damn satisfied with it..

it has evaluative metering, centre-weighted and partial metering...the spot metering stuff is what comes in the higher end models...and the eye controlled focus..faster flash sync and many more...not to mean that these features are not important mind u...they are..

i went for this model after extensive reading of a lot of material on the net...and the general consensus was...the camera is basically a black box for the film (well...quite a bit more) but thats where it ends...the lens is definitely more important because that determines the quality of lite being let in..i got the standard 28-80 mm f3.5- 5.6 lens that comes along as a kit...while its not bad per se, its a typical consumer grade lens....nothing at all to shout about..

i recently bought myself a 50mm fixed lens (normal lens/prime lens) the EF f1.8 II model...its accepted that 50mm is the natural angle of view and it offers a honest perspective of the image u r trying to capture...and since u don't have the luxuxy of exaggerating/compressing perspective as with the wide-angle/telephoto zoom lenses, u need to be more creative in composition and framing to get an intersting photograph.. (mind u, i repeat...this is what i have learnt on the NET) i've been having it for a very short time to speak authoritatively..but the lens is pretty good...i sincerely feel it WILL help me make better photographs...its also neat for low light photography coz of its large aperture...and its damn affordable too..so if u wanna LEARN photography, i think this one lens is a must...i am seriously contemplating not using the zoom lens that came with my camera anymore...because zoom lenses DO make u lazy and u end up using it at either 28 mm or 80 mm...at least it happened a lot to me in the initial stages...

u can read reviews on the above lens at http://www.photographyreview.com click on "lenses", then click on "35 mm Prime Lenses" and look under "C" for Canon...

u may also most probably need to go in for a dedicated flash..which is a must as u have stated ur pretty serious about pursuing photography..

thats my bit...

ciao venkat

-- Venkat (venkat_p_iyer@yahoo.com), January 14, 2002.


i agree to what venkat is saying. i too owe EOS 300 and its an excellent camera in that price. in addition to what he said, i would like to add few more comments on the lens. if you could afford go for EF 28-135mm lens. i don't owe this lens. but according to what i have heard from friends and NET, this is the best zoom lens in this focal length range. second option is to go for EF 75-300mm IS USM lens. its is great and versatile because of its IS and would be very useful for wildlife photography. for landscapes, the 50mm standard lens would be the best choice. so a combo of EOS 300, a 50mm lens and 75-300mm IS would be very good.

-- sajeev (chack74@yahoo.co.in), January 15, 2002.

I agree, with some of the comments. I own a EF 28-135mmIS and its a great lens for use in low light when you don't want to use the flash, but the EF 50mm f/1.8II will do a better job in low light, and is a better zoom range to start photography. I've owned a EF 28-105mm and would recommend it $$$.You could buy a 28-105 and a 50mm for the same price of the 28-135mmIS in Sydney. EF 100-300mm or 75-300IS ? 100-300 is the sharper of the two but is useless in low light for wildlife. Hope this HELPS !!!

-- bob bubev (borkas@ozemail.com.au), January 16, 2002.

Until they were stolen, I had EOS 50E + EF28-105USM, and think they are both excellent (for the price). If you can still get 50E, I would recommend it, I do not like EOS 30.

-- Alen Borovicanin (al@gi-zrmk.si), January 20, 2002.


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