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Canon 400D Lens Help

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Oli_jgb
Posts: 985 - Karma: 95
Hey Folks

Searchbar gave me nothing!

I need one lens that will be good for taking pictures on the mountain this winter, in park, pow and everywhere. It's gonna need to be a zoom lens but not too heavy and chunky for obvious reasons.

Budget is max £150. What would you recommend?

Thanks for help in advance and +k to any solutions.
Oct 4 2009 6:02PM
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Aenigma
Posts: 11256 - Karma: 424
What focal range do you use the most? If your budget is small, you're probably going to be limited to something in the shorter range (not necessarily a bad thing) just because lower-end telephotos have apertures that render them almost entirely useless for sports photography. Check out lens reviews and photo archives at www.dpreview.com and www.photography-on-the.net
Oct 4 2009 8:04PM
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niels043
Posts: 814 - Karma: 184
ef 70-200 f4L USM
Oct 5 2009 12:46AM
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Oli_jgb
Posts: 985 - Karma: 95
This is the thing, I have only recently been given a camera, so asking me what focal range I use the most is like asking a 9 year old what they normally drink.

I'm mostly gonna be taking photos of clients and also people in the park and selling them the photos.

I'm gonna get a prime lens with f1.2 for indoor use.

So I was thinking a 200mm lens? I imagine you need to use quite a narrow aperture for sports photography most of the time?
Oct 5 2009 5:03AM
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Oli_jgb
Posts: 985 - Karma: 95
So I am thinking:

Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II

and

Tamron 55-200mm f4-5.6 Di II LD Macro Lens
Oct 5 2009 5:59AM
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toominator
Posts: 4792 - Karma: 120
The 50mm 1.8 is really sweet for such a cheep lens
Oct 5 2009 10:36PM
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niels043
Posts: 814 - Karma: 184
primes are good for sure, they teach you to use your angles. everyone needs to own a tele lens though. for action sports it's all about shooting fast which means usually and especially in low light shooting with you apprature wide open or close to it.
Oct 5 2009 11:16PM
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hnosyalnif
Posts: 584 - Karma: 30
Yep, a tele lens is almost essential for sports.  Your best bet would be one of the 70-200mm L lens but I suspect they maybe out of your price range.  50mm f1.8 is a good start and then look for a tele with a low f value but still good value (I shoot with an f4-5.5 which isn't great at max zoom).  Best thing would be to look around and see what deals you can find, second hand isn't a bad place to look either but make sure you check it out thoroughly beforehand to avoid a dud lens.
Oct 6 2009 1:09PM
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Oli_jgb
Posts: 985 - Karma: 95
There's no hope of me being able to afford anything from the L range. What does the L stand for and what makes those lenses so much better?

My dad is getting me a lens for my xmas present (hopefully) so I reckon

A Canon EF-S 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS lens


is now on the cards...fingers crossed.

Good choice?
Oct 6 2009 3:16PM
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mak
Posts: 700 - Karma: 167

L series lenses are supposed to have a better build quality and i think better image qulity too.

I've got the ef-s 55-250mm f4-5.6 IS, and although it is not of the highest quality, i do like it a lot and it has a good range of focal lenghts. also it isn't overly expensive.

as for the prime lens, i've got the 50mm f1.4 and love it.

Oct 6 2009 3:41PM
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toominator
Posts: 4792 - Karma: 120
L = best quality but expensive

They generally have the toughest construction, use the best glass and have faster apertures than non-L lenses. You also get a sweet white paint job with a red ring at the end of the lens.

You can still get great results from cheaper lenses though, so I wouldn't even worry about selling your grandma to get an L lens just yet
Oct 6 2009 3:55PM
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looneygeorge
Posts: 633 - Karma: 14
The L stands for Luxury and is the marker that signifies a Canon top end lens.

you should spend a little extra money and get a 50mm 1.4 instead of the 1.8.. the built quality is rather flimsy in the 1.8 and the image isn't great.
Oct 6 2009 3:56PM
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SteezyOhio
Posts: 6044 - Karma: 60

50 MM EF lens macro is awesome, been using it lately to do studio shooting, macro is amazing on it, and its got decent autofocus, from what ive used limitedly.

Oct 6 2009 4:39PM
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Oli_jgb
Posts: 985 - Karma: 95
I have heard the image quality is fantastic on the 1.8? I have heard about the build quality but for the price, I really can't complain. And I can't afford the step up to the 1.4, that's a huge price gap.
Oct 6 2009 5:38PM
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toominator
Posts: 4792 - Karma: 120
It is, probably the sharpest lens you can get for anywhere near the same price as it.

It's made of plastic, hence being called the plastic fantastic haha. But it's actually fairly solid for a plastic lens.
The good thing about it is that it's so light and small that you can just chuck it in your bag and it's always there. coupled with the 400d you've got a really light and compact setup that will take great photos.

the lens has been around since the film eos cameras so it's been refined over the years into a really good lens.

I wouldn't bother spending any more to get the 1.4, I would get the 1.8 and put more toward a tele zoom.

also keep in mind that the 400d has a croped sensor (about 1.3 I think) so the focal lengths of all your lenses will effectively be that much longer than if the lens were on a full frame body.
Oct 6 2009 6:20PM
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hnosyalnif
Posts: 584 - Karma: 30
Yep, I have that tele as well and it works well once you have got the hang of it.  Does a good job for the price. Certainly I would say one of the best tele's in this price range.
Oct 6 2009 6:42PM
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Oli_jgb
Posts: 985 - Karma: 95
all really sound advice! Cheers folks!

Next step, flash, tripod, case, battery, memory cards, and so the addiction begins!
Oct 6 2009 8:49PM
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Oli_jgb
Posts: 985 - Karma: 95
It's a 1.6x crop factor :-)
Oct 6 2009 8:50PM
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freshlyDIPPED
Posts: 1160 - Karma: 121
i am using a 450d and got the 50 1.8, love it for the price.

i have the 70-200 f/4 on order :) :)
Oct 6 2009 11:58PM
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