Canon Camera and Lens

[bundy8717]

I have been looking for over a month online for a camera and a lens. The only thing I have decided on is that I am going to get a canon camera and a canon lens. Also, I am almost sure that I am going to get the Rebel xti. I want a large LCD screen and the price for the XTI is very good. If anyone has a suggestion for a better camera feel free to suggest one. Price is an issue so try and keep it in the range as the XTI.

What I want to do is walk around and take pictures of birds. I can't imagine using a tripod. So obviously I am looking at an image stablization lens. The one I am currently looking at is the 100-400 mm f/4.5- 5.6 IS. Is there anything else I should be looking at? Also, with the XTI would what focal length would I have 400? I am wondering because I see some camera can increase the focal length of lenses.

Lastly, is there anything else I would need besides the camera and the lens?

Thanks in advance

[RJL2005]

I think we call the XTi a 400d? if so that with the 100-400 zoom is a good piece of kit. The rest is down to you!
I've still gots lots to learn after 18mnths but enjoy it all (well most of it). Good luck

Rhod

[Words]

The XTi (400D) has a mutliple factor of about 1.6 due to the sensor size, so the 400 end would be 640mm equivalent. Good combination. I've got the 400D and am planning on getting the 100-400 IS later this year.

[macshark]

XTi (400D) + 100-400L IS is a good combo for birding.

The camera actually does not change the focal length of the lens. The smaller size of the sensor reduces the field of view by a factor of 1.6x.

You would also need a large Compact Flash card (at least 2GB) to begin with. It is always good to have a second battery as well.

Most people prefer to use a 1.4x Teleconverter with this lens at times. Tamron or Kenko make decent quality 1.4x teleconverters that sell at a reasonable price. Canon makes a good one that sells about twice the price. Teleconverters increase the effective focal length of the lens by the specified multiplier. Play with the camera and lens for a while before you decide if you need a TC.

[paul goode]

I agree with the advice given (almost)

With the price constraint you mention and wanting a single lens I can't think of a better combination.

The XTi is an excellent body, I regularly scrounge my wifes off her and it takes great shots. There are a few issues with some bodies underexposing a bit but I wouldn't worry about that. You'll be adjusting images in photoshop to get the best out of them so a quick levels adjustment sorts out the exposure.

100-400is. Quite simply, in my opinion, if you only plan to have one lens buy this one! Image quality throughout the zoom range is excellent, the IS makes handholding much easier and the af is plenty fast enough for tracking most birds in flight. I admit I haven't had mine long but the images that I've got from it have impressed me big time. From static shots of small perched birds in poor light to Auks belting past at crazy speeds its produced the shots, and ,as an aside, it makes a cracking lens for airshows!

The reason I put almost in brackets is to do with the tc. Mine and a few others experience is that using this combination with a Kenko tc can affect the IS. If you go this route be prepared for possibly having to switch the IS off. I can't be any more specific because some people report no problems at all whereas others have doubts.

Paul

Edit: Attached a few sample images. The last 2 are with a 20d but there won't be any difference in IQ from the XTi, in fact with its better AF and more pixels it should do better!

[paul goode]

Play with the camera and lens for a while before you decide if you need a TC.

Totally agree, I joined the stampede to fit a tc to this combo when I should have spent more time getting the best out of the camera and lens.

[postcardcv]

The reason I put almost in brackets is to do with the tc. Mine and a few others experience is that using this combination with a Kenko tc can affect the IS. If you go this route be prepared for possibly having to switch the IS off. I can't be any more specific because some people report no problems at all whereas others have doubts.

I completely agree with Paul. I use a 400D (Xti) with a 100-400 IS as my walk about set up and love it, the image quality is excellent and the IS makes handheld shots much easier. I too had problems when using a 1.4x tc, AF was fine but the IS was unusable.

As well as the camera and lens you will need a memory card or two and a spare battery is handy (though a single charge will give ~750 shots) as is a bag to carry your gear in.

[bundy8717]

Thanks for the input guys.

One thing I don't understand is the 1.6x sensor the 400d has. Also this is a dumb question but on the camera can you use the LCD display when shooting with the lens. I heard by somone that the screen is just for the settings and not a viewfinder. Finally, is the camera and lens easy to use?

I live in Canada and I am thinking about purchasing the camera and the lens online. Is there any websites I should stay away from or anyway websites that you would recommend?

I forgot about the memory card but that isn't a huge expense. I will wait on the teleconverter.

[Keith Reeder]

What is it about the 1.6x sensor that puzzles you, Bundy?

No, you can't use the LCD as a viewfinder - it's for accessing menu options and for reviewing pictures you've taken.

Is it easy to use? If it was, there wouldn't be thousands of website threads out there with millions of postings about using 'em!

;)

That said, it isn't rocket science, and things usually come together if you stick at it...

[Keith Reeder]

This http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/crop-factor-explained/ is a pretty good explanation of crop factors.

Note: it isn't a way to make the focal length of a given lens 1.6x bigger: if you put a 400mm lens on a 1.6x crop camera, you haven't got a 640mm lens, you've still got a 400mm lens, you're putting the image onto a smaller area - you're just affecting the apparent Field Of View.

It isn't "something for nothing", no matter how many times you read otherwise. As "Phil" says on comment 13 on that page, "The “crop factor” is effectively the same as zooming in on the center of the picture".

Here's another good explanation: http://jimdoty.com/Digital/fov_crop/fov_crop.html and as this guy rightly says:

In actuality, the focal length of the lens has not been optically magnified at all. The smaller digital sensor just crops more deeply into the image circle that is projected by the lens. It is more accurate to refer to this as a "field of view" (FOV) crop.

[mooskibaby]

I have just begun wildlife photography, and i was brought a Canon Powershot S31S for my birthday this year. It's a great camera, good LCD screen and has a good zoom as well. If anyone was wanting to start wildlife photography and wanted a good camera, then this could be the one for you. It's also not to expensive.