40d Pics

[Maverick]

Hi John & Al,

I have been watching the 40D on Price Japan can either of you shed some light on the worth of the lens with this package?

I have also been toying with the 5D package for $3600.

I am just not sure if the cameras on offer at PJ have English writing on the body and dials and can have English selected as the language on the LCD? I have sent an email to PJ to confirm whether or not they have English or Japanese on them.

[Guest JohnA]

personaly i would purchase the body here in Aus for warranty purposes, but lenses can be bought from anywere as they come with international warranties.

the lens in that kit is not the best, yo would be better off just getting the body and adding lenses.

The body can be had localy for around $1750

[betty boop]

  JohnA said:

personaly i would purchase the body here in Aus for warranty purposes, but lenses can be bought from anywere as they come with international warranties.

the lens in that kit is not the best, yo would be better off just getting the body and adding lenses.

The body can be had localy for around $1750

I'd agree too john, I got an extended warranty from teds where I got my body from, only cost $79 extra really worth the peace of mind. and local internet pricing on the lenses are really hard ot pass up mav.

if considerign the 5D wait, the new update is surely not far away and would be well worth waiting for if can wait till next year when slated for release.

[Maverick]

  alebonau said:

I'd agree too john, I got an extended warranty from teds where I got my body from, only cost $79 extra really worth the peace of mind. and local internet pricing on the lenses are really hard ot pass up mav.

if considerign the 5D wait, the new update is surely not far away and would be well worth waiting for if can wait till next year when slated for release.

Yes I would agree with you on the 5D having done some research I can see that the next model is due for release anytime now.

I guess I am game to chance the PJ route for the 40D, if I lived in a main city area then I would most likely buy local but seeing as I am where I am if the camera breaks I have to send it away to get fixed under warranty anyway. I would be doing the same with PJ only sending it back to them and they do have excellent customer service in that regard.

I would look at buying further lenses from local suppliers in the future though.

I am leaving my purchase run a little on the late side as I want to get a DSLR for when the baby is born in November so not much time to spare really.

Thanks for the tips guys.

What two lenses would you initially recommend for the 40D? I really want to be able to take low light screenshots and low light portraits of the baby, do not want to use a flash if possible.

I have had confirmation tonight from PJ that all the Canons on offer through them have English writing and menus.

Cheers

Mav

Edited October 6, 2007 by mav

[betty boop]

  mav said:

Yes I would agree with you on the 5D having done some research I can see that the next model is due for release anytime now.

I guess I am game to chance the PJ route for the 40D, if I lived in a main city area then I would most likely buy local but seeing as I am where I am if the camera breaks I have to send it away to get fixed under warranty anyway. I would be doing the same with PJ only sending it back to them and they do have excellent customer service in that regard.

I would look at buying further lenses from local suppliers in the future though.

I am leaving my purchase run a little on the late side as I want to get a DSLR for when the baby is born in November so not much time to spare really.

Thanks for the tips guys.

What two lenses would you initially recommend for the 40D? I really want to be able to take low light screenshots and low light portraits of the baby, do not want to use a flash if possible.

I have had confirmation tonight from PJ that all the Canons on offer through them have English writing and menus.

Cheers

Mav

hi mav, with the lenses depends really how much you want to spend. i bought the 17-55 IS f2.8 for the very stuff your talking about a lovely lens but expensive and in reality although great for indoors for outdoors a little limited. so ended up getting the 24-105L. so not sure I'm really the right person to be suggesting buying lenses given my track record !

my honest thoughts are for indoors low light wihtout a flash something like a f1.4 50mm will take lovely portrait shots and would be a a lovely lens to keep no matter what you do time to come. and its not too expensive either. if defintely wanting a zoom ? I'd try and get one of hte IS zooms or otherwise depending on how much the budget would allow.

ps the dd photgraphics, camerasdirect websites are good for pricing.

[Maverick]

  alebonau said:

hi mav, with the lenses depends really how much you want to spend. i bought the 15-55 IS f2.8 for the very stuff your talking about a lovely lens but expensive and in reality although great for indoors for outdoors a little limited. so ended up getting the 24-105L. so not sure I'm really the right person to be suggesting buying lenses given my track record !

my honest thoughts are for indoors low light wihtout a flash something like a f1.4 50mm will take lovely portrait shots and would be a a lovely lens to keep no matter what you do time to come. and its not too expensive either. if defintely wanting a zoom ? I'd try and get one of hte IS zooms or otherwise depending on how much the budget would allow.

ps the dd photgraphics, camerasdirect websites are good for pricing.

Thanks for the info Al, I have the DD Photographics as a bookmark and also qualitycamera. DD and camerasdirect basically sell grey imports which if you need warranty repair you send the camera to them and they send it back to where they got it from for repair. No real difference between them and PJ in that regard. Camerasdirect resell Mack International Warranties like we got with our HD-XA1s.

Thanks for the tip about the 50mm I will grab one of those, I was actually looking at it earlier tonight as well as the 24-105L which came with the 5D in the package for $3600. I think by itself it was retailing for $1299.00.

[betty boop]

  mav said:

Thanks for the info Al, I have the DD Photographics as a bookmark and also qualitycamera. DD and camerasdirect basically sell grey imports which if you need warranty repair you send the camera to them and they send it back to where they got it from for repair. No real difference between them and PJ in that regard. Camerasdirect resell Mack International Warranties like we got with our HD-XA1s.

Thanks for the tip about the 50mm I will grab one of those, I was actually looking at it earlier tonight as well as the 24-105L which came with the 5D in the package for $3600. I think by itself it was retailing for $1299.00.

hi mav, with lenses because they have international warranties, doesnt matter where you bought them from and I'd imagine you could get fixed locally by any authorised canon repairer ? but yeah if theyre sending back overseas with any of htese then no differnet to PJ. interesting re cameras direct and the mack international warranties ! hehe

the 5D 24-105L seems a popular package, for a full frame camera that woudl be a lovely camera lens combo, and one of the big reasons I bought one. just for your info I have a couple of other lenses (a 20-35mm and 75-300mm) too which for a full frame camera (when I last had one with film) seemed to be quite adequate for my complete lens needs back then. for digital crop camera the 20-35 is actually not bad as a lens not as good as 24-105 or the 17-55 I imagine but got me by all the time I had the 10D as a general use lens. my 75-300 is nothign fancy not even a usm model and imagine any of the multitude of 70-200, 70-300, 75-300 lenses canon make would eat it for breakfast. intend updating that some time, jsut hte alternatives are a bit on the pricey side !

[Guest JohnA]

mav for low light with no flash for portrait work look at the 50mm 1.4 or the 85mm 1.8 or if you can stretch the budget to the L series of both with the 50mm 1.2 or the 85mm 1.2

However with the L versions you realy need to be carufull of your focusing as the dof will be very shallow at 1.2

if you wat a zoom then the 24-70 2.8 is amazing but i have found i am using my 70-200 2.8 IS more for portraits as it can give you a great background blur

[Maverick]

Thanks Al & John,

I will take all your advice onboard. I have been hovering the mouse button over the 40D package at PJ but I am sooooo tempted with the 5D package even though it is due to be replaced.

The CFO has given the okay to get the camera which is the important thing. I will probably keep the PS3 IS as a knock about camera.

[Maverick]

Looking at this purchase from an ability perspective I think the 40D would be perfect for me at the moment and maybe look at a full frame camera further down the track, so I am going to get the 40D from PJ.

I have just emailed Kaneda from PJ regarding direct deposit to PJ Citibank account here in Aus and he responded immediately with the details, I certainly cannot fault their customer service.

[betty boop]

  mav said:

Looking at this purchase from an ability perspective I think the 40D would be perfect for me at the moment and maybe look at a full frame camera further down the track, so I am going to get the 40D from PJ.

I have just emailed Kaneda from PJ regarding direct deposit to PJ Citibank account here in Aus and he responded immediately with the details, I certainly cannot fault their customer service.

hi mav, from all I've read yeah nothing to fault PJ on anythign really. the 40D for now and full frame down the track what I'm working on and john as well.

My original plan was to stick with the 10D till the full frames came within reach, but then noticed jsut how cheap the 40D was and glad went for it as really a great improvement on the 10D all around. the full frames still a bit pricey though yeah the 5D cheaper now as ever ha been not sure if htat is for run out or jsut the great ausie dollar.

woudl be a shame to buy a 5D now I reckon to only have it superceded very shrtly. guess workign on prices to jsut keep dropping, and they have been and will probably drop further again I reckon as more full frames enter the market from the likes of nikon etc.

[Maverick]

  alebonau said:

hi mav, from all I've read yeah nothing to fault PJ on anythign really. the 40D for now and full frame down the track what I'm working on and john as well.

My original plan was to stick with the 10D till the full frames came within reach, but then noticed jsut how cheap the 40D was and glad went for it as really a great improvement on the 10D all around. the full frames still a bit pricey though yeah the 5D cheaper now as ever ha been not sure if htat is for run out or jsut the great ausie dollar.

woudl be a shame to buy a 5D now I reckon to only have it superceded very shrtly. guess workign on prices to jsut keep dropping, and they have been and will probably drop further again I reckon as more full frames enter the market from the likes of nikon etc.

Well the deal has been done and money paid so now it is the waiting game. I hope to have it by next monday hopefully.

[Maverick]

  JohnA said:

mav for low light with no flash for portrait work look at the 50mm 1.4 or the 85mm 1.8 or if you can stretch the budget to the L series of both with the 50mm 1.2 or the 85mm 1.2

However with the L versions you realy need to be carufull of your focusing as the dof will be very shallow at 1.2

if you wat a zoom then the 24-70 2.8 is amazing but i have found i am using my 70-200 2.8 IS more for portraits as it can give you a great background blur

Hi John,

Out of the two 50mm 1.4 or the 85mm 1.8 which would you choose to be the best for low light portrait work? I have been reading up on reviews of both lenses over at Fredmiranda and both seem to get good reports from users.

I will probably invest in the 24-105L that Al has after Xmas.

Cheers

Mav

[Guest JohnA]

i would prefer the 85mm purely because you are not in the persons face as such.

it realy depends on what sort of portrait shots though and available room.

for head shoulder kind, the 85mm will be spot on for full body the 50mm or maybe even the 35mm

[Maverick]

  JohnA said:

i would prefer the 85mm purely because you are not in the persons face as such.

it realy depends on what sort of portrait shots though and available room.

for head shoulder kind, the 85mm will be spot on for full body the 50mm or maybe even the 35mm

Thanks John,

What are your views on the Sigma and Tamron equivalents of the Canon lenses?

[Guest JohnA]

sigma tamron and tokina do make good lenses and you don't pay a premium.

sigma ex range is very well built as is some of tokina's lenses.

Tamron can feel cheap but good image quality

Here are some portrait shots taken with a 70-200 2.8 IS lens

at 200mm

f2.8

1/4000

ISO 200

http://www.pbase.com/johnang/image/86802249

same settings as above but at 130mm

http://www.pbase.com/johnang/image/86802250

same settings again at 135mm

http://www.pbase.com/johnang/image/86802251

and a landscape shot with the 24-70

42mm

f11

1/800

ISO 200

http://www.pbase.com/johnang/image/86802252

Edited October 7, 2007 by JohnA

[Maverick]

Thanks for the help John.

Can I ask what size CF cards & brand you & Al use?

[Guest JohnA]

i have 3x 4 gig sandisk extrem 111 cards which do a fine job.

you don't want too big a card as it slows down when nearly full

[Maverick]

  JohnA said:

i have 3x 4 gig sandisk extrem 111 cards which do a fine job.

you don't want too big a card as it slows down when nearly full

Thanks again John, I will check them out. So hard to buy genuine Sandisk cards online the market is flooded with fakes unfortunately.

[Guest JohnA]

this is very true Mav

i just get mine from JB they have the 4 gig ones for around $120, can be had for $110 at some places.

I don't trust the e-bay ones so won't bother with them

[Maverick]

Okay John & Al, now that I have purchased the camera from PJ I am considering getting a 5 year international Mack warranty for it. Do you think these warranties are really worth it? It has a 1 year return to PJ warranty but the Mack warranty negates the PJ warranty as it starts from when the camera was purchased. I guess $99.00 is not that much to pay for the warranty and it would help to sell it in a couple of years from now if I want to upgrage to a full frame camera.

Edited October 8, 2007 by mav

[Maverick]

  JohnA said:

this is very true Mav

i just get mine from JB they have the 4 gig ones for around $120, can be had for $110 at some places.

I don't trust the e-bay ones so won't bother with them

That is a great price John and better than I have been able to find in the online stores. I will be down in Adelaide in about 3 weeks time so I wil be able to go into JB and check them out. I have thought about going with the Extreme IV cards but not sure if the 40D can handle them? I would need to get the first one bundled with the reader as my PC reader only handles CF I and II lower speed cards. Actually now I come to think about it my company gave me a mutli reader the other month so I will try and find it and see what it can handle.

Edited October 8, 2007 by mav

[betty boop]

  JohnA said:

i have 3x 4 gig sandisk extrem 111 cards which do a fine job.

you don't want too big a card as it slows down when nearly full

I jsut got one of these 4 gig cards from teds, was thrown in as part of my camera body deal for another $100.

[betty boop]

  mav said:

Okay John & Al, now that I have purchased the camera from PJ I am considering getting a 5 year international Mack warranty for it. Do you think these warranties are really worth it? It has a 1 year return to PJ warranty but the Mack warranty negates the PJ warranty as it starts from when the camera was purchased. I guess $99.00 is not that much to pay for the warranty and it would help to sell it in a couple of years from now if I want to upgrage to a full frame camera.

great to hear mav, dont know on the mack warranty, though good piece of mind regardless I reckon.

  mav said:

That is a great price John and better than I have been able to find in the online stores. I will be down in Adelaide in about 3 weeks time so I wil be able to go into JB and check them out. I have thought about going with the Extreme IV cards but not sure if the 40D can handle them? I would need to get the first one bundled with the reader as my PC reader only handles CF I and II cards. Actually now I come to think about it my company gave me a mutli reader the other month so I will try and find it and see what it can handle.

thuink the 40d can handle them, these later cards really speed up the upload download time, though the IV was a touch out my reach on price.

[Guest JohnA]

the 40D will handle the extreme iv no probs but they are expensive. Maybe grab an extreme 111 and wait till the iv drops in price.

you can fit alot of pics on the 4 gig card

in raw around 340 pics and in jpeg around 1000 pics

As for the mac extended warranty, not realy sure mate, alot of the on-line sellers offer this also but haven't heard what their service is like.

With the lenses since its international warranty you can purchase extended warranty through canon itself and you can do it just before your 1 yar warranty runs out. Not sure if you will be able to do this with the body though.

Personaly i wouldn't worry about the extended warranty, as long as there is nothing wrong with the camera out of the box, there isn't much that can go wrong with them. Shutter life is good for around 100,000 cycles...somehow i think you may have replaced it by them, if not its around $350 to replace the shutter i think

Congrats on the purchase, you will love the camera