Advice for first SLR

[durkhrod chogori]

I was thinking of buying a cam that is capable to taking high quality shots bearing in mind that unfortunately I don't have either pro skills or $5,000 grand to spend. So my three choices are the following:

1. Nikon D200
2. Canon EOS D30
3. Canon EOS 350 DR XT

But maybe there is something you could suggest me that's not on the list.

My main shooting targets are wildlife, landscapes and mountains.

Thanks in advance.

[Rooz]

I was thinking of buying a cam that is capable to taking high quality shots bearing in mind that unfortunately I don't have either pro skills or $5,000 grand to spend. So my three choices are the following:

1. Nikon D200
2. Canon EOS D30
3. Canon EOS 350 DR XT

But maybe there is something you could suggest me that's not on the list.

My main shooting targets are wildlife, landscapes and mountains.

Thanks in advance.

big price difference you have there between the 350D and d30/d200, if you have the budget for the 30d/ d200, i would immediately be crossing the XT off your list, but you need to provide a bit more information please.

http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5111

[coldrain]

You will need to direct most of your budget towards lenses. Camera bodies do not enbale you to do much without good lenses.

Wildlife... that usually needs tele power.
Landscapes, mountains... they usually need wide angle lensing.

You do not state your budget, you just state what your budget is not.

So...

I will just give a few options that are good but not high end.

Canon XTi/30D/40D:
All three bodies are capable of very good photos. The 40D of course offers the most, the XTi is the most compact.

Wide angle zoom lenses:
Canon 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 USM. Very good and wide lens, costs around $700. Do not forget the sunhood, which you have to order separately.
Vignets, but in a very unobtrusive way.
Tokina 12-24mm f4. Very good also, less expensive (around $450). Less wide, CA at wide end.

Standard zoom range lenses:
Canon 18-55mm kit lens. Very cheap, capable of still decent results.
Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 EX DC Macro. Very good for the price (~$420). Sharp, allows very close focussing, CA performance is very good for the type of lens, nice contrast.
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS USM. Expensive at around $1000. Very nice and good lens, good colour, good contrast and sharpness. Offers IS.

Zoom lenses:
Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM. The bottom line for shooting wild life. It has good colour and contrast, it is harp into the corners and upto 300mm.
Its IS also is a nice feature. ~$540
Canon 100-400 IS USM. More reach, bigger, heavier, more expensive (~1500). Very good lens, at 400mm good performance still.
Sigma 80-400 OS. Optically competitive. $1000.

Nikon D80.
Less expensive than the D200, offers a lot of features that will be fine for what you are looking for.

Wide angle zoom lenses:
Sigma 10-20mm. Good and wide lens, costs around $450. Vignets quite a bit, but still gives very nice results.
Tokina 12-24mm f4. Very good also, less expensive (around $450). Less wide, CA at wide end.

Standard zoom range lenses:
Nikon 18-55mm kit lens. Very cheap, capable of decent results, more contasty than Canon's counterpart.
Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 EX DC Macro. Very good for the price (~$420). Sharp, allows very close focussing, CA performance is very good for the type of lens, nice contrast.

Zoom lenses:
Nikon AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 VR. The bottom line for shooting wild life. It has good colour and contrast too. Decent enough sharpness and contrast at 300mm. VR also is a nice feature. ~$480
Nikon 80-400 IS USM. More reach, bigger, heavier, more expensive (~1600). Good lens, at 400mm the optics let down a bit (losss of conrast and resolution).
Sigma 80-400 OS. Optically competitive, at 400mm better than the Nikon. $1000.

[Turn]

you should print what coldrain said and write an essay because what he said is exactly correct

the body probably does 5/12th of the actual photo, the lens does the other 7/12

I say wait until the 40D pops out and then base it on that

I've seen some excellent photos with the 350D as its quite cheap now and well for wildlife it probably be what you want.

[Rooz]

the body probably does 5/12th of the actual photo, the lens does the other 7/12

who the hell scores out of 12 mate ? :p

[durkhrod chogori]

Thanks for your advice, coldrain.