Newbie Canon 550D questions

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Martylaa

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Martin
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hi all just got one, came with a 18-55mm lens, i'm thinking of wildlife and portrait photos will be my focus, so i'm thinking what type of lens next to go for next and can anyone recommend a good tripod quite lightweight nothing bbulky and any good carry bags please.
Also am i right in thinking when looking for a lens i should be really getting ones with IS built in to them and stay away from any what don't, i would prob stay with respectable canon lens ( if thats the right phrase )
thanks
 
As ever your best bet for the next lens would be the Canon 55-250mm IS

Personally like bags made by Crumpler, but Lowepro are a good choice with a wide range

IS is handy, but certainly don't ignore non IS lenses, bit early to be going into all the pros and cons

Can't help much with tripods, still using an ancient Manfrotto 055, suppose that's a good recommendation because its still going strong, but so many more out there to choose from

Get out, take some pics, if you haven't already get your head round exposure and enjoy
 
Martylaa said:
Also am i right in thinking when looking for a lens i should be really getting ones with IS built in to them and stay away from any what don't, i would prob stay with respectable canon lens ( if thats the right phrase )
thanks
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Not necessarily, Yes if the lens is rated F4-5.6, but if its an F2.8 you don't NEED IS, though its nice to have, bear in mind that aperture is what's important. I personally would buy and F2.8 version of a lens in preference to a slower one with IS.

I would actually suggest going for the canon 70-300mm F4-5.6 IS, its sharper than the 55-250mm and that extra 50mm helps with wildlife.

For portraits you need look no further than the cheap little 50mm F1.8, its a cracking little lens that really delivers and at around the £80 mark its a real bargain of a lens.

For a tripod, if you can run to it, try the manfrotto's, they really are very good, especially the prob models.

Bags are quite subjective and it depends if you want to lug all your kit around with you all the time.
Most soon learn its better to travel lighter and so often end up with two bags, a larger one that all the kit lives in at home and a smaller one that just takes the body, a couple of lenses and spare cards/batteries for day to day use.
Buy what ever takes your eye but as a rule if going out in cities most buy something that doesn't look like a camera bag such as the crumplers
 
Bags can be quite irritating, Crumpler I find over-padded, bulky and noisy, so noisy in fact that the velcro has actually woken my wife up on one occasion when i was embarking on a late night download.
The great advantage of the 550d is it's light weight and compact size so think carefully before bulking it up. I totally agree with the two tele zooms mentioned above and lots of my clients have bought them along. I'm particularly fond of the 55-250 and, in my experience it's no less sharp than the 70-300 which is double the price but better built and faster focusing.

You can carry the 550d around your neck or over the shoulder and the 55-250 in a baggy jacket pocket.

Read up on the apertures or better still hunt down the local pro who does training and get a big kickstart. Good luck, John.

ps the 55-250 makes a reasonable portrait lens too, f3.5 at 55mm or so and the option to zoom in and control backgrounds for outdoor portraits.
 
iancandler said:
I would actually suggest going for the canon 70-300mm F4-5.6 IS, its sharper than the 55-250mm and that extra 50mm helps with wildlife.
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Which one of these you go for depends on your budget. As the proud owner of a 550D and a 55-250mm zoom, my advice would be to go for the 70-300mm if you can afford it. The shorter lens is a very nice piece of kit but with wildlife you can never have too much zoom.
 
Your 550d probably came with the 18-55mm IS, which is a decent starter lens.
I would go for the Canon 55-250mm IS to get some extra reach.
 
iancandler said:
I would actually suggest going for the canon 70-300mm F4-5.6 IS, its sharper than the 55-250mm and that extra 50mm helps with wildlife.
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:plusone:

Agree. Thats what I use with my 450D and even then I still wish for more reach at times.
 
like the look of the 55-250 lens, don't think i can stretch to that 300mm one yet, time to write up my xmas list and hey ho there amy be a tripod and new lens for me xmas time, cheers all
 
If its any help, Im a noob who has also bought a 550d. I have bought a 70-300is as mentioned above and the canon 28-135is. I bought a Lowepro Rezo 160 which is an excellent well thought out bag, but is a bit small if I want to put the camera in it with the 70-300 fitted.
 
Also remember that if you are shooting from a tripod you should turn the IS off. If you are going to be using the tripod a lot, the need for a lens with IS isn't so great.
 
Also remember that if you are shooting from a tripod you should turn the IS off
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I believe the latest version of IS has tripod sensing and no longer need to worry about turning it off
 
Martylaa said:
hi all just got one, came with a 18-55mm lens, i'm thinking of wildlife and portrait photos will be my focus, so i'm thinking what type of lens next to go for next and can anyone recommend a good tripod quite lightweight nothing bbulky and any good carry bags please.
Also am i right in thinking when looking for a lens i should be really getting ones with IS built in to them and stay away from any what don't, i would prob stay with respectable canon lens ( if thats the right phrase )
thanks
Click to expand...

It purely depends on budget.

I've gone for a canon 55-250mm IS as this is within my budget and complements the canon kit lens well.

However if you have the budget you can get much better lens, but at much higher costs
 
100-400L. As above you can never have too big a lens for wildlife. L glass too! Not cheap, but very good.
 
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