Hi im new to the forum AND photogrpahy

[Alexda1988]

Hi
Im just getting into photography and would like some advice on where to go first
Iv been looking into the Canon EOS-30D, now iv found a VERY cheap one and have five days to get it so advice ASAP would be greatly appreciated.
Now all the technical jargon kinda gets my head in a twist so if you could just 'dumb' it down a bit for me that'd be great.
I work at a bird of prey centre in Kielder so i have a fantastic opportunity to take pictures of birds, i also love to go walking so wildlife is something im wanting to capture as such.
Obviously the birds can move very fast so iv been told i need a gd fps and the EOS-30D has a 5fps so i assume its gd as alot of the ones iv looked at have only 3fps, now i dont know how much of a difference it is so any help on that front would be great.
Now when i walk there are some fantastic shots i would love to take but my pathetic digital camera zooms nowhere at all haha, i like landscape shots too so some advice on lenses for both fast moving animals and wide shot lanscapes is just what im looking for, obviously thats alot to ask as they are very different kinds of pictures haha so i doubt il get a lens that can do both very well.
If i say my price range for the lense is about £100-200 would that be a reasonable price or am i being a cheap skate?
ANY advice would be greatly appreciated
cheers
Alex

[Keith Reeder]

Hi Alex, and welcome to BF.

Firstly, many of us use the 30D - it's a great all-round camera, and excellent for birds: you really can't go wrong there.

Getting a lens for £100-£200 will be a challenge though (assuming that you won't just be taking pictures of your Kielder birds from a couple of feet away): but the Sigma 135-400mm is a cracking little lens, and you should be able to find a second hand one within your price range.

[Alexda1988]

Hi Alex, and welcome to BF.

Firstly, many of us use the 30D - it's a great all-round camera, and excellent for birds: you really can't go wrong there.

Getting a lens for £100-£200 will be a challenge though (assuming that you won't just be taking pictures of your Kielder birds from a couple of feet away): but the Sigma 135-400mm is a cracking little lens, and you should be able to find a second hand one within your price range.

thanks alot for the feedback i know its going to be hard to find the lens im wanting for my price but iv got time to find a lens, its really the camera im mostly looking for atm they normally come with a basic lens anyway so itl do for the time being

cheers
Alex

[KCFoggin]

Hi there and a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum. :t:

We're glad you found us and thanks for taking a moment to say hello ;)

[John N]

Hi Alex, welcome to Birdforum.Enjoy yourself here.

[Chris Oates]

thanks alot for the feedback i know its going to be hard to find the lens im wanting for my price but iv got time to find a lens, its really the camera im mostly looking for atm they normally come with a basic lens anyway so itl do for the time being

cheers
Alex

Think carefully about what you want to do and how you are going to do it.
I've got four cameras including a Nikon DSLR which is similar to the one you are thinking of buying, to get the best out of it I've spent more on lenses than the camera cost but my lenses are only moderate - I've spent half of the cameras cost on a tripod, monopod & heads.
I also have a bag of expensive filters & a speedlight - if I were to be driven to wildlife parks or a hide at an estuary I might take the DSLR but I use public transport and legpower to visit remote places.
I've tried lugging the DSLR, tripod & 170-500mm zoom out to a cliff to photograph Choughs - really didn't work as it all slowed me down terribly.
You talked about speed of shooting - to me that would mean getting the camera out and aimed at a bird - not so much 'frames per second' (lot of people I know have burst shooting cameras but don't know how to enable continuous shooting or are too slow to aim at the bird anyway).
I've gone back to using a minidigital hyperzoom for wildlife, in the pocket ready for use with no lens selection, no tripod needed as it has image stabilization, I can chase a bird with it, unusually for a mini-thing I can point it at a high flying Buzzard and it will focus lock.
I like my DSLR for it's ability to mount stupidly wide angle lenses, take high quality pics...but not for ease of use or portability.
I'm much happier on the move using my Fuji S8000fd, no weight, no tripod, gets the pictures.
The pic illustrates what I mean - I was chomping on a sandwich when I heard a sound like a strangled crow..a Chough flew below me at a fair speed but I was able to get the camera pointed at it...the DSLR would probably have been packed away while I was eating.... certainly wouldn't have have it's massive weight (with lens) slung around my neck.
For sedentary photography a DSLR's quality is best....for 'do everything' my Fuji is best.

[Keith Reeder]

For sedentary photography a DSLR's quality is best...

Sorry, Chris, but come on...

Just a few minutes in the Gallery will prove conclusively that DSLRs - not least the 30D - will do everything, including active/flying birds, brilliantly.

If Alex is interested in sharp, detailed shots, DSLR is the only way to go.

[mike from ebbw]

As Keith said the Sigma 135-400mm is a cracking lens and should be within your budget but would be S/H.I shoot with this lens on my 350d and am over the moon with it.A mate of mine just bought a mint one off Ebay for £200.

Oh and welcome to the Birdforum.

[postcardcv]

I'd agree that the Sigma 135-400 is a good lens that you should be able to get for ~£200, a quick look in Mike's gallery will show what the lens can do. Also don't forget to budget for the little extras like a spare battery (very cheap), some memory cards and perhaps a tripod and camera bag, these bits soon add up.

[seggs]

hi alex
i only started the camera lark myself about 6 months ago..
and got some great advice on here about the subject..
i got my 350d and a 75-300mm canon lens both of e-bay..
the lens is not the best in the world, but was great to start with..and for £100
secondhand did not hurt the pocket too much..

[Alexda1988]

all the info you guys are giving me is great
i very much appreciate it and am still thinking very carfully about what im buying and where im going to get it,
if anybody knows any gd sites to buy photography equipment off that'd b great, iv had a look on ebay but theres only one 30D,
if anyone has the time can you just recommend a quick order in which to buy things and how much they will cost roughly
i understand there are ALOT of different bits and pieces but at the moment im on low budget so if you could keep that in mind

thanks alot
Alex

[seggs]

all the info you guys are giving me is great
i very much appreciate it and am still thinking very carfully about what im buying and where im going to get it,
if anybody knows any gd sites to buy photography equipment off that'd b great, iv had a look on ebay but theres only one 30D,
if anyone has the time can you just recommend a quick order in which to buy things and how much they will cost roughly
i understand there are ALOT of different bits and pieces but at the moment im on low budget so if you could keep that in mind

thanks alot
Alex
hi alex
theres loads of shops on the web to try..
i found the best ones mostly on e-bay..
not the private sellers but the buy it now items and shops on this site..
this way you can judge prices and compare...and theres also the links to buyers views on the items ..
ive never bought nowt from abroad..camera wise..(only uk sellers, but they import the items from overseas themselves at times).
but alot of people have on here so, research the threads ...make your mind up on what set up you want..(kit wise and make)
as i did before making a big money wise step..and it took me 4 months before i invested...
best move ive made..dslr...
never go out now without the set up..
its a never ending update on bits and pieces...i only used the first lens for 5 months(but keep for certain places) and digged deeper for a better one..
and then the bag...to protect the gear...never ending i know..
hope this helps..

[mike from ebbw]

Hi Alex.
I always buy from these guys (see link),mainly because they are local to me but their postal delivery service is second to none.You also get a six month warranty on all used equipment.
http://www.waltersphotovideo.co.uk/