[smario]

Hello all,

I have just bought the 350d with 18-55mm lense.

I also bought a tamaron 30-300mm telephoto lense.

Can anyone recommend some decent additions in lenses to what I already have. I quite fancy getting a wide lense and a macro lense.

I am really enjoying the camera and learning how to use it. I am blown away with the versatility of a dslr.

It is going to take me a long time to get to grips with everything so it might be best for me to just get used to the camera for now. However, I will eventually add to the collection so any advice would be great.

Cheers All.

[tony79]

50mm f1.8 prime lense is a must and a bargain at less than 80 notes.

[JohnG]

A few people have the Sigma 10-20 wide angle lens.
There are some sample shots here

[richard plumb]

Originally Posted by tony79

50mm f1.8 prime lense is a must and a bargain at less than 80 notes.

if you want a macro, there are two options IMO

1) 50mm 1.8 + Jessops extension tubes. These let you focus much closer, so you get a macro effect. Not the same as a real macro, but much cheaper. Total cost around £160 - £80 for the 50mm, £80 for the tubes.

The 50mm 1.8 is also a nice lens for portraits, indoor low light usage, and playing with Depth Of Field (i.e. how much of a scene is in focus). at f1.8, not much!


2) dedicated macro lens. Canon 60mm is £289, and canon have a £35 rebate offer, so say £250. Thats a ton more than the other option, but you get a proper macro lens, more working distance (i.e you get 1:1 magnification without being 1inch from the subject) and its a *very* sharp lens generally.

You can also use the 60mm macro as a great portrait lens (no need for the 50mm 1.8 as well). Some say its one of the sharpest lenses Canon do, and has nice bokeh (the way the blurry bits look). Although at only f2.8 its a little slower than the 50mm, its still plenty fast enough for most people



I went the extension tubes way, simply as I already had the 50mm 1.8. They are fine, but it is sometimes tricky to get lighting on a subject when you're so close to it. I was very tempted by the 60mm macro and if your budget can stretch to it, its a good option.




wide, sigma 10-20. Almost identical results to the canon 10-22 (even better in some areas), but a lot cheaper.

[jmbrailsford]

Hi,
I was given this site for ratings of lenses - not sure how good or accurate the ratings are but it might help you avoid the rubbish ones ( and there are quite a few !! ).

http://www.photozone.de/active/survey/querylenstxt.jsp?filter=%22brand='Canon%20EF'%20OR %20brand='Sigma%20AF'%20OR%20brand='Tamron%20AF'%2 0or%20brand='Tokina%20AF'%20or%20brand='Vivitar%20 AF'%22

See ya,

Mike.

[kez]

Originally Posted by tony79

50mm f1.8 prime lense is a must and a bargain at less than 80 notes.

it's neither wide nor macro, though

[smario]

thanks for the postings guys - will start looking at these lenses.

[h4rri]

Originally Posted by richard plumb

2) dedicated macro lens. Canon 60mm is £289, and canon have a £35 rebate offer, so say £250. Thats a ton more than the other option, but you get a proper macro lens, more working distance (i.e you get 1:1 magnification without being 1inch from the subject) and its a *very* sharp lens generally.

You can also use the 60mm macro as a great portrait lens (no need for the 50mm 1.8 as well). Some say its one of the sharpest lenses Canon do, and has nice bokeh (the way the blurry bits look). Although at only f2.8 its a little slower than the 50mm, its still plenty fast enough for most people

And goddam is it a beautiful lense, bought it on recommendation of a chap in work and it is superb

I'd be looking at the 10-22 and 17-85 too