Which lens? part 2 :P

[mtracerz]

Ok I put up a post last night asking about which lens I would be looking at getting for nature /sports shots, aswell as a general purpose lens for a complete beginner at the photography game. I originally asked for advice for a d40

However, I became the proud owner of a Canon 40d today, so same question, however relating to the 40d now.

It is coming as body only, so would it be wise to try and pick up the kit 18-55mm lens as the general purpose? (what do these sell for s/h?) or is there a better alternative at not too much more cost?
And a good entry level zoom lens for those longer nature shots?

Cheers

 

[EdBray]

Try to get hold of the better Canon EFs 18-55 IS as it has better IQ can be had for around £80 S/H

You do not state you budget for your sports/wildlife lens but you are looking at either around £800ish for a 100-400L IS or £300ish for an EF 70-300 IS (both s/H prices.

S/H 70-300 IS here

S/H 100-400L IS Here

 

[bomberman]

sigma 17-70 is nice for a walkabout lens, can be had for 140 second hand

 

[mtracerz]

Try to get hold of the better Canon EFs 18-55 IS as it has better IQ can be had for around £80 S/H

You do not state you budget for your sports/wildlife lens but you are looking at either around £800ish for a 100-400L IS or £300ish for an EF 70-300 IS (both s/H prices.

S/H 70-300 IS here

S/H 100-400L IS Here

thanks for the quick reply

ok my budget comes nowhere close to the 800 mark just yet!
wouldnt be able to work it well enough to warrant 800 at the moment, will be the first time iv picked up a slr! 300 bit more reasonable though.

 

[EdBray]

If you want to keep the cost down you could pick up the non IS version a fair bit cheaper or go for an independant such as this Tamron at £130 new.

Personally if you can push the boat out I would go for the Canon Ef 70-300 IS, but if you just want a taster then the Tamron will probably suit you fine, you would not lose too much either if you decide to upgrade later.

 

[Rolyratman]

If you want reach then the Canon 70-300mm IS USM is a great lens and compact as well, for a standard zoom lens I would recommend a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 again another cracking bit of kit.

 

[mtracerz]

another question, wheres the best places to find these second hand lenses?
Obviously il keep track of the section on this forum, but where else is a good bet?

 

[Hyster]

MPB Photograhic are worth looking at from time to time.

Jessops have the Tamron lens Ed mentions a bit cheaper too.

 

[micloi]

70-300 IS is a good choice or if you can up your budget to closer to £400 (even though a few sold for around £350) you could find a used 70-200mm f4 L

 

[mtracerz]

If you want to keep the cost down you could pick up the non IS version a fair bit cheaper or go for an independant such as this Tamron at £130 new.

Personally if you can push the boat out I would go for the Canon Ef 70-300 IS, but if you just want a taster then the Tamron will probably suit you fine, you would not lose too much either if you decide to upgrade later.

Probably going to sound really daft in asking this.. but here goes.

In the write up it says macro lens. Now I thought that was what was used for the really close up shots. Though I understand its the numbers that are what indicates what a lens does (Still got to properly learn about this). So can someone explain to me what macro defines?

 

[mtracerz]

70-300 IS is a good choice or if you can up your budget to closer to £400 (even though a few sold for around £350) you could find a used 70-200mm f4 L

hm might be a wee bit out of budget at the moment, due to me needing at least one lens so i can use my new camera :bonk:

however may look at that when it comes to upgrading.

Where were they selling for 350? trying to build up a bank of places that sell 2nd hand goods take it eBays no good? or is it? god i feel so new...

 

[Rolyratman]

Ebay can be a very good place if you know what your looking for and the prices they go for etc. But I have seen alot of stuff sell well over the odds and even more than new in some cases because people either don't know what they are buying or get caught up in the auction.

 

[mtracerz]

Ebay can be a very good place if you know what your looking for and the prices they go for etc. But I have seen alot of stuff sell well over the odds and even more than new in some cases because people either don't know what they are buying or get caught up in the auction.

yeah its the same with everything on eBay, alot of people lose all sense of price judgment when they are trying to outbid someone in the heat of the moment. Good if your selling though.
Would make sure id run it through someone on here before I venture out into ebays marketplace so i dont do anything silly :bonk:

 

[Hyster]

Worth pointing out this thread too, a list of used suppliers.

 

[mtracerz]

Worth pointing out this thread too, a list of used suppliers.

awesome, just what i was looking for

 

[EdBray]

Probably going to sound really daft in asking this.. but here goes.

In the write up it says macro lens. Now I thought that was what was used for the really close up shots. Though I understand its the numbers that are what indicates what a lens does (Still got to properly learn about this). So can someone explain to me what macro defines?

The Tamron is a 70mm-300mm zoom lens that also has a close focus facility that also allows 1/2 lifesize macro images to be taken. This means that at its closest focus distance the image of the object being photographed will be recorded on the sensor at half its actual size 1:2.

True macro is normally classed as lifesize 1:1 ratio, but a 1:2 ratio is very, very useful.

A standard angle of view on a 1.6x crop camera such as the 40D is approximately 35mm so a 70-300 zoom gives you approximately a 2x - 10x (standard view) zoom.

A standard zoom lens for a 1.6x crop camera is normally in the region of 17mm (wide angle) to 50mm (slight telephoto).

 

[mtracerz]

The Tamron is a 70mm-300mm zoom lens that also has a close focus facility that also allows 1/2 lifesize macro images to be taken. This means that at its closest focus distance the image of the object being photographed will be recorded on the sensor at half its actual size 1:2.

True macro is normally classed as lifesize 1:1 ratio, but a 1:2 ratio is very, very useful.

A standard angle of view on a 1.6x crop camera such as the 40D is approximately 35mm so a 70-300 zoom gives you approximately a 2x - 10x (standard view) zoom.

A standard zoom lens for a 1.6x crop camera is normally in the region of 17mm (wide angle) to 50mm (slight telephoto).

Ah ok, I understand. Thats a nice bonus that it has that option aswell if I choose to experiment with some of those shots, though it will be primarily for the range il'l be used for.
Still getting a bit lost with all the numbers though... sure il start to pick it up (at least I hope I will)

 

[mxfun]

Have a look at the classifieds on here ,better prices than ebay

 

[mtracerz]

ok, well think im going to get a general lens first, so I can capture xmas day with the family etc (im guessing the Tamron 70-300mm would be no good for this?)

so far iv been suggested

• kit lens 18-55mm
• Canon EFs 18-55 IS
• Sigma 17-70

What is better the canon or sigma? or are there any others within my budget? Which is probs no more than £150 atm. As il be wanting my zoom lens soon too.

 

[mxfun]

ok, well think im going to get a general lens first, so I can capture xmas day with the family etc (im guessing the Tamron 70-300mm would be no good for this?)

so far iv been suggested

• kit lens 18-55mm
• Canon EFs 18-55 IS
• Sigma 17-70

What is better the canon or sigma? or are there any others within my budget? Which is probs no more than £150 atm. As il be wanting my zoom lens soon too.

There also the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 ,i've one for sale in classified section at the moment

 

[andyred]

ok, well think im going to get a general lens first, so I can capture xmas day with the family etc (im guessing the Tamron 70-300mm would be no good for this?)

so far iv been suggested

• kit lens 18-55mm
• Canon EFs 18-55 IS
• Sigma 17-70

What is better the canon or sigma? or are there any others within my budget? Which is probs no more than £150 atm. As il be wanting my zoom lens soon too.

There also the Tamron 17-50 f2.8 ,i've one for sale in classified section at the moment

And don't forget the Canon 17-85 IS (which was the kit lens with the 40D) - just to make life complicated

As regards the zoom, as has been said, the Canon 70-300 IS lens is a belter, if fanancies are a little tight you could look at the 55-250 IS lens which is highly rated and you should be able to pick it up for around £170-180.

Good luck with your search