cameras and lenses

Hi

The camera is only the tool with which you take the photo's, it alone does not make you take better photo's. That said the canon 5d/5d mkII are great cameras and, to get the best out of the full frame senoryou WILL need to invest heavilly in canon's L series lenses. Have you considered upgrading your current lenses, this link should help
http://www.cameraaction.com.au/call-1300-303-191/products.asp?sku=190196&dept=31
You would need to be prepared to spend more than $1000 per lens poss alot more. Have you considered an Olympus E-5? totally weather proof, lens prices are resonable if puchased from places like B & H in the states.

Hello escapesilv,
I have the other brand camera, Nikon, with several lenses. If you are interested in flowers, spiders and insects then a macro lens like the Tamron 90/2.8 is ideal. I purchased mine from Hong Kong via internet and can recommend service from suppliers such as citiwide. Superquick delivery-5 days to NSW.
Two good websites are dpreview for expert reviews of all lenses
and ausphotography for great general info as well as specific Canon things.
For wild life and birds buy the fastest lens you can afford. Sigma has some great cheaper alternatives for Canon and Nikon cameras.
Good luck with the photography,
Ian

I'll second Wilco's suggestions. At work we are currently running a Canon EOS 7D with a collection of Canon L series lenses for shooting DSLR video and the results are simply stunning. Just for fun we popped some of my cheap 400D kit lenses in front of the 7D for a comparison to the L series lenses and I can vouch that a great deal of gain is to be had in the higher quality glass. Since we are chasing large apertures we have been buying F2.8 or even 1.4 lenses which is right up the expensive end. But compared to traditional broadcast video lenses these are cheap.

If you are chasing the ultimate in stills then consider the 5D over the 7D. On a bit more of a budget you could also consider a 60D (same imager as the 7D but plastic body). Hunt around - there are a few grey importers that will do a very nice deal on a camera & lens. But no AU warranty.

Pat

Greetings.
I am into bird photography and literally spend half my life in the land of Oz chasing birds.( The other half I am miserable in wet New Zealand)
My bird photography is a bit of an obsession.

I consider the lens quality more important than the body. Invest in a good quality lens and you will have it for life. Camera bodies will date a lot faster with the advances in technology.

Birds and flowers require a different type of lens of course.
I am a Canon fan and use a 100-400 lens with a 2x converter.
For flowers a micro lens would be the better option and they also sit still for longer -lol-

As for Canon bodies, the 60D is a good semi professional body and not the light plastic type.( that is the 550D)
As stated, I would rather have the quality lens and cut back on the body.

Good luck.

Cheers, Case, Tauranga, NZ

Hi escapesilv,

I have exactly the same Canon camera as you have 400D.

I am into landscape, flowers and macro photography.

I use a Canon 10-22mm, Canon 100mm, Canon 70-300mm and a Tamron 28-75mm (couldn't justify the cost of a Canon 24-70mm) all either F2.8 or F3.5.

This kit covers all my needs and the lenses are fantastic, especially the Tamron, it really is an excellent lens.

The 400D is a capable DSLR, sure it is not a 5D or 7D, but I wouldn't be in too much of a hurry to dispose of it for a later model.

Maybe invest in a Canon 10-22 for landscape and a Canon 100mm for flowers, I picked mine up from DWI International (no association) at a very competitive price.

Have fun with it.

Regards

Barry H

Thanks all.

All your answers have been of great help.

Cheers Robert

If I was you I would be more tempted to go to the 7D and spend the extra on some good "L" series lenses.

The Tamron lens is a entry level good quality lens..... But I would recommend the Tamrom DI2 18-270 VC as an every day lense.

We have a range of "L" series lenses from 16mm up to 200mm..... mostly at 2.8f.

The lense we use mostly is the Tanrom 18-270 when travelling...... we don't have to keep changing lenses all the time and getting dust on the sensor and in the camera body.

The 5D has a few advantages over the 7D like being more water and dust proof, full frame photo's, a better processor with higher iso settings but the down fall over the 7D is it doesn't have an inbuilt flash and will only do 3 to 4 frames per second.

The 7D has a better metering and focus system then the 5D for armature photographers..... but the 5D will walk over the 7D for picture quality and colour..... but overall not much difference between the 2.

Compared to the your 400D the 7D is a much better camera and once you have one you will think your 400D is a pile of $%&^%.