Which Starter Lenses?

Mandoo

Mandoo

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I've managed to pick up a used Canon 350D for £135 which I felt was a good starting point for my first DLSR, but as its just the body, I now need to invest in some glass. I'm looking for something that's a bit of an all rounder at the moment so I can get to grips with the camera, but I know I'll be looking at getting more as time goes on.
In the future I'll be looking at using it for scenery, portraits and animals, but not until later in the year when I've understood the basics a bit more.

So, what do you recommend? Should I pick up an 18-55 kit lenses like it would have originally come with, or go for more specific lenses for what I'll be using it for in the long run?
I'm hoping to understand everything the basics by the time I go on holiday in July, and at that point I may be looking at investing in a zoom lens as well.

Any suggestions welcome, but be gentle, I'm a newbie. :D
 
Hi

The 18-55 is not great at all but the IS (Image Stabilizer) version is much better. I would still invest in better glass and I'd go for either:

Sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4.5 DC HSM
Sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4 DC HSM OS (Image stabilized)
Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 Non VC (Non stabilized)
Canon 15-85mm f3.5-5.6
Sigma 18-200mm f3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

or if you're feeling rich the Canon 17-55 IS USM
 
All sound recommendations from Andy, you'll probably find that the lens will cost a lot more than the body. My advice is try to get a lens you know you will keep for a while, like a superzoom, cos you'll always have a one lens solution in the future as walk about/holiday/days you don't want to carry/swap other lenses.
 
Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 Non VC (Non stabilized) - probably the best option

I'd scratch off 18-200 of the list. Any superzoom won't deliver what it says on the tin and will leave you wanting more.

And definitely buy or borrow some decent books from the library. It needs to explain the camera basics, composition, light, advanced use, etc. They don't have to be new or specific to 350D either, in fact some books from film era are still great and relevant.
 
First off... I'm going to assume you don't want to spend that much money because you chose to go for an old model and spent very little for the body. There's nothing wrong with that, just means you shop wisely and aren't blinded by sensationalist marketing.

To start off I think the standard 18-55 "IS" and 55-250 kit combo offers the best value for money. You can get the pair for less than £200 easily. They're small and light, and offers far better quality than you'd get with a superzoom. If you buy them used, you'd lose hardly any money if you decide you want to upgrade.

If you find out later on that you want something with bigger aperture for low light shooting consider one of the fast zooms listed above and/or a 50mm f/1.8 which is a great lens for shallow DOF shots (where background looks blurry) and in low light.

Mandoo said:
I'm hoping to understand everything the basics by the time I go on holiday in July, and at that point I may be looking at investing in a zoom lens as well.
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The term, I think you meant when you said a zoom lens, is telephoto :) Zoom is a relative term. e.g. 18-55 is a x3 zoom, 50-150 is also a x3 zoom. When I started I used to think zoom meant longer focal length so I have a feeling that's what you meant. As mentioned earlier, 55-250 is a good starting for a budget telephoto lens.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone.

Kaz, you hit the nail on the head really. I am looking at keeping the budget down for now. I went used as I am completely new to DSLRs and I'm not certain how I'm going to get on with it all. I felt buying cheaper, used equipment to get started with would be the best way to go as I can easily buy newer, more expensive stuff as I progress.

And yes, I did mean telephoto, as opposed to zoom.

I'll have a look into the options that everyone has suggested and see what I can find.
 
I wasn't in a similar position last year when I started with my DSLR. I soon realised that buying cheap cost a lot more as I wanted more and more to quickly. If your patient (I'm not lol) get good glass fist time, it will hold it's value better and you won't regret it and will work when you upgrade the body :)

Enjoy the camera, it's a great hobby and very addictive...
 
50mm f1.8 is a lens you should definitely think about getting. Can't wait to get hold of the one i just bought off of here.
 
RedTele said:
18-55 "IS" and 55-250 kit combo offers the best value for money. You can get the pair for less than £200 easily. They're small and light, If you buy them used, you'd lose hardly any money if you decide you want to upgrade.
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:agree:

Can't really go wrong with the 55-250 IS lens - I think Kerso on here is doing the 55-250IS brand new for around £170.

The Canon 50mm F1.8 is a good one to be looking at as well in the future.
 
legarm said:
55-250 can be picked up for approx £120 2nd hand.
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An excellent lens for sports/action/wildlife junkies on a tight budget. I've taken literally thousands of pictures of cute, furry, little (and occasionally not so little) animals with mine.
 
Hello all

Excuse my ignorance, but will the lenses discussed above fit my older Canon 30d?
My understanding is that my model is compatible with all the newer bodies/lenses.

Cheers!
 
If you do not want to spend £120 for a used 55-250, the Tamron 70-300 or the Sigma 70-300 are good starter lenses for between £60 and £90 2nd hand
 
Thanks for you input everyone. Is using an IS lens noticeably better then?
 
I'm currently using a Canon 28-90 lens on the body which I used on my old 35mm SLR, but I plan to upgrade that in the future.
I think I'm definitely going to pick up a nifty fifty on payday, but I need to get a longer lens first for my trip to the zoo next month. I think the next purchase will probably be the Tamron 70-300 that Jessops are doing for £99 at the moment.
 
Get youself a nifty fifty it will give you great pics, it's cheap and will give you great pics if you upgrade in the future, and dont waste your money buying cheap low end zooms that people tell you are the only lens that you'll need because they're wrong.
 
Another shout for the 50mm 1.8 takes a while to get used to but improves your photography and makes you think. You can pick up cheap IS kit lenses second hand. Obviously depends on what you shoot, if you like landscapes then don't bother with the 50.
 
Mandoo said:
I'm currently using a Canon 28-90 lens on the body which I used on my old 35mm SLR, but I plan to upgrade that in the future.
I think I'm definitely going to pick up a nifty fifty on payday, but I need to get a longer lens first for my trip to the zoo next month. I think the next purchase will probably be the Tamron 70-300 that Jessops are doing for £99 at the moment.
Click to expand...

Spend a bit more and go for a Canon 55-250 IS
 
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