cheap 350d wildlife kit

[jeronimo]

Hello All

I am considering on buying an dSLR cam. The reason for this that i've overgrown the KM Dimage Z1.

After reading a lot of revieuws, looking at even more images I think I know what I want at the moment.

The pictures that I make are mainly animals and nature stuf. I rarely print images, and mostley publish on the web.
My budget is not so high, for the begining around 1500-2000 euro.

So I choose for;
Canon EOS 350d (with grip)
Sigma 18-125 (for allround stuf, the "standard lens on my cam")
Sigma 130-400 (for birdshooting and all other tele shots)
Probably I will also include the Canon 50mm f/1,8 lens for portrets.

What do you folks think of this set? Any idea's to improve this? But reminder NOT more than 2000 euro's.
Maybe an other portret lens that can do macro's? Suggestions on this?

Thanks a lot for the information and help

Sorry i've it's in the wrong forum

[ShotByTom]

Definately want to include a good tripod, you'll need it!

[Jon]

I'd start by looking in the Top Ten Lens (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=402436#post402436) sticky. There are lists of Recommended Starter lenses, Top 10 wildlife primes and top ten wildlife zooms, all of which will give you some ideas of what you might need.

[condyk]

350D body only
Feisol Carbon Fibre tripod with Manfrotto 488 CR2
Sigma 50-500 EX HSM DG
Sigma 18-50mm 2.8

[jeronimo]

Well about the tripod.
I allready have one, wich should serve my needs. I will do a lot of bird shooting, so maybe a bean bag is also quit ok (wich just cost 5 euro's ;) )

@jon; I allready toke a look in this top 10 sticky, but will do this a bit better, comparing prices and so on.

@ condyk; Why not the Grip? Ok safe's me about 100 euro's, but maybe I will stick later on to some astro photography as well, so then the Grip might be usefull?

I also pointed my view to the BIGMA, but on first hand I think I would prefer a much cheaper lens. So I can practice my skills, and then I realy know what I do most, and set my eyes to eighter an better tele zoom, or an tele prime. And the BIGMA might be a bit heavy for a starter like I am?

[cfcRebel]

Hello All

So I choose for;
Canon EOS 350d (with grip)
Sigma 18-125 (for allround stuf, the "standard lens on my cam")
Sigma 130-400 (for birdshooting and all other tele shots)
Probably I will also include the Canon 50mm f/1,8 lens for portrets.


I think that's a good start for beginner with tight budget (i'm one of them). I don't have first hand experience with these lenses but i was shopping for a 18-125 DC for my trip. It's a great lens for the money IMHO. I'm not sure how the 135-400(i assume the short end is 135mm not 130mm)quality is rated but Sigma has another consumer class supertele, the 170-500mm you might want to check.
I agree with others, a sturdy tripod for bird/wildlife shooting is recommended.

[Jon]

@ condyk; Why not the Grip? Ok safe's me about 100 euro's, but maybe I will stick later on to some astro photography as well, so then the Grip might be usefull?
You can always get it later, but battery life with one battery in the 350D is already quite good; for astrophotography the grip would increase the weight you hang off the telescope's ocular and wouldn't make a great deal of difference in bettery life. You can always change batteries between shots if it starts running down.

[condyk]

@ condyk; Why not the Grip? Ok safe's me about 100 euro's, but maybe I will stick later on to some astro photography as well, so then the Grip might be usefull?

I'm using your budget to best effect in my opinion and while I would normally recommend the grip as a great addition I'd rather prioritise a better lens. You seem to be implying you are looking at cheaper lenses when you can afford what I mentioned within your expressed budget.

[cfcRebel]

@ condyk; Why not the Grip? Ok safe's me about 100 euro's, but maybe I will stick later on to some astro photography as well, so then the Grip might be usefull?


Perhaps the 100eros can fund a better lens? In my style of shooting, the quality of a lens outweights the convenience of a grip. :cool:

EDIT: Just saw Condyk already commented on the grip.

[Mitcon]

I'd 2nd what Condyk has said IMO.
Not that much difference in price for a big difference in quality/use and focal range to the 135-400. If you already have a good tripod then use the extra money to buy the grip or a set of extension tubes for the cheapest way into a bit of macro/close-up photography as well. For birding you really want every extra mm of focal length you can get. But we all have budget limitations and all have to start somewhere.

I think I would prefer to get one secondhand if budget was too tight, really a good bang for your bucks lens and hard to beat for it's price. I know I really enjoy my Bigma.

[jeronimo]

Thanks all for the comments.

I will realy put my eye on the BIGMA again. I agree on the picture's if seen it's a realy good quality lens.
But for the price it might be possible to buy a Sigma 100-300 f/4 (without this stupid DG coating) with an 1,4 TC as well. It's not the reach of the BIGMA, but faster?

I think I will just start with the 350d and Sigma 18-125mm and an portret lens. Then practice a lot to improve my skills.
On THE dutch forum (dutchphotozon.com) there will be an Hardware test day every now and then. I think I will go there and feel some options. I think the feel of an lens is very important, is that right?

[rklepper]

350D body only
Feisol Carbon Fibre tripod with Manfrotto 488 CR2
Sigma 50-500 EX HSM DG
Sigma 18-50mm 2.8

I purchased this very monopod and it was one of the best pieces of advice I have ever gotten to improve my photography.