This is based on a kit here on ebay. Scroll down to where it shows what all comes in the kit.
- First, the camera!
- Next: Canon’s 3 cheapest lenses. They will likely work for you, but they’re not L glass, so don’t expect results like the pros get from their L glass!
- Next is a “Telephoto 500mm f/8.0 T- Mount Lens” (whatever that is!) The minimum aperture is f/8 so you can forget about hand-held shots unless you’re taking pictures of the sun (Don’t do it, it’s very dangerous!) Also, this is a manual focus lens, so forget about auto-focus. This is just filler to bring up the price of kit I would suspect, no one in their right mind would dream of buying one.
- Next in line are two “lenses” one to make your lens go wider, the other to make it go longer. What they don’t mention, is that you also get: CA (Chromatic Aberration), extreme distortion, and other unhealthy photographic “effects” which most photographers try to avoid.
- Next up are several filters. Now these can be left in the kit, they will be more useful than f/8 T lenses. Since they cost next to nothing they don’t increase the value of your kit much. Just remember, you get what you pay for!
- Next is “T mount for Canon” which is an adapter to fit your “Telephoto 500mm f/8.0 T- Mount Lens” to your camera.
- Next, the memory card that is currently residing in my camera! I got my camera in a “kit” and I got exactly this SD card. It’s a little beat up after a few years of use, but it’s still working for me.
- Next is a cheapo tripod. Unless you like replacing tripods, don’t get plastic $20 tripods!
- Next is a so-called “Slave Flash” I have no idea what it’s worth, or how it works, but I still wouldn’t buy it. If you really want a slave flash, get one that gives you control over it. You can get the Yongnuo YN 560 III for about $70 from Amazon. It is a cheap imitation of Canon’s famous 580 EX. I own the YN 560 II which is an older version of it, and I’m very happy with it!
- Next is an RC6 Wireless Remote. I haven’t used this, so I know nothing about it. If it triggers the camera wirelessly, then good for it! That’s all it needs to do isn’t it?
- Next are two camera bags. I know nothing about them, but I’m sure they will house your new camera. Just hope that they have plenty of padding!
- Next, cheapo card reader. Are you seeing a pattern here? Everything in this kit is “cheap”, but you’re paying $1500 for it?
- Next, a little baby cheapo tripod. If you have a little tiny point-n-shoot camera you can use it, but don’t expect it to hold up your big DSLR.
- Next, a “cleaning kit”. Nice, a kit within a kit! This is one thing that will be very useful! All lenses get dust and fingerprints on them, and you don’t want to take your dishrag to it, you need a micro-fiber cloth. I have this kit, or one just like it, and I still use the cloth from it. If your ears are dirty, you can use the cotton swabs to clean your ears too!
- Next, a memory card wallet. If you have more than one memory card you can put your extra ones in here!
- Screen Protectors. It’s up to you, if you want to use them or not, but I do use them. They increase glare, and decrease clarity, but if you want to protect your screen from scratches, you use them.
- Lens Cap Holder. I got one of these in another kit, and I don’t know whether to like it or not! It does keep your lens cap from getting lost, but it gets in the way, and blows in the wind, and just generally aggravates you.
The rest listed there is what you get from Canon with your camera, it will come with any new Canon DSLR.
So, in summary:
If you want “the best bang for your buck” leave out the following:
- “Telephoto 500mm f/8.0 T- Mount Lens”
- “Wide Angle” and “Telephoto” filters, they are worthless. (Unless you want to modify them to use as a macro filter)
- Cheapo tripods.
- Generic “slave flashes”
- One of the camera bags.
- The baby tripod. (Unless you have a little tiny camera to use it with)
To be totally honest, I wouldn’t even buy a kit like this. If I had enough money to get a kit like this, I would get just the camera with the 18-135mm IS lens, then fill out the rest of the kit separately. You will rarely get a good deal with any “kit”.
- This reply was modified 54 years, 8 months ago by .