Buying 550D Twin IS Kit plus additional lenses.

[samuelleung83]

I'm a bit of a NOOB when it comes to DSLR's and Lenses so any is REALLY appreciated.
I am soon to buy a 550D Twin IS Lense Kit package but also wish to purchase two additional lenses and would like some advice.
- EF 50mm f/1.8 II
- EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

I would like to know, if I am purchasing the above two additional lenses, is there really a need for the Twin IS Lense kit? or in other words, do all four of these lenses compliment each other? If advice tells me the Twin IS Lense kit isn't necessary then I will consider buying the 550d BODY ONLY but it seems quite economical to get the lense kit as those lenses are going for $300Aus each alone .

I wish to experiment with many aspects of photography as I learn. But the main reason for purchasing is a planned holiday where I will be shooting scenery/landscapes and probably a fair few pics of my mates infront of scenes, the tipical holiday snaps I guess you could say.

Oh and I'm going to the Singapore Grand Prix NIGHT RACE and would like to get some good action shots while I'm there.

ANY Advice is really appreciated guys.

[RichardTaylor]

There is an overlap.
With the 24-105 and the twin lens kit.

Both the kit lens are ok and good value (not great lenses) and are good for general purpose photography (I own both)

The 24-105 is a real step up both mechanically & IQ wise (I own one also and use it on a 5D) but not real wide on a 550D. It may be ok for your "holiday" pics.

You may find that if you buy the 24-105 and the twin lens kit the twin lenses may not be used very much except when you want to go wide or want the extra reach. Mine do not see much use now days (I also have other lenses)

The 50 F1.8 is an good intro lens for low light shooting and exploring shallow DOF.

Personally I would go with the 18-55 IS lens and the 50 F1.8. This will take care of your general purpose shooting needs and put the money saved from not buying the 55-250 & 24-105 towards a Canon 70-200 F2.8 L (If you don't mind the weight) or the 70-200 F4 L IS if you want something lighter. .

For shooting night motor sport (except for the trails of light type pics) you will need fast lenses (at least F2.8 or faster). Personally if you are siting in the stands or don't have a paddock pass I would just enjoy the racing (I do shoot motor sport for a hobby)

[samuelleung83]

Thanks heaps Richard,
That is exactly the advice I was looking for. I don't think I will be able to get Camera bundled with ONLY the 18-55 IS but I will ask. The Twin IS Kit with both 18-55 and 55-250 seems to be the only available kit atm where I live.

I thought perhaps (in my beginner opinion) that I could use the 24-105 L for a good focal range and use the 50 F1.8 for when it gets darker and we hit the city of an evening. I was thinking along the lines of having the Twin IS Kit (18-55 and 55-250) to more or less educate myself on the difference in quality of an 'L' (or Professional/Expensive) lens in comparison and also use the upper end of the 55-250 for if I ever really need that extra focal range. And really the main reason I wanted the 24-105 is because so many people tend to rate it very highly as a diverse lens.

BUT, now you mention it, it makes sense to go the route you suggested as those lenses all compliment each others range as apposed to overlapping each other. 50 F1.8 for low light and shallow DOF... 18-55 IS for low range focal length.... and 70-200 L F2.8 (or F4 IS) for upper range focal length. I would perhaps even go as far as getting one of the the 70-200 L IS lenses... I have some obsession with Image Stabalisation, simply because I feel I wont always have a tri-pod on me and also from playing with really cheap Video Cam Corders with crap IS.

Now you mention it I probably should try to hold myself back from taking too many pics of the races, but I wouldn't mind getting just one personal good pic of Mark Webber in motion.

So.. for me I think I will get the 550d Twin IS Kit + 50 F1.8 II. And save my pennies for a 70-200mm L IS Series lens. Unless someone convinces me to still get the 24-105 f4 L IS?

Once again, I really appreciate your advice and thanks Richard, what a champ.

[OsmosisStudios]

You've got two choices here

Get the 550D + twin-lens kit and the 50mm f/1.8
Get the 550D + 24-1505 and the 50mm f/1.8

In the first case, you'll see where you shoot the most, what kind of things you tend to shoot most often and, therefore, the focal length ranges you find most important. Thats where you eventually spend your money.

The 24-105 setup, however, gives you superior image quality out of the box but less versatility in the long run. It also means you end up with a weird 36-150 range for your zoom, and that menas losing out on both the wide and telephoto, which you may want.

I'd suggest the former. The two-lenses means you get a wider range and a more accurate view of how you shoot. After some time, examine your photos and see where you shoot the most (using an EXIF viewer of some sort) and see where you want to/can upgrade.

[samuelleung83]

Thanks OsmosisStudios,
Definitive information there. I think I'll go with the first option of getting Twin Lens + 50mm f1.8 based on yours and RichardTaylors advice. It's going to be a hell of a lot cheaper to begin with and considering I'm a beginner I'm sure I'll be impressed with any result from a DSLR compared to my point and shoot Olympus MJU Tough. I'm going to go bargain the salesman down tonight.