Need help picking a new camera! UPGRADE

Ok so I think I'm going with the 60d after reading some reviews.

Do you guys think this is a good deal? http://cgi.ebay.com …33621e89f3#ht_7​117wt_1141

or Should I just go for Body ONLY for $969?

The lens that they are bundling can be had for around $250. I would ask why you are going to ebay on a new camera rather than a respected dealer?

The 55-250 can be bought for $200, so that ebay deal is no deal...
and that lens without the 18-55IS would leave you in trouble close up to your subjects...

gonzogolf wrote in post #11206270
The lens that they are bundling can be had for around $250. I would ask why you are going to ebay on a new camera rather than a respected dealer?

Well the ebayer is a Canon Authorized dealer with tons of great feedback. The respected dealers around here are overpriced. Can it be that bad purchasing a camera from ebay? The canon warranty should be good enough, right?

If I do go with the body only what lenses other than the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM do you guys recommend?

dnsource wrote in post #11207538
Well the ebayer is a Canon Authorized dealer with tons of great feedback. The respected dealers around here are overpriced. Can it be that bad purchasing a camera from ebay? The canon warranty should be good enough, right?

If I do go with the body only what lenses other than the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM do you guys recommend?

You should strongly consider buying from Amazon or B&H. Amazon has a 30 day exchange/return policy. If you have to do an exchange, they will cross-ship the replacement to you and they pay the return shipping in either case. B&H has a 14 day return policy but my experience and observation is that they will gladly extend that in order to keep the customer happy. The eBay seller you're considering has a 10 day return policy. I wouldn't consider that enough time for such a high dollar item. I would rather buy such a high-dollar item from a well-known and well-respected vendor. This is not the sort of purchase to mess around with.

As for your lens question, what's your typical use case going to be? More importantly, why are you looking at buying the 85 f/1.8? It's an excellent lens for sure, but it's not necessarily the right lens for your purposes -- that depends on what your photographic needs are.

kcbrown wrote in post #11208077
You should strongly consider buying from Amazon or B&H. Amazon has a 30 day exchange/return policy. If you have to do an exchange, they will cross-ship the replacement to you and they pay the return shipping in either case. B&H has a 14 day return policy but my experience and observation is that they will gladly extend that in order to keep the customer happy. The eBay seller you're considering has a 10 day return policy. I wouldn't consider that enough time for such a high dollar item. I would rather buy such a high-dollar item from a well-known and well-respected vendor. This is not the sort of purchase to mess around with.

As for your lens question, what's your typical use case going to be? More importantly, why are you looking at buying the 85 f/1.8? It's an excellent lens for sure, but it's not necessarily the right lens for your purposes -- that depends on what your photographic needs are.

I'm defiantly going with B&H. I read lots of good reviews on the 85 f/1.8... I will be taking lots of portrait shots of my newborn/family. I also need an all around lens for trips etc.. I'm starting a photography class at the end of the month and figured it would be nice to have an extra lens.

I'm not so sure if to get a KIT or just get the body and buy the lenses aside? Would ebay be ok to purchase lenses or should I just stick to B&H?

It would make a lot more sense to get a D90, which is a better value than any Rebel especially now that the D7000 has caused used prices to fall

The 40D/50D is a similarly good value though.

foxesamu wrote in post #11208197
It would make a lot more sense to get a D90, which is a better value than any Rebel especially now that the D7000 has caused used prices to fall

The 40D/50D is a similarly good value though.

I dont want to take just one step ahead of my D40 and go with a D90. I rather have a camera I can grow into with more options. If I can pay it why not, right? Anyways, I want to switch over to the Canon Family

dnsource wrote in post #11208162
I'm defiantly going with B&H. I read lots of good reviews on the 85 f/1.8... I will be taking lots of portrait shots of my newborn/family. I also need an all around lens for trips etc.. I'm starting a photography class at the end of the month and figured it would be nice to have an extra lens.

The 85 f/1.8 may well be too long for that purpose. You'll need to stand some distance away (around 10 feet if I remember right) from your subject in order to get just a head and shoulders shot.

No, as good as the 85 f/1.8 is, I would not recommend it unless you know you want that particular focal length.


What lens did you have on your D40? The 18-55? If you found that lens to be useful and you're looking for something more versatile, then check out the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 non-VR or, if you can afford it, the Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS. Both are optically excellent and provide you with a wide enough aperture to make it possible for you to separate your subject from the background rather nicely.

Regardless of which primary lens you buy, I also highly recommend the Canon 55-250 IS, which is about $230. It gives you very serious bang for your buck.

Stick with B&H or Amazon for lenses as well, particularly third party (e.g., Sigma and Tamron) lenses. As for whether to pick up a kit or buy the body and lenses separately, that depends on what the price is for the kit versus the standalone components. I've often found that the kits are more expensive than the standalone components.

kcbrown wrote in post #11210064
The 85 f/1.8 may well be too long for that purpose. You'll need to stand some distance away (around 10 feet if I remember right) from your subject in order to get just a head and shoulders shot.

No, as good as the 85 f/1.8 is, I would not recommend it unless you know you want that particular focal length.


What lens did you have on your D40? The 18-55? If you found that lens to be useful and you're looking for something more versatile, then check out the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 non-VR or, if you can afford it, the Sigma 17-50 f/2.8 OS. Both are optically excellent and provide you with a wide enough aperture to make it possible for you to separate your subject from the background rather nicely.

Regardless of which primary lens you buy, I also highly recommend the Canon 55-250 IS, which is about $230. It gives you very serious bang for your buck.


Stick with B&H or Amazon for lenses as well, particularly third party (e.g., Sigma and Tamron) lenses. As for whether to pick up a kit or buy the body and lenses separately, that depends on what the price is for the kit versus the standalone components. I've often found that the kits are more expensive than the standalone components.

My d40 has the 18-55..

I will be putting in the order today!! I'm going with the 60d Body and now I'm trying to figure out what lens or lenses to go with first (depending on the price).

Like I said Lots of portraits of my baby boy... I also own a group home for Special needs adults and we do tons of activities out in the community, birthday parties, etc.. What lens or lenses would be recommended for my needs?

I will be ordering from b&h so any links would be appreciated! Thanks

dnsource wrote in post #11210190
My d40 has the 18-55..

I will be putting in the order today!! I'm going with the 60d Body and now I'm trying to figure out what lens or lenses to go with first (depending on the price).

Like I said Lots of portraits of my baby boy... I also own a group home for Special needs adults and we do tons of activities out in the community, birthday parties, etc.. What lens or lenses would be recommended for my needs?

I will be ordering from b&h so any links would be appreciated! Thanks

The Tamron 17-50 non-VC ($414 after mail-in rebate): http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_17_50mm_f_2_8_​XR_Di.html

The Sigma 17-50 OS ($669): http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …1_17_50mm_F2_8_​EX_DC.html

The Canon 55-250 IS ($229): http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_55_250mm_f_4_5​_6_IS.html


If you have to choose between the Sigma 17-50 OS alone and the Tamron 17-50 + Canon 55-250 combination, go with the latter, since it's a more versatile combination at the same price. If you can afford both the Sigma 17-50 OS and the Canon 55-250, I'd go with that.

I cannot recommend a prime at this point in time, except perhaps for the Canon 50 f/1.8 ($100: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …Normal_EF_50mm_​f_1_8.html). But I cannot recommend that in lieu of either of the zooms mentioned previously. It's cheap enough that you may be able to afford it in addition to one of the previously mentioned lens combinations. Primes aren't for everyone, and this is the least expensive way to determine whether or not you'll want additional primes later. It's also quite good optically.

kcbrown wrote in post #11210530
The Tamron 17-50 non-VC ($414 after mail-in rebate): http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_17_50mm_f_2_8_​XR_Di.html

The Sigma 17-50 OS ($669): http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …1_17_50mm_F2_8_​EX_DC.html

The Canon 55-250 IS ($229): http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_55_250mm_f_4_5​_6_IS.html


If you have to choose between the Sigma 17-50 OS alone and the Tamron 17-50 + Canon 55-250 combination, go with the latter, since it's a more versatile combination at the same price. If you can afford both the Sigma 17-50 OS and the Canon 55-250, I'd go with that.

What do you mean by "go with the latter"??

I hear the tameron is really loud and sometimes miss focuses =\ but getting the Sigma and Canon 55-250 is a little over my budget. If I did have to choose 1 lens to get by till I save some money which will you go for??

Thank You for the help so far...I'm getting closer to pulling the trigger!

dnsource wrote in post #11211312
What do you mean by "go with the latter"??

I hear the tameron is really loud and sometimes miss focuses =\ but getting the Sigma and Canon 55-250 is a little over my budget. If I did have to choose 1 lens to get by till I save some money which will you go for??

Thank You for the help so far...I'm getting closer to pulling the trigger!

I believe they meant go with the Canon 55-250IS and Tamron 17-50 2.8 non-vc - a good combination !

(the 55-250IS is actually only $199 )
http://www.adorama.com​/CA55250AFSR.html

dnsource wrote in post #11211312
What do you mean by "go with the latter"??

Go with the Tamron + Canon 55-250, if you can't afford the Sigma + Canon 55-250.

All lenses sometimes miss focus. It's only a question of how often. I've not read reports of the Tamron being enough worse in this regard as to be a significant problem, else it would have a much worse reputation than it has.

If I had to choose only one lens, I'd go with the Sigma 17-50. But it sounds like the Tamron 17-50 plus the Canon 55-250 are, as a combination, within your budget. So I'd go with those if I were in your position because it would give me maximum capability for the price.

Of course, if you're only talking about having to save for, say, another couple of weeks, then I'd get the Sigma 17-50 now and the Canon 55-250 in a couple of weeks. If you're talking about having to save for 6 months, then I'd go with the Tamron + Canon combination. Everything depends on how much time you're talking about as well as your overall financial situation. If you're financially limited then bang for the buck is the thing you want to be going after the most.

Sigma SI175028CA
17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM Zoom Lens for Canon DSLRs with APS-C ...

1
$669.00
$669.00

Canon CAE60D55250
EOS 60D Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 55-250mm IS Lens

1
$1,128.50
$1,128.50


Sub Total
$1,797.50

eeeeeK!! I did IT!!