DSLR Lenses for Beginners

[bmxmom]

Newbie here.....Please help!

I am buying and new camera (Rebel XSi) and have the option to purchase a kit with this lens included for an extra small sum. Is this lens any good or am I further ahead to purchase the body only and get a different lens for it?

Thanks,
Linda

[inkista]

Depends on if you know which lens you'd rather have than the 18-55 kit (assuming that's the lens you're talking about). The kit lens is inexpensive (most lenses are in the $300-$1000 range), and good-enough quality for a beginner, and particularly for vacation snaps of landscapes and people. It's a great lens to learn on, but you will probably eventually replace it at some point. If you know what lens you want, then skipping the kit lens is a good idea. But if you have no prior experience of lenses, the 18-55 is a cheap way to get enough experience to figure out what you want.

[bmxmom]

Thank you for the reply.... the kit I am speaking of has the Rebel XSi body bundled with the Tamron 18-200 mm f/3.56-6.3 for an extra $180.00. My primary photography will be covered with a EF 70-200 mm f/2.8 (possibly with IS), I am looking for something to cover the closer range. If this Tamron is not a good lens I would rather put my money into something better then. What would you recommend?

[inkista]

The 18-200 is versatile, but its image quality probably is on a par with the 18-55 kit lens (i.e., relatively low). Your 70-200 f/2.8L will definitely outclass it in every way possible, except price and portability.

If money's no object, I'd say the EF 24-70 f/2.8L USM or EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS USM might be the perfect "mate" to the 70-200 f/2.8L, but both of them also have four-figure price tags, like the 70-200 f/2.8Ls.

Do you have a specific budget and a specific thing you like to shoot?

[bmxmom]

My primary photo shoots will be sports (cycling in particular). I am looking for something that will bridge the gap to be a "walkaround" basic lens as I don't want to use the EF 70-200 mm all the time....lol.

[th83]

I to am a newbie I have the EOS 40D and the kit lens that I chose was the 17-85 IS USM great lens. But my question is this I am thinking of a zoom lens and I have a small piggybank to work with but I was thinking of the Sigma APO 120-400 lens. I like taking sports and nature pictures. Any opions or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks Tom

[sirclicksalot]

Hello, I was wondering if someone could help me.
I was looking to buy a new telephoto lense. I like the 55 - 250mm IS Canon EF - S I like the IS feature and the fact that it´s Canon. But I was also intersted in the Sigma and Tamron 70 - 300mm lenses, I know there not as good but they have great price tags.
I´m a begginer photographer and I don´t know if it really is a difference for me to spend a lot more money and sacrifice 50mm zoom. (if I buy the canon)

[johnsom]

I have a Nikon D60 with 18-55VR kit lens. Now I have a $500 or so (but less than $700) budget to work on. I think of getting the 55-200VR, 50mm 1.8 and SB600. With my budget I can only afford 2 out of 3 items in my wishlist. I need your opinion which items should I go for.

I mainly shoot indoor portrait (for my baby), sometimes macro/close up for my diecast car collection and generally everything else that catches my attention.

Any other suggestions will be appreciated... TIA

John

[LENAAPPLE1974]

Originally Posted by johnsom

I have a Nikon D60 with 18-55VR kit lens. Now I have a $500 or so (but less than $700) budget to work on. I think of getting the 55-200VR, 50mm 1.8 and SB600. With my budget I can only afford 2 out of 3 items in my wishlist. I need your opinion which items should I go for.

I mainly shoot indoor portrait (for my baby), sometimes macro/close up for my diecast car collection and generally everything else that catches my attention.

Any other suggestions will be appreciated... TIA

John

John, my being a D40X user, that was the same question I had this past month. For myself, I had to worry about how the D40's & D60 does NOT support the regular AF lens models. Their auto features are within the flash, where the other models are iwthin the camera. (I think I have that correct) Either way, I knew off the top I needed AF-S models, because while I am branching out to manual features, I do depend on the Auto Focus features alot. (Lots of moving kids..lol) So you need to first ask, do you need to have the automatic features in your lens? The 50mm AF-S f1.4 is $500 roughly. You can get it from Cameta for about $459, and Adorama or Amazon about the same, on a waiting list. I heard it was a great lens. For me, unfortunately I didn't have that saved, and wanted a prime quicker. I ended up with the 35mm AF-S prime for half that price. I love it so far! It is an adjustment, that is for sure. But in the end, that is what I had to question. Figured I would throw that out there because some people did not realize the difference. That will unfortunately change the outcome of price. If you like manual, the AF 50mm is roughly $130!! Big difference, but that will open up the range of lenses you can choose from.

[filmoreha]

Originally Posted by johnsom

I have a Nikon D60 with 18-55VR kit lens. Now I have a $500 or so (but less than $700) budget to work on. I think of getting the 55-200VR, 50mm 1.8 and SB600. With my budget I can only afford 2 out of 3 items in my wishlist. I need your opinion which items should I go for.

I mainly shoot indoor portrait (for my baby), sometimes macro/close up for my diecast car collection and generally everything else that catches my attention.

Any other suggestions will be appreciated... TIA

John

I am a Canon user, but I do take a ton of pics of my 2yo and highly recommend a 50mm prime. You'll love it.