Understanding lenses.

James07

James07

James07

Soldato
Joined
6 Dec 2006
Posts
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Location
West Yorkshire
Okay, so im spending my thursday evening teaching myself more about lenses...

Im trying to get my head around different kinds of lenses.

Just wondering if i could get some help on lenses that i can research.

What lenses would i use for:

Motor sport
Scenery
Sky/space
Animals
Insects
Portraits
Landscapes
Water

2 or 3 lenses for each or even if one lens would do 2 or more jobs then that would be good, just so when i get a camera i know what lenses do what so i can look around and even understand what my lens is actually used for!!

Im on google atm so i may recognise the one your talking about!

Cheers,

James.
 
James07 said:
Okay, so im spending my thursday evening teaching myself more about lenses...

Im trying to get my head around different kinds of lenses.

Just wondering if i could get some help on lenses that i can research.

What lenses would i use for:

Motor sport - 70-200, or 300
Scenery - differing lenses - a 18-55 would do, as would somthing wider like a 10-20
Sky/space - you need 300+ for the moon
Animals - longer lenses useful here too
Insects - macro lens (close focus) like the nikon 105 macro
Portraits - 50mm or 85mm
Landscapes - as scenery above
Water - as scenery above

2 or 3 lenses for each or even if one lens would do 2 or more jobs then that would be good, just so when i get a camera i know what lenses do what so i can look around and even understand what my lens is actually used for!!

Im on google atm so i may recognise the one your talking about!

Cheers,

James.
Click to expand...

A good set of lenses might be:

18-55
50mm
70-200
105 macro
300
 
Big kit there then.. I had to pick an expensive hobby, i have to be interested in the most pricest things dont i!

I cant wait though, im looking at prices of lenses, there expensive! Very expensive.
 
Yup, it can be an expensive hobby!

You can do it on the cheap though, if you are prepared to compromise.
 
Joe T said:
Yup, it can be an expensive hobby!

You can do it on the cheap though, if you are prepared to compromise.
Click to expand...

Doubt id be prepared to compromise, ill go for the cheeper of the top qual lenses!!

Ha.

Im looking forward to it, I want to do a shoot for my sister, shes due any time now so id like to get shots of her and her baby and let them have which ever they want and buy them one as a present :)
 
Joe T said:
Do you have a camera at the moment James?
Click to expand...

Lol, you must be the only person in this section of the forums that dosnt know that i dont, im saving up a 400D atm, giving the money to my mum as to not spend it.. Not long left.

Im just looking at what lenses i will need and prices.
 
Tell me about it, i didnt do any when i first wanted to get into it, i then found that my £200 budget for a camera soon enough shot to atleast £400! lol!
 
Hehe James is a keen bean.

By the way - off topic - I've got MSN installed on my Mac now mate so if you still want to chat my hotmail addy is in my public profile.

Panzer
 
A decent starter portrait/landscape lens would be either a Tamron 17-50 F2.8 or Sigma 24-70 F2.8; these costs about £200-£250.
 
A great starter, with lenses for wide angle scenery, a walkabout lens, a portrait and low light lens, a macro lens for the small side of life and a very good quality zoom:

Sigma 10-20mm ~ £250
Sigma 17-70mm ~ £220
Canon 50mm 1.8 ~ £60
Sigma 105mm Macro ~ £270
Canon 70-200mm F4/L ~ £450

...And you're struggling to save for a new 400D, expensive game this, you need to see them as investments, and will you use them as much as their price tags, the 50mm is good value for money but if you buy that first you'll soon find limitations.
 
I can vouch for the 17-70mm and say that i have enjouyed the results from it!
 
RandomTom said:
A great starter, with lenses for wide angle scenery, a walkabout lens, a portrait and low light lens, a macro lens for the small side of life and a very good quality zoom:

Sigma 10-20mm ~ £250
Sigma 17-70mm ~ £220
Canon 50mm 1.8 ~ £60
Sigma 105mm Macro ~ £270
Canon 70-200mm F4/L ~ £450

...And you're struggling to save for a new 400D, expensive game this, you need to see them as investments, and will you use them as much as their price tags, the 50mm is good value for money but if you buy that first you'll soon find limitations.
Click to expand...

sorry to barge in on topic, but are those new or 2nd hand prices?
 
Or you could get:
Sigma 10-20mm ~ £250
Sigma 17-70mm ~ £220
Canon 50mm 1.8 ~ £60
Sigma 105mm Macro ~ £270
Canon 70-200mm F4/L ~ £450
Click to expand...
In Canon L glass :)

Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8 L MKII USM Lens £1,038.00
Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8 L USM Lens £829.00
Canon EF 50mm f1.2 L USM Lens £899.00
Canon EF 85mm f1.2 L II USM Lens £1,249.00
Canon EF 70-200mm f2.8 L IS USM Lens £1,247.00

Total: £5,269.95
Click to expand...
Of course its kinda over the top for your needs so I'd say look at what RandomTom posted or keep an eye out for second hand lens.

Blackvault
 
Panzerbjorn said:
Hehe James is a keen bean.

By the way - off topic - I've got MSN installed on my Mac now mate so if you still want to chat my hotmail addy is in my public profile.
Click to expand...

Lol he really is, ive given my mum the money so its now starting! Ive added you dude.

RandomTom said:
Sigma 10-20mm ~ £250
Sigma 17-70mm ~ £220
Canon 50mm 1.8 ~ £60
Sigma 105mm Macro ~ £270
Canon 70-200mm F4/L ~ £450

...And you're struggling to save for a new 400D, expensive game this, you need to see them as investments, and will you use them as much as their price tags, the 50mm is good value for money but if you buy that first you'll soon find limitations.
Click to expand...

Its not that i struggled its that i had other things to pay for before i could save but now that my finances are perfect now its time to save, its time to get one because i see them everywhere and im just itching to get one!

As for that collection, thats £1250 altogether which is easilly feasible over the next year or two if and when i will need them. I need to do some more research and see what kinds of shots can be given from these lenses.

That 10-20 will probably be the first that i buy either that or the 70-200.
 
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