which canon SLR?

[Christopher]

Hi all, I'm planning to buy my first DSLR in the near future. There are a few cameras that I am trying to decide between, the T1i, rebel xsi and 40d. I'm into bird photography, so the camera would need to be good with telephoto lenses. The reason I'm going canon is because I already have a few 'ok' lenses, such as an oldish EF 75-300mm lense. Which camera do you think I should buy? Or are there any suggestions as to another DSLR worth considering?
Cheers

Chris

[robo git]

If you don't mind 2nd hand, consider getting a 350D / 400D / 30D / 40D off TradeMe. The 1.6x crop factor of the APS-C sized sensor will help with avian photography as it allows an effective increase in the zoom.

With your 75-300, you WILL need a tripod, and will most likely be focusing manually as that lens doesn't really even rate as 'OK' if you're trying to autofocus - very slow and inaccurate. I've got the (fairly rare) Image Stabilised version and even that is a bit of a sod, although it does mean I can escape the confines of a tripod.

[talan]

T1i and XSi are the US equivalents of 450D and 500D. I doubt you will be able to get in NZ unless its parallel imported. I'd go for the 40D as it's the highest spec'd camera on your list.

[Spacemunkie]

Def. go for a 40D for birding. You'll benefit from the superior AF and framerate although this may not be apparent using your 75-300.

[Redal]

Def. go for a 40D for birding. You'll benefit from the superior AF and framerate although this may not be apparent using your 75-300.

I agree with the guys recommending the 40d, you could go for the 20d and save cash and send more on a lens.
I picked up a 100-300f5.6 L off trademe for $500 and find the autofocus better than most/ if not all non-L zoom lenses. It is much much better quality than the 75-300 lenses, although the 100-300 might be almost as old as some of the members on this board :)

[Christopher]

Thanks for all the replies. Just one more question- would you advise me to buy the camera off trademe or new? Also some fairly cheap 50ds are going on trademe, however I think I would be better off to stick with the 40d.
Thanks again

Chris

[Spacemunkie]

I bought my 40D and a 70-200 off Trademe with no worries whatsoever.

I can vouch for Bartman88, Mycam2006 and Glam. Bought expensive gear from all of them with no problems at all. I'd buy from Spaz41 as well. Seems like a decent chap.

[Moppie]

I've bought lots of things off Trademe, but if I'm going to buy something new, that is worth thousands of dollars, and is complex enough that there is a chance something will be wrong with it, I want to buy it from a real shop so I am covered by the Consumer Garauntees Act.

My 30D was faulty out of the box, Auckland Camera took care of it very quickly and easily. I don't have the same confidence in someone on Trademe working behind an alias giving the same level of service.
(Glam and JohnChalmers (John Thompson) are exceptions, as they both operate a real business with a physical location you can pick up from).

[robo git]

With both Glam and JohnChalmers, don't buy "new" items off TradeMe - just contact them directly. TradeMe is how they sell their (fairly rare) 2nd hand stock though.

[Spacemunkie]

Their 'new' stuff is new! Slightly unfair to suggest that items they list as new aren't. You might find that it's stuff they've had in stock for a while that they're trying to get rid of, but it aint second hand. Glam is selling 1000D and kit lens starting at 500 bucks with a 995 BN and nobody is biting. Are people mad??!

I got a brand new 55-250 IS (for the mrs...) off him for less than 300 bucks. It was from a split kit, but was unopened and in the white/black boxes that kit lenses come in. Bargain! Well worth looking at what he's selling.

It's usually cheaper to go to John Chalmers' site than to buy his stuff on Trademe though.

[PureKiwi]

does anyone have these guys web sites if they have them ?

[robo git]

Their 'new' stuff is new! Slightly unfair to suggest that items they list as new aren't.Re-read what I said: I said when buying new stuff approach them directly. This is for the exact same reason that you stated in your post: It's cheaper.

I was not at all suggesting that the items were not new.

does anyone have these guys web sites if they have them ?Johnchalmers aka John Thomson
http://store.johnthomson.co.nz/home.php

Glam, aka ProGear1, aka Graham Glamuzina:
http://www.progear.co.nz/ <-- Only placeholder site with contact details there at the moment.