New to Photography - Lens Recommendations?

[Medic1]

I am new to the world of photography...well, to be more exact I am new to the world of serious photography. I have used only point and shoot's up until now and thoroughly enjoy taking photographs. I decided to take it to the next step and take it up as a hobby.

I bought the DRebel to start as a friend who is a Semi-Professional photographer told me this would be a good place to start out. I got the kit that came with the 18-55 Canon Lens. I have been doing mainly nature/wildlife so far and obviously this lens cannot get me as close to the subjects as I wish to be. Right now I really don't want to spend a whole lot of money but am open to debate on it.

I am looking to get a lens that takes me in to the birds, animals or whatever I am trying to capture. As I am new I cannot really figure out what a good tele/telezoom lens would be. Right now, as stupid as it may seem I am only used to the "zoom factor" from the traditional point and shoots, so I will ask under that context.

I want a lens that will get me 8-10X zoom or better.....any suggestions or any general rule to picking a good lens for far away subjects?

[tofuboy]

the zoom factor is relative.. take for example (and this is purely hypothetical)... at 1-10mm lens would be considered a 10x zoom, a 10-100mm lens would be considered a 10x zoom, or a 50-500mm lens would be considered a 10x zoom. Forget the zoom factor, however really general assumption is the higher the zoom factor, the lower quality the images will be... this is because with higher zoom factors it becomes harder to make a lens perfect at all focal lengths.

As for a good lens recommendation for you, you could go all out and get the 100-400 L IS, which is about $1400 I think. Something more on the beginners side might be the 75-300mm at around $200 I think, or the IS version for around $400. These are both Canon lenses, or you could try a different brand like Sigma or Tamron or etc. I don't know much about those manufacturers, so I'll let someone else make that suggestion.

[Toogy]

The Canon 100-400L is a very popular lens for wildlife photos.

You could also try the 70-200 2.8L with 1.4x extender

For the best bang for the buck the 70-200 F4L is a very nice lens.

[robertwgross]

The Canon 100-400L is a very popular lens for wildlife photos.


Agreed.

I've shot more usable wildlife shots in the last six months since I bought mine than probably six years with any previous wildlife lens.

---Bob Gross---

[Wildman]

The DRebel with the kit lens is a good place to start... not expensive and a good "training wheels" lens. I'm sure you'll want more reach later, but don't get stampeeded into something more expensive before you get your feet wet.

I just got into the wonderful world of DSLRs with my 20D and an EF-S 17-85IS lens. It has pretty good reach, but I'll "need" more as time goes by. My next lens (there's always a "next lens) will be an EF-70-200L F4. Like it or not, there's no perfect lens and you'll always want something you don't have. Savor what you have, and take your time.

You'll learn what's best for you after you learn your camera. You don't have to start over with a new camera when you want to upgrade in a year or two, unlike in the point-and-shoot world.

[Wildman]

The DRebel with the kit lens is a good place to start... not expensive and a good "training wheels" lens. I'm sure you'll want more reach later, but don't get stampeeded into something more expensive before you get your feet wet.

I just got into the wonderful world of DSLRs with my 20D and an EF-S 17-85IS lens. It has pretty good reach, but I'll "need" more as time goes by. My next lens (there's always a "next lens) will be an EF-70-200L F4. Like it or not, there's no perfect lens and you'll always want something you don't have. Savor what you have, and take your time.

You'll learn what's best for you after you learn your camera. You don't have to start over with a new camera when you want to upgrade in a year or two, unlike in the point-and-shoot world.

[Wildman]

The DRebel with the kit lens is a good place to start... not expensive and a good "training wheels" lens. I'm sure you'll want more reach later, but don't get stampeeded into something more expensive before you get your feet wet.

I just got into the wonderful world of DSLRs with my 20D and an EF-S 17-85IS lens. It has pretty good reach, but I'll "need" more as time goes by. My next lens (there's always a "next lens) will be an EF-70-200L F4. Like it or not, there's no perfect lens and you'll always want something you don't have. Savor what you have, and take your time.

You'll learn what's best for you after you learn your camera. You don't have to start over with a new camera when you want to upgrade in a year or two, unlike in the point-and-shoot world.

[wolf]

The Sigma 50-500 4/6.3 EX is a pretty decent wildlife lens for under $1000. Big and heavy, but well built and sharp.

[tim]

The Sigma 50-500 4/6.3 EX is a pretty decent wildlife lens for under $1000. Big and heavy, but well built and sharp.

That's a huge (14") heavy (4lb) lens, and you'd most likely need a tripod to take photos at 500mm. You'd probably have to carry one anyway, with that sort of weight.