What 1st Lens???

bartoszwozniak

bartoszwozniak

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Bartosz Wozniak
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I have recently bought a 40D body and I am planning on getting my first lens around Christmas time. (I hope to get a second one on here actually). I want the lens to be a good walkabout lens for a start. It is going to be used for basically EVERYTHING. I am going to be looking at about £100 (second hand) I think, so what would you guys recommend??

Canon fit of course ;)

Bart
 
Something like a 28 - 135mm f3.5/5.6 IS. You might just manage to scrape one of those for a £100 (maybe a tad more).

As I think a lot of people on here will tell you, go for the best lens you can afford. More than the camera, it's the lens that'll make all the difference to the quality of your images. Providing, of course, that you point the camera at the right thing and hold it still!
 
Do you have the kit lens already?

My suggestions would be the 50mm 1.8 - allow to play with Depth Of Field, nice portaits, some lowlight - however fixed focal lengh. Probably the best optically I'm suggesting.

When I started I did so with second (maybe 3rd\4th) hand 28-105mm f3.5-4.5 (general walkabout) and a 100-300mm f4.5-5.6 (for wildlife) both for just over £100 each.

Maybe a second hand Tamron 18-200? Not had one but would give you a good basis for seeing what focal lengh you prefer.

Good luck!

Al
 
Badger UK said:
Something like a 28 - 135mm f3.5/5.6 IS. You might just manage to scrape one of those for a £100 (maybe a tad more).

As I think a lot of people on here will tell you, go for the best lens you can afford. More than the camera, it's the lens that'll make all the difference to the quality of your images. Providing, of course, that you point the camera at the right thing and hold it still!
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+1 to that, my wife has one, thought they would be a bit more than £100 though but good work if you get one :thumbs:
 
AKR's suggestion of a 50mm f1.8 is a good one. And a lot less than £100 too.
 
Of course I understand that the 50mm f/1.8 is great, and that was going to be my second choice lens, but firstly I would like something better for just walking about and something for everything (tough catching wildlife with a 50mm). I like the 28-135 suggestion. I will look into that one.

Do you have the kit lens already?
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No I dont have a kit lens

Thanks guys

P.S - If we have enough suggestions I will make a poll about it (That would be interesting :D)
 
I'll 2nd the 28-135, great lens.

Also Sigma 17-70mm f2.8 or Tamron 17-50mm f2.8
 
I would also suggest the 50mm f1.8 as a first lens, the fact that you dont have a zoom range will teach you so much and help you see shots that you may miss with a zoom lens, you will learn to position yourself for the shot and the f1.8 aperture will come in very handy for those shots where you want minimum DOF.

You could then save up for some good glass to put on the camera as you get to grips with what photography you enjoy most, its taken me years to get most of my lenses together but I have enjoyed it along the way (16-35mm f2.8 [£600 - £1000], 24-70mm f2.8 [£700 - £1000] and 70-200mm f2.8 [around £1000])
 
As a Nikon user I cannot add anything to the specifics but I would suggest 20-120 approx is a good value for a walk about lens.
 
The 28-135 isn't going to be good for wildlife if you want to shoot birds.
2nd hand prices on here seem to range from £180-£200.
In all honesty you are not going to get half decent mid range range zoom for £100.
In my oppinion the best sub £500 (around £450 new) walkaround lens is the Tamron 18-270mm but it will cost you a lot more than £100.
I think this lens gets overlooked because of the range and people will question the sharpness but overall it's very good value for money.
I've used mine for some landscapes, buildings (although I use my 10-22 mainly) and quite a lot for wildlife, candids etc.
The only real other option is 2 lenses, perhaps an 18-55mm IS and a 70-300mm IS.
Either way, it will cost you a lot more than £100.
I'm not going to mention L glass as that's a different story.
 
Well, the point is that, I am 15 years old and budget is a HUGE problem for me, so I am really looking, not to hit the £100 mark, but I think I might go for the 50mm f/1.8 after all.

I will think about it.
Bart
 
bartoszwozniak said:
Well, the point is that, I am 15 years old and budget is a HUGE problem for me, so I am really looking, not to hit the £100 mark, but I think I might go for the 50mm f/1.8 after all.

I will think about it.
Bart
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Hi Bart

If you get one second hand and look after it, you should be able to sell it on again for pretty much the same price.

You could may with any change from the £100 get something so you could try your hand at (macro) wildlife.

Enjoy

Al
 
it would be a shame to cripple a cracking body with a mediocre lens , if it was me i would spend no more money than on a nifty fifty to get you going and then save hard for some better lenses :)
 
a standard wide...say 28 to 80 if its a zoom
you can then do the fields and streams and aunt maudes portrait

size and weight need be a consideration

most..i think composite focal length lenses do a macro...
and you dont have to buy the 'badge' lenses..unless your editor pays for them
 
28-105 F3.5-4.5. You should pick one up for about £100 and far more versatile than the 50mm F1.8. Far better construction too.
 
I had a 350D a few years ago and really liked the Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
I was on a tight budget but although it's not world class glass I really liked it.
not an amazing lens but if you can get one 2nd hand it's a great walk about lens.
you can use the kit for wide angle and then look at a 2nd hand 50mm 1.8 which will set you up nicely for alsorts. :)

edit: just saw DOD's post...so :plusone:
 
If budget was such an issue why didnt you go for a 30D over a 40D and have more money to spend on lenses =/

The 30D + expensive lenses will give MUCH better results.
 
Luke_ said:
If budget was such an issue why didnt you go for a 30D over a 40D and have more money to spend on lenses =/

The 30D + expensive lenses will give MUCH better results.
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This was my point recently D3 plus my existing lenses OR D700 + 24-70f2.8 + existing lenses......

GLASS is king
 
Oh well! You could always contact people selling a 30D and see if you can trade it for your 40D with a couple of lenses.
 
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