Canon 500D, which lense.

BlueSpud

I am looking at getting a Canon 500D, but I am wondering wat lense to get with it. One possibility is to buy the 500D with an 18-200mm lens. Is this a better idea than getting the camera with the standard 15-55mm lens and adding something like the 55-350 lens. The 18-200 does not look too bulky. Why would a person get the 2 lenses when the one looks like it would do the business. I know very little about photography, so apologies if the question looks dumb.

5uspect

Think of it this way. A zoom lens (one that lets you change the focal length not always a telephoto e.g. 18-55 or 55-250) is a compromise optically.

So if you have an 18-200 you are covering everything from moderate wide angle to telephoto. The optics have to be designed to minimise optical distortions and aberrations at all of these focal lengths. With a cheap ass lens you're not going to get great performance.
You're also going to get poor apertures. Those lenses are all f4.5/5.6 I think.

Now a prime lens is a thing of optical perfection. A prime lens cannot zoom. You zoom with your feet. The upshot is that you don't have to design them for different focal lengths.

So one lens you really must get is the 50mm f1.8. Its about €100 in shops and less on line.
The f1.8 means you have a very wide aperture. The lens is super shape wide open and allows you take photos in poor light.

Because of the compromises made to design a zoom lens it won't be very sharp. More expensive (€1000) lenses are very sharp but a cheap zoom like the 55-250 or the 18-55 are quite poor. To get any kind or sharpness you need to be shooting around f8.
This is always a problem in dull old Ireland.

I would be to get 500D body and a 50mm f1.8. See about picking up the 18-55 and maybe the 55-200 (or newer 250) or even the 18-200 cheap second hand online.

You can also get good deals on the twin lens kit 500D + 18-55 + 55-250.
Ultimately these lenses aren't great but they're a good place to start. You'll find out what focal lengths you use most and from there add better zooms or primes to your collection.

EDIT: Here is a good lens comparison site:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0&Lens=476&Camera=474&Sample=0&FLI=2&API=1&LensComp=455

BlueSpud

Thst is food for thought. I do not understand the physics of what you are saying, but I will try to learn......
Thanks a million for the post.

khennessy86

can anyone recommend me a lense for close up shots for canon 500d, any info on filters for this camera, self learning with this camera, thanks a mill

Corkfeen

khennessy86 wrote: »

can anyone recommend me a lense for close up shots for canon 500d, any info on filters for this camera, self learning with this camera, thanks a mill

The 50mm f1.8 that was just mentioned should handle it nicely.

Blazer

just bought the 50mm on ebay..about €100 brand new..
definitely worth it

khennessy86

would ye recommend a canon model or sigma for the 50mm f1.8

Rb

khennessy86 wrote: »

would ye recommend a canon model or sigma for the 50mm f1.8

Probably stick with Canon/Nikon for Canon/Nikon cameras where possible really, providing cost isn't an issue.

lissard

I think you'd be mad to overlook the kit lens bundled with 500D, namely the 18-55IS. The bundle price is very heavily discounted and it's not a bad lens at all. If you're new to this game stick with the cheap lens options to start off with. High quality lenses will cost significantly more that the 500D+kit. For example one of the best standard zooms available (Canon 28-70L F2.8) will set you back the best part of 1k. As a starting point you won't go too far wrong with the kit lens and the 50mm F1.8 as recommended above. For longer zooms you might want to look at the Sigma 70-300 or the Canon 55-250IS. These are often available secondhand on adverts.ie.

khennessy86

thanks for all the input

CabanSail

When looking at buying lenses you really have to consider what it is you want to photograph.

If you are getting into a DSLR for the first time then it's a bit of a mind shift from Compacts or Bridges. The idea of being able to change lenses means you can specialise & select what is the best for the chosen subject. It is still good to have a general purpose lens which will have compromises but can also do a lot of things alright, this is where something like an 18-200 f4.5/5.6 comes in. It has a good range of focal lengths but is not particularly fast & my have some issues with sharpness or distortion. Then you can look at more specialised for particular subjects or situations. The limit here is your budget. As said above the 50mm Prime is often a good idea as they are very cheap, very sharp & also fast.

khennessy86

has anyone found the canon 50mm f1.8 slow at times on the 500d

5uspect

It can hunt a bit alright.

BlueSpud

Excuse my ignorance. but what do you mean by a lense being fast or slow.

5uspect

I presume khennessy86 means that the lens can take its time to focus.
Thi s in generally called hunting as fast or slow is reserved for another peoperty.

In a general context when one refers to the speed of a lens they mean the exposre time required for get a good exposure. This is directly related to the aperture or f number. So the 50mm f1.8 is a very fast lens in this context. The 18-55 f5.6 by constrast is a much slower lens as you need to keep the shutter open for longer to get the same brightness.

eire54

5uspect wrote: »

Think of it this way. A zoom lens (one that lets you change the focal length not always a telephoto e.g. 18-55 or 55-250) is a compromise optically.

So if you have an 18-200 you are covering everything from moderate wide angle to telephoto. The optics have to be designed to minimise optical distortions and aberrations at all of these focal lengths. With a cheap ass lens you're not going to get great performance.
You're also going to get poor apertures. Those lenses are all f4.5/5.6 I think.

Now a prime lens is a thing of optical perfection. A prime lens cannot zoom. You zoom with your feet. The upshot is that you don't have to design them for different focal lengths.

So one lens you really must get is the 50mm f1.8. Its about €100 in shops and less on line.
The f1.8 means you have a very wide aperture. The lens is super shape wide open and allows you take photos in poor light.

Because of the compromises made to design a zoom lens it won't be very sharp. More expensive (€1000) lenses are very sharp but a cheap zoom like the 55-250 or the 18-55 are quite poor. To get any kind or sharpness you need to be shooting around f8.
This is always a problem in dull old Ireland.

I would be to get 500D body and a 50mm f1.8. See about picking up the 18-55 and maybe the 55-200 (or newer 250) or even the 18-200 cheap second hand online.

You can also get good deals on the twin lens kit 500D + 18-55 + 55-250.
Ultimately these lenses aren't great but they're a good place to start. You'll find out what focal lengths you use most and from there add better zooms or primes to your collection.

EDIT: Here is a good lens comparison site:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?CameraComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0&Lens=476&Camera=474&Sample=0&FLI=2&API=1&LensComp=455

Hi there, sorry 4 budding in, just got a C. 500D body and looking 4 lenses , been reading tur thread .... r u talkn about Canon lenses or generic lenses ??? what generic lenses ( Sigma , Tokina .... ) would be good please ???

Thanks for any reply ...

5uspect

The lenses in my post refer to Canon EF lenses. They have a wide range with varying quality and cost. You can easily tell the difference by looking at the Silver, Gold or Red ring on the lens. Silver are the cheap ones, Gold is much better and Red is uber quality L series.

Sigma and Tamron also do lenses for both Canon and Nikon. There are some great lenses in their ranges, as well as some bad ones.

What are you interested in photographing and in what conditions?

Txt speak makes my eyes bleed, if you have a full keyboard, use it.
(It's also frowned upon on this site)

eire54

5uspect wrote: »

The lenses in my post refer to Canon EF lenses. They have a wide range with varying quality and cost. You can easily tell the difference by looking at the Silver, Gold or Red ring on the lens. Silver are the cheap ones, Gold is much better and Red is uber quality L series.

Sigma and Tamron also do lenses for both Canon and Nikon. There are some great lenses in their ranges, as well as some bad ones.

What are you interested in photographing and in what conditions?

Txt speak makes my eyes bleed, if you have a full keyboard, use it.
(It's also frowned upon on this site)

Hi , thanks for ur relpy ... I been a not very consistant snapper for 5 years -- had first Dynax , then Powershot G9 .... LOVE close up and realy want to get into deeper ( macro / abstract aswell as nature ) ... So primelenses would be best I guess .... not forgetting money IS TIGHT !!!!!......

eire54

eire54 wrote: »

Hi , thanks for ur relpy ... I been a not very consistant snapper for 5 years -- had first Dynax , then Powershot G9 .... LOVE close up and realy want to get into deeper ( macro / abstract aswell as nature ) ... So primelenses would be best I guess .... not forgetting money IS TIGHT !!!!!......

Sorry !!!! Didn't see your message about txt speak !!!!! I be good in future !!! : ))

5uspect

If you're into macro have a look at the Canon 100mm f2.8. It's a seriously good macro lens with L series sharpness for around €300.

A much cheaper option is the 50mm f1.8 with extension tubes.

You can get the fifty fifty as its known for about €50-80ish online and extension tubes for €50 (I have Kenko tubes). Also have a look at lens babies if you want to try fun and weird stuff for a low budjet.

eire54

Hi , I have read about the " nifty fifty " + extension tubes --- and def. gone have a look into that !! Thanks again and talk to ye ....

eire54

5uspect wrote: »

If you're into macro have a look at the Canon 100mm f2.8. It's a seriously good macro lens with L series sharpness for around €300.

A much cheaper option is the 50mm f1.8 with extension tubes.

You can get the fifty fifty as its known for about €50-80ish online and extension tubes for €50 (I have Kenko tubes). Also have a look at lens babies if you want to try fun and weird stuff for a low budjet.

Hi there again,

I have still got a Sigma 105mmDG EX Macro left from my M. Dynax ..... Can I use it maybe with a reverse attachment ( sorry , the right name eludes me right now ) .... I HOPE I CAN MAKE USE OF IT

5uspect

Reverse attachement for macro? I don't see why not.

Unless you mean some sort or converter ring for Canon?

eire54

Hi ,
Thanks for the link .....
I'd say it should be reverse attachment ??? because it's a Minolta mount Sigma ? so it wouldn't fit .... ??? hope I'm right....

eire54

Just reading , you can get a Nikon F mount adapter to fit Canon bodys , so , do I need Sigma mount adapter for my Canon ???

5uspect

eire54 wrote: »

Just reading , you can get a Nikon F mount adapter to fit Canon bodys , so , do I need Sigma mount adapter for my Canon ???

No Sigma make their lenses with what ever mount camera you bought it for.

In your case what ever mount your Dynax uses.