Advice required! Help out a newbie!

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Alcamin

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Hi everyone! I’m new here so I’ll be starting with a bit of a newbie question. I am at a bit of a loss though so please bear with me.

Just over a month ago I took the big step of buying myself a brand new camera, a Canon 400D with the 18-55mm lens kit, and I’ve been thoroughly enjoying it! I’ve been getting some good pictures but now I feel I need to upgrade a bit. Now that my technique is improving (I’ve been doing photography properly for about a year now) I think it is time to step things up a bit and now that I have a new camera it really seems right. But I have a problem. After looking around various websites for new lenses I’ve come to the conclusion that I really am out of my depths. There are so many choices; I don’t really know where to begin (especially as the last camera, before the 400D, was just a point-and-click thing). I’m not thinking of abandoning the 18-55mm though in case you were wondering. It may not be the best lens in the world but it has been good to me so far and certainly has its uses.

So here I am, ask you, the good people of this forum for help. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

One of the main reasons I want to upgrade now is that I’m going on holiday to sail around Denmark soon so I’m hoping there will be lots of great opportunities to take some nice landscape, waterscape and architectural shots. The first two are my main interests though so what lenses would you suggest for that kind of photography for someone who is still learning the trade, as it were? And what make would be best? Is it best to stick with Canon or look a little further a field, maybe to makes like Sigma or Tamron? I just want to have a little bit more range and variety when I’m shooting and to try out new things and techniques.

Also, can you suggest a good tripod? I know that not having one is a HUGE disadvantage when trying to take landscapes but again I don’t know which one to go for. Or would a monopod be better?

Like I said at the beginning, I really do consider myself a beginner when it comes to equipment and feel like I’m jumping into the deep end asking all of this but any help and advice you can give would be fantastic!

Thanks very much for your time! :)
 
Can't really recommend anything properly till you tell us how much you can spend as Ewan says.

If you can afford it the Canon 17-85 IS is a good all round lens.
 
As steep says, the 17-85IS is a great all round lens - however, I feel the need to go slightly wider, so am flogging mine (see the classifieds).

As far as all rounder lenses go though, I'd find it hard to beat.

Cheers,
James
 
Ewan said:
I've seen the sigma 10-20mm recommended by lots of people. Maybe tell what budget you're on?
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Okay then, thanks, I'll give that one a quick look.

Like a good boy I've been saving up for any possible upgrades but I probably don't want to go much over £200 (although that may be a bit optimistic to get the results I'm looking for, I really don’t know). I'm pretty flexible really and if needs be I can go higher. I sure it would be worth it if I did. :)
 
Steep said:
Can't really recommend anything properly till you tell us how much you can spend as Ewan says.

If you can afford it the Canon 17-85 IS is a good all round lens.
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That will certainly be one to consider, it sounds just right, but it is a little more than I was thinking of (although my original estimate of £200-£300 is starting to sound a little light. Shows how much I know! ;)).

Are there any other reasonable lenses (there doesn't have to be just one) that you can think of? I'm just trying to keep my options open and get a clear idea of what's available. This will be an investment after all and I need to be sure I'm getting the right kit. :)
 
Moos3h said:
As steep says, the 17-85IS is a great all round lens - however, I feel the need to go slightly wider, so am flogging mine (see the classifieds).

As far as all rounder lenses go though, I'd find it hard to beat.

Cheers,
James
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That sounds fair enough. For the moment though a good all rounder is really way to go for me. Getting something to specialised would be pointless as I probably wouldn't know what to do with it, or at least use it properly. Getting the basics down pat is more important at the moment. :)

Thanks of the advice though. (y) I'll certainly be keeping that one in mind.
 
tamron 28-75, maybe the sigma 24-70. Both a fair bit sharper than the kit lens, you'd lost a bit on the wide end though.
 
PapaLazarou said:
Get youself some L series lenses.
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I doubt I would know an L series from anything else at the moment I'm afraid! :LOL: All I can say is that I've heard of them…… that's about it. As I said before, I'm a real newbie to all of this stuff. ;)
 
dod said:
tamron 28-75, maybe the sigma 24-70. Both a fair bit sharper than the kit lens, you'd lost a bit on the wide end though.
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Great! Thanks for that! I've been told that Tamron and Sigma are both good makes so I'll check those out!

Forgive my ignorance though but can you clear something up for me? That Tamron 28-75 is an AF lens and I thought that the 400D could only take EF lens. Does that matter at all?
 
dod said:
tamron 28-75, maybe the sigma 24-70. Both a fair bit sharper than the kit lens, you'd lost a bit on the wide end though.
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Oh, by the way, when you said the sigma 24-70 I found a few that looked simpler so could you provide a link please? Sorry to be a pain!
 
Jimmy_Lemon said:
L glass with a £200 budget? Where do you shop papa :p please tell us! hehe
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Oh wow! You’re with deviantArt too. Awesome! So am I. That is where my main gallery and hangout is. :D I'll have to put a link to my page in my signature here to spend the word a little. ;) I'll go and check out your page now. :)
 
Alcamin AF means autofocus and applies to all makes, EF is Canons lens mount your 400D will accept EF or EF-S lenses.
 
Alcamin said:
That sounds fair enough. For the moment though a good all rounder is really way to go for me. Getting something to specialised would be pointless as I probably wouldn't know what to do with it, or at least use it properly. Getting the basics down pat is more important at the moment. :)

Thanks of the advice though. (y) I'll certainly be keeping that one in mind.
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No worries - feel free to make an offer! The 17-85 IS (with a Polarising filter fitted!) could be yours ;)

Cheers,
James
 
G_Dem said:
Hi Alcamin,

I'm a newb myself but from what you have said (landscape pictures + your budget) I would go for the Sigma 10-20.

Also as you are keeping the kit lens it would be nice to have something at the wider end. Ive seen some really nice landscape pics with the sigma 10-20. Here is one of them from this forum:

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=27505
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Hi there G Dem!

It's nice to hear from another newb! And thanks of the advice! That lens does look good and is definitely one I will be keeping in mind, especially as I've heard that Sigma are a good make.

I'm also looking for a better quality zoom too, nothing to big, just a 70 or 80mm tops sort of thing. Know of any good one?
 
Alcamin said:
Hi there G Dem!

It's nice to hear from another newb! And thanks of the advice! That lens does look good and is definitely one I will be keeping in mind, especially as I've heard that Sigma are a good make.

I'm also looking for a better quality zoom too, nothing to big, just a 70 or 80mm tops sort of thing. Know of any good one?
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I posted a while back on some advise on a replacement for the kit lens. Some good words where said about the sigma 17-70. A nice bit extra zoom than the kit and the reviews seem to be very good, especially as its under £200
 
G_Dem said:
I posted a while back on some advise on a replacement for the kit lens. Some good words where said about the sigma 17-70. A nice bit extra zoom than the kit and the reviews seem to be very good, especially as its under £200
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Yes, I've heard of that one and it has definately tickled my interest. It's just the sort of thing I was thinking of actaully. Thanks for the suggestion! I really appreciate it! :)
 
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