I am going to be buying the Canon EOS400D

[guymclaren]

Re: I am going to be buying the Canon EOS400D

I am in South Africa, We probably won't see that till October and then at such a price... Anybody want to donate and post a copy, I don't mind if it's been read before many times.

[guymclaren]

Re: I am going to be buying the Canon EOS400D

Thank you yoshi, just a question, the 1.6 does that bring me closer or further? That was quite an interesting pdf. Its all in Japanese but the pics are pretty.

[yoshi]

Re: I am going to be buying the Canon EOS400D

Thank you yoshi, just a question, the 1.6 does that bring me closer or further? That was quite an interesting pdf. Its all in Japanese but the pics are pretty.

my pleasure. I find now the link just brings you to the top page of the pdf file, though I meant page 11 only. Anyway it seems you found it right.

About the crop ratio of 1.6, just let me give you an example. The lenses listed in the cataogue are for 35mm cameras (let me call it crop ratio x 1.0). If you use this type of lens, then a 300mm lens has a equivalent view of 300 x 1.6=480mm when used on a x 1.6 (400D) body.
That is, it brings you closer. When you use a 100-300mm zoom lens, it means 160-480mm on a 400D. (or do you call it "further"? - a bit confusing )

In case of Canon, "EF" lenses have a larger image circle that was originally designed for 35mm cameras with crop ratio x 1.0(including film cameras) and can also be used on dSLRs with APS-C sensor (like 400D or 30D, crop ratio x 1.6) as well as another dSLR with APS-H sensor (like 1D mark2 new, crop ratio x 1.3).

Those special lenses exclusively designed for 400D or 20D/30D are called "EF-S" lens. So "EF-S" lenses cannot be used on dSLR with larger sensors (such as 1D Mark2 new with 1.3 crop ratio or 5D/1Ds Mark2 which have so-called FF sensors). The idea is same. So a EF-S type zoom lens with 10-22mm focal length on a 400D has 16-35mm on 35 mm equivalent focal length.

Or conversely, 400D can use both EF and EF-S type lenses and similar type lenses from 3rd parties as well.

Canon has two type of lenses in terms of the image circles and three types of sensors (crop ratio, x 1.0, x 1.3 and x 1.6) - so we always have to be sure which one we need for what.
yoshi

[guymclaren]

Re: I am going to be buying the Canon EOS400D

Ok so that brings me closer but all that other stuff just confuses me even more,

In essence the 1.6 gives me a greater zoom capability? The lense and a converter as mentioned further up will give me even more zoom capability, so the 400 lense will give me wonderful zoom and allow me to take pics of birds on the other side of the stream in the hide or over the road from my car?

Lets try and keep this simple till I assimilate the basics please. I am not the brightest crayon in the box, and this damn olt timers doesn't help much.

[yoshi]

Re: I am going to be buying the Canon EOS400D

In essence the 1.6 gives me a greater zoom capability? The lense and a converter as mentioned further up will give me even more zoom capability, so the 400 lense will give me wonderful zoom and allow me to take pics of birds on the other side of the stream in the hide or over the road from my car?

Yes, that' correct. So using a tele lens on a 400D gives you much (x 1.6) longer tele lens. A EF400mm F4 lens, for example, will have in terms of a 35 mm equivalent focal length;

640mm F4 on a 400D.

If you add a tele converter x1.4, it will be approx 900mm (640x1.4=896) F5.6

If you use a tele converter x2.0, it will be approx 1280mm F8.

In both cases, i'm afraid, you will surely have difficulties in finding a bird in the lens - well this is my experience. a 400mm lens was just too long for me and i had difficulties in aiming at a moving bird during film days.
I even played with a Tokina 400mm Manual focus lens with both x1.4 and x2.0 converters to take not only tree flowers but also the moon. The results? Oh, do not ask me. Of course, a good practice make it always possible to do so. I was simply a lazy dull boy. With a dSLR however you can chimp on the spot so it helps.


A dark side of the story ;
a F8 means you can not expect a AF. In addition you will surely need a monopod or preferably a tripod that supports the weight of the camera and the lens. At least for now, i would like to recommend you that you had better forget about tele converters. You can add it later at any time, when you become more certain that you do need it.

another caveat:
you have to be very careful as a converter cannot be used on all lenses. especiall for a x 1.4 converter. The rear lens might interfere with the mirror of the body.

yoshi

[Mick Johnson]

Re: I am going to be buying the Canon EOS400D

As we are paying british prices + anywhwre from 50 - 100% here I am a little tight on budget.

Do you really have to pay that much, I thought nobody paid more for anything than us.

The Sigma 100-300 is'nt cheap over here although I got mine at a really good price, but secondhand.

A cheaper alternative may be the newer Canon 70-300 IS which by all accounts is very good, and much better than the previous versions.

You could read a few reviews here

[Patrick]

Re: I am going to be buying the Canon EOS400D

Do you really have to pay that much, I thought nobody paid more for anything than us.

The Sigma 100-300 is'nt cheap over here although I got mine at a really good price, but secondhand.

A cheaper alternative may be the newer Canon 70-300 IS which by all accounts is very good, and much better than the previous versions.

You could read a few reviews here

Best price I have seen this lens is Bristol Cameras http://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/page20.htm

[Mick Johnson]

Re: I am going to be buying the Canon EOS400D

Best price I have seen this lens is Bristol Cameras http://www.bristolcameras.co.uk/page20.htm

I use this

[Ian]

Re: I am going to be buying the Canon EOS400D

I use this

Here on DPNow we have a price comparison service, check here:

http://dpnow.pricegrabber.co.uk/search_attrib.php?page_id=545&form_keyword=sigma+100-300&rd=1

Ian

[Patrick]

Re: I am going to be buying the Canon EOS400D

Here on DPNow we have a price comparison service, check here:

http://dpnow.pricegrabber.co.uk/search_attrib.php?page_id=545&form_keyword=sigma+100-300&rd=1

Ian

Thanks Mick & Ian.

I am interested in the Sigma 70-200 F2.8 DG EX and I have now seen a better price at Cameras2U.

Patrick