Digital SLR Lenses

[Spencer]

Ok, so I'm wanting to expand my lens collection for the one and only digital SLR that I have (Canon Rebel XT). I'm pretty much a novice and am wondering what are some good tips on selecting new lenses?

[texasv-rod]

I have a Canon film SLR and it's been my experience (and should be obvious) that Canon-branded seem to work best with Canon. Do a lot of shopping but beware of a lot of the on-line vendors. If the price seems too good to be true, then the FTC is probably already breathing down their necks.

[Max]

I have a Canon film SLR and it's been my experience (and should be obvious) that Canon-branded seem to work best with Canon. Do a lot of shopping but beware of a lot of the on-line vendors. If the price seems too good to be true, then the FTC is probably already breathing down their necks.


This is true, the canon lenses work best with the canon camera. SOme of the aftermarket lenses will give errors with the digital slrs. Rob you need to look at a good 70-200 and a good 16-35 and you should be set for what you do. I do have a 50mm 1.4 that I use a lot only because it is so crisp and works with almost no light.

[Spencer]

Thanks guys.

[Neo541]

I have an 85mm 1.8 that I love!

Also want a 70-200mm. Have used the 4.0 and it's great, but spendy.

[Max]

I have an 85mm 1.8 that I love!

Also want a 70-200mm. Have used the 4.0 and it's great, but spendy.


I have a 70-200 2.8 that I really like. The thing makes crystal clear images.

[Neo541]

I have a 70-200 2.8 that I really like. The thing makes crystal clear images.

I know, haven't used that one but I'm told it's amazing. Is yours IS or no?

[Max]

Here is my 2.8, it is IS but from time to time the is causes an error so I use it most of the time with it off.

http://www.moviephotoforums.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Picture_418.jpg (http://www.moviephotoforums.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=206)

[Neo541]

You take that with your 50? And uh, what's up with the ammo boss? :)

[Max]

You take that with your 50? And uh, what's up with the ammo boss? :)

The picture was taken with the 50 but I have a bunch of lenses those are just the ones I use the most. I was taking a bunch of gun photos this week so I have ammo piled up on my desk that came out of the photos.

[Neo541]

The picture was taken with the 50 but I have a bunch of lenses those are just the ones I use the most. I was taking a bunch of gun photos this week so I have ammo piled up on my desk that came out of the photos.

The bokeh reminded me of the 50, that's why I figured that's what you used.

[Michael Hetrick]

Ok, so I'm wanting to expand my lens collection for the one and only digital SLR that I have (Canon Rebel XT). I'm pretty much a novice and am wondering what are some good tips on selecting new lenses?

What do you want your lens to do for you that your present lens cannot? That would help a lot in recommending. For example, better macro? Wide Field? Deep Field? Low light. You get the idea. As you know, all lenses are tradeoffs unless you are made of money.

[Spencer]

What do you want your lens to do for you that your present lens cannot? That would help a lot in recommending. For example, better macro? Wide Field? Deep Field? Low light. You get the idea. As you know, all lenses are tradeoffs unless you are made of money.

Good point there Mike. Ultimately I would like to have the capability to shoot wide angle and also have the ability to go with a telephoto lens....like you said, you can't have everything in one lens...

[Michael Hetrick]

Good point there Mike. Ultimately I would like to have the capability to shoot wide angle and also have the ability to go with a telephoto lens....like you said, you can't have everything in one lens...

Often, the need for a GOOD telephoto lens is over-emphasised in comparison to a GREAT wide angle lens. Given the two, I have always found the wide-angle macro lens much more demanding than a telephoto.

I kinda have to talk to the 35mm film camera world. I am not so sure how this all translates to modern SLR digitals. If I am not totally out of my mind, in the 35mm slr world a 135mm lens gave you basically the same thing you saw in your eye. The most common lens in that world was a fast-ish (f1.4 or f1.8) 50mm lens. This gave the average user a somewhat wide-angle lens as their work horse lens. The next lens most people got was a 75-2XX or 80-300 zoom/telephoto. These lenses were typically kinda slow, a faster one being in the f4.5 range. You really had to pay some money to get a fast one, so they were pretty much relegated to brighter light conditions. The next lens people usually got was a "wide angle" lens. 28 mm to 35 mm to limit fish-eye. People into portrait photography with a SLR (not it's strong suit) usually invested in a fast 135mm (single focal length) lens.

Ok, there is a point to this.

As a young guy in the Navy I could not afford all this glass. So I sat down with a couple of shoe boxes full of slides and went through them all and picked out my 10 favorite shots. Every one of the 10 involved my 50mm or a 35 mm lens (not my lens, us Navy guys swapped lenses like mad coz none of us could afford more than one or two).

Thus I personally spent a good amount of money on a very fine 35 mm lens. Bought a 80-300 slower-than-a-snail lens from a guy upgrading and for about $30 at the time a 2X barlow. Thus I basically had from 35 mm to 600 mm in increasing quality of optics from my most important to my least important. Well, that is not quite true, my camera was bought with an absolutely AMAZING Nikon 50mm f1.2 lens....but I digress. I think the 80-300 stretched all the way out with the 2X barlow in place must have been pushing f11.....it was really slow.....but mostly I only used it to take pictures of my friends surfing, so in that bright light it was plenty fast (and cheap!),

So there ya go, one man's method for determining and buying glass.

But in general, you will most often find you really need more light in the end than more magnification. And this is coming from a telescope nut who spent literally 10's of thousands of dollars over a lifetime learning this simple lesson.

Hope this helps. Corrections encouraged, it has been a long time and my memory might be a bit fuzzy.

[Spencer]

Thanks Mike, photography is something I'm just starting to get into. Any information helps a ton.

[Michael Hetrick]

Thanks Mike, photography is something I'm just starting to get into. Any information helps a ton.

You'll be hard pressed to find a hobby where quality over quantity is more appropriate than photography.......unless you want to talk telescopes that is.

I've seen some of your toys, you do things right.

[lakedrunk]

I've got some parts to my old Canon, it's not for a digital so I'm not sure if it would fit what you got. The first lens in the picture is the lens that came with the camera and the second is a Canon EF 75-300mm 1:4-5.6 III. If you could use the second one I'll send it to you, you pay shipping.

[LAVrod]

EF lenses will work on the newer digital canons.

[LAVrod]

Ok, so I'm wanting to expand my lens collection for the one and only digital SLR that I have (Canon Rebel XT). I'm pretty much a novice and am wondering what are some good tips on selecting new lenses?

great reference site on all canon ef lenses:
http://photonotes.org/articles/beginner-faq/lenses.html

Basically, the faster and wider range your lens is, the better, heavier and more expensive. It is a trade off. But even with the cheap lenses, people can do magic. They say it is better have mediocre equipment but be a great photographer than the other way around.

[lakedrunk]

How do you like the lens? Where's the pictures? :D

[Spencer]

How do you like the lens? Where's the pictures? :D

You'll have to forgive me for not getting some of these up sooner :D The lens works out great, thanks again Vic!

Amy and I were playing around at the dog park the other day. This should give you a good idea of what I have to deal with on a daily basis :eek:

[Diamond Lil]

Here is my 2.8, it is IS but from time to time the is causes an error so I use it most of the time with it off.

http://www.moviephotoforums.com/photopost/data/500/medium/Picture_418.jpg (http://www.moviephotoforums.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=206)

This is way too funny! Look back at how long ago Max mentioned this lens! It only took me two years to get it. I must be a slow learner. :faint

[polizzio]

I must be a slow learner. :faint

WE KNOW BETTER, that definitely isn't gonna fly.