[amitk26]

Originally Posted by R2D2

Talking about silica gel, you guys may be aware of this. But just thought of sharing here. Indicating SG has a known carcinogen - Cobalt Chloride.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silica_gel#Hazards (read section on humidity indicator)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt_poisoning

I buy fresh SG for e.g. from here:

http://www.ebay.in/itm/Silica-Gel-De...item43be2fdbb2

Old SG is discarded.

Instead of discarding old SG why not use plain white non-indicator type Silica Gel why a hygrometer or get the oranage indicator one which has organic die ?

[amitk26]

Originally Posted by govigov

I took it to camera scan, authorized canon service center, they said, they have to send it to Bangalore for cleaning. The cost is 2900/- plus additional if any parts have to changed. Takes 15 days minimum.

This is to be sold after cleaning along with 18-55 & 55-250, Cash to be used for body upgrade. Is the EOS 60d worth it?

Sensor cleaning is not rocket science get it cleaned from any local camera repair guy should not take more then a day. BTW I have always done DIY cleaning by the method I described earlier.

Never required to do wet cleaning till now. Usually if you always keep the sensor in auto-clean mode it may consume more battery but plus side is that occasional puffs of blower are good enough to keep sensor clean.

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by amitk26

Instead of discarding old SG why not use plain white non-indicator type Silica Gel why a hygrometer or get the oranage indicator one which has organic die ?

Amit, the SG I use is the non indicator variety. According to the seller I can reheat it but that heat would destroy the Tyvek packing. So I choose to discard it.

[clevermax]

Originally Posted by R2D2

Talking about silica gel, you guys may be aware of this. But just thought of sharing here. Indicating SG has a known carcinogen - Cobalt Chloride.

I know that the blue SG is poisonous. I use it carefully and do not allow contact with anything in kitchen or any appliances. This is one reason why I do not prefer the oven method. In this hair dryer technique, it is just an old socks and I can keep it only for this purpose.

[R2D2]

CM, I wouldnt use any substance that has a known carcinogen in it.

SG is cheap and widely available, making it easy to replace. But this is IMHO only.

[Rajvir Bains]

[quote="nileshch;3252056"]

The latest 18-55mm IS has a magnification of 0.34x (is that the one you have?) and the 15-85mm IS has a magnification of 0.21x so you might lose out a bit. But given that you are looking for a general purpose lens, I'd recommend you go for the 15-85mm. It is superior in quality overall and the photos are much sharper.

Thanks nilesh for the reply.
I have 18-55mm is ii version. This is not STM lens.
Have you used 15-85mm lens ? Can you post any macro pictures taken with this lens.

Thank you

Rajvir Singh Bains

[Zenster]

Hello Friends,
I currently own a 600D with the 18-135 kit. I am now looking to pickup the 50mm f1.8 for its obvious merits. But as you can imagine, I am a little confused with the 50mm f1.8 vs 40mm f2.8 debate.

I checked them both this past evening and below are my thoughts:

I found the image quality pretty much the same when I clicked at f2.8, but then I only had the camera LCD to look at.

50mm f1.8
+ Cheap
+ Smaller F number. Could be better in low light conditions??
+ Lovely Bokeh
- Poor construction
- Washed out effect at f1.8
- Bigger than the 40mm
- Smaller FOV, could make it harder to use in close quarters.

40mm f2.8
+ Light, Really Flat (Pancake). Can easily be carried in cargo pockets.
+ Better construction
+ Quiter focus with the STM motor
+ Good Bokeh. But the 'blobs' were not as big as the 50mm's
- Expensive, by atleast 2k (Canon store ready to sell it for 9400/-)
- Relatively new and hence long term ownership reviews are not available.

These are thoughts in the head of a novice and may be incorrect too. So please, help me correct anything from the list above and also help be decide one of them.

[BoneCollector]

Originally Posted by Zenster

Hello Friends,
I currently own a 600D with the 18-135 kit. .

Hi, I've been planning to buy one SLR for quite sometime now but due to one or other issues, could not go for it. I had zeroed down on this very model but was confused regarding lenses. How good is the 18-135 mm kit? Also if you can share details like price and offers you got on this one in a PM. Thanks

[Aroy]

Actually 35mm in a cropped sensor has the same field of view as a 50mm in an FF sensor. That said 50mm are normally the least expensive and the best VFM lenses.

I have no idea of the canon lenses, but Nikon has a range of 50mm lenses starting from the f1.4G all the way to f1.2 manual focus lens.

Good all metal construction is a thing of past, as they are expensive to produce. The current Nikon MF lenses which are all metal construction, are at least twice the price of the AF lenses which have a lot of plastics and are made to a cost (hence affordable).

[sridhu]

THere is nothing inherently good about all metal construction or bad about plastic construction. Plastic mixed construction lenses should last a lifetime for most amateurs & prosumers and even pros.

[Zenster]

Originally Posted by BoneCollector

Hi, I've been planning to buy one SLR for quite sometime now but due to one or other issues, could not go for it. I had zeroed down on this very model but was confused regarding lenses. How good is the 18-135 mm kit? Also if you can share details like price and offers you got on this one in a PM. Thanks

Hi, replying here for the benefit of other members too, hope you dont mind. I had purchased this kit last december and payed 45k for it from ebay (used HDFC coupon to get 2.5k off). The lens is good, its definitely better than the 18-55mm lens. I say this after comparing these lens both before and after purchase. You could get the 18-200mm which is even better, but was out of my budget.

[sachinj12]

Any suggestions for a good strap? The oem strap is extremely uncomfortable and too loud. What are the points of consideration while deciding on a strap?The heaviest combination of my gear would be a D90 with a battery grip+ 70-300 vr+ sb 600.

The cheaper the strap, the better it is :P

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by sachinj12

Any suggestions for a good strap? The oem strap is extremely uncomfortable and too loud. What are the points of consideration while deciding on a strap?The heaviest combination of my gear would be a D90 with a battery grip+ 70-300 vr+ sb 600.

The cheaper the strap, the better it is :P

Go in for an Op Tech Pro strap. It's among the best and very popular. Price is about 1200 per strap. I use it on my DSLRs when comfort is a priority as is a discrete design compared to the Nikon strap that screams 'Steal me!'

http://www.snapdeal.com/product/opte...-strap/1492525

Alternative is UP Strap but you cant get that in India. I have a Black Rapid too. Some guys have had a good experience with the BR and some nightmares when the fastener comes off. I'm a bit of a pessimist when it comes to straps so don't use it.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1238132

Still more alternatives are straps from Lowepro and Kata. No experience with them.

[manim]

Originally Posted by sachinj12

Any suggestions for a good strap? The oem strap is extremely uncomfortable and too loud.

I have been eyeing this for some time: (for Nikon D3100)
National Geographic Adventure (Item# : NG 3030) Strap

http://www.flipkart.com/national-geo...c-4b3d0e378f55

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by manim

I have been eyeing this for some time: (for Nikon D3100)
National Geographic Adventure (Item# : NG 3030) Strap

http://www.flipkart.com/national-geo...c-4b3d0e378f55

Quite a cool strap, and seems to be well made. Let us know after using it for a week or so.

I find that a sliding pad as in laptop bag straps helps a lot in relieving strain of a thin strap.