Should i get a new dslr? Or new Lenses?

wayne.robbins wrote in post #15008110
Whether or not a new camera with a new lens will make a difference is dependent upon several things. I have never used a 18-200- although I know there are some who adore that lens- some will say tradeoffs- others- just love it the way it is.

First off, your 40D is probably best up to about 800 ISO.. Years back, 800 might have been enough- but in today's world- especially in homes with much poorer lighting than was typical 50 years ago- 800 is probably not enough anymore. A newer body might get you to taking pics where you would typically give up with the 40D...
The second thing is the phenomena of having new gear. To some, this is exciting to some- another reason to pull it out and use it.. Sometimes, newer gear has more functionality- and the lack of functionality also leads to decline in use... Also consider whether you want a larger body or a smaller body- same thing for lenses...

Personally, I hated the 18-55- mainly because of its limited range. Hated it with a passion. the best lens I got afterwards was not necessarily the much more expensive replacements but a lowly 18-135 IS.. Since then, I have replaced that with a 18-135 STM (T4i ) which is really sharp- a very nice kit lens.. To me, that one kit lens represents a nice walkabout range for a crop camera- good enough for about 90% of all pics I take.

If you do consider a body- you might want to consider downgrading to a Rebel (downgrade- figuratively ) such as a T4i- that has lots of modes- things that might interest you- like HDR, etc.. The other thing you should consider is whether or not the ergonomics of a larger body - like the 40D is getting in the way.. The 40D is a relatively larger body- and may not be as comfortable for you as you would like- so go to a local camera store and find out if you find other bodies more comfortable. As you don't have a lot of gear- you may want to also try out a Nikon or two- and see if they are more to your liking..

The OP camera is a 400D/Rebel XTi not a 40D. That makes the camera upgrade a bigger issue to consider for many of the reasons you mention, especially the use of higher ISO.

Here's a plan for you.

Canon T2i refurbished through Canon DIrect. $479. On the Canon Loyalty program send in a junk point & shoot for the 20% credit to get it to $384.
Canon 50mm f1.8 II (nifty 50) at Adorama $98.49
Sigma 17-70 f2.8-4 DG OS Macro used $390 at Amazon ($470 new at Adorama)
Canon 55-250 f4-5.6 IS II (nifty 250) $169 at Adorama refurbished

~Total kit cost: $1041.49

Looks like the going rate on an XTi and kit lens is about $300.

Total out of pocket: $741.

This will be a much better kit than any superzoom will give you. Plus you can focus really close with the 17-70 which opens a whole new world. Use the extra if you have any to buy a used Canon 430 EXII. Don't worry about it being used as long as it is in good condition. The higher dollar stuff is better used than a lot of the less expensive stuff is new. I think this is the ultimate $1000 "starter" kit. The sensor is the same sensor as that on the 60D and 7D. It gives you a wide range from 17-250mm, some macro, some fast glass, and lets you experiment to see what it is that interests you the most. From there you can specialize. If you buy used or refurbished, you lose a lot less in depreciation when you sell something later.

Here are some sample shots of each of the lenses.

Sigma 17-70: https://photography-on-the.net …read.php?t=7909​64&page=38
Canon 50mm f1.8 II https://photography-on-the.net …85&highlight=ni​fty&page=4

NIfty 250: https://photography-on-the.net …69&highlight=ni​fty&page=4

Note: I always skip past the first few pages on a lens sample archive since the first posts are usually people eager to start a new thread but are usually not trying so hard to show what the lens is really capable of.

The 400D will take fine pictures. You should upgrade the body if you need new features, better autofocus, etc. Basically, there should be a reason, not just that newer is better, to upgrade the body.

The 75-300 is generally considered the worst lens Canon ever made. Avoid it.

The 18-55 that came with your camera is not very good. The 18-55 IS that comes with the newer cameras is good. I would recommend selling yours and picking up the IS model.

The 18-200 is honestly not likely to improve your photos. It is a compromise lens, made for convenience and vacations. It is expensive and slow. It allows you to avoid selecting and changing lenses to get the best shot. Instead of moving around and framing your shot, you get lazy and just slide the zoom ring and snap the picture. Not to say it can't take a good picture, but the lens is designed to make you lazy, and that will reflect in the images unless you are a good photographer.

If you need macro, you can use extension tubes (but understand the shortcomings in terms of manual aperture and focus, unless you buy more expensive ones). Or get a cheap macro lens like the 28-105. The 55-250 is a good lens in its own right, but also can do decent insect pictures (just not super close).

So if you want to get better I would stick to the following basic gear and then worry about the important stuff, like reading, classes, and practice:

Keep 400D
Sell 18-55
Buy 18-55 IS (better IQ)
Buy 50 f1.8 (everyone should learn shooting with a prime)
Buy 55-250 (best cheap telephoto if you need more than 50mm)

That will cost about $300 but will make a big difference in IQ and the types of pictures you can take.

I think that the photography class is a great idea! This will teach you how to use the camera and lens that you now have, which are entirely adequate to start out with. In the class you will meet other people with other equipment and you will learn the capabilities of various camera and lens combinations. You may even be able to borrow a lens from a fellow class member to see how you like it. Also, the instructors are usually very knowledgeable and helpful with tailoring equipment upgrades to an individual students needs and skills.

So, go to your class, learn all that you can, get some experience and THEN come to an educated decision on exactly what, if any, upgrades you really need.

Good luck and happy shooting!

Yogi