Member of the Month

PartyBullshiit
March, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Looking to buy a dslr lenses

profile picture
Yeezus
Posts: 3350 - Karma: 469
I'm looking to buy my first DSLR in the upcoming weeks. After doing a bit of research, I've essentially just narrowed it down to a T3i or maybe even a T4i.

I'm not completely dumb when it comes to cameras, but I'm not a professional. Most importantly though, I'm looking for lenses & I have absolutely no clue about them really.

I'm looking for a lens/lenses that will be good for street style fashion oriented photography.

examples:
Click for larger image
Click for larger image


In addition, I will need a lens that I can use for essentially every day shooting, & for that I'm thinking possibly a wide angle. I do a lot of fashion oriented work so I'm looking to get shots like these:

examples:
Click for larger image
Click for larger image
Click for larger image
Click for larger image


My price range, to be honest, is definitely below $500 for now. Looking for something quality but not too expensive since i'm just starting out.
Feb 25 2013 9:31PM
18 6
profile picture
1337
Posts: 31038 - Karma: 29,003
Sigma 35mm 1.4 or other 35mm (on full frame, that'd be a 22 or so on a crop I believe?)
Feb 25 2013 9:56PM
1 5
profile picture
J_BISCHOF
Posts: 2082 - Karma: 1,449
would it not be the other way around? like a 56mm on crop?
Feb 26 2013 3:15AM
5 1
profile picture
michael_bc
Posts: 1317 - Karma: 419
I think your best bet on a $500 lens for this type of shooting is a 85mm f/1.8. The Nikon is excellent, I assume the Canon is as well.

If you are mainly planning to take photos, skip the antiquated Canon tXi series and look into getting a deal on a Nikon D90, D7000, or the new D7100. Even a cheap D3200 will take significantly better photos than those Canon bodies. Unless you get a full frame body, the Canon sensors are terribly outdated.

You will also appreciate the larger, brighter viewfinder you will find on a D90 or D7000.
Feb 26 2013 3:48AM
1 0
profile picture
michael_bc
Posts: 1317 - Karma: 419
^^ I'm recommending the 85mm for shots like the first two examples you give.

If you want to get closer to your subject, the $200 Nikon 35mm f/1.8 is an excellent start.

To get wider than that you will have to spend more money to get quality results. I personally really like the Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8 and the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 but those lenses are not cheap.
Feb 26 2013 3:59AM
0 0
profile picture
Jordan
Posts: 4079 - Karma: 2,122
Rokinon 35 1.4
simple 50 1.4
85 1.4 (sigma) it's a great lens
of course a 70-200 2.8 is fantastic for street / fashion if you don't care about standing out

Feb 26 2013 11:16AM
3 0
profile picture
1337
Posts: 31038 - Karma: 29,003
no, i meant he wants a 35mm focal length (ff) so he should look at something around 21 for his crop camera
Feb 26 2013 11:37AM
1 0
profile picture
J_BISCHOF
Posts: 2082 - Karma: 1,449
both right. pleasure working withyou.
Feb 26 2013 3:02PM
0 0
profile picture
Mag
Posts: 8155 - Karma: 14,809
It's just poor grammar, easy to see what he meant though.
Feb 26 2013 3:21PM
0 0
profile picture
acuallyisntdolan
Posts: 12 - Karma: 10
i would look into nikon instead
Feb 26 2013 4:39PM
0 0
profile picture
jkauffman22
Posts: 2592 - Karma: 1,150
If you would be interested in the kit lens 18-55 or 55-250, I am selling both of them on ebay right now. Would be willing to let them go for pretty reasonable amount.
Feb 26 2013 6:17PM
0 0
profile picture
Gnarwall
Posts: 1180 - Karma: 50
There are lots of good options in that price point. A 50mm f/1.8 would be great for most of the work you want to do. They're around $100. It will feel a bit tight on a crop camera though so sometimes it might feel limited.

Another good option would be a zoom in the 27-50 or 24-70 range. This would be more expensive but definitely more versatile. Sigma has a 17-50 f/2.8 you can get for around $500 used, and Canon has a 24-70 f/2.8 you can pick up for around $900 used if you want to save up for a bit.

I'd almost do something like a 24mm prime (similar to a 35mm on a ff body), and a 70-200 f/4. That way you can basically cover your wide, median, and telephoto options. You'd also have a nice small walk around lens that would be mostly equivalent to what your eye sees.
Feb 28 2013 2:50AM
0 0
profile picture
PacificRimJob
Posts: 24704 - Karma: 29,687
If you're going Canon, get a 20mm f2.8. Pretty sure they can be had around 350 or so. Or you can put out for the sigma 20mm f1.8 for like 550 or something.

Then, maybe get the 28mm f2.8 or f1.8. The 2.8 is like 200 bucks, the 1.8 is like 400. Both are quite sharp and fast, but it all depends on how shallow of a DOF you want that makes the big difference here.
Feb 28 2013 3:43PM
2 0
profile picture
t_rob
Posts: 6433 - Karma: 11,458
Cheapest way to take all of those photos on a 1.6 crop would would be the NS favorite tamron 17-50 2.8
Feb 28 2013 4:02PM
0 0
profile picture
t_rob
Posts: 6433 - Karma: 11,458
Well actually, the 18-55 canon kit could take all of those too.
Feb 28 2013 4:04PM
0 0
profile picture
Ethan.G
Posts: 1166 - Karma: 465
I'd recommend whatever lens will give you a 35mm crop on whatever body you're using; 28mm 2.8, 20mm 2.8, 24mm, just anything in that range. Prime lens would be your best bet if you're looking to get similar shots to the ones you posted.
Mar 1 2013 3:21PM
0 0
profile picture
PacificRimJob
Posts: 24704 - Karma: 29,687
Distortion at 20mm focal length is kinda crap though.
Mar 2 2013 12:12AM
0 0
profile picture
Yeezus
Posts: 3350 - Karma: 469
bumping this thread because I never ended up buying a lens & don't want to start a new thread.

looking to take photos like this:

Click for larger image

Click for larger image



ALSO, i like the field of view of a basic disposable camera. Any lens that would get me something like this photo i took?

Click for larger image
Nov 4 2013 6:40PM
0 0
profile picture
jfxphoto
Posts: 2038 - Karma: 2,346
Chromeo photoshoot?!
Nov 4 2013 7:03PM
0 0
profile picture
Yeezus
Posts: 3350 - Karma: 469
at the Chromeo & David Arsham event in nyc. We have a mutual friend.

Also have some pics of them from Le Baron later that night I think. Got drugged so the night's a blur haha
Nov 4 2013 7:33PM
0 0
profile picture
Lou.
Posts: 1787 - Karma: 3,876
A nifty 50 might be a decent option. prime lenses are the way to go.
Nov 4 2013 7:53PM
0 0
profile picture
Yeezus
Posts: 3350 - Karma: 469
For prime's I'm thinking these?

Thoughts on a Sigma 30mm f/1.4?

Canon ef 28mm f/1.8 usm?
Nov 5 2013 10:38AM
0 0
profile picture
t_rob
Posts: 6433 - Karma: 11,458
I feel like you're asking for lens that gives you the processing/film look of those photos. Are you?
Nov 5 2013 2:50PM
0 0
profile picture
Yeezus
Posts: 3350 - Karma: 469
noo. If I wanted that film look, the filters on instagram would be enough for me.

I'm looking for something that'll give me a rather wide field of view that I can use as a daily. The one that came w the t3i just doesn't cut it.
Nov 5 2013 7:36PM
0 0
profile picture
JuliusJ
Posts: 3778 - Karma: 2,106
17mm doesn't cut it and you want this for portraits?
Nov 5 2013 7:39PM
0 0
profile picture
Jiberfish
Posts: 1041 - Karma: 310
I would start off with a canon 50mm f/1.8. You can find them for around 100 bucks and they are awesome!
Nov 5 2013 9:06PM
0 0
profile picture
Laurent.
Posts: 10054 - Karma: 25,277
All the streetfashion photographers that I know off that use Canon utilize the 50mm f/1.2 or 85mm f1/.2 because they are gearslutz and bokehwhores.

The 85mm focal length will probably be too long on a crop but I advise to not go to wide because then funny things happen with portraits (even full body ones)
Nov 6 2013 1:03AM
1 0
profile picture
TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,385
Just buy a 50mm, whatever is cheapest.

a 35 on a crop will be a little more versatile / easier to use on the street because you won't have to back up as much. But between the two it comes down more to personal preference
Nov 6 2013 1:19AM
2 0
All times are Eastern (-4)