Canon SLR Lense Recommendation - Page 2

gizze · 07-09-2008, 06:29 PM

The 35mm is like the 50mm on crop sensor bodies, the 28mm gives a little more angle and is loads sharper and far better colour wise.

Did you not get a kit lens with the camera??

gizze · 07-09-2008, 06:30 PM

Haha, love those pics.

CarMad · 07-09-2008, 08:04 PM

I never thought I'd say this but my Sigma 30mm f/1.4 is rapidly becoming my favourite lens.

Just been up to Edinburgh and it wasn't off my 40D great lens and great to learn with, a zoom can mean you get sloppy when learning sometimes I think.

gizze · 07-09-2008, 08:12 PM

Totally agree, just looked through my photo history and 87% have been taken with the 28mm prime.
I would have guessed over 50%, but nearly 90% is quite amazing.

And to think I din't buy a Leica M8 originally as I hated the thought of not having any zoon lenses!! Doh!!

nordberg · 08-09-2008, 08:11 AM

Can you explain what you mean by prime?

My GCSE Photography brain doens't quite know what you guys are on about!

CarMad · 08-09-2008, 08:44 AM

You have two types of lenses a prime and a zoom. A prime is a fixed focal length, so 30mm only, 50mm only etc. its fixed. A zoom on the other hand has a range of movement, some small 24-70 others huge 28-300. Many with a large zoom don't offer quite the image quality but they can be useful if you want that range in a single lens.

For a carry around lens something that goes very wide 17mm on a crop to 80-90mm is about all you need for 90% of situations IMO.

A prime on the other hand because it has no zoom is normally much faster so f1.4 or f2.8 for example and often can create a far higher quality image and a smaller DOF, though this isn't always the case there are exceptions to that rule.

nordberg · 08-09-2008, 08:51 AM

Perfect explanation - thanks!!

GCab · 08-09-2008, 04:07 PM

One thing to think about is that kids (once they start moving about) won't necessarily stay still for you to shuffle backward and forward with your prime lens trying to frame the perfect shot (unless you box 'em up like above

), plus they may find it intimidating if you're too close; so you're right to be thinking about a zoom IMHO. If you don't have a general-purpose zoom, you could think about getting something which goes down to a fairly wide angle (like 18mm) but also quite long (anything from 55 to 200) for telephoto. Rather than a wide angle specifically, which is narrower range.

07-09-2008, 08:04 PM	#13 (permalink)
CarMad Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Manchester Posts: 12,672	I never thought I'd say this but my Sigma 30mm f/1.4 is rapidly becoming my favourite lens. Just been up to Edinburgh and it wasn't off my 40D great lens and great to learn with, a zoom can mean you get sloppy when learning sometimes I think. __________________ BMW 330i e90 M-Sport - Review Gumpdump - Gadget and Photography

08-09-2008, 08:11 AM	#15 (permalink)
nordberg BMW 130d Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 1,123	Can you explain what you mean by prime? My GCSE Photography brain doens't quite know what you guys are on about! __________________ A4 2.0T S Line Special Edition - Mauritius Blue \|Valcona Leather\| Xenons\| HFS\| 18in DTM Alloys\| \|Bose\| iPod Interface\| Interior Light Pack\| More to follow........\|

08-09-2008, 08:44 AM	#16 (permalink)
CarMad Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Manchester Posts: 12,672	You have two types of lenses a prime and a zoom. A prime is a fixed focal length, so 30mm only, 50mm only etc. its fixed. A zoom on the other hand has a range of movement, some small 24-70 others huge 28-300. Many with a large zoom don't offer quite the image quality but they can be useful if you want that range in a single lens. For a carry around lens something that goes very wide 17mm on a crop to 80-90mm is about all you need for 90% of situations IMO. A prime on the other hand because it has no zoom is normally much faster so f1.4 or f2.8 for example and often can create a far higher quality image and a smaller DOF, though this isn't always the case there are exceptions to that rule. __________________ BMW 330i e90 M-Sport - Review Gumpdump - Gadget and Photography

08-09-2008, 08:51 AM	#17 (permalink)
nordberg BMW 130d Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 1,123	Perfect explanation - thanks!! __________________ A4 2.0T S Line Special Edition - Mauritius Blue \|Valcona Leather\| Xenons\| HFS\| 18in DTM Alloys\| \|Bose\| iPod Interface\| Interior Light Pack\| More to follow........\|

08-09-2008, 04:07 PM	#18 (permalink)
GCab The Voice of Reason Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: London Posts: 5,761	One thing to think about is that kids (once they start moving about) won't necessarily stay still for you to shuffle backward and forward with your prime lens trying to frame the perfect shot (unless you box 'em up like above ), plus they may find it intimidating if you're too close; so you're right to be thinking about a zoom IMHO. If you don't have a general-purpose zoom, you could think about getting something which goes down to a fairly wide angle (like 18mm) but also quite long (anything from 55 to 200) for telephoto. Rather than a wide angle specifically, which is narrower range. Last edited by GCab; 08-09-2008 at 04:14 PM.

07-09-2008, 06:29 PM	#11 (permalink)
gizze Audi R8 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Norfolk Posts: 9,532	The 35mm is like the 50mm on crop sensor bodies, the 28mm gives a little more angle and is loads sharper and far better colour wise. Did you not get a kit lens with the camera??

07-09-2008, 06:30 PM	#12 (permalink)
gizze Audi R8 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Norfolk Posts: 9,532	Haha, love those pics.

07-09-2008, 08:12 PM	#14 (permalink)
gizze Audi R8 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Norfolk Posts: 9,532	Totally agree, just looked through my photo history and 87% have been taken with the 28mm prime. I would have guessed over 50%, but nearly 90% is quite amazing. And to think I din't buy a Leica M8 originally as I hated the thought of not having any zoon lenses!! Doh!!