Two lenses to go either side of my 18-55mm Canon lens?

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Eamonn

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Hello,

I am a beginner. I have a Canon 200d with it's 18-55mm/1:4-5.6 lens that came with it.

I would like to be able to take most types of photos to get a good idea what photography is about. Is this a case of getting a longer lens for far away things and shorter lens for close up/small things?

What would folks suggest? Canon do a 55-250mm lens for long shots and a 10-18mm for close shots? Does this make sense to have 3 lenses running from 10mm all the way up to 250mm with no gaps in the "milimeterage"? What bases does this cover?

Also maybe there are other lens combinations (with gaps in the "milimeterage") that give the same/similar/better results?

Thanks and sorry in advance,

Eamonn.
 
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To think in terms of having a range of focal lengths that has no gaps is absolutely anal.

Something cheapish that would go to 300mm or so would enable you to dabble with sport / wildlife and see if that might be your thing?

Your kit lens is giving you a semi-wide angle already. I'd really concentrate on using that for now, and experiment with actually taking pictures and learning how to frame shots and handle light. Buying stuff isn't going to teach you that, and can be a false lure - some people are into owning gear big time, yet can hardly make a decent picture to save their lives. Think about it.

Study exposure parameters, depth of field and all the rest. It can be playful but its also about control.

Learn to see what's around in terms of how the light falls on it, and what the limitations of your medium are in rendering that.

Acquire vision and technique. Later, you can go shopping, and if it was me I might get a large aperture prime ...
 
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Hello,

I would say you are looking at this from slightly the wrong angle.

Lenses depend on what type of photography you want to do. Take pics with the lens you have, when you can't do a particular type of shot identify why you can't, how you can get round this or what you need to purchase to do it.

You may end up buying those two lenses and never using them if you don't have a need.

Don't worry about the gaps, I know a wedding photographer that shoots with 35mm and 85mm primes and has some stunning photos with just those two fixed lenses.

What do you photograph?

T
 
Thanks guys,

I'm not a total beginner, just a beginner compared to photography people. I've had the camera for 4 months/10 mornings of shooting.

I am a furniture designer/maker and am as artistic as hell. Photo composition isn't a problem with me. I'm dyslexic as a dog though, so it's just the technical/literature side of things that should take me time to learn. I bought the camera with that lens just to see what "proper" photography is like. If I liked it I was always going to be getting more lenses.

I plan to photo everything. Landscapes, furniture, people, buildings, wildlife, close ups of insects. Even video making. A beginner kit if you will.

I might be moving countries soon so want to get some lenses before I go, as the standard of living is high there. If I can get them here now, great. Also if I can take the lenses with me, I can begin to photo straight away. If I wait until I'm there, it may be a year or two before I get round to getting them.
 
You seem to have made your mind up as to what lenses you want/need and are really just looking for a pat-on-the-back, good choice sort of reply, nothing wrong with that in my view, it's your money after all.
If you want to photograph "everything" and why not, then maybe you need some "fast" lenses i.e. something with a low f number, zooms tend to be "slower" as you probably already know. I'd suggest a 50mm f1.8, maybe a wider lens too, say 35mm, as fast as you can afford to complete your "kit". Faster lenses will help you get shots in low light, create shallow depth of field etc and maybe compliment your artistic abilities.
 
No, I haven't made up my mind, that's why I've posted here. If I made my mind up I would have bought them already. Maybe you use the internet for validation from strangers... but not me. As for a pat on the back, LOL.

I'm asking if having the 3 lenses (as stated above) is a good start for a beginner, to be able to photo close, medium and far away things. Like I said above I am quite dyslexic and have a history of reading things wrong. I'm an idiot savant with Art and Maths but reading goodly, isn't my thing.


10-18mm will be able to photo things up close?
18-55mm medium range?
55-250mm far away/zoom?
 
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MatBin said:
You seem to have made your mind up as to what lenses you want/need and are really just looking for a pat-on-the-back, good choice sort of reply, nothing wrong with that in my view, it's your money after all.
If you want to photograph "everything" and why not, then maybe you need some "fast" lenses i.e. something with a low f number, zooms tend to be "slower" as you probably already know. I'd suggest a 50mm f1.8, maybe a wider lens too, say 35mm, as fast as you can afford to complete your "kit". Faster lenses will help you get shots in low light, create shallow depth of field etc and maybe compliment your artistic abilities.
Click to expand...

What type of lens would you suggest for Astro photography? Shooting the night's sky from tripod and attaching the the camera to my telescope photography?

Oh no, I feel I'm at the entrance to the rabbit hole.
 
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With your current kit lens do you often find yourself needing to step back to fit everything in the photo?

A wide angle lens such as the 10-18mm is usually used for landscapes, rather than close ups. A macro lens is used for close ups.
The 55-250 would be a good bet for a longer lens.
I would also suggest a fast prime lens, such as the 50mm f1.8, although the focal length is already covered by your kit lens, it is better for shallow depth of field.
 
Hi Eamonn and welcome to TP

If repeat anything already mentioned, sorry.

  • The normal wisdom is use what you have and identify where you are missing potential photographic chances with the lens you have.
  • With lens choice and the way you are "looking" at what to do. Landscape ~ a wider angle of an 18mm will show the 'bigness' of the scene.....but you can still take landscapes with a 200mm lens to isolate for example a single tree on a hillock.
  • For close up, macro, photography it is not always about the focal length. There are Macro lenses that are 60mm, 100mm and 180mm. It just means that depending on the size of the subject you can choose a lens where you might be as close as 2inches (60mm lens) or say 12inches or more away of the same subject (180mm lens) but the lens specifications must state it is a macro lens (the same lens can be used for all sorts of other non macro subjects). The lens focal lengths I mention are all single focal length not zooms.
  • If wildlife ~ you can never have too long a lens. At 250mm max on a zoom that is the bare minimum for anything "wildlife".

Best of luck with your journey into the money eating world of Photography.

Edit ~ please remember..... photography is more than about having the kit to cover lots of different situations. You say that you have a good eye for the look (composition) but have you yet mastered how to use the camera to get what your eye tells you looks good? You say you are a furniture maker.... I surmise your tool kit for that started 'small' but then expanded as you found a need for a new tool specific for a process...... photography in that regard is no different....... you develop the cameracraft then grow your kit.
 
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Craikeybaby said:
With your current kit lens do you often find yourself needing to step back to fit everything in the photo?

A wide angle lens such as the 10-18mm is usually used for landscapes, rather than close ups. A macro lens is used for close ups.
The 55-250 would be a good bet for a longer lens.
I would also suggest a fast prime lens, such as the 50mm f1.8, although the focal length is already covered by your kit lens, it is better for shallow depth of field.
Click to expand...

Yes sometimes I need to step back to fit everything in the photo, why?

"A wide angle lens such as the 10-18mm is usually used for landscapes". Oh sweet lord, thanks for setting me straight. (Face palm)
 
Eamonn said:
Yes sometimes I need to step back to fit everything in the photo, why?

"A wide angle lens such as the 10-18mm is usually used for landscapes". Oh sweet lord, thanks for setting me straight. (Face palm)
Click to expand...

Yes, that is called zooming with your feet ;)
 
Box Brownie said:
Hi Eamonn and welcome to TP

If repeat anything already mentioned, sorry.

  • The normal wisdom is use what you have and identify where you are missing potential photographic chances with the lens you have.
  • With lens choice and the way you are "looking" at what to do. Landscape ~ a wider angle of an 18mm will show the 'bigness' of the scene.....but you can still take landscapes with a 200mm lens to isolate for example a single tree on a hillock.
  • For close up, macro, photography it is not always about the focal length. There are Macro lenses that are 60mm, 100mm and 180mm. It just means that depending on the size of the subject you can choose a lens where you might be as close as 2inches (60mm lens) or say 12inches or more away of the same subject (180mm lens) but the lens specifications must state it is a macro lens (the same lens can be used for all sorts of other non macro subjects). The lens focal lengths I mention are all single focal length not zooms.
  • If wildlife ~ you can never have too long a lens. At 250mm max on a zoom that is the bare minimum for anything "wildlife".

Best of luck with your journey into the money eating world of Photography.

Edit ~ please remember..... photography is more than about having the kit to cover lots of different situations. You say that you have a good eye for the look (composition) but have you yet mastered how to use the camera to get what your eye tells you looks good? You say you are a furniture maker.... I surmise your tool kit for that started 'small' but then expanded as you found a need for a new tool specific for a process...... photography in that regard is no different....... you develop the cameracraft then grow your kit.
Click to expand...

Excellent, thanks. Much to ponder.
 
Sounds like an ultra wide angle lens is what you need then.
 
Eamonn said:
What type of lens would you suggest for Astro photography? Shooting the night's sky from tripod and attaching the the camera to my telescope photography?

Oh no, I feel I'm at the entrance to the rabbit hole.
Click to expand...
Again, depends on what you want to photograph. Making every photon count (book) explains it much better than I can. There's also a few good snappers on here in the Astro section. Astrophotography is a whole new level of money burning :)
 
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Eamonn said:
Oh you joker you, hahaha. I my defense, sometimes there can be a fence/hedge behind me so can't go anymore back.
Click to expand...

Yes, the "situation" can be challenging................never lose sight of where you are moving around to, there have been some very tragic reports of photographers falling to their deaths :(

Do bear in mind that with the right software you can stitch multiple images to create a panorama :)

PS the expression I used "zoom with your feet" is a truism rather than a joke......................back in the film days there were fewer zoom lenses available so physically moving to frame the shot to best effect was a necessity :)
 
Box Brownie said:
PS the expression I used "zoom with your feet" is a truism rather than a joke......................back in the film days there were fewer zoom lenses available so physically moving to frame the shot to best effect was a necessity :)
Click to expand...

Much used with a prime lens, often nearly gone 'arse-over-tit' zooming out with the 50mm!
 
MatBin said:
Again, depends on what you want to photograph. Making every photon count (book) explains it much better than I can. There's also a few good snappers on here in the Astro section. Astrophotography is a whole new level of money burning :)
Click to expand...

Yeah, maybe I should get my feet on solid ground before I start to look to the stars, hehe.

I do have a 4" telescope and that side of the gear. I will definitely look at that book and pay a visit to the Astro section. I just want to hammer down what lenses I need for the earth stuff first. Thanks for pointing me to that section as I don't see letters and words, just shapes. A new website takes me a long time to navigate, e"special"ly forums, hehe.
 
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Box Brownie said:
Yes, the "situation" can be challenging................never lose sight of where you are moving around to, there have been some very tragic reports of photographers falling to their deaths :(

Do bear in mind that with the right software you can stitch multiple images to create a panorama :)

PS the expression I used "zoom with your feet" is a truism rather than a joke......................back in the film days there were fewer zoom lenses available so physically moving to frame the shot to best effect was a necessity :)
Click to expand...
A funny truism, though.
 
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