[Liverpool_Red]

Originally Posted by jaysmokesleaves

I need help with a purchase decision.

I have decided to buy the Canon EOS 500D, which I shall pickup from JJMehta shortly.
I plan to purchase to body from India to benefit from the 2 year warranty. However, I plan to purchase the lens from the US due to the massive cost saving.
My query is as follows:
Is it better to buy the 18-55mm & 55-250mm lenses or just buy one 18-200mm EF-IS lens. The cost difference for the 18-200mm(f/3.5-5.6) lens is approx 8000 less in the US.

Is there any other better lens configuration that I should go in for other than what ive mentioned above?
I feel the need for a wide angle lens for landscapes.

Im not a professional and like shooting landscapes, travel photography and on the move photography. So guys please advise. I intend to keep this camera for a really long time.

Thanks,
Jay

Canon EOS 500D is a very good camera,. nice choice there. Although they are both being sold now 500D will replace the 450D. I think its better to buy the 18-200mm lens., one lens for all occasions. Also dont forget to buy a Dry Box for the lens as well as the camera. This is as important as buying the camera itself IMO.

[jaysmokesleaves]

Originally Posted by jkdas

My 2 paise ; will be easier with a 18-200 as you travel a lot. Makes it easier to carry too and ready for most shots

I agree, ease of portability and readiness for immediate use during travel is most desirable.

Originally Posted by janitha

The more the zoom ratio, the less the image quality. But a single lens means more convenience and less chance of dust entering inside.

Most reviews about the single 18-200 lens are good. Very few seem to complain of image quality, mostly pros. So I guess for an amateur enthusiast like me, I wouldnt probably even notice the difference.

Originally Posted by phamilyman

Does anyone want a EOS500D grip - original BG-E5!??

~Jay. I have the twin lens kit. I'd recommend it anyday. Its not as much of a hassle, but the nifty 250 is one heck of a lens. The moment your lens starts going beyond 3-4x zoom the optics suffer. If you desire a 18-200, go Nikon (or so my research said)

My heart says Nikon but brain says Canon. If I buy a Nikon it has to be a D90 and with a similar 18-200 lens it becomes expensive. SO im considering to buy the latest, cheapest, feature packed dslr for my money so I can enjoy it for many years. After all, I know for a fact that I have no intentions of turning pro.

Originally Posted by Liverpool_Red

Canon EOS 500D is a very good camera,. nice choice there. Although they are both being sold now 500D will replace the 450D. I think its better to buy the 18-200mm lens., one lens for all occasions. Also dont forget to buy a Dry Box for the lens as well as the camera. This is as important as buying the camera itself IMO.

Whats a dry box??
I plan to leave the lens on the camera permanently. No removing fixing hassles.

Im more or less convinced now to buy the 18-200 lens. Im extremely lazy and when it comes to gadgets, my choice is always the all in one types. I dont think I will have the patience to change lenses(twin lens kit) and the will to lug a kit full of 2 lenses+cam+laptop+chargers in one bagpack. Ive got other things to put in my bagpack too.

By the way, the 18-200 Canon IS lens is approx 7.5k cheaper in the US and the body is approx 5k less. I will however pick up the body from India for the warranty, which I need as an amateur.

Thanks everyone for their inputs. Much appreciated.

Cheers,
J

[v.tec]

Hey, just saw this thread. Great to know that there are so many camera enthusiasts who are also car lovers

I've just started on photography, learning through experience only! However, needed some advice, i own 18-55 VR and 55-200 VR Nikkor Lenses and i really want to upgrade my zoom factor.

The obvious thing that comes to mind is that i buy the 70-300 but i have heard of telephoto converters of 1.5x or 2x which attach to the lens and magnify the zoom making it a 400mm max zoom lens. However, in the procedure you lose 2 f stops or so.

Now, all this ive just heard and google isnt helping me much. Is there anyone whose used anything like this or can advice me on what to do?

And whats the benefit of lensbaby?

[MadBiker]

Guys, I'm planning to get a 500D (Rebel T1i) from USA next weekend.. I'm getting this deal from PrimoCameras

The Package includes:

• Canon EOS Rebel T1i (500D) 15.1 MegaPixel Digital SLR Camera
• Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Image Stabilizer EF-S Auto Focus Lens
• Canon 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Lens
• Will Double It For FREE (16GB) + FREE Card Reader
• SD Memory Card Reader
• All Aluminum Full Size Tripod (57 Inches)
• Flexible Mini Table Top Tripod
• Lens Pouch - 2 No's
• CapKeeper - 2 No's
• Universal Screen Protectors
• Deluxe Lens Care & Maintenance Package
• Memory Card Wallet
• Deluxe Fiber Cloth
• Flash Fixers Image Recall Sofware - Recover Your Digital Images
• Deluxe Video & Camera Case
• Remote Switch For Canon Digital SLR Cameras
• 318AF Digital Slave Flash For Use With Digital Or Film Cameras

All this for $1,069.00 and if i do some math:-

500D Body + 18-55 IS Lens Kit - 749$

55-250 IS Lens - 250$

8GB Transend SD Card - 70$

That's what i wanted and i get the others as free.. Should i go with this deal or not? Reseller ratings were OK for PrimoCameras - Am i taking a blind choice or should i still go for Adorama / BHPhotoVideo / Amazon ?

Need your inputs as i would need to get one before this month end

[jaysmokesleaves]

Originally Posted by MadBiker

Guys, I'm planning to get a 500D (Rebel T1i) from USA next weekend.. I'm getting this deal from PrimoCameras

The Package includes:

All this for $1,069.00 and if i do some math:-

500D Body + 18-55 IS Lens Kit - 749$

55-250 IS Lens - 250$

8GB Transend SD Card - 70$

But for approx 9k more in India you are getting the same camera & lens package in India( http://www.jjmehta.com/webshop/index.html?target=dept_66.html〈=en-us) with a 2 year warranty. Doesnt it make more sense?
Ofcourse, you wont get all the additional goodies that Primocameras is offering.
A 3 year service warranty in the US costs approx 200$ extra. How useful is a warranty versus cost when it comes to dslr's ?

[clevermax]

Originally Posted by clevermax

Hi friends, romans & Lensmen,

The question is about this lens:
Attachment 186167

It is a Minolta Maxxum 70-210 F/4 lens.

I bought this old lens from ebay about 6 months back. When I was inspecting the lens recently, I found that some fungus has started growing inside two of the glass surfaces of this lens. Though these won't show up in the pictures taken, I suspect they are eventually going to affect the optical output of the lens.
...

Hmm.. Looks like the fungus is not messing up the image contrast and sharpness as of now... Hope it won't grow further.

[black12rr]

what are the other differences between a DSLR billed and Grey market piece apart from price and warranty ? Will they be used ,parts changed, tampered ,defective , rejects ? ....How reliable are Grey market pieces ?

There are some dealers in blore (famous 2 ) who sell the same product both Grey and billed , how to identify whether yours is original ?,is it possible they might give a Grey piece with bill ?

[clevermax]

Originally Posted by black12rr

what are the other differences between a DSLR billed and Grey market piece apart from price and warranty ? Will they be used ,parts changed, tampered ,defective , rejects ? ....How reliable are Grey market pieces ?

That's a big Grey area!

I don't think the sellers here in Blr would be able to change any critical parts in a DLSR. Battery may be one thing which they can easily swap.

[Liverpool_Red]

Originally Posted by jaysmokesleaves

Whats a dry box??
I plan to leave the lens on the camera permanently. No removing fixing hassles.

A dry box is the place where you store your camera and the lens. Its basically a box which protects the lens from getting fungus. It also acts as a good travelling case IMO(handy to keep in your car I say).

[reignofchaos]

Originally Posted by anainar

Wow! A great buy man. Happy clicking.

Did you buy it here in India or brought it from outside?

Nainar

Locally from pixetra. Costed 1.3 with 2 years official warranty. Excellent pricing.

[gd1418]

Not necessarily. The newly introduced D5000 & D90 have little difference, but the former is way cheaper than the latter. So a combination of D5000 body and a 18-200 VRII will be a great buy.

In the Delhi grey market the D5000+kit lens is for 36K. The body comes for approx 32K.

Originally Posted by jaysmokesleaves

My heart says Nikon but brain says Canon. If I buy a Nikon it has to be a D90 and with a similar 18-200 lens it becomes expensive. SO im considering to buy the latest, cheapest, feature packed dslr for my money so I can enjoy it for many years. After all, I know for a fact that I have no intentions of turning pro.

Cheers,
J

I've always bought my camera equipment in grey since the late 70s without any complaint till date. Only the latest buy of mine, the D300 was on bill since it wasn't available in grey.

If a grey piece is sold with bill, then while registering the stuff on the company's site shall say so...

Originally Posted by black12rr

what are the other differences between a DSLR billed and Grey market piece apart from price and warranty ? Will they be used ,parts changed, tampered ,defective , rejects ? ....How reliable are Grey market pieces ?

There are some dealers in blore (famous 2 ) who sell the same product both Grey and billed , how to identify whether yours is original ?,is it possible they might give a Grey piece with bill ?

[jkdas]

Originally Posted by clevermax

Hmm.. Looks like the fungus is not messing up the image contrast and sharpness as of now... Hope it won't grow further.

dude needs a hair cut; and looks like the photographer
Hope you have more pix from the Zoo.

Originally Posted by gd1418

Not necessarily. The newly introduced D5000 & D90 have little difference, but the former is way cheaper than the latter. So a combination of D5000 body and a 18-200 VRII will be a great buy.

In the Delhi grey market the D5000+kit lens is for 36K. The body comes for approx 32K.

Sirji; which lens?

[clevermax]

Originally Posted by jkdas

dude needs a hair cut; and looks like the photographer
Hope you have more pix from the Zoo.

I am going to ask the mods to take away your newly awarded status in team-bhp.

Yes, more pics on the way, but on official non auto image thread.

[gd1418]

Jyothi, it is the 18-55

Originally Posted by jkdas

Sirji; which lens?

[robimahanta]

Its a lovely camera. I got the 500D with the 18-55mm kit lens, though I am gonna get a 10-22mm lens pretty soon..as I love landscape photography. I am uploading a few sample pictures, mostly from my rooftop. I am also uploading a pic of my dog "tiger", the gentle great dane.

I got the kit with a free 4gb sandisk sdhc, a gold coin and a carry bag.

Some of the pictures are in HDR.