#1  
Old 25-04-2012, 11:54 AM
casstony
Registered User

casstony is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Warragul, Vic
Posts: 4,493
Canon 60D advice please

I know very little about digital SLR cameras and I'm trying to figure out a good value model as a birthday gift for my wife (and it wouldn't hurt if it had basic astro-imaging capabilities )

I threw a dart and I'm currently looking at the Canon 60D with twin lens (75-300) for around $1200.

Can I spend a little more to get a significantly better camera; can I spend less to get another model which is just as good; or is my selection about the best combination of value/capability?

Thanks for any help.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 25-04-2012, 12:05 PM
Octane's Avatar
Octane (Humayun)
IIS Member #671

Octane is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Canberra
Posts: 11,159
Tony,

The 60D is at the top of Canon's consumer-level cameras.

Its rugged body sits in between the entry level systems and the 7D body. That is, it will feel like a camera in the hands, and, not a toy.

The articulating screen is a bonus for doing macro work and/or astrophotography -- you don't have to get your neck into weird positions to see the screen. Just swivel and set.

The 75-300mm lens is alright for happy snaps. With Canon, if you want quality lenses (build, sealing, contrast, colour, sharpness, etc.,) you really need to spend money on L-series lenses.

The 75-300mm lens will not be so useful for astrophotography as at the 300mm lens it runs at f/5.6 (from memory) and is full of aberrations. By the time you stop it down to f/8 to improve corner performance and sharpness, it's too slow to do any real astrophotographic work.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos60D/

For a little more you could probably get the 7D.

H
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 25-04-2012, 05:42 PM
casstony
Registered User

casstony is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Warragul, Vic
Posts: 4,493
Thanks H. I've got square eyes from comparing cameras all day long.

How about the 600d which seems almost as good as the 60d but a few hundred cheaper, leaving more cash to spend on a decent lens?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 25-04-2012, 05:54 PM
Octane's Avatar
Octane (Humayun)
IIS Member #671

Octane is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Canberra
Posts: 11,159
Depends, do you rate the build of a body and an articulating screen?

H
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 25-04-2012, 06:08 PM
AstralTraveller's Avatar
AstralTraveller (David)
Registered User

AstralTraveller is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Wollongong
Posts: 3,766
I know about square eyes from wondering what to get. If you really think you want to do astro photography consider the 60Da - more money but it will record the HII regions better.

If you want to have an everyday lens that is quite nice consider starting with the 15-85mm. It isn't up to L quality but it's a very good step up from the kit lens and it covers a very useful range of focal lengths. I started with the 17-85 which I've upgraded to the 15-85 (and it is much better) when the first lens developed a problem. Then, as finances allowed, I got the 70-200 f/4L and later the 400 f/5.6L (for the tweeties).
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 26-04-2012, 08:03 AM
casstony
Registered User

casstony is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Warragul, Vic
Posts: 4,493
Quote:
Originally Posted by Octane View Post
Depends, do you rate the build of a body and an articulating screen?

H
The 600d has the articulating screen. The 60d is better but it's twice the price so I think I'll go for the 600d, especially since the bodies very quickly become last years model.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 26-04-2012, 08:08 AM
casstony
Registered User

casstony is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Warragul, Vic
Posts: 4,493
[QUOTE=AstralTraveller;845682]
If you want to have an everyday lens that is quite nice consider starting with the 15-85mm. [QUOTE]

Thanks for the recommendation David. I think saving money on the body and spending extra on the lenses might be the best way to go, since the lenses can transfer to the next camera.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 26-04-2012, 10:04 AM
Langaandy (Andrew)
Registered User

Langaandy is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Sydney
Posts: 28
It also depends on what you want to do and how you want to do it.

I have been flipping a coin between these two cameras for a while and it has come down to price, if i can get the 60d for a good price i would if not i'd be just as happy with a 600d.

i am connecting these to my telescope to do astrophotograpy anyway so lenses dont matter to me and i will only be getting a 15 to 85mm lens with either for non astro shooting.

the only reason i would choose the 60d over the 600d is that the 60d has more adjustable funtions and settings than the 600d, otherwise they are fairly similer.

Ben aware if you are looking at the 60da that it is only good for astro shooting unless you put a filter on the lens
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 26-04-2012, 05:47 PM
trek1701's Avatar
trek1701 (Mark)
Registered User

trek1701 is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 203
Quote:
Originally Posted by casstony View Post
The 600d has the articulating screen. The 60d is better but it's twice the price so I think I'll go for the 600d, especially since the bodies very quickly become last years model.

Not quite "twice the price'
At Teds Camera's their website is saying

600D $800
60D $1000

More like 20%

Cheers Mark
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 26-04-2012, 05:56 PM
Octane's Avatar
Octane (Humayun)
IIS Member #671

Octane is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Canberra
Posts: 11,159
And, if you go through a grey importer such as D&D Photographics, it'll be even cheaper.

Also, it is not true that the 60Da is unusable for terrestrial work without a filter.

H
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 26-04-2012, 06:40 PM
casstony
Registered User

casstony is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Warragul, Vic
Posts: 4,493
I've ordered through DWI. the 600d is $519 vs $827 for the 60d body - not quite double, but a significant difference.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 26-04-2012, 06:58 PM
Octane's Avatar
Octane (Humayun)
IIS Member #671

Octane is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Canberra
Posts: 11,159
Sweet!

Now, bang a 24-105mm f/4L IS USM on that puppy.

H
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 26-04-2012, 07:09 PM
Screwdriverone's Avatar
Screwdriverone (Chris)
I have detailed files....

Screwdriverone is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kellyville Ridge, NSW Australia
Posts: 3,306
Quote:
Originally Posted by Octane View Post
Now, bang a 24-105mm f/4L IS USM on that puppy.

H
H, Are you TRYING to give Tony a heart attack?



Cheers

Chris
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 26-04-2012, 07:25 PM
Octane's Avatar
Octane (Humayun)
IIS Member #671

Octane is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Canberra
Posts: 11,159
No, just trying to bring him joy.

H
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 26-04-2012, 07:35 PM
casstony
Registered User

casstony is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Warragul, Vic
Posts: 4,493
Sounds like I should refrain from looking up the price on that L series lens
I actually ordered the two kit lenses since they were only $230 more and we'll look at a better lens down the track, keeping a sharp eye on the aussie dollar.

I used statcice to search for prices then looked for which of the cheaper places might be dodgy on the whirlpool forum
http://www.staticice.com.au/

Last edited by casstony; 26-04-2012 at 07:49 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 26-04-2012, 09:08 PM
Octane's Avatar
Octane (Humayun)
IIS Member #671

Octane is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Canberra
Posts: 11,159
Yep, Staticice is a winner.

I also use booko.com.au for finding cheap books.

H
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 08:11 AM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement
Testar
Advertisement