First Lens - DPChallenge Forums

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

06/13/2006 09:24:59 PM · #1

I like to take close up shots of flowers and people. I am only going to be able to have one lens for a while. What do you suggest I get? I don't want a macro lens in case I want to shot something that is not macro. Someone suggested: EF 28-135 mm f 3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens

faidoi

Pentax K10D

06/13/2006 09:38:59 PM · #2

What's your budget?

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

06/13/2006 10:23:15 PM · #3

500.00 is my budget. I think I am going to skip the Kit lens and go with the lens I will get the most use out of. Nikon

I Enjoy Ham

Canon EOS-30D

06/13/2006 10:27:43 PM · #4

personaly, i love the 28-135 IS USM, its great for taking close ups of flowers, and for taking portraits, the IS really helps out a lot, and considering you would be getting the same shutter speeds as you would if you got the kit lens...
In my opinion, go for the 28-135 :)

-Dan

06/13/2006 10:31:56 PM · #5

Not a bad option. If you want something more specific, try the 60mm f/2.8 Macro or the 100mm f/2.8 macro... Both are fantastic. The 60mm will probably get you better portraits... The 100mm will give you a bit more range to get bugs and stuff that might move. If it's just flowers, the 60mm looks good...

I'm a little confused as to which system you will be using though...

You started asking about the 28-135 for Canon, but then you said Nikon...

If it's Nikon, forget about keeping a budget unless you shoot third party lenses. Their glass is good, but you get what you pay for.

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

06/13/2006 10:38:57 PM · #6

Im not sure if I am going Nikon or Canon yet :-)

I Enjoy Ham

Canon EOS-30D

06/13/2006 10:52:48 PM · #7

uh oh... you just opened a huge can of worms :)

CANON!!! CANON!!! CANON!!!

-Dan

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM for Nikon

06/13/2006 10:57:35 PM · #8

Perhaps there is your answer?

On the other hand, don't count out the new Sony cam... Lens costs will be around the same as the Nikon, but you will have SO much more freedom because you will be able to buy lenses that don't have IS or VR and aren't even available...

For example, the Nikon 100mm f/2.8 VR Macro lens is 830 dollars...

You could get the Sony and a third party 90mm or 105mm f/2.8 macro lens and still be ahead because the Sony features the same sensor as the D200, but the D200 body only will set you back more than the combined total for the Sony A100, a 3rd party macro and other lenses as well.

Additionally, there are lots of other lenses that you might really enjoy using with the IS. An example of that is the 50mm f/1.7... I will be doing a dark shooting situation in a couple of weeks and having IS on it would be a HUGE help... I won't have IS though...

The insides bits and peices of the Nikon are mostly made by Sony anyhow, so it's far more of a contender.

If you want to get affordable lenses with a great sensor, but aren't overly worried about IS (or need 5FPS), go with Canon.

If you want to get affordable lenses, with a good sensor, but and want IS/AS/VR, go with the Sony.

If you want expensive, but fantastic lenses and a great sensor, go with Canon.

If you want to get expensive but fantastic lenses with a good sensor, STILL go with the Sony... Zeiss plus AS beats Nikkor plus VR. Older Konica Minolta lenses are generally pretty close to Nikkor in quality if you can't afford Zeiss but still want expensive... The Zeiss is pretty affordable in that line though...

I haven't thought of a scenario where buying Nikon works out better for anyone in the long run...

Back on the lenses issue, another lens to check out is the 70-300 by Sigma.. It doesn't have IS, but it's 1:2 ratio isn't bad and you can use it from a bit farther away... You can then get even closer by the reverse mount method which works quite well.

EDIT: Wooops! What was I thinking about that lens... I didn't keep up looking at it, but remembered something from the news when it was coming out that it was expected to be very costly... I may have gotten it mixed up with a different lens... My bad! sorry. Thanks for the headsup Zal!

Message edited by author 2006-06-13 23:11:56.

ralph

Nikon Z9

06/13/2006 10:59:09 PM · #9

avoid zealots, they tend to rationalize their purchases
buy the system that feels right ..

i would suggest you get the kit lens to start & specilize after
since there are many options for both decide after using it ..

go simpler & get the 50 f/1.8 for cheap & zoom with your feet for a while

Zal

Nikon D200

06/13/2006 11:03:46 PM · #10

Originally posted by eschelar:

For example, the Nikon 100mm f/2.8 VR Macro lens is 2000 dollars...

What? $830 is more like it.

06/13/2006 11:07:20 PM · #11

?

I don't own a Sony. I gave reasonable breakdowns of cost-benefit.

On the other hand, I usually say: Avoid people who tell you to buy what feels right... You will get used to any camera that you use regularly after a few weeks regardless of the design or brand... after a few months of regular use, you might not even notice the camera much...

While I usually do recommend the kit lens plus the 50 f/1.8 and the Sigma 70-300, I would NOT recommend to this user to get *only* the kit lens and the 50 f/1.8... She wants it to shoot flowers. She will need some sort of Macro or near-macro lens... That is the topic of the thread...

06/14/2006 12:29:38 PM · #12

Ok guys here is the news! I ordered a canon Rebel. Okay so now for under 500 what lens should I start with :-) I did get the kit lens

hyperfocal

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 105mm f/2.5 AIS

06/14/2006 12:57:03 PM · #13

If you go Nikon, may I suggest the AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D IF. It really is a great multipurpose lens (very sharp, contrasty & pretty inexpensive for it's quality), and from 50-105 it has a macro mode that goes to 1:2 for your macro shots. Then when you can afford it add the Nikkor 12-24 or the Tokina 12-24, and your covered except for the long end.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/14/2006 02:01:29 PM · #14

The lens kit for that camera is the same as for the others...

Kit lens 18-55
50mm f/1.8
Sigma 70-300 APO Macro...

The Sigma will do you well for your flowers shots as it has a 1:2 ratio for close-ups... Not strictly a macro, but it's not half bad...

A lot of flowers are slightly larger 'macro subjects' too, so suit a 1:2 ratio fairly well....

That will keep you well under your 500 dollar limit.

Then you can check out the LowePro Micro Trekker or the Slingshot bags depending on your needs.

I've had their AW backpacks out in VERY heavy rains for close to an hour and had no worries.

This will get you started... as was mentioned earlier, it's often best to take a very basic kit then start working on learning how to use it well... It'll probably be at least a year before you can outgrow any of that...

The first to go will probably be the 18-55 kit.

The current Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 or the soon to be released Tokina 16-50 f/2.8 are serious contenders there.

A lot of people also recommend the Tamron 28-75 f/2.8, but unless you are going to supplement with something a little wider, you will still end up going back to the kit lens to do your wide shots... which kinda defeats the purpose...

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

06/14/2006 02:13:40 PM · #15

I'd suggest a Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 and a set of Kenko extension tubes. You'll have a great general-purpose lens and lots of macro flexibility.

I should add that the Tamron will already focus to 12," so you'll be REALLY close with extension tubes. If you're going to concentrate on closeups, I'd go with Jacko's favorite- the Sigma 105mm.

Message edited by author 2006-06-14 14:23:22.

Prof_Fate

06/14/2006 03:22:21 PM · #16

extension tubes as mentioned work well and wtih most lenses.

try macro is 1:1 - so you need a try macro lens - 100 2.8, 180 3.5, or the APS_C 60 something (bear music has it i think) - speaking canon anyway.

teh tamron SP24-135 3.5-5.6 is an excellent lens and is a 'macro' lens. Most 'macro' lenses are really just close focusing lenses and don't do 1:1 (some are 1:2 some 1:5). the tamron is a great all around lens, super sharp and does nice macro for about $400 - canon or nikon.

you can also get a 'reversing ring' and put the canon 50 1.8 on a lens 'backwards' and do macro that way (canon or nikon)