NEW to DSLR's

lexluthor1 wrote:

I have been looking for wide angle or panoramic lens on eBay, and there are alot of cheaper one's including an actual Canon brand.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/310518273750?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/270812908848?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I know I need a 58mm, and I assume It attaches directly on the front of my camera lens. Any thoughts?

Again, I am totally ignorant of camera and camera 'lingo,' Lol.

Thanks

yikes,  those things are no good.  The 2. one has a diameter of 34mm, was designed for a Canon video camera from about 2005 with hdtv resolution, i.e. 1MP. So, optical quality was nowhere as demanding as for a modern dSLR.

The first one would fit, but it is a joke that this is advertised as fitting to a Canon 5D III,

nobody would use it for such a camera. These cheap converters usually are made for point and shoot cameras, which have fixed lenses. They simply screw in front of any lens with the right filter thread size (e.g 58mm). But it may or may not work well, i.e you might get vignetting at the corners. Also, I think it would be too heavy to stick on a small 18-55 kit lens (i.e. not good for the mechanics of the lens with so much weight hanging off it).

Instead, save up and get something like the Canon 10-18mm lens, will be much much better.

lexluthor1 wrote:

So the 10-18mm 'replaces' my current lens, or threads onto the front like a filter?

yes, it replaces your 18-55. That is what dSLRs are about, you swap out the lens for the one you want, you don't attach to the front (most of the time - sony released now some extra converters that attach to their new exchangable lenses, but they are special designs, fitted to specific models)

I would really like to take wider pics, as right now when I come home and look at the images I have the just don't seem as nice as the 'actual' scene. The old saying,"Pictures don't do them justice." Would seem to apply.

I guess I am a little confused on the whole MM thing. My lens is 18-55mm, which I assume means as you zoom in and out it goes from 18 to 55mm, but what goes from 18 to 55mm??

the numbers refer to the focal length. As you may know, there are many different lenses. In the old days there were no zooms at all, just prime (single focal length) lenses, e.g. an 18mm lens, a 28mm lens, a 50mm lens, and you had to switch to the the one you want.

You see yourself now, you want something that goes "wider", i.e. has a different focal length.

This can't be a distance thing, if it were wouldn't 10-18mm just be a shorter distance?

I say it very simply now, the smaller the number, the wider the view a lens has. 35 mm on your camera is about what is considered sort of the good view your eye gives - of course you see wider, but it's not the same as your center vision. The bigger the focal length, the more you "zoom in" to get far objects closer. Each doubling of focal length is approximately a factor 2 larger magnification. The smaller the focal length, the wider (wide angle) the view.

So the 10-18 gives you the wider angle you want.

I recommend you try this tool to get an idea about focal length

http://www.tamron-usa.com/lenses/learning_center/tools/focal-length-comparison.php

I'm really dumb about cameras here!

I think I need to go to Amazon and buy, "Photography for Dummies." LOL.

That's a very good idea. It will help you understand what all goes on, which will you to use your equipment to better effect.

That's an FD lens. Won't fit, can't be easily adapted. No use to you.