Replacement for canon 18-55 kit lens

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G_Dem

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Hi everyone,

Got my 400d today and have already decided to bin the kit lens. I am getting a Sigma 70-300 APO but want something to replace the wide kit lens.

My use for it will be mostly car pictures (not motorsport) and the occasional family picture and landscape picture.

I don't really want to spend alot over £100 but would like better build quality than the kit lens. Am I asking for too much or is there something out there?

Should I just get the canon 50mm 1.8 and save up more money for a good wide angle lens?

Thanks for any tips or advice
 
I don't think you're going to do any better than the 50mm 1.8 in that price range. I wouldn't say it's impressive build quality, but it's a great price for a fast lens - and one of the sharpest you'll ever own.
 
G_Dem said:
Hi everyone,

Got my 400d today and have already decided to bin the kit lens. I am getting a Sigma 70-300 APO but want something to replace the wide kit lens.

My use for it will be mostly car pictures (not motorsport) and the occasional family picture and landscape picture.

I don't really want to spend alot over £100 but would like better build quality than the kit lens. Am I asking for too much or is there something out there?

Should I just get the canon 50mm 1.8 and save up more money for a good wide angle lens?

Thanks for any tips or advice
Click to expand...

Don't be in too much of a rush to bin the 18-55 it's capable of some fine images Well I think so at least :thumbs:

head.jpg
 
Thanks for that. Some great photos there. I'll get a 50mm and keep the kit lens and give it a chance
 
If you are feeling a bit adventurous i can recomend selling your kit lens and getting the ever-popular Sigma 17-70. It only £189 (minus your kit lens price) and it stays on my camera and handles pretty much everythign i throw at it. But if you search this forum there are loads of threads about it with examples.

Just an idea. :D
 
I think some people are dissapointed with the kit lens on first use because it's also their first use of a dslr and they miss the sharpening and other tricks that compacts do. As said above it's really not a bad lens and you won't get anything else with it's versatility at the price.

That said the 50mm f1.8 should be in everyones kit bag.
 
i'll put another good word in for the sigma 17-70, if you can stretch to this you wont be dissapointed. i take 95% of my pics with this lens.

even if you dont get a 50mm f1.8 now i would definately get one in the future
 
Well you can get both for under £250, and seeing as this lens buying milarky is addictive, jsut get them now instead of inevitably getting both of them in the future.
 
Cobra said:
Don't be in too much of a rush to bin the 18-55 it's capable of some fine images Well I think so at least :thumbs:
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Here here, yes the kit lens can be a little soft sometimes but it is still a capable lens. If you only have the 50mm you would really miss the wide end.:)
 
What you haven't clarified is why you want to get rid of the kit lens?

If it a worry about the build quality, the nifty is no better.

If you're concerned about the IQ, then dont be.

If you're going to be hampered by the aperture, then £100 isn't going to solve your problems (in a zoom lens)

If its something i've missed then shout ;)

My recommendation would be, if you hang on to the lens, to get a lens hood asap; it will make a huge difference to the contrast. It has always really bugged me that Canon dont provide hoods when they sell a lens in kit form!!!! :bat:
 
Jonnyreb said:
My recommendation would be, if you hang on to the lens, to get a lens hood asap
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Would you recommend paying the extra for a genuine canon one or going for one of the "For Canon" varieties on the bay?
 
sepulchre said:
Would you recommend paying the extra for a genuine canon one or going for one of the "For Canon" varieties on the bay?
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A piece of cardboard would do the job. The Canon ones usually have a black flocking material on the interior which dampens stray light whereas non-Canons tend to be naked plastic which can cause reflections.

Generally though, a hood is a hood is a hood. If its cheap and does the job then use it :thumbs:
 
I recently did a shot, using a canon 17-40mm f4 L lens and a 50mm f1.8 complete with no autofocus. The shots on the 50mm are far better than the L series lens, mainly down to miss focusing on the 17-40, so the 50mm is a good bet, but not that great for wide angle shots (obviously).
 
Jonnyreb said:
What you haven't clarified is why you want to get rid of the kit lens?

If it a worry about the build quality, the nifty is no better.

If you're concerned about the IQ, then dont be.

If you're going to be hampered by the aperture, then £100 isn't going to solve your problems (in a zoom lens)

If its something i've missed then shout ;)

My recommendation would be, if you hang on to the lens, to get a lens hood asap; it will make a huge difference to the contrast. It has always really bugged me that Canon dont provide hoods when they sell a lens in kit form!!!! :bat:
Click to expand...

Mainly the build quality and aperture. I received my sigma 70-300 today and love the build quality and feel (apart from the zoom ring). I definitely think I'll be giving the kit lens a chance and I'll get a lens hood.

kinchy said:
If you are feeling a bit adventurous i can recomend selling your kit lens and getting the ever-popular Sigma 17-70. It only £189 (minus your kit lens price) and it stays on my camera and handles pretty much everythign i throw at it. But if you search this forum there are loads of threads about it with examples.

Just an idea. :D
Click to expand...

I'll keep that in mind and do some research on that lens. That might be one for the future.

natjag said:
I recently did a shot, using a canon 17-40mm f4 L lens and a 50mm f1.8 complete with no autofocus. The shots on the 50mm are far better than the L series lens, mainly down to miss focusing on the 17-40, so the 50mm is a good bet, but not that great for wide angle shots (obviously).
Click to expand...

I'm glad you said that coz I bought the 50mm 1.8 yesterday and should be arriving this week.

I can see this hobby being very very expensive :help:
 
When I was pondering the same question I chose the Sigma 18-50 f2.8. BQ and IQ are great, would like the further reach of the 17-70 and don't think the slight loss in aperture at the long end would be a problem, but can't fault this lens which has been very well reviewed in the photo press. However, now you've bought the nifty it may be pointless getting a standard zoom. why not look at a good wide angle like the sigma 10-20? their 30mm f1.4 is also very good.
 
Thanks for all the info everyone.
but...... my house got burgled today and my beautiful 400d + the lenses i had + many many others things are gone.

Only had it a few days. :(
 
Oh crap!
Thats really bad news. I am sorry to hear about it
 
Oh sh*t - that's not nice at all. Any finger prints or anything left? :(
 
Just a shoe print from a nike trainer. Doubt they'll catch em. About 2.5k of my stuff taken alone - I liked my gadgets and electronic things.
 
The biggest problem with the kit lens is not it's lack of refinement or detail (I've seen some excellent images come from it), it's the handling - it feels cheap, and rather sloppily made. Don't even try and manually focus with it either, there's so much slack in the mechanism, it's very hard to get a decent focus. That said, examples do vary and you might be able to get a slightly tighter version than mine, which felt like a Ford Sierra gearbox.

But for a starter lens to get you up and running, it'll do just fine!

Cheers,
James
 
Whoops, just read the message - very sorry to hear that. Did you have the serial numbers, in case the scrote that half inched them puts them on eBay?

Cheers,
James
 
No don't think so Moos3h unless its on the receipt because they even found and took the box.
 
Aww that's rough. Sorry to hear that.
 
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