-=Top 10=- Recommended Starter Lenses

Please take vote from Tamron 28-75 and place on Canon 50 1.4. Couldn't go back to change.

I voted for the 50mm and the 85mm primes. This is purely because I find myself taking different types of shots when I have my 85mm lens on as I have to work much harder to get nice compositions.

I would have liked to have seen the Sigma EX 18-50 f/2.8 as I think it's an awesome starter lens for those who can justify the price as a starter lens (but then there seem to be plenty who buy L 'starter' lenses, so it seems for many cash is not a concern)

I've just recently acquired the 30D and am learning quickly the wonders of digital SLRdom (previously having been linited to fully manual film SLR and lenses). My first lens is the EF-S 17-85 mm 1:4-5:6 IS USM and it is a fabulous basic use lens.

I am looking for advice as to the best choice for a companion lens, namely a zoom to telephoto. I seem to be down to choosing between the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM (at B&H for about $560) and the EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM (similar price). What do y'all think? This is for general use, travelling, some hobby art shhots, etc.

I'll repeat..

Votes can't be changed. Not be you, me, or anybody.
Keeps us all honest

they is always the ongoing debate over which one is 'better'. and obviously, there is no 'better' lens, just which want suits you more. take a look here:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=180234

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=175166

50 1.8 is what i'm borrowing till I buy some glass.


Here's something I shot the other day.

How can you compare starter lenses without including the 18-55 kit lens and the 17-55/2.8?

For people on a limited budget the kit lens is an obvious choice because it gives them coverage from wide to short telephoto with the least cost. Image quality is not more important than the ability to get out and practice shooting for most beginners and a wider zoom range is better than a prime lens because it gives them more chance to experiment and find their own style.

For people who are not on a limited budget, the 17-55 EF-S gives the same zoom range with better low light capabilties (wider and IS) plus it is capable of higher quality images than just about any other lens on a starter level camera like a Digital Rebel XT.

That leaves the 17-85 IS as a good compromise between budget and lens capablility and since it is the only voting option it has to win my vote.

I voted the 28-135 f4.5-5.6 IS ...Great Lens for a starter and a nice zoom range...
But if anyone wants to get better at composition and shoot sharper pictures...then go for the 50 F1.8 or 1.4...one will never regreat the purchase of the 50 mm

Well this was started long ago before the 17-55 was available, but the kit lens is because of this:

I know the poll pre-dates the arrival of these 2 relatively new lenses, but I really think anybody looking for a 'starter' lens on a 1.6 crop body should seriously consider these two, especially considering the price/value ratio:

Sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4.5 DC Macro
Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 Asperical

cheers,
doc t

wow..i didnt see any lenses that i have at all...i wonder why? do they not make them anymore? i just got a rebel g2, and i have a 35-80 mm and an 80-200 lens, is there any particular application these are best for? at this point i also want to do macro, but i dont even know where to start looking for lenses that fit my camera...

Hi littlebug. Welcome to POTN! The 35-80 and 80-200 lenses used to be the lenses that would be supplied in kits with film SLRs. The reason why they're not any more, is that because the sensor is smaller than a 35mm frame, they lose 30% of the image around the edge - as though the picture taken on a film SLR was cropped down. So, what happens is that a 35mm lens, on a digital SLR only has the field of view that a 56mm lens has on a film SLR. The kit lens, and digital only lenses have arrived, at much wider angles to compensate - so the standard kit lens is now an 18-55mm lens.

The forum is a great resource for finding out about lenses, but first you need to think about what the subject of your photography will be, what your budget is, and what light conditions you will be shooting in - answer these, and you'll be able to select a lens.

wow thanks i didnt know that, i want to do macro, spiders bugs and things like that, but i seem to have a problem finding a macro lens for my camera, it says in the manual that ef-s lenses arent compatible with my camera, what would you reccomend for a rebel g2? i can only find things for the k2? is my model obsolete or something?

The only macro lens you can't use (as far as I know), is the Canon 60mm EF-S macro lens. The Sigma (105mm), Canon (100mm), and Tamron (90mm) macro lenses are all meant to be superb -they're not cheap, so if they're too expensive, check out the Cosina / Phoenix 100mm f/2.8 macro lens - it's not the best, but it's acceptable, and it'll give you a nice entry into the macro world.

I want to say a fast 50mm is best for a beginner but that's just the grumpy old man in me. My first lens was a 50 1.4 and it is far and away the most used lens I own. "Used" in the past tense. If todays short and medium zooms existed when I was a kid I probably never would have used that 50. It is a great lens and I have fond memories of it, but realistically I don't see myself buying a new one for my modern camera anytime soon.