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08/07/2005 04:07:40 PM · #1 |
Here's the scenario:
Camera: Canon 300D
Type shots used taken most often: Landscape and animals
Background on photog: Have been shooting for about 2-3 years now. Biggest problem is camera shake as I have mild to moderate hand tremors, and cannot always use a tripod where I am shooting. Also, only lenses I have now are cheap glass - no IS or USM.
I am looking for recommendations for a good all around wide angle lens that will help me capture sharper images. Preferrably a fast focus. I take pet photos indoors, so the lens needs to be good for low light conditions also. I cannot afford L glass. I need to try and keep the price range under $500 - even then will have to save up for it.
Anyone got any suggestions?
- Linda |
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08/07/2005 04:10:15 PM · #2 |
Tamron 28-75/2.8 DI Macro
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08/07/2005 04:25:06 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by ph223048:
Tamron 28-75/2.8 DI Macro |
I owe the tamron and I have to agree that it is a wonderful everyday lens. The optical quality of shots that come out from it is outstanding. However you may find that is not as wide as one might like for landscapes and not as long as one might like for animals in the wild or zoo. But it is excellent for portraits! Another lens you might consider for indoor portraits is the canon 50mm f/1.8 (costs about $70) but be prepared to move a lot to get the right composition since its a prime.
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08/07/2005 04:58:02 PM · #4 |
Do either of these lenses have IS? I am thinking that I might need to get a lens with IS to get past the hand tremor problem.
Also, are they truly better than the ones I now have:
Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8-4.0 Aspherical for Canon
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Macro Super II for Canon
- Linda |
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08/07/2005 05:30:16 PM · #5 |
For your budget I'd recommend the Canon 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
Or if you need a wider angle and can add $99 to your budget get the Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Message edited by author 2005-08-07 17:33:29.
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08/07/2005 06:04:35 PM · #6 |
thanks everyone for the suggestions so far.
The Canon 28-135 looks like it might be what I am looking for. Now to see if I can find a used one in mint condition so I can get it for less than the new price. I would prefer to buy new, but can never afford to. So far, everything I have bought has been used - even my camera body.
Any other IS USM lens suggestions?
- Linda |
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08/07/2005 06:07:24 PM · #7 |
| I just got into photography and bought the Canon 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens and have been nothing but satisfied. There are times when I wish I had more zoom but maybe 2-3 times I thought I needed more wide angle. I also take alot of pet photo indoors with low light and have been eyeing the Canon 50 f/1.8. If you combined the two you would be right at your budget with most bases covered and IS. |
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08/07/2005 06:32:36 PM · #8 |
The Canon 28-135 might not be very good for indoor shots, even with the IS. It's still a pretty slow lens. If your subject is moving, as animals often do, the IS won't really help. You're probably better off with a faster non-IS lens.
For very sharp portraits in low light with extremely fast focusing for around $350-375, I don't think anything beats the Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM. The image quality would be superior to what you'd get with the 28-135. If you need a little wider, the Canon 50mm f/1.4 is a good choice (around $300?) - again, a much sharper lens than the 28-135 IS. Both of these would give you image quality similar to an L zoom lens. I wouldn't recommend the 50mm f/1.8 because it's terrible at focusing, especially in low light.
For wide angle stuff, you're probably better off with the kit lens until you can afford a better one in that range. The kit lens plus a 100mm f/2 would easily be less than $500.
I just noticed that you already have a Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8-4.0. I really don't think the Canon 28-135 IS is gonna give you much of an improvement over that, while the the 50mm 1.4 and 100mm 2.0 would give you huge improvements in what you can shoot in low light, particularly if your subject moves. But if you want a zoom, the 28-135 or Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 are probably the best you can get without stepping up to an L lens.
Message edited by author 2005-08-07 18:39:10. |
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08/07/2005 06:46:12 PM · #9 |
If you don't mind your feet being the zoom mechanism, a 50mm 1.8 or 1.4 can do an pretty good job of capturing just about any image.......as long as you can move the camera into framing position. Some think that a single focal 35mm is a better choice due to the sensor size impact, when one is considering a 50.
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08/07/2005 07:09:03 PM · #10 |
You said you cant always take a tripod with you, but what about a monopod?
Sigma and Tamron both have an 18-200mm lens for $399 (at B&H), although the aperture range is 3.5-6.3 which might be too slow. However, it does cover a really large range which would be good for both landscapes and animals. Probably if you couldn't take a monopod or tripod though this would not be a very good lens.
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08/08/2005 11:07:29 AM · #11 |
Sigma 30mm f1.4. Under $500, very fast and shart. Minimally wide, but it's equivalent to 50mm with a 1.6 crop.
Tamron 17-35, fast at 17mm (f2.8). Good lens.
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08/08/2005 11:19:09 AM · #12 |
IS is great, but it only adds about 2 f-stops. Many of the IS lenses (especially those under $500) are slower, some are f4.0-5.6. So if you open up a lens to f2.8, it may be about equal to IS on a lens that can only open to f5.6 (and consider that the shorter the lens, the longer you can handhold it, so the f4.0 side of the zoom may not be so important).
And f2.8 will stop motion better than the slower lenses.
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08/08/2005 11:40:40 AM · #13 |
If tremors are an issue and IS is important, you should consider a different camera, with IS built in. There are 1 or 2 non-Canon IS lenses, so basically you are going to go Canon if you want IS. Fast and IS = Big Money, and a big heavy lens.
An option might be the Sigma 18-50 2.8. Fast quality glass within your budget. (420 or so new on ebay)
I have not heard too many good things about the canon IS lenses (the 28-135, 18-85). You'd think if they were really good glass, at their very useful ranges, you'd hear nothing but recomendaitons for them. I hear procatically no one recomend them. Makes me wonder why.
Following the 1/focal length rule the wider the lens the less shutter speed you need, so in theory an 18mm could be handheld at 1/25. Given the 2 or 3 stops an IS lens gives you, that 2-3 stops at 18mm would be 1/100, not out of the question at 2.8.
For portrait work use strobes -they'll freeze the motion better than any IS available.
Not on the Rebel 300, but on canon's other dSLRs lense with max aps of 2.8 (or more) turn on more focus sensors in the camera body for faster and more accurate focusing.
Message edited by author 2005-08-08 11:42:01.
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