Which lenses to buy?

[Big Worm 1]

I'm going out this afternoon and buying my first DSLR. I'm going for the Canon 550D. Obviously it comes with the 18-55mm kit lens, but i am unsure what other lenses to get as well. I am going to Ben Nevis next weekend so i will want to take some decent landscape/scenery pictures. A couple of weeks after that, i am taking the family to Longleat safari park so will be taking photos of the animals, close up and at distance.

Any suggestions anyone?

Is this worth getting? http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000V9D5LG/ref=...

Thanks

[McMacro]

Canon 10-22mm for landscape
Canon 70-200 f2.8IS MKII or canon 100-400 for safari

Oops, what was your budget?

[markmullen]

If budget is limited then the 55-250 IS is a good addition to the 18-55 IS kit lens and can be bought new for as little as £125.

[Big Worm 1]

To be honest, i don't really want to spend loads as i've got to buy the camera as well, and it is my first attempt at DSLR photography.

[Big Worm 1]

markmullen said:

If budget is limited then the 55-250 IS is a good addition to the 18-55 IS kit lens and can be bought new for as little as £125.

Where can i get it for £125? Amazon have it for £144, but Jessops and Warehouse Express are both over £200.

[markmullen]

I can't remember, I bought mine second hand when I had it but I know my brother paid that for his new, I'll ask him.

[markmullen]

Just seen this on ebay, although not new looks cheap (£90 as I type this) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-EF-S-55-mm-250-mm-...

[Big Worm 1]

markmullen said:

Just seen this on ebay, although not new looks cheap (£90 as I type this) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Canon-EF-S-55-mm-250-mm-...

It ended at £108.

I've decided on getting the 550D from either Jessops or John Lewis this afternoon (whichever one i can get the best deal from), then i'm going to get the following lenses from Amazon.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-55-250mm-Telephoto-S...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-EF-50-1-8-Lens/dp/B0...

Does this seem like a decent enough set up for starting out? Should come to about £800 in total. Got the long distance stuff covered and the 50mm for pics of my 2 offspring.

[markmullen]

Sounds a good bundle, the 50mm is another good lens.

Don't forget a bag for it all, some memory cards and a spare battery or two (although 7dayshop do all these cheap).

Enjoy your new camera.

[Simpo Two]

Big Worm 1 said:

To be honest, i don't really want to spend loads as i've got to buy the camera as well, and it is my first attempt at DSLR photography.

I'd use the 18-55mm you have for landscapes and general stuff, and add a 70-300mm for the safari. Not top performance but all in for £100. You've already got 50mm covered so unless you need f1.8 don't waste valuable budget duplicating it. People rave about 'nifty fifties' but I almost never use one.

In short you won't know what lenses you really need until you get more flying hours, so don't worry about buying a lens then selling it a year later as you find your feet.

[RobDickinson]

55-250 gets my vote, actually a good focal range for landscapes from up high too.

[Big Worm 1]

Bought the camera this afternoon. Not had chance to try it out yet, but I,ll be shopping on Amazon tomorrow for my lenses.

[Mr Whippy]

Simpo Two said:

I'd use the 18-55mm you have for landscapes and general stuff, and add a 70-300mm for the safari. Not top performance but all in for £100. You've already got 50mm covered so unless you need f1.8 don't waste valuable budget duplicating it. People rave about 'nifty fifties' but I almost never use one.

It's not so much covering the focal length and being happy.

My 18-200 Nikon VR jobby is average all over, while my 50mm 1.8 is absolutely brilliant at about 40-60mm (move nearer or further away, or crop your image a bit

Not to say zooms are not good, but you have to admit the 18-55 Canon kit lens is easily improved upon, so an F1.8 50mm wouldn't be a waste imo!

All depends what you want to take pictures of I guess.

Dave

[Simpo Two]

Mr Whippy said:

my 50mm 1.8 is absolutely brilliant at about 40-60mm (move nearer or further away, or crop your image a bit

That is indeed an interesting way of making a prime into a zoom!

Until things started getting serious my favourite combo was 18-70mm and 70-300mm.

[Mr Whippy]

The Nikon 18-70mm is a fair bit nicer as a kit lens than the Canon 18-55mm... though that was the old 18-55mm... I think they had a new one out in the last year or so?! Not tried that yet.

I'm just one of the supporters of having a good 50mm lens. They are nice and light, small and give good sharp images. I was blown away by the difference at 50mm on my 18-70mm at 50mm, and my 50mm.


As said, I suppose it all depends on what you want to take pictures of. A lens you can easily buy, try out, and if it really doesn't fit your needs over a few months, sell it on. They often make near what you pay for them

Dave

[Big Worm 1]

Thanks for the advice folks!

I've just ordered the 55-250mm, a second 16gb SDHC card and a UV filter. I'll see if i can sweet talk the Mrs into buying me the 50mm!

[stu1984]

I am still learning the DSLR photography ropes at the minute and the lenses the OP talks about are exactly the same ones as I have (I have a 1000D body though). I only recently bought the 50mm lens and I absolutely love it. I feel that before the pictures I was taking with the 18-55 & 55-250 I could have taken with any half decent compact!! The 50mm 1.8 transformed my thinking of photograpy altogether, making me look for quirky details or features in shots that I took.

[Gizmo!]

Big Worm 1 said:

I'll see if i can sweet talk the Mrs into buying me the 50mm!

It's worth it. It's not an "L" (pro) lens, but it's really, really sharp. And you can use it in ridiculously low light levels, handheld...