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Equipment What lens would you recommend?

Discussion in 'Photography, Art & Design' started by JPicasso, 4 Feb 2012.

  1. JPicasso

    JPicasso What's a Dremel?

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    Looking at getting a Canon T3i in the very near future. I'll mostly be taking pics of the family for memories but also wanted something useable for wall portraits and for location pics on vacations etc.

    So the Canon T3i kits with either the 18-55mm lens or the 18-135mm lens. I'm also interested in the 18-200mm lens for this.

    So I'm looking for advice, do I get the 18-55mm lens and save up for a separate purchase for the 18-200mm lens? Or do I spend a bit more and be happy with the 18-135mm lens, as my "everything" lens and pick up more when/if this hobby grows?

    Thanks, and I hope to be contributing to this forum in the future. (even if just to ask more dumb questions)

    -JPicasso
     
  2. motorsportcfd

    motorsportcfd What's a Dremel?

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    I prefer the 18-135 lens myself. One of my carry lenses for a long time was a 24-105 F4L. What I liked most was the wide pan at 24mm and the distance at 105. Having shot with the 18-135 and the 18-55, Id choose the 18-135 based on what I said above. Additionally, in my experience the 18-135 has been sharper and has less aberration.

    Sorry to say it, but avoid the 18-200. It is way too wide of a range with crappy glass. The 18-200 is "wide-angle" to "telephoto". I avoid glass that has multiple ranges like that, like the plague. From 18-30mm its distorted, from 150-200 its fuzzy. If you want a telephoto, get yourself a 70-200mm. If you can afford it, get the F4L. Its the entry level of the L series lenses. I have on myself (and the 2.8 IS II version) and I love it.

    Summary, the 18-135 is a much better carry lens than the 18-55. Avoid the 18-200 as if it were an Apple product.
     
  3. supermonkey

    supermonkey Deal with it

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    I have the 18 28-135 kit lens and I will say that the only complaint I've ever had is the uncommon occasion in which I wish I'd had a wide angle lens. Other than that, I've never been disappointed with it. It's gone with me to 5 different countries and numerous trips within the US, and each time it's covered enough range that I've never truly needed anything more.

    Unless you plan to start shooting professionally, then consider the 18 28-135 a very decent catch-all lens.
     
    Last edited: 5 Feb 2012
  4. stonedsurd

    stonedsurd Is a cackling Yuletide Belgian

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    Yep, add another recommendation for the 18-135. I bought it for my sister and played with it for a week in New York - a very decent walkabout lens. With the ISO range on the T3i, you won't even be bothered by the slow tele end.
     
  5. supermonkey

    supermonkey Deal with it

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    Whoops, how embarrassing. My lens is the 28-135 kit lens, not 18-135. That's what I get for posting tired after a long week!
     
  6. lysaer

    lysaer Suck my unit! Kirk lazarus (2008)

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    Sigma 24-70mm lens is one of my fave for those shots, you won't need an hsm model

    It had a 2.8 aperture as well so good for outside

    Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio Z715e using Tapatalk
     
  7. motorsportcfd

    motorsportcfd What's a Dremel?

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    :eyebrow: Outside you would use a higher aperture since there is more light. Inside where its darker you would use the wider aperture to capture more like.

    i.e.

    [​IMG]
    Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark II
    Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
    Aperture: f/6.3
    Focal Length: 400 mm
    ISO Speed: 100

    Versus:

    [​IMG]
    Camera: Canon EOS 40D
    Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
    Aperture: f/2.8
    Focal Length: 145 mm
    ISO Speed: 800
     
  8. lysaer

    lysaer Suck my unit! Kirk lazarus (2008)

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    So meant inside for hos family portraits

    My bad

    Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio Z715e using Tapatalk
     
  9. motorsportcfd

    motorsportcfd What's a Dremel?

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    It's all good! :thumb:
     
  10. JPicasso

    JPicasso What's a Dremel?

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    Avoided like an Apple product!

    I went ahead and ordered the 18-135 kit. Should be here by the end of the week.
    I'll be posting pics of my headless family in no time.

    Thanks for the input all
     

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