Buying my first lenses (how original!)

Hello everybody!

I'm finally buying my first DSLR (30D) and need some lenses to go with (d'uh!).
Being the cheap-ass student I am, I don't have hundreds of euro's to spend on lenses. I've been photographing with my mom's old Nikon SLR and it was a lot of fun, now I want to see if I really want to push through with this.

For the moment I'm thinking about two lenses:
- A 50mm prime lens (or get a 35mm because I'm shooting on a crop?)
- A low-focal length zoom lens (from 15-18mm to 50-55mm)

I'm not a big fan of 'around-the-house' photo's or portrait photo's in general, save for candid shots. I mainly like trying to capture a nice scenery (forest/mountains etc.), cities at night (tryin' to be original here :rolleyes and macro.

Let's say I have only 500 dollars/euros to spend, what two lenses should I get? I'm totally fine with buying second-hand lenses (the Netherlands being a small country I can always test the lens out by picking it up).

Get a fifty-nifty (80€) and blow the rest of the money on a Tamron 17-50 (non-VC, I heard the VC version is really bad?), or should I get a 50mm 1.4 Sigma/Canon (or a 35mm f/2) and get a Sigma 18-50 f/2.8-4.5?

I'm hearing mixed things about the fifto-nifto, sometimes that it's taking great pictures, but the build is crap; sometimes I hear people who swear by it and others who say it's a POS all-together?

The nicest option at the moment seems to be to get a fifty-nifty and Tamron 17-50 (non-VC) and buy food from the remaining 150€, which is kinda important too, haha!

Tl;dr: Spend half of the money on a prime, the other on a zoom lens or get a fifty-nifty and spend remaining 400 on a better zoom.

Regards

Another alternative would be to buy a Sigma 30mm 1.4 (my favorite lens on crop) and a 18-55 IS kit lens for wide end- short telephoto.
The fifty nifty has good glass in it, but the out of focus elements produce pentagonal shapes that can be unappealing to some, not to mention it's not too sharp until f/2.0 or 2.2 and beyond. The build quality is something to watch out for- it probably won't survive for long after a drop. My friend tossed one into his bag from about a foot off the ground and it wouldn't focus anymore.

asamimasa wrote in post #11343447
Another alternative would be to buy a Sigma 30mm 1.4 (my favorite lens on crop) and a 18-55 IS kit lens for wide end- short telephoto.
The fifty nifty has good glass in it, but the out of focus elements produce pentagonal shapes that can be unappealing to some, not to mention it's not too sharp until f/2.0 or 2.2 and beyond. The build quality is something to watch out for- it probably won't survive for long after a drop. My friend tossed one into his bag from about a foot off the ground and it wouldn't focus anymore.

I'm not planning on throwing my lenses around, so except for the 'feel', it's not really important as long as it holds up when treated carefully; price is the most important factor I think.
I've been reconsidering and am probably gonna get a 15-55 IS just to start out with and in addition to that a fifty nifty. Then I can really see what it is I like more: a zoom or prime and according to that choice invest in a better version. If I want a new low-range zoom lens I'll get the 17-50 and if I like primes I'll get a 50mm f/1.4. Simple as that.

New input will of course be appreciated!

try 55-250is

patrickf117 wrote in post #11344287
try 55-250is

I'm not really in the search for a longer range lens at the moment I think.

Just going to get a 15-55 IS for the moment; I'll have a blast with that for sure in the beginning! I'll just shoot my brains out, orientate a bit more and see where my hear lies.
Hopefully this isn't one of my addictions (I seriously get addicted to stuff so easily!) and blow all my money on it; or hopefully I will, who knows!

Keep the suggestions coming! On the-digital-picture.com I used the lens comparing tool to compare the 15-55 to the Tamron 17-50, and I wasn't really blown away by it; especially the edges of the Tamron are really desaturated and unsharp at the lower f-stops, while at the higher ones (4 and above) the Tamron is absolutely 100x better than the Canon.

I'll just pick up a NEW 15-55 for 40€ (great deal huh?) and shoot with that. Would anyone recommend getting a prime as well, and if so, which one?

take note that its a 18-55, not 15-55. Also, make sure you're getting the IS one; the ones without IS dont have great glass.

If your budget is 500, you should have enough to pick up a flash too. The two lenses you are getting should be between 200-300 and a good flash is a great addition.

mwilleman wrote in post #11347915
If your budget is 500, you should have enough to pick up a flash too. The two lenses you are getting should be between 200-300 and a good flash is a great addition.

500 is actually quite a bit above my budget (for the moment), but I was just wondering which relatively cheap lenses would be good for me. How important are flashes? Those things look so super complex to use. I tried using the one I got with my mum's SLR (analog) and it's really confusing. I see a lot of people talking about the 430EX and 580EX (sometimes mark II) and I'm wondering if that's the way to go? Or are aftermarket flashes also decent quality? And if I'd be getting one, would the mark II be worth it?

asamimasa wrote in post #11347888
take note that its a 18-55, not 15-55. Also, make sure you're getting the IS one; the ones without IS dont have great glass.

Ye, I bought a 18-55 IS for 40€ which is a great deal I think!

I think you're on the right track. I'd get the 50mm 1.8 and the Tamron 17-50 non-VC. If you have any money left over, get the Speedlite 430EXII. Eat Top Ramen and PB and J sandwiches for a month.

good work on the 18-55mm! now grab the 50 1.8 and save the dosh untill you figure out what you really need!

Tamron 17-50, stellar lens for the $

My budget after buying a 7D was about $500 for accessories. I just bought a Tamron 17-50 non-vc. With the remaining money, I am planning to buy a 50 1.8 and a used 430ex II. I will upgrade lenses but not for a while.

I'd go for: Tamron 17-50 and MAYBE a 50 1.8, though the Tamron is fine at 50mm, just 1 1/3 stop slower. The Tamron is pretty versatile though, even has a very decent MFD, for if you wanna shoot some close ups of flowers.

Alternatively, get the Tamron 60mm f/2 macro It doubles as a 1:1 macro lens, but also great for portraits and general low-light-ish stuff - pretty much replacing the need for a 50 1.8 if you wanna get a macro lens later anyway. I guess you could easily add an 18-55 IS or so to that and stay in budget (plenty of them for sale used from people who previously upgraded - cheap).

In the long run, a wider fast prime in the 28-35mm range would have my preference on a 1.6 crop camera.

50mm and 55-250mm. The 50mm f/1.8 is a great little lens for the money. The 18-55 kit lens is okay, but the 55-250 is a solid lens for the money! Stay way from the 75-300mm, its one of the worst lens Canon has made.

I also just bought my first lens for a 1Dmk2N body and I have decided for the shooting that I will be doing the primes are the way to go . so just bought a 85mm canon usm for shooting thru the holidays and to date love the thing. if you want zoom then its just a different way of getting to the same end . a picture that you like.

I will be trying the primes for these reasons.
1. sharpness.
2. cost compared to zooms
3. size.

best of luck there are many helpful people here .