Canon New/Used No Gear Suggestions?

Hi!

First off I would just like to say hi! I am somewhat new to the boards here. I was here years ago and had a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTI That I sold. I did no shoot much for many reasons at that time. I am looking to get a Canon again now New or Used. Been looking at the XTI which I had and XSI or 40D etc.

Budget body and kit lens around $200 to $300 just want to start shooting again. Would be mostly taking photos at the beach, sunset and some actions shots (surfing)

Any suggestions and why would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

Thank You

Jeff

If you are on a tight budget of $200-$300, I'd say get a Canon 40D camera body, paired with either a Canon 18-55mm, 28-105mm, or a 28-135mm lens. The Canon 40D body will sell at around $150, and each of the lenses will go for $100 - $150. That will keep you within your $300 budget. if you could spring $100 more, then look at the Canon telephotos--either a EF-S 55-250mm, or a 75-300 non-L telephoto for surfing shots.

My first digital SLR camera was a Canon 40D and 18-55mm lens. It was good for a year of general interest shooting, until I could save up for the EF 28-105mm lens. That lens was a workhorse lens for three years of shooting everything from flowers, parades and protests, until I finally upgraded to the 24-105mm f4L lens. I still shoot with my 40D. For a 10-year-old camera, it still produces beautiful images.

These images were taken with a Canon 40D, EF 28-105mm lens, at the San Francisco Latina Festival, May 2017. I'm playing with Lightroom post-production, and I'm not sure if I am good at it--at least not yet.

We all have to start somewhere.

http://canonpricewatch​.com/

^^^ keep an eye out for a canon refurb sale.

or just go ahead and buy something like this when it comes back in stock: https://shop.usa.canon​.com …300mm-stm-kit-refurbished

but if you wait you might get a great deal. I purchased that same kit for 280 bucks last year at this time of year, seems like list price back then was in the low 400s.

40D is a fine camera, but buying an old camera is kinda taking a chance, IMO. It could last years and years, it could die in a week. Plus, at some point, canon stops servicing their older gear.

Beach and surfing? Go Pro has new camera now under 200$.

And I totally support the idea what DSLRs are great for dancing ladies on the street or indoors .

jcsurfkings wrote in post #18495985
Hi!

First off I would just like to say hi! I am somewhat new to the boards here. I was here years ago and had a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTI That I sold. I did no shoot much for many reasons at that time. I am looking to get a Canon again now New or Used. Been looking at the XTI which I had and XSI or 40D etc.

Budget body and kit lens around $200 to $300 just want to start shooting again. Would be mostly taking photos at the beach, sunset and some actions shots (surfing)

Any suggestions and why would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

Thank You

Jeff

Hey Jeff,

40D can be had around $125. Just shop a while, fleabay, FredMiranda, here on POTN, etc. Great camera still, robust, good AF (surfing), plenty of modern stuff still going on, very relevant camera still.

The 18-55 STM can be had around $80 used, again shop. Great for your every day stuff.

The 55-250 STM would be excellent for surfing, long range stuff, in good light (sun). Can be had around $160~180, again, if you shop used and just hunt a deal.

You'd be quite set, with extra batteries, for $400 or less with excellent sharp glass that is fast to focus too.

Very best,

Hi!

I just this on the Canon site https://shop.usa.canon​.com …-56-is-ii-kit-refurbished

That is doable in my price range.

What do you all think?

Thank You

Jeff

Hi!

Rebel SL1 or T5? What is the difference? Or I can get a T6 maybe?

Thank You

Jeff

Do yourself a favour and stay away from the Canon 75-300mm lens options. I got the 75-300 USM III back when I first got my 300D (original Rebel in the US) and was not unhappy when it went missing. I actually replaced it with a Sigma 28-300 super zoom that was better quality through the common range of focal lengths. The 75-300's don't have the reputation of being the worst optical quality lens that Canon makes for nothing. The 55-250 hadn't been released at that point IIRC, so the 75-300 was the only option I had to get camera, 18-55, plus a telephoto zoom, with memory card and tripod for £1000. This was new kit back in 2005.

Although you lose 50mm off the long end, the loss of resolution with the 300mm won't make any difference, you will still be able to crop to match the 300mm field of view without loss of image quality. The other advantage that you get with the 55-250 is that it has image stabilization. IS can be really important when you have to use a lower than desired shutter speed. Although IS doesn't help with subject movement, it does help with camera shake, and with the older bodies having lower maximum ISOs you are more likely to run into situations where you are running out of shutter speed. If you are careful you can actually make a little subject motion blur work for you, in emphasising the movement, as long as you can avoid camera shake.

Alan

BigAl007 wrote in post #18496912
Do yourself a favour and stay away from the Canon 75-300mm lens options. I got the 75-300 USM III back when I first got my 300D (original Rebel in the US) and was not unhappy when it went missing. I actually replaced it with a Sigma 28-300 super zoom that was better quality through the common range of focal lengths. The 75-300's don't have the reputation of being the worst optical quality lens that Canon makes for nothing.

in that bundle it ends up adding 40 bucks to the cost, well worth it.

maybe the copy i received was an anomaly, but I thought on a crop camera it was a pretty good value. Before I received it I had already made a deal with a buddy to buy it, otherwise I would have been more than happy with it.

I sold it for 80 bucks and my XSi + 18-55 IS USM for 200 or 225 and ended up with a new camera and 18-55 STM lens at no cost.

jcsurfkings wrote in post #18496748
Hi!

Thank You for your repley. I just saw a Canon EOS Rebel T1i go for about $180 with Canon EF-S IS 18-55mm Lens.

What is the i? in the T1i?

Any reason to go with or stay away from the Rebel series?

Photos look good by the way.

Thank You

Jeff

I don't follow the rebel line too closely but the "i" series are going to be a little better/newer tech.

IMO, the SL or T series are going to provide very similar image quality, the difference is going to be in features. Although I think i would stick with a T series with an i

again, i don't follow that line too closely.

www.the-digital-picture.com is a great place for unbiased reviews of canon gear.

Just chiming in to say the 50D has micro focus adjust ... the 40D does not. That feature isn't a gimmick, and it's worth your time to find a 50D rather than a 40D. And keep in the mind they took that feature out of the 60D, then put it back in on the 70D and 80D. The rebel series does not have this feature.

kmilo wrote in post #18496964
Just chiming in to say the 50D has micro focus adjust ... the 40D does not. That feature isn't a gimmick, and it's worth your time to find a 50D rather than a 40D. And keep in the mind they took that feature out of the 60D, then put it back in on the 70D and 80D. The rebel series does not have this feature.

i agree that it can be a valuable feature. However, if you are shooting with glass that has a max aperture of 3.5-5.6, it becomes WAY less important, maybe even irrelevant ... in some cases.

with that much money, I'de just save up a little more.

while not the best surfing camera, I'de get the old 5Dc if on a really tight budget. ($300-400)

for a budget lens for portraits and general, tamron 28-75 f2.8 ($100-200)

for surfing, maybe 100-400/150-600 ($600+)

the beautiful files from the 5Dc.... you will love.

Hi!

You mention the 18-55 STM. What is STM?

Thank You

Jeff

Hi!

So you don't think the T6 I posted a link to is a good deal or good for my needs? I want to take some surfing, but most would be ocean and beach landscapes and sunset that if and when I shot a nice one would like to be able to blow it up to a decent size.

Thank You all again for all of your input and suggestions.

Thank You

Jeff