Canon 550D Lens Dilemma

pacman

pacman

Suspended / Banned
Messages
7
Name
Paul
Edit My Images
Yes
I am hoping to shortly buy my first DSLR and after a bit of research have decided upon the Canon 550D.


However my problem is that I can't decide which lens to buy. Initially I want a lens to use during my steep learning curve in the world of DSLR protography but eventually I am hoping to do a mixture of landscape and bird photograpy ( I know I'll need a telephoto for the birds at a leter date).

So should I buy a kit lens (either 18 - 55 or 18 - 135) or would I be better buying a better quality lens and if so which? I have seen a number of posts on here of forum members using a Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 Lens all of whom seem to highly rate it.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
If I were you Paul start with the 18-55mm IS kit lens, you will no doubt be slightly disappointed with your early photos especially if coming from a compact, most people are

The lack of stabilisation would only increase the number of soft and out of focus shots, maybe leave the new lens until you have got to grips with shutter speed and its effect on sharpness (along with the other factors that relate to exposure)

The kit lens will still sell for a fair few quid when you are ready and have decided on an upgrade
 
Last edited:
The 18-55 IS version of the lens that comes as kit is actually a pretty good lens. I'd go for that. It gives acceptably sharp images, isn't that slow and has image stabilisation.
Its a better lens than the price tag suggests.

I'd get that, use it and then eventually after use you'll know what extra stuff you need (be that telephoto or wide etc).
 
I started of with the 18 -55 IS kit lens, which was fine. I then upgraded to the 18 - 135 about 4 months later for the extra reach. I have to say that IMHO the quality of images improved noticably with the 2nd lens, as well as having siginificantly more power. Its also relatively light and small, and was hardly off my camera. My advice would be to do the same straight away.
 
If you know you want to give bird shooting a go I'd personally go for the 55-250 IS at the same time as the 18-55 IS. The former is IMHO one of the best value for money lenses on any system, good sharpness, good IS, pretty light and even the build quality isnt that bad compaired to the kit lens.

Good way of testing the waters at the tele end without spending much money and it might be all the lens you need.
 
Last edited:
I started with a 550D and the 18-55 IS kit lens, and coming from a high zoom bridge camera I wanted a zoom as well. I went for the 75-300 MkIII, which from the first half hour in, I realised I'd made a mistake. I soon sold that and got the 55-250 IS, which was a revelation as far as IQ was concerned. Both the 18-55 IS and 55-250 IS lenses are teriffic for the 550D and if you can stretch your budget to get a twin lens kit, I certainly would recommend it straight away.
 
Many thanks for all of your advice and thoughts.

The consensus seems to be to get the kit lenses 18-55 IS and the 55-250 IS at the same time.

Going to start looking round for some good deals on the Twin Kit to see if the budget can stretch - there appears to be a great deal with hdewcameras at the moment.
 
Bare in mind that the 55-250 should be around £140 or less, don't be tempted by the likes of the 75-300 which alot of shops offer as a second kit lens, much worse quality and no IS.
 
Thanks for that - been looking at hdewcameras this evening anf they have a package of the Canon 550d + 18-55 IS + 55-250 IS for only £579. I know that they will be grey imports at this price but seems too good to miss.
 
pacman said:
Many thanks for all of your advice and thoughts.

The consensus seems to be to get the kit lenses 18-55 IS and the 55-250 IS at the same time.

Going to start looking round for some good deals on the Twin Kit to see if the budget can stretch - there appears to be a great deal with hdewcameras at the moment.
Click to expand...

A good starting off package and def worth looking at - I would however make sure you are not paying more for a twin lens kit over buying the body + kit lens and the 55-250IS seperately
 
Ordered Canon 550d + 18-55 IS + 55-250 IS for only £579 from hdew cameras yesterday - arrived this morning.
Now to start........
 
pacman said:
Ordered Canon 550d + 18-55 IS + 55-250 IS for only £579 from hdew cameras yesterday - arrived this morning.
Now to start........
Click to expand...

That's good service if nothing else.

Enjoy it and let us know what you think :-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top