Canon EOS1000D Lens advice please....?

[Woody23]

Hi guys, I have bought a Canon EOS 100D DSLR. The "package" 18-55 lens is very limited - even I'm finding that - and I'm a novice! Any advice on better lenses, I'm into ladscapes and street scenes, but would like to do some indoor/studio stuff too...?

Thanks in anticipation!!

[Buenchico]

I'm assuming that the figures for your lens are '35mm equivalents', rather the true focal lengths, as that's fairly standard when describing the lenses on digital SLRs.

A cheapo fixed-focus camera typically has a lens of around 50mm. (Indeed that was the standard for many years, although more recent cameras often have lenses of around 40 to 45mm). So your current zoom lens does what a 'bog standard' lens would do, plus it's got quite a good 'wide angle' facility (down to 18mm) but almost no 'telephoto' capabilities whatsoever.

Studio photographers usually like to have lenses with focal lengths of no less than 80mm. (Filling the frame with someone's head with a 50mm lens results in distortion, making their nose look bigger than it should be. You need a lens where you can fill the frame with someone's head from further back). In the days of fixed-focus lenses (for conventional SLRs) most people would probably have opted for a 135mm lens for studio photography.

With your criteria you'd probably find that a lens covering something like 80mm to 150mm (or, at the most, 200mm) would meet most of your needs. Longer lenses are expensive, unwieldy and (unless you're into things like sports photography) probably unnecessary.

Chris

[AlBags]

Buy the Canon 300mm zoom.
Fantastic lens .. tough, and not too heavy. Great for those "depth-of-field" specials in street.
I used all the time on my EOS.

[Woody23]

Thanks guys. Just been looking at reviews etc. Found this : http://www.amazon.co....qid=1273499264&sr=1-1 . any thoughts?

[Prudie]

I've got a Canon EOS 300x but often wish I had a digital SLR because having to have film developed means I tend to use a cheap digital instead.

[AlBags]

Certainly good value : )

[Woody23]

Prudie - you must stir your photographic juices! I remember the days of film - taking 36 photos at a time, down to Boots to get them developed.... 3 days later and inevitable disappointment!! I "moved up" from a compact to the DSLR recently - lots more knobs, much more confusion...

[Buenchico]

Interestingly it seems that the focal length quoted for that lens is a 'true' one, rather than the '35mm equivalent' I would have expected. Clicking 'see more technical details' shows the '35mm equivalent' focal length (which I still like to work with after decades of using 35mm SLRs) to be 88-400mm. That's quite a long telephoto lens! At the shorter end it should be ideal for studio work, whereas the longer telephoto range would be good for amateur sports photography. (Despite the image stabilization offered by that lens, I'd still recommend using a tripod at the longer focal lengths). The maximum aperture size is reasonable, making depth-of-field control fairly easy. (A 'professional' lens might have a maximum aperture of f/2 but it would cost vastly more. f/5.6 is OK for an 'amateur' lens)

Chris

[Prudie]

Woody the trouble is I'm still in those days! can only take the film in at weekends, wait a week and yes excitement is often quashed with disappointment so it's much easier to pick up the cheapie for instant results.

[Woody23]

Chris - many thanks for your comments. Looks like a good lens for a good price, and at my early stages of learning, complementary to the 18-55 supplied with the camera.

..and Prudie - get out of the cave and embrace the digital age!!

[Prudie]

That's exactly wht i said in the first place - I wish I had a digital SLR but what am I to do, chuck out a good camera?
I don't live in no cave!!!

[AlBags]

: ) !

[Woody23]

I'm sure that you can use your Canon lens(es) on a digital slr. Just buy the camera body. That will help keep the cost down.....

[Prudie]

Do you think? hadn't thought of that , doubt it would be much cheaper mind you

[Woody23]

You'd be surprised. My dslr's body retails at about 225 - 250. Basic Lens 150.. What lens do you have?

[Prudie]

Too tired to look in my bag, tell you tomorrow. For some odd reason you have made me remember that I have to take my laptop to work tmrw so IT can see why it's running so slow.......

[Woody23]

Ha Ha!! I have many odd reasons...