I am just posting this for those who like me missed on the great Black Friday deals etc. and with the hope it may help someone who is after this specific model.
Although there is no mention of the £20 cashback on their website, I think Costco is an eligible retailer for it according to the Canon website.
* Note that this price is for members and online subscribers only.
A surcharge of 5% (+VAT at the standard rate) will be added to total purchases made by non-Costco UK members and non costco.co.uk online subscribers.
Specification
Brand: Canon
Model Number: 1200D + 18-55mm DC III
Type: DSLR
Lens: 18-55mm DC III Lens
Colour: Black
Megapixels: 18MP
Optical Zoom: n/a
Digital Zoom: n/a
Interchangeable Lenses: Yes
Screen Size: 3 inch
Facial Recognition: Yes
Motion Recording: Yes
Memory Card Capability: SD, SDHC and SDXC
Waterproof: No
Output Cable: HDMI Mini connector
Weight (g): 480g
18 comments
harneet
25 Dec 15#18
Thanks for the tips guys - I'll see if I can get a good deal on one of these set-ups in the Boxing Day sales!
brilly
25 Dec 15#17
psst.. you missed the close up filter types like raynox etc
harneet
24 Dec 15#15
Thanks ElGofre, very helpful reply. I would prefer to keep the autofocus capability so I'll research the Canon macro lens options and see if I can get one at a good price
ElGofre to harneet
24 Dec 15#16
No problem. If macro photography is a big priority without breaking the bank, I would personally recommend going with either Nikon or a Sony mirrorless camera, as both have affordable "true" macro lenses- Nikon have the 40mm f/2.8 and Sony have the 30mm f/3.5, which both retail for around £180. Paired with an entry level body (D3200 or D3300 for Nikon and A5000 for Sony, both for around £250), you've got an excellent beginner's macro setup.
harneet
24 Dec 15#13
Thanks! I think I'd better wait for a more suitable option
harneet
24 Dec 15#11
Hi, please could anyone advise on whether this camera would be good for Macro photography? If it is, can I use the bundled lens or would I need to get a Canon macro lens? Any advice appreciated. Thanks!
brilly to harneet
24 Dec 15#12
its not going to be great as it doesn't focus particularly closely @ around 25-30cm (probably about 1:3)
you can get some great photos but it depends what your expectations are
you can also add close up adapters etc
ElGofre to harneet
24 Dec 15#14
The camera is good for macro, the lens isn't. As mentioned above the lens cannot focus closely enough to offer a true macro perspective of a subject. You have three main options for achieving macro, or at least macro-like, results;
*The cheapest method is using extension tubes. These are essentially rings that go between the lens and the camera and reduce the lens' minimum focussing distance and can cost as little as £20 for a set. The downsides are that you lose a lot of light that you need to compensate for in the exposure, and cheaper sets usually don't have the wiring needed for controlling autofocus and aperture. Autofocus isn't necessarily a major loss since most people will focus manually with macro photography to get the sharpest results, but having the aperture stuck at its widest may mean really thin depth of field (which means only a very thin slice of the photo will be in focus, if you weren't aware) that may not be what you want. A similar product is a reversing ring, which literally let's you put the lens on backwards, which also lets you focus a lot closer at the expense of autofocus and aperture control.
*Next is using a "macro" telephoto lens that combines a long focal length and short (compared to other teles) focussing distance to offer pseudo-macro performance. You also obviously get a telephoto lens you can use too. The downsides are that you don't get true macro performance in that you can't get small things to fill as much of the frame, and the cheaper tele lenses that describe themselves as "macro" aren't always very sharp.
*The best and most obvious choice is buy a macro lens. They will autofocus well at extremely close distances, have full aperture control, and are typically really sharp. The downside is being the most expensive option.
HerWorseHalf
23 Dec 151#9
Surely it isn't :wink:
I'll get me coat....
ElGofre
23 Dec 155#8
If someone wants a DSLR and kit lens for documenting holidays, family events etc without ever spending extra money, I would take the D3300 or even the D3200. For someone looking at buying an entry level DSLR as an introduction to photography that they want to progress and develop in, or plans to buy an extra lens or two to try different types of photography beyond the limitations of the kit lens, the choice is less clear cut. Canon's budget lens selection is superb- you've got the 50mm 1.8 STM for under £100 (and the 50mm 1.8 II for as little as £65), the 24mm and 40mm pancakes for under £150, the 55-250mm IS STM for under £150 and the 10-18mm IS STM for under £200. All are extremely sharp for their respective price points, easily as sharp as their first party equivalents, and the 10-18mm is pretty much the only ultra-wide that sells for that little cash, never mind one with autofocus and image stabilisation (the pancakes are also arguably without a competitor from non-mirrorless systems). The 1200D's sensor is dated, but there's not really such a thing as a "bad" APS-C sensor these days and a beginner photographer is going to be a larger limitation on their photo's image quality than their camera is, and by the time they've reached their camera's limitations through their own skill, odds are they will want to move to a better body anyway.
JonF992
23 Dec 15#7
There's a lot of right old drivel posted about cameras, and the need to have the latest, most up to date blah blah. The most important factor in determining the quality of the photos - by far - is how good a photographer you are. This camera is quite good enough to take excellent pictures. If you really want full frame (and for 99% of photographers it isn't necessary) budget over a grand, not a couple of hundred. The thing that marks out the Canon over the Nikon (which is also great) is that you can get really good Canon own brand lenses for a good price. The Canon 10-18mm is a prime example of this at under £160.
JamesBonds to JonF992
23 Dec 15#10
I totally agree, I bought this camrea with a 10-18mm lens so i can take internal photos of rooms in my house for it to be advertised for sale, the results have been excellent.
munchie400
23 Dec 15#6
Better off getting a Nikon D3300 from Currys/Argos for £259.99 after Cashback surely?
Opening post
Although there is no mention of the £20 cashback on their website, I think Costco is an eligible retailer for it according to the Canon website.
* Note that this price is for members and online subscribers only.
A surcharge of 5% (+VAT at the standard rate) will be added to total purchases made by non-Costco UK members and non costco.co.uk online subscribers.
Specification
Brand: Canon
Model Number: 1200D + 18-55mm DC III
Type: DSLR
Lens: 18-55mm DC III Lens
Colour: Black
Megapixels: 18MP
Optical Zoom: n/a
Digital Zoom: n/a
Interchangeable Lenses: Yes
Screen Size: 3 inch
Facial Recognition: Yes
Motion Recording: Yes
Memory Card Capability: SD, SDHC and SDXC
Waterproof: No
Output Cable: HDMI Mini connector
Weight (g): 480g
18 comments
you can get some great photos but it depends what your expectations are
you can also add close up adapters etc
*The cheapest method is using extension tubes. These are essentially rings that go between the lens and the camera and reduce the lens' minimum focussing distance and can cost as little as £20 for a set. The downsides are that you lose a lot of light that you need to compensate for in the exposure, and cheaper sets usually don't have the wiring needed for controlling autofocus and aperture. Autofocus isn't necessarily a major loss since most people will focus manually with macro photography to get the sharpest results, but having the aperture stuck at its widest may mean really thin depth of field (which means only a very thin slice of the photo will be in focus, if you weren't aware) that may not be what you want. A similar product is a reversing ring, which literally let's you put the lens on backwards, which also lets you focus a lot closer at the expense of autofocus and aperture control.
*Next is using a "macro" telephoto lens that combines a long focal length and short (compared to other teles) focussing distance to offer pseudo-macro performance. You also obviously get a telephoto lens you can use too. The downsides are that you don't get true macro performance in that you can't get small things to fill as much of the frame, and the cheaper tele lenses that describe themselves as "macro" aren't always very sharp.
*The best and most obvious choice is buy a macro lens. They will autofocus well at extremely close distances, have full aperture control, and are typically really sharp. The downside is being the most expensive option.
I'll get me coat....
http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/cameras-and-camcorders/digital-cameras/dslr-and-compact-system-cameras/nikon-d3300-dslr-camera-with-18-55-mm-f-3-5-5-6-ii-ed-zoom-lens-black-10135135-pdt.html
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4245153.htm
For this deal