I REALLY need help with lenses...

M

Megan Turnidge

New member
So, my goal is to convince hubby to get me a DSLR this Christmas and I'm preparing my Kaboodle for him.... haha! When I get my camera, I'd like to also get one FABULOUS lens in addition to what the camera comes with. I already decided I want the Canon Rebel XSi. I have searched the threads here about lenses, but I just don't understand what their names (like f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens) would mean in terms of photos. :D

WHAT do the numbers mean to me and what lens(es) do I need... and could you show me a pic you took using that lens?
 
ok so I'm NOT an expert. All I know is that when I bought, I got the camera + kit lens + 18-55 lens + uv filters for both lenses. I didn't know then much what I was doing, and honestly I still don't. But I know those 18-55 lenses take wonderful portraits. The photos are so sharp and it creates a nice bokeh. Here is a SOTC shot of Parker with the lens (for my money, the best $90 I spent):

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I just can't believe I can get snapshots that good with NO editing...and with so little knowledge of what the heck I'm doing! :p
 
The f/3.5-5.6 is the aperture, the smaller the number the better the lens since it allows more light in. Since there is a range listed for the aperture that means its a variable aperture lens. My fave lenses for my XTi is my Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 (it has a lowest fixed aperture of 2.8 no matter the focal length you are shooting at) and the Canon 50mm f/1.8. Almost every photo I've taken since I got my camera is with one of those two lenses.

Jodie Coston's free photography lessons are a good source of info on dSLR's.
http://www.morguefile.com/docs/Classroom

ETA: a few photos
taken with the 50mm f/1.8
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taken with the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
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Lena the kit lens is usually the 18-55mm lens, I think you mean the 50mm lens? It's around $90 and definitely well worth the low price tag!
 
Shawna said:
Lena the kit lens is usually the 18-55mm lens, I think you mean the 50mm lens? It's around $90 and definitely well worth the low price tag!
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yes it IS ....and I do that EVERY time. LOL!

For some odd reason I can't keep the two straight in my head....plus I always get confused b/c even though it is a 50mm lens it says 52 on it? or something like that. That's what I meant when I said I didn't know what I was doing. My new year's resolution for next year will be to learn it. For now I'm just like, snap...oooh loooook how pretty!
 
the 52 with the little circle/slash symbol by it is the size of filter the lens takes lol, it can be very confusing at first to keep all the terms and stuff straight!
 
Shawna said:
The f/3.5-5.6 is the aperture, the smaller the number the better the lens since it allows more light in. Since there is a range listed for the aperture that means its a variable aperture lens. My fave lenses for my XTi is my Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 (it has a lowest fixed aperture of 2.8 no matter the focal length you are shooting at) and the Canon 50mm f/1.8. Almost every photo I've taken since I got my camera is with one of those two lenses.

Jodie Coston's free photography lessons are a good source of info on dSLR's.
http://www.morguefile.com/docs/Classroom
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Ooooh! Good link! I understand shutterspeed, but aperture REALLY confuses me! lol!! I always mix up what the number means... LOW number... lets in more light. Gotta remember that. lol
 
I would go for the 50mm 1.8 you get lots of bang for little buck. Mine never leaves my camera.

If money isn't an option then I would highly suggest the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L. Amazing lens used by alot of professional photographers for portrait work and I would be loving life if this lens were in my camera bag!!! Good luck in choosing.
 
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gracielou said:
If money isn't an option then I would highly suggest the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L. Amazing lens used by alot of professional photographers for portrait work and I would be loving life if this lens were in my camera bag!!! Good luck in choosing.
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Yeah, this is the one I want too, Amanda. Pretty sure Brian is NEVER going to go for that! ;)
 
just remember you don't have to buy the camera with the kit lens. I bought mine from Amazon as a camera body, the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, and the Canon 50mm f/1.4 (probably should have gotten the 1.8 because it's cheaper!). If you are getting the Tamron you probably won't need the kit lens anyway, so no need to spend the money. :)
 
mlewis said:
Yeah, this is the one I want too, Amanda. Pretty sure Brian is NEVER going to go for that! ;)
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I feel your pain Melissa!! Maybe we can come up with a plan so we can both have one under the tree this year:D. Any ideas?? Actually I want my new camera first so I better hold off on the lens right now!!
 
gracielou said:
If money isn't an option then I would highly suggest the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L. Amazing lens used by alot of professional photographers for portrait work and I would be loving life if this lens were in my camera bag!!! Good luck in choosing.
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Tamron's version of this lens is about $400 right now on Amazon..I think it would be worth the price difference to get that one vs the Canon.
 
I have heard Tamron is good but I also know that with all the research I have done and talking with some people that have had the Tamron and those that own the Canon I think I will save my $400 to put on the Canon. Well, actually I won't even be saving the $400 since I don't even have that much yet LOL!! I know lots of people that are happy with their Tamron's and I know it's a good lens it's just not what I want. I dream way to big!!!
 
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I love my Tamron 28-75. I know that there is NO EFFING WAY Jordan will let me spend the $1500 on the Nikon version. I dream big too, but I know there are other limitations in life, LOL! Good luck though Amanda!

If I had to do it again I would DEFINITELY buy just the body. The 2 lenses I got wtih the camera are a total waste to me now. I never use them.

So, if I had to do it all over, I would do like Julie did. Camera body + 50mm prime + Tamron 28-75. The 50mm lived on my camera until I got the 28-75. Now I use that all the time, lol.

Next on my list is a wide angle for landscapes. I'm thinking of renting one for our honeymoon in Europe. I've found that the 28 just isn't wide enough for my liking, but I so rarely shoot landscapes normally I'm not ready to throw down a chunk of change just yet.
 
Here are some from my newest lens the Tamron AF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 LD

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This one is from my Canon 50mm 1.8 lens. It broke and I haven't replaced it yet, but it's a hard lens to use with my toddler. Works great for my older kids (11, 7 and almost 5). And outside still shots!!

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And I think the kit lens actually takes GREAT phots, these are all from that lens!!

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If you go with the 50mm get the 1.4.....not only is it a fabulous lens it's actually metal unlike the 1.8 which is plastic. When mine broke and we were researching how to get it off my camera, it was a uge complaint from a lot of people!!!!

Good luck....camera shopping is so FUN!!!!!!
 
I wanted to add my next purchase is the Tamron 28-75!!! Hoping Santa puts it under the tree for me!!!!

Also wanted to add that I love my Tamron 75-300 and it's better (I think) then the Canon one. DH got me the Canon one 2 years ago for Christmas and after playing around with it for a day or two i took it back.....it was LOUD and hard to auto focus!!! My Tamron one ROCKS!!!!!
 
BrodoNY0123 said:
Next on my list is a wide angle for landscapes. I'm thinking of renting one for our honeymoon in Europe. I've found that the 28 just isn't wide enough for my liking, but I so rarely shoot landscapes normally I'm not ready to throw down a chunk of change just yet.
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This is why I didn't get the Tamron. When I bought my camera, I debated between the Tamron and the Canon 18-75mm lens and ended up going with the Canon. I actually use the 18mm range quite a bit so I think it was a good choice for me.

I think the 50 1.8 is a good prime lens to start out with but I honestly never liked it. It's cheap but that shows in the quality of the lens (it's pretty much all plastic) and I never found the 50mm range to be all that useful. I have a Sigma 30 1.4 lens that I LOVE and use for about 99% of my pictures. But a lot of that just comes down to personal preference with the types of photos you take.
 
My thoughts are to ask for something like the Tamron 28-75. The 50 1.8 is a good lens but being in tight spaces it doesn't make it as easy to capture those quick little moments. Plus, it is on the low end of the price spectrum. I bought the 50 with my own money and Santa spent the $400 on the Tamron. LOL!

But definitely think about getting one with a low aperture. You will appreciate that for indoor use.

If you ever want to talk camera you can catch me on yahoo!

Tamron 28-75 2.8

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Canon 50mm

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Ok, thanks! I'm going to ask for the camera and the 50mm 1.8. I know a few of you say it's cheap, but I think it'll be a good start for me... since I know I won't be able to afford the camera PLUS a $400 lens PLUS a camera bag PLUS a speedlite flash. lol Santa ain't rich around these parts. ;)
 
True true!

I think that is a good selection. One bit of advice is to learn how to use your camera before you learn the speedlite. If you can learn how to take great photos in low light by understanding aperture and shutter speed it will help in understanding how to use the speedlite and get good photos with it.


Oh! And add Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson to your list. Or get it now and start reading it ahead of time!
 
aggiefamily said:
True true!

I think that is a good selection. One bit of advice is to learn how to use your camera before you learn the speedlite. If you can learn how to take great photos in low light by understanding aperture and shutter speed it will help in understanding how to use the speedlite and get good photos with it.


Oh! And add Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson to your list. Or get it now and start reading it ahead of time!
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Ohhhh, yeah. I already read through that a couple years ago at my SIL's house. I should get one for myself. :)
 
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