Canon EOS 450D

[mooskibaby]

I have been interested in wildlife photography for 1 and a 1/2 years now, and my current camera is a Canon S31S I am thinking of getting an up grade, as I think soon will be the time. The maximum I think I am prepared to pay would be about £500, that doesn't include what I would pay for the lenses. I have been looking at the Canon EOS 450D, I have checked it out on a few websites, and it sounds like a really good camera, as it has been getting good reviews, but would it be suitable for what I would want to use it for; wildlife photography.

Any advice would be much appreciated either about the Canon EOS 450D, or any other cameras that would be good for wildlife photography and you can buy good lenses for.

Thank you in advance

[Vectis Birder]

I don't know much about the 450D, but I have seen pics taken with the 350D (and I have had a go with one myself) and if it is anything like that camera (it should be better in fact) then you won't go far wrong.
I'm considering a switch to Canon, for various reasons (I'm currently a Nikon user but I like Canon lenses, hence the probable switch) and they offer a vast system of lenses, etc. Warehouse Express have a 450D with 18-55 lens for £494 (http://www.warehouseexpress.com/category/basecategory.aspx?cat03=3065&Brand=37&Range=741#first)

[mooskibaby]

Thank you. Canon E0S 40D also looks like a good bet, it is slightly above my price range but looks and sounds like a very good camera. Simon King uses this camera and recommends it. I may try and go and have a look at it at some point.

[paul goode]

There was a thread not long ago about the 450D and at that time it was much closer in price to the 40D, which being honest made the 40D the sensible choice. The 40D does have features which make it more suitable as a wildlife camera but there is now a substantial price difference between the 2 and it may be wiser to put that money towards a lens or two.
The 450D is well in your budget body only and will be fine, as indeed pretty well any body from all the manufacturers would be.
The bigger decision is what lens to buy.
At the moment Canon and Nikon have a big advantage because there is a far wider choice of lenses for these makes than Pentax, Olympus etc. The other makes i'm sure will catch up but for now if you want choice from cheap zooms all the way to big primes then its Canon or Nikon. Keeping to the camera manufacturers lenses rather than Sigma or Tamron etc generally means second hand values wil be better when upgrade time comes along.

You don't mention budget for your lens so its impossible to mention any specific lenses.
Its well worth considering what you will do with the images before you choose a lens. If you will be mainly producing images for viewing on the web or printing A4 and smaller then a 500mm f4 will be a waste of money ;)
A zoom will be perfectly capable of producing fine web images and smaller prints, the primes come into their own when big prints or file sizes are the required output. Thats my opinion although it is a rather hotly debated subject!

Hope that helps

Paul

[Damselfly]

I have been using a 450D now for about 2months and I am very happy with it. I use a Canon 100-400mm IS zoom lens most of the time. I had the 350D before but I find the 450D has less noise but is finer focusing. I also find the live view aspect of the camera very useful especially if the subject is at a distance as it enable you to magnify the subject 10 times therefore helps with focusing.
I have attached a selection of images taken with the 450D.

[mooskibaby]

The average range I am prepared to spend is about £600.

[paul goode]

The average range I am prepared to spend is about £600.

For £600 I think I'd look for a s/h 400 f5.6 or 100-400 Canon lens. These are two of the most popular birding lenses and are capable of producing first class images. If you can push the budget a bit more I'd still go for the same lenses but get new ones.

[mooskibaby]

Thanks Paul, I will push the budget if I need to, and from your recommendations it sounds as though I might need to.

Thank you for the help Paul.

[Nikon Kid]

Thanks Paul, I will push the budget if I need to, and from your recommendations it sounds as though I might need to.

Thank you for the help Paul.

Funny thing my Budget was around £600. How much have I spent to date £1750
I had to sell a few things so as to cover the costs....

[Nikon Kid]

I went out to-day to give the lens a run and me. Maxey Pits Cambs here are few shots
for you, they have all been well cropped been in DPP and PE 450d + 400 prime

I must say I am very pleased with my 2 hours with it.

Can't wait for them Gannets Brempton Cliffs Tuesday, I'm ready, well nearly.

Male & Female Linnets, Tern, Ski

[Bhoggy]

If you can stretch to the 40D I think it's worth it. I've had a 350D for 30 months now and am very happy with the photos I get with it. When the 400 came out I decided I wasn't upgrading to it just for the extra 2mpix so I held out for the 450. When it came out and I'd read all the reviews I went to try it and had a look at the 40D at the same time. I opted for the latter for various reasons. The 40D has a bigger grip which makes it alot more comfortable to hold. The smaller grip on the 350 is allegedly aimed at ladies and their smaller grip - but I have small hands for a guy so I remain to be convinced!

The 40's body is magnesium and weather sealed. The AF is much faster and the viewfinder clearer. There are many other features too, but the real clincher for me was the frame rate. At 6fps it's slow next to the 10 given by the Mk111, but I have the camera set to slow continuous - I can't cope with the high speed setting yet.

To summarise I opted for the same resolution as the 400D I had rejected 18 months before, but I wouldn't swap it for the 450's 12mpix.

Paul

[mooskibaby]

I went out to-day to give the lens a run and me. Maxey Pits Cambs here are few shots
for you, they have all been well cropped been in DPP and PE 450d + 400 prime

I must say I am very pleased with my 2 hours with it.

Can't wait for them Gannets Brempton Cliffs Tuesday, I'm ready, well nearly.

Male & Female Linnets, Tern, Ski

Thank you. Looking at the photographs you attached, the image quality is excellent. It is hard to actually know where to start when upgrading a camera, because you have to decide on a brand/make, then it all comes down to cost. It is very hard. I could do with trying out different cameras for a couple of days. Do you know if you can hire cameras from anywhere?

[mooskibaby]

If you can stretch to the 40D I think it's worth it. I've had a 350D for 30 months now and am very happy with the photos I get with it. When the 400 came out I decided I wasn't upgrading to it just for the extra 2mpix so I held out for the 450. When it came out and I'd read all the reviews I went to try it and had a look at the 40D at the same time. I opted for the latter for various reasons. The 40D has a bigger grip which makes it alot more comfortable to hold. The smaller grip on the 350 is allegedly aimed at ladies and their smaller grip - but I have small hands for a guy so I remain to be convinced!

The 40's body is magnesium and weather sealed. The AF is much faster and the viewfinder clearer. There are many other features too, but the real clincher for me was the frame rate. At 6fps it's slow next to the 10 given by the Mk111, but I have the camera set to slow continuous - I can't cope with the high speed setting yet.

To summarise I opted for the same resolution as the 400D I had rejected 18 months before, but I wouldn't swap it for the 450's 12mpix.

Paul

Thank you Paul. What I could do with doing is having a look at the 40D camera, so I can have a look at the weight, how comfortable it is etc. So would you say it would be a good bet for wildlife photography?

Can you hire cameras do you know of?

[666taz]

Just to point out the only part of the 40D thats weathersealed is the battery and memmory card compartments the buttons and flash are not.http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos40d/page3.asp

[Bhoggy]

Interesting point that Phil, was told by the retailer that it was fully sealed - still, if it's pouring I'm gonna be undercover, or at the very least the camera will be! Having said that, I used my 350 out in pouring rain and it survived.

Anna, they both would be good for wildlife shots, so go down the shop and feel them to see which you feel more comfortable with. There must be companies that hire cameras too.

Still wouldn't swap my 40D for a 450.

[Nikon Kid]

I think now with hindsight, I would have got the 40d, but at the time was trying to keep
my budget down, don't get me wrong I like the 450d, never had the 40d in my hands, but
when the next round of upgrades comes 50d, maybe I will trade in then if I am still keen
on DSLR's.

[Nikon Kid]

I think now with hindsight, I would have got the 40d, but at the time was trying to keep
my budget down, don't get me wrong I like the 450d, never had the 40d in my hands, but
when the next round of upgrades comes 50d, maybe I will trade in then if I am still keen
on DSLR's.

I went to John Lewis to get my hands on the 40d boy its heavy, and what
I did not like was that small window on the top with the settings, the 450d
is much more readable as its all on the 3" screen, with a tap of shutter button.
and for us that are older, bigger letters & numbers are an advantage.

I know this is just looks and feel and not what comes out the other end.
But know I am glad I have the 450d and will await with interest the 50d,
maybe with Liveview screen that has AF and movable tilting screen,
and alot more.