400D lens
Author
Discussion

muppetdave

Original Poster:

2,118 posts

255 months

Sunday 30th March 2008
quotequote all
Hi guys

I'm not desperately looking to buy a new lens for my camera (really I want to know how to use the existing one I have before I go splashing lots of cash!), but I am interested to know what I would need to look for when the time does come.

What I mean is, that I know the 400D is not full-frame, so if I got a lens that is originally meant for that format, how do I translate the focal length etc to how it will work with my 400D.

Also, which series (certainly for Canon) are the 'correct' ones for my camera, and which will require the crop-factor conversion?

Long-term, I'm thinking about something with more zoom as the next lens...

flat-planedCrank

3,697 posts

233 months

Sunday 30th March 2008
quotequote all
muppetdave said:
Hi guys

I'm not desperately looking to buy a new lens for my camera (really I want to know how to use the existing one I have before I go splashing lots of cash!), but I am interested to know what I would need to look for when the time does come.

What I mean is, that I know the 400D is not full-frame, so if I got a lens that is originally meant for that format, how do I translate the focal length etc to how it will work with my 400D.

Also, which series (certainly for Canon) are the 'correct' ones for my camera, and which will require the crop-factor conversion?

Long-term, I'm thinking about something with more zoom as the next lens...
All lens focal lengths need 'translation' regardless if they are intended for cropped-sensor cameras or not smile That applies to all lens manufacturers.

For the 400D, that crop-factor is 1.6x - so a 100mm lens is the equivalent of a 160mm lens on an 'old' film SLR or a full-frame DSLR.
(..so if you have the 18-55mm kit lens - that's roughly equivalent to 29-88mm)



From Canon, any EF or EF-S lens will work on your 400D.
(Only difference being that EF-S lenses will not work on full frame cameras (like the 5D and 1ds series))



So, basically, read the reviews and then buy the best your budget allows smile

Edited by flat-planedCrank on Sunday 30th March 23:30

muppetdave

Original Poster:

2,118 posts

255 months

Sunday 30th March 2008
quotequote all
Cool - that clears it up nicely. And to be 110% clear - you apply the 1.6 to ANYTHING...

So the kit lens is a bit sneaky in that respect!

Edited by muppetdave on Sunday 30th March 23:20

flat-planedCrank

3,697 posts

233 months

Sunday 30th March 2008
quotequote all
muppetdave said:
Cool - that clears it up nicely. And to be 110% clear - you apply the 1.6 to ANYTHING...

So the kit lens is a bit sneaky in that respect!
Yep, that crop factor is applied to everything irrespective of manufacturer or whatever 'digital only' marking they have.



I actually made an error in previous reply (now edited), the kit lens (18-55mm) is roughly 29-88mm in film / DSLR speak smile Sorry for the confusion.

Its roughly the same coverage as the venerable 24-70mm L on a 5D (full-frame). The standard kit lenses tend to be wider now to offer that mid-zoom range smile


A wide angle lens for a 1.6x crop camera is something like 10mm now.
(Sigma make the popular 10-20mm (£290), canon themselves make the 10-22mm (£489))


Cheers.


RobDickinson

31,343 posts

284 months

Sunday 30th March 2008
quotequote all
Canons 'old' kit lens was 28-80 so the new EF-S models are that equivelant focal length.

Its not realy the same but you can for any real purpose ust multiply by 1.6

You in reality dont get more reach, nor the same view, nor the same DoF, but you can ignore all that for now.

muppetdave

Original Poster:

2,118 posts

255 months

Monday 31st March 2008
quotequote all
Cheers guys. I'd read about the Sigma funnily - looks rather nice.

Might try and borrow something with a local focal range for Le Mans....

Like I say I don't want to spend out lots of cash until I'm proficient with what I have.

jon-

16,534 posts

246 months

Saturday 5th April 2008
quotequote all
The 50mm f1.6 prime lens is apparently a good lens to start with. Only £70 on amazon so can't really go wrong and the picture quality is meant to be another league from the stock 18-55. Nice DoF at 1.6 too.

If you want to zoom use your legs wink

miniman

30,150 posts

292 months

Saturday 5th April 2008
quotequote all
jon- said:
The 50mm f1.6 prime lens is apparently a good lens to start with. Only £70 on amazon so can't really go wrong and the picture quality is meant to be another league from the stock 18-55. Nice DoF at 1.6 too.

If you want to zoom use your legs wink
The one priced around £70 (£63 in fact) is f/1.8 rather than f/1.6 but nonetheless it is a superb lens and a "must have" IMHO.

jon-

16,534 posts

246 months

Saturday 5th April 2008
quotequote all
miniman said:
jon- said:
The 50mm f1.6 prime lens is apparently a good lens to start with. Only £70 on amazon so can't really go wrong and the picture quality is meant to be another league from the stock 18-55. Nice DoF at 1.6 too.

If you want to zoom use your legs wink
The one priced around £70 (£63 in fact) is f/1.8 rather than f/1.6 but nonetheless it is a superb lens and a "must have" IMHO.
Sorry of course you're right, I've been dribbling over the 50mm f/1.4.

For comparison the kit lens only manages f/5 at 50mm

flat-planedCrank

3,697 posts

233 months

Saturday 5th April 2008
quotequote all
jon- said:
miniman said:
jon- said:
The 50mm f1.6 prime lens is apparently a good lens to start with. Only £70 on amazon so can't really go wrong and the picture quality is meant to be another league from the stock 18-55. Nice DoF at 1.6 too.

If you want to zoom use your legs wink
The one priced around £70 (£63 in fact) is f/1.8 rather than f/1.6 but nonetheless it is a superb lens and a "must have" IMHO.
Sorry of course you're right, I've been dribbling over the 50mm f/1.4.

For comparison the kit lens only manages f/5 at 50mm
Imo the 50 f1.8 is easily the bargain lens in Canons' range, any lens that delivers that image quality and is <£100 is great.


I have the 50 f1.4, its worth looking at if you want a prime to use all the time. Its faster to focus (USM (yeah i know, micro USM, but its still pretty fast)), easier to manual focus, and better made than the f1.8. Though, of course, more expensive with it smile

Sigma is set to release a 50mm f1.4 HSM, no price announced currently, might be one to look out for though. Their 30mm f1.4 is pretty well reguarded (for crop cameras only though)....


Cheers.

Edited by flat-planedCrank on Saturday 5th April 19:55

muppetdave

Original Poster:

2,118 posts

255 months

Sunday 6th April 2008
quotequote all
My friend got the nifty fifty and loves it. I will have a borrow of it and see how I get, although more immediately I'd like something with a little more power in it so to speak for the likes of Le Mans...

flat-planedCrank

3,697 posts

233 months

Sunday 6th April 2008
quotequote all
muppetdave said:
My friend got the nifty fifty and loves it. I will have a borrow of it and see how I get, although more immediately I'd like something with a little more power in it so to speak for the likes of Le Mans...
Like a 70-200 or 70-300 then ?


Cheers.

ofcorsa

3,546 posts

273 months

Tuesday 8th April 2008
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Any recomendations of where to buy the f1.8 50mm lens?

jon-

16,534 posts

246 months

Tuesday 8th April 2008
quotequote all
ofcorsa said:
Any recomendations of where to buy the f1.8 50mm lens?
Amazon market place

miniman

30,150 posts

292 months

ofcorsa

3,546 posts

273 months

Tuesday 8th April 2008
quotequote all
miniman said:
ordered