Kit lens with Canon EOS 350D - better to go for Nikon D40?

KingBee (e2 Member)

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2 Apr 2007 - 10:32 AM

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I’m tempted by the current low price of the Canon EOS 350D, but I gather that the 18-55 mm kit lens that comes with it isn’t all that great. I may well buy another lens but in the meantime I am wondering if the lens that came with my Canon EOS 100 (a 35mm SLR) which I purchased in 1995 (!) will work with the 350D. The EOS 100 lens is an auto-focus job (USM), but I don’t know whether the driving motor is in the lens itself or in the camera – I suspect the latter.

However, as this would be my first dSLR, would I be better going for the Nikon D40 for much the same money?

Any thoughts/help/advice, most gratefully accepted.

Thanks.

Bob

randomrubble

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2 Apr 2007 - 11:09 AM

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You can use any Eos lens on a 350d and get AF so your USM lens will definitely work. In fact, as it's got USM a motor, it may actually give better AF performance than 350d the kit lens.

Also, what lens do you have from the Eos 100? you should be able to get some sort of opinions on that here too.

big fella

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2 Apr 2007 - 2:47 PM

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Kingbee, the lens mount on the 28-80 is EF which means the lens will fit the 350D. But you couldn't use the kit lens from the 350D on the EOS100 as it's designated EF-S. EF-S lenses will protrude further into the mirror box and could damage the mirror.

The USM motor is in the lens and not the body; Noink used to put focussing motors into the body, with a mechanical interface; well the 401 did!

;0)

KingBee (e2 Member)

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2 Apr 2007 - 3:44 PM

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Thanks folks, I think all is now clear. Appreciate the advice. Any other crucial points, though, fire them in.

Bob

KingBee (e2 Member)

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3 Apr 2007 - 4:22 PM

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OK, it’s crunch time. I can get my hands on a 350D locally (long story, but legit) for just under £280, but I need to give the store a quick response.

However, given all the bad press which the kit lens seems to get, and since I don’t want to /can’t afford to spend the same again (or more) on a better lens, here is the question: will the 350D, even with its so-so kit lens, give me better resolution than I’m getting now with my 5Mp Panasonic Lumix FZ20, which comes with a Leica 36-432mm (35mm equiv) zoom? I’ve been more than happy with this camera, but I believe that, theoretically, the Canon should out-perform the Panasonic simply because it has a much bigger sensor (never mind the fact that it offers 8Mp).

My main driver is image quality. If the 350D with the kit lens is unlikely to make, say, a 12” x 10” print look vastly superior to one taken with the Panasonic, using the same settings, is there any point in upgrading?

What is the experience of others who have gone from the likes of the FZ20 to full dSLR?

Thanks again in anticipation.

Bob

cambirder

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3 Apr 2007 - 7:00 PM

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You will get better image quality from the 350D, and this will really show when you step up the ISO above 200.

Sigma do a 18-50mm lens which is reported to be better than the Canon kit lens, and will only add about £20 to your budget.

Draig37

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3 Apr 2007 - 7:28 PM

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dont believe all the hype - the lens is not as bad as it's been painted - sure there's better lenses - but for a starter one it's not bad.

nickfrog

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4 Apr 2007 - 11:10 AM

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It's not compulsory to buy the kit lens with the 350d. It can be bought body only for less money surely.