Hey guys!

I have been saving up and in a weeks time I am going to buy my very first DSLR. My question:

Should I go for Canon EOS 1100d and get some good lenses instead of kit lens OR Canon EOS 550d with kit lens?

If buying the 1100d, I will probably also buy a lens for 400´$, probably a 50mm prime lens, or a 55-250 zoom lens. Dunno what aperature, but that depends how much it will cost me. And with the 550d I won't buy any lenses but the kit lens.

Thanks.

Rannasha

Netherlands2398 Posts

March 13 2012 16:30 GMT

I would go for the 1100D with the kit lens and the 50mm f/1.8 prime and/or a 55-250 zoom. This gives you the most flexible setup to work with.

The kit lens has the most commonly used range for everyday shooting. You don't really want to do without that unless you shoot very specific scenes only. It's obviously not top-notch quality, but it will provide good results.

The 50/1.8 is really cheap (around 100 euros over here, can't imagine it being much different in Denmark) and will give you the ability to play around with shallow depth of field. It's quite nice as a low-budget portrait lens.

If you're into zooming in on stuff, you can get a tele-lens like the 55-250 (there are plenty of other options with similar ranges).

I'd pick the 1100D over the 550D because even though it's a lower end model, it is a year newer and it should leave you more room in your budget for lenses. Lenses are more important than the camera-body.

R1CH

Netherlands10342 Posts

March 13 2012 16:34 GMT

It depends a lot on what you're going to be shooting. If you think you're going to need a fast lens (indoors, low light) then skip the kit lens and get a nice fast lens. The 50mm f/1.8 prime is a bargain at $100 but the flexibility of a zoom lens is also a factor to consider. Also consider the 600D instead of the 550D, the price difference should be negligible.

I use a 400D with an awesome lens and get results that I'm happy with. Unless you really need a better sensor, I'd go with the cheaper body and a nicer lens, especially if you can get the body 2nd hand for a good deal.

shiroiusagi

SoCal, USA3955 Posts

March 13 2012 16:35 GMT

I am no camera expert but I got a Canon Rebel XTi. TT I would go for the one with the better qualities (Haha of course XD). Maybe the one that would win me over is the best high ISO with the most minimal amount of noise in the dark indoors as well (if you are gonna be taking a lot of photos with uncontrolled light.) But that just me. Hope someone with more experience can answer this question!

EDIT: Lamo people answered before I finished my post. XD

itsjustatank

Hong Kong9172 Posts

March 13 2012 18:16 GMT

I'd say go with the option that lets you pick up lenses other than just the kit zoom. The kit zoom has a versatile focal length range for the casual user, but lacks in image quality and speed for many uses.

In general, go with acquiring better lenses over acquiring marginally better camera bodies; if you stay within your camera system, you can always take those lenses with you when a body upgrade finally makes sense.

Might I suggest looking into a 35mm prime though? On a crop sensor camera, a 35mm prime is closer to what a 50mm lens would provide on 35mm format. 50mm on crop sensor, for me at least, seemed a tad bit too long for my uses.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crop_factor

nakam

Sweden245 Posts

March 13 2012 18:22 GMT

I second these opinions. Go for the 1100D with the 50/1,8 which is an awesome lens for the price. An alternative as R1CH says is 600D that has a vari-angle LCD screen (something I really wished I had sometimes for macro photography in impossible angles).

So 1100D or 600D is my opinion.

nakam

Sweden245 Posts

March 13 2012 18:24 GMT

On March 14 2012 03:16 itsjustatank wrote:
I'd say go with the option that lets you pick up lenses other than just the kit zoom. The kit zoom has a versatile focal length range for the casual user, but lacks in image quality and speed for many uses.

In general, go with acquiring better lenses over acquiring marginally better camera bodies; if you stay within your camera system, you can always take those lenses with you when a body upgrade finally makes sense.

Might I suggest looking into a 35mm prime though? On a crop sensor camera, a 35mm prime is closer to what a 50mm lens would provide on 35mm format. 50mm on crop sensor, for me at least, seemed a tad bit too long for my uses.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crop_factor

The problem is that Canon 35 mm lens is more than twice as expensive as the 50 mm.

itsjustatank

Hong Kong9172 Posts

March 13 2012 18:26 GMT

On March 14 2012 03:24 nakam wrote:

Show nested quote +

The problem is that Canon 35 mm lens is more than twice as expensive as the 50 mm.

And that makes it less worth it? It was just a suggestion.

nakam

Sweden245 Posts

March 13 2012 19:07 GMT

On March 14 2012 03:26 itsjustatank wrote:

Show nested quote +

And that makes it less worth it? It was just a suggestion.

Not at all! I'm sure it's worth it, but since the OP has a limited budget I said it was a problem. I myself love 50 mm on my crop camera (450D) so much that I upgraded from 50/1,8 to the 50/1,4.

Josh-FiveO

Denmark174 Posts

March 13 2012 19:25 GMT

#10

Okay, I have pretty much just made my decision (and made a shopping basket ^^)

This is how it is gonna look like:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tamron-55-200mm-4-5-6-MACRO-Canon/dp/B000CE8IVM/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1331666471&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004MPQXSM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00005K47X/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&m=A3PYDFBFNB02FY

This will give me somewhat good range in what I like taking photos of, and also give me way clearer images than the kit lens (from what I have read, 1st DSLR as said, so dont know 1st hand, but I have read alot).

Thanks for help guys

Josh-FiveO

Denmark174 Posts

March 13 2012 19:27 GMT

#11

Also, it hits the budjet of the 550d almost spot on. And as many of u said, the lens covers just as much, if not more, when talking DSLR's.

nakam

Sweden245 Posts

March 13 2012 21:39 GMT

#12

On March 14 2012 04:25 Josh-FiveO wrote:
Okay, I have pretty much just made my decision (and made a shopping basket ^^)

This is how it is gonna look like:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tamron-55-200mm-4-5-6-MACRO-Canon/dp/B000CE8IVM/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1331666471&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004MPQXSM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00005K47X/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&m=A3PYDFBFNB02FY

This will give me somewhat good range in what I like taking photos of, and also give me way clearer images than the kit lens (from what I have read, 1st DSLR as said, so dont know 1st hand, but I have read alot).

Thanks for help guys

Haven't tried the Tamron lens but I'm sure it's fine. I'm a bit worried though that you leave out the kit lens 18-55 IS as it's so cheap. I do believe you will want a wider lens than 50 at some point. It's quite good compared to many other kit lenses and also worth the price.

Chef

10810 Posts

March 13 2012 21:59 GMT

#13

I am no expert, but if you're deciding between a good body and a kit lens vs a not as good body and a better lens, I'd say go for the good body. Starting out, a kit lens will give you the flexibility to find out what you really want to do with your photography, what you're interested in shooting, and what's 'missing' from the kit lens. Some kit lenses are very good. Later, when you have something specific that you really want a super quality lens for, then you can buy it, and have to good body too.

I have a Nikon D50 and access to a lot of lenses (my father owns a Nikon and has a lot of lenses), and I still find myself using the kit lens most of the time. Specialty lenses have less situations they are useful in. Do some research and find out if people were really disappointed in the quality of the kit lens for the camera you're interested in. In researching mine, I found it was actually ranked pretty high in what I'll call 'some guy's list of great lenses' mixed amid pricy lenses.

Eben

United States769 Posts

March 14 2012 00:11 GMT

#14

Personally, I would get a little bit cheaper body and an extra lens instead of a better body with just the kit lens.

I am not an expert, just my 2cents

opterown

Australia54784 Posts

March 14 2012 01:27 GMT

#15

I would suggest you get a Canon EOS 550D (body only) and also a Tamron 17-50 f2.8 (without VC). Some of the best gear money can buy, amazing value and you will learn a lot from it.

Rannasha

Netherlands2398 Posts

March 14 2012 10:20 GMT

#16

This selection will mean that you can only make tele ("zoomed in" is the well-known term, though it's technically not entirely correct) pictures. For a lot of every day shots, this'll be an issue. So make sure that you absolutely don't need the focal length range that the kit lens provides. There's a reason why it's so often bundled with these bodies.

Take a look at this applet on the Tamron website that allows you to see the effects of different focal lengths. The kit lens starts at 14mm, your current selection starts at 50mm.
http://www.tamron.eu/en/lenses/focal-length-comparison.html