Canon 20D with EF-S 18-55 lens

[alans220]

Hi all,

thinking of buying a 20D to replace, or add to my G6. I was originally going to buy a Nikon D50, but think the Canon 20D is a better buy.

But I am unsure about the lens that comes with it, the 18-55 kit lens, I have heard some not so good reports about this lens, and as the 20D is at the top end of my budget I have little left for any other lenses.

Is this lens going to be ok for me, is there an alternative which is not too expensive?

or should I get the Nikon and a couple of good lenses.

thanks

al

[kram]

If you are willing to compromise, you can pick up the Rebel XT and some good lenses. Not having any cash for good lenses negates the idea of investing in a good body.

[kram]

Some of the cheap well recommended lenses are the 50/1.8 Canon, Tamron 28-75/2.8 and the Sigma 24-70/2.8. Maybe you can pick up one or two from this pack and buy more later.

[SuzyView]

Welcome, Al! It's always nice to see a new Canon user.

The kit lens gets bashed a lot because it is 1) very slow in focusing compared to USM lenses or better, 2) doesn't let in a lot of light in low light situations and you have to use the flash, 3) costs only around $100 retail so people naturally assume it's terrible. But many good photographers have taken great pictures with it. I think I would get the 20D with the kit lens and get a 50 1.8 as well for $70 or so and have fun with the two lenses. If you wait and save a little bit, you can visit the camera shop (a reputable one that has many options, not just their store brand) and get a better lens. Those suggested above, the Tamron and Sigma are very inexpensive and the people here in the forum think they are a good value. I had some decent equipment before finding this forum. After reading lens reviews, I found myself at the B&H site buying 3 lenses all very good, but expensive. I've been using Canon for around 20 years, but never invested so heavily. Now a lot of money later, I think I have the right tools. It took a while. Use the equipment you have and slowly see what you need. I don't have a single regret for not rushing. :) Good luck.

[SkipD]

Al, the 18-55 lens can be used to take acceptable pictures, but there is a mechanical issue that I have with that lens that you should consider.

The front ring (where a filter or screw-in hood would mount) rotates AND extends/retracts for focussing. This, to me, is a very difficult control to use for manual focussing.

In addition - if you would like to use a polarizing filter, this lens is horrible for that. A polarizing filter needs to be rotated in its mount to set the angle of the polarization in the filter (to optimize its effect on the subject). Because filter ring of the lens rotates for focussing, if you change focus you have to again adjust the polarizing filter. If you tweak the polarizing filter you may be upsetting the focus, etc.

I would choose a first lens that does not have a rotating front element. The EF-S 17-85MM f4-5.6 IS USM, though more expensive, would be a FAR better choice in my opinion. It would also allow you to use it for many more photographic situations than the 18-55. The IS (Image Stabilization) feature could also be quite valuable to you.

[dditzel]

I recently did the same move, G6-20D. Glad i did, however i am keeping the g6 as a p&s and to take to place where my 20d would be too much. I like the g6 for the flip lcd, and compactness of the camera. The nice thing is they both use the same battery and cf cards, so i have 2 batteries for my 20d. The 20d will take some time to get used to, depending on your experience with slr or dslr, but well worth it. I've learned more in the past 2 months with my 20d, and reading these forums. Like some others mentioned, the kit lens is great to get your feet wet, the tamron 28-75 is a great lens as well, and i ordered both the camera and the tamron at the same time.

[jjonsalt]

Not having any cash for good lenses negates the idea of investing in a good body.

Oh poo-poo. Do get the 20D. Even if you can't get other than the "kit" lens at this time you will have a very fine body into the future. The 20D will take as good a picture 6 years from now that it takes now or yesterday. The 20D has many advantages over the 'D Rebel' series that many (incl me) find useful and important. True, the 18-55mm kit lens is far from one of Canon's best but it ain't no all bad lens either. It will do just fine while you get used to using your new camera. And later, when you do add a lens or two, you will be building your system on a good body.

[ScottE]

It depends what you will use your camera for. The 17-55/2.8 is big and heavy compared to the kit lens. The f/2.8 is great if you need faster shutter speed in low light or shallow depth of field, but it is not as convenient to carry around general purpose photography because of the size and weight. A better compromise between size and quality for that purpose might be the 17-85 IS.

More likely, you will continue to use the G6 for travel and general purposes where size and weight are more important than absolute image quality. In that case the 20D with 17-55/2.8 would be an excellent choice for the occasions when image quality and/or a wide aperture are more important than compactness and weight.

[Moniphoto]

I recently did the same move, G6-20D. Glad i did, however i am keeping the g6 as a p&s and to take to place where my 20d would be too much. I like the g6 for the flip lcd, and compactness of the camera. The nice thing is they both use the same battery and cf cards, so i have 2 batteries for my 20d. The 20d will take some time to get used to, depending on your experience with slr or dslr, but well worth it. I've learned more in the past 2 months with my 20d, and reading these forums. Like some others mentioned, the kit lens is great to get your feet wet, the tamron 28-75 is a great lens as well, and i ordered both the camera and the tamron at the same time.

ja ja ja I like the part that you said keeping de G6 .....

Moniphoto

[jjonsalt]

ja ja ja I like the part that you said keeping de G6 .....

Moniphoto

I still have and often use my G5.

[Moniphoto]

I still have and often use my G5.
I still use my A95 Power Shot ;)

[RobKirkwood]

I'm also in Nottingham and have the 20D and EF-S 18-55 kit lens, also have the 17-40 f4 L ...if you can get around sometime next week you're welcome to come play and have a look at shots we've taken with both - beyond next week chances are the 18-55 will be sold (currently on eBay).

Send me a PM.


Rob

[steved110]

Don't get stressed about the kit lens - it is absolutely fine for routine use, you'd only really see the difference if you make massive enlargements. the high quality L lenses are really great - but they are something to decide on over time. the 18-55 gives a good cover of the most important focal lengths from quite wide to quite long, and the image quality is perfectly OK. Yes they are light and flimsy, but so is the 50 1.8.
If you're not being paid for your pictures, it's hard to justify spending big money just for the sake of it.
So get the 20D with the kit lens, it will take you a while to outgrow the combination and when you do, guess what? Everyone here will have heaps of advice for you, and you will torment yourself over your first L lens, and then buy one and post a picture of a duck and some twigs, and possibly the box it came in.

[vctr]

I took my Rebel XT to a Rail Museum today along with the 18-55 kit lense. I was trying to compose a shot of a moving model train, using TV mode in medium to low light, I had a hard time catching the image so I switched to M and opened the AP a little and got my shot which was a little under exposed. I eventually fliped up the flash and went to P mode.
I'm wondering if the lense was at it's limits or the photographer who is totally new at this didn't know what he was doing:p
I do have to say the 18-55 did well with portraits and the shots I took outdoors in the rail yard.

[steved110]

The kit lens is a slow lens, so in low light situation sit will struggle without flash. with a good flash low light becomes much less of an issue,and there are ways to make the flash effect more pleasing and less harsh - diffusers, bouncin or tilting the flash etc.
Understand that I am mainly referring to an external flash unit - I use a speedlite 380EX - an older EX flash from my film Eos which works fine on my 20D.
the built-in flash is rather limiting but I am glad it's there for things like outdoor fill-in.

[dditzel]

ja ja ja I like the part that you said keeping de G6 .....

Moniphoto

Please don't take this the wrong way, but the G6 is kept mostly for the WF (wife factor) :lol: She just wants to turn the camera on, and take a picture, not fiddle with settings, ect.. I can honestly say, that besides takeing the battery out, i haven't picked up the g6 since the 20d arrived

[pushtoexit]

I finally did it yesterday. Bought the 20d after touching feeling everything from the Olypimpus, Nikons, and XT. The kit lens is fine for now. I can't believe how much easier it is to use (get the shot) than my G5, particularily with useable high ISO. It feels like the camera is working with me instead of against me. What a pleasure.

[sti jaguar]

People are needlessly bashing the kit lens. I personally think that my kit lense was as sharp as hell, in fact sometimes I thought it was even too sharp.

I just got the 24-70L which costs like 15x more. Sure it has the solid feel and f2.8 but...man...I dunno. The 18-55 was pretty damn good.

[jjonsalt]

I just got the 24-70L which costs like 15x more. Sure it has the solid feel and f2.8 but...man...I dunno.

Let's not get too carried away here.

[sti jaguar]

lol, i only took 5 shots with the 24-70. But hey, I remembered my old 18-55 to be pretty sharp....

but yea it costs like hmmm....15x more :) considering you can get a 18-55 for $70.

But it won't be later this week that I will get to play with the 24-70.

[dditzel]

I can't believe how much easier it is to use (get the shot) than my G5, particularily with useable high ISO. It feels like the camera is working with me instead of against me. What a pleasure.

Isn’t it nice to take a shot of something and not wait forever for the lens to focus? and the ability to fire off continuous shots is amazing, i have a 13 month old that doesn't hold still, and with my g6 i would miss so many shots, that now, are easy and quick. much more flexability

[pushtoexit]

Tons of flexability. What amazes me is w/the G5 It was just a guessing game to try and get the right exposure in Manual Mode, and you were pretty limited at ISO 50 or 100, and I often gave up and resorted to scene modes or Auto to get important shots. I was somewhat intimidated by the 20d thinking that it would be harder to learn than the G5, but have found the opposite. In fact it's the 20d scene modes which confuse me. I've gone straight to Manual settings, getting instant feedback in the viewfinder, and the speed is incredible.