$2800 budget

[Nasser]

Hello All;
What will be the best 20D lens+flash+memory, for $2800 budget?
Portraits (kids) & landscape is my aim.

[shiningstardv]

Here is my go, I'm sure others will have their say as well:

Canon 20D--------------------------$1300
Canon 50mm f/1.8----------------$70
Canon 17-40mm f/4---------------$600
Tamron 28-70mm f/2.8-----------$330
SanDisk 2GB CF Card--------------$150
Canon Speedlite 580EX------------$400
_________________________________
TOTAL $2850

That seems like a pretty good setup to me for portraits, at least to begin with. And it will work for landscapes as well (thus the 17-40mm). The 580 EX is the way to go for a flash, and that 2GB card will keep you going for a while without dumping your pics...even if you shoot in RAW! My advice to you would be to buy some of the stuff used (but still like new) from people in the forum and over at FM Buy&Sell forums (see www.fredmiranda.com). That way you can get the most for your money. I have bought $2000 worth of equipment like that, and it works! Never had a problem. Good luck with your purchases.

[Nasser]

Thank you shiningstardv, any more suggestions from other members?

[charlesu]

20D and cheap kit lens: $1400
85 1.8 used $300
EX 550 used $200
28-70 2.8 used $700
CF whatever you can get for the remaining $$. Probably 2 1GB.

This is a tough budget to get top lenses in. But for serious portraiture, the 85 1.8 is hard to beat. You will also want a carry lens which is why I recommend the $100 kit lens. Of course, you are going to get many recommendations.

Other possibilities might be getting the 28-135 as your portrait lens and then the 17-40 or 20-35 as your landscape lens. But i would try to find a way to get the L lens in there.

[mikesd]

20D with kit lens - $1400
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 - $330
Canon EF 70-200m f/4.0L USM - $580

total- $2310, leaving a little extra for CF card, or a Canon 50mm f/1.8.

[jyrgen]

Canon 20D ----------------- 1380
Tokina 17/3.5 used -------- 340
Canon 28/1.8 ---- 400-45=355
Canon 50/1.4 ---- 310-45=265
Canon 85/1.8 ---- 340-45=295
420EX ------------- 180-15=165

Total ------------------------ 2800 and you have to borrow the CF ;-)

But, if you prefer zooms, I like mikesd's suggestion very much.

[MrChad]

If this is your first complete Eos system seems a shame to waste all the rebates.
The Rebel is no 20D but Wow, you could knock off some huge cash in rebates...example

$870 Rebel kit 18-55mm lens (-$300 rebate)
$1200 24-70mm f2.8L lens (-$135 rebate)
$580 70-200mm f4L (-$75 rebate))
$180 420EX flash (-$15 rebate)

barrow a CF card. :) Or get a cheap 512 for $30 bucks. and get more later.

The above comes in just over $2815.00 after rebates, you just saved $525 dollars and have some fantastic gear. L quality gear.

hmmm...$1500 for the 20D or $500 for the Rebel? I'd much rather dump the money in the glass then the body. The glass can last forever, the body isn't going too. Just my $.02.

[davidwegs]

20d kit with the 17-85. (1800)

550ex (250 used)

85/1.8 (300 used)

50/1.4 (300 used)

CF's 2gig Ultra II (160 at erwincomputers.com)

[pcasciola]

Here is my go, I'm sure others will have their say as well:

Canon 20D--------------------------$1300
Canon 50mm f/1.8----------------$70
Canon 17-40mm f/4---------------$600
Tamron 28-70mm f/2.8-----------$330
SanDisk 2GB CF Card--------------$150
Canon Speedlite 580EX------------$400
_________________________________
TOTAL $2850



I like shiningstar's suggestion. A slight alternate to that would be:

Canon 20D----------------------$1300
Canon 50mm f/1.8-----------------$70
Canon 85mm f/1.8----------------$325
Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4---------$430
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8------------$330
(2) SanDisk 1GB CF Card----------$150
Canon Speedlite 420EX------------$165
_________________________________
TOTAL $2770

[HJMinard]

I like shiningstar's suggestion. A slight alternate to that would be:

Canon 20D----------------------$1300
Canon 50mm f/1.8-----------------$70
Canon 85mm f/1.8----------------$325
Tamron 17-35mm f/2.8-4---------$430
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8------------$330
(2) SanDisk 1GB CF Card----------$150
Canon Speedlite 420EX------------$165
_________________________________
TOTAL $2770

I think shiningstar and pcasciola are on the right track. I would consider the Sigma 500 Super flash (the newest one with E-TTL II) - it's a near equal to the high-end Canon flashes (550/580) for only $200.

I also think a tripod needs to be worked into the budget - essential for portrait and landscape, in my opinion.

[Hellashot]

Don't forget software. Cheapest decent one is probably Photoshop Elements 3 at Walmart for $80. Also a bag and lens cleaning supplies along with a couple UV filters and a polarizer. Unless you already have them.

[shiningstardv]

Don't forget software. Cheapest decent one is probably Photoshop Elements 3 at Walmart for $80. Also a bag and lens cleaning supplies along with a couple UV filters and a polarizer. Unless you already have them.

Good point. You'll definitely need a bag for all your new stuff! And you'll probably eventually get Photoshop CS anyways. If you want PS CS cheap, try eBay. They have good software prices.

[Nasser]

Thank you folks, any trusted store offers good price for your suggested gear?

[mikesd]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/, one of the best.

[12345Michael54321]

Don't forget to budget around $150 or so for a decent tripod - say, something from Bogen/Manfrotto.

Especially for landscape work, I'd rather shoot with a $200 lens and a tripod, than with a $2000 lens and no tripod.

Even aside from the whole steadiness thing (and a tripod is steadier than you are, even if you're shooting at 1/focal length * 1.6), it'll give you the freedom to stop way down (which can be desirable in landscape work, without having to worry about what this does to your shutter speed, even in subdued (dawn, dusk, cloudy, etc.) lighting. And it'll assist greatly in framing, making a series of shots from the exact same vantage point (perhaps at different exposures, or with different degrees of polarization, or whatnot), and in examining the scene for subtle elements that can make or break the photo.

Canon 20D
EF 17-40mm L f/4
EF 50mm f/1.8
EF 85mm f/1.8
2gig Sandisk Ultra II CF card
1gig Sandisk Ultra II CF card (because you MUST have a spare card)
420EX flash
A circular polarizer
A couple of inexpensive rubber lens hoods for the 50mm and 85mm lenses
Bogen tripod + head

That ought to come in at around $2800.

With the 85mm as your long glass (around 135mm, 35mm format equiv.), you're not going to be well equipped at the telephoto end, but neither landscape nor kid photography typically makes extensive use of long lenses. Still, if somewhere down the road you wanted to extend your reach, I'd highly recommend the EF 70-200mm L f/4.

And I'm assuming you already have a suitable computer and software.

Budgeting an extra $150 for a class or two at the local community college, in Photoshop Basics, or Elements of Landscape Photography, or something like that, might also be money well spent.

[MrChad]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/, one of the best.


The best part, they don't call to sell you crap for every little order like the rest of Crooklyn does when you order online. :D

[merrrrjig]

Id go with a zoom lens!

[redbutt]

The best part, they don't call to sell you crap for every little order like the rest of Crooklyn does when you order online. :D

That's cause they aren't in Crooklyn. They are in Manhattan ;o)

[tacos3]

Here's my list with landscapes and portraits as a priority.
20d 1350
28-135 399
17-40 675
550ex 325
1gb 90
======
$ 2839

It sure is easy to spend someone else's money....

Darren

[shiningstardv]

It sure is easy to spend someone else's money....
I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing when I posted! It's kinda fun too...isn't it?

And Nasser, let us know what you finally decide on!

[Nasser]

I'm assume that the EF 50mm f/1.8 and EF 85mm f/1.8 are for Portraits usage, can I pick one if both are for same purpose. Which one shall I consider?

[shiningstardv]

Well there is a pretty big difference in price. The 50mm is about $75, whereas the 85mm is about $320. Both lenses are good, but the 85mm is a little better, at least that's what I hear (I don't own the 85mm). I'll also say that I own the 50mm f/1.8 and I find it to be a little soft when wide open for my taste and I think that 50mm is a bit to short of a lens for portraits, especially portraits of kids, who tend to be moving around a lot and get annoyed when your in their face snapping pictures all the time. So if you have the money, I would go with the 85mm. But no setup is really complete without the nifty fifty, and plus, it's only $70. So get both!

[Nasser]

Thanks, do I need soft box as attachment for the 580ex flash? Such as this :
http://www.webphotoschool.com/Lesson_Library/Free_Lessons/Shooting_Great_Portraits_with_Portable_Strobes/index.html

[ezzie62]

This all depends on what you are going to use the stuff for. A 50mm lens is basically useless. The lenses I tell my students to get are (35mm equivalent) 17-35mm (get the Sigma since you won't use this lens that much so go cheap), 28-80mm basic Canon, and most important lens is an Image stabilizerL zoom eg the 2.8 IS 80-200L lens...can be used for everything including portraits...put your money here!! Also get a 1.4 canon telextender(want matched). Now you have 17mm-280mm. Best! Steve Ehre (please check my web site imagesbysteve.com and leave comments.)
Others have said to budget for a tripod...very important but if you get the IS you can wait a short while until you get more money. Buy the tripod used. Gitzo carbon fiber with light ball head are best...only use a short post...NEVER use long one...expesive but will last a lifetime. Mike said to take a class and he is right on!

[Nasser]

Guys, Reading the customers review @ http://www.resellerratings.com/ about online stores, made me feel uncomfortable for those reasons:-
• I don’t want spend more money just for order conformation nor to talk to salesman.
• I’m not sure about warranty “since I’m not from the states”
• In some cases I can’t find all I need in one store.
• Some US. Customers are facing difficulties managing their orders, so what will happen for some one oversees!!

Let me know if my statement above makes sense ?

[pcasciola]

I'd recommend B&H or Unique Photo. They should have everything you need will not try to rip you off on shipping. Although I just went to order an 85mm f/1.8 and it says "out of stock". Go figure. Very rare for B&H on something that common. They are both actually very large camera stores, not just fly-by-night outfits that are running a web site, and you can call and talk to a salesman. I've never heard of anyone having a real problem with either one of those stores.

I'm not sure about the warranty issue there, being that you are overseas, but I know if you buy camera gear at B&H marked as "Import", you ship it back to them for warranty repair, and save a few more bucks in the meantime.

[Akreager]

If you are going to spend 2800 and continue to add on/upgrade/improve go with the advice listed above. If you are talking buying the system and sticking with it for a long time, I would consider the Nikon D70. the D70 is $600+ cheaper than the 20D and almost as good. In fact it's wireless multiple i-ttl flash system is better than the 20D I have a D70 and a Canon 1D Mark II. I still use them both for different reasons so I have no brand loyalty. The fact that I still use the D70 says alot about the camera