What Lens Should I Buy?
Discussion
Morning all.
I bought a Canon Eos 550d last year when we went on honeymoon. It came with the 18-55mm lens kit, which was ok as a starter but the obvious weakness to me (even as a total novice!) was that it did not zoom very far.
It has been annoying me that I've hardly used the camera since, so I've decided to try to get a bit more serious about it and get a new lense. I don't want to spend a silly amount of money, and have been recommended this as a good next step;
Clicky
I know there are plenty on here who are well into photography so any thoughts appreciated!
I bought a Canon Eos 550d last year when we went on honeymoon. It came with the 18-55mm lens kit, which was ok as a starter but the obvious weakness to me (even as a total novice!) was that it did not zoom very far.
It has been annoying me that I've hardly used the camera since, so I've decided to try to get a bit more serious about it and get a new lense. I don't want to spend a silly amount of money, and have been recommended this as a good next step;
Clicky
I know there are plenty on here who are well into photography so any thoughts appreciated!
I think that's meant to be a pretty good lens, but for a little bit more you can get yourself this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-70-200mm-4-0-USM-Len...
You lose the IS and 100mm but you get yourself on the L-series slippery slope. Once you've seen how sharp it is you will never want to go back to your kit lens!
You lose the IS and 100mm but you get yourself on the L-series slippery slope. Once you've seen how sharp it is you will never want to go back to your kit lens!
[quote=chris333]I think that's meant to be a pretty good lens, but for a little bit more you can get yourself this one http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-70-200mm-4-0-USM-Len...
You lose the IS and 100mm but you get yourself on the L-series slippery
+1
Got mine just after Christmas - Smashing lens
Examples from both ends of the range
You lose the IS and 100mm but you get yourself on the L-series slippery
+1
Got mine just after Christmas - Smashing lens
Examples from both ends of the range
Edited by covboy on Sunday 31st March 12:33
If I may rearrange your post:
'I don't use my camera so I'm going to buy a new lens for it'.
Is this going to fire enthusiam or is it flogging a dead horse and your money would be better spent elsewhere? If the former, then a 70-300mm is a good second lens (but not if it lives in a cupboard!)
Apologies if it seems unhelpful but it's an alternative view that might be pondered
'I don't use my camera so I'm going to buy a new lens for it'.
Is this going to fire enthusiam or is it flogging a dead horse and your money would be better spent elsewhere? If the former, then a 70-300mm is a good second lens (but not if it lives in a cupboard!)
Apologies if it seems unhelpful but it's an alternative view that might be pondered
Couple of options:
Keep the 18-55 for wider stuff and buy a 55-250 to go with it.
Switch to a 24-105L and later on get a telephoto (e.g. 70-200 / 70-300) etc.
A telephoto won't replace the lens you have, it'd compliment it.
The 24-105 would replace it, give you extra length and its a bit faster (f4 constant).
Its my walk around lens. You would lose some of the wide end, but it never really bothered me for walk around stuff.
Keep the 18-55 for wider stuff and buy a 55-250 to go with it.
Switch to a 24-105L and later on get a telephoto (e.g. 70-200 / 70-300) etc.
A telephoto won't replace the lens you have, it'd compliment it.
The 24-105 would replace it, give you extra length and its a bit faster (f4 constant).
Its my walk around lens. You would lose some of the wide end, but it never really bothered me for walk around stuff.
tleefox said:
I know there are plenty on here who are well into photography so any thoughts appreciated!
If you're a casual user, why not head for one of the consumer type zooms (can't think of a better name for them), like the Tamron 18-200? Or 18-270?The 18-200 is showing as $200 and the 18-270 for $400 or so, which can't be a bad price. The photography toffs will scoff at such a lens, but heck, gets you an all round lens for not a lot of cash, plus with the added advantage that you won't need to change lenses much either.
There is nothing stopping you buying new glass and trading in old glass in the future. In fact, s/h lenses on Ebay have pretty robust prices all things considered.
JDRoest said:
tleefox said:
I know there are plenty on here who are well into photography so any thoughts appreciated!
There is nothing stopping you buying new glass and trading in old glass in the future. In fact, s/h lenses on Ebay have pretty robust prices all things considered.I bought my 70-200F4L for about £350 in the US. I then sold it on ebay for more than I padi for it when I traded up to the IS version.
Crafty_ said:
Switch to a 24-105L and later on get a telephoto (e.g. 70-200 / 70-300) etc.
Quick Google on 24-105L shows these to be very expensive i.e. around £700-£800 which is double what I wanted to spend.Simpo Two said:
Is this going to fire enthusiam or is it flogging a dead horse and your money would be better spent elsewhere? If the former, then a 70-300mm is a good second lens (but not if it lives in a cupboard!)
Apologies if it seems unhelpful but it's an alternative view that might be pondered
Not unhelpful in the slightest - very valid point! It is something I want to be able to take more seriously as a hobby, but the kit I currently have restricts my ability to do that; hence why I'm looking for a decent second lense.Apologies if it seems unhelpful but it's an alternative view that might be pondered
JDRoest said:
If you're a casual user, why not head for one of the consumer type zooms (can't think of a better name for them), like the Tamron 18-200? Or 18-270?
Good point - the 18-270 comes up as £370 on Amazon. Anyone have any insight as to how this performs compared to other brands?tleefox said:
Good point - the 18-270 comes up as £370 on Amazon. Anyone have any insight as to how this performs compared to other brands?
No idea about the competition, but the few reviews I've read and nothing horrible has been said about it. Tamron and Sigma are pretty much equals these days.Now......compared to the $55 s/h Promaster 70-300 I just picked up today on Ebay.....yeah.....it'll go well with my $10 Cosina 100mm f3.5
tleefox said:
...the kit I currently have restricts my ability to do that; hence why I'm looking for a decent second lens
Have you got an example of something you'd like to do, but can't with your existing kit?Obviously if you're wanting to do motorsport, wildlife, or other things that you can't just walk up to (because it'll run you over or run away), then you do need a long lens (prime or zoom, your choice; prime will have better AF performance and IQ, zoom will be easier to use).
For pretty much everything else, though, all cameras come with factory-fitted Nike Zoom.
TBH, I'd say take more pictures before you buy more glass, notwithstanding the real requirements for a long lens detailed above.
JDRoest said:
tleefox said:
Good point - the 18-270 comes up as £370 on Amazon. Anyone have any insight as to how this performs compared to other brands?
No idea about the competition, but the few reviews I've read and nothing horrible has been said about it. Tamron and Sigma are pretty much equals these days.Now......compared to the $55 s/h Promaster 70-300 I just picked up today on Ebay.....yeah.....it'll go well with my $10 Cosina 100mm f3.5
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