18-55mm or the 50mm for the T3i

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JaackBrown

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So Im getting the Canon EOS 600D with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens Kit for christmas and people are telling me I should get the 50mm 1.8 lens. I dont know much about lens' or photography to be honest, im a beginner.. Which is better? :bang: What are the differences?
 
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Phil Young said:
Start off with the 18-55mm then buy a new lens when you want more from "you".

An 18-55mm is like a right of passage...one must serve ones time before moving on :-P
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Ah right I get you, thanks! What are the differences between the two lenses?
 
JaackBrown said:
Ah right I get you, thanks! What are the differences between the two lenses?
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One is a fixed lenth and in a tight apace you won't be able to "fit as much in". The 50mm also let's in significantly more light so is useful for anytime where there is less than an ideal amount of light (indoors outside at night etc).

The light isn't a major issue since the 18-55 will allow more light when used with non moving subjects and because it is stabilised you can have your shutter open for longer without incurring the horrible camera shake blur.

You have a 50mm with the 18-55, what you don't have is the amount of light but like I said, lower shutter speeds will compensate for that.
 
Phil Young said:
One is a fixed lenth and in a tight apace you won't be able to "fit as much in". The 50mm also let's in significantly more light so is useful for anytime where there is less than an ideal amount of light (indoors outside at night etc).

The light isn't a major issue since the 18-55 will allow more light when used with non moving subjects and because it is stabilised you can have your shutter open for longer without incurring the horrible camera shake blur.

You have a 50mm with the 18-55, what you don't have is the amount of light but like I said, lower shutter speeds will compensate for that.
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Oh right, I understand it more now, thankyou! I'll wait a little bit and maybe save up for the 50mm
 
JaackBrown said:
Oh right, I understand it more now, thankyou! I'll wait a little bit and maybe save up for the 50mm
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Could I suggest you save a little more than for the 50 and rather consider the 28mm f1.8 or 35mm f2.

The 50 has 2 problems, it really is too long and awkward for most use on a crop body, it is also probably the worst quality of build ever seen on a Canon lens.
 
Dave1 said:
Could I suggest you save a little more than for the 50 and rather consider the 28mm f1.8 or 35mm f2.

The 50 has 2 problems, it really is too long and awkward for most use on a crop body, it is also probably the worst quality of build ever seen on a Canon lens.
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Oh right, I might do that then. Which would you suggest for a beginner out of the 28 and 35?
-Thanks!
 
JaackBrown said:
Oh right, I might do that then. Which would you suggest for a beginner out of the 28 and 35?
-Thanks!
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Sorry I'm probably going to annoy the whole of TP now but I think in this instance it should be pointed out. It would be a great idea to wait until you have a camera before talking equipment and lenses etc.

You don't know what focal length you enjoy using so if you don't know we don't know and it's a bit unfair to advise in any case right now.

The 18-55 will give you a better idea of what you like to shoot and from which distance.

Some prefer a 28/35mm lens because it's wider but for me I have to get too close to subjects and those times outweight the times I would prefer a wider range.

Strongly suggest you get your camera, spend some time getting to know it and then come back for the advice on extra lenses etc. Buying anything now is great but what if you find out it's not your style and waste money??

You are keen which is really good to see... you just need to develope your style and establish what focal lengths you like to use etc...

Phil.

Do you have a camera presently???
 
Phil Young said:
Sorry I'm probably going to annoy the whole of TP now but I think in this instance it should be pointed out. It would be a great idea to wait until you have a camera before talking equipment and lenses etc.

You don't know what focal length you enjoy using so if you don't know we don't know and it's a bit unfair to advise in any case right now.

The 18-55 will give you a better idea of what you like to shoot and from which distance.

Some prefer a 28/35mm lens because it's wider but for me I have to get too close to subjects and those times outweight the times I would prefer a wider range.

Strongly suggest you get your camera, spend some time getting to know it and then come back for the advice on extra lenses etc. Buying anything now is great but what if you find out it's not your style and waste money??

You are keen which is really good to see... you just need to develope your style and establish what focal lengths you like to use etc...

Phil.

Do you have a camera presently???
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Well said. Everyone is always very keen to get someone spending their money. A camera and a kit lens costs £100's, so why spend more than you have to now? You can find loads on e-bay and gum tree with the caption "isn't used enough' .
 
Another vote for Phil, Phil for president etc,. :)

The 50 is only recommended because it is cheap but can give good quality images. Just because it is cheap doesn't mean you need it or will use it.

I used a 50 (and then a 40) for a number of months as my only lens. Picked up an 18-55 and now wonder what I was doing with the 50 as the 18-55 is so much easier to use and get shots with.

My next lens will be a 2.8 small zoom so buying a 50 knowing what I know now would have been a waste.
 
Just stick to the kit lens. Once you know what you want then buy a new lens. You may want to go wide, you may want a zoom or a macro, until you start shooting and know what you enjoy its a waste. No cheap 35mm in canons line up is a huge shortcoming for enthusiasts.
 
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Phil Young said:
Sorry I'm probably going to annoy the whole of TP now but I think in this instance it should be pointed out. It would be a great idea to wait until you have a camera before talking equipment and lenses etc.

You don't know what focal length you enjoy using so if you don't know we don't know and it's a bit unfair to advise in any case right now.

The 18-55 will give you a better idea of what you like to shoot and from which distance.

Some prefer a 28/35mm lens because it's wider but for me I have to get too close to subjects and those times outweight the times I would prefer a wider range.

Strongly suggest you get your camera, spend some time getting to know it and then come back for the advice on extra lenses etc. Buying anything now is great but what if you find out it's not your style and waste money??

You are keen which is really good to see... you just need to develope your style and establish what focal lengths you like to use etc...

Phil.

Do you have a camera presently???
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Thanks Phil! Im sticking to what you said haha, Ill get to know it abit better for now. I do have a camera now, but its just a cheap Fujifilm Finepix S1500 nothing too fancy, I had it for a while and the thing that interests me the most is using macro.
 
One thing I'd say is that I think its hard to whether you really want/need a large appature lens before you actually use one. With focal lenght its easier to know you want something wider or longer but the 18-55mm won't really prepair you for the shallow depth of focus large appature lenses give.

The 50mm can also be converted into a decent macro with some extension tubes which again is something the 18-55mm can't really give you experience of.
 
Moreorless said:
One thing I'd say is that I think its hard to whether you really want/need a large appature lens before you actually use one. With focal lenght its easier to know you want something wider or longer but the 18-55mm won't really prepair you for the shallow depth of focus large appature lenses give.

The 50mm can also be converted into a decent macro with some extension tubes which again is something the 18-55mm can't really give you experience of.
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We can hypothesize this...

But I started with an 18-55mm and after having many different bodies, lenses including macro dedicated (tamron 90mm and Nikon 105mm VR) - what do I have... 50mm f1.8 & extension tubes lol.

My point is: try something, see if it's what you need/want and make an informed decision based on that.

It's really simply if you don't listen to everyone's opinion which is largely influenced by what they like and not what is actually beneficial or necessary to the OP.

Yes it's difficult to gage f1.8 @ 50mm from f5.6...but the op will see a difference from f11 if he wants to test and then there are always other people's images which I am absolutely sure he will be looking at.

I've never tried a 600mm at f4...but I can imagine what it is like if I research and imagine based on 400mm f5.6

...I might not want or need a 600mm f4. I would need to play about with something similar first to see if it's close to my needs.

There's no doubt most photographers will have or want a low light / shallow DOF option in their bag but I can think of about 30 different options to cover that right now, as will the OP in time :)
 
As Richard says, the 18-55 IS isn't a bad lens at all, tbh, considering it's a bundled lens it's actually pretty good.
The 50mm 1.8 is a cracking lens but as said, the build quality is appalling.
It weighs next-to-nothing, had a ridiculously small focus ring, will come apart with the slightest knock and the noises it makes will drive you mad but............it's a lot of fun and cheap enough to buy even if you rarely use it.
The next step up from the 18-55 is something like the 17-85 USM, it's no winner when it comes to IQ and probably no better than the 18-55 but it has a better range and the USM focus motor is instant and silent.
The 18-135 is supposed to be pretty decent too, still nice and short on the wide end but that bit longer again.
Having said all that, I'm going to agree with what the others have said, get used to what you have before spending money on lenses as you may prefer a certain style of photography. :thumbs:
 
The 50mm f1.8 is a brilliant lens, you cant really compare it to the kit lens as they both have different purposes. With my Canon I had the kit lens and 50mm, with my Nikon I have the kit lens and a 35mm. Of course its bad quality but its also the cheapest lens they sell and the optics are brilliant for the price you pay, you really cant complain.
Just make sure you have a need for it first; it might be a brilliant lens but if you wont use it then its not-so-brilliant.
 
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