modifoo

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed or get my latest posts directly in your mailbox. Thanks for coming to the Foo!

After it turned out that my old SLR got stolen on a recent shoot, I am now looking for a new one.

I’ve always liked Nikon, but since both cameras that were stolen from me were Nikons, I start to believe that they might have some sort of karma.

But seriously speaking, I took the chance - since both body and lenses are now gone - of looking into a different system. And here the Canon EOS 400D comes out as a very promising candidate. The natural competitor would be the Nikon D40. Here the Canon has a couple of advantages, namely

1. Higher pixel count
2. Self cleaning sensor
3. Wider choice of lenses (as the D40 requires lenses with built-in motor)
4. And, as it turns out, Canon offers some cash-back on selected equipment

There are some other manufacturers out there, but there I am a bit preoccupied - though with little if any hard facts to back it up.

• Fuji: I had some very bad experience with their customer “service”. Therefore I have never touched a Fuji camera since - and for our video camera Fujinon was never an option.
• Minolta: I simply have to experience with them, and haven’t seen many professional photographers with them
• Sony: I prefer a company specialized in photography
• Sigma: I know I am wrong here, but I prefer a name that I can solidly connect to a long history of camera making

One other thought has crept into my mind, I have to confess. Canon makes some fine small-sized camcorders. These take Canon photo lenses.

Being German, Canon offering cash-back of course appeals to me. Thus I entered the numbers into Excel, and found out, that the possible savings are from moderate to quite substatial. For your convenience, here comes the bottom line (Update: One should not make Excel sheets at 1:30 in the morning. After some sleep I realized a mistake in the formula to calculate the percentage. They are fixed now…) with relative savings.

Camera Bodies

EOS 5D       -7%
EOS 30D      -11%
EOS 400D    -14%

Fixed lenses

EF 24mm f/1.4L USM    -13%
EF 35mm f/1.4L USM    -13%
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM    -6%
EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Makro USM    -6%
EF 100mm f/2.8 Makro USM    -6%
EF 135mm f/2.0L USM    -5%
EF 180 mm f/3.5L Makro USM    -5%
EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM    -7%
EF 300mm f/4L IS USM    -10%

Zoom lenses

EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM    -13%
EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM    -6%
EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM    -30%
EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM    -6%
EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM    -5%
EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM    -6%
EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM    -12%
EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM    -11%
EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM    -10%
EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM    -6%

Conclusion

A 400D with a EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM gives you a good starting package. The lens has a relatively high minimum f-stop, but the integrated optical stabilizer gives you effectively 2-3 extra stops. Unless you are into action photography, this is a good package to start with. Throw in a cheap 50mm F1.8 and you even have some light-critical situations covered. You can also buy a Canon flash light, the 430EX, and save 6% on that one.

Offer good throughout June - at least here in Europe. The percentages are calculated based on Norwegian street prices, and stipulate that you can claim the VAT back. Your mileage may vary.