From point to shoot, to d-SLR

[Floris]

For so far, i've been using the Canon PowerShot A610.
now, i'm planning on buying a d-SLR

I've been thinking of buying the new 400D.
I've read several reviews and stuff, and it seems to be a good camera.

Now, the problem here.. is that you get a kit lens.. it says 15-85mm
and something about 2,6 F or something..

this doesnt say anything to me at all.
What does this all mean? how do i know what lens is what for(yea a macro lens for macro i know)
but what are the differences.. stuff like that.
I don't have the smalles clue.

please give me some help? :)
thnk you! :)

[NaturesPixel]

this is the MAX Aperture of the lens (Fstop)

it one of the factors that determines how much light is let in..
it also determines the Depth of field (DOF) ...
soo if the Fstop is 2.8 it is a shallow Depth of field.. and if the Fstop
is 22 then you have a larger depth of field...

DOF and Aperture is explained good here http://www.zlew.net/thoughts/?p=186

and this lens is a good all-round landscape /portrait lens to have

if you wish to take photos of animals and birds then you need a telephoto lens.. i have a sigma 70-300mm meaning its focal length is 300mm when zoomed out

i am sure some one with more knowledge can prolly explain this all better for you...lol

[Nicole]

...Now, the problem here.. is that you get a kit lens.. it says 15-85mm
and something about 2,6 F or something..

this doesnt say anything to me at all.
What does this all mean? how do i know what lens is what for(yea a macro lens for macro i know)
but what are the differences.. stuff like that.
I don't have the smallest clue.
:)

I think that Leisa (NaturesPixel) explained about the aperture quite well. I think that the lens you are talking about is a 17-85mm f/4-5.6? What this means is that it is a medium telephoto lens. You won't be able to see things that are very far away, but you will be able to zoom in more than what would be considered the normal field of view (the human eye supposedly sees around the equivalent of 50mm).

The f/stop shows how much light the lens will be able to let in and how much of your image will be in focus. With this sort of lens, you won't be able to take pictures in super dark locations without a tripod, but it will work well in a lot of situations. It also means that you'll be able to get the background somewhat out of focus if you want. The reason that the numbers change (e.g. 4-5.6) is because the lens will let in a different maximum amount of light depending on how far you have the lens zoomed in. For example, the largest aperture you will be able to get at 85mm is 5.6 whereas at 17mm, you will be able to get f/4.

Lots of potentially confusing info there. But like Leisa said, it's a very good all around lens and will give you a really good start with a dSLR.

As far as what the various types of lenses are for, there are lots of types out there. A really simplified answer is that the smaller the number (in mm), the more you'll be able to see through the lens. The larger the number (in mm) the more you'll be able to zoom in. Zoom lenses change lengths, prime lenses are only one length. There is an article on the various classifications of lenses (http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Lenses#Classifications) that you might be interested in reading since it goes a bit more in depth into the subject. :)

Hope that helps!! :)

[mdwsta4]

it's good to read up about terms that are commonly used. here are a couple:
http://dslrblog.com/blog/chris/camera-lenses-jargon-explained

if you search the web for DSLR terminology i'm sure you'll come up with the answers as well. definitely helps to do your homework before you make a purchase. good luck! :)

[chrisgarrett]

Further to all the other replies I think the best thing is to see if you can borrow a friends or try one out in store. The numbers are only meaningful when compared to each other until you get used to them if that makes sense? It makes so much more sense when you actually see what these things mean for yourself. Try looking through the view finder at the full range the lens is capable of, put it through its paces. A friend against my best advice bought all his kit off ebay convinced he needed a mega telescope like lens, when it all arrived and he started using it the massive lens stayed in the bag and the kit lens got all the use. He could have saved his money or put it towards something more appropriate.

[inkista]

You're going to want to do some homework on lenses and lens terminology. Google your heart out. Because the whole point of getting an SLR camera is to be able to switch the lenses. And in fact, if you get into dSLR photography, you're likely to spend two to three times as much money on lenses as you are on the camera. You're buying into a camera SYSTEM, not just a camera. Bodies become obsolete in two to three years. The glass stays with you for decades.

Also, hopping from a P&S to an SLR is not like upgrading from one P&S model to another. There is a learning curve on lenses, exposure, and post-processing. A lot of folks who make this leap are often disappointed at what they get from a dRebel out of the box on full auto, figuring that it should be equivalent to a P&S at least. It's like switching from a swiss army knife to a full-on toolbox, and complaining because you've only got a hammer, screwdriver, and pliars, and nobody put those little nail scissors in there or kept you from whacking your thumb with the hammer. There's a definite learning curve. You can't just press the shutter and expect to have a perfect picture any more.

Out of the box, with the 18-55 kit lens, the dReb compared to an A610 loses macro, telephoto range, aperture flexibility, saturation, and sharpness. You gain in a ton of other ways: better noise performance, larger sensor, shutter lag, power-on, longer shutter speeds, greater shooting flexibility, etc. But if you don't know about, want, or need any of those things, then it will come down to the lenses for you. Take the time to learn about them (and their prices) before making the leap to dSLR.

And don't fall for all the "the kit lens is crap" stuff you hear/read. If you don't want to sink money into glass without any practical knowledge, then just get the kit and the 50mm f/1.8 II. The kit can teach you a lot about what you want or don't want in a lens, and how to get the best out of the glass that you've got. It's a good lens that can take gorgeous images, and is only limited in available-light situtations, which the 50mm will cover.

That's my $.02, anyway.

A place to get started on learning about focal lengths:
http://www.usa.canon.com/html/eflenses/lens101/focallength/index.html

[ny156uk]

I recently made the upgrade from a Point & Shoot to a dSLR and I have to say that while it is daunting learning all the new features I have really enjoyed it and it's made me want to get out and learn more.

I stumped for the Pentax K100d, which received favourable reviews on sites like www.dpreview.com. I'm not sure of other people's opinion of the camera but it feels well built and the shots i've taken so far are (I think) nice. I got it with a 18-55mm lens and that covers a good portion of the shots I take. I would probably like a bigger zoom at times, and the idea of trying one of these 'prime' lenses sound is appealing (though I admit I have zero knowledge about lens/benefits/drawbacks of them).

If you can, go out and play about with them in-store or ask a friend with one to let you have a practice. They are all quite a large investment (at least on my salary!) and so you should try as many as possible to try find the one that suits you best. Saying that the Nikon/Canon entry dSLRs sell like hotcakes and also receive good reviews.

[inkista]

The basic upshot of primes is that, being mechanically simpler and a much older technology, they're usually cheaper, sharper, smaller, lighter, and faster than their zoom counterparts. For example, on the Canon side, a 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens costs $1600; while the 200mm f/2.8L is $600 and roughly half the size and weight (also black, not white, which adds up to far less conspicuous).

You can buy the Canon 50mm f/1.8 prime for $70. The widest Canon zooms will go is f/2.8, and they start around $1200 and upwards. Primes are terrific for available light situations, or when you really need a faster lens to freeze the action (e.g., indoor sports like basketball or stage photography).

I don't think Pentax has a cheap 50mm, but they've got those incredibly cool "pancake" lenses. And, like Canon, they've got a ~$300 50mm f/1.4.

On the flip side, with primes you have to zoom with your feet, and if you can't walk around, you may not be able to get the picture you want. You're also switching lenses a lot. However, some photographers find that the enforced discipline of a prime lens causes them to think more about composition.

[stuart]

i have owned heaps of cameras over the years and have always loved photography but never owned a good camera i to was confused with all the jargon but after reading heaps i jumped at the new 400d and love every second with it you will too ;) you will learn as you go its a brillant camera,do it