DSLR versatility advice

[Trojan]

I own a Canon 550D complete with 3 lenses - an 18-55 IS, a 55-250 IS, and a 50mm 1.8. I've just returned from a trip to New Zealand and the USA, and whilst I'm extremely happy with the photos I took, I did feel there were some missed opportunities due to the kit not being versatile enough in a couple of areas.

The first is the lens reach. The 18-55 was mostly fine as the walkabout lens, but there were a number of times where the reach wasn't enough. Fine, I swapped over to the 55-250 and away I went. Unfortunately, there were quite a few occasions where by the time I'd swapped the lens, I'd missed the photo op. This has made me start thinking about getting a lens with a longer reach.

Having read up on a few of the lenses online (Canon 18-200, Sigma 18-250, Tamron 18-270, etc) I understand that the quality of the photos won't be as good as the 18-55/55-250 combo, but just how much will I lose? Out of these types of lenses, which would you go for?

The second area was the strap. I'm using the standard Canon strap that came with the camera, and struggled to find a way to carry it comfortably all day without it banging into everything, whilst still having easy access to it. I've seen some straps online with clips for quickly unhooking the camera that look like they'd be just the ticket, however do these work well? Do any of you have any suggestions as to which would be good to try?

 

[Raymond Lin]

First, realise 1 thing.

You will never get every photo you want. Accept that but learn the fact why you missed it and in your mind know when that might happen in the future so you have the right lens in hand before it happens. Experience will tell you when. It is why I travel with 1 lens, a prime lens at that. I don't go around looking for every focal length photo imaginable. I walk around and only take photos that come into "my window" which is my lens' focal length. I don't get upset missing a shot that is only achievable at 200mm, frankly, to me that seems too easy!

Second, the strap, I've ditched the Canon strap long ago, not that I didn't find it comfortable, it is the fact that it screams "I have a camera on me" that I don't like, even from behind me you can't see the SLR that I am holding. I got one of those Op-tech strap you talk about with a clip, but to be honest I don't like it. It is more comfortable due to the weight spread more across the padding but there is a part of me that fears the clip will unhook, not so much by accident (although it is on my mind) but some idiot would find it funny to unclip it whilst it is on my shoulder or a thief will find it easier to snatch.

 

[D.P.]

When hiking with the opertunity of wildife but also scenic views Keep the telephoto Lens attached by default for those chance enounters, swapping over to the wider angle when need before swapping back. This way you won't miss that giant moose crossing your path. Also learn to swap lenses quickly without watching.


You should also learn to predict what you are likely to encounter and take lenses that would be appropriate. When you are walking towards a view point you can start swapping lenses to a wider angle, if you know from the map that you are about to exit a forest into a meadow or marsh area then swap lenses because there might be an elk or moose in the opening.




As Raymond said, you will loose photos no matter what. Last weekend I spotter a river otter and a bald eagle aligned in the same frame with a beautiful backdrop of wild flowers and a towering rock wall glowing orange in the evening life. It would have been one of the best photos of my life. I ended up with nothing.

 

[=XDC=FluphyBunny]

It sounds like you would almost be better off buying something like the Canon SX40 (24-840mm Equivalent) for around £260 (over a hundred pounds cheaper than the tamron lens you listed). That camera will give reasonable (and many examples would suggest very good) images without the need to swap lenses or carry about additional gear.

Or you just have to shoot to the current kits advantages and ignore the shots you missed.

 

[Dreadhead]

I just bought a BlackRapid RS-7 Strap. It cost a bomb, but considering it carries a heavy and expensive camera, I opted to not go for a cheaper strap.
It spreads weight across the torso and the camera hangs from the hip. The strap screws directly into the tripod socket on the underside of the camera.

I have had the chance to walk around for a few weeks with it now and really feel the benefit of losing the neck strap. The camera weight goes unoticed, there is no pulling on my neck and the camera is quick to pull up into action without straps on the sides of the body getting in the way. Also the camera is predominately off eye-level so I feel less of a target walking around with the DSLR in public.

Overall it was expensive but after some good use I think justified. It looks like it should last a lifetime as well.

I am preparing to go travelling round Asia next year and want to take my DSLR. I was thinking of taking an 18 - 200 as my default lens.

Do you have any tips for taking your kit around?
I will need to take a netbook to manage my RAWs when on the road I guess, as I want to post copies home for safe keeping.

 

[K.C. Leblanc]

It sounds like you would almost be better off buying something like the Canon SX40 (24-840mm Equivalent) for around £260 (over a hundred pounds cheaper than the tamron lens you listed). That camera will give reasonable (and many examples would suggest very good) images without the need to swap lenses or carry about additional gear.

Or you just have to shoot to the current kits advantages and ignore the shots you missed.

It crossed my mind to suggest a bridge camera as well. But if you do give it a good try. You might find that you'll lose just as many shots because the zoom and AF are slower and making exposure adjustments is very fiddly.

I have a Fuji S1500, I know I should make more use of it since it's a small an versatile camera. But to is it's soo slow, coming from a DSLR it's like having a conversion with a village idiot.

You could always go the other way and buy a second body.

 

[Trojan]

I accept that I'm not going to get every photo I want, but if I can maximise the number I do get by using a more versatile lens, then why not? I don't want to drop down to a superzoom; I've been extremely happy with the 550D. Given that I'm unlikely to print any images larger than A3, am I likely to notice much or any loss in image quality going from the 18-55/55-250 combo to say the 18-200?

The BlackRapid and Op-Tech straps look exactly what I'm after. Think I'll have to have a look in the local store to see if they have any in to have a play with.