N00b question: About the various lenses available

Rayn

Rayn

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First of all, I am deeply sorry for asking something as basic as this, and I should probably have read up on the subject on Wikipedia or something, but I'd rather check if someone could explain a couple of things for me, in layman's terms.

I've just ordered a Canon 'nifty fifty' (1.8) and the Canon 55-250 IS. What I'm wondering is, what does the nifty fifty provide that my kit lens doesn't, apart from (presumably) IQ? My kit lens (18-55) already has 50mm in its focal range, what can I do @ 50mm that my kit lens can't (and @ 35mm etc. as well, I've heard there's a really great 35mm from Canon)?
 
The nifty will be sharper than the 18-55 at 50mm. Also the 50mm is f1.8 so you can use it in lower light conditions. It really is a great lens as is the 55-250mm IS.
 
Well f1.8 vs f5.6 is the main bonus, plus the 50mm will be a hell of a lot sharper.
 
AndyWest said:
The nifty will be sharper than the 18-55 at 50mm. Also the 50mm is f1.8 so you can use it in lower light conditions. It really is a great lens as is the 55-250mm IS.
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Agreed. I just got my 50mm a couple of weeks ago and am more than impressed with the results.

The 55-250IS is on the list for me too.
 
Thanks for the replies, much appreciated!
Another question, then, how's the reach @ 250mm on the 55-250 IS? Will I get a decent reach on my 550D? I spend a lot of time taking photos by and on the sea, mostly of birds and boats, and some times the stuff I want to shoot is a bit far away.
 
hi you could try an extender to add reach but i think you will have to manual focus and possible loose the IS function? (check with others there is a tape trick on the connectors but i am unsure) it may well work perfectly with the Len's under F4?.

the other thing is a new len's 100-400 -pick one up for about £800.00 SH or 70-200mm f4 is usm L this up there with there best canon Len's SH £800.00 and the 2.8 NEW £1200.00 to be honest my 2.8 is never off the camera.

regards Merc
 
Rayn said:
Thanks for the replies, much appreciated!
Another question, then, how's the reach @ 250mm on the 55-250 IS? Will I get a decent reach on my 550D? I spend a lot of time taking photos by and on the sea, mostly of birds and boats, and some times the stuff I want to shoot is a bit far away.
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The reach is good - a massive increase on your kit lens. It'll be fine for boats and bigger birds that get quite close to you - for smaller or more distant birds you'll have to crop, but you've got 18mp to crop from so you should be fine.
 
The other thing you will find with the prime lens is that you will think more about your compositions because you wont be able to zoom in and out.
 
With the 55-250 you'll have an effective field of view of about 400mm which should be good for large shore birds (read seagulls) that get close, you aught to be filling the frame with them.......for smaller birds realistically thats too short to begin with, you can get close enough to some small birds to be filling a significant amount of the frame when 'stalking' but to get that takes a lot of practice and knowing your subject inside out.
 
The main thing about the 50 1.8, that you cannot do any other way, is create very shallow depth of field. That's really the main point of using primes. No zoom gets anywhere near f/1.8.

There is also the benefit of being able to shoot in lower light, but there other ways of doing that, such as raising the ISO, using flash, or a tripod or IS. Not quite the same, but alternatives. There is no alternative to a low f/number for wonderfully shallow depth of field and background bokeh. Check your focusing technique, it's got to be spot on!
 
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