Hi, I have followed a few threads in here regarding a replacement for my kit lens, I am going to have to use it for a wedding tomorrow as I could not make my mind up, Is there a "sweet spot" with the kit lens, I have not been impressed so far with the detail in my pics.
Canon 18-55 kit quality
- Thread starter yeoboy
- Start date
- Messages
- 4,919
- Name
- Graham
- Edit My Images
- No
Do you have the IS or non-IS version, as I believe the IS version is a touch better. I've used the standard 18-55mm a few times but found it poor unless stopped down a bit.
- Messages
- 3,962
- Edit My Images
- Yes
if its the IS version I would say 35mm F.5.6-8 .... thats what I found sharpest when I had mine.
Looked at hiring and down here in rural somerset it would involve carriage and a bill of about £52, When I looked at dpreview lens tests the quality of the wide/std type lens varied only a small amount even on "L" glass, So, Am scanning threads before I move, Maybe the Tamron non IS.
cuthbert
Pugh Pugh Barney McGrew Me Dibble and Grubb
- Messages
- 1,971
- Name
- Mark
- Edit My Images
- Yes
i'm afraid the 18-55 kit lens, even the new one is a bit of a turd. i wouldn't use it for anything, let alone a wedding.
the sweet spot is likely to be around f8, but that will be way way to slow for a wedding and it will give you so much dof that your pictures will look like they've come from a compact.
i'd seriously give consideration to a f2.8 zoom for such an occasion. ef-s 17-55, ef 24-70 f2.8 to name but 2 great lenses.
the sweet spot is likely to be around f8, but that will be way way to slow for a wedding and it will give you so much dof that your pictures will look like they've come from a compact.
i'd seriously give consideration to a f2.8 zoom for such an occasion. ef-s 17-55, ef 24-70 f2.8 to name but 2 great lenses.
- Messages
- 1,195
- Name
- Gordon
- Edit My Images
- Yes
I actually found the 18-55mm IS kit lens worked better on my 40D and my sons 400D than it did on a friends 500D. I can only assume this was down to the sensors. Having said that f8 was the sweet spot between about 25-45mm.
- Messages
- 5,161
- Name
- Nigel Cliff
- Edit My Images
- Yes
With the non IS if you can stop down to f8 or less the quality will be fine,this ones with the non IS wide open and I think its acceptable
- Messages
- 1,118
- Name
- Chris
- Edit My Images
- No
If it's only £52 then get your friend to spring for it and maybe a flash as well, it's a small price to pay, they only get married once and they should have decent pictures.
- Messages
- 1,195
- Name
- Gordon
- Edit My Images
- Yes
I bought a 40d with the 18-55 IS on here for a friend and I was surprised by the quality of the lens.
This is at 34mm f5.6 - quite a heavy crop - just the default RAW sharpening in LR applied
Yes they really do work well with a 10mp sensor, but at 15mp and above the quality drops off. My 18-200mm also gives excellent results on the 10mp sensor.
- Messages
- 5,161
- Name
- Nigel Cliff
- Edit My Images
- Yes
Perfect portrait lens though
- Messages
- 3,616
- Edit My Images
- No
Are you sure you're not referring to the F1.4 or the F1.0?
The F1.8 is a great lens for the price but hardly consider it a dream lens at less than £100 delivered.
The 1.4 and 1.0 would be dream lenses for me
I have the non-IS Kit lens. It is very rarely used but to be honest, works great for snapshots. As mentioned, at F8 it's sharp enough and with a bit of USM you can indeed get very decent images. The kit lens is probably designed around the person who buys a DSLR because it looks like an impressive camera but is going to leave it on AUTO most of the time. They know many people who would buy such a camera will purchase other lenses anyway so keeping the cost of the kit lens down helps sell units.
Last edited: