[mtecnic]

Newbie into photography land. I splurged into entry level DSLR market with a sweet deal on a combo kit on this camera.

It comes with an 18-55 IS II

Do I need another lens for shooting cars and portraits? I cannot afford a prime lens at this time. Wondering if I need more zoom or what not?

Suggestions for a set it and forget it lens to cover general amateur photography?

Thanks in advance!

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by mtecnic

Newbie into photography land. I splurged into entry level DSLR market with a sweet deal on a combo kit on this camera.

It comes with an 18-55 IS II

Do I need another lens for shooting cars and portraits? I cannot afford a prime lens at this time. Wondering if I need more zoom or what not?

Suggestions for a set it and forget it lens to cover general amateur photography?

Thanks in advance!

"Can't afford a prime" is subjective. The excellent 85mm f1.8 is a prime and it's under $400. What's your budget for another lens?

[mtecnic]

At this very moment its about 200-250. If its worthwhile I can wait a bit and use the default lens to save up some cash for something.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by mtecnic

At this very moment its about 200-250. If its worthwhile I can wait a bit and use the default lens to save up some cash for something.

For something wide and fast, the 24mm f2.8 pancake is a steal at $149.

Also, the refurbed 55-250mm STM will give you some reach and nicely compliment your 18-55. It's around $250 delivered. Make sure you get the STM version. It's quite sharp. And don't worry about buying refurbs from Canon. They're as close to brand new as you can get and have the same warranty.

[mtecnic]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...396RoCSRPw_wcB


is this the same one?

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by mtecnic

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...396RoCSRPw_wcB


is this the same one?

No, it is not. That's the old version and the image quality is much lower than with the STM version. The STM version produces images that are much sharper across the frame.

[mtecnic]

Awesome! I'll get the one you linked then. Thanks for the advice and I've seen some pictures on your flickr. You seem to know what you're doing as you take some really excellent pics.

[Trijicon]

the Rebel is cropped sensor right? The 28mm pancake will be a perfect walk around lens. Not really a wide angle on a rebel. The kit lens should be fine for outdoor wide angle/ landscape shots. Make sure stop down the aperture to get nice sharp images.

I'd save for the 85mm/f1.8 awesome lens. Maybe even get the 50mm/f1.8 for an even bigger bang for your buck. May be more forgiving with a crop sensor

[mtecnic]

Originally Posted by Trijicon

the Rebel is cropped sensor right? The 28mm pancake will be a perfect walk around lens. Not really a wide angle on a rebel. The kit lens should be fine for outdoor wide angle/ landscape shots. Make sure stop down the aperture to get nice sharp images.

I'd save for the 85mm/f1.8 awesome lens. Maybe even get the 50mm/f1.8 for an even bigger bang for your buck. May be more forgiving with a crop sensor

It is a crop sensor. I've read the EF-S lenses are canon's answer to the crop sensor owners as it will relay the proper perspective. Should I be worried about getting the non S variations?

[ddk632]

EF lenses work on all Canon cameras (FF and crop);
EF-S lenses work on only the crop body cameras

Nothing to worry about at all.

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by mtecnic

Awesome! I'll get the one you linked then. Thanks for the advice and I've seen some pictures on your flickr. You seem to know what you're doing as you take some really excellent pics.

Thanks. The pictures of the Bluejay on my Flickr site were taken with the 55-250 STM on my SL1.


Bluejays by Mark J Photography, on Flickr

[mtecnic]

So I got the camera last night and I had a chance to play with it. I took about 70 snaps with the 18-55mm.

Why do I feel like everything I was shooting I had to zoom in all the way? Also I was grabbing the lens and when looking through the viewfinder i found myself wanting to zoom in farther each time as well.

[M_Six]

Some folks like wide, some like zoom. Sounds like you're in the second group. If/when you get the 55-250, you'll feel better. ;-)

[P1]

Sounds like you need a zoom lens!

[derpimpkar]

I have a T5i body with the old 18-55 and 55-250 lenses. The one lens I still need is the 10-22. It's not to say I don't want others, heh.

I'd also suggest starting with a book or class on basic exposure. Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure is a good read. It will really help your photography when you understand what the camera is doing for each shot. Give yourself assignments and shoot on manual. You'll learn so much.

The T5i is a great camera. It's easy to think a more expensive body/lens will take better pictures but that's a trap. The photographer is who takes better pictures.