Request for advice on Digital SLR

[winnie_the_pooh]

Why not have a look at the Olympus PEN E-P 2 with a Zuiko ED 14-150 lens? What ever camera you buy-

1.do get a good bag.

2.Also get a UV filter and leave it on the lens.It will help to protect it.

3.If you get a super zoom instead of multiple lenses,you will cut down on frequent lens changes and thus also the ingress of dust into the camera body.Though the picture quality may not be the same as a prime lens,but will not be something that you will not even notice unless you are a professional photographer.In which case you would be spending in lakhs and not thousands.

4.Also get a Circular Polarizing filter.

5.Get a tripod

6. A flash,if you can afford it.

[ssc]

Canon D500 kit includes 18-55 lens for @35000/-. Additional lens 55-250mm for @12000/-. just good enough & a touch below professionals.

[essdee1972]

Hi folks, Thanks for all the inputs! Really helped me a lot. I have finally decided to:

1. Buy Canon EOS 550 D
2. Buy in India, yes the warranties, especially given in discount stores and during sale periods, are a very contentious issue.
3. Check out JJ Mehta (thanks, Miss_3006, btw, this is in Dadar as per the website, is there another outlet in Fort?) and other standalone speciality camera stores. Since the old 18-55 lens works quite well with a 550 D, I think a standalone store is more likely to let me buy the body only plus a 70-300 lens. In mega stores, say Croma, I will need to buy the full basic kit, plus the additional hardwares.
4. Winnie and XL Target - thanks for your suggestions on the models, but since I decided to buy in India, the flexibility in the budget has gone out of the window!
5. Thanks, Winnie, I already have a tripod and a bag (CaseLogic), I also have UV and Polarisors for the existing lens, JJ Mehta will give a bag, UV Filters and 4 GB SD Card free. I already have SD cards upto 16GB, so those should not be a problem.

[miss_3006]

The Canon Rebel XS also known as the Canon 1000D is a very good entry level DSLR available for less than 500 USD.
In India, futurebazaar.com has this on offer for INR 22575 with 18-55 kit lens, 2 GB memory card and case.
JJMehta has the same deal.

[essdee1972]

Thanks, miss! All the more, thanks for checking out these sites, sitting in US!

Already checked out 1000D, it is OK, but since my budget can stretch to a little more, have decided to go for 500D or 550D with package of extra 70-300 lens, bag, UV filters, et al as being given by JJ Mehta. They are offering 2GB cards free, but since I already have 16GB in my mobile, will use the same. 2GB is a bit too small a capacity, especially while travelling. I tend to go a bit overboard with a digicam. 5 days in Dharamsala (HP), shot about 1400 snaps.

Need a free weekend now. JJM, here I come!!!

Cheers!

[essdee1972]

Hey, everyone, an update...

Finally got the snapper this weekend. . .
Canon 500 D, with IS 18-55 lens plus IS 55-250 zoom. Original Canon lenses (not Tamron). Bought a Lowepro bag for the stuff (only problem is - Lowepro should include a laptop space in the bag!!). Using 16 GB memory card abstracted from cellphone. Got UV lenses free.... Everything from JJ Mehta in Dadar, Mumbai. (BTW, miss_3006, that was a great tip! But I nearly got lost in the Dadar gullies).. Around 50K INR, all told.
Canon is nothing if not a savvy marketer, and they include 3 booklets on how to be a better photographer, the gist being - 1) buy better flashes, 2) buy better lenses, and 3) buy remote controllers, and whaddya know? we have 'em all for you!!! But they are by far better (in India) than all the others, in terms of pricing, after-sales support, etc.
Spent 4 hours yesterday trying to learn all the functions. Haven't taken any wildlife snaps yet (unless you count my 6 year old!), wanted to post some normal snaps, but unable to, for some reason!
Cheers! And thanks once again for all the inputs!
EssDee

[vmanicks]

Congrats EssDee

I am sure Canon 500D will serve the purpose. Also consider a 50MM 1.8F lens for potrait and indoor shots.

[miss_3006]

Gr8 essdee! You nailed it finally. Are you on any of the online photo forums?

[essdee1972]

Thanks, people!

@Miss_3006, I am on picasa, but still to upload the latest photos there. BTW, I am still unable to upload to this site, tried all online sites, getting only a long line of text. Had some snaps of seagulls in flight, monkeys (real ones, NOT my kid), et al takan with my Canon A660.

Cheers!

[miss_3006]

No, what I meant was online forums like www.shutterfreeze.com etc. Nice places to interact with fellow shutter bugs and get comments from pros etc.

[essdee1972]

Thanks, will join ASAP.