DSLR - Body only or with kit lens?

Okay.. So as some of you may know.. I'm starting up my own photography/design company with a very good friend of mine (who just graduated a 3-year Advertisement course and pwns in Photoshop/Illustrator)

Long story short, I've outgrown my pro-sumer Kodak Z710 camera.. For what I want to do, it can't.

So, I've always wanted the Canon 400D...

Now, with that being said.. Should I get the body and buy a decent lense, or should I get it with the kit lense and a zoom lense?

I can get the body only 400D body-only for $650 + tax

or

I can get the "kit" and get the EF-S 18-55 Lens and EF 75-300 III USM Lens, 400D Kit for $950

Basically, lense or no lense? That is the question.

This will be my first dSLR and I need[/] it to take photos at the skill level I have aquired.

Lenses are everything!! Seriously, you CAN take some good shots with kit lenses, but don't expect that much out of it. Check out photozone's Canon lens reviews, and decide how much you want to spend on lenses. The lenses are way more expensive than the body!

My short answer, save the money on the kit and get some better glass.

I agree with lifeafter2am. Unless you really feel you want the two lenses in the kit I would buy the body only and then get the lenses you really want.

If you're going to do this professionally you will want to get lenses that match the kind of work you will need to do.

What are you looking to shoot? Might help with lens selection!

lifeafter2am said:

What are you looking to shoot? Might help with lens selection!

Click to expand...

Nature.. portraits (people, animals, etc), macro, scenery.. Weddings, parties, bartmizvah's etc...

Ok... well.. I shoot mostly sports with some people and macro thrown in. My kit is 17-40 f/4L, 70-200 f/2.8L, 100mm f/2.8 Macro, 50mm f/1.4, 100-400 f/4-5.6L. Not the cheapest kit, but I do this semi-professionally.

I am looking at getting a 300mm or 400mm prime lens soon here, something faster than f/5.6.

FWIW, because my pro-photog life was way before the digital revolution, a lens that won't open beyond ƒ4 adds needless complications on a shoot that would be complication-free at the least, or at the worst you miss the pix.

I know I'm out date, and this was before exposures could be "pushed" so easily (though the results, strangely enough, are the same). But wider-aperture lenses are made now for the same reasons they were then.

Because you will be shooting professionally — charging for your services, so reputation is a huge factor — buy the best you can.

Brown Study said:

Because you will be shooting professionally — charging for your services, so reputation is a huge factor — buy the best you can.

Click to expand...

I could not agree more!!




* I wish I could afford all f/2.8 lenses!

I would love to dump a million dollars on camera gear.. But I'm on limited budget.. I think I might go with the Kit first, and then upgrade later.. At least I'll have lenses then to learn the camera.

punkr0x0r said:

I would love to dump a million dollars on camera gear.. But I'm on limited budget.. I think I might go with the Kit first, and then upgrade later.. At least I'll have lenses then to learn the camera.

Click to expand...

You can always look at Tamron or Sigma, they make some good glass that is much cheaper than the Canon equivalents.

I would buy the body and forget about the kit lenses. Buy one solid lense to start and work your way up. What will you be shooting. 50mm 1.8, 17-85mm, 28-135, are all decent beginner lenses. Don't forget, it's all about the glass.

punkr0x0r said:

Nature.. portraits (people, animals, etc), macro, scenery.. Weddings, parties, bartmizvah's etc...

Click to expand...

Buy a 50mm 1.4 - awesome portrait lense and if you get a reverse mount you can get some solid macro shots as well. Very sharp lense with great results every time. You can find them used for around $250 or so.

A reverse mount is VERY hard to focus, especially considering you lose autofocus. I would probably recommend a beginner's macro, like the EF-S 60mm or something.

But yes, the 50mm is a great lens!

punkr0x0r said:

I can get the body only 400D body-only for $650 + tax

Click to expand...

$650 + tax for the body only!

If you don't mind buying online, Amazon sells the XTi with kit lens for about $605 shipped to your door. It carries the same 1 year Canon warranty, you just can't buy an extended warranty like you can at the brick and mortar stores.

Mike S said:

$650 + tax for the body only!

Click to expand...

Different country. Canada adds its "boat-payment" tax, and buying it through Amazon U.S. has it's own problems, among them, likely, the warranty.

Brown Study said:

Different country. Canada adds its "boat-payment" tax, and buying it through Amazon U.S. has it's own problems, among them, likely, the warranty.

Click to expand...

Ah, I didn't notice the location. I need to quit assuming everyone on message forums are from the US.

I forgot to mention that this girl wants me to take photos for her because she's starting in modeling soon. I don't think the Z710 will cut it

If I were you I would seriously consider at least picking up the 50mm f/1.4 as a second lens. Once you see the IQ (image quality) from it, you will think twice about putting your kit lens back on it.

For the ordinary hobbyist, your proposed lenses may suffice, but if you're going to charge people for your services, you're going to need the proper tool for the job. Yes, such tools are expensive, but if you are going to become a professional photographer, it's also an investment in your livelihood. Scrimp, borrow and save, but don't waste your time with mediocre gear because you'll soon have to replace them.

BTW, if you are just starting out in photography (the p&s variety doesn't count), the most important investment for you at this point is not in the lens or the camera. Spend some time taking classes at the local community college, invest in some good books, and keep shooting until you've worn-out the shutter of your camera. Learn from your mistakes.

My recommendation for a starter kit are the XTi and the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 lens. From there, work on one genre at a time (nature, macro, sports, portrait, etc.) until you know what your next lens should be. Only you will know what your needs are going forward.

punkr0x0r said:

I forgot to mention that this girl wants me to take photos for her because she's starting in modeling soon. I don't think the Z710 will cut it

Click to expand...

The z710 can do it, so can the 400D, it's the photographer that may not be able to do it.

You should also buy lots of books and read as much as you can if you want to jump into photography as a business. Taking pro pictures of people is about the lighting. Lighting can be difficult to grasp. Lighting is expensive. Photography is expensive.

I've spent about $5k so far and I'm just getting to where I'm comfortable enough with my kit to charge for photos that I don't think are mediocre.

www.strobist.blogspot.com