[neil h]

Right, i have had my camera for a couple of years now, but I think it is time to start using it, I have the basic kit lens which is rubbish, I no nothing about anything


So can you recomend me agood lens or two to get me going, mainly climbing shots and shots in the forest, oh and they cant cost a fortune


thanks

[Jim]

a fast wide zoom is your first port of call I think and maybe a 35 or 50m prime.
I had the nikon fit of this lens untill I lost it/got stolen and it was excellent value for money

[Paul B]

bit vague Neil...

I take it your meaning the 18-55? Harrisons had some printouts of comparable focal lengths with the kit lens and other glass which showed that unless you're shooting directly into the sun it wasn't 'that' bad, in fact it was quite good for most purposes. I had this general opinion of mine being rubbish until I was forced to get it out again (for the wide end), where I was pleasantly surprised with the results.

What do you find you're lacking from that? Extra reach, extra field of view, shallower depth of field?

Nifty 50's are a cheap way to add a cracking lens to your collection, but the typical bouldering lens (I'd say is somewhere between wide and ultra wide) and may open your eyes as to what your camera is capable of. The main downfall of this plan is that you'll never find another lens as good for as cheap again.

The cheap option for 'full coverage' is to get a do-all lens aka. a superzoom but the large coverage means they come with a fair few compromises.

(surely a fast wide zoom Jim doesn't fall into the remit of affordability).

Beyond that maybe its time to watch/read some tutorials on composition etc. I reckon Joe Mcanlly's new book would probably be a great starting point (his earlier books are great too, more applicable to Nikon users but a good humorous read nonetheless)

[Jim]

(surely a fast wide zoom Jim doesn't fall into the remit of affordability).

Is £300 not affordable?
I found my 50mm prime to be a bit too long on DX, I would defiantely plump for a 35mm which I will be doing If I ever move house

[Paul B]

the difference in cost is massive between a 50mm (£65 quid from ebay) and a 35mm.

edit: 2.8 it seems, I don't seem to think past OEM brand and potentially Sigma

[gingerninja]

sigma do a nice 30mm f1.4 thats really sharp. canon also do a nice 28mm f1.8.

[Huffy]

Hi Neil,

I used to have a d400. The Sigma 17 - 70 was my staple lens. Decent focal length, pretty fast and excellent value for money (telephoto macro). Optics aint bad either.

Laters,

huff

[lagerstarfish]

I no nothing about anything

.... cant cost a fortune

I bought a Canon 28mm 2.8 off some bloke on UKB

On our crop-framed camera it's the equivalent to using a 35mm lens on a full frame camera (I think the 400d is also cropped frame camera)

It's been a great learning lens and didn't cost a fortune

I still know next to nothing

[tomtom]

My old mans 50mm 1.8 (£70 from ebay..) is ace. Depth of field effects due to its speed make it great for portraits etc..

For bouldering snaps the 10-20mm I got off Dave has been ace...

[dave]

I no nothing about anything

.... cant cost a fortune

I bought a Canon 28mm 2.8 off some bloke on UKB

On our crop-framed camera it's the equivalent to using a 35mm lens on a full frame camera (I think the 400d is also cropped frame camera)

It's been a great learning lens and didn't cost a fortune

I still know next to nothing

You got one of the usual x1.6 crop cameras right? If so, the 28mm gives you the same angle of view as a 45mm on fullframe - I.e. a very useful all-round length. Its not giving you 35mm equivalent unless you're packing one of them queer oddball canon 1.3 crop bodies (do they even make them anymore?)

Back to the original point, I know nothing of canon lenses except that I doubt they make a bad 50mm lens. Any fast prime lens in the range of 28-50mm will be a very nice lens for bouldering shots and will teach you a lot. Just get whatever you can find cheap.

[lagerstarfish]

35mm, 45mm - what's 10mm in the grand scheme of things? half an inch, if not less 

why had I not noticed that 1.6 x 28 is not 35 ?

I know slightly more than I did 3 hours ago

I may put a shiny gold sticker on the 28mm lens printed with the words "what Dave said" to make it even better. I think for best results I should stick it over the bit that says "Canon"

Anyhoo, it is very usable and didn't cost too much. It has been the key to getting my best shots of the kids - which have made various older relatives very happy.

[tomtom]

I think 'what Dave said' should be the next T shirt.

[Duma]

Damn you tt! I was just thinking that.

[lagerstarfish]

what tomtom said

maybe embossed gold bling tagging stickers ?

[tomtom]

or in the font 'Fatty Bombatty' !?!?

[neil h]

thanks for the help guys, will def look into c ouple of them