EOS 20D Purchase Inquiry

[jnksherman]

Hi everyone,

I am days from ordering the Canon EOS 20D with some accessories. My question is, with about a $2000.oo budget is there better use of my money to start with than what I have planned below?

EOS 20D W/18-55 Lens Kit - $1499.00
BG-E2 Battery Grip - $169.00
Speedlite 420EX - $229.00
(2 Qty.) Lexar 40X 512 MB CF Cards - $79.00 ea.

This is about $2080.00 with shipping.

I keep thinking I can maybe do without the battery grip to start and use the onboard flash and put that money towards a better lens. I've reading some of the postings about the kit lens and they're not to great. My wife and I have a new baby and have a trip to Hawaii planned for the end of the month. I want to get all of my equipment purchased and familiarize myself with it before we leave. Thanks for any input you might have on how to best spend my budget to begin my journey into digital slr photography!

Jeff

[JZaun]

Looks good but you might want to reconsider the CF. I just got a Sandisk 2 gig Ultra II for $165 at Buy.com and the Ultra II is coming down because the Ultra III had been announced. Just my thoughts.

JZ

[tpinchback]

throw the nifty 50mm 1.8 in that package, you will not be disapointed.

[elbirth]

Personally I'd go with th onboard flash for now, but then again I've never been fond of using external ones just because they add so much height to the camera (they can give you great effects, I know... and I should get over that bit of superficiality, I suppose).

However, if you don't have a laptop to bring with you when you go to Hawaii, I'd definitely suggest getting the 2 cards, or maybe even another or so if you save money by not getting the 420EX. If you don't have anyway to unload the card while you're on the trip, you're likely to fill them up if you like to take a lot of pictures. The battery grip would be nice for more battery life, but then again, I understand that the 20D's battery life is quite good to begin with.

[Adam Hicks]

The battery grip definitely gives the camera a more professional look and feel... I've been tasked with getting more portrait shots than I usually would take, so the vertical controls have been handy.

BUT if you're gonna get the grip shouldn't you add another BP511a into the mix?

You don't mention if you have lenses right now, but if not you could hold off on the flash and CF cards, you might consider the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 as a great starter / walk around lens that you'll want to use forever.

Adam

[elbirth]

^ I agree that the battery grip gives it a more professional look. Once I get my 20D, I'm thinking about getting a battery grip a little later on, if I can get a good deal on it- for now I'd rather spend it on a good lens or something). My cam is coming with a spare battery, and once I get it, I'll have 4 batteries (5 if I don't sell my G3).

Does the non-rubbery feel of the battery grip really make it feel that different, or is it really that big of a deal?

[Adam Hicks]

Well it is rubbery on the front, just not on the back. It feels fine to me, although not quite 'as one with the camera' as it could be.

I don't know what you'd ever do with that many batteries... with the grip and two batteries installed you're good for 2,000 shots between charges... who shoots more than that!?!?!

[Batman2000]

I think your 420EX is too expensive. Search more, I´ve seen them cheaper.

Instead of a grip, buy just two batteries and switch them. The savings could be invested in a 50/1.8 or a 28-105 USM and would be money well spent.

[Adam Hicks]

Well I'll chime in again and mention that when hand holding the 20D with any decent sized lens on it, the 20D felt smaller than my DRebel (which of course had the grip) and I found it almost akward to manipulate with any weight hanging off the front. The grip solved that. In addition, I was doing a cover shoot at a race track a few weeks back WITHOUT the grip, and after about 250 portrait oriented shots, my arm and I were praying for a vertical grip.

I didn't buy mine with any interest in battery life. Only ergonomics.

Adam