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#1
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Help to decide a lens or two.
Hi all,
After months of reading reviews and such - I decided to buy a Canon EOS350D/Digital Rebel XT body. As shown in dpreview, I found the cropped-out image details in higher ISOs better compared to other available alternatives. Now, I do not have enough budget to buy L series lenses. I can spend upto $400, to which I have found two options. 1. Tamron AF 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) MACRO - have read lots of good review about this one. 2. Canon 18-55/3.5-5.6 EF-S USM EOS + Canon 55-200/4.5-5.6 EF II USM - default option. Can you please suggest which one is better? Or anything else? I am an enthusiastic beginner who likes to carry the camera and take candid street photographs, cityscapes and landscapes. Thanks in advance. Steve. |
#2
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Help to decide a lens or two.
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#3
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Help to decide a lens or two.
Get the Canon 28mm f/1.8 prime. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.
You're looking at some zoom lenses that all have rather sketchy reputations. Even if the Tamron lens is good "for what it is," what it is involves a great deal of sacrifice. 6.3 is ridiculously slow, but even 3.5 is coming near to the limit of even being considered "all-purpose." You're an enthusiastic beginner, so trust me when I say that you should begin as most "enthusiastic beginners" have historically: with a fast normal prime. You may think a prime lens would be limiting, but in reality it will limit you far less than a slow lens will. 28mm for the Rebel makes for a slightly-wide normal lens, literally ideal for street photography, and useful in landscape applications as well. It is fast and has quick and accurate USM and full-time manual focusing capabilities. I had three superb lenses, including some L glass, but since buying the 28/1.8 a few months back, it has been rare that I've used anything else. It is fast and light and is perfect to just walk around town with. Most importantly, it will force you to make decisions about what you like to shoot and how you like to shoot. Right now, you likely don't really know. And though it might seem logical to allow yourself "every" opportunity by buying zooms, in reality you'll become a better photographer and learn what you need to get in the future by starting out with a nice normal and determining where you find that to be lacking. I shot for over a year with my first camera and the ridiculous slow superzoom that I bought for it, despite the recommendations of others. But I didn't have any "great" photographs until I invested in a fast 50mm prime. You know how I used that superzoom? At its widest, or at its longest. Now when I shoot with a zoom, I'm picking numerous focal lengths, not just the extremes. And I'm picking them because now, finally, I understand what they mean and how they affect my work. Do yourself a favor and grow into a zoom (or not... primes are great). Start with a normal prime. Will PS: If this is seeming like bad medicine, look into the 35mm f/2.0, because it will give you similar results (though no USM and lesser optics) and it is cheap. But give yourself the option of something normalish and fast (and light), because you'll learn more and be able to do more. |
#5
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Help to decide a lens or two.
I have the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens. I leave it on my Camera
as a general purpose lens. It seems to do the job for my needs. You'll want to decide what area of photography you want to focus on (if you haven't already, and excuse the pun). If you like close up photography, then spend the money on a good macro lens. If you like to shoot animals in the wild, then go for a good telephoto. wrote in message ups.com... Hi all, After months of reading reviews and such - I decided to buy a Canon EOS350D/Digital Rebel XT body. As shown in dpreview, I found the cropped-out image details in higher ISOs better compared to other available alternatives. Now, I do not have enough budget to buy L series lenses. I can spend upto $400, to which I have found two options. 1. Tamron AF 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) MACRO - have read lots of good review about this one. 2. Canon 18-55/3.5-5.6 EF-S USM EOS + Canon 55-200/4.5-5.6 EF II USM - default option. Can you please suggest which one is better? Or anything else? I am an enthusiastic beginner who likes to carry the camera and take candid street photographs, cityscapes and landscapes. Thanks in advance. Steve. |
#6
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Help to decide a lens or two.
"Dave" wrote in message
om... I have the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens. I leave it on my Camera as a general purpose lens. It seems to do the job for my needs. Would you mind posting a picture of this lens? I'd love to see it. At this end of the world, Canon doesn't include IS, and USM is a fairly expensive option for the 18-55mm, more than doubling the price. Where did you buy yours? |
#7
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Help to decide a lens or two.
default wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message om... I have the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM lens. I leave it on my Camera as a general purpose lens. It seems to do the job for my needs. Would you mind posting a picture of this lens? I'd love to see it. At this end of the world, Canon doesn't include IS, and USM is a fairly expensive option for the 18-55mm, more than doubling the price. Where did you buy yours? I assume he means the newer 17-55, I think these are all the EF-Ss: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...s-Reviews.aspx At least in this part of the world? -- "All my time I spent in heaven Revelries of dance and wine Waking to the sound of laughter Up I'd rise and kiss the sky" - The Mekons |
#8
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Help to decide a lens or two.
Thanks for your comments, I am currently looking at replacements for
the kit lens on my 350D and your views are very interesting. I had a look at the results on photozone.de for the EF 28mm f/1.8 USM and the performance isn't that great for a prime. Do you agree with the test results with your work in real life? I am currently leaning towards the EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 USM - according to the test results it's razor sharp, with a fairly useful focal range and a reasonable price. The major failing is the CA's but they can be fixed in PS. Maybe this is a possibility for the OP also, however if anyone has used this lens maybe they could post their experiences. |
#9
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Help to decide a lens or two.
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#10
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Help to decide a lens or two.
Well if the ultimate resolution is what you want, wait until this is
developed for optical wavelengths: http://prola.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v85/i18/p3966_1 (lots of more work on this by the same author and collaborators on the arxiv). |
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