zoom lens or a nice quality 50mm??

bolty · 07-02-2010, 11:53 AM

Hi,

I've just started getting back into photography and Iam shopping for a camera.

I've narrowed my selection down to the canon t2i for the body.

Now for the lens, Iam not sure. I am debating between the kit lens 17-55mm or to spend a bit more money on a quality 50mm like the f1.4 usm lens. Its considerably more money but Iam wondering if Iam going to be regretting not have the zoom range.

I've seen shots with the kit lens, and they dont look so good.

Main use of the this camera will be for travel so it will be used under a wide range of conditions.

What would you do?

I've also been considering non Canon lens but I really dont know the brands or have any clue on them. I'd be open to suggestions on these as well.

khaye1 · 07-02-2010, 12:25 PM

i think the best bet since it's gonna be an all around lens would be to get a 18-200mm (tamron or sigma, will be cheaper than Canon)...i'm not a pro, but just sayin, if that will be your only lens you would want it to be versatile.

bosstones · 07-02-2010, 12:34 PM

What do you tend to shoot?

Personally, I'd get a zoom over a prime if you're only going to have a single lens for a while. Is there a trade off? Yes, but the flexibility not being fixed to a single focal range trumps it IMO.

FWIW, the 18-55mm IS lens is not all that bad for your average person (IMHO anyways). Are there better lenses out there? Hell yes. I took one of my favorite pix of my car using the 18-55 IS lens, though. It was, though, when I had just gotten my dSLR and before I invested in much better glass.

bolty · 07-02-2010, 12:48 PM

Hi, thanks very much for the replies.

I started photography on a manual slr, with a 50mm. That is the experience Iam basing my decisions on. Iam hoping you guys can steer me in the right direction.

So if i did go with a zoom lens, what are good alternatives to the canon 17-55?? I dont mind spending a bit more. I guess I am looking for a good "walkaround" lens.

Trijicon · 07-02-2010, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bolty

Hi, thanks very much for the replies.

I started photography on a manual slr, with a 50mm. That is the experience Iam basing my decisions on. Iam hoping you guys can steer me in the right direction.

So if i did go with a zoom lens, what are good alternatives to the canon 17-55?? I dont mind spending a bit more. I guess I am looking for a good "walkaround" lens.

I would get the Canon 50 f1.8 instead of the 1.4. The money saved I would put towards the 17-55IS. Another alternative is the Tamron equivalent 17-50 f2.8
http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/s...&cat=43&page=1

You mentioned you started with a manual and a 50. Well because of the crop factor on the T2i, I would suggest a 30mm lense instead. It will get you the same focal length of a 50mm on a full frame camera. The Sigma is suppose to be outstanding. I wish I had a 1.6x sensor body to get that lense. I have to deal with a full frame 5Dmk2

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/s...&cat=38&page=1

SilverII · 07-02-2010, 03:10 PM

zoom...

iBoost · 07-02-2010, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bolty

Main use of the this camera will be for travel

What would you do?

Zoom without a doubt. If anything maybe a wide angle, but a 50prime for traveling is not a good option.

bolty · 07-03-2010, 02:22 PM

Thanks again for the replies.

Iam just gonna get the 18-55mm IS kit lens. It appears to be decent value for the money.

I didnt know anything about the "crop factor". I guess I have alot more reading to do.

khaye1 · 07-03-2010, 06:20 PM

Spend a little more money and get a faster lens (f2.8). Crop factor basically means that it's not full frame ala 35mm. When you were using film with a 50mm, you were getting an actual focal length of 50mm. With a non full frame dslr(t2i) you have a crop factor of 1.6. So if you put a 50mm on a T2i it's actual focal length is 80mm

BMW F22 · 07-03-2010, 07:25 PM

I would get the 17-40mm or the 17-55mm (not the 18-55mm kit lens) on a cropped body. You will not regret it.

radiantm3 · 07-03-2010, 08:05 PM

Once you want to start upping the image quality, you're going to lust after the primes. Personally, if you are getting back into photography and starting with one lens, I'd recommend going prime, but that's just me. You get way more bang for the buck in terms of image quality. Sure, you can't zoom, but that's what your feet are for. Zoom makes sense in the ultrawide and telephoto ends (because primes just get expensive and the zoom ranges are more significant), but you can't go wrong with a 35mm/1.4 or 50mm/1.4. I just picked up a canon 35mm/1.4 L today and it blows away my 16-35/2.8. Primes > Zoom except in cost and convenience.

bosstones · 07-03-2010, 09:30 PM

True dat about primes. They're just not for everyone, though. The convenience of zoom is too much an advantage to some. Primes do make you work a bit for your shot. I think that helps with composition and creativity, though.

Car_Girl · 07-04-2010, 09:46 AM

A 50mm isn't as versatile as the kit lens as you've surmised by now, but one thing to note is that if you utilize the aperture priority setting of your camera, you can still make a lot of great use out of the 50mm. You'd really have to see images of the exact same object from the same point of reference using the zoom set at 50mm and the 50mm prime and do some pixel peeping to see if you notice a difference. Chances are, the kit lens at 50mm compared against the prime at 50mm will result in a noticeable but not exaggerated difference.

I'd suggest the zoom as well if it's going to be your only lens in your suite of lenses. I just did a side by side experiment with two pro level lenses, a prime and a zoom and by far the zoom is a superior lens value since it has a lot more flexibility. I'm now selling my prime because of this comparison.

bosstones · 07-04-2010, 12:14 PM

car_girl is all up in the forums today!

If I get a chance, I'll try to do a quick compare between:

1. 18-55mm IS kit lens
2. nifty fifty (50mm f1.8)
3. 10-22mm
4. 16-35mm

I'll use the same camera settings and distance to subject for each compare. I'll even use my tripod (for once). lol

I'll also throw in something from an 85mm prime but, obviously, it'd be a different focal length than the rest. I just don't have anything in that range to do a direct compare it to.

radiantm3 · 07-04-2010, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosstones

car_girl is all up in the forums today!

If I get a chance, I'll try to do a quick compare between:

1. 18-55mm IS kit lens
2. nifty fifty (50mm f1.8)
3. 10-22mm
4. 16-35mm

I'll use the same camera settings and distance to subject for each compare. I'll even use my tripod (for once). lol

I'll also throw in something from an 85mm prime but, obviously, it'd be a different focal length than the rest. I just don't have anything in that range to do a direct compare it to.

There's already a site that does this. Here's the 17-55mm at 55mm/2.8 vs the 50mm/1.4 at 2.8:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...mp=0&APIComp=4

(mouse over the image to show the right lens compared to the left.)

bosstones · 07-04-2010, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radiantm3

There's already a site that does this. Here's the 17-55mm at 55mm/2.8 vs the 50mm/1.4 at 2.8:

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...mp=0&APIComp=4

(mouse over the image to show the right lens compared to the left.)

Well then.

clubspec330i · 07-05-2010, 12:53 AM

Stay with kit len. 18-55, it will do a fine job. It is like everything else. Camera bodies and lens nowadays are much better made than a few years or decade ago.

A friend of mine teach photography class and shoots T1i with kit lens often at a family event. Of course, his typically wedding gear compose of something like 5DII + 85L. Anyhow, he said T1i will give a decent everyday picture and not as intrusive for everyday usage compare to his 5DII+Grip+Flash+85F1.2.

DimSum · 07-07-2010, 11:58 AM

17-55 on a crop-body.
you won't need nothing else.

07-02-2010, 11:53 AM	#1
bolty /r/trees 50 Rep 875 Posts Drives: 08 e92 335xi Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada iTrader: (3)	zoom lens or a nice quality 50mm?? Hi, I've just started getting back into photography and Iam shopping for a camera. I've narrowed my selection down to the canon t2i for the body. Now for the lens, Iam not sure. I am debating between the kit lens 17-55mm or to spend a bit more money on a quality 50mm like the f1.4 usm lens. Its considerably more money but Iam wondering if Iam going to be regretting not have the zoom range. I've seen shots with the kit lens, and they dont look so good. Main use of the this camera will be for travel so it will be used under a wide range of conditions. What would you do? I've also been considering non Canon lens but I really dont know the brands or have any clue on them. I'd be open to suggestions on these as well.
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07-02-2010, 12:25 PM	#2
khaye1 Colonel 161 Rep 2,811 Posts Drives: 24 G87 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: San Diego iTrader: (8) Garage List [10.00]	i think the best bet since it's gonna be an all around lens would be to get a 18-200mm (tamron or sigma, will be cheaper than Canon)...i'm not a pro, but just sayin, if that will be your only lens you would want it to be versatile. __________________
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07-02-2010, 12:34 PM	#3
bosstones Lieutenant Colonel 1245 Rep 1,598 Posts Drives: o_0 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Suburbia iTrader: (0)	What do you tend to shoot? Personally, I'd get a zoom over a prime if you're only going to have a single lens for a while. Is there a trade off? Yes, but the flexibility not being fixed to a single focal range trumps it IMO. FWIW, the 18-55mm IS lens is not all that bad for your average person (IMHO anyways). Are there better lenses out there? Hell yes. I took one of my favorite pix of my car using the 18-55 IS lens, though. It was, though, when I had just gotten my dSLR and before I invested in much better glass. __________________ - Jeff bosstones' flickr
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07-02-2010, 12:48 PM	#4
bolty /r/trees 50 Rep 875 Posts Drives: 08 e92 335xi Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada iTrader: (3)	Hi, thanks very much for the replies. I started photography on a manual slr, with a 50mm. That is the experience Iam basing my decisions on. Iam hoping you guys can steer me in the right direction. So if i did go with a zoom lens, what are good alternatives to the canon 17-55?? I dont mind spending a bit more. I guess I am looking for a good "walkaround" lens.
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07-02-2010, 03:10 PM	#6
SilverII Colonel 40 Rep 2,334 Posts Drives: '11 335IS Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: DFW iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 335IS [9.66]	zoom...
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07-03-2010, 02:22 PM	#8
bolty /r/trees 50 Rep 875 Posts Drives: 08 e92 335xi Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada iTrader: (3)	Thanks again for the replies. Iam just gonna get the 18-55mm IS kit lens. It appears to be decent value for the money. I didnt know anything about the "crop factor". I guess I have alot more reading to do.
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07-03-2010, 06:20 PM	#9
khaye1 Colonel 161 Rep 2,811 Posts Drives: 24 G87 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: San Diego iTrader: (8) Garage List [10.00]	Spend a little more money and get a faster lens (f2.8). Crop factor basically means that it's not full frame ala 35mm. When you were using film with a 50mm, you were getting an actual focal length of 50mm. With a non full frame dslr(t2i) you have a crop factor of 1.6. So if you put a 50mm on a T2i it's actual focal length is 80mm __________________ Last edited by khaye1; 07-03-2010 at 07:11 PM..
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07-03-2010, 07:25 PM	#10
BMW F22 Major General 3661 Rep 9,783 Posts Drives: ///M235i Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (8)	I would get the 17-40mm or the 17-55mm (not the 18-55mm kit lens) on a cropped body. You will not regret it.
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07-03-2010, 08:05 PM	#11
radiantm3 Apex Everything! 1006 Rep 4,378 Posts Drives: 2007 Honda S2000, 2017 GT350 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Cedar Park, TX iTrader: (6) Garage List 2011 E92 M3 [9.35] 2014 BMW i3 [10.00]	Once you want to start upping the image quality, you're going to lust after the primes. Personally, if you are getting back into photography and starting with one lens, I'd recommend going prime, but that's just me. You get way more bang for the buck in terms of image quality. Sure, you can't zoom, but that's what your feet are for. Zoom makes sense in the ultrawide and telephoto ends (because primes just get expensive and the zoom ranges are more significant), but you can't go wrong with a 35mm/1.4 or 50mm/1.4. I just picked up a canon 35mm/1.4 L today and it blows away my 16-35/2.8. Primes > Zoom except in cost and convenience. __________________ 2011 E92 M3(Sold). 2007 Honda S2000 (Track Car). 2016 Cayman GT4 (Sold). 2017 Shelby GT350 (AKA Crowd Killer). My pet project: https://stickershift.com
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07-03-2010, 09:30 PM	#12
bosstones Lieutenant Colonel 1245 Rep 1,598 Posts Drives: o_0 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Suburbia iTrader: (0)	True dat about primes. They're just not for everyone, though. The convenience of zoom is too much an advantage to some. Primes do make you work a bit for your shot. I think that helps with composition and creativity, though. __________________ - Jeff bosstones' flickr
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07-04-2010, 09:46 AM	#13
Car_Girl Private First Class 11 Rep 132 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW X5 xDrive 5.0i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: SE MI iTrader: (0)	A 50mm isn't as versatile as the kit lens as you've surmised by now, but one thing to note is that if you utilize the aperture priority setting of your camera, you can still make a lot of great use out of the 50mm. You'd really have to see images of the exact same object from the same point of reference using the zoom set at 50mm and the 50mm prime and do some pixel peeping to see if you notice a difference. Chances are, the kit lens at 50mm compared against the prime at 50mm will result in a noticeable but not exaggerated difference. I'd suggest the zoom as well if it's going to be your only lens in your suite of lenses. I just did a side by side experiment with two pro level lenses, a prime and a zoom and by far the zoom is a superior lens value since it has a lot more flexibility. I'm now selling my prime because of this comparison.
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07-04-2010, 12:14 PM	#14
bosstones Lieutenant Colonel 1245 Rep 1,598 Posts Drives: o_0 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Suburbia iTrader: (0)	car_girl is all up in the forums today! If I get a chance, I'll try to do a quick compare between: 1. 18-55mm IS kit lens 2. nifty fifty (50mm f1.8) 3. 10-22mm 4. 16-35mm I'll use the same camera settings and distance to subject for each compare. I'll even use my tripod (for once). lol I'll also throw in something from an 85mm prime but, obviously, it'd be a different focal length than the rest. I just don't have anything in that range to do a direct compare it to. __________________ - Jeff bosstones' flickr
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07-05-2010, 12:53 AM	#17
clubspec330i First Lieutenant 74 Rep 395 Posts Drives: MG F39, CB F86, MB 911T Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: So. Cal iTrader: (0)	Stay with kit len. 18-55, it will do a fine job. It is like everything else. Camera bodies and lens nowadays are much better made than a few years or decade ago. A friend of mine teach photography class and shoots T1i with kit lens often at a family event. Of course, his typically wedding gear compose of something like 5DII + 85L. Anyhow, he said T1i will give a decent everyday picture and not as intrusive for everyday usage compare to his 5DII+Grip+Flash+85F1.2.
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07-07-2010, 11:58 AM	#18
DimSum Banned 230 Rep 2,740 Posts Drives: SLOW Join Date: May 2008 Location: LITTLEBIMMER.COM iTrader: (10)	17-55 on a crop-body. you won't need nothing else.
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