I have a new interest — Photography. I am gonna buy a DSLR camera and it will be the Canon EOS 450D. My first DSLR lens will be Canon EF 24-105mm F/4 L IS USM lens. It is a great (and expensive) general purpose lens. As a beginner, I also ordered a few of photography books on Amazon.com.
Table of Contents
The photography dream of a kid
I remember when I was a kid, I “played” with my dad’s SLR camera and lens when parents were out. I enjoyed the view of the world from the small viewfinder.
However, it is impossible for a kid to own a camera at that time. I own my first camera only at 2 years ago, when I was 26 year old.
I bought another digital camera, Canon IXUS 860IS, earlier this year. Now, I am gonna get my first DSLR — Canon EOS 450D.
Why Canon EOS 450D?
I like Canon. My previous 2 compact digital cameras are Canon. The images produced are high quality. Canon is also one of the top brands of DSLR.
Canon EOS 450D (dpreview review) is the entry level DSLR with an affordable price, yet produces pro-like image quality. It is suitable for beginner and amateur photographer.
The suggested retail price of Canon Malaysia is RM2,699 (body only) but you can get 450D at less than RM2,500.
Which Lens?
The major difference of DSLR and compact camera is that DSLR can do nothing without attaching a lens. A lens is just like the eye ball of the camera. Without it, your DSLR sees nothing.
The Canon kit lens is good enough for beginner. If you have the budget, you should buy a couple of better built lenses to have higher image quality.
After some researches and friends’ suggestions, I have chosen the following lenses to match my Canon EOS 450D:
- Canon EF 24-105mm F/4L IS USM lens — one of the best and most popular Canon general purpose lenses. This is the lens you want if you can only have one lens. (review)
- Canon EF-S 17-55mm F/2.8 IS USM lens — Wide angle lens. Very high image quality, one of the best general/multi-purpose lenses available. (review)
- Canon EF 100mm F/2.8 USM Macro — Excellent macro lens. The 100mm focal length along with great bokeh (foreground/background blur quality) makes this a great portrait lens as well. (review)
- Canon EF 70-200mm F/4L USM — Telephoto lens, arguably Canon’s best value “L” Lens combining professional grade build and optical qualities. (review)
Of course, I don’t buy all of them at once! I am not that RICH!
I will buy the Canon EF 24-105mm F/4L IS USM lens first because it is a great all around general purpose lens. The 24-100mm lens price is around RM4,000. More expensive than the camera body!
Best photography books for beginner
As a wannabe/beginner, I need to learn photography from experts. One of the simplest way of learning is reading books by experts. Here are the top photography books on Amazon.com and I ordered all of them. :)
What else?
I probably also need to get camera bag, tripod, flash, lens case, filter… seems like photography will dig a black hole in your wallet huh? ;)
Your DSLR combo?
Do you own a DSLR? Which model? What are the lenses that you own?
i own the 450D as well, bought it this year. Couldnt afford the L lens, so this is what i got instead –
Sigma 18-200 for common use, general usage
Canon 100mm macro, excellent lens, but hardly use though
Canon 50mm (the cheaper one) :P also excellent lens for its price!
as for the bag, u can read it on my blog, i got the KATA 467, which ables me to store laptop + camera + lens and other stuff
another item i highly recommend getting is the tripod. i splurged and bought myself a manfrotto and never regretted a single bit. think its my fav item at the moment.
however, i havent gotten a speedlight yet….maybe later :P
joining the canon photomarathon? :)
I own Nikon D40, and I’m still learning before i go for Nikon D90. if you wanna get a great deal, you can go to FotoSelangor(pertama complex), BoeingPhoto (sungei Wang) or YL (pudu plaza), most DSLR enthusiast go there and you can ask for a bargain also. but you can buy online with shashinki.com if you wanna save petrol and parking cost.
by the way, welcome to the club!
P/S-get 50mm lens!
thanks. seems like i have to add in 50mm lens as well. :D
Photography is interesting huh? I’m interested too but not own one yet. Heard Sony give good deal recently.
@AhTim: ya, Sony DSLR is quite affordable but less choice of lenses.
yea, get a 50mm f/1.4 or f/1.8 lens, it works very well in low lighting condition and best of all, the background of the picture taken is off focus or blur, like those model / superstar pic…
@Calvin: thanks. Ya, the foreground/background blur looks very nice in portraits :)
Canon EOS 450D
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Canon EOS Digital Shoulder Bag
Think Tank Digital Holster 10 Shoulder Bag
@weilian: why shoulder bag? isn’t backpack is more comfortable?
Personal preference. I never like to carry a backpack.
“best of all, the background of the picture taken is off focus or blur, like those model / superstar pic…”…..thats “bokeh”
my preference is backpack
:)
Make a visit to Canon EOS Pro Centre at 9 floor, Times Square. The owner of the shop is a pro-photographer and he would be able to give you good advise and show you print-outs that snap by EOS and printed by Canon ImagePROGRAF and Canon PIXMA printers.
as i mention before, throw a stone to a group of people, sure hit a DLSR holder…
Sony are from Minolta, a self-fish brand that does not have 3rd party lens. But heard that now sony able to find 3rd party lens. 1 thing i don like sony, the shutter sound are very huge.
LCD color on Canon are not nice, not confortable to hold if you hold nikon before…I still prefer nikon, never make me down before
Gear aside, most important thing is you know how to operate and use your gear to capture some great moments. And the moments happen only once and some in split seconds… :)
My motto is always, whatever you own, just make sure you can do great things with it.
I own a Sony Alpha 200 DSLR, a very entry level camera. :)
the person behind the tool plays even greater role…if u give me a Canon 5d Mark II i dun dare to promise a good shot like the pro..yea i agree the 50mm f1.8 is superb…thats the best deal i got in my cam sling back accompanied with my 400D and 18-55mm non IS. wish list= 580exII flash gun…
anyway, nice write up liew!!
I think you should also have ef50mm/1.8
Personally I have canon 7.1 digital camera results outstanding photographs and I am not bother about lens because this is not my profession. I am highly satisfied with my sweety.
actually get the 50mm f/1.4, that’s a relatively good quality for its inexpensive price of around RM 1,200
the 50mm f/1.8 is a lower end model which cost only RM 300+, if you have more money to spare you can buy the L series for 50mm f/1.2
If you don’t mind 2nd hand EOS450d kit, you can find people selling them either few months old or new at http://forum.lowyat.net/NotebooksPDAs&Cameras
and instead of getting the 24-105mm f/4 L, i recommend you getting 24-70mm f/2.8 L
that’s a legendary lens and commonly used among pros =P
I’m using EOS450d too, and i’m desperately trying to gather cash to fund for that lens >_<