Chiron
newbie
Reged: 08/09/2006
Posts: 24
Loc: London, UK
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I currently have a Canon 300D I've had for about 4/5 years now and I'm thinking of upgrading but not sure what camera to get, I dont have much of a budget so I was looking at a 450D
Is it worth upgrading to this from my current camera?
Another option I was looking at was to purchase a new lens while I put off purchasing any other equipment for another 6-7 months, I currently have a couple of Sigma lenses that cover 18-50mm and 70-300mm both f4 and higher and I was looking at purchasing a low f stop lens to cover low light and interior photography
(this one in particular) click here
So... any advice?
Edited by daft_biker (01/07/2008 15:11)
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alanS
Dr Dust
Reged: 30/09/2005
Posts: 3510
Loc: Up North, England.
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I used to have a 300D (I'm now using a 20D) and if you're thinking about either a new body or lenses I'd imagine that you're (sort of) happy with the 300D? If you weren't maybe you're mind would already be made up to go for a new body?
I think I'd put off the body purchase and look at a lens. 50mm is quite long on 300D, as you probably know, so I'd also look at a 28 or 30mm f1.4 or f1.8, or maybe something completely different like a 20mm f1.8 or a wide in the 10-20mm sort of range.
Just things to think about. 
PS - Something else to think about - If 50mm isn't too long how about a Canon 50mm f2.5?
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Alan's defence lawyer claimed that "Booze played no part in his typo's."
Edited by alanS (01/07/2008 15:23)
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daft_biker
Action Man!
Reged: 11/10/2006
Posts: 7170
Loc: Doon the glen
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A fast 50mm will likely be handy in low light situations if the focal length suits. For interiors I'm guessing something wider than a 50mm on a 300D is going to be needed...do you have a tripod you can put your 18-50mm on? If not and you can't use a tripod a lens with IS may more useful than a fast lens or a new camera body.
With a tripod you won't need high ISOs so unless you need twice as many pixels I wouldn't worry about upgrading the camera body just yet.
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Andrew (BSRIPN) ... Pics.
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9296
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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The 50mm is well worth the money. Just be warned that it's likely to show up your other lenses quality wise.
Your other question is a tricky one. Normally I'd say get better lenses (which 75-300 is it, the basic or the APO? The APO is reputed to be pretty good for the price) but there's no doubt that the performance of the more recent digitals has improved on the 300D, especially in terms of image noise, shutter lag, write speed etc.
This is not to say that the 300D has become a bad camera. Despite it it's age and lack of pixels I do still use a D30 (3.2Mp) alongside my 20D and I still get pictures I am very happy with (example: D30 + 70-210 f2.8 APO Sigma.
Ultimately I think it's down to why you think you should upgrade. If it's about image quality then I suggest investing in the 50mm and taking a good look at the quality of the images it produces - particularly with reference to sharpness, resolution and contrast. If you are happy with what the 300D/50mm combo does then go for higher spec lenses. If you still feel the images lack the quality you are looking for then upgrade the camera BUT be prepared to still fork out for better glass...
Click on this image and then click the maximum size button to see what the 50mm can do on a D30...
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN 
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is better than one in the cupboard........
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Chiron
newbie
Reged: 08/09/2006
Posts: 24
Loc: London, UK
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Quote:
A fast 50mm will likely be handy in low light situations if the focal length suits. For interiors I'm guessing something wider than a 50mm on a 300D is going to be needed...do you have a tripod you can put your 18-50mm on? If not and you can't use a tripod a lens with IS may more useful than a fast lens or a new camera body.
The problem with my current setup is that the flash isnt terribly fun to use, theres no control and it makes images horribly contrasted, I suspect this will always be the case. What I'm after is a lens I can ramp down to f1 and low SS and actually see something on the picture on a slightly cloudy day, at the moment... well that doesnt happen without ramping up the ISO to 400
I dont tend to use either flash or tripod if I can help it, flash because I feel it interferes with the pictures, tripod as I just dont have room to carry it around with me or room in the flat to deploy it (plus it ruins spontaneous shots!)
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The 50mm is well worth the money. Just be warned that it's likely to show up your other lenses quality wise.
I'm actually pretty happy with my current lenses when it comes to quality, most of my flickr photos are taken using them.
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which 75-300 is it, the basic or the APO? The APO is reputed to be pretty good for the price
I'm using the APO I believe along with the Sigma 18-50mm DC lens
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Ultimately I think it's down to why you think you should upgrade.
I suspect its partly being sold an image by advertisers! But the real issues I have with the camera are the trigger happy flash, even on bright days on auto *pop* up it comes, and the slowness I've noticed on RAW photos along with a fault which means it no longer connects to the PC, had to buy a seperate card reader to compensate. Its begining to show its age.
Something I neglected to mention as well is that I'll be going to Japan shortly and intend to take Night shots, something that might be made easier using a better lens
From what you guys have said so far I think I will get hold of the 50mm lens for now and leave the camera upgrade to next year at least
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Deviantart Gallery Flicker Gallery
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9296
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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Quote:
What I'm after is a lens I can ramp down to f1 and low SS and actually see something on the picture on a slightly cloudy day, at the moment...
I hope you mean f1.8. There was an f1 50mm once but even if you found one secondhand it'd rather break your budget...
At maximum aperture depth of field is going to be very shallow and slow shutter speeds will give problems with camera shake regardless of how sharp the lens is...
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I'm actually pretty happy with my current lenses when it comes to quality, most of my flickr photos are taken using them.
So was I until I got something better.....  I had the 18-50 f3.5-5.6 Sigma too, it's good for the money but it's not everything a lens can be.
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Something I neglected to mention as well is that I'll be going to Japan shortly and intend to take Night shots, something that might be made easier using a better lens
Not going to be easy to get anything like a shake free shot without a tripod. Shutter times lengthen very quickly as the light goes down. Generally the most effective shots are taken with some light left in the sky otherwise the sky becomes a boring featureless black space...
Night shots are one area where more up-to-date models have a clear advantage. My 20D is very respectable at long exposure noise control (there's a custom function for this) and as long as I keep the ISO at 100 images are pretty noise free - the D30 on the other hand just can't cut it at all...
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is better than one in the cupboard........
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