I need some newbies advice for SLRs

10/31/2007 12:43:35 AM · #1

After using a Canon PowerShot A530 since the beginning of the year, I became increasingly interested in digital photography until I purchased the Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi in the middle of June. My goal was to upgrade without spending $1000 and have a good SLR that I could safely use for a year or two before feeling limited.

So far I've been pleased, but now I've done enough living behind bars with the single lens I own, the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 that came with the camera. This is where my knowledge of the SLR world depletes. I've browsed around a bit already trying to find a beginners guide. I've run across some useful pages such as:
//photo.net/equipment/canon/300D/EOS_300D_lenses.html
and
//www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/canon_lenses.shtml
but they still leave me with tons of questions.

� The one page mentions the "professional" versions of Canon's lenses are described by an 'L'. Does this mean I should strive to only get those versions of the lenses if at all possible? I do end up taking my camera into rugged environments, where I wouldn't want a cheaper lens to fail on me.
� What should the first lenses I shoot for as a beginner be? There are so many choices and at the moment I'm not sure what would be best to invest my money into first.
� If I were only going to buy one new lens for the moment, what would be the best choice? In this case, I'd be most interested in upgrading the "main" lens to something better and more versatile, again, not exactly sure what to look into though.
� And lastly, once I'm no longer completely hopeless in the lens department, what should the next camera I look into buying be? I'm also confused here about what exactly the ###D numbers mean. Are they just model numbers or is there something else?

Thanks so much for your time.

SamDoe1

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

10/31/2007 12:53:15 AM · #2

Originally posted by Hikari:

� The one page mentions the "professional" versions of Canon's lenses are described by an 'L'. Does this mean I should strive to only get those versions of the lenses if at all possible? I do end up taking my camera into rugged environments, where I wouldn't want a cheaper lens to fail on me.

Canon L lenses are the top of the line Canon lenses and also, naturally, the most expensive. If you can afford them, they are for sure the ones to go for. There are, however, exceptions to the rule. The Canon EF-S 10-22mm and EF 100mm macro for starters. Both fantastic lenses, but neither have an L designation. But remember, there are other options than just Canon lenses.

Originally posted by Hikari:

� What should the first lenses I shoot for as a beginner be? There are so many choices and at the moment I'm not sure what would be best to invest my money into first.

Well what do you enjoy shooting? You have the 18-55mm lens for now. Do you typically find yourself at the long end of the zoom or the wide end? Once you know this, we can suggest something for you.

Originally posted by Hikari:

� If I were only going to buy one new lens for the moment, what would be the best choice? In this case, I'd be most interested in upgrading the "main" lens to something better and more versatile, again, not exactly sure what to look into though.

Again, find which end of the 18-55mm kit lens you use most and go from there.

Originally posted by Hikari:

� And lastly, once I'm no longer completely hopeless in the lens department, what should the next camera I look into buying be? I'm also confused here about what exactly the ###D numbers mean. Are they just model numbers or is there something else?

I'd suggest building a good collection of lenses before diving into the new camera business. But for starters, the 300D/350D/400D rebels are the starter Canon dSLR's and the cheapest. The 10D/20D/30D/40D are the next step up. Better build, a few more features, and a little more expensive. The 5D is a full frame camera. This means the sensor is equal in size to a 35mm frame of film. The other lower Canon bodies have a 1.6x crop sensor meaning it's smaller than a frame of film. It runs in between the X0D line and the 1D line. The 1D are the pro cameras and top of the line. They have almost every feature you can desire and are sealed to the elements. There are two versions, the 1D and the 1Ds. The 1D is the high speed sports body, and the 1Ds is the high resolution body.

Hope this helps!

fotomann_forever

10/31/2007 01:03:03 AM · #3

Looks like Sam got all your questions fully covered well.

I'd emphasize considering the lens you have now in your next step. If you find you are wide a lot, then wide you should go. If you are zoomed a lot, then zoomed your should go.

While L lenses are Canon's "pro" lenses, as Sam stated, you don't have to go with L lenses to get a good lens.

You might look at some of the prime lenses. I highly recommend the Canon 28mm f/2.8. It is what would be considered a normal lens on a crop sensor camera. It's a great lens for a moderate price.

10/31/2007 01:36:09 AM · #4

Oddly enough, if I'm not at the 55mm end of the lens, I'm wishing I had a macro lens.

I'd like to get a trio of lenses to begin with. A macro lens, something for wide angles, and a "standard" lens for basic zoom.

As for not sticking with canon lenses, I never even considered the thought. I was aiming for getting lenses that would work excellent with my current camera, and still work excellent when I upgrade someday (to more than likely another Canon).

Message edited by author 2007-10-31 01:37:39.

SamDoe1

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

10/31/2007 01:37:24 AM · #5

What kind of a budget do you have for getting new lenses?

fotomann_forever

10/31/2007 01:38:33 AM · #6

Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro is going to be hard to beat for macro work.

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

10/31/2007 01:39:09 AM · #7

I have no real budget at the moment, but tentatively I'll probably be looking at ~$300 max a lens.

zxaar

10/31/2007 01:44:34 AM · #8

Originally posted by Hikari:

yepp you got the disease. Now all you will be doing is buying new lenses then upgrade the body. And would be drooling over other's lenses. There is no cure to it. Just pray to God.

Welcome to ourland.

Monique64

Canon EOS-30D

10/31/2007 01:49:49 AM · #9

If Hakari's lens is 18-55 then wont buying a 28mm be doubling up as this mm is already catered for in the 18-55mm range. Or is it a wider angle shot and/or a better f stop that is being taken into consideration. Obviously I am still getting the hang of different lenses.

My lens is 17-85mm which I find good for general use. I have since bought a 70-300mm (with macro) which is great for getting in close to those further away objects or getting in close for a macro shot without getting too close. I am now looking at a 10-20mm wide angle.

NstiG8tr

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

10/31/2007 01:53:44 AM · #10

I highly recommend the 10-500mm F1.8 IS macro that comes standard on the Best-Buy easy point and click models :-P

fotomann_forever

10/31/2007 02:01:24 AM · #11

Originally posted by Monique64:

The 28mm is indeed covered by his 18-55 pretty much right in the middle. But it is much sharper, much faster (has a wider aperture) and relatively inexpensive.

However, since he has stated a desire for macro and longer, I'd suggest the 100mm 2.8 macro as his first real lens purchase.

danielv

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II

10/31/2007 05:16:21 AM · #12

my $0.02:

* the kit 18-55 is crap, and it's likely the lens that you'll end up using most often. I'll change for at 18-55 2.8. Higher image equality and much butter for low light (meaning, most of the time except bright sunlight). Again, as it is likely to be your basic walkaround lens, better improve it.

* For macro, I'll definitely go for a 100 2.8 or equivalent macro lens. Prime give a high image quality, for a lower price. It would also serve great for a portrait lens.

* For wide angle, I'd buy a 10-2x. Go for 10mm minimum not 12 or more. As the sensor of the XTi is 1.6x smaller than a standard film camera, the image is cropped and you really need the widest possible lens to get real wide.

* For Zoom, that's very open, depending on what you'll use it for. You most likely should look for a zoom (as opposed to prime, fixed lens). The best would be the canon 70-200 2.8 L IS. But way above your budget, as will many of the best zoom lenses. to get the price down, you'll have to compromise, but which compromise to do depends on what use you have. If you go for a cheaper version, I would probably go for a 70-300. Note for wildlife, 200 (even on a 1.6x crop camera) is probably not enough.

* With a $300 a lens budget, you won't go far. You'll have (i) to extend a bit that budget (ii) to consider sigma and the other manufacturers (iii) to compare extensively prices on the internet. The lowest prices are the one syou will get direct from HK on ebay.

* One lens that you should definitely look into is the canon 50 1.8. Great value (<$100), great quality, great aperture, very versatile. It may be redundant with your 18-55 2.8, but for such a low price. You could also start by buying this one before changing your 18-55, just to see the benefit of lower aperture / faster lens, for a very low budget.

* To know what you're buying //www.photozone.de/8Reviews/index.html. But don't overplay the statistics.

Message edited by author 2007-10-31 05:22:08.

surfdabbler

Canon EOS-5D

10/31/2007 06:14:55 AM · #13

If you spend most of your time at 55mm, you probably want something longer. The most popular recommendation for telezoom around your price is the Sigma APO 70-300.

For a macro lens, forget about it on that budget. Get a closeup filter to put on the front of other lenses. Or, get a reversing ring and mount the 50mm backwards on the 70-300. These is are perfectly fine solutions for non-professional use, and will let you take some great macro shots for a very low budget. Unless you are dedicated to only taking macro shots, you can spend your money better elsewhere than getting a dedicated macro prime.

Just my 2c. Hey, you've got 4c now. :)

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

10/31/2007 06:36:10 AM · #14

I dunno if this will be any help or not, but I just recently changed my walkaround lens from the 18-70 kit lens to a Tamron 28-300 superzoom.

I am still an ingenue when it comes to most things technical, but I can sya this......I love it!

I am still learning why on multiple levels that this is not a great lens, but it's a darn good lens for what I want, and it's $400.

Tamron also makes an 18-250.

Tamron makes these lenses to fit a host of different bodies, and as someone who used to be a brand snob 'cause the aftermarket lenses, I'm won over by the apparent build quality as compared to the factory kit lenses.

They definitely do not compare to the L glass, but neither do they cost anywhere near as much.

There are others here who will vouch for Tamron being good bang for the buck.

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/31/2007 06:43:30 AM · #15

OK, I think going for a Prime lens isnt really versatile. I think a very very good lens to look at would be the Tamron 28-75 f2.8. Its nice and wide throughout the zoom range, its relatively cheap, well built (for the price) and the image quality is up there with its Canon look-a-like the 24-70 f2.8L, defintely worth checking out.

timfythetoo

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

10/31/2007 06:50:23 AM · #16

Originally posted by Simms:

I just got my Tamron yesterday and I am loving it so far. Does that lens fit on your 5D Mark?

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/31/2007 06:52:09 AM · #17

Originally posted by timfythetoo:

Originally posted by Simms:
OK, I think going for a Prime lens isnt really versatile. I think a very very good lens to look at would be the Tamron 28-75 f2.8. Its nice and wide throughout the zoom range, its relatively cheap, well built (for the price) and the image quality is up there with its Canon look-a-like the 24-70 f2.8L, defintely worth checking out.

I just got my Tamron yesterday and I am loving it so far. Does that lens fit on your 5D Mark?

Certainly does mate, and even corner to corner its very sharp throughout, defintely a worthy rival to the Canon 24-70 f2.8L - althought the Canon is slightly more contrasty, but about 3 times the price..

Message edited by author 2007-10-31 06:52:35.

aprilhwth

Nikon D50

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6

10/31/2007 06:57:21 AM · #18

My next lens is going to be a wide angle. I know it will make my landscape shots much better! I've heard that a 12-24 is what I should go for.

danielv

10/31/2007 07:13:32 AM · #19

Originally posted by surfdabbler:

For a macro lens, forget about it on that budget.

the sigma 105mm 2.8 macro can be found c. $350 on ebay