Best camera kit I can get with $2000?

Hey guys! I had previously made up a list of what I would be purchasing for my camera but then the new iPhone came out (arrgh!) and I decided that I really really wanted it (haven't got it yet) and then I decided more stuff .. and so that drops my budget for new gear down to roughly $2000.

So, what do you guys think would be the best kit I could get?

I previously had in mind the
Canon 60d
Canon 17-55mm/Tamron 17-50mm
Canon 70-200mm f4 non-is
Canon 50mm 1.8 II
Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro (If I had enough)
Canon 430EX II

So.. What do you think I could get most similarly to that^?

Thanks in advance

I've got a kit that's pretty similar. I don't think you can go wrong with that setup.

Tamron 17-50 is an easy way to save a ton of money without much compromise.

60D + Tamron 17-50 + 70-200 should get you right around $2000 and have you pretty well covered.

It all depends on what you want to shoot. Is size, weight more important, or are you willing to lug around big glass? Do you do portraits or landscapes? etc...

Not sure how close it comes, but I think pretty close. I would start with this?

Canon 60d
Canon 17-55mm
Canon 430EX II

Fortunately a budget is something that grows over time, especially in photography. I'd start off with the above suggestion of 60D + 17-55 and either a 430EXII or save up another month or two and get a 70-200, depending on whether or not your style of shooting involves a flash.
I'd really recommend a flash though. A fast lens and bounced flash combined gives great results indoor.

Edit: I just looked it up, but without any kit deals at adorama, a 60D + 17-55 is already $ 2008. You'd have to stretch it a few bucks for a second battery and CF card(s). Still, great kit to start off with I suppose.

I had a similar budget after selling my Nikon gear and this is what I got:

60D - refurbished from Canon Loyalty Program, traded in a broken P&S - ~$680
Tamron 17-50 - new grey market from Japan, bought from Sanpou Camera on eBay - $340
Tamron 60 macro - found one on closeout at 6th Ave Electronics, plus $100 rebate - $340
Sigma 10-20 - on sale at Abes of Maine $420 with coupons
Yongnuo YN-565EX flash from thephotogadget $155

That adds up to roughly $2K, plus a little extra for accessories. As the budget allows I may add an inexpensive telephoto (probably the Canon 55-250) later

replace the canon 17-55 with the sigma 17-50 OS, saves you $450 right there and you don't lose anything much.

pxchoi wrote in post #13278045
I've got a kit that's pretty similar. I don't think you can go wrong with that setup.

Tamron 17-50 is an easy way to save a ton of money without much compromise.

60D + Tamron 17-50 + 70-200 should get you right around $2000 and have you pretty well covered.

This. But, if you want some extra reach, maybe consider replacing the Canon 70-200 with the new Tamron 70-300 OS. My father-in-law went with a barely used 50D, and I helped him track down good deals on the Tamron 17-50 & 70-300, and for the total out of pocket expense, he has a heck of a setup for a casual shooter like him.

If it were me I'd get a second hand 5Dc for 1k, a used 70-200 f4 for 500 and a Tamron 28-75 and perhaps a 50mm 1.8. Full frame is nice...

I would get a 60D, Tamron 17-50, and a Canon 50 f/1.4 or 85 f/1.8. That would leave room for an extra battery and some memory cards and a few bucks for gas to go out and shoot. Or you could get the 70-200 f/4 non IS and be a couple hundred over budget (assuming new.)

Another option would be the 17-50, a prime, and a 55-250 and you would be in the same place as the 70-200 with great gear to learn on.

With a similar budget I started off with a 7D, 28-135 IS (kit lens), Nifty 50 and Nifty 250.

No mention of what you want to shoot.... that makes it hard to advise.

First I'd get 60D either with the EF-S 18-135 IS kit lens, or buy the camera body only and pick up a lightly used EF 28-135 IS off the local Craigslist (a whole lot of lens for $200, which is what they are going for in my area).

That's $1100 to $1200 spent, getting the camera from a reputible dealer with full warranty. You might save a little if buying body only, getting a refurb from Canon directly through their Loyalty Program.

Either of those walk-around lenses are pretty darned close focusing already. To experiment with macro, rather than get a dedicated macro lens right now, pick up a set of Kenko macro extension tubes for about $170. Those can be used to make any lens closer focusing, into near macro and macro magnifications with some. If you shop for these used, be sure to look for the "DG" designation if you think you might ever want to use them with EF-S lenses. The earlier ones that are only designated "CA/AF" are not EF-S compatible, can only be used on EF lenses. There are other, cheaper macro extension tubes. The Zeikos (also sold as Adorama ProOptic, Jessops, Vivitar, and more)... are about $100 and seem pretty good... but I'm not sure they can be used on EF-S lenses. The really cheap ones - under $50, sometimes even less than $25 - do not have electronic lens-to-camera contacts, so are a pain to work with... not much fun and not recommended unless very rarely used.

Only get the nifty fifty if you think you'll want to take occasional portriats. If you think you'll use it a lot, I'd suggest waitng and getting 50/1.4 (Sigma or Canon).... or if you find you use it more often, and 85mm (Canon f1.8 or Sigma f1.4).

If you have in mind more of a "standard" lens, then the Canon 28/1.8 or Sigma 30/1.4 would actually be a better choice (on the crop sensor of the 60D, this focal length acts more like the approx. 50mm standard lenses of film cameras in the past). My point, on modern crop sensor DSLRs, the old tried and true 50mm is no longer a standard lens... it's more of a short telephoto/portrait lens.

I'd suggest using the kit/walk-around zoom for a while, trying out the different focal lengths. You can tape the zoom ring in place and restrict yourself to a particular focal length for a day or two... or you can download software that analyzes your images and tells you what focal length you tend to use most.

What you might want to consider next really depends upon what you tend to do with your camera.

If you shoot scenics, cityscapes, architecture, etc., you will probably want a wider angle lens.

If you shoot sports, wildlife, for example, you would probably want a telephoto. If at all possible, get an IS (or equivalent OS) lens. Stabilization is most helpful on telephotos.

If you shoot portraits, then you'll likely want different lenses (such as those mentioned above).

A flash is a handy thing to have... If you need and use it. 430EX II is fine, but so are many others.... Used 420EX through 430EX I for example. 550EX through 580EX II are bigger and more powerful. 220EX through 270EX are smaller and more compact. There are also a lot of decent third party flashes available. The built in flash in the camera is pretty wimpy and in about the worst possible location, in relation to the lens axis, for redeye and ugly shadows. So, if you'll use it, an accessory flash can help a lot. I recommend considering a flash bracket of some sort and an off-camera shoe cord, so the flash can be moved even farther from the lens axis. A single flash with a an off-camera shoe also can serve for macro flash... there is no need to invest in an expensive dedicated macro flash initially.

Keep some of your budget back for memory cards, extra battery, perhaps some image editing software for your computer, extra RAM, or another hard drive for image storage. Photos take up a lot of space! I highly recommend books about digital photography and guide books specific for your camera, to most quickly and easily learn to use it well. Also, you might need a camera bag/backpack. And a decent tripod is a good thing to have.

1) Canon 60D - $899
2) Tamron 17-50 - S459
3) Canon 55-250 - $200
4)Metz 50 AF1 flash - $230
5) Lowepro Rezo 180 AW bag - $55
6) 2 SanDisk Ultra 8 GB SDHC Memory Card (Class 6) cards - $38
7) Sanyo enelop batteries 4 - $11

Total $1904 (before taxes)

F-Stran wrote in post #13279969
1) Canon 60D - $899
2) Tamron 17-50 - S459
3) Canon 55-250 - $200
4)Metz 50 AF1 flash - $230
5) Lowepro Rezo 180 AW bag - $55
6) 2 SanDisk Ultra 8 GB SDHC Memory Card (Class 6) cards - $38
7) Sanyo enelop batteries 4 - $11

Total $1904 (before taxes)

Replace Tamron with Sigma and get kenko extension tubes.

pxchoi wrote in post #13278045
I've got a kit that's pretty similar. I don't think you can go wrong with that setup.

Tamron 17-50 is an easy way to save a ton of money without much compromise.

60D + Tamron 17-50 + 70-200 should get you right around $2000 and have you pretty well covered.

Yeah that sounds pretty good. I'm just deciding whether I really need a flash or not.. I shoot in low light quite a lot, but will the f2.8 aperture on the 17-50mm be good enough?

robertro wrote in post #13278140
It all depends on what you want to shoot. Is size, weight more important, or are you willing to lug around big glass? Do you do portraits or landscapes? etc...

Hmm, I don't want my gear to be too heavy, preferable as light as possible. I shoot a little bit of everything :P but mostly nature and portraits I think..

Sirrith wrote in post #13278400
replace the canon 17-55 with the sigma 17-50 OS, saves you $450 right there and you don't lose anything much.

That seems pretty good, but I'm quite concerned because I've heard that there are some copies that a really good, and some bad copies and I'm kinda scared? that I'll get a bad copy..

gocolts wrote in post #13278878
This. But, if you want some extra reach, maybe consider replacing the Canon 70-200 with the new Tamron 70-300 OS. My father-in-law went with a barely used 50D, and I helped him track down good deals on the Tamron 17-50 & 70-300, and for the total out of pocket expense, he has a heck of a setup for a casual shooter like him.

Yeah I was considering that before, but I want the constant aperture and the white colour of the Canon

Mookalafalas wrote in post #13278951
If it were me I'd get a second hand 5Dc for 1k, a used 70-200 f4 for 500 and a Tamron 28-75 and perhaps a 50mm 1.8. Full frame is nice...

Yeah full frame is nice! But I've heard that the 5Dc is a bit outdated and I live in New Zealand and they don't have any for sale anywhere..

randy98mtu wrote in post #13279030
I would get a 60D, Tamron 17-50, and a Canon 50 f/1.4 or 85 f/1.8. That would leave room for an extra battery and some memory cards and a few bucks for gas to go out and shoot. Or you could get the 70-200 f/4 non IS and be a couple hundred over budget (assuming new.)

Another option would be the 17-50, a prime, and a 55-250 and you would be in the same place as the 70-200 with great gear to learn on.

Hmm, I don't really use the 85mm focal length much though.. But I will take that into consideration thank you

amfoto1 wrote in post #13279366
No mention of what you want to shoot.... that makes it hard to advise.

First I'd get 60D either with the EF-S 18-135 IS kit lens, or buy the camera body only and pick up a lightly used EF 28-135 IS off the local Craigslist (a whole lot of lens for $200, which is what they are going for in my area).

That's $1100 to $1200 spent, getting the camera from a reputible dealer with full warranty. You might save a little if buying body only, getting a refurb from Canon directly through their Loyalty Program.

Either of those walk-around lenses are pretty darned close focusing already. To experiment with macro, rather than get a dedicated macro lens right now, pick up a set of Kenko macro extension tubes for about $170. Those can be used to make any lens closer focusing, into near macro and macro magnifications with some. If you shop for these used, be sure to look for the "DG" designation if you think you might ever want to use them with EF-S lenses. The earlier ones that are only designated "CA/AF" are not EF-S compatible, can only be used on EF lenses. There are other, cheaper macro extension tubes. The Zeikos (also sold as Adorama ProOptic, Jessops, Vivitar, and more)... are about $100 and seem pretty good... but I'm not sure they can be used on EF-S lenses. The really cheap ones - under $50, sometimes even less than $25 - do not have electronic lens-to-camera contacts, so are a pain to work with... not much fun and not recommended unless very rarely used.

Only get the nifty fifty if you think you'll want to take occasional portriats. If you think you'll use it a lot, I'd suggest waitng and getting 50/1.4 (Sigma or Canon).... or if you find you use it more often, and 85mm (Canon f1.8 or Sigma f1.4).

If you have in mind more of a "standard" lens, then the Canon 28/1.8 or Sigma 30/1.4 would actually be a better choice (on the crop sensor of the 60D, this focal length acts more like the approx. 50mm standard lenses of film cameras in the past). My point, on modern crop sensor DSLRs, the old tried and true 50mm is no longer a standard lens... it's more of a short telephoto/portrait lens.

I'd suggest using the kit/walk-around zoom for a while, trying out the different focal lengths. You can tape the zoom ring in place and restrict yourself to a particular focal length for a day or two... or you can download software that analyzes your images and tells you what focal length you tend to use most.

What you might want to consider next really depends upon what you tend to do with your camera.

If you shoot scenics, cityscapes, architecture, etc., you will probably want a wider angle lens.

If you shoot sports, wildlife, for example, you would probably want a telephoto. If at all possible, get an IS (or equivalent OS) lens. Stabilization is most helpful on telephotos.

If you shoot portraits, then you'll likely want different lenses (such as those mentioned above).

A flash is a handy thing to have... If you need and use it. 430EX II is fine, but so are many others.... Used 420EX through 430EX I for example. 550EX through 580EX II are bigger and more powerful. 220EX through 270EX are smaller and more compact. There are also a lot of decent third party flashes available. The built in flash in the camera is pretty wimpy and in about the worst possible location, in relation to the lens axis, for redeye and ugly shadows. So, if you'll use it, an accessory flash can help a lot. I recommend considering a flash bracket of some sort and an off-camera shoe cord, so the flash can be moved even farther from the lens axis. A single flash with a an off-camera shoe also can serve for macro flash... there is no need to invest in an expensive dedicated macro flash initially.

Keep some of your budget back for memory cards, extra battery, perhaps some image editing software for your computer, extra RAM, or another hard drive for image storage. Photos take up a lot of space! I highly recommend books about digital photography and guide books specific for your camera, to most quickly and easily learn to use it well. Also, you might need a camera bag/backpack. And a decent tripod is a good thing to have.

Wow that was really detailed and informative thank you! I will take your ideas into consideration. Thank you! and to everyone that posted