[WalkAbout]

Originally Posted by cessie

still thinking whether getting the canon EF 17-55mm F2.8 IS lens or the EF 24-70 F2.8 IS lens. which do one do you think i should get?

I will vote for the 24-70, its a very sweet and sharp walk around lens that only shares time with the 70-200. You do mean the "L" lens ?? Another decent site : http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...ns-Review.aspx

[pacman]

I bought a Canon EOS-350D earlier this year and have to say I'm very happy with it! One of the complaints it's gotten is the rather small size compared to a lot of other cameras, but for me it's perfect as I like to photograph a lot while travelling.
I had previously made the mistake (with a Canon EOS-300, 35mm film SLR camera) to buy the complete "kit" which includes a useless (in my opinion) cheap lens which I did not repeat this time.

After careful consideration and reading a lot of different tests online I ended up with a Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5. I'm very happy with it. I considered the usual Canon lenses, but either they didn't give the quality I was looking for, they didn't have the zoom range I needed for "walkaround" use, or they were simply too expensive. The Sigma seemed to cover all my needs without breaking the bank.

I visited HK last month and bought an additional lens. I felt I needed something with a greater zoom so as to get closeups up the HK skyscrapers/skyline etc. and had decided on the Canon 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM, but having had problems I believe Canon recalled them all and it wasn't available anywhere in HK (or elsewhere for what I know).
I made a decision to buy a Canon 70-200 f/4L which I haven't regretted despite the missing IS (image stabilizer) and the extra 100mm zoom. This surely is a professional lens -the feel, the build and of course the optics puts it in a class of its own. I can't believe how sharp the pictures become!
I haven't used it much, and will still continue to use my Sigma for everyday use, but for situations where I need extra zoom I have my tripod and the 70-200mm.
I bought it at Wing Shing in Mong Kok. This is where the pros and serious enthusiasts in HK buy their stuff. There are actually 3 shops in the same area run by the same owner. I recommend you go there and have a look. As far as I know and have been told, they're serious and won't rip you off or sell you inferior goods like certain shops in say Tsim Sha Tsui certainly will. Here's the address etc. for those 3 shops:

Man Shing photo supplies
G/F, 106 Tung Choi street
Mongkok, Kowloon
Tel: 2396 2996

Wing Shing photo supplies
G/F, 55-57 Sai Yeung Choi street
Mongkok, Kowloon
Tel: 2396 6886

Man Shing photo supplies (first branch)
G/F, 91-95 Fa Yuen Street
Mongkok, Kowloon
Tel: 2396 6885


If you're into Canon I also suggest you visit Canon's showroom (check out the link for address and directions). You'll be able to check out their stuff without any buying pressure or stress (I think they sell some items, but it's really a demonstration showroom rather than a store), and if you want to check out zoom lenses their location couldn't be better as they're on the 10th floor of Oterprise square (opposite of Sheraton hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui) with a fantastic view over to HK island!

Hope this helps and good luck with your purchase.

[WalkAbout]

Great recommendation on the Canon showroom. I visited for the first time yesterday and was impressed with their setup. A complete studio that you may test equipment AND the superTelephoto lens setup by the window, that was awesome. I never thought I would look through the lens of 600mm 1:4 lens or a MK2 for that matter.

The _____-Shing photo stores are nicely stocked as well, I will ad these three locations on my short list. Thanks for the tip. Here is my current shortlist below.

Three others worth checking out :

Coxell Digital Camera (everything digital & accy's)
9/F Yau Shing Commercial Center
51 Sai Yeung Choi St
Mong Kok 2787-0173
www.cam2.com.hk
mtr mong kok exit e2

Tin Cheung Camera (everything film & digital + accys + vintage)
FriendsHouse
Shop 5 Carnarvon Road
TST 2722-1265
http://www.tincheungcamera.com.hk

Chung Pui Photo Supplies
(small can get most anything but conveniently and more "sanely" located in Central if you don't feel like the MK TST trip)
44 Stanley Street G/F
Central 2868-4135

Each shop varies in price but they usually are willing to bargin some or included a couple free accy's with a big ticket item.

[Submariner]

Curious as to why you're not considering the Nikon D50, D80, or D200. Considering you want a good travel camera, you can't beat the Nikkor 18-200 VR lens for versatility, size, and weight.

[TaLL|dUdE]

Originally Posted by Submariner

Curious as to why you're not considering the Nikon D50, D80, or D200. Considering you want a good travel camera, you can't beat the Nikkor 18-200 VR lens for versatility, size, and weight.

good suggestion actually... i've switched to an all Canon user to all Nikon... just love the 18-200 vr... not the best glass... but a versatile range and quite light!

[cessie]

i've been a canon fan for the longest time.. i guess it's more of the loyalty i have with the brand.. but if nikon dSLR works better, i can still opt to get a nikon. i used to have the nikon f10 for my photo class before though...

[Submariner]

Well, one important consideration is your investment in lenses. Are you already heavily invested in either Nikon or Canon's system? If not, then I think you have alot to think about. As an earlier respondent mentioned, check out dpreview.com for some of the most extensive reviews and photo forums you can find.

In my opinion, Canon's advantage is in better low light performance. Their high ISO is alot less grainy than Nikon's.

Nikon's advantage is far better build quality at every price point. You'd be surprised how the fit, feel, ergonomics, and solidness of the camera affect your opinion of the camera.

In terms of image quality, both are very comparable. Conventional wisdom gives Nikon lenses higher marks than Canon's but I don't think this really matters even if true. The difference would be negligible to all but the most expert photographer. Personally, I prefer Nikon for the better build quality, the 18-200 lens, and the professional image/reputation (compared to the more consumer-leaning Canon image). At times, I do wish for the better ISO performance of Canon cameras. However, for me, I am willing to trade Canon's low light performance for the fit and feel of the Nikon (I really hate cheap feeling cameras - I couldn't even stand Nikon's D50 which felt like a toy to me even though it was far more solid than Canon's comparable offering)

Try to handle both Nikon and Canon cameras at your price point. And don't let loyalists of either brand try to convince you that one is better than the other. (You'd be surprised how fanatic they get). Ultimately, it comes down to trade-offs and what you can and cannot live with. Personally, I use a Nikon D200 for my DSLR and a Canon S410 for my compact.

[TaLL|dUdE]

one of the main reasons why i switched was due to the skin tone (more true to life out of the box than canon, which has a redish hue) that you get in a nikon. i shoot portraits a lot and in order to decrease my workflow, i prefer the nikon's white balance sensors and skin tone over canon's but, as submariner mentioned, the grain or noise is more pronounced for Nikon bodies.

i just loved it when i'd use my 5d and that even if i use iso 1600 or even 3200 for night shots, i get barely any. last night i was at the harbour testing some lenses and i got a lot of grain at iso 800 and up (compared to the canon). but if i brought a tripod i could bring it back down to iso 100 or something and get no grain and no blur.

either way really you can't go wrong. they are both good camera brands. it's just a matter of taste. i'm using a d200 now just like submariner.

good luck!

[cessie]

decisions... decisions... time is running out! and i need to decide fast... but thanks so much for the inputs submariner and tall dude.

[nina_70]

Originally Posted by cessie

anyway, does anyone participate in any photo club here in HK that i can join?

Yes I do!....here's the club info
www.hongkongphotoclub.com
It's a very relaxed club. We do monthly outings and monthly review meetings (sometimes even a few beers after an outing). And yes, it was started on Geoexpat.

By the way I'm about to upgrade to a big DSLR myself and leaning towards the Nikon. Canon seems to be driving a better brand-name right now which means their mid-to-high range cameras are pricing a bit higher than Nikon for the same features. Also, the D200 can't be matched for feature/price performance. Given all that, the Nikon high ISO noise problem (which everyone posted about) is well documented, also on DPReview. Like you said it's a big investment & a tough decision.