I need to choose a new lens quickly, help!

kitschenalia

kitschenalia

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OK so for portraits I've mostly been using my 50mm 1.8 lens, and I love it but it's limiting me and I think I need a zoom. Sometimes I just can't get back (e.g. I'm up against a wall etc.) and have spoiled some nice shots by e.g. chopping off a chin.

Plus, I have ended up doing some photography for a friend's wedding. See this thread if you think you can help me - I initially offered to shadow her pro photographer for experience and additional shots, but it turns out she didn't/wouldn't want to fork out for a pro, and has asked me to do the wedding party shots. She has other volunteers for the informal shots - shame as I would have far preferred and felt confident doing candids: http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=2866771#post2866771

So I may have to take photos of larger groups on the day, but I do have my kit lens which is 15-55. I stopped using this when I got my 50mm 1.8 lens, because the quality of my shots seemed so superior with the new lens. But perhaps it was also my inexperience back then?

So please recommend me a lens. I'd need it to be not far off £100 on one of these 2nd hand sites. And do I really need image stabilisation? And what is USM (if I remembered that correctly)?

Any help gratefully received!
 
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You may need to expand your budget, I know of no lens to be had for £100 that is any good at all, however, for little over double that you can get a very nice Sigma 24-70 f2.8(not hsm) or even the legendary tamron 28-75 f2.8 or 17-55 f2.8 all of those are keepers and will give you good image quality, Im sure there are others too but the £100 limit will only buy rubbish IMO you are better off saving a bit more and buying something decent.
 
Having been in a similar position recently i'd echo the comments about quality, spend a bit more on quality glass and you'll see massive differences (In my very amateur opinion...:D ) in your pictures (granted i was starting from a low baseline...).

I've got a sigma 18-200 from Camerabox which i think was £239 but check out MPB for some good second hand prices (and good part ex values if you've got something to trade against) on some zoom lenses.

Image stabilisation is good for darker shots or, for example, 200mm + (you can see the lens correcting through the viewfinder :cool: )
 
kitschenalia said:
Marac, would this also be true of second hand prices? Thanks for your advice :)
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Yes 2nd hand prices, buying any fast glass (low f-stop) new can be expensive.

With respect, the kit lens will not give you great image quality and now you have had the 50mm for a while you can understand what I mean.

The Tamron 17-55 f2.8 will blow the kit lens out of the water and give you stunning results and I believe these lenses can be had around the £200 mark.

Maybe some generous TPer will offer you one at a reasonable price, they are a nice bunch around here.

I remember many years ago there being a Sigma 20-40 f2.8 that was very nice to use you may be able to pick one of those up from ebay for £150? but I am only guessing as I have not seen one for a few years now.

Good Luck in your search.


hahaha look what I found just now http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sigma-20-40mm-2-8-EX-DG-Canon-fit-/260643818073?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_CameraAccessories_CameraLensesFilters_JN&hash=item3caf950a59#ht_500wt_1182
 
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Watch camerabox - they are susceptible to cloning your card....
 
tamron 17-50 f2.8, if my backup body was crop its what it'd have on it. Punches WAY above its weight only reason I sold it was getting a 5d2
 
OK a kind TPer has found me a deal on an 18-50 sigma lens, which looks fab but I might want a bigger zoom.... can anyone advise on the following? I really don't know how to work out how good a lens is, and these seem quite cheap:

http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/us...on-fit-lenses/canon-ef-24-85mm-f/3.5-4.5-usm/

http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/us...-lenses/canon-ef-28-135mm-f/3.5-5.6-is-usm-1/

http://www.mpbphotographic.co.uk/us...it-lenses/canon-ef-28-135mm-f/3.5-5.6-is-usm/

there seem to be tons of sites, a little baffling. My main priority I think, despite this wedding is to have the best zoom range for portraits - individual up to about a family of 4, I think. I would hope to be shooting family and individual portraits before I was ready to do weddings, but although I am not ready to go pro yet, I want to buy a lens that will be useful to me when I do (which I believe the sigma would be).
 
Why not rent a lens for the wedding then save bit more money and get the lens you want?
 
Bazza155 said:
Why not rent a lens for the wedding then save bit more money and get the lens you want?
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You won't get anything for £100 other than the canon 50mmm f1.8..... If you want a portrait lens then your looking at either the 24-70mm f2.8 or 17-55mm f2.8 EF-S if you want a zoom, but they're £500+ (used or new). Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 £200-350 (used or new), you could look at a prime, but your problem is you have a cropped sensor camera, so you'll have to factor in the 1.6x crop, so your 50mm f1.8 frames like a 80mm lens.

but your best bet is to hire a lens for the event.
 
If you only have £100 for a second hand lens, then you don't have much choice.

Maybe a Canon 18-55mm IS ?

I think the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 is the one to go for if you can raise some extra cash.
 
kitschenalia said:
pete thank you. But I feel I need more in my own kit, you know?

edited for stupidity re. a lens I posted...
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The sigma 18-50mm is just above average, you would be better off getting the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 (non IS) version, £100 even 2nd hand is way off budget wise for a decent zoom.

You'll need reasonable fast glass for a wedding, especially for indoor shots, so f2.8 is a minimum requirement and you'll also need a flash (if you allowed) tripod, second camera, extra batteries, cards. And its probably best to scope out the venue to see what the different shooting locations are.

I understand your aim of increasing your gear, but I think personally, in this instance, you would be better off hiring the gear, or borrowing gear off a friend.

I don't envy you, would rather gnaw my arm off then shoot a wedding, there's no muther in law at a BSB or WSB round
 
Pete, thanks for the reply. There's more info on the wedding here:

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=2866771#post2866771

but the kind of expectations you suggest won't be on me - see above thread.

A few people have suggested that this lens is distinctly above average, and it's bought now. I don't know whether to be disappointed by your suggestion that it's an average lens, or to have faith in what others have told me!
 
kitschenalia said:
Pete, thanks for the reply. There's more info on the wedding here:

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=2866771#post2866771

but the kind of expectations you suggest won't be on me - see above thread.

A few people have suggested that this lens is distinctly above average, and it's bought now. I don't know whether to be disappointed by your suggestion that it's an average lens, or to have faith in what others have told me!
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All I can say is, enjoy the day, its a big learning experience and take lots of images and remember you are in control when it comes to taking images, look forward to your wedding thread :)
 
kitschenalia said:
A few people have suggested that this lens is distinctly above average, and it's bought now. I don't know whether to be disappointed by your suggestion that it's an average lens, or to have faith in what others have told me!
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It is indeed ABOVE average as Pete said himself and the IQ is equal to the tamron and IMO the build quality is way better, not so plastic feeling. They are both great lenses, I have used both at some point and been happy with the results as I am sure you will be

Glad I could help.
 
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