What Lens is Good for my Canon DSLR 450D?
Mon 2010/07/19 00:24 JST
I just recently got $400 USD and am think about getting a good lens for my canon 450D. Do you guys have any recommandation? The lens that came with my camera is kind of crappy since the auto focus kind of suck... and when it zoom's the image gets kind of blurry.
I can probably afford a lens that is from $300-500 USD
I also got a 450D and I find my standard 18-55mm IS kit lens limited. Replacing it with a Sigma 18-250mm Ca F/3.5-6.3 iF DC HSM OS (stabilizer). Here in Holland it cost €390. So that should be in your range. Read good things about and gonna try it out at the shop before buying it.
Even if you're looking for a more expensive lens I'd also recommend getting the cheapest lens that Canon makes - the 50mm f/1.8. It takes super sharp pictures and can take pictures under very low light. It's only $100 so you could probably get that and another lens.
I have that lens, and i really like it. I use it for a lot of my figure shots. Its also good for normal portraits too.
I love my 50mm F1.8, though I shoot with a Nikon. The most important question really is what you want to get out of it. If you want something versatile, look for something that has a large focal range. If you're planning on doing close-up work, I'd recommend looking at a macro. I recently ordered a Tokina 100mm macro lens from Adorama that came in at a little under $400. I haven't gotten it yet, but reviews seem to compare it well with the first party glass from Nikon and Canon.
I also have an 18-200mm that is great for versatility. It isn't the sharpest across the range, but is great since I almost never need to change lenses when I'm out and about. Those can be pricey though...
I also have a 18-200mm lens that came with the camera, but I personally think the quality isnt that good.
I am most likely going to buy the EF 50mm F/1.8 lens right now. However I am also thinking about getting a wide angle lens too.
As with many things, you pretty much have three factors: sharpness/quality, versatility, price. You pick two. Even on that triangle, you need to balance between the factors, a versatile lens at a decent price point will sacrifice sharpness. It all comes down to where in that triangle you want to be in.
Remember, since you're shooting with an APS-C frame camera, be sure to multiply the listed focal lengths by about 1.5 to get the full frame equivalent focal length. Even at 50, it's really more like shooting at 75mm. :)
i guess sharpness and prince, as long as the lens can shoot normal landscape/figure im fine. It doesnt have to be micro
you only have to multiply the focal length if you are putting a full-frame lens on a ASP-C camera. There are ASP-C specific lens who's numbers are "as advertised". Even tho I have an ASP-C camera i tend to go for full-frame lenses just in case i get around to getting a full-frame camera in the future.
But that is something to lookout for when you are picking a lens, so you know what you are getting.
sorry APS-C... typo
first, what are you going to do with it? most lenses are good at one thing and less so at others. so knowing what you expect out of it is important when deciding on a lens.
If its going to be basically your only lens then something like what Drcow mentioned would be a good "catch-all\most"
I'm planning to do some figure shots, and some scenery shot like the streets.
okay so if you are not worried about zooming in on subjects far away, you should keep to lenses that with a shorter focal point (18mm-50mm) the shorter the focal length in mm the wider the field of view, which is good for scenery.
an advantage in getting a lens that doesn't have a lot of (or any) zoom capability is they can have apertures that open very wide (which is why we have all been praising the EF-50mm f/1.8) which is great for geting artistic depth of fields, and shooting in low light environments.
also, image stabilization is always worth it.
I was google searching for a bit and saw a lens called the Sigma Ultra Wide Angle with 10-20mm F/4-5.6. Is that any good?? Do you think a wide angle like that is necessary for me? and do you think that might affect figure shooting??
That is indeed a very wide lens, Ultra one might say. If you are going to get the EF-50mm F/1.8 then the ultra can do a lot of things the 50 can't. You are giving up a fair amount of middle ground between the two, but if you are willing to move around to compose the shot you should be okay for what it sounds like you want to do.
F/4 isn't exactly what i would call a quick lens, so be prepared to shoot in bright light, or use a tripod. but for scenery or figures a tripod would be easy enough.
The point behind a wide angle lens is to get as much of the scene in a shot while still being relatively close. so if you want to get an entire building while just being on the other side of the street, wide-angle is for you, or to just get tons of sky in a single picture, or a wall/table full of figures while staying in the room.
with everything been said. you might want to go to a local dealer and see if they'll let you try it on your camera so you know what it will actually be like to see through it before you buy it.
I'm going to back what monev said: figure out what you want do do with your camera first, then find a lens to suit. Assuming you're looking to shoot figures then make sure whatever you get has solid macro capabilities.
My personal preference is toward fast, prime lenses. I've never tried Canon's 50mm f/1.8 (there's actually one sitting on my desk, just haven't had the chance to use it yet), but I use a 50mm f/1.4 regularly on my old Minolta as it's a good focal length for street work. However, if it is going to be your only lens, then a zoom lens will probably suit you better. Those of course have their own compromises built in (often slower, and wil less optimised optics), just make sure you hit all the stuff that's important to you.
Get the Tamrom 17-50mm f/2.8 Lens. You wont regret it. It's probably the best lens I've purchased. They are very affordable and you get the f/2.8 aperture throughout the entire zoom range so it performs well in low light conditions too. If you want to search for pictures taken with different lenses and cameras, go to http://www.pixel-peeper.com/ and you'll find tons of great images there. I hope this helps. (^^)