50D essential lenses

[nellyleelephant]

Hi, first real forray into the photography section, so be gentle.

We ordered a Canon 50D body today for the bargain price (hopefully) of £650. We've owned a 350D for a while and figured it was time we upgraded....hope we did the right thing.

the current lenses we have are the (350D) kit 18-55 , a 55-200 and a 75-300, all Canon, but not from their pricier range. Considering that it's mainly open landscapes that we seem to spend most of our time photographing, what would be a suitable lens from their IS range, or is there a good Sigma alternative anyone can recommend?

I'm also into astronomy, so would also like a wide field lens that would be suitable for large 'panoramic' views of the sky??

Thanks in advance

Chris

[whaninoz]

I would look at the sigma 10-20 for the wide stuff.

and if you havent got a 50mm 1.8 they are a fantastic (alough cheap and plasticy) lens and can be had for £70.

[flat-planedCrank]

nellyleelephant said:

Hi, first real forray into the photography section, so be gentle.

We ordered a Canon 50D body today for the bargain price (hopefully) of £650. We've owned a 350D for a while and figured it was time we upgraded....hope we did the right thing.

the current lenses we have are the (350D) kit 18-55 , a 55-200 and a 75-300, all Canon, but not from their pricier range. Considering that it's mainly open landscapes that we seem to spend most of our time photographing, what would be a suitable lens from their IS range, or is there a good Sigma alternative anyone can recommend?

I'm also into astronomy, so would also like a wide field lens that would be suitable for large 'panoramic' views of the sky??

Thanks in advance

Chris

Welcome to the Photography section

50D is certainly a good step up from a 350D, and £650 is a good price indeed

For the lenses, you don't say what sort of budget you are looking at? Is your current 18-55 wide enough for most of your uses?

If so then there is the very well thought-of EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS for around £800. Generally thought to be of 'L series' optical quality. There is a 17-55mm review here using the 50D.

For even wider - Sigma do a couple:
10-20mm f4-5.6 ( review)
10-20mm F3.5

Canon also does one in the form of the EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5( review)

And the slightly left-field choice (and still the one i'd probably go for) is the Tonika 11-16mm f2.8 ( review)


Are these the sort of kit your after?


Cheers.

[nellyleelephant]

flat-planedCrank said:

nellyleelephant said:

Hi, first real forray into the photography section, so be gentle.

We ordered a Canon 50D body today for the bargain price (hopefully) of £650. We've owned a 350D for a while and figured it was time we upgraded....hope we did the right thing.

the current lenses we have are the (350D) kit 18-55 , a 55-200 and a 75-300, all Canon, but not from their pricier range. Considering that it's mainly open landscapes that we seem to spend most of our time photographing, what would be a suitable lens from their IS range, or is there a good Sigma alternative anyone can recommend?

I'm also into astronomy, so would also like a wide field lens that would be suitable for large 'panoramic' views of the sky??

Thanks in advance

Chris

Welcome to the Photography section

50D is certainly a good step up from a 350D, and £650 is a good price indeed

For the lenses, you don't say what sort of budget you are looking at? Is your current 18-55 wide enough for most of your uses?

If so then there is the very well thought-of EF-S 17-55mm f2.8 IS for around £800. Generally thought to be of 'L series' optical quality. There is a 17-55mm review here using the 50D.

For even wider - Sigma do a couple:
10-20mm f4-5.6 ( review)
10-20mm F3.5

Canon also does one in the form of the EF-S 10-22mm f3.5-4.5( review)

And the slightly left-field choice (and still the one i'd probably go for) is the Tonika 11-16mm f2.8 ( review)


Are these the sort of kit your after?


Cheers.

Yeah, that's the sort of thing, I realised that things would get expensive....is it worth trying to find 2nd hand lenses? There's a shop not too far from us in Cambridge (the name escapes me) that always seems to have a vast selection of pre owned, or is it the best sort of thing bought new?

[tinman0]

Found a Tokina 11-16mm EF the other day. Finally. None in stock anywhere in the US, and happened to find a mis-delivered one at my local camera shop. They were expecting a Nikon version but a Canon version turned up. Following day it was mine.

Absolutely beautiful lens, and I would say its build quality is better than my Sigma 24-70 f2.8 EX DG etc lens, which I adore and does most of the work. Was thinking about the Sigma 10-20 f3.5, but the Tokina won out in the end. The reviews I was constantly reading more or less said "stupidly sharp in the corners", even at f2.8.

Having said that, the Sigma 10-20s (4.5-5.6 and 3.5), the Tamron 10-20, the Canon 10-20 and the Tokina 11-16 - there isn't a minger in them to be honest.

My personal preference though is for faster lenses.

These are a few I took earlier today with the Tokina. Still playing with it though.

[nellyleelephant]

Thanks for the replies everyone, plenty to look into now!! I didn't reply later last night as i was looking at Saturn for the first time

I've also been reading that the batteries don't last that long on the 50D, would a battery grip make sense?

[siscar]

nellyleelephant said:

Thanks for the replies everyone, plenty to look into now!! I didn't reply later last night as i was looking at Saturn for the first time

I've also been reading that the batteries don't last that long on the 50D, would a battery grip make sense?

Personally I just carry a spare battery, I think the grip is more about whether you prefer the feel of the camera with it than the extra battery life.

[Chicken Pox]

nellyleelephant said:

Thanks for the replies everyone, plenty to look into now!! I didn't reply later last night as i was looking at Saturn for the first time

I've also been reading that the batteries don't last that long on the 50D, would a battery grip make sense?

40D Grip fits 50D afaik so get one secondhand if you are going to get one, I have wide hands plus having the weight at the bottom helps balance when you've got heavier lenses on imho.

[beano500]

Cheeses!

I thought (reading on my mobile) that the title said "500 essential lenses" and thought I was some 490 short!

I can think of about 25 that might be essential - but all in the Nikkor range....

[Simpo Two]

beano500 said:

I thought (reading on my mobile) that the title said "500 essential lenses" and thought I was some 490 short!

Most of us have at least 500 lenses Beano, probably 600 - where have you been all this time?

[beano500]

Simpo Two said:

beano500 said:

I thought (reading on my mobile) that the title said "500 essential lenses" and thought I was some 490 short!

Most of us have at least 500 lenses Beano, probably 600 - where have you been all this time?

Well I know that.




I'm just a bit behind, that's all.....

[RichTbiscuit]

[M-J-B]

I have a 50D and the following lenses

Sigma 10-20
Canon 70-200 L 2.8
Canon 24-70 L 2.8
Canon 100 2.8 Macro
Canon 50 1.8
Canon 1.4X II

The 24-70 is on the body all the time with the others as and when. I need no more currently according to Mrs. M J B

A lovely camera and you'll have a lot of fun with it - just wish I wasn't working 24/7 currently so I could do the same!

[nellyleelephant]

Reading up on the Canon 50 1.8 it looks like it would be suitable for the astrophotography I'm planning, would that be right?

[M-J-B]

nellyleelephant said:

Reading up on the Canon 50 1.8 it looks like it would be suitable for the astrophotography I'm planning, would that be right?

Personally I would have thought not but I stand to be corrected?

[nellyleelephant]

M-J-B said:

nellyleelephant said:

Reading up on the Canon 50 1.8 it looks like it would be suitable for the astrophotography I'm planning, would that be right?

Personally I would have thought not but I stand to be corrected?

I read that it's suitable for low light and gives shar images. Being more of a telescope man, not sure I get all the DSLR lens lingo.

[M-J-B]

nellyleelephant said:

M-J-B said:

nellyleelephant said:

Reading up on the Canon 50 1.8 it looks like it would be suitable for the astrophotography I'm planning, would that be right?

Personally I would have thought not but I stand to be corrected?

I read that it's suitable for low light and gives shar images. Being more of a telescope man, not sure I get all the DSLR lens lingo.

Great for low light and sharp images, but probably more close to home as the focal length is too short.

This was taken at night at my brother-in-law's wedding last year with a 430 flash and the 50mm lens.....not sure you'd see the moon or other stars with it tbh

[RobDickinson]

Still building my lens collection, friend poped round with a new addition, 600f5/6L



Heres some of my shorter focal length ones.



Before I gained $80million United states dollars from some random prince in Africa this is what I had.

7D +
10-20
17-55
50f1.8
70-200 f2.8 sigma
2.0tc

May swap the 70-200 for a canon 70-200f4IS one day, thr 2.0tc for a 1.4tc and will get a 400f5.6L

[jimmy306]

Hold the phone, a 50d for £650, where did you get it from please? The cheapest one i can find is £700!

James

[nellyleelephant]

jimmy306 said:

Hold the phone, a 50d for £650, where did you get it from please? The cheapest one i can find is £700!

James

Wilkinson Cameras

http://www.wilkinson.co.uk/store/product.php?produ...

We thought it was too good to be true, but they're authorised Canon dealers and it's UK stock.