Choice of right lens?

[Ravneet Sodhi P]

Hi,

I have finally zeroed on the Cannon 550 D, and plan to buy in the coming week. However, Iam now confused about the lens. The camera comes with a standard 18mm-55mm lens. Some of my friends have asked me to go for it, but some have suggested the 18mm-105mm lens as the latter is better for some good distant shots. I am looking for a suitable lens for landscape, portrait and travel photography.

I am just venturing in this field, so would really appreciate your valuable suggestions.

Thanks.

[OsmosisStudios]

There's a very simple problem with that recommendation: Canon don't make an 18-105. They do make an 18-135 and a 15-85, though.

THe 18-55 kit lens is a great lens to start with. Personally, I'd go with a 35mm lens instead, and learn how to use all the functions of the camera before getting the zoom. Primes like a 35mm f/2 will also force you to think about composition more.

[inkista]

This is a "chicken and the egg" conundrum. Until you've shot with a lens, you won't know what you want in a lens. The 18-55 is dirt cheap when kitted with a camera. It usually only adds about $100 to the price, and if you were to get it separately, it would be almost twice that. It's a good, stabilized, wide-to-normal walkaround zoom lens, and eminently practical for casual vacation snapshots of landscapes and people in front of landscapes.

It will also teach you a lot about what you'll want out of a "better" lens. Possibly more reach, possibly a wider max. aperture, possibly USM, or maybe L glass, or going wider, instead of longer.

Just get the kit. Going for "a better" lens only really makes sense if you know what lens you want. If you've never shot with an SLR before, it's going to be really tough to know what you want. Get a little time with the camera under your belt so you'll be able to put a pricetag on what you want. Lenses are expensive. You're likely to eventually spend two to three times as much on lenses as you did on the body. You're really going to want to be familiar with what's available and how much lenses cost before casting around for new glass. In the meantime, the kit lens can at least let you shoot with your new camera while you're picking up information.

To get started on learning about lenses, I recommend this basic primer, which describes most of the basic features of lenses and what they mean in practical shooting terms.

I generally recommend that if you want a lot basic coverage for not much cost, that you get the kit, and add an EF-S 55-250 IS, and an EF 50mm f/1.8 II. Those two additional lenses come to a total of about $350 (less than one midgrade lens), and you'll have covered wide-to-telephoto and available light capability. It's not a perfect fit, or a great set of lenses, but you'll cover the basics and get your money's worth, as you learn what kind of shooting you really want to do, and start shaping your gear to fit your personal style and choice of subjects.

[Ravneet Sodhi P]

Thanks a ton for your suggestions. I very well understand that practical experience with the lenses give a far better idea than just literature. I shall go with the 18mm-55mm to start off.

Iam really excited, and hope to take some good shots.

Any further suggestions would be welcome!