Thinking of getting the EOS 550D for my wedding anniversary, well wifey wants to get it for me. Can get it for under $600 with the kit 18-55mm lense plus an extra $99 for the f/1.8 II lense.

My question to those that are more informed, should I go with the kit lense plus the EF 50mm f/1.8 II Standard Lens? Or is there an affordable zoom instead of the kit lense under $500?

I'm new to Canon, had my Oly for six years but the low light problems with the kit lense (not worth buying a new lense for this camera) make it hard to really enjoy early morning photography up here.

My personal view has been to get the kit les at the time - it's the cheapest way to buy a lens. Some people try to recommend something like an 18 ~ 200 but they are heavier, bigger and I think can be less sharp.

Many people put the kit 18/55's down but in my life in the shop, I saw plenty of very good photos with those lenses, they're not a bad starting point at all in my book. To get something noticeably sharper will generally cost well over $500.

Save up for a better lens later perhaps. The 50mm will work like an old fashioned 75mm (or thereabouts) so it's use is limited to being a very mild telephoto which really probably doesn't suit a huge percentage of shots. Often the wide angle (18mm/28 equiv) is much more appealing in more circumstances.

Your issues "low light" with the Oly lens - just to do with aperture or something else? the Canon uses a similar aperture range so it may not be any better in low light (the same goes for most zooms really). Unless you get an aperture of about F1.8 or F2,(hence the 50mm come into play) low light will always be a prob. Higher ISO can obviously help though to give higher shutter speeds.

Don't know if I've helped at all. I always advised people to get a start then build on their camera system over time, gradually get nicer lenses as time and money allow. The Canon system is something I came to appreciate after a few years in the bizz. I didn't care much for them originally (I was/am a tragic Olympus buff).

I would like though a 5D mark 3 - full frame magic.

That's great Dave. I haven't done as much 'proper' photography of late, so that helped.

My Oly E300 had a pretty small CCD sensor compared to more modern DSLRs, which makes it harder in low light, I understand. The higher ISO in the Oly wasn't great.

I think I might go with the kit lense then. The EOS 600D is now on special with the 18-55mm and 55-250mm for $779 and the 60D at $849 with 18-55mm kit lense.

Does anyone have the 60D?

As far as nikon goes, the 18-55mm kit lens is a good one I think. I ended up replacing mine with a 16-85mm lens. I appreciate the wider range (especially at the wide end) and better build quality. Sharpness wise, there probably isn't much in it, the 18-55mm is actually pretty good. Check out- http://www.photozone.de/

I must ask though, why do you want the 50mm prime lens? Also, regarding low-light use, I'm not sure what the problem is for landscape photography. Just use a tripod.

I recently bought the 350D from a mate in Perth, it came with the 18 - 55 lens kit. Good lens sharpness wise, great as an all rounder kind of lens. However, I find on full focal length the sharpness decreases dramatically when I'm shooting landscapes and stuff, so I want to buy the 55-250mm lens. If someone can recommend a good lens that has a good long focal length and decent sharpness that would be great.

Here's the Canon 18-55mm (not sure if that's the latest version?)-

http://www.photozone.de/canon-eos/404-canon_1855_3556is_50d?start=1

It all comes down to how you use a lens-

"Even more surprising is the evenly high corner to corner performance." - Great!
"So is it a perfect lens then ? No, naturally not. It has its weaknesses - notably strong barrel distortions at 18mm" - Annoying but can be corrected.
"and very high vignetting at 18mm @ f/3.5." - With landscape photography you are probably going to be using f/8-f/11 so no major problem.

They also mention - "The inner lens tube does still wobble significantly and accurate manual focusing remains next to impossible." This is something I found frustrating with the nikon 18-55mm and is much improved in the 16-85mm lens. Better yet, get a manual focus lens! I picked up one cheap second hand and they are nice to use with a tripod/live view.

Thanks guys really appreciate it. At this stage then, am looking at the kit lense 18-15mm and not sure if I will buy the 550D (being phased out) the 600D, 60D or the new 650D. Just weighing up my options.

Out of those choices Blizzard, I would go with the brand new 650D. It has the latest technology, superb video capabilities (even with full-time auto-focus). Yes it is a little bit more expensive but well worth it.

Stock just arrived at my local photo store a few days ago and i went to try it out and see out it goes. I had the 18-55 kit lens on it at the time and the shots it took were superb! as a starter the 18-55 is perfect and then in the future if you feel you need to upgrade then save up some extra $$$ and invest in a better lens.

Ive already made up my mind and ill be upgrading to the 650D with the new 18-135 STM and selling my 500D. if i get it before you buy a DSLR ill report back to you

Bloody right that is. So hard to achieve sharp manual focus, I've taken heaps of lightning photos that have been so blurred they're worthless keeping. Achieving infinity focus is impossible unless you have a decent light source and then you have the problem of trying to zoom in on one with a short focal length.

Just been reading a Whirpool thread on this issue and most are saying that the Canon 60D is better in the hand compared to the plasticky 650D; sturdier, better grip, top LCD, better battery, faster max shutter etc. 60D has less fancy stuff compared to the 650D (no touch screen etc) and the Digic 4 processor instead of 5 but from all the tests thus far, its the better camera.

Am just weighing up to go with the kit lense or a better quality lense. Could always do that later.

I am basically a landscape fella, some older pics from the E300:

http://www.blackheathweather.com/generalphotos/grosev19-4-06es.jpg

http://www.blackheathweather.com/generalphotos/horshoefalls14-9-06-052PSb.jpg

http://www.blackheathweather.com/generalphotos/Jameisonvalley03PSa.jpg

Always go the newer model - there are always improvements although sometimes minor. One of the main improvements each model usually has to do with lower noise levels at higher ISO settings - that can be very handy at times. Don't be scared of the standard lens.

Modern SLR's now are dramatically better with noise at high ISO compared to your E300. I liked the 300 but others have marched on now. I currently use a Nikon D60 and an Oly EPL2 - I love the Oly for compactness and as my happy snapper.

Blizz - modern cameras improve all the time - there are no bad cameras amongst the mainstream brands - go get em and enjoy.

Although the 650D belongs to the budget series of Canon DSLR, compared to the 60D which is more mid range. So, I think this has to be considered above just the latest model approach.

Both of these cameras are similar in their specs but the 650D has a newer Digic 5 processor BUT its much more plastic in its feel and construction without the stronger frame of the 60D. Its about $100 less than the 60D with lots of fancy touch screen additions which don't add to the photo quality or camera specs.

The 650D is good but the 60D is my choice at this stage, even though its a bit older. Its more of an enthusiast camera from what I can gather, with better design without some of the bells and whistles.

Hope this also helps others looking at buying a DSLR.

After some thinking I went out and bought the new 650D, i was gonna get it later in the month but thought why not get it now before i go on holidays haha

i am already impressed, especially taking shots with a very high ISO. im not trying to change your mind but here is a test shot:

Shutter: 1/100
Aperture: F14
ISO: 6400
Flash: ON

literally no noise at all.



the 60D is still an awesome camera so can hardly wait to see some shots from it in the coming months

Great stuff! I do like the lightness of that camera and live-view seems to work well with the touch screen. The HD vid is a touch better too than the 60D and you have the new lenses that are better for the video function.

How do you find the build quality?

for me this camera is a tad heavier than my old one but not by much but compared to the higher-end cameras its nice and light.

I think the build quality is great! yeah it is only plastic but i dont think you would be dropping it and bumping it. it has a nice grip and is very comfortable to use.

i did have a go at the new 40mm STM lens and they are very quiet, much quieter than a USM lens.

Hi Schummy how is the Continuous Auto Focus for Video on the new 650D? Nice and responsive or slow? If it is decent I would consider buying sometime down the track to upgrade from my 550D(only has manual or (one-time auto) for video). The only thing is that I don't think Magic Lantern would be available to use on the 650 yet.

Blizz I have always said to everyone who has asked me about Camera Gear. Buy the best that you can afford. The 60D is a pretty good camera for the price. Start with the kit lenses as they are pretty damn good and down the track get some L glass. I love my L Series lenses
The 50mm 1.8 is a great little lens also. I had one for a while before going to the 50mm 1.4.

Hey scottie! it is pretty good when you use an STM lens, a bit slower/noisier if you use any other lens. Plus STM lenses are way quieter so the camera wont pick up any focussing noise at all while filming. I also like how the camera can track faces and keep them in focus too.

im still waiting to get an STM lens because it wasnt in stock yet but i will get it in the coming months.

Thanks for the reply Schummy. I may consider this body for sometime in the future as the only real let down with my 550d is the lack of Continuous AF in Video mode as mentioned. 550D does have continuous contrast AF but its not that great. Will have to have a read up on the STM lens's don't know much about them atm. I just recently purchased a 17-40mm F4L USM and its awesome. A vast improvement on the kit lenses.

Blizz the 60D and it's lineage have always been enthusiasts cameras - a step up from the 650 lineage. The differences are in size, weight, build quality, some features etc.

The 650 line is more compact, lighter etc. Check the tripod hole - make sure they are metal - very important.