Sail_Away

I used to have the Cuddler by Snooza... it's a great bed and Australian made http://www.snooza.com.au/indoor-beds/cuddler

Thanks for your nice comments Snook! I was lucky enough to go out Whale Watching for a second time yesterday and this time was able to witness an amazing show by mother and calf - lots of playful activity, tail slapping & breaching from both - very different photos from the first time, so I'm very very happy! I have uploaded some of Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/134570225@N08/ I was at a wedding last week too and chatting with the photographers - they were using Canon and I was interested in the lenses they were using - they had the 24-70 L and the 70-200 L - they said they are a wonderful combination :) So far have just kept everything on autofocus - I am going to do an online course when I get time as there is SO much to learn but I'm really enjoying playing around atm!

Flickr does seem to be playing up doesn't it... normally it logs me in automatically but now it is redirecting to a 'Yahoo' log in page.. anyone else getting this too?

I went on my whale watching trip today! I am quite pleased with my photos... please feel free to have a look on Flickr and let me know what you think https://www.flickr.com/cameraroll Here is my favourite of the day - a baby whale (a boy they discovered) playing freely alongside the boat. Simply amazing.

I have only just bought this SLR but today was a good day for this....I think I did well with this shot

Thanks everyone. Makes it easier when I have a beautiful subject to shoot Is it best to remove the lens from the camera body after use each time or is it ok to leave on whilst not in use?

Oh sorry Snook... I have posted another link now, hope this one works? https://www.flickr.com/photos/134570225@N08/ LOVING the new Camera! Haven't played a lot with it yet as been busy moving house but looking forward to testing out the different lenses and learning how to use it properly!

Hello everyone! As promised here are some of the first pics taken with my new Canon 70D using the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens. It was just on autofocus until I sit down and learn more about how to use it properly I have uploaded the pics to Flicker - chosen just 5 of my Vizsla https://www.flickr.com/photos/134570225@N08/

MY CAMERA'S HERE MY CAMERA'S HERE!! Thank you EVERYONE for the help, advice, input etc whilst I made up my mind. It came with the 18-55mm STM kit lens so I'll take some pics soon to test it out. Tomorrow I'm going to buy the 50mm 1.8 STM & 55-250mm STM from DWI as they are such good buys on there right now. This will give me a chance to see what lenses I use most or need etc so then I can upgrade to better ones down the track. I should get a camera bag too and I stumbled across an old thread here on DOL (which I've posted in now) discussing these beautiful 'Porteen Bags' from Etsy. They are totally gorgeous but a bit $$ although I can't stop thinking about them! ha. Maybe I should just spoil myself ... Anyway thanks again, I'm so excited to start playing with it, I'll post pics soon

Good to hear the quality is still there a few years on. They are just such gorgeous bags! I might wait for the Aus $ to improve before buying one... it's going to be hard to resist though! Love them!

So I know this thread is a few years old but I stumbled across it when doing a search on Camera Bags and have now fallen in love with the 'Porteen Bag'....! So gorgeous! Just wondering to those of you which have this bag, what are you thoughts on them now? Still going strong? Or are there better options out there? I have just bought my first DSLR - Canon 70D and figured I should buy a bag too... I like the idea that these are more feminine and don't scream 'camera bag' ... but the only negative I can see (apart from a bit pricey) is not having a zipper to keep everything secure and dust free...

Just an update - I purchased the Canon 70D with 18-55mm kit lens whilst on sale through 'The Good Guys' eBay store - was 20% off plus 2.5% back through cash rewards & then a further $150 off from 'Canon Cash Back' deal! Saved about $450!! Super happy and now just waiting for delivery!! I will buy a prime lens - do you guys think the 50mm is a good one for me first? There is the 50mm f/1.8 II or STM... or the 50 f/1.4 STM - The 1.4 is about double the price ($325) but in total not a big expense.. Also just deciding on a telephoto - think I'll just get the 55-250 STM from DWI as it's only $205 but I have seem some good deals on second hand 70-200 f/4L IS USM... I can afford the non-IS version of this lens but still unsure if I would regret not getting the IS. But happy for now I've at least got a Camera body! I didn't necessarily want the 18-55 kit lens but it was too good a deal to pass up and worked out cheaper than any stand alone bodies anywhere else. I'll post some pics once I've received it! Can't wait to start snapping pics!!

Photography is so subjective which is what I love about it. Everyone will have different opinions on what they like and don't etc, I think as long as it captures that moment for you, that's all that matters I've finally decided to buy a lovely prime - 50mm f/1.8 II and I will pair it with the 55-250mm 4-5.6 STM as a cheap telephoto zoom - DWI have the prime for $125 and the latter for $205 which is a great price. The 55-250 actually has excellent reviews but I'm aware might not be best suited for dog agility/action shots etc so I will get some practice with it first and learn my camera before upgrading. I think I will definitely purchase the 70-200 f/4L IS USM at a later stage, image quality looks amazing with this lens but just a bit $$ and I'm nervous spending that on my first lens.

Hi everyone, About to purchase my camera in the next week or so (finally I know!) and very happy to say Canon have $150 cash back on the 70D right now . The body only from www.digitalcamerawarehouse.com.au is a bargain at $980 but Teds have what I think is a good lens combo for $1500 after cash back... what do you think of this lens combo with the 70D? http://www.teds.com.au/canon-eos-70d-18-55mm-is-stm-55-250mm-is-stm

Not yet Snook. Unfortunately I missed the JBHI sale. Just had my birthday and have been given some $ toward my camera so that's great I'm wanting to buy asap, so am just looking out for a good deal or bundle that suits.

Thank you for your comments. Dave-O the reason I am looking at the enthusiast line of camera's is as Snook mentioned, I will be shooting a lot of action shots, in particular dog agility so having the body with fast AF & adequate fps is important to me. I will also use the camera for video - filming agility, so again the Canon 70D is a stand out choice for that. I would like to print some photos to large canvas too I am happy with my choice in the Canon 70D and think it will be the right choice for me. Yes I was probably overthinking it at the beginning, but I was quite overwhelmed by all the camera options available and I wanted to make a good decision because of the prices.

I have read this lens isn't very good when using during video though? However, I like it's focal range... I read that of the kit lenses the 18-135 is better than the 18-55 from Canon... I agree a good prime lens like a 40 or 50 would be good to have. The 70-200 seems very popular and I had a look on Flickr of photos taken with the Canon 70D and this lens and they look great. I think this range would suit me really well... or maybe something up to 300. I don't want to overlap in lens focal length if i can avoid it.

Hi Everyone So tax time has come around and I'm now ready to buy! Have definitely decided on the Canon 70D still... saw this deal at JBHI (15% off cameras) what do you all think? https://www.jbhifi.com.au/cameras/dslr/canon/canon-eos-70d-20mp-digital-slr-camera-with-18-55-is-lens/436750/

Aha thanks Snook, you did mention that earlier. I didn't see it on the website before Good to know!

Are they a grey import Tdierikx? That looks like a good deal... I feel great I've FINALLY decided on the Canon 70D now though Think it's a great choice! I'm in no immediate hurray to buy, was hoping some more EOFY deals would come up but nothing has.. I'll await tax return too if need be... but hopefully have something by end of July - Booked my whale watching charter this year!! Can't wait!

So the HN "sale" today was a fizz! You won't believe it but they had the 70D priced higher than there online store!!! Lucky I knew the prices from looking and picked it up - the guy was astonished by this! The body was about $100 more & body + kit lenses about $200 more at the sale today compared to HN online (which wasn't on sale)! Pretty poor form by them! Feel sorry for anyone who may have bought one.. On the plus side my mum bought a Dyson stick vacuum saving $200, so that was good for her! Lol

CameraHouse have the new Tamron 16 - 300mm which the guy said is "very sharp" and I tried it on the Canon 70D and it didn't add much weight at all. It was fairly compact actually for a telephoto lens. If I bought the 70D with a kit lens like the 18 - 55mm am I then better to go from 70mm upwards rather than 18 - 250/300? Or would I find the broader range like the 18 - 250mm more useful for most things? I'm about to head off to the big HN sale at the convention centre... no idea if they'll have good deals on camera's but I am hopeful!

Ok thank you Snook. I'll keep that in mind. I will have a look at Australian retailers first and compare prices. Dicksmith just did 15% sale on Canon but it seems the Nikon are the only brand with the savings right now... HN have a big electrical sale on this weekend here on the GC so will see what they have on offer too... Next Q... which lenses should I look at first? I am thinking the kit 18 - 55mm and perhaps something like a 70 - 200mm range - for the whales ... tamron, sigma, canon?

Wow Snook such a big effort you have gone into here for me! Really appreciate it. The salesman at CameraHouse showed me briefly this on the Dpreview website but you are right, now it's getting into the nit picking stuff and any camera will fair me very well. Ok so my gut is saying to get the Canon 70D. Think that's what I'll do...! I like the articulating touchscreen, which will come in handy for shooting at awkward angles & during video etc. Plus it felt the best in my hand compared to the Nikons. My thumb seemed to rest over the top of some buttons on the Nikons & the D7100/D7200 felt very heavy for some reason. Plus I tend to like the colour pop canon photos seem to produce...? Now to find the best deal... Apart from in store, what about buying from DWI online?...

Hi Snook, I went into Camera House and the guy there recommended the Nikon D5500 or D7200 (both on special...) ... so I'm still a bit confused which way to go, Canon vs Nikon. I keep coming back to the Canon 70D for some reason although I have concerns how it performs at high ISO. The Nikon D5500 felt nice in my hand. No idea why this decision is taking me so long but I am waiting for tax return before I buy...