New 20D with kit lens. 50mm f/1.8 next?

[Moriarty]

Hey Guys,
New to the forum, this is my first post. I've been reading for a couple of days and can tell this will be one of my favorite spots for some time to come. I'm fairly new to still photography, although cinematography has been one of my passions for years. I'm finding the basic physics the same, of course. So onto the point of this post...

My parent bought me a brand new 20D for Christmas. Came with the EF-S 18-55mm kit lens and my parents threw in an EF 75-300mm (NO IS, NO USM :( )

I see that one of the first recommendations on this forum is to add a 50mm f/1.8 and, wow, at that price I'm surprised I haven't already. My question is, does it make sense to fill in some of the range I don't have yet, or should I get the 50mm in addition to my kit lens because it's that much of an upgrade and I'll be spending that much time in that range?

Of course your first question will be, "well what will you use it for?" Honestly, I don't know yet. I love portrait photog, cityscape, modern. Love to dabble in macro photog. Currently live in Washington so I'm a hop and a jump away from wildlife photog every weekend. In terms of cinema I'm somewhat from the school of wide angle, "deep focus" kinetics, but my favorite work is the period in which Kurosawa was experimenting with telephoto. As you can see I have extremely varied tastes and interests (without the deep wallet to back it up). My gut tells me to, over time, add a macro lens, something in the 10-22 range, and a 400mm prime, then go back and shore up 20-300mm with a couple of lenses of higher quality than the two I have now. That 50mm f/1.8 is damn attractive though.

Any thoughts?

P.S. Any macro or tripod recommendations? I haven't done a thorough search yet but those are the only two pieces I haven't stumbled upon recs for while flipping through the forum.

[jylitalo]

I see that one of the first recommendations on this forum is to add a 50mm f/1.8 and, wow, at that price I'm surprised I haven't already. My question is, does it make sense to fill in some of the range I don't have yet, or should I get the 50mm in addition to my kit lens because it's that much of an upgrade and I'll be spending that much time in that range?
...
Any thoughts?


At least for me, 50/1.8 is the toy that I've used for experimenting DoF on various f-settings and dark places (i.e. christmas concerts), where my f4 zooms are useless and thats pretty much it, and it might very well be useful for potraits.
At the sametime it has its limitations. After G3, its minimum focusing distance (0.45m) is real nuisance if you try to take closeup picture from small flower (then again it gives you good reason to include other parts of the plant into picture as well) and its field of view (on cameras with 1.6x crop factor) is not wide enough for what I would consider to be ideal walk-around lens.

- Juha, http://www.ylitalot.net/photos/public/Favorites/thumbs.html

P.S. some people have been using 50/1.4 with closeup lens as a macro, so that might be something that you might try with 50/1.8 as well. However, I haven't seen any pictures that would use that combination.

[mikesd]

Pure and simple; for $70 no bag should be without it.

[mr.photoguy]

I like mine, it always saves the day on low light shots. The bokeh isn't the best, but if you actually search the boards you will find a lot of posts for the 50mm 1.8 the 1.4, the differences, and so forth.

[dhbailey]

For the price, the 50mm 1.8 is definitely worth it.

BUT if you have the extra money ($369 after $30 rebate through the end of December, from B&H) I would suggest the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 lens -- I had heard wonderful things about it and I got one about a week before Christmas, and now it lives on my camera except for when I want longer zoom, and then I use the 70-300 zoom.

So, my suggestion would depend on your bank account -- the Tamron is an excellent lens if you can afford it!

So my lens usage is: 18-55 kit lens at 18mm for when I want a wider angle shot, the Tamron 28-75 for most shots, 70-300 for longer shots.

This may not be right for everybody, but until I get a few thousand dollars to drop on L quality glass or a much longer zoom, this suits me just fine right now.

[charlesu]

I'd skip the 50 1.8 (I hardly ever use mine) and get the 50 1.4 instead.

After that, if you are really serious, start saving up for the 24-70 2.8L and the 70-200 2.8L IS.

[mikesd]

Agree with David, along with the 50mm f/1.8 I have the Tamron 28-75 XR/DI.The Tamron can compete with L quality for a third of the price. These two are a great start to having good quality/fast lens"s in your bag.

[JK]

Hi Moriarty and welcome to the forum!

To be honest, given that you're new to still photography and just got a 20D with 2 new lenses, I would hold off buying anything for a while. Learn how to use the brilliant gear you've already got and after a couple of months, have another look at what new lenses or other equipment might help your photography.

It's all too easy to get caught up in the equipment buying frenzy (that almost all of us here are guilty of!) and you end up spending money on stuff you rarely use or even need.

So get out there, start shooting, post a few pics on the forum and enjoy your new hobby. Save your pennies for now, because that new lens is really only a mouse-click away these days! :)

[PekkaM]

I have 50mm f1.4 and funny thing is that even though I at first thought it to be really usefull to me, I've used it rarely. Great for DOF that it has, portraits also. Really too tight framing indoors in my opinion so I usually rather use my 17-40 with external flash.

[Deckyon]

I am going to go against the norm here. I would look at either a flash. Technically, your kit lens hits 50mm, though not at f/1.8. I have the 50mm f/1.4 USM, but I find it too narrow of a field of view for where I would have used it on a film or full-frame camera. I use the 50mm for walk-around outdoors, but for close quarters, it is too narrow of a field of view. Sure, the 50mm f/1.8 is $70, but for me the $70 was better spend on other gear. I think you will get more use out of an off-camera flash, for now.

The other thing I did not see in your post was a tripod. A tripod is a must for telephoto unless in the very best conditions and with IS. As for what tripod/head to get, I more than highly recommend the following:
Manfrotto 3021PRO Tripod
Manfrotto 322RC2 Tripod Head

Not the least expensive set, but it has no problem holding my 1D Mark II, 70-200mm f/2.8 IS L and 1.4x Extender and 2.0x Extender. It is a solid frame and holds a lot of weight. The thing with tripods, buy a good one, and you do not have to buy another for a very long time.

Just my opinion.

[roanjohn]

For 70 bucks, its not even a question.........its a necessity!!! This lens was my 1st purchase (aside from the kit lens) and it blew me away!! Sharp, sharp, sharp!!! Too bad it broke when I dropped my bag - but it gave me a good reason to get the 1.4 version!!! Now I'm happy again!!!

Ro1

[merrrrjig]

I just got the 20D and im just bought a 50mm 1.8 it should be here any day, I cant wait!

[Persian-Rice]

This is a good buy, for a guy with only one lens, you will be using it quite often. However, it wont get much usage down the road. I have four bodies and I haven't mounted the 50 in a while, its almost reserved for car photography only. That and when I feel like I want to be inconspicuous.

I would say go with the 28-75 and the 50. They are not the best built lenses and they don't focus very fast. But they do one thing better then most other lenses, they give you great optics at a great price.

Cheers

[Moriarty]

Awesome suggestions everyone. Thanks! Anymore tripod suggestions? I checked out the Manfrotto and it looks like it's within my budget. Any others?

[Persian-Rice]

Manfrotto is the best bang for the buck, and pretty much the best one anyway :D

[Deckyon]

I will state it again, the Manfrotto 3021PRO Tripod and Manfrotto 322RC2 Tripod Head is probably one of the best all-around tripod/head combinations. I also have the 3047 Pan/Tilt head, but have not used it since getting the 322RC2 head. I am keeping the 3047 for use in my "studio" (basement) because it offers more precise and tighter locking for product shots. I also want to keep it for doing panoramas. I am eventually going to get a Manfrotto Carbon tripod for outdoor use (replacing the 3021PRO) and putting the old in the basement with the 3047.

[HJMinard]

Awesome suggestions everyone. Thanks! Anymore tripod suggestions? I checked out the Manfrotto and it looks like it's within my budget. Any others?

It's a little more expensive than the Manfrotto, but I love my Gitzo Explorer (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=206491&is=REG) tripod. It's incredibly versatile and very high quality. I use it with the Manfrotto 322RC2 head.

[cc10d]

Well there you have had a lot of suggestions, all good. I recently bought the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 macro SP AF Aspherical XR DI LD internal focusing lens. It has very good optics for the price, I am amazed. It truly does rival some L glass performance. I also have the Canon 28-135 IS etc. lens. It is not as fast a glass, but has more range and covers a lot of territory in zoom. It also is not as sharp as L glass, but is the best non-L glass that I have used. I have always been able to get better than acceptable prints with it and with a bit of Photo shop they have always sharpened well. So the Canon has more zoom range and the Tamron is a bit sharper and more light. They both do well. I use the Tamron more now because of the faster (f2.8) ability. And I have L glass to cover ranges above it. But don't sell the 28-135 IS short. The IS, is great, a little more reach. However I just now recall you have a 75-300 so that reach would be there, Not quite as sharp a lens in the 75-300, but longer reach. Need a tripod on the long end without IS.

Mainly get some time and fun out there shooting. Memory cards are for filling up and empting to the computer. Have fun,, Chuck

[tim]

I have the 50mm 1.8 and the Tamron 28-75, I use the Tamron more. The 50mm's good for low light, but you have to be really careful with your DOF.

If I was buying now i'd consider the Canon 28-135 IS and the 50mm 1.8 as a pair. I'm not sure if i'd bother with a big zoom to start myself, unless you know you really need it.