New 450D and New to photog.

I posted this in the 450D/XSI users unite thread but wasn't sure how noticed it would be so please excuse me.

Hello, I'm completely new to this thread, I found it via a google search when I was trying to figure out which camera to buy, although I am 100% new to photography. My main hobbies are computers and motorcycles, I do quite a bit of SFX on my computer and the like, but I recently picked up a Canon EOS Rebel XSi w/ the 18-55 kit lens and i'm loving it so far. I've had it for about a week now and i'm just curious if this is a camera that will last me a while especially once I get more experieced with photography or should I look into a 40D possibly before my return policy is up ?.I love taking pictures because it's fun and love sharing the pictures with people. There are a few things i'm not 100% sure about yet but i've been scouring through threads trying to pick up as much as I can before asking a bunch of newbie questions and maybe someone can point me to some more appropriate sites/threads that maybe helped you to get a better grasp.

One thing that totally confuses me are mm's of lenses and filters, how do I know what lens is right for me when I want to buy more, and how exactly do I know what to apply the mm to? If Iwant to buy a new filter, what size would I buy etc? I've noticed I can't zoom in too much with my kit lens, i've mainly just been taking pictures at wildlife parks since i've gotten the camera.

Also should I get a new flash? and how do I know what new flash would be best or me?

Hope this isn't too much of a ramble


Here is my flickr page:

http://www.flickr.com/​photos/10257174@N03/se​ts/

the newest ones are the first 5 sets.(taken with rebel xsi + kit lens)

-Brandon

Welcome to POTN.

Two sticky threads that you ought to take a look at are:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=86975

for lenses

and this one:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=138907

for flash.

Of course, all the stickies at the top of the equipment forums are good reads for beginner, as they can answer quite a lot of your questions.

hi Brandon! welcome to the the forum!

why change if youre happy with it?

both the 450D & 40D are great cameras, cant go wrong with either. one reason to change is how the camera feels in your hands. the 40D is significantly bigger & heavier than the 450D. if you have big hands, you will love the 40D.

an external flash would definitely help take better pics, if you now how to use it. i myself am not well versed in flash photography. maybe a mid-level flash would be more than enough for your needs like a 430EX/EXII.

by the way, welcome to wonderful world of digital photography!

Thank you very much.

By the way, what type of lens is that in your picture? I noticed a few people carrying around some cameras with similar look to them, they have some sort of extension on the end of them, especially the longer lenses, guess it looks sort of like a skirt? lol

sintax wrote in post #6082908
Thank you very much.

By the way, what type of lens is that in your picture? I noticed a few people carrying around some cameras with similar look to them, they have some sort of extension on the end of them, especially the longer lenses, guess it looks sort of like a skirt? lol

I presume you're responding to me? If so, that's a 28-70 f/2.8L mounted on a Canon 10D (if I remember correctly). The "skirt" as you call it is a lens hood - something you should use on all your lenses. It helps to reduce flare and improve image quality by keeping stray light from hitting the lens surface at the wrong angles.

Mark_Cohran wrote in post #6082927
I presume you're responding to me? If so, that's a 28-70 f/2.8L mounted on a Canon 10D (if I remember correctly). The "skirt" as you call it is a lens hood - something you should use on all your lenses. It helps to reduce flare and improve image quality by keeping stray light from hitting the lens surface at the wrong angles.

And protecting the front element from clumsy photogs like me...

Should I also use any types of filters for when im out in the sun ?

silvex wrote in post #6083004
And protecting the front element from clumsy photogs like me...

Yes, it does provide for protection as well.

sintax wrote in post #6083055
Should I also use any types of filters for when im out in the sun ?

There are two schools of thought on filters - the "protection" and "image quality" schools.

You can read more about the concepts here:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=368177

Personally, as a general rule, I only use filters when necessary. Those filters would be Circular Polarizers (CPL), Neutral Density (ND) and Graduated ND.

One more new-bie question if I maye.. I'm not sure if i'm overlooking something simple or whatnot but I can't seem to find something explaining what the mm(millimeters) mean as far as the lens goes.. for example a 70-200mm lense... what does the 70 and the 200 represent as far as what types of pictures I can take with that lens.. if this makes any sense? this is just about the only thing i'm confused on so far.

sintax wrote in post #6083721
One more new-bie question if I maye.. I'm not sure if i'm overlooking something simple or whatnot but I can't seem to find something explaining what the mm(millimeters) mean as far as the lens goes.. for example a 70-200mm lense... what does the 70 and the 200 represent as far as what types of pictures I can take with that lens.. if this makes any sense? this is just about the only thing i'm confused on so far.

These give the focal length (range) of the lens, which equates to magnification. "Prime" lenses have a single focal length (e.g. the EF 50/1.8); "zoom" lenses have variable focal length (e.g. the EF 70-200/4). A longer focal length gives a proportionately higher magnification than a shorter one: 200 mm will "bring you twice as close" as a 100 mm lens.

For your 450D, anything under about 30mm will give you a field of view wider than the naked eye (a wide-angle lens), and anything over, a narrower view (a telephoto lens).

Note that the common "standard zooms" bracket this: 18-55, for example, from about half, to about twice "normal". A wide zoom might be 10-22 and a telezoom 70-200.

The other "mm" measurement relates to the diameter of the front of the lens and is used for buying the correct size filter.

xarqi wrote in post #6083796
These give the focal length (range) of the lens, which equates to magnification. "Prime" lenses have a single focal length (e.g. the EF 50/1.8); "zoom" lenses have variable focal length (e.g. the EF 70-200/4). A longer focal length gives a proportionately higher magnification than a shorter one: 200 mm will "bring you twice as close" as a 100 mm lens.

For your 450D, anything under about 30mm will give you a field of view wider than the naked eye (a wide-angle lens), and anything over, a narrower view (a telephoto lens).

Note that the common "standard zooms" bracket this: 18-55, for example, from about half, to about twice "normal". A wide zoom might be 10-22 and a telezoom 70-200.

The other "mm" measurement relates to the diameter of the front of the lens and is used for buying the correct size filter.

Ah, Gotcha. That makes a bit more sense to me now, I guess the rest will come along with experience. Thank you.

I placed an order for my 40D kit a few days ago, can't wait for it to come! I'm not sure whether or not to keep my 450D, I don't think I can return it, I was thinking maybe I could use it as a spare or sell it and buy parts for the 40d like a battery grip or a new lens or a nice flash kit? any suggestions ?

Unless you really need a backup camera, I'd sell the 450 and use the money toward a good lens.

some good info from canon:
http://www.usa.canon.c​om …ml/EFLenses101/​index.html

In terms of focal length and what view you will get, it gets a little bit complicated with digital SLRs.

The XSi and 40D you have have image sensors that are smaller than the traditional 35mm format. Because of this, there is a "crop factor" of 1.6. So if you use a 50mm lens meant for a 35mm camera (EF line of lenses) it will give you the view of an 80mm lens (1.6*50=80).

A "full frame" camera like the 5D has a sensor the same size as 35mm format, and there is no crop factor. (A 50mm EF lens will give you a 50mm view.)

An EF-S lens is made specifically for 1.6 crop cameras, and there is no crop factor adjustment needed.