Canon EOS 1300D 18-55 III Kit $398 @ Harvey Norman ($368 after Cashback, $268 after Cashback + AmEx Offer $2 Extra Item Req'd)

200

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[Deactivated] on 25/12/2017 - 15:51 harveynorman.com.au (490 clicks)
Last edited 26/12/2017 - 12:53 by 1 other user

unheard of price for this entry level Canon DSLR. If you haven't used your AmEx HN offer yet, with additional $2 item, the price comes down to $270 after Canon cashback.

yes, Nikon D3400 can be had one dollar cheaper (sans cashback) from HN, but in my experience with both C and N platforms (and mirrorless Sony platform, too), I would still go with Canon any day, and I am very happy that I bought this 1300d a few weeks ago on a slightly more expensive deal ($314).

The reason is: Canon offers the best lens range there is. Not only the best, but also best value: it cares about its enthusiast-level user base so much, that it produces a number of amazing lenses that:
1. you will use for years
2. you will love every picture you've taken
3. you won't have to sell your kidney to get them
4. you won't have to haul around kilos of gear

My kit consists of:
- EF-S 24mm F/2.8 STM pancake lens for your general purpose lens. Look how small and light it is, you can barely notice it's there! Yet optically it's superb! Use cases: indoors (where you need a wider angle), landscapes, street photography, portraits to a degree (step closer!). Best travel lens there is, just leave it on, or put it in your shirt pocket, it will not weigh you down. Build quality is solid, focusing is quick and silent. ~$200 online, or get it for $130 used on eBay.
- EF 40mm F/2.8 STM pancake lens - best lens for portraits for APS-C, and it's got the same strengths that the 28mm pancake does, plus it's an EF lens, so it will work on full frame cameras, too, if you ever want to upgrade. Portraits are amazing! and I will choose it over 50mm F/1.8 any day, because it's more versatile, and optically perfect. Can be used as your standard walk-around lens, but it might be a bit too tight for general purpose. ~200 online, or get it for $130 used on eBay.
- EF-S 55-250mm F/4-5.6 IS STM. Shall I say more? Optically razor-sharp zoom with a very useful focus length range. Image stabilization! Light! Quiet STM focus! Yes, build quality could be better (plastic lens mount), but it's not as bad as the kit lens is. A bit soft around 100mm, but razor-sharp wide open on both wide and tele ends of range. Bought mine new for ~$200. Shop around. Build quality maybe a show stopper for some, but think about it this way, if you break it, and Canon doesn't fix it on warranty, buy another one, and you still will be better off than shelling out 4 times more on HUGE and HEAVY 70-200 F/4.

Canon allows you to put together an impressive and light kit (most people won't even need the 40mm I would say) for very little money. Think about that!

AmEx Statement Credits: Harvey Norman - Spend $400 Get $100

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• 

  Buyhard on 25/12/2017 - 16:27

  How do you get the amex offer?

  • 

    Choogz on 25/12/2017 - 16:54

    +1

    It's finished, you had to enrol into the offer with your Amex cards but that promotion has since ended.

    • 

      jazoom on 25/12/2017 - 19:02

      -4

      Yeah. Probably shouldn't be in the title of the post.

      • 

        fault on 25/12/2017 - 23:02

        -1

        Why not? Lots of people enrolled & it’s clear what the price is with vs without the cashback vs cashback + AmEx deals…

      • 

        jazoom on 25/12/2017 - 23:07

        -1

        @fault: Because most people don't have it. No one can get one now. Those who do already have it already know they can use it.

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  Mr Mrrtn on 25/12/2017 - 20:14

  Nice write up

  I'm just looking to move on from my m4/3 Panasonic gx7, tempted by the Sony a7 full frame cameras, but now I'm looking at canon… Not as compact though

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 25/12/2017 - 21:02

    let me put it this way: all I want from my camera is not to restrict me when I want to capture the beauty of this world the way I see it. can Canon 1300d deliver? oh yes. can Sony a7 deliver? oh yes. so the question is how much money can I justify sinking into my hobby. yes, more advanced units give me advantages. but they don't add to my creativity or the beauty of this world. so why should I pay more? I buy 1300d, and a 40mm F2.8 for the price of single Sony E-mount 50 F1.8, and I am happy.

  • 

    flywire on 26/12/2017 - 07:32

    Looking for something better than a mobile phone for travelling. What WILL this 18-55mm lens do?

    • 

      [Deactivated] on 26/12/2017 - 12:59

      +1

      18-55mm that comes in the kit is not a very good performer. No image stabilization, optics are very average, build quality is OK-ish.
      Still it will give you results that are better than your phone!
      However I suggest getting a good lens for it while there are eBay deals around. Depending on what's your thing, I would grab a 55-250mm F/4-5.6 IS STM lens for telephoto end (shooting birds or outdoor sports or distant objects, OK for portraits too), or EF-S 24mm F/2.8 STM for landscapes and indoors close quarters (each of them less than $200 delivered from shopping express with POWERUP eBay deal, but you may need to wait a week or two for delivery). Or grab both, and you will not be disappointed.

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  luka on 25/12/2017 - 21:51

  +2

  Canon should employ you as their sales rep :-)

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 25/12/2017 - 21:55

    perhaps so! :)

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 26/12/2017 - 13:02

    on a second thought they will not, because I am an advocate of 'value for money', so through me they will end up selling lenses they won't make much money on :) of course I might convince someone to invest into a 70-200 F2.8L IS once in a while, one or two of those should cover my yearly sales budget :) but that would not be fair, would it?

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  sax on 25/12/2017 - 22:29

  "EF-S 28mm F/2.8 STM pancake lens"

  Do you mean 24mm?

  I bought the 40mm pancake recently and think it's fantastic. It makes me take my DSLR with me given how small the camera has become. I now feel like I need the 24mm pancake.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 25/12/2017 - 22:46

    +1

    yes, you are absolutely right, I will correct tomorrow when I get to the office. 40mm is perfect for portraits and does impressively well in a majority of other situations, but yes, a bit too tight quite often. 24mm is wider and slightly more flexible, if I am traveling I use 24 and take the zoom along if I feel like taking some detailed pictures. travel light, and you'll see more :)

    not to mention that those pancakes don't tire the wrist, it's the weight of the lens that tilts the camera forward, not the weight of the camera itself

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 26/12/2017 - 13:02

    corrected

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  Conezz on 26/12/2017 - 10:19

  https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/351544
  For those who do not have the Amex offer, this would be a better deal with the cash rewards from the good guys.

  And don’t forget the 10% back as store credit offer also :)
  https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/351746

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 26/12/2017 - 13:10

    yes, not bad either! we may be seeing the end of DSLR era, them going so cheap. Many people say that mirrorless is the future.
    However after 3 years on a mirrorless Sony, I sold it, and got the 1300d :D I am a guy from the past it seems.

    well, look: the day when Sony can provide a decent lineup of E-mount lenses I will probably switch to mirrorless, but that day hasn't come yet.
    e-mount lenses are:
    - profit-oriented (cheaper versions work OK, but they are flawed and make you want better lenses)
    - very limited selection
    - optically ridiculous (rely on in-camera corrections for the images to look OK)

    so yes, Sony, if you hear this, get your ducks in line, and make sure all your user base is looked after, not only the ones that can justify $4k CapEx on photo gear. until that day, all us conscious photo enthusiasts will be making mind-blowing pictures over here, on Canon gear, without blowing our bank accounts.

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  Mr Mrrtn on 27/12/2017 - 15:30

  +1

  So, I found myself a 5Dii at the local cashies for $400, so I guess I'm a Canon person now. Thanks for the lens suggestions, now looking for a cheap 40mm or 50mm lens :)

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 27/12/2017 - 16:33

    lucky loot! :)
    me, I wouldn't take it for free: too heavy, and looks ridiculous in my artistic hands :D
    But yes, 40mm STM pancake would look funny on it, but it will make a perfect general purpose lens on a full frame! don't bother with a 50 1.8, optically it's OK-ish up to 2.8 anyway. If you can get your hands on 50 1.4, that's a good lens! Now that you have a proper tool in your hands, I'd say it calls for 50 1.4! or 85 1.8, and you'll be local portrait king :D

    • 

      Mr Mrrtn on 27/12/2017 - 17:53

      Thanks man, Im tempted by the 50mm as I like the shallow depth of field look to portraits and close ups, can you comment on how the 40mm performs in this regard?

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 27/12/2017 - 17:57

        +1

        amzingly well, both tightly framed or not. whether the background is close-ish or distant, it is gently reduced to cream. I also often just leave it on, and walk around shooting in Av mode, 2.8 for creamy backdrop, 5.6 for sharper perspective, perhaps too lazy to scroll it all the way to 8 :D

      • 

        Mr Mrrtn on 28/12/2017 - 15:06

        @kasaresj:
        Sorry to thread crap further

        Just picked up a nifty fifty for $55 at another cashies, I think I gained a level in bargain hunting

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 28/12/2017 - 17:50

        @Mr Mrrtn: you're on a killing spree it seems :) which version? i, ii, or stm? doesn't matter much perhaps, as optically they are identical, it's the focus speed and build quality that differ. have fun, it will be a great lens on full frame, especially stopped down to about 3.5 and more. or leave it fully open and do some night shots? nice :)

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 27/12/2017 - 16:34

    I was circling around cashies in the recent days myself, but bastards haven't reopened after xmas just yet. I can see a few cameras inside! keen to check them out he he

    • 

      Mr Mrrtn on 27/12/2017 - 17:59

      My local one had 30% off store wide, no exceptions. Pity 90% of their lenses had mold growing in them

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  doweyy on 27/12/2017 - 16:39

  +2

  $307.45 after cashback @ TGG with CAMERA15 for anyone who doesn't have an amex.