DSLR, budget R12'000

S

sitnet

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2008
Messages
850
Hey guys :)

Back in 2008 I was considering buying a DSLR but finances just didn't work out. I love photography but that passion slowly faded away as the financial reality set in.

But FINALLY I will have enough money to buy a proper camera.

My budget : R12000

I am considering the following:

> Canon 550D kit (R12000)
* Canon 550D
* 18-55mm lens
* 55-250mm lens
* 50mm f1.8 lens
* 16Gb video card
* Kata backpack
* 270ex flash
* lens hood and pan
* Extra battery

> Nikon D3100 (R10000)
* Nikon D3100
* 18-55mm lens
* 55-300mm lens
* 35mm f1.8 lens
* Backpack
* 8Gb SDHC card
* binoculars (8x40)

So far the 550D looks much better. I am also going to contact CameraSA to see if they are willing to better that price (which I doubt they will). Any other suggestions are welcome.

BTW I am into macro and general wildlife photography.

Thanx :)
 
U

undesign

Executive Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2007
Messages
9,024
sitnet said:
> Canon 550D kit (R12000)
* Canon 550D
* 18-55mm lens
* 55-250mm lens
* 50mm f1.8 lens
* 16Gb video card
* Kata backpack
* 270ex flash
* lens hood and pan
* Extra battery
Click to expand...

That sir is a damn good price. :cool:

The items marked in red cost me over R15,000 the last couple of months. :eek::mad:
 
S

sitnet

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2008
Messages
850
I know, that is why that seems like the best deal. Problem is I can only have the money by 17 December. Hope stocks last! Will be very very sad if they don't...
 
U

undesign

Executive Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2007
Messages
9,024
sitnet said:
I know, that is why that seems like the best deal. Problem is I can only have the money by 17 December. Hope stocks last! Will be very very sad if they don't...
Click to expand...

Beg, borrow or steal. :D With the prolonged strength of the Rand and Xmas around the corner I'm sure there will be bargains for the foreseeable future.
 
S

sitnet

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2008
Messages
850
I hope so, haha begging has already begun (I wonder why my friends wont lend me R12000? LOL :) ). I really hope, if stocks do run out, that I will see similar specials elsewhere.
 
E

Edduck

Expert Member
Joined
May 20, 2009
Messages
1,239
sitnet said:
Hey guys :)

Back in 2008 I was considering buying a DSLR but finances just didn't work out. I love photography but that passion slowly faded away as the financial reality set in.

But FINALLY I will have enough money to buy a proper camera.

My budget : R12000

I am considering the following:

> Canon 550D kit (R12000)
* Canon 550D
* 18-55mm lens
* 55-250mm lens
* 50mm f1.8 lens
* 16Gb video card
* Kata backpack
* 270ex flash
* lens hood and pan
* Extra battery

> Nikon D3100 (R10000)
* Nikon D3100
* 18-55mm lens
* 55-300mm lens
* 35mm f1.8 lens
* Backpack
* 8Gb SDHC card
* binoculars (8x40)

So far the 550D looks much better. I am also going to contact CameraSA to see if they are willing to better that price (which I doubt they will). Any other suggestions are welcome.

BTW I am into macro and general wildlife photography.

Thanx :)
Click to expand...

My 2c:

550D seems to be pointless upgrade over the 500D, but I doubt you will be able to buy 500D new.

Stay AWAY from the the Canon 270EX, rather spend a R1k more and get a 430EX II or a Sigma 530. Not being able to rotate and swivel the flash head is going to cause you severe frustration!

Definately get the 50mm F1.8, best buy you can ever make!!

If you can stretch your budget rather get a Sigma 17-70mm F2.8 - F4 OS (or non OS) and a Sigma 70-300mm APO Macro. Much more versatility!!

Shop around for a backpack, try every single one you can get your paws on until you are satisfied!!
Buy Hahnel LiIoN batteries, half the price of Canons and have a higher capacity!

Shop around for SD cards, you do not need the ultimate fastest card, but is faster is better for 1080p video :D

Get a decent tripod now lile the Hahnel Triad 90/100 and not a R300 cheapie, it will disappoint!!

Best bit of advice I can give is rather spend a bit extra now & getter better lenses and rather save for later if you can!
 
S

sitnet

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2008
Messages
850
Guess what!? :) :) :)

I just bought that whole kit for R10'799! From Photo and Hifi world (http://www.fotodiscountworld.com/). It was a bid-or-buy special. But in the shops they are R11'699, which is still a R300 saving compared to Makro (which is where I previously got my prices). And they have a lot of stock.

I am so glad, going to collect tomorrow. Finally I have a good camera!

The feeling is wonderful :)
 
F

froot

Honorary Master
Joined
Jun 2, 2009
Messages
11,347
The 550D is in my opinion a worthwhile upgrade from the 500D. There is a rather large difference.

@sitnet... I buy all my camera stuff from fotodiscountworld. I got the 7D there for R12k excluding a lens....

So how are you finding the camera? I considered getting the 550D but decided that for my needs the 7D (or the 60D) would be better suited.
 
J

Juggy

Executive Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2004
Messages
6,014
froot said:
The 550D is in my opinion a worthwhile upgrade from the 500D. There is a rather large difference.

@sitnet... I buy all my camera stuff from fotodiscountworld. I got the 7D there for R12k excluding a lens....

So how are you finding the camera? I considered getting the 550D but decided that for my needs the 7D (or the 60D) would be better suited.
Click to expand...

12K for a 7D? I see their current price with a 17-85 is 21K. Hoe did you get such a good deal? I'm looking for the 60D at a good price.
 
Quantum Theory

Quantum Theory

Executive Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2009
Messages
9,449
Agreed. That does seem low. You must have a friend at Foto Discount World froot, because the price for the 7D body is still over R15000 everywhere...
 
F

froot

Honorary Master
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Messages
11,347
JUGGY said:
12K for a 7D? I see their current price with a 17-85 is 21K. Hoe did you get such a good deal? I'm looking for the 60D at a good price.
Click to expand...

myself said:
got the 7D there for R12k excluding a lens....
Click to expand...
;)

It was on a special there when the Camera expo was on at The Dome. I already have a few L-series lenses and the Canon 17-55mm (vomit) for closeups so no need for another one atm.
FotodiscountWorld has the 60D body for R11k and the 60D+17-85mm for R14700. Not a bad price at all, although I'd rather take the 15-85mm.
 
Dolby

Dolby

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Jan 31, 2005
Messages
32,628
I love the swivel screen of the 60D - otherwise I'm not as impressed as I had hoped :/
 
F

froot

Honorary Master
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Messages
11,347
Dolby said:
I love the swivel screen of the 60D - otherwise I'm not as impressed as I had hoped :/
Click to expand...

Yeah the swivel screen is nice.

I did a decent comparison between the two and decided that the 7D was more attractive to me than the 60D. I'm not sure why they dropped the CF for the SD, as it caused a 3fps drop in the speed....
 
bwana

bwana

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Messages
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froot said:
Yeah the swivel screen is nice.

I did a decent comparison between the two and decided that the 7D was more attractive to me than the 60D. I'm not sure why they dropped the CF for the SD, as it caused a 3fps drop in the speed....
Click to expand...
The 60D might have suffered a 1fps drop in speed compared to the 50D but there's a whole lot more that would affect that when you comparing it to the 7D - like the Dual digic processors.

Now that I think of it my 1DMk3 has the same fps rate whether I write to the CF or SD or both.

SD cards mean you can make use of less expensive cards as well as the EYE-Fi cards that Canon catered for in the 60D. :)
 
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