Next Lens?

JamesU2005 · 20 Jul 2007 at 23:54

Just got myself a 350D plus Kit lens.

Just wondered what should be my next lens purchase for a student on a budget.

Keep it as low as possible.

Anything will do just give me some names and makes so I can do my research.

Cheers guys.

divine` · 20 Jul 2007 at 23:56

Well what do you want it for?

Be useless us telling you to go and get a Sigma 10-20 if you're after a telephoto zoom or something :/

J1234 · 21 Jul 2007 at 00:03

Get a nifty fifty, Canon 50mm 1.8

divine` · 21 Jul 2007 at 00:09

Justin said:
Get a nifty fifty, Canon 50mm 1.8

That's not going to be a terrific amount of use unless he needs the low aperture for something specific is it? :/

philio16 · 21 Jul 2007 at 00:22

divine_madness said:
That's not going to be a terrific amount of use unless he needs the low aperture for something specific is it? :/

it does fit the one criteria he specified...cheap!

robertgilbert86 · 21 Jul 2007 at 09:05

Yeah get the 50mm, I know you already have that focal length covered, but the quality is ace and the massive aperture is great for portraits.

Also a good learning tool, using primes.

The only bad point about it is the build quality, it truly feels like a piece of crap-so light and flimsy. The manual focus is shocking.

SidewinderINC · 21 Jul 2007 at 09:56

Justin said:
Get a nifty fifty, Canon 50mm 1.8

that would be the first lens i bought! you never know when you're going to be in a situation where you need some fast glass.

shame the price goes up exponentially when yo move to the 1.4 and 1.2

need a good gig lens.

JamesU2005 · 21 Jul 2007 at 10:26

Sounds like the 50mm is the one to get for a quality piece of glass at a budget price.

Done a bit more research and the Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG Macro looks a decent telephoto lens for the money?

Russinating · 21 Jul 2007 at 10:53

A Sigma 70-300mm F/4-5.6 APO DG Macro is available for under £100 in the online sale of a high street store - good deal or crap lens?

JamesU2005 · 21 Jul 2007 at 11:17

Well in terms of value for money its SEEMS a decent lens. Obvs there are better lens' out there but not for under £100.

divine` · 21 Jul 2007 at 11:24

rghjones said:
A Sigma 70-300mm F/4-5.6 APO DG Macro is available for under £100 in the online sale of a high street store - good deal or crap lens?

It's probably not the APO, in which case it will be utterly utterly useless.

I still think you ought to at least work out what you want the lens for before going and splashing cash.

No point in spending £70 on a 50mm if you end up never using it, £70 is still a lot of money to spend on something you find you never use.

JamesU2005 · 21 Jul 2007 at 12:20

You can get the Sigma for around the £100 on a certain auction site.

And having a look below, it seems it takes decent shots in a variety of different situations.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/_sigma_af_70-300mm_f4-56_dg_apo_macro/

divine` · 21 Jul 2007 at 12:34

JamesU2005 said:
You can get the Sigma for around the £100 on a certain auction site.

Just make sure it is definitly a genuine APO because the non APO versions are dire lenses.

JamesU2005 · 21 Jul 2007 at 12:34

Justin said:
Get a nifty fifty, Canon 50mm 1.8

Sorry for the nooby question but does the f/1.8 mean the minimum aperture size and it can do everything above that?

divine` · 21 Jul 2007 at 12:47

JamesU2005 said:
Sorry for the nooby question but does the f/1.8 mean the minimum aperture size and it can do everything above that?

It'll probably range from 1.8 to 22 or so.

Russinating · 21 Jul 2007 at 14:01

Also, what does APO actually stand for\do?

Messiah Khan · 21 Jul 2007 at 14:20

rghjones said:
Also, what does APO actually stand for\do?

apochromatic

Edit;
Stolen from a random website;

A lens or optical system virtually free of chromatic aberration, which for practical purposes means that light of at least three different wavelengths is brought to focus at the same point. The best apochromatic lenses use fluorite crystal and may correct three wavelengths with only two optical elements. However, because fluorite is expensive to manufacture, and, because of its brittleness, difficult to grind, polish, and mount, high quality apochromatic refracting telescopes are costly. Reflecting telescopes, on the other hand, are apochromatic in performance without the extra expense.

ichabod crane · 21 Jul 2007 at 15:45

seems you have had some good advice so far, on starter lenses and i cant agree more to get you going on your exploration into photography you should have the kit lense, a nifty fifty (50mm) and something in the 70-300 region all stated above price wise and these will give you a good stepping into learning techniques with your camera in close and far imagery. from which you can then enter the realms of more advanced lenses and techniques. most people on here probable started off with a sigma or tamron 70-300, kit and 50mm i know i did and still use them now and again.

Scam · 21 Jul 2007 at 18:19

I started an argument for saying the Sigma APO is a brilliant lens, but if it's a budget zoom you're after it's perfect. The build quality is great and you get the added bonus of Macro function too. I'd definatly recommend it, just make sure it's the APO version.