Just ordered a Canon 7D 18-135 Kit what next?

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Brett
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So after much deliberation I've took the plunge and ordered a 7D with the 18-135 Kit Lens. I've already purchased a 32GB CF Card what else do I need?

Would you put a UV filter on this lens? do you get different quality UV filters?

Please help the noob :)
 
You need another lens to go with it so you can sell me the 18-135. :lol:
Things to maybe add to your shopping list;
Lens hood, flash, decent tripod, bag, spare batteries, remote control, 50mm f1.8 'nifty fifty'.
I've bought 3rd party hoods for all my lenses and have since taken the UV filters off as I only had them on to protect the front elements.
 
There are many debates about UV/protection filters I'm not planning to start that again, I will just say that I don't use them.

As for what else to get, I would say keep it simple initially, it is really easy to throw a lot of money into this game, see what you like shooting and see what your kit is stopping you from doing then get the new kit to enable that to happen. So might be flash, might be a new fast prime lens (like the 50mm mentioned) it might be a tripod etc etc

If you don't have one with the lens then a hood will be well worth the money.
 
The 18-135 comes with a hood, so you won't need one of those. Personally I wouldn't bother with the UV either, but you may not want to take that risk.

What next? Go and take some pictures :). You don't need anything else.
 
A new lens to replace the 18-135mm if you want to realise the full potential of your 7D

That's not meant as a clever arse remark, just can't see the sense in why Canon pair their top of the range crop camera with a less than sparkling lens

Fair enough with starter type bodies, but would have thought something like the 15-85mm would be a better kit lens for the 7D
 
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I agree, sell the 18-135 and get a better lens.
 
I have just got a 50mm 1.8 to go with my 7d and I love it, you will find it a lot sharper than your 18-135, but obviously it's not very versatile.

I agree with the above comments about the kit lens not being as good as the camera and not doing it justice, but equally theres no point splashing £500 plus on a lens to replace it. For a kit lens it will start you off fine. I'd suggest the 50 and the 70-200 next to go with it, then you have mid telephoto and the fast prime slots covered.

I'd suggest you get another small memory card as back up and the essential lens hood.

Then a flash, model depending on budget. And a decent bag to keep it all safe in!

While tripods would be good, unless your using a longer focal length or doing long exposures I'd leave in further down the wanted equipment list.
 
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Yes the 50mm f1.8 is a cracking lens for the price. Also "small" memory cards won't take many images on a 7D. Get at least 8Gb CF card. A cheap Sandisk Ultra II card (30Mb/s) should be pretty cheap.

Flash and a bag are also a good shout. Then tripod, photoshop, lightroom, printer, paper, training etc etc :) It never stops.
 
EOS_JD said:
Yes the 50mm f1.8 is a cracking lens for the price. Also "small" memory cards won't take many images on a 7D. Get at least 8Gb CF card. A cheap Sandisk Ultra II card (30Mb/s) should be pretty cheap.

Flash and a bag are also a good shout. Then tripod, photoshop, lightroom, printer, paper, training etc etc :) It never stops.

8gb is small in comparison to 32gb. I stuck a 2gb in my 7d when I was out shooting and it lasted less than 10 minutes!
 
Bag to keep it safe and a comfortable strap to put on the camera so lugging it around doesn't hurt your neck and stomach as it bashes about on it
 
Before going any further it would help if you tell us what you want to be photographing. A 70-200 is a great lens for weddings but not if you intend to be mainly photographing birds. On the other hand a 500mm f4 doesn't make a very good landscape tool. For landscapes a flash is usless but a tripod almost essential.
 
Although the 18-135 isn't the best lens out there its certainly capable in the right hands, I know, I used to have one and I'm on the look out for another. I wouldn't buy anything else, go take pictures and learn about your kit.
 
TBH I would say the next thing you need to do is get out and take lots of pictures and find out what camera and lens are capable of.
 
Thanks for the replies,
Ultimately I want to be able to take pictures of motorcycles at the track. I know I need a much better lens for that. I'm not sure which yet but it will be an L Series, may be the 70-200 the 70-300 or the 100-400. I'm looking at spending £1000-1500 for the lens. The racing starts in March so I have some time to get used to the camera, save up & work out which one.

I got the 18-135 kit because I thought that would be a good all-round lens for normal use. I did think about the 15-85 but I just figured the extra cost would be better spent on the L series I got later.

I clearly need to look into the UV thing I assumed that was the done thing only because all the 2nd hand lenses I looked at on ebay claimed to have had one fitted from new & that was a good thing.
 
gridlock said:
The 18-135 comes with a hood, so you won't need one of those. Personally I wouldn't bother with the UV either, but you may not want to take that risk.

What next? Go and take some pictures :). You don't need anything else.

Really? Mine didn't, unless it's still in the box :thinking: :lol:

I don't bother with the UV filter either. I bought one just to stick my welding glass onto.

I bought the same kit as you and I'm more than happy with the lens. I've never used anything "better" so maybe I'm missing out on something.

I bought the 50 1.8 from Amazon for about £75 quid and for the price it's fantastic :thumbs:
 
I didn't think any of the non-L canon lenses came supplied with hoods. :shrug:
Aftermarket hoods are only about a fiver each and they fit perfectly.
 
The 18-135 doesn't come with a hood.

And it's actually a very good lens. Very sharp, fantastic colour rendition and superb IS.

Don't bother with a UV filter. Maybe buy a polariser as the 18-135 Is a great travel lens!
 
tijuana taxi said:
Pretty sure they all do, know the EF-S range don't though

As others have said, Canon only supply hoods on the L range.

No efs or non L EF come with anything other than the lens itself.
 
Definately forget about a UV filter, if you want a CPL filter then ok. Get the Canon EW 73B Lens Hood for the lens, that should be all the protection you need. A decent flash gun (check out the Nissin range) is really a must, then a spare battery (3rd party work fine) and a bag to put all this expensive gear in. Then depending on the type of photography you do, a tripod might help out a lot.
 
I've bought myself a tripod today. A bag will be next than a nifty fifty. Then I need to look for a flash.

The camera has not arrived yet so I'll hang fire on the hood until it comes just to make sure I don't have 2 :)

Thanks for the advise so far.

What is the screen like, is it worth getting a screen protector?
I used to have one on my phone until I realised it wasn't necessary due to the gorilla glass never getting scratched.
 
Trust me it won't come with a hood, lol!

Canon are notorious for not providing hoods with anything other than L glass then charging silly amounts to actually buy the hood!

I'd still recommend getting the genuine hood though, but don't pay full price. Amazon is good for hoods (and filters, lenses, bodies etc).

A screen protector isn't really needed. Not used one on my 50d and it's still pristine. My 5d mk1 has a few scratches but it's old (bought it used) and the LCD cover I doubt has any anti scratch properties due to the lower tech finish.
 
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Although the 18-135 isn't the best lens out there its certainly capable in the right hands, I know, I used to have one and I'm on the look out for another. I wouldn't buy anything else, go take pictures and learn about your kit.

Im selling one atm in canon classifieds. ;) just about to sell my 7D too as moving to full frame
 
Im selling one atm in canon classifieds. ;) just about to sell my 7D too as moving to full frame

I'm not yet able to check out the classifieds. It seems quite bizarre to me that they restrict the people most likely to be buying gear from going there!!
 
Im selling one atm in canon classifieds. ;) just about to sell my 7D too as moving to full frame

You've archived the thread it as it's 'no longer for sale' :thinking:

I'm not yet able to check out the classifieds. It seems quite bizarre to me that they restrict the people most likely to be buying gear from going there!!

I see where you're coming from but it's to stop members joining purely to access the classifieds section and giving no other input to the forum.
If we all did that there wouldn't be a forum, it would simply be a buy/sell site.
Also, some of the items sell for well below market value so members would be tempted to buy it here to sell on at a profit.
It also goes some way to protect members from scammers, would you buy a very expensive item from a new member? I know I wouldn't. ;)
 
You've archived the thread it as it's 'no longer for sale' :thinking:



I see where you're coming from but it's to stop members joining purely to access the classifieds section and giving no other input to the forum.
If we all did that there wouldn't be a forum, it would simply be a buy/sell site.
Also, some of the items sell for well below market value so members would be tempted to buy it here to sell on at a profit.
It also goes some way to protect members from scammers, would you buy a very expensive item from a new member? I know I wouldn't. ;)

Surly its the members selling the gear that are really loosing out?
 
Doca said:
Surly its the members selling the gear that are really loosing out?

Not really as the people who do buy tend to be more trustworthy as they have been hear a while :)
 
Surly its the members selling the gear that are really loosing out?

Very little seems to go unsold in there, if it's the right kit at the right price it'll shift. ;)
Most of it is priced sensibly and has been well looked after, some of it has been passed between several members doing 'rolling upgrades' on their kit.
I for one wouldn't like to see an item that I've been looking for come up for sale to be snapped up by a new member
As I said, you'd have people crawling all over the classifieds section looking to make a quick buck by buying something cheap to sell on or to advertise non-existent items and scam people.
That's what Gumtree's for. :lol:
 
It's for the protection of both parties and for the benefit generally of the community.
 
i might be buying a 7D
but the manager at my local jessops wont do a decent discount even though i could get it cheaper from online
he would do the 7D with 18-135mm kit and i wanted the 100-400mm L IS but its not weather protected for £2600
he would only discount it if i got insurance but then i would be getting insurance that i wouldnt need at 1st he said i can get the lot for £2600 and pay £30 for 3 years insurance but then said he would do it free
saving me nothing

bit dissapointing
 
i want the 0% finance so its not just one big hit on my bank account :-)

the insurance would work out free on his second offer
of pay the £2600 and the insurance free
 
Take the insurance if he offers you a discount. You have a cancellation period to cancel said insurance. I saved £40 on a laptop and cancelled the insurance and paid nothing for it.

Ask to see the terms and read uyp on the insurance cancellation terms. They are not permitted to tell you that.
 
i might be buying a 7D
but the manager at my local jessops wont do a decent discount even though i could get it cheaper from online
he would do the 7D with 18-135mm kit and i wanted the 100-400mm L IS but its not weather protected for £2600
he would only discount it if i got insurance but then i would be getting insurance that i wouldnt need at 1st he said i can get the lot for £2600 and pay £30 for 3 years insurance but then said he would do it free
saving me nothing

bit dissapointing

Why is that disappointing? If you was selling your car for £2600 would you have to give a discount just because your selling it? I would order it from online if you can get it cheaper. The manager, staff, lighting, heating and rent costs money :)
 
i want the 0% finance so its not just one big hit on my bank account :-)

the insurance would work out free on his second offer
of pay the £2600 and the insurance free

0% finance is a myth.... They are just including the finance costs in your purchase price!
 
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