Camera Lens

[bigaudiofanati2 10+ year member]

So I own a Canon Rebel SLR and am looking to and ONE lens to my bag. I have the standard 15-55 mm lens on right now. But want to add a bit of selection to my bag. Which one should I look to get? It will probably be for all sorts of things weather it be scenery or installs.

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[mcsoul 10+ year member]

I don't know about canon, but Nikon has an 18-200 that is

a great single lens solution, about $800.

 

[tEh ShOcKeR]

I've got a Tamron 70-300mm. Good cheap lens that helps you get some pretty good range.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

If I had to do with one lens, I'd get the fastest 50mm prime I could afford, no question about it.

Zooms can be a bit of a crutch, I found myself composing better shots when I didn't worry about the focal length - not to mention avoiding the issues of a slower lens and losing DOF from a longer focal length.

 

[tEh ShOcKeR]

Losing DOF from a longer lens? Aside from the aperture dropping I have found a zoomed shot increases DOF exponentially.

 

[mcsoul 10+ year member]

If I had to do with one lens, I'd get the fastest 50mm prime I could afford, no question about it.
Zooms can be a bit of a crutch, I found myself composing better shots when I didn't worry about the focal length - not to mention avoiding the issues of a slower lens and losing DOF from a longer focal length.

I have a 50mm prime, you have to do a lot of dancing around to frame your shots.

I also have a 50-300, and 50 is to far off for indoors under may circumstances so 70-300 would be worse.

 

[hoss 5,000+ posts]

If I had to do with one lens, I'd get the fastest 50mm prime I could afford, no question about it.
Zooms can be a bit of a crutch, I found myself composing better shots when I didn't worry about the focal length - not to mention avoiding the issues of a slower lens and losing DOF from a longer focal length.

TIHS!!

Losing DOF from a longer lens? Aside from the aperture dropping I have found a zoomed shot increases DOF exponentially.

I dont think you understand what he is talking about...

He suggested a 50mm prime because it is without a doubt, the standard go to lens for ANY photographer. My favorite lens is my 55mm f1.8 lens. You get a great DOF with the large aperature, and is versatile for just about anything.

What you are talking about with getting an increased DOF with a zoom lens is using the zoom function to mimic a macro lens. Most zoom lenses have smaller aperatures. Smaller aperatures = longer exposures = wide DOF. With a larger aperature you get shorter exposures which yield a nice thin crisp DOF.

I agree with the prime lens suggestion. I use that lens waaaay more than either of my zoom lenses. And it was the cheapest.

 

[tEh ShOcKeR]

TIHS!!

I dont think you understand what he is talking about...

He suggested a 50mm prime because it is without a doubt, the standard go to lens for ANY photographer. My favorite lens is my 55mm f1.8 lens. You get a great DOF with the large aperature, and is versatile for just about anything.

What you are talking about with getting an increased DOF with a zoom lens is using the zoom function to mimic a macro lens. Most zoom lenses have smaller aperatures. Smaller aperatures = longer exposures = wide DOF. With a larger aperature you get shorter exposures which yield a nice thin crisp DOF.

I agree with the prime lens suggestion. I use that lens waaaay more than either of my zoom lenses. And it was the cheapest.

I actually do know what I'm talking about. The guy posted asking about getting one (1) new lens for his bag. It sounded to me like he wants something versatile. Would a prime 50mm lens be the better buy if he's shooting portraits? Obviously, but I don't think that's what he's looking for.

Bokeh is bokeh by the way.

 

[bigaudiofanati2 10+ year member]

Hmm sounds good, the more I think about it the more I remember some shots I wanted to be closer and others further away to grab more of the area. So I think I can go either way.

 

[hoss 5,000+ posts]

I actually do know what I'm talking about. The guy posted asking about getting one (1) new lens for his bag. It sounded to me like he wants something versatile. Would a prime 50mm lens be the better buy if he's shooting portraits? Obviously, but I don't think that's what he's looking for.
Bokeh is bokeh by the way.

Calm down there broski... I didnt say you dont know what you are talking about, I said that I thought you were misunderstanding something in his post...

IMHO a 50mm prime lens IS more versatile than a super tele-zoom lens. And it is also more important to use a basic lens to learn what you are doing before you go spending a lot of money on glass you dont need...

The 50mm lens can be used for macro shots, portraits, close up, landscapes, still life, etc etc etc.

A zoom lens can be used for zooming in on stuff and limiting your aperature options, oh, and also a pseudo macro (you can get good results, but not the same you can get with a good wide aperature).

 

[mcsoul 10+ year member]

Bokeh is undetectable by anyone asking the broad question "what lens should I get?".

I own a 50mm prime and I've tried it as a walking around lens and it sucked balls, your almost never the right distance from any subject in doors or out, end of story. Suggesting a prime for someone who wants a single lens makes no sense to me.

Primes are for studios where you control the focal length or weddings where you have a big say in where to stand and pose and need the speed.

 

[hoss 5,000+ posts]

Bokeh is undetectable by anyone asking the broad question "what lens should I get?".
I own a 50mm prime and I've tried it as a walking around lens and it sucked balls, your almost never the right distance from any subject in doors or out, end of story. Suggesting a prime for someone who wants a single lens makes no sense to me.

Primes are for studios where you control the focal length or weddings where you have a big say in where to stand and pose and need the speed.

If you cant figure out how to frame a picture by yourself, you arent going to be doing it right by using a different lens either...

 

[mcsoul 10+ year member]

If you cant figure out how to frame a picture by yourself, you arent going to be doing it right by using a different lens either...

With a prime you frame with your feet, unless there's shit in your way, then you do not frame at all.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Bokeh is undetectable by anyone asking the broad question "what lens should I get?".
I own a 50mm prime and I've tried it as a walking around lens and it sucked balls, your almost never the right distance from any subject in doors or out, end of story. Suggesting a prime for someone who wants a single lens makes no sense to me.

Look at some of Cartier-Bresson's work some time //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif It pretty much defines "walking-around photography"...all done with a fixed lens on a Leica rangefinder.

When I had the Contax, I had three lenses...a 28mm/2.8, 50/1.4, and a 100/2.8...granted I wasn't shooting sports or birds, but I didn't miss too many shots because I had the wrong lens on.

 

[hoss 5,000+ posts]

With a prime you frame with your feet, unless there's shit in your way, then you do not frame at all.

No, with a prime you get the shot. Just because YOU can't get the picture you want with a prime lens doesnt mean that it is impossible...