Thread: Not exactly woodworking, but........

Bloody computer just swallowed my last response.

take 2:

I tried the choice shopper service and they couldn't even get within $50 of the price that dirtcheapcameras offered. So far, they have been far and away the best price I can find for the panasonic FZ20 that I am after.

I don't have a 350D, but I do have a serious ameteur's canon kit. I ahve a 28-135 image stabiliser and a 100-300 IS as well as a 20-30mm wideangle lens. At the moment they sit on the front of a canon EOS 30E.

Jack - I had a tamron 28-200, which I suspect is similar to the sigma 28-200. I found it pretty good and significantly better than the rubbish lenses that canon slap on the front of their cameras. I think that you will be disappointed in the quality of the 18-55 (which is basically the same as their normal 28-80 or 90 lens). I would recommend that you look at getting a better quality lens to start.

Not that I am necessarily recommending my lenses, but I am considering selling them at the moment. PM if interested. Otherwise I am happy to comment on other lenses in the canon range.

Good luck

Trav

Either that is really disappointing of Choice Shopper, or you've got a really good price there (or both)! Sounds like a purchase is soon to be forthcoming!

Guys, what is your opinion of Sigma these days? I was having another read last night of the (to be released) Minolta 11-18, and it is specifically being designed for digital cameras with the APS sized CCD (and therefore are not usable on 35mm film cameras). My concern therefore is in the future, will CCDs remain their current size, or are they likely to increase (and not necessarily to 35mm, but just bigger than current), which will render the latest digital-only lenses obsolete.

So the question is: would I be better going for the 10-20 by Sigma, ($600 RRP), or wait for the digital-only Minolta 11-18mm (RRP ~$1000)?

The cost is not really a consideration - I'd rather pay an extra $400 if it results in a significantly better lens. Given that lenses I bought 10 years ago have had a sudden lease on life by getting the latest digital camera requalifies the decision to get good lenses in the first place.

A friend found a camera on Ebay, brand new from Asia. He went in to Bing Lee's (Electrical shop in Sydney) and they matched the price, including mem cards etc...New Fuji S7000 for $700

I did venture over to the dark side and found this http://www.ukexpert.co.uk/vb/showthread.php?t=904

Gunna go and clean my Nikons now for absolution! So far as DX type lenses go I don't think there is any reason why not. The DX size will be pretty standard I think. Canon and Kodak et al have nasty troubles with the edge of the frame on their "full frame" sensors. They definitely struggle with the wide end of many zooms. Nikon is getting Medium format quality out of the D2X. I have seen the prints to know that it compares really well with 120 film. There is a rumour that Nikon will produce an "almost full frame" camera for sale about the end of 2006 but it is only a rumour.

I think these 24x36mm sensors will be a bit of a pro thing. Everyone else and portrait/wedding photographers will use DX size aswell. The Mamiya ZD is 36x48mm compared to the 60x45mm that it used to be. Seems to be the way that digital works that they have to decrease the sensor size compared to film to make it work properly.

Studley

Thanks heaps for that- interesting insights.

B&H has it here http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search for $890 US I make that $1186 AUD

I have used them in the past and they have been great. Shipping the time I used them took 5 days. Item tracking was great too I could find the item anytime and do a bit of a countdown to when it got here.

Studley