Body only

[M5MAN]

Getting my camera at last... :)

The new Canon EOS 40D

Which is the best first lense to get as an all round use lense to get used of the camera?

I would like to get the same make as the camera....

Thanks

[griptape]

What's your budget, and what is your specific "all around"? Will you be shooting sports, landscapes, macro, indoors, etc? Is one category more important than another?

[DonSchap]

Without the extra wide aspect of the lens and sticking with Canon ... for running around, the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM ... although better on the 5D, it still is a kick butt lens.

Third party lensing, though ... the TAMRON AF18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF). It's wide ... it's long ... and affordable and it's relatively sharp overall.

[M5MAN]

Thanks Don..

Firstly fair bit of kit you have there :)

I'll take a look at the lens, I was gonna get a 5 D but some advised of the 30D as I do lot of safari and it has a 1.6x crop . As the 40 D came out I have decided to go with that as it is obviously better than the 30D.

[DonSchap]

The EOS 5D is getting a bit "long in the tooth" ... and will mostly be "upgraded" in the early part of next year ... probably with the EOS-3D (Call this label a working title, not necessarily what they may eventually call it), so I wouldn't be too anxious to drop $2500 on that particular camera body, as it will drop very fast when the other is announced. No sense tossing money away.

The EOS 40D should be sufficient to hold you until the new Full-frame body arrives ... then, make your move to improve your photography. Also refrain from buying into the EF-S line of lenses, if this is your ultimate intent. They only mount on APS-C sensor cameras (20D, 30D, 40D and the XT/XTi)

Yeah, an EOS 40D w/ an EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM sounds like a decent beginning, if you have $2000. Get that 580EX II Speedlight also, just to complete the initial outfit. You can use the lens and the flash on the full-frame, immediately.

[M5MAN]

Thanks for all your advise Don, I will take it on board.

Please could you adivise a good Tripod, head & Monopod an Head.

Thanks Clive :)

[TheObiJuan]

Thanks for all your advise Don, I will take it on board.

Please could you adivise a good Tripod, head & Monopod an Head.

Thanks Clive :)

What are your ultimate uses for the tripod.
What does 'good' mean to you?
Tripod: Do you need light weight and super strong?
Ballhead: Do you need quick release, built in levels, super locking, smooth movement?

There are some strong and cheap tripods on ebay, by Dynatran, that have included monopods. The center column is a 60" collapsible mono.
Some folks go over board with their head/tripod combo and spend almost a grand before they're done.

I got a Bogen 488rc4 and a Dynatran AT-12T. I spent under $200 total and have a rock solid setup that will take double the weight that I'll ever put on it.
It's not the lightest setup, but perfect for my application.