Best deal/package for the Canon 500D SLR?

Crazy_Jamie

So my fiancee has decided that this camera will be her first trip into the SLR world, and I now turn to you fine people to help me find the best deal. I think she is pretty set on the idea of it coming with a lens (a lot of sites seem to offer it with one anyway), but ideally she also needs a decent SD card and bag. Not essentially though as they can be sourced from elsewhere.

What I need is twofold:

1) There are some links below. Comment on them if you will. Specifically is it best to buy something like this from Amazon or can Ebay Business Sellers be trusted?

2) If you know of a better deal, speak up.

And thanks in advance

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-Digital-Camera-incl-18-55/dp/B0020MLKF0/ref=tpi_image_1?ie=UTF8&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_p=478243173&pf_rd_s=center-7&pf_rd_r=1K04VFD69EB914AA70EE&pf_rd_i=560834

Ebay Items
260649391452
110578293180
120612940210

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CANON-EOS-500D-DIGITAL-SLR-CAMERA-INCL-18-55-mm-LENS-/260649391452?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_DigitalCameras_DigitalCameras_JN#ht_1454wt_1199

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CANON-EOS-REBEL-T1i-500D-SLR-CAMERA-18-55MM-LENS-/110578293180?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_DigitalCameras_DigitalCameras_JN#ht_10683wt_1009

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CANON-EOS-REBEL-T1i-500D-SLR-CAMERA-18-55MM-LENS-/120612940210?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_DigitalCameras_DigitalCameras_JN#ht_10683wt_1009

Shimrod

The middle link for ebay is refurbished and only comes with 3 months warranty. Not worth it for the £12 saving over buying new from Amazon.

If she doesn't get the lens with it, then the camera is going to be much use! You could use http://www.camerapricebuster.com to have a look at the price of body only cameras- seem to retail for around £440 and you could then pick up the 18-55mm lens for around £50 from Ebay if you are trying to save a bit of cash. Alternatively, have a look at some packages. https://www.bestcamera.co.uk has the 500d with memory card,case and 3yr warranty for £569. I've not priced the case up separately so don't know whether that is a worthwhile deal. You would probably want to get at least two SD cards, but they only cost a few pounds anyway. Look for ones with a fast speed if she is planning on taking any action shots (several at the same time) as that will determine how quickly the buffer in the camera fills up. I would expect you can take about 8 photos in rapid succession in RAW before there may be a slight pause.

Don't forget to start saving now for more lenses! You'll soon find that that is the most expensive part of owning an SLR.

electrodent

^Agreed, welcome to the money black hole that is an SLR. Camera is just the first step.

The only comment I have is if you are looking at ebay then make sure it's a UK good and not a grey good. You'll want a manufacturer's warranty with the camera which you won't necessarily get with a grey good.

althas

500d is a nice model. I have a 400d

If it comes with the kit lens, make sure it is the new version. It will be an 18mm-55mm Image Stabalised (IS). the old one has no IS

Is she certail that she will be doing this seriously? As an DSLR is a lot of camera, and if all she will do is use it on auto mode, then to be honest, it will pretty much be a waste of cash. Like buying an Aston Martin DB9 and going to Sainsbury half a mile down the road once a week in it :-)

Another option would be to go for a 1000d Canon (the real replacement for the 400d). It is a superb beginners DSLR, but at a smaller cost than the 500d, it will leave more money for and extra lens or two, along with the card and bag

The 1st lens she gets should be the "nifty fifty". It is a Canon 50mm prime lens (no zoom on it), but an f1.8. The glas in this model is superb and it is a lens that will ALWAYS be in the bag. it is my prime walk about one. Will cost about £90 as well. Bargain of the century. After that, well it will all depend on what kind of photography will be done. People, landscapes, wildlife etc. Lenses will go from £100 to £20,000 and all inbetween

But whatever she decides, go to a shop like Jessops and TRY IT before buying. Very important. And HAVE FUN

Crazy_Jamie

althas wrote: »

500d is a nice model. I have a 400d

If it comes with the kit lens, make sure it is the new version. It will be an 18mm-55mm Image Stabalised (IS). the old one has no IS

Is she certail that she will be doing this seriously? As an DSLR is a lot of camera, and if all she will do is use it on auto mode, then to be honest, it will pretty much be a waste of cash. Like buying an Aston Martin DB9 and going to Sainsbury half a mile down the road once a week in it :-)

Another option would be to go for a 1000d Canon (the real replacement for the 400d). It is a superb beginners DSLR, but at a smaller cost than the 500d, it will leave more money for and extra lens or two, along with the card and bag

The 1st lens she gets should be the "nifty fifty". It is a Canon 50mm prime lens (no zoom on it), but an f1.8. The glas in this model is superb and it is a lens that will ALWAYS be in the bag. it is my prime walk about one. Will cost about £90 as well. Bargain of the century. After that, well it will all depend on what kind of photography will be done. People, landscapes, wildlife etc. Lenses will go from £100 to £20,000 and all inbetween

But whatever she decides, go to a shop like Jessops and TRY IT before buying. Very important. And HAVE FUN

Thanks for this. Very helpful. She is not a 'serious' photographer per se; she just takes a lot of pictures. I doubt getting into photography as a hobby figures into her plans. I'll bring up the point with her about the alternatives.

Basil1234

how about £484.99 camera and 18-55mm lense uk stock and this site offers free 5yr warrantys on all its cameras best i can see around.
http://www.camerabox.co.uk/product.asp?ProductID=8254

Chimpofdoom

I bought a 500D with the 18-55mm Kit lets for £412.95.

That was camera + lens + 1 year warranty for a canon refurbished 500D from the ebay outlet store!

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Canon-Outlet_Canon-EOS-SLR-Cameras_W0QQ_fsubZ3QQ_sidZ114950978QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322

Give yourself a maximum budget, set an auto bid on a last minute camera then give it a bash.

My camera arrived, it looks brand new (well up until I scratched the LCD screen a little)

Shimrod

Chimpofdoom wrote: »

Give yourself a maximum budget, set an auto bid on a last minute camera then give it a bash.

I'd also add be patient! I've bought three printers from the canon outlet and they've all been fine as well. But some people will bid the price up beyond the price of a new printer/camera. They list a lot of cameras and printers (they tend to come onto the website in batches).

Chimpofdoom

Shimrod wrote: »

I'd also add be patient! I've bought three printers from the canon outlet and they've all been fine as well. But some people will bid the price up beyond the price of a new printer/camera. They list a lot of cameras and printers (they tend to come onto the website in batches).

Very true, I won my camera with the auto bid feature in the last minute, some guy bid £400 so it jumped in last minute at 410.

Either way, I'm happy, just need more lenses