E90Post
 


TNT Racewerks
 
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > Regional Forums > UK > UK Off-Topic Discussions > More specific DSLR advice - lens suggestions?



Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      06-18-2008, 01:56 PM   #1
DaveC
Captain
United Kingdom
14
Rep
645
Posts

Drives: 330 Touring
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: UK

iTrader: (0)

More specific DSLR advice - lens suggestions?

OK This weekend I am buying an EOS 40D and some lenses, budget is £1000. Now, I'd like: a) something small and light that covers a small amount of zoom down to a small amount of wide angle b) something that covers everyday use up to quite a lot of zoom but isn't too bulky and is reasonably fast and c) possibly something that can go into macro (nice but not essential). I used to quite enjoy low light conditions so faster (I know that doesnt exactly fit in with my budget) stabilised lenses would probably be a boon?

So, is this two lenses, one lens or three and any suggestions that wouldn't break the bank? The IS kit lens for the 40D looks quite reasonable for one of the choices as a starter.
Appreciate 0
      06-18-2008, 04:52 PM   #2
NFS
Major General
NFS's Avatar
United Kingdom
273
Rep
9,218
Posts

Drives: M340i
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: UK

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveC View Post
OK This weekend I am buying an EOS 40D and some lenses, budget is £1000. Now, I'd like: a) something small and light that covers a small amount of zoom down to a small amount of wide angle b) something that covers everyday use up to quite a lot of zoom but isn't too bulky and is reasonably fast and c) possibly something that can go into macro (nice but not essential). I used to quite enjoy low light conditions so faster (I know that doesnt exactly fit in with my budget) stabilised lenses would probably be a boon?

So, is this two lenses, one lens or three and any suggestions that wouldn't break the bank? The IS kit lens for the 40D looks quite reasonable for one of the choices as a starter.
I'll start off by admitting I know pretty much FA about this. But ...

Whatever you buy you really should get one of these as well:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-EF-50m.../dp/B00005K47X
Appreciate 0
      06-18-2008, 05:29 PM   #3
gIzzE
Major General
gIzzE's Avatar
362
Rep
5,984
Posts

Drives: F11 + 911 C4
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Norfolk, UK.

iTrader: (2)

What do you photograph?
Appreciate 0
      06-19-2008, 02:25 AM   #4
GarryF
First Lieutenant
United Kingdom
34
Rep
330
Posts

Drives: SSII E90 M3
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: UK

iTrader: (0)

The kit lense with the 40D is 17-85, that's quite a good range and costs about £832
http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/

You don't have much left in the budget after that, if you like fast lenses maybe a prime would be an option?

Remember that lenses will outlast several camera bodies so at your budget I think your money would go further if you went for the 400D/450D and spent more on lenses?

For low light is that indoor or outdoor? if indoor consider looking at a t 430EX, this can really help pics indoor with bounce flash
Appreciate 0
      06-19-2008, 04:30 AM   #5
NathanJT
Techie Geek
NathanJT's Avatar
England
37
Rep
681
Posts

Drives: 330d M Sport Manual
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Derby, UK

iTrader: (0)

If you're looking for a 1 lens fits all there will always be compromises however there are a few lenses that get close to achieving the impossible. I don't think your budget will get you a decent 2 lens kit.

I've heard good things about the new Sigma 18-200 OS lens

First things first, it is NOT an L lens so won't be as fast, sharp or as well made. But for the money you're getting a lot. It's probably better than the kit lens on both IQ and build quality.

I'd also throw in a nifty fifty (50mm f1.8 MkII) as that will help with the low light needs and is worth having anyway considering they only cot £50!


[edit] Try Ian Kerr (Kerso) for the 40D as he has them on his ebay store for £575. You can then claim £100 from Canon via their cashback leaving you over £500 for lenses

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAND-NEW-CANO...742.m153.l1262

Cashback: http://canonlensacc2008.onlinerebate...owtoclaim.aspx

I've spent probably £2k with Ian in the last 12 months and have never had a problem.

[/edit]
__________________
330d M-Sport | Sapphire Black | Black Dakota | Nav Pro | iDrive | Bluetooth | PDC | Xenons | Hot Seats | Tracker | Blacklines
Appreciate 0
      06-19-2008, 05:23 AM   #6
gIzzE
Major General
gIzzE's Avatar
362
Rep
5,984
Posts

Drives: F11 + 911 C4
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Norfolk, UK.

iTrader: (2)

I know everyone loves the nifty fifty, but the 35mm f/1.8 is a much better and far more useable lens for crop sensor cameras, but it is around £150-190, the 28mm is even better, alot sharper than both and some of the nicest colours I have seen including L lenses, but it is £250-300. Although this is the lens I use 95% of the time so worth every penny imho.

They will all deal with low light suituations without the need for a flash, although I find the 50mm too tight for using indoors really. But good for taking pics of faces only.



If it were me I would see what price Kerso could do the 40D kit for with the 28mm or 35mm prime.
Or just use the kit lens for a few weeks and then decide what area you need to improve on, without knowing what sort of photos you want to take it is hard to know what to buy. No point buying a big zoom if you get into street photograhy and people, and no point buying a really fast prime is you want to take pictures of birds etc.

I would get the kit and take it from there.
Appreciate 0
      06-19-2008, 06:31 AM   #7
FieldingMellish
Captain
FieldingMellish's Avatar
169
Rep
981
Posts

Drives: F30 330D M Sport auto
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Manchester

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by GarryF View Post
The kit lense with the 40D is 17-85, that's quite a good range and costs about £832
http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/

You don't have much left in the budget after that, if you like fast lenses maybe a prime would be an option?

Remember that lenses will outlast several camera bodies so at your budget I think your money would go further if you went for the 400D/450D and spent more on lenses?

For low light is that indoor or outdoor? if indoor consider looking at a t 430EX, this can really help pics indoor with bounce flash
The trouble with these kit lenses is that they often are not very 'fast', ie. their maximum aperture is not very big. That lens has a max apeture of F4, which is pretty bad. With a lens like that, it'll be hard to get a narrow depth-of-field, so for example you wil struggle to take a photo of someone and have the background blurred. Also, if shooting in low light (eg indoors) you will have to use a slow shutter speed which means you can forget taking photos of anything that moves. Yes, you can increase your ISO setting, but then you'll get picture noise.

Digital lenses with decent maximum apertures can be pretty pricey, often pricey enough in fact to deter all but the most serious, or wealthy, amateur.

It's one of the many problems with digital SLRs - the lenses, if you want good ones, will kill you on cost. Of course, you can still take good photos with these kit lenses, you just have to be aware of the drawbacks.
Appreciate 0
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:06 PM.




e90post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST