Ian Latham;1098881]
None of this is helping my dilemma as a consumer.....I want to upgrade from a Nikon D50 to a useful birding set up between £2/3000 but I dont want to get caught in the crossfire. The D90 is just around the corner so why buy the D80?, the D300 warrants some decent glass which Nikon are short of around the 300/400mm mark.
Canon seem to have the best, and (judging from this forums gallery) the most popular set up with the 40D and a fare selection of good lenses around the £1000 mark (within budget)
This extract from my original thread opener was the basis for what I hoped would be a discussion about the merits of the new 40D from Canon with its range of 300mm-400mm lenses, and the lack of the equivalent lenses from Nikon.
I must point out that I bought my D50 after trying out the product with a comparison to the canon 400D from Jessops. I had no prior knowledge of digital cameras, but a much practiced mistrust of salespersons. When the salesman seemed to be heading in the direction of overkill for the Canon system (which was approximately £100 more than the Nikon), I bid him farewell and headed off to purchase the Nikon from another store.
I am the only person within my family and circle of friends who has ever been remotely interested in birdwatching or indeed photography, so having the ability to test either of these hobbies products has had to rely on retail outlets. The birding products are quite accessable for me, because I live close to both (In Focus) Martin Mere and (RSPB) Leighton Moss so I am able to get a hands on the gear and some decent advice into the bargain.
The camera world is (to me) a lot less helpful. I can of course purchase 'On Line', but I cannot test the product before I hand over my wad. My home is far from accident proof with two mad cats, hoards of drunken women coming and going etc, etc. If something gets broken then I'm either stuck with it or going to have to deal with the insurance sharks!
So my options are narrowed to the retail outlets.
I went into Jessops today to view the 40D and the 100-400mm lens (advertised within 'Amateur photographer'as being in stock). The 40D was there but the assistant tells me that only their larger city outlets keep the bigger, more expensive lenses to view (Preston needs a cathederal!)
I decided I had come this far and asked to hold and view the camera....off he went to find a key to the cabinet, which took 15 minutes because the manager had the only key and was'nt to be found. Finally, I was tentatively handed the 40D and I proceeded to give it the once over......it was noticably larger camera than my D50 but seemed well balanced, I tryed to imagine a bigger lens attached than the 17-85mm kit but with my largest lens being a 90mm macro I really could'nt get a fair comparison.
I remembered that one of the more consistant quibbles regarding the comparison with the Nikon D300 was that the LCD - though increased a 1/2 inch from the previous model (30D) had not increased in resolution. I asked the assistant to switch the camera on for me so as to check out the camera further (layout, AF etc). ''Oh, I'm sorry sir but we dont keep batteries in the cameras'' (no explaination as to why was forthcoming). I asked if they had any in the shop to put in, and away he went.........never to be seen again, because after ten minutes I was out of there!! (sure, I could have waited a futher ten minutes or even twenty but hey! lifes way to short!)
I rang around the remaining smaller outlets only to be told the same old story, that the products only achieve minimal profit and therefore not a viable stock item (all these little shops were Canon dealerships, just out of interest!).
My quest then continues......:-C
Any genuine advice will be gratefully appreciated (no trolls or hi-jackers please)
. I'm sorry but I do think your response is a little disingenuous.
