New to Canon, Bought 40D body

Hello!

I just purchased a 40D body from a guy on the Pentax Forum. I began shooting DSLR last fall with a Pentax K-r. Always reading up on oldies but goodies, I jumped on the 40D when I saw it listed.

It arrived very humbly: just a body with a compact flash and battery without much else, so I just now purchased a few things on EBay (body cap, battery charger, cable). I want to piece this camera together as I can afford it, bit by bit, but my main need is a lens. Just to see how it works. I am new to Canon.

With my Pentax K-r, I use film lenses and shoot manually most of the time. Looking forward, I might want to adapt my k-mounts and my M42 lenses to the 40D, but to learn Canon, I just want a quality beginner's Canon lens that won't break the bank. I prefer an aperture ring, so an older lens is ok.

I would also like ideas on lens adapters for when I get to that point, but it seems that I should learn how the camera works with its own lenses before I start adapting ... I guess that would rule out FD mount? Thanks so much.

First off, what do you want to shoot? Do you want an all-in-one lens or do you have specific focal lengths in mind? Do you prefer prime lenses or zoom lenses? What is your budget for the lens also?

Unless you need AF, I would just purchase an adapter for your Pentax lenses and learn the camera.

A budget all-in-one lens will do; I don't want to invest much in lenses until I know what condition the camera is in. I like shooting at 50-55mm but also like the 70-100mm range. Sometimes I shoot macro, although I do not have a dedicated macro lens as yet.

A lens that can handle both auto and manual focusing/modes would be great.

Welcome to POTN Tim

Just a quick note. I just bought a Canon EF-S 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM for my EOS M which I'll use for video. I've never been a big fan of "super zooms" but this one is a beauty. I love fast primes. On my 50D it's also a fantastic do most things lens. Should also work well on your 40D.

For around 350-400 dollars, it's going to be one of those bang for your bucks lenses.

Well a good lens that is not only cheap, but one with outstanding IQ, is the nifty fifty:

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Normal_EF_50mm_​f_1_8.html

However the only thing you gain by purchasing that lens over getting a $20 adapter, is checking if the AF works.

If I was on a budget, and just wanted to know if the camera worked, I would buy an adapter first. It's not like your not going to want one anyway

The 40D is a really nice camera especially for the prices its going for today! Have had mine for a few weeks now and am loving it. You might like to take a look at forum: https://photography-on-the.net …highlight=Canon​+40D+Users

Enjoy your new cam.

Thanks for all the advice. About adapters: I have no idea which one is best for EOS to K mount or EOS to M42 mount; there are a lot of horror stories. Can someone recommend a "genuine" or "quality" adapter and the place to buy it? Thanks again.

timmijo wrote in post #15934515
Thanks for all the advice. About adapters: I have no idea which one is best for EOS to K mount or EOS to M42 mount; there are a lot of horror stories. Can someone recommend a "genuine" or "quality" adapter and the place to buy it? Thanks again.

If your worried about it, I would look on Amazon. They at least have reviews

http://www.amazon.com …ps&field-keywords=eos+m42

One of the beauties of the 40D is the 9 point cross focus system coupled with the high FPS bursting -- you've invested in this to learn more about DSLR photography and I'd go counter-flow to this thread and recommend you find a zoom that is in your budget. Even someones basic kit zoom lens is a starting point, but finding a used 18-135, 28-135, even a 17-85 for a few hundred dollars would be something to build upon -- and frankly learn a lot with.

I bought the 40D when it first was released -- the kit lens was the much hated 17-85 -- I still have it and mine has continued to work (depsite the risk of the cable fraying internally) and can produce quality photos. If you want to keep your investment very low then a basic kit lens on the used market could be had for under even $100.

I just would get a setup where you can use the AF features of the 40D --

timmijo wrote in post #15934515
Thanks for all the advice. About adapters: I have no idea which one is best for EOS to K mount or EOS to M42 mount; there are a lot of horror stories. Can someone recommend a "genuine" or "quality" adapter and the place to buy it? Thanks again.

I have tried many different adapters (all Nikon F to EF) and the best that I have used so far are the ones that I linked to earlier.

Thanks, everyone. I went ahead and ordered two types of basic, but good adapters while keeping my eye out for a basic Canon lens, starting with Adorama. Is there a marketplace here on this forum that I can scroll around to check for a lens?

timmijo wrote in post #15942758
Is there a marketplace here on this forum that I can scroll around to check for a lens?

check out the sell forum -
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdis​play.php?f=14

Look at keh.com(they are located in Atlanta) they have some very good second hand lenses and are priced very reasonable. I have used them and was well pleased with the product I received.

Definitely get a 50mm 1.8. Not having one is almost a crime (unless you can afford the 1.4 or 1.2).