Flashgun and Lens

MattF

MattF

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Matt
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Hi,

I have 2 questions here, so bear with me :). For reference, I have a Canon 450D.

1) I am looking for a sharp, fast, walk about lens (28-105mm or so?). This is to replace my 450D kit lens. Infact, should I buy a lens like this, or keep my existing kit lens and just but a nifty fifty? Looking to spend around £200 max on the walk about lens.

2) I am also looking for a good Flashgun for around £100. I have come up with the Sunpak PZ42X or the Metz 48 AF 1. Can anyone shed some light on these flashguns, or suggest a better alternative?

Thanks in advance,
Matt
 
You can't go wrong with the nifty fifty.

Personally I would recommend sticking with Canon for the flash. Consider 2nd hand and, at a glance I found a 420EZ for £50 or a 540EZ for £70 from a shop (i.e. you can take it back if you find a problem and no posting hassle).

Good luck with what ever you go with.
 
Thanks for the quick reply!

I will keep an eye on 2nd hand shops and ebay for a 430 EX (II), as I will probably be able to get one for £100.

I am leaning towards the nifty as I think it will help with composition, and teach me about it. I will, however, keep an eye on this thread for any further lens suggestions.

Again, thanks,
Matt
 
I think you should be looking down the prime route here Matt. Sharp and fast just doesn't happen at £200.
A secondhand 85/1.8 and a 50/1.5 might be available around your budget (maybe have to up the ante a little bit though.

Bob
 
Thanks for the reply.

By sharp, I don't mean the sharpness that professionals expect out of the likes of an L lens for example, I mean an improvement on my 450D kit lens.
 
If your looking for aomething with more range, then I would recommend the Tamron 28-75, which is nice and sharp, and could be picked up for under £200 second hand.
 
b_1_rd said:
You can't go wrong with the nifty fifty.

Personally I would recommend sticking with Canon for the flash. Consider 2nd hand and, at a glance I found a 420EZ for £50 or a 540EZ for £70 from a shop (i.e. you can take it back if you find a problem and no posting hassle).

Good luck with what ever you go with.
Click to expand...

The EZ flashes won't work 'properly' with a digital camera, though. You'd need an EX flash to give you E-TTL.
 
MattF said:
Hi,

I have 2 questions here, so bear with me :). For reference, I have a Canon 450D.

1) I am looking for a sharp, fast, walk about lens (28-105mm or so?). This is to replace my 450D kit lens. Infact, should I buy a lens like this, or keep my existing kit lens and just but a nifty fifty? Looking to spend around £200 max on the walk about lens.

2) I am also looking for a good Flashgun for around £100. I have come up with the Sunpak PZ42X or the Metz 48 AF 1. Can anyone shed some light on these flashguns, or suggest a better alternative?

Thanks in advance,
Matt
Click to expand...

For me the 28-105 while a fantastic lens just isn't a walkabout for a crop sensor as the wide end just isn't wide enough so unless you have or plan to get a super wide like the sigma 10-20 then I would give it a miss.

Kit lens replacment on the 450D is a bit of a tricky one, before canon released the is kit lens it was easy I would have just said get a sigma 17-70 which may still be an option but I'm not sure how much of an improvement it would be. Personally I'd stick with your kit lens and look to adda couple of fast primes the nifty fifty is a given as it's so cheap and then I'd look at an 85mm f1.8 which would give you a usefull short telephoto above your kit lens. I've had a nifty for a while now and I'm looking to add a 35 f2 and 85 f1.8 in the next 12 months. The total cost second hand will be a bit over your £200 budget but well worth the cost in my opinion.

The sunpack flash you've listed is quite highly regarded for similar/ a bit more money I'd have a look at the sigma flashes, they are very cheap for what you get and can be second hand bargins (I recently picked up a 530 DG Super for £120) The Canon flashes are excellent but I can't help but think the 430 is over priced for what it is.
 
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