Wanting to buy a Digital SLR camera...

Akenyon

Right!
Just been on youtube watching some review videos of the Canon 40D, Canon 400D and the Nikon D300.

i went to the London Camera exchange yesterday in portsmouth just to look at the cameras to get a view of sizing etc and the second i saw the 40D i thought No its to big, however now iv had time to think about it i really like it.
Watching its review made me want it even more as it seems to have some really great features.
The man doing the review recommended looking at the nikon D300 as it has even more features, and upon looking at it i have decided that is far to expensive.

My main concern now is this,
If im going to spend that much money on a camera, shouldnt i get the best i can?
Yes the 400D is cheaper and will do what i want it to do (as im a beginner) but if in a year or so i want a new one that means spending even more money. So is it worth spending the extra on the 40D (a semi professional camera) and learning with that so i have a good camera to last me longer?

Edit -

Will i find it difficult using a semi pro camera if i havent got much experience with a Entry level DSLR? or will i just not use the semi pro features on it until i have some experience?

isofa

Yes, but in 12 months the expensive camera you buy will be out-of-date, as with most technology items. So only stretch to the 40D if you can afford it, after factoring in a decent lens (you can easily spend £500 to £1000 on a good "standard zoom"). The 30D is a bargain now it's been superceeded by the 40D, and no doubt a 50D will be around in 6-12 months time, dropping the price of the 40D etc.

The 40D is a good camera, but I doubt you'll find many 30D users wanting to upgrade to it, it's just a small evolution rather than anything revolutionary. The street price has dropped by around £200 since it was released too.

I've used the "consumer" DSLRS for some commercial (and wedding) projects with very expensive lenses giving an excellent quality of picture, although I do have more professional gear too.

You will not find it any harder to use a 40D compared with a 400D, but you'll have more options to explore when more experienced. All have a fully auto-mode, a semi-auto program mode, right through to a full manual mode.

Just remember camera bodies change rapidly, but good quality lenses can last a lifetime, I'd invest in top notch lenses over the most expensive camera body, personally. Then if you have enough left for the 40D, buy it, it's a great camera

The 5D is much better than the 40D, as it's full frame, but you can go on all the way up to spending many thousands just on the camera body.

A good photographer makes the picture, not the technology!

fishing-girl

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Starts: 10/04/2008
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absolute0

Does anyone know when Canon will be doing cashback for the 450D?

I noticed that their current cashback offers run out at the end of June, so was thinking of holding off from buying until after then.

Dave

denny250

As with all questions re cameras (or any other technology for that matter) go to a good camera shop run by photographers (NOT Jessops Or Currys as generally they use people who dont really know what they are talking about) try all the camera/ lens set ups that you want and ask loads of questions then do a web search and find the best price for the items you have chosen
We are lucky that in chelmsford we have the camera world (http://www.cameraworld.co.uk ) everyone in there used to work for city camera exchange and they all know what they are talking about. Another thing with them is if they think you dont need something they will talk you out of buying it

Personally i have a canon 40d with the 17-85 IS lens for general photography, the 70-300 IS for sports and wildlife both made by canon and a sigma 70mm f2.8 prime lens for portraits and the 430 EX flashgun
This set up perfectly suits my needs and i know will do so for the next few years
What does it matter if they bring out something newer as if a tool (which is all a camera is) does the job you want it to do why would you change it