Lenses .... Soooo Many.... Advice Needed

ccsnet

ccsnet

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Terran
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Help..... I'm trying to work out what the best option is for me been a DSLR noob.... Lenses are a new thing to me and while I follow all the F stop and focus options the advantages of the different lenses ( bar normal vs telephoto ) is some thing I am trying to work out.

I'm pretty sure I'm going for the 450d as the 500 really only adds HD imho and it will be used for normal photos where a point and shoot would probably be used but I also want to versitility for doing more including scenic shots including those at distance ( eg the hills across the bay from me ) and closer work such as transport or water falls.... just as examples.

I'm probably not going to do much macro work although it would be nice just for fun nor will I be doing wild life as such ( I say that now..... :) )

In short looking at an all rounder so I'm thinking EF-S 18-55mm IS and 55-250mm IS Double Zoom Kit to start with.....

I'd appreciate some advice around this if you can ?

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/category/basecategory.aspx?cat03=3065&Brand=37&Range=741#first

EF-S 18-55mm IS Lens ( Standard )
EF-S 18-55mm IS and 55-250mm IS Double Zoom Kit ( Most likley )
EF-S 17-85mm IS and 70-300mm IS Kit ( Too expensive )
EF-S 18-200mm IS Lens Kit ( I'm guessing kinda big ? )
EF-S 17-85mm IS Lens ( Possible )

Thanks

Terran
 
I have the 55-250mm IS and it is great value for money, the 18-55 IS is also a good lens as long as the difference between kit and body only is not too large. The step up from that would probably be one of the 17/18-50mm f2.8 lenses.

The 17-85mm IS just seems a more expensive than the kit lens with the advantage being the extra length and focusing speed.
 
ccsnet said:
Help..... I'm trying to work out what the best option is for me been a DSLR noob.... Lenses are a new thing to me and while I follow all the F stop and focus options the advantages of the different lenses ( bar normal vs telephoto ) is some thing I am trying to work out.

I'm pretty sure I'm going for the 450d as the 500 really only adds HD imho and it will be used for normal photos where a point and shoot would probably be used but I also want to versitility for doing more including scenic shots including those at distance ( eg the hills across the bay from me ) and closer work such as transport or water falls.... just as examples.

I'm probably not going to do much macro work although it would be nice just for fun nor will I be doing wild life as such ( I say that now..... :) )

In short looking at an all rounder so I'm thinking EF-S 18-55mm IS and 55-250mm IS Double Zoom Kit to start with.....

I'd appreciate some advice around this if you can ?

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/category/basecategory.aspx?cat03=3065&Brand=37&Range=741#first

EF-S 18-55mm IS Lens ( Standard )
EF-S 18-55mm IS and 55-250mm IS Double Zoom Kit ( Most likley )
EF-S 17-85mm IS and 70-300mm IS Kit ( Too expensive )
EF-S 18-200mm IS Lens Kit ( I'm guessing kinda big ? )
EF-S 17-85mm IS Lens ( Possible )

Thanks

Terran
Click to expand...

Hi Terran,

You wont go wrong with any of the Canon DSLR's all the way from 350D upto 500D. I just picked up a used 400D on the forum for £200 (body only) for a friend, so keep an eye out for the bargains on the forum.

I would recommend the 17-85 IS and leaving it at that. Reason being you wouldnt really need any more zoom for the landscape/scenic stuff and for up close work on transport, you wouldnt really need more than 85mm of zoom, unless you were trying to pick up specific details and crops of the machine. IMO it is easy to get drawn into having the complete zoom range covered, but see how you get on with the 17-85 and then go from there. You might find a nice wide angle lens compliments you better than a bigger zoom. Also bare in mind that the 17-85 lens is effectively a 27-136mm on the Canon xxxD range(Info on Crop Factor)

Finally i'd strongly recommend 2nd hand on the forum, only one of my lens is brand new which is also my most expensive, the rest is mostly sourced on here.
 
The 17-85mm has a good/very useful range and is worth having IMHO, but build quality is not the best and its a bit slow (the IS compensates in some situations). There is pretty bad distortion at the wide end but this cleans up well in DPP, which is packaged with the camera.

I got mine in a kit with the 30D, and originally planned to sell it and get something better, but changed my mind. No regrets, but it is rather overpriced at full retail.
 
Go for the double zoom kit, or the 18-55 and 70-300. I've used the exact same setup as that! I got the 18-55 with the camera, and was really impressed with it. I only sold it when I got a Tamron 17-50, as I needed f/2.8 throughout the range.

And I've literally just sold my 70-300, as I'm replacing it with a 70-200 f/2.8 and a 100-400 (but that means bit money :( so won't be for a while yet!!!). I hear a lot of good things about the 55-250 though, I think it's a solid, safe bet!

Are you looking at buying new, or secondhand?

Chris
 
chris321 said:
Go for the double zoom kit, or the 18-55 and 70-300. I've used the exact same setup as that! I got the 18-55 with the camera, and was really impressed with it. I only sold it when I got a Tamron 17-50, as I needed f/2.8 throughout the range.

And I've literally just sold my 70-300, as I'm replacing it with a 70-200 f/2.8 and a 100-400 (but that means bit money :( so won't be for a while yet!!!). I hear a lot of good things about the 55-250 though, I think it's a solid, safe bet!

Are you looking at buying new, or secondhand?

Chris
Click to expand...
Thanks all for the advise so far.... Been looking here http://www.pbase.com/cameras/canon and I think the twin will be better as some of the shots I have wanted to do are distance ones....

Re new or second.... problem is cash in the pocket and while I may not want to the high street or interweb may call..... That been said i am keeping my eyes on the classifieds ;)

Terran
 
ccsnet said:
Thanks all for the advise so far.... Been looking here http://www.pbase.com/cameras/canon and I think the twin will be better as some of the shots I have wanted to do are distance ones....

Re new or second.... problem is cash in the pocket and while I may not want to the high street or interweb may call..... That been said i am keeping my eyes on the classifieds ;)

Terran
Click to expand...

In that case, I think you'll be very happy with the 18-55 and 55-250, I've seen some awesome shots with both! And you can always add a raynox filter for about £40 which can give some really impressive macro results.

If you're considering getting a 450D secondhand, there's a very nice chap selling one in the classifieds ;) :D

Chris
 
chris321 said:
In that case, I think you'll be very happy with the 18-55 and 55-250, I've seen some awesome shots with both! And you can always add a raynox filter for about £40 which can give some really impressive macro results.

If you're considering getting a 450D secondhand, there's a very nice chap selling one in the classifieds ;) :D

Chris
Click to expand...
Its not gone unnoticed ;)

Terran
 
My wife has the 18-200mm IS and loves it it is a great starter lens and gives a good range from wide angle to top end, you cant go wrong with it
 
What about the 450D Body Only @ £450 and the following, Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 @ £330. The 17-85mm is an OK lens, but only just about delivers above kit lens performance, its not a great lens, where as the Tamron is a little gem

Actually jessops has it at £419 and there's a £30 cashback offer from canon as well. They also do the Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 for £329.

http://www.jessops.com/online.store...ops.com/online.store/products/73521/Show.html

Check out prices here
http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/index.html
 
I know its nikon but I have the 24-70mm f2.8.

All the picture are so sharp.
Its so diffrent from my previous point and shoot (Fuji S7000).

I would go for somethink equivilent in the cannon format.

Cost may be an issue though.

I saw the Tamron 10-270mm and thought it was a great alrounder as a comprimise.
 
Hey T, the double-zoom kit seems a pretty good starter package, although the included lenses aren't particularly fast. My only gripe with the 450D is that it feels a bit fragile and toy-like in comparison to say, the 40D.

The other consideration is that if you ever upgrade your 450D to one that doesn't have an APS-C sized sensor, you wont be able to use those EF-S lenses.

On the positive side however, the 450D with EF-S lenses are much smaller and lighter
 
Characteristics said:
I know its nikon but I have the 24-70mm f2.8.

All the picture are so sharp.
Its so diffrent from my previous point and shoot (Fuji S7000).

I would go for somethink equivilent in the cannon format.

Cost may be an issue though
Click to expand...

I'd have thought a lens costing twice as much as his most likely entire setup would be a little out of the running personally!!! :)
 
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