Starter Lens Help..

somethingfunny · 27th of July 2005 (Wed)

I am about ready to buy the Rebel XT body from Canon, but I was planning on getting the Sigma Zoom Super Wide Angle 18-200mm. Is this a good choice? What is that lens good or bad at? Thanks

LightRules · 27th of July 2005 (Wed)

It's a good lens if you mean convenient and generally good optics. There are better and there are worse. It's fairly new and many seem to like it, though I don't think it surpasses it's sibling the 18-125 in image quality. If you want a good, convenient, fairly small lens for walking around and for use in mostly daylight and outdoors, it's a very good buy. Otherwise, you might want to invest in some "faster" lenses, such as the Canon 50 f1.8, 3rd party 24-70/28-75 lenses, and Canon 70-200 f4 or Sigma 70-200 f2.8. But your budget and type of use should really help decide all this. Best wishes.

somethingfunny · 27th of July 2005 (Wed)

Do you think it might be a better idea to stay with the Canon 17-85mm lens it comes with?

CorruptedPhotographer · 27th of July 2005 (Wed)

why would you get another 18-200 when you already have a 17-85.

What you would need is something from 75-200

So as fstopjojo mentioned, a 70-200 (canon or sigma) will help you avoid overlap.

somethingfunny · 27th of July 2005 (Wed)

I don't have the lenses, i was trying to pick which one I should get..

condyk · 27th of July 2005 (Wed)

Quote:

Originally Posted by somethingfunny

Do you think it might be a better idea to stay with the Canon 17-85mm lens it comes with?

I'm confused ... do you currently own this lens or not?

If yes, then it will do you at least as well as the SIgma.

If no, then the Sigma's mentioned by fstop will be decent buys, or so would the 17-85mm IS.

Canon's normally come with the 18-55mm. Do you have this one?

I need to lie down

LightRules · 27th of July 2005 (Wed)

I didn't know you had the 17-85IS. IMO, you should keep the 17-85 and add to it either the Canon 70-200 f4 or the Sigma 70-200 f2.8. If you wanted to go cheaper for a 70-xxx zoom, you could go with the new Sigma 70-300 APO DG, but image quality is not as good as the 70-200s. Another good lens is the Sigma 100-300 f4 EX.

CorruptedPhotographer · 27th of July 2005 (Wed)

Sorry I got the impression you have the 17-85.

Well, seeing as you starting your lens buying process.

Think of it this way, what are you going to shoot? Landscape? Candid? Glamour? Sports? Wildlife? Maybe a little of everything? Ok, next question, whats your budget? Next question, seeing as most ppl dont have an unlimited budget (if u did, you woulnt be posting this thread), what are you itching to shoot ASAP?

If its landscape, then get a nice wide angle ( I am beggining to prefer primes over zoom )

If is portraits, get something in the 50-135mm range.

Jon · 27th of July 2005 (Wed)

He hasn't bought it yet, and is wondering whether to get the kit 350D+17-85 or the 350D body only and a separate Sigma 18-200.

somethingfunny · 27th of July 2005 (Wed)

Yuss! Jon knows where I'm coming from. I'm a starter and I don't understand lens very well so I don't know which lens to get... as you can see...

CorruptedPhotographer · 27th of July 2005 (Wed)

somethingfunny, we are willing to help you

Answer my above questions so we can begin the session

Quote:

Well, seeing as you starting your lens buying process.

Think of it this way, what are you going to shoot? Landscape? Candid? Glamour? Sports? Wildlife? Maybe a little of everything? Ok, next question, whats your budget? Next question, seeing as most ppl dont have an unlimited budget (if u did, you woulnt be posting this thread), what are you itching to shoot ASAP?

If its landscape, then get a nice wide angle ( I am beggining to prefer primes over zoom )

If is portraits, get something in the 50-135mm range.

David1943 · 27th of July 2005 (Wed)

Lenses can be expensive items and a collection of them can easily exceed the price of your camera.

As you're a beginner, my advice to you is to forget expensive lenses for the time being and make a start either with a Kit Lens or what you have already until you've gained sufficient knowledge to decide what focal lengths and maximum apertures will meet your individual needs and fit into your budget.

Outdoor23 · 27th of July 2005 (Wed)

we really need to know what you shoot as corruptedphotographer has stated above...if you are just learning and just shooting around get the 50mm 1.8 or 1.4. Once you know(learn) what you like to shoot, then start investing more moeny towards that lens.

Landscapes and wide - canon's 10-22
Normal walk-around - sigma 15-50 2.8 or canon 17-85
wildlife and more - canon 70-200L plus TC or Canon 100-300
Portrait - use the 50 1.4 or 1.8

somethingfunny · 27th of July 2005 (Wed)

Quote:

Originally Posted by CorruptedPhotographer

somethingfunny, we are willing to help you

Answer my above questions so we can begin the session

Ok, well for just starting out I'm not really going to focus on one way of shooting, I really like close-up but also I like nice sunsets and such. So I guess I'm an around around shooter for now. I can go for any lens $400-$600.
Hope That Helps..

Outdoor23 · 27th of July 2005 (Wed)

a good walk around is the sigma 18-50 2.8. i think its about $400. I dont have this lens, but I was fighting between this one and the canon 17-85 myself. from my research...many people prefer the sigma 18-50 because it has better picture quality, much cheaper and it is way much faster. But, since the canon 17-85 has an IS (I dont carry tripods) and covers more range...Im leaning towards that one instead. Buying lens is a big decision process...what do you must have and what you can do without. hopefully this will help you a bit!

27th of July 2005 (Wed)	#1
somethingfunny Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 16	Starter Lens Help.. I am about ready to buy the Rebel XT body from Canon, but I was planning on getting the Sigma Zoom Super Wide Angle 18-200mm. Is this a good choice? What is that lens good or bad at? Thanks

27th of July 2005 (Wed)	#2
LightRules "flat out embarrassing" Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 9,895	Re: Starter Lens Help.. It's a good lens if you mean convenient and generally good optics. There are better and there are worse. It's fairly new and many seem to like it, though I don't think it surpasses it's sibling the 18-125 in image quality. If you want a good, convenient, fairly small lens for walking around and for use in mostly daylight and outdoors, it's a very good buy. Otherwise, you might want to invest in some "faster" lenses, such as the Canon 50 f1.8, 3rd party 24-70/28-75 lenses, and Canon 70-200 f4 or Sigma 70-200 f2.8. But your budget and type of use should really help decide all this. Best wishes.

27th of July 2005 (Wed)	#3
somethingfunny Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 16	Re: Starter Lens Help.. Do you think it might be a better idea to stay with the Canon 17-85mm lens it comes with?

27th of July 2005 (Wed)	#4
CorruptedPhotographer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: AbuDhabi, United Arab Emirates Posts: 1,773 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Starter Lens Help.. why would you get another 18-200 when you already have a 17-85. What you would need is something from 75-200 So as fstopjojo mentioned, a 70-200 (canon or sigma) will help you avoid overlap. __________________ Gear List Member since 2005 ^_^

27th of July 2005 (Wed)	#5
somethingfunny Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 16	Re: Starter Lens Help.. I don't have the lenses, i was trying to pick which one I should get..

27th of July 2005 (Wed)	#7
LightRules "flat out embarrassing" Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 9,895	Re: Starter Lens Help.. I didn't know you had the 17-85IS. IMO, you should keep the 17-85 and add to it either the Canon 70-200 f4 or the Sigma 70-200 f2.8. If you wanted to go cheaper for a 70-xxx zoom, you could go with the new Sigma 70-300 APO DG, but image quality is not as good as the 70-200s. Another good lens is the Sigma 100-300 f4 EX.

27th of July 2005 (Wed)	#8
CorruptedPhotographer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: AbuDhabi, United Arab Emirates Posts: 1,773 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Starter Lens Help.. Sorry I got the impression you have the 17-85. Well, seeing as you starting your lens buying process. Think of it this way, what are you going to shoot? Landscape? Candid? Glamour? Sports? Wildlife? Maybe a little of everything? Ok, next question, whats your budget? Next question, seeing as most ppl dont have an unlimited budget (if u did, you woulnt be posting this thread), what are you itching to shoot ASAP? If its landscape, then get a nice wide angle ( I am beggining to prefer primes over zoom ) If is portraits, get something in the 50-135mm range. __________________ Gear List Member since 2005 ^_^

27th of July 2005 (Wed)	#9
Jon Moderator Cocker Spaniel Mod Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Kensington, MD USA Posts: 65,148	Re: Starter Lens Help.. He hasn't bought it yet, and is wondering whether to get the kit 350D+17-85 or the 350D body only and a separate Sigma 18-200. __________________ Jon ---------- EOS, Powershot and Domke - it doesn't get any better than this! T90 and stuff \| F-1n, New F-1, FTb and more stuff out on loan Cocker Spaniels Maryland and Virginia activities *DC Cherry Blossoms* Image Posting Rules and Image Posting FAQ Report SPAM, Don't Answer It! (link) PERSONAL MESSAGING REGARDING SELLING OR BUYING ITEMS WITH MEMBERS WHO HAVE NO POSTS IN FORUMS AND/OR WHO YOU DO NOT KNOW FROM FORUMS IS HEREBY DECLARED STRICTLY STUPID AND YOU WILL GET BURNED.

27th of July 2005 (Wed)	#10
somethingfunny Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 16	Re: Starter Lens Help.. Yuss! Jon knows where I'm coming from. I'm a starter and I don't understand lens very well so I don't know which lens to get... as you can see...

27th of July 2005 (Wed)	#12
David1943 User is banned from forums Join Date: May 2005 Location: Leicestershire - England Posts: 237	Re: Starter Lens Help.. Lenses can be expensive items and a collection of them can easily exceed the price of your camera. As you're a beginner, my advice to you is to forget expensive lenses for the time being and make a start either with a Kit Lens or what you have already until you've gained sufficient knowledge to decide what focal lengths and maximum apertures will meet your individual needs and fit into your budget.

27th of July 2005 (Wed)	#13
Outdoor23 Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 115	Re: Starter Lens Help.. we really need to know what you shoot as corruptedphotographer has stated above...if you are just learning and just shooting around get the 50mm 1.8 or 1.4. Once you know(learn) what you like to shoot, then start investing more moeny towards that lens. Landscapes and wide - canon's 10-22 Normal walk-around - sigma 15-50 2.8 or canon 17-85 wildlife and more - canon 70-200L plus TC or Canon 100-300 Portrait - use the 50 1.4 or 1.8

27th of July 2005 (Wed)	#15
Outdoor23 Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 115	Re: Starter Lens Help.. a good walk around is the sigma 18-50 2.8. i think its about $400. I dont have this lens, but I was fighting between this one and the canon 17-85 myself. from my research...many people prefer the sigma 18-50 because it has better picture quality, much cheaper and it is way much faster. But, since the canon 17-85 has an IS (I dont carry tripods) and covers more range...Im leaning towards that one instead. Buying lens is a big decision process...what do you must have and what you can do without. hopefully this will help you a bit!

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