I'm planning on purchasing a new changeable lens camera, in particular a T4i -- largely based off recommendations from GAF and elsewhere.
So, I'm wondering if GAF knows the best reliable place to get it less expensively, and any lens must-haves? I'm seeing it selling with either one of two lens combos -- an 18-55mm or an 18-135mm. Primotronix has it with both an 18-55mm and a 75-300mm for $749. Can the GAFllective do better?
Advice, suggestions?
[I have a history with traditional 35mm cameras, and have used high-end non-DSLR prosumer cameras in the past. I like to photograph nature -- landscape and macro -- scenes, architecture, and other things that don't involve people. My total budget is just about 1K.]
As for getting the camera cheaply, it all depends where you are. Best way I found is to find a competitive shop and know somebody who works there who gets staff discount. I found out too late that I already knew someone who worked at an associated store and could have saved me £150 gladly.
Your budget will likely be a problem with lenses. There'll be a big difference between what you want and what you can afford to get, though there are reputable sellers of used lenses that will save you significant amounts of money, and keep an eye out for Canon's cashback schemes too.
At your budget, and since you are already familiar with SLRs, I'd consider getting a slightly older model of the camera body (like a T2i or T3i) which you'll get a lot cheaper and to be quite honest, most of the extra stuff crammed into the T4i is frills and fripperies that someone with your experience will probably not need.
Now, about those lenses. Like I said, you won't be able to get everything that you want within budget, but for what you want to shoot it may be worth considering the following (and making difficult choices along the way):
- Canon Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM, well regarded ultra-wide for landscapes/architecture and so on. Bloody expensive, but there appears to be a ready secondhand market
- Canon EF 100mm F/2.8(L?) macro. Well regarded macro lens, and not so long that it can't double-up for other uses
- Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 II. Ever so cheap and a nice little lens for the money. If you want to do macro on the cheap it stacks up nicely with extension tubes (I use the Kenko ones).
- you'll probably want a more general-purpose zoom somewhere. I have two of the three kit lenses - the 18-55 and the 55-250. But maybe you'd find the 18-135 a better all-rounder. There are better all-purpose zooms around but again they tend to the expensive side.
(EDIT: note, I don't have the first two on that list yet, but I damn well will have them after the house sale goes through!)
Depends what you want to do mostly. In your position I'd probably go for a T2i with the 18-135, the 50mm prime and a set of extension tubes for starters. Be a struggle to get it into your budget though.
