lens dilema

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SuperzShields

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Ryan
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Im currently debating picking up my first dslr, a canon 20d I've found. My dilemma is what lens to buy? Ive found two lenses second hand I'm thinking about but feel free to suggest others :)

I'm tossing up the ef-s 18-55 IS or getting the 50mm 1.8. I want to have versatility so I can shoot landscapes people nature airshows etc and I'm aware I can't do that all on one lens but which would be best to get me started. I was thinking the zoom as otherwise i'd have no way of zooming apart from my feet.

The bonus is though Christmas is coming so I could probably get either a zoom or a prime then.

Thanks :)

Ryan
 
Me, I would go for the 18-55 for starters, used mine for years before I switched to Nikon now an 18-200 seems to be stuck on my camera :)
 
If you are just starting out you coupld get the 18-55, it will serve you well for what you want, then look at the zooms at longer lengths, there are lots out there that are cheapish but give good quality

spike
 
Ok thanks guys :) that's what I was thinking but heard of the IQ of the 50mm so just wanted to check :)
 
Yeah, go for the zoom. The 50 is nice but very limiting especially on crop. Though the shallow DoF does make it much more appealing.
 
The zoom will help you more. The fifty is great, but you'll probably find it limiting as your only lens. Make the fifty your next purchase after the zoom.

Best of luck!
 
I would go for both. The kit lens will work fine as a first lens but the 50mm will help you get to grips with understanding depth of filed, apertures etc, its also better for low light shots and being a bit more creative.
With the darker days approaching i think something a bit faster than the kit lens will help keep the frustration of getting blurred images at bay.
 
I'm with Dave, it's really best to get both.
The 50mm is unbeatable as a cheap lens which can produce astounding image quality when used right and will allow you to experiment with fast apertures and DoF, but the 18-55IS is a nice generally purpose range on a crop body.
If you can really only get one, it would be the 18-55 for me though. As nice as primes are, I think you could get very frustrated trying to shoot landscapes with the 50mm on a crop body.

But bare in mind that neither of these lenses will do for a lot of nature and airshows (except for the wider stuff) which generally require longer focal lengths, maybe look into the 55-250mm IS.

The combo of 18-55 IS, 50mm f/1.8 and 55-250 IS is the best cheap all-round set up you can get on canon IMHO :)
 
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I picked up a 20D in April and the combo Squishy suggests is what I have ended up with. And yes I could buy lots more lenses but I would stuggle to justify them or the cost. The 18-55 IS is a good little lens, I was using mine on Sunday for shooting my son's rugby match.

For the longer term upgrades I might go with a Tamron 17-50 + a 85mm or 100mm prime, and in the distant future a dream of a 70-200IS with 1.4x extender.
 
[pedant mode]

The singular of lenses is lens

[/pedant mode]


As for which to go for... I love my 50mm, but you'd soon get tired of 'zooming with your feet'. I'd echo what others have said and get the zoom and then save up £90 for the 50mm next month ;)

HTH
Daniel.
 
Ok Thank you all. The 20d I was looking at got bought so i'll have to try and find another, but i have decided to get the 18-55 first then get either the 50mm or the 55-200mm depending on how the first lens goes :)
 
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