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cempa

cempa

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Steve
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Hi all

just bought a canon 400d it has the standard 18-55mm lens, but i would like to get a decent walk about lens just for everyday shooting, so something that will give me a good range...now for the million dollar question any ideas what i should go for ?

thanks
 
Welcome to the forum Steve. :thumbs:
How much do you have to spend is the 2 million dollar question. ;)
I'm in the same boat though at the mo I'm getting on quite well with the 'two lens shuffle', the two lenses in question being the 18-55 IS and the fantastic 55-250 IS.
One that was recommended to me when I asked was the 18-135 IS.
Reviews rate it very highly, much better than the 17-85 by all accounts and with none of the inherent problems caused by the ribbon cable cracking and knocking out the AF.
18-135 is about £250 new, the 55-250 which is a belter is about £140 new. ;)
 
I use the Canon 18-200mm IS as a walkabout lens because of the range it offers and it saves me carrying all my kit. The results are good on a 10mp camera, but if you intend to upgrade at some stage then maybe it would be sensible to invest in better glass now. All the time I have my 40D I will keep the 18-200mm.
 
Have you used it much yet? If not, take it out and see how it's limiting you - do you want it to be wider, longer, just better quality...?
 
cempa said:
Hi all

just bought a canon 400d it has the standard 18-55mm lens, but i would like to get a decent walk about lens just for everyday shooting, so something that will give me a good range...now for the million dollar question any ideas what i should go for ?

thanks
Click to expand...

Hi Steve and Welcome :wave:

An idea of your budget would be a help with recommendations...

But, as you've just bought the camera and lens, working on a tight budget, to go with your standard walk about lens you already have, the 55-250IS is a belter and for the money, is an absolute bargin. There is no difference optically, between the mkI and newly launched mkII version - they have just slightly redesigned the casing.

Here's a good site for an idea of prices...

http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/cat5.html
 
Hi guys

thanks for the info..i have been looking and in liking andyred`s recommendation and links to the 55-250is its around the kinda price i had in mind and seems to be a good arounda, amazon are selling them for £142 at moment
 
Not sure about any cosmetic differences between the mk1 and the mk2 but I believe the IS software was upgraded.
£142 is a good price for a new one, especially with free delivery.
MPB are currently selling them used for £134 + delivery so more-or-less the same price.
I bought mine used on Ebay back in August for around £120 delivered.
Buy one, you'll love it! :thumbs:
 
Just gonna pop over to bestbuy to have a butchers first
 
Havn't BestBuy all closed down now?
 
Hi Steve, welcome to the forum.The 18-55 IS and the 55-250 IS do make a great pairing. I got my 55-250 off a forum member for £110 and it was in mint condition. It's a great sharp lens but still leaves you having to change lenses.
I bought a 5D2 with a 24-105 f4 L in november and if you have a decent budget for a great walkaround then this is it. I use mine on both the 5D2 and my 7D and it's a really sharp and has a great range whether its on a full frame or crop.
If you haven't got that sort of budget, and not many do have after christmas has just passed, then the 55-250 IS is the one. I only got mine in september when I had a 550D and a 7D, but gave it to the wife with my 550D when I got my 5D2. I do still use it on my 7D, but only when she's not using it on the 550D, which is most of the time.
 
Bestbuy lakeside Essex close's 15 jan or when the stock is one !
I just looked at the 24-105 f4 great lens but a bit more than I want to pay at the moment. As everything is new to me and I have so much to learn yet but in time if I get the bug how knows...
 
I was thinking about the lack of warranty when buying something from somewhere you know is closing down but I'd imagine it would be covered by Canon wouldn't it?
 
cempa said:
Bestbuy lakeside Essex close's 15 jan or when the stock is one !
I just looked at the 24-105 f4 great lens but a bit more than I want to pay at the moment. As everything is new to me and I have so much to learn yet but in time if I get the bug how knows...
Click to expand...

I'd have a play with what you have first as you may find that 24mm isn't wide enough on a crop body (that lens was designed for full frame).
 
Thanks nawty
I'm going to get the 55-250is Mark 2, and hope for the best
 
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cempa said:
Thanks nawty
I'm going to get the 55-250is Mark 2, and hope for the best
Click to expand...

Don't pay more for a mk2, it's exactly the same as the mk1.

Good lens though.
 
I thought image quality was the same and it was just an update to the IS software but I've just found a press release which says they changed the front element to 'Ultra Low Dispersion' glass and used their 'Super Spectra Coating' on it. ;)
Anyone got a mk2 I can try? :lol:
 
Wozzaaah said:
Scrub that, I've just found the press release for the Mk1 and it reads pretty much exactly the same so it must just be the IS software. ;)
Click to expand...

No, it's all exactly the same, no software or hardware updates, only the external design.

The mk1 has the ULD glass and coatings and the IS is the same. They simply changed the external design to match that of their newer efs lenses such as the 18-135 and 15-85.
 
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I read somewhere that they'd uprated the software in the 18-55 IS II and assumed they'd done that with the 55-250 but it now seems that as you say, the only difference is cosmetic.
Just comparing pics of the two and there's just a few subtle differences, one being the mk1 has a silver ring with the focal length scale on it whereas the mk2 has a black ring. Not much else is different tbh.
I suppose one benefit of buying a used mk2 over mk1 is that you can guarantee it's newer as the mk2 was only released mid 2011.
 
The main change is the font and size of the markings on the lens designation.

Not really worth the extra some retailers charge!
 
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