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Alain Pestanas
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p.1 #1 · Rookie questions

Hi folks, I'd like to start by saying that I am new to photography and will be getting a Canon DSLR as a present from my wife very soon.
My question was whether to purchase a used but in very good condition 20D body and with the extra $$ I save purchase a slightly superior lens over the kit lens or a 30D with the kit lens. Please take into consideration that I'm just starting off in photography and don't want a too advanced camera with a high learning curve.
The photos I'm into are indoor socializing photos such as weddings, birthday parties and night photos of people. So what lens would you suggest and what flash. If you do recommend the 30D then where is the best deal and is the extended warranty worth it? I know purchasing a used 20D will not have years extended warranty available but I guess that's the price you pay for buying something older....

Thanks, AL

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 06:01 PM

Nov 28, 2007 at 06:43 PM

paulhodson
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p.1 #2 · Rookie questions

There will be many opinions! However both the cameras are the same in terms of a learning curve.

The kit lens would enable you to explore what type of photos you take, realise what focal lengths are useful to you and then decide what lens (lenses!

) you want/need in the future.

On the other hand buying a better lens to start with would get you better quality images.

Can you come up with a precise budget? If you could get something like the 20D plus the Sigma 17-70 lens (See http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/showproduct.php?product=321&sort=4&cat=37&page=1)
it would be a good start. Of course - if you could stretch to the 30D instead.....

In terms of a flash - the Canon 430EX and 580EX may be outside your budget There is a Sigma flash (the 500 DG or DG Super) which works well with the cameras if so.

Bear in mind you also need editing software to make the most of it as well - at least Photoshop Elements

Welcome to the forum and the hobby. Have a look at the Buy and Sell forum as well - if you buy from established members you are pretty safe

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 06:01 PM

Nov 28, 2007 at 06:57 PM

Alistair Watson
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p.1 #3 · Rookie questions

I would recommend a new 30D and kit lens with a warranty. For someone new to photography I would imagine the warranty to be even more important and the kit lens is good enough for a beginner.

Since you are considering interior photography, as Paul says, you will soon need a hotshoe mounted flash. The pop up flash of a 20/30D is fine for absolute emergencies but most of the pictures still come out looking like they were taken with a cheap compact and your friends will suddenly look evil with redeye!

Adobe Photoshop Elements (usually they give it away in the UK) is a good start to learn how to correct your photos you and will find the Photo Critique and Post Processing forums here on FM especially useful. You will soon learn, Paul is the Photoshop King! Getting some books on composition and exposure will surely help too.

Welcome to FM!

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 06:01 PM

Nov 28, 2007 at 07:09 PM

invalid2
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p.1 #4 · Rookie questions

If you decide you want to explore moderate light without flash, you might consider the 35/2 or sigma 30/1.4. I have a sigma 500 dg super and it works well enough - though I use it less often than my 35/2.

For software, if you don't already have a large investment in adobe, I suggest trying out alternatives. I have found the gimp does what I want/need and runs on the computing platforms that I use. For basic image correction, there are many lightweight software packages that are easy to use.

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 06:01 PM

Nov 28, 2007 at 07:50 PM

paulhodson
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p.1 #5 · Rookie questions

invalid2 wrote:
For software, if you don't already have a large investment in adobe, I suggest trying out alternatives. I have found the gimp does what I want/need and runs on the computing platforms that I use. For basic image correction, there are many lightweight software packages that are easy to use.

But Adobe is the way to go for the future for the majority and there is much more information and help widely available for this software.

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 06:01 PM

Nov 28, 2007 at 07:55 PM

paulhodson
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p.1 #6 · Rookie questions

Alistair Watson wrote:
Adobe Photoshop Elements (usually they give it away in the UK) is a good start to learn how to correct your photos you and will find the Photo Critique and Post Processing forums here on FM especially useful. You will soon learn, Paul is the Photoshop King! Getting some books on composition and exposure will surely help too.

Welcome to FM!

Thanks

I am not sure they give it away with the cameras any more - they did when I got my 10D

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 06:01 PM

Nov 28, 2007 at 07:56 PM

invalid2
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p.1 #7 · Rookie questions

paulhodson wrote:
invalid2 wrote:
For software, if you don't already have a large investment in adobe, I suggest trying out alternatives. I have found the gimp does what I want/need and runs on the computing platforms that I use. For basic image correction, there are many lightweight software packages that are easy to use.

But Adobe is the way to go for the future for the majority and there is much more information and help widely available for this software.

Adobe is what many people use today, and it may be easy to ask for help with it. I still think that people should consider before locking themselves into using a specific vendor - be it Adobe, Microsoft, Apple, Canon, Sony, or other.

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 06:01 PM

Nov 28, 2007 at 09:56 PM

Alistair Watson
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p.1 #8 · Rookie questions

Personally, if I were starting out, I would look to learn DPP. The new version is much more capable than previous ones, besides it will take the OP may or may not make the jump to RAW. While DPP gets ridiculed if I were working on only a handful of images I would use it and save the £500 on CS3, and yes, I am one of the smaller group of people who actually did buy it! CS3 comes into its own, for me at least, when you are working with hundreds and thousands of images.

I can review and process by batch 1000 images from a rugby game in a few hours, most of it will happen while I am sat watcing tv with a glass of good red wine!

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 06:01 PM

Nov 28, 2007 at 10:41 PM

mlorne
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p.1 #9 · Rookie questions

You should not discount the XT as well. It is a smaller camera but it has some very nice low-light capabilities which can come in handy when shooting indoors (so does the 20D/30D, but a used XT will be cheaper I would imagine). The majority of your learning is going to be on the digital side: image management, processing, printing, storage, presentation, distribution, etc. etc. The camera itself can be as simple as you want (full auto) or as complicated as need be (full manual). That comes with practice, use and research.

I would caution you that it is a very addictive and expensive hobby. You have been warned! :-)

Edited on Dec 07, 2007 at 06:01 PM

Dec 06, 2007 at 07:35 PM

monochrome
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p.1 #10 · Rookie questions

I've know many XT uses that got serious with their cameras, jumping ship quickly to 30D and now 40D. It's a good camera but 30 and 40D's have more fps and better auto focus.

I second the warning.

Dec 07, 2007 at 06:01 PM


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