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I'm okay with that if i could get a good used 40D or 30D. 30D doesn't have dust shake off capability. Is it gonna be a headache if this feature is not available? I don't plan to change lenses in dusty environments.

But would that be safe if i buy a used cam? What do you say of buying a 'refurbished by dealer' camera if its from big stores like B&H or Adorama?

@ IT inspector, what do you call the hardware (stupid:) which is connected to the camera on your display picture ?? looks cool n i guess its helpful where one cannot use a tripod. have never seen anyone using though. how much will that cost ?

Sankar,

I lusted over the Nikons before economics beat ergonomics and I got myself the 500D+twin lens in 42k from Japan. Other than that, the rest is frankly "mine is better than yours" syndrome!

I've used a camera without auto sensor cleaning facility for 3 long years. Didn't find much issue with dust. Dust was there but with a nice blow of air from a blower with the camera in sensor cleaning mode took care of the dust most of the time.
Do B&H still sells refurbished cameras? If so I think that'll be quite safe to get from them. I remember another TBHPian told me about another place called KEH who sells such stuff and reliable too.

Having used both 350D and 40D and some amount 5D I can safely say that the ergonomics thing is not a hyped thing. It does feel good to hold a meaty grip and more comfortable for a longer shooting. Specially with a heavy lens like 70-200mm it feels much more comfortable with the 40D then it's with the 350D(with grip). I still use both the camera so I can say it safely from experience.
Regards,

As said above. It isn't a big thing. Even the best dust shake off facility isn't that good. They remove dry particles of dust but more stubborn ones stay stuck. Blower is second best method and is the easiest method to remove dust. Best method is Cooperhill Wet/Dry kit. I am not sure if its available in INDIA but should be relatively easy to order over the Internet.

B&H and KEH are decent stores. I personally havn`t bought anything from them but few friends have bought rare lenses/cameras when they were available as second hand items.


Its called Fotosnaiper (or Photosniper). Basically a gun stock + butt with camera and lens mounted on the top. This gave the ergonomics, steadiness, accuracy and ease of movement like a gun with heavy lenses, It was made by Zenit. It was a radical product but sold and marketed for the wrong reasons.

Photosniper was not a hit but now its a rare item and is valued a lot by bird shooters. Since it works best in extreme conditions. Panning is very easy with photosniper.

You can find long reviews of photosniper on google and pictures are available on flickr. Few people have tried to mimic it and get a DIY solution but have not been that successful.

Its not available anymore, but i believe Bushhawk Shoulder Mount is closest you can get. Just remember not to goto an airport with one ;) specially if you keep silicon gels pieces to absorb moisture in your kit.


I respectfully disagree. Like said above, there is a real difference in ergonomics and it cannot be experienced until you handhold few bodies. Best example i have is shooting portraits whole day long, it puts so much pressure on the wrist.

Cheers

My experience says otherwise. I have used Olympus E-500 since March-2006 and E-3 since March-2008, I still use both of them regularly in dusty/rainy/humid conditions in offroad drives, often changing lenses. Yet to encounter sensor dust. I wouldn't know about Canon or Nikon since I haven't used them.

@Samurai
I have taken my camera everywhere from dusty windy conditions to moist(really moist due to foggy conditions where a lot of condensation happens on the camera and lens), watery and sometimes its been used while i was chest deep in water as well. So many a time, it was necessary to change lenses at places i would not really wanna do that. So over the course of use, I have had a few problems with dust. The sensor cleaning really didnt do much...it may shake the dust off, but its still inside the camera. Even the blower didnt do me much good as the stubborn dust particles refuse to come off! Finally i had to get a wet cleaning solution and cleaned it myself at home, after which it was fine.
Regards,
TG.

Holding a camera and feeling it is important. But how much of that is deciding camera purchase is a question.
Slightly exaggerated view. Few decades ago we didn't have cars with power steering. Nobody complained though.

I've done the same as you're saying here.. shooting at studio whole day with totally mechanical manual 35mm SLR handheld. Didn't have any problem.

More we get, more we complain. Human behaviour of course. :D

I think Tanveer answered your question. Besides I am an old senile man with shaky hands. It is nice to know IS will compensate for my shaky hands; now only if I could find a cure for my senility!

Canon does not make tripods. Companies like Velbon, Gitzo, Silk, Manfrottto do. I have a couple of Velbons but serisouly these are pretty basic. If I need a real tripod I borrow a Gitzo from my niece.

Trouble is if I go somewhere carrying the big white lenses and tripods she has I look like a greyed, faded, jaded version of John Rambo.

Sensor cleaning is nice to have not really not often nesscary and as others have said it wonyl works for loose dry dust not the persistent kind. If I get the persistent dust (so far only once) I give my camera to a professional.

In the film days I got a N65 and some refurbished Nikkor prime lenses from KEH. I had no trouble with any of the stuff they sent. My N80 and zooms were bought from Adorama and they were very helpful and helped me choose the right combo of lenses to get me started. I can recommend both. I have visited the big B&H store (it gets bigger every few years) on 9th Av and 42nd street (a block west of Penn. St.) for various things like light meters, camera cases, etc.. and found them pretty rushed and they tend to serve the big ticket spenders better than us ordinary folk but they stuiff they have is good and genuine.

you can always buy a grip. I use a BG-2EN with my 40D and found it helps with the balance and offers better grip as well.

and a set fo steady hands! :D

Finally someone who sympathises with my line of thinking. :D

Thanks TG, that takes care of Nikon. Now let's hear from somebody who has used Canon dSLR with anti-dust feature in really dusty condition.

Why & for what reason? I use this lens most of the times as my stock lens..Never had any issues. True, at its long end it has problems of vignetting, but that can be cropped in PS.

I am sure Rudra-da has. I have tken my canon to dusty sports fields, the beach, and even parasailing and even changed lenses while on the beach and on the sports field. I had one issue with sticky dust at which point I sent the camera to a professional canon service center.

I doubt it, he doesn't use a Canon camera with anti-dust sensor feature.

Has what? In camera sensor cleaning? No my camera doesn't have that. And currently it's loaded with garbage. Dropping it next week to Canon Service Centre. It's a day job for them.