Help with next lens purchase please

Davey_Pitch · 12-02-2009, 20:34

Note: The below is a cut n paste from my identical thread on TP. Posting it here as I trust you lot and know you won't recommend me rubbish

Finally got enough money together to buy my first additional lens to go with my Canon 450D and the 18-55mm IS kit lens (found an old ISA account that had £180 in, and sold some games). The lens I'm looking at it the 55-250mm IS as it should complement the kit lens nicely giving me a pretty nice focal range. I'm fairly settled on that lens as well, as even though I could save a bit more and maybe get the 70-200mm F4 L, I'm still a newbie at this so splashing out that kind of money on a single lens seems a bit of a waste at the moment.

So, the help I'm after is exactly what I should get as well as the lens. All the equipment I have so far is the 450D, the kit lens, a Lowepro bag, a really old tripod that's a bit too heavy to lug around easily, and a memory card. That's it. I have no filters, no lens hoods, nothing. I've got about £250 in total to spend including the lens (so probably only £50 spare after buying the lens), so looking for any recommendations you wonderful people can give me. If you can also say why I should buy a particular filter, tripod etc, that would be awesome, as my knowledge of filters and tripods could be written on the back of a stamp in very large writing, twice.

So, help me spend my money please. Any and all advice welcome and much appreciated

Dee · 12-02-2009, 20:39

If you have £50 spare?

50mm 1.8 all the way Davey

Davey_Pitch · 12-02-2009, 20:44

That's on my shopping list for the future for sure, will probably look to get that in a month or two I think

Davey_Pitch · 12-02-2009, 20:50

Ah yes, some gorgeous girlie gave me one of them as I recall

Davey_Pitch · 12-02-2009, 20:52

Just seen this - http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/for...d.php?t=112293 - so tempted to get it at asking, it'll give me nearly £100 spare :/

Dee · 12-02-2009, 20:54

Do it Davey!

Davey_Pitch · 12-02-2009, 21:02

The only thing I'm wary of is if it comes and it's not as mint condition as he says it is. Plus, if I buy it new I get the full 1 year warranty (which would cover our holiday) whereas if I bought that lens I'd have no cover. I'm thinking it's worth the extra £40 for the warranty and peace of mind.

Matblack · 12-02-2009, 21:21

I was going to suggest that lens, its a good piece of glass from what I've heard, the 200 L f4 is good don't get me wrong but its not quite long enough for a lot of things like motorsport or close up nature stuff and although I love mine I do sometime wish I had a longer zoom of the same quality.

The IS on that will win you a stop or two, I'd say its a good choice

Gives you money left for a 50mm, you have to have a 50mm

Seller on TP are invariably good, I recently bought a 17-70mm Sigma from a guy over there and it was pristine, these guys love photography and keep their kit in good order.

MB

Chuckles · 16-02-2009, 01:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matblack

The IS on that will win you a stop or two, I'd say its a good choice

Depends what you are shooting though. IS is worthless on moving objects. If he was going to use it for sports, gigs etc you'd be better saving the money and going for a non-IS lens, or preferably saving up more and getting something faster.

Matblack · 16-02-2009, 15:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckles

Depends what you are shooting though. IS is worthless on moving objects. If he was going to use it for sports, gigs etc you'd be better saving the money and going for a non-IS lens, or preferably saving up more and getting something faster.

This is true, I don't actually have any IS lenses, pretty much for this reason

, I prefer to have the extra stops myself

MB

12-02-2009, 20:34	#1
Davey_Pitch I iz speshul Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 6,296	Help with next lens purchase please Note: The below is a cut n paste from my identical thread on TP. Posting it here as I trust you lot and know you won't recommend me rubbish Finally got enough money together to buy my first additional lens to go with my Canon 450D and the 18-55mm IS kit lens (found an old ISA account that had £180 in, and sold some games). The lens I'm looking at it the 55-250mm IS as it should complement the kit lens nicely giving me a pretty nice focal range. I'm fairly settled on that lens as well, as even though I could save a bit more and maybe get the 70-200mm F4 L, I'm still a newbie at this so splashing out that kind of money on a single lens seems a bit of a waste at the moment. So, the help I'm after is exactly what I should get as well as the lens. All the equipment I have so far is the 450D, the kit lens, a Lowepro bag, a really old tripod that's a bit too heavy to lug around easily, and a memory card. That's it. I have no filters, no lens hoods, nothing. I've got about £250 in total to spend including the lens (so probably only £50 spare after buying the lens), so looking for any recommendations you wonderful people can give me. If you can also say why I should buy a particular filter, tripod etc, that would be awesome, as my knowledge of filters and tripods could be written on the back of a stamp in very large writing, twice. So, help me spend my money please. Any and all advice welcome and much appreciated __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

12-02-2009, 20:44	#3
Davey_Pitch I iz speshul Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 6,296	That's on my shopping list for the future for sure, will probably look to get that in a month or two I think __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

12-02-2009, 20:50	#4
Davey_Pitch I iz speshul Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 6,296	Ah yes, some gorgeous girlie gave me one of them as I recall __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

12-02-2009, 20:52	#5
Davey_Pitch I iz speshul Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 6,296	Just seen this - http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/for...d.php?t=112293 - so tempted to get it at asking, it'll give me nearly £100 spare :/ __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

12-02-2009, 21:02	#7
Davey_Pitch I iz speshul Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 6,296	The only thing I'm wary of is if it comes and it's not as mint condition as he says it is. Plus, if I buy it new I get the full 1 year warranty (which would cover our holiday) whereas if I bought that lens I'd have no cover. I'm thinking it's worth the extra £40 for the warranty and peace of mind. __________________ Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

12-02-2009, 20:39	#2
Dee Combat Spanker Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,292	If you have £50 spare? 50mm 1.8 all the way Davey

12-02-2009, 20:54	#6
Dee Combat Spanker Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,292	Do it Davey!

12-02-2009, 21:21	#8
Matblack Baby Bore Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Svalbard Posts: 9,770	I was going to suggest that lens, its a good piece of glass from what I've heard, the 200 L f4 is good don't get me wrong but its not quite long enough for a lot of things like motorsport or close up nature stuff and although I love mine I do sometime wish I had a longer zoom of the same quality. The IS on that will win you a stop or two, I'd say its a good choice Gives you money left for a 50mm, you have to have a 50mm Seller on TP are invariably good, I recently bought a 17-70mm Sigma from a guy over there and it was pristine, these guys love photography and keep their kit in good order. MB __________________ "we had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom had fallen from our branches we found that we were one tree and not two"