what lenses for my canon 500D, newbie big time...

ThyJones

ThyJones

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Hi there.

After a final bit of advice before I purchase some lenses.

Bearing in mind I dont really know what im talking about, and my canon 500D hasn't yet come, I'm trying to buy some additional lenses.

The camera will come with the kit lens (18-55mm LENS KIT)

and I've been recommended:

NEW CANON EF-S 55-250 at £130.

Would this be suitable for say close/general pictures and also some shot out and about? as said, I don't really know what i'm talking about yet so I can't say exactly what I need, but for £130, is there anything better/different I should be going for?

I wouldnt mind a good portrait lens possibly ontop of these, something that i can use for things such as photographing my neice(which will come out sharp etc etc)

Thanks for any advice.
 
Add a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 USM II to that for about £70 and you'll have yourself a pretty nice portrait lens. It's not great, as primes go, but the IQ will blow the kit lens and 55-250 out of the water and the shallow DOF made possible by f/1.8 will give you lots of creative opportunities.
 
You'll really enjoy the 500d, it's a great camera and will allow you to start off simple and will allow you to grow your photographic skills. The 18-55 kit lens is good - I've used the older non-is (image stabilised) one for some time and been very pleased with the results. It gives you wide angle for landscapes through to a reasonable length for portraits. The 55-200 will be good for portraits and close ups. I would start with these and see where your interests lie before investing in better or different lenses. For example if you really get into landscapes you may want to add a 10-20.
 
Hi, when I bought my first camera 450D + kit lens, I did exactly as you want to and bought the 55-250. However I just sold the 55-250 a few months ago, having used it about 10 times in 3 years! I just didn't use the focal range of that lens.

If I were you I would try out just the kit lens for a while (which is a very good lens) to find out what you are into, try and borrow some different focal lengths from friends if possible. I know this is boring and you'd probably rather just buy the new lens.

I got the same recommendation from someone when I first started and bought the lens anyway, so can't say much!
 
Defintely a 50mm 1.8. Great lens for the price. After that it really depends on the reach you want and your budget.
 
Ksanti said:
Add a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 USM II to that for about £70 and you'll have yourself a pretty nice portrait lens. It's not great, as primes go, but the IQ will blow the kit lens and 55-250 out of the water and the shallow DOF made possible by f/1.8 will give you lots of creative opportunities.
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"but the IQ will blow the kit lens and 55-250 out of the water and"

Whats that mean exactly (IQ?)?

Cheers
 
InfernalBadger said:
Defintely a 50mm 1.8. Great lens for the price. After that it really depends on the reach you want and your budget.
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Don't suppose you have an link to one as such? or is it literally any 50mm 1.8 for canon?
 
I was under the impression that the kit lens is just a general lens for close range, general pictures, and the 55-250 is for wide range, or is that completely incorrect?
 
ThyJones said:
I was under the impression that the kit lens is just a general lens for close range, general pictures, and the 55-250 is for wide range, or is that completely incorrect?
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I think you have your terminology mixed up!

A "wide" range would be a wide angle lens (from 18mm up to 24mm for wide, 10mm - 18mm superwide).

The 55-250 is a telephoto zoom lens so is not classed as wide.

At 18mm the kit lens can be used for anything not just close objects, (such as landscapes) as it has a wide angle of view.

IQ = Image quality. The kit lens doesn't normally have very good image quality compared to other lenses available as they are normally built to cost which is why they are provided with the camera as a "kit" lens - a lens to get you started.
 
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Same camera as I have, had it almost a year and still learning loads.

My 1st lens to add was the 50mm f1.8 Mark 2. Use www.camerapricebuster.co.uk for price checks to give a good idea on prices.

F number tell you how much light the lens can let in which in turn means you can take pictures in poorer light with a faster shutter speed, ideal for pictures of my 11 month old daughter who doesn't stay still for long. This also give the picture a shallow depth of field, ie what's in front and behind of the object you have focused on will be out of focus but the object will be very sharpe and in focus.

Do a search on here and you will find loads of good reviews about the fifty.

After that purchase I went for a 55-250 which I've just replaced with a 70-200 f4 L is.

Followed by a speedlight 430exII flash

Then a battery grip.

Hope that help a little.
 
ThyJones said:
Hi there.

After a final bit of advice before I purchase some lenses.

Bearing in mind I dont really know what im talking about, and my canon 500D hasn't yet come, I'm trying to buy some additional lenses.

The camera will come with the kit lens (18-55mm LENS KIT)

and I've been recommended:

NEW CANON EF-S 55-250 at £130.

Would this be suitable for say close/general pictures and also some shot out and about? as said, I don't really know what i'm talking about yet so I can't say exactly what I need, but for £130, is there anything better/different I should be going for?

I wouldnt mind a good portrait lens possibly ontop of these, something that i can use for things such as photographing my neice(which will come out sharp etc etc)

Thanks for any advice.
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I would say wait until you have the camera and get used to it first, there are so many different lenses available either canon or third party you are spoilt for choice. When you get the camera you will still need to purchase a memory card for it.

Realspeed
 
odd jim said:
I think you have your terminology mixed up!

A "wide" range would be a wide angle lens (from 18mm up to 24mm for wide, 10mm - 18mm superwide).

The 55-250 is a telephoto zoom lens so is not classed as wide.

At 18mm the kit lens can be used for anything not just close objects, (such as landscapes) as it has a wide angle of view.

IQ = Image quality. The kit lens doesn't normally have very good image quality compared to other lenses available as they are normally built to cost which is why they are provided with the camera as a "kit" lens - a lens to get you started.
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Ah ok, thanks for clearing that up, i was mixed up!

realspeed said:
I would say wait until you have the camera and get used to it first, there are so many different lenses available either canon or third party you are spoilt for choice. When you get the camera you will still need to purchase a memory card for it.

Realspeed
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I agree with you, but my problem is, im going to america in 3 weeks, some of the places i'm going to see are unique/once in a lifetime if you get me, and whilst I don't want to spend loads of money for the sake of it, im trying to make the most of the trip and want to bring back some good shots.

Now i know that lenses don't make the photo and it will be down to the person taking them, i'm just trying to give myself the most opportunity I can really.

Thanks for all the advice so far!
 
When I went to Fishermans Wharf, Florida last year although I took 3 lenses the main one I used was in the 24-120mm range (thats Nikon fit) which covered 95% of the pictures I took. Its wide enough for street type shots yet long enough to get a reasonable telephoto length

I know nought about Canon lenses but a possibility would be Canon EF-S 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS Lens. anyway worth checking out for £280 as you don't want to spend loads of cash


http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod1204.html

Apart from that I can't help
Realspeed
 
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also, just to note, I can buy the 500D for around £400 with no lenses, I have approx £550 to spend on body and lenses really, might be able to stretch slightly more, so if its worth me doing that and getting a better lens than the kit lens, then i'd be happy doing that.
 
The kit lens is really not too bad at all.

I'd stick with that until you've had a bit of time with the camera and know "what you need". Once you start making pohots you'll know what you need.

Have fun :)
 
Hi I just bought the canon 50 mm 1.8 the other day from jessops about 70 quid great lens and a 35mm 2.0 im still learning myself but I would say defo get both or splash out and get the 50mm 1.4 sharper faster and built better
 
jambogers said:
Hi I just bought the canon 50 mm 1.8 the other day from jessops about 70 quid great lens and a 35mm 2.0 im still learning myself but I would say defo get both or splash out and get the 50mm 1.4 sharper faster and built better
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just been looking at some picture samples of the above, they look great! Quite a price difference though..
 
Another vote for the 50mm 1.8. For the money you can get some great pictures with it and at 70 quid it'd be daft not to. For your trip if you have the kit lens, which as others have said is actually not a bad starter lens and the fifty you should be fine - I went to the US last year with a fifty, kit and the 55-250 zoom and didn't find myself wishing for any others whilst there.
In fact you may not even need the zoom, depending what type of shots you want - most of mine were street views, central park and cityscape from the empire state.
You've chosen a great starter camera and I think you'll be surprised at some of the shots you'll get.
Regards
Jim
 
InfernalBadger said:
Defintely a 50mm 1.8. Great lens for the price. After that it really depends on the reach you want and your budget.
Click to expand...

Whats thw 50mm 1.8 actually for? Is it for close up portrait pictures or?
 
To start off I would say that the 55-250 combined with the kit lens is a great combo.
I have heard of bad copies of the kit lens giving poor IQ (Image Quality) but if you are lucky you may get a good one.I use the 18-55mm IS on my 500d for all my landscape and close up work and its sharp from edge to edge throughout the zoom range providing you stop down to between f10- f16.
 
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