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Absolute Beginner...Lens and filter questions

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stangn99

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Hi all,

I've read a bunch of reviews on this site, but finally decided to sign up as i'm getting serious about purchasing my first DSLR camera.

I've decided on a Canon Rebel body. I plan on buying my own lenses either new or used.

That being said, I'm having difficultly trying to figure out which lens I need. I do quite a bit of backpacking, so scenery/people shots would be priority. I don't plan on doing my close up/macro shots, but it would be nice to have a lens which is capable of it. Basically, mostly portrait and landscape shots. I also like taking shots of friends puppies – who run around pretty quickly.

So the lenses I thought would work best would be:
28 mm - 135 mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens (probably buy new)
EF 50mm f/1.8 II (probably buy used)

The standard kit lens which comes with the camera EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (probably buy used)
Do the above lenses sounds like they would be good choices in my case?

I'm also wondering how filters work. I like the effect of the warming filter, along with other effects. Do I need to get a different size filter for my 3 lenses, or would it make more sense to get my filters for only the 28-135mm lens?

Thanks for any responses/help.
 
stangn99 said:
I've decided on a Canon Rebel body.
Click to expand...
stangn99 said:
So the lenses I thought would work best would be:
28 mm - 135 mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens (probably buy new)
EF 50mm f/1.8 II (probably buy used)

The standard kit lens which comes with the camera EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (probably buy used)
Do the above lenses sounds like they would be good choices in my case?
Click to expand...
why the 28-135mm and not the 18-135mm? they are essentially the same price and the 18-135 is made specifically for aps-c cameras like the rebels ... you would then have a walk-around lens capable of some wide-angle photos for landscape use ...
stangn99 said:
I'm also wondering how filters work. I like the effect of the warming filter, along with other effects. Do I need to get a different size filter for my 3 lenses, or would it make more sense to get my filters for only the 28-135mm lens?
Click to expand...
filters have specific uses. thom hogan has a popular article regarding the filters that would be the most useful and why they are used.

http://www.bythom.com/filters.htm

some would recommend you buy filters for your largest lens and use step-up rings to fit the larger filters onto your smaller lenses.
 
Hi,

28-135mm because I don't see an 18-135mm with USM on Canon's website...unless I'm overlooking it??? Could you please confirm?

Thanks so much for the link! will start reading it shortly as it looks like a nice, informative page.

Do you think the other lenses I mentioned are okay or my needs?
confyushis said:
stangn99 said:
I've decided on a Canon Rebel body.
Click to expand...
confyushis said:
So the lenses I thought would work best would be:
28 mm - 135 mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens (probably buy new)
EF 50mm f/1.8 II (probably buy used)

The standard kit lens which comes with the camera EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (probably buy used)
Do the above lenses sounds like they would be good choices in my case?
Click to expand...
why the 28-135mm and not the 18-135mm? they are essentially the same price and the 18-135 is made specifically for aps-c cameras like the rebels ... you would then have a walk-around lens capable of some wide-angle photos for landscape use ...
confyushis said:
I'm also wondering how filters work. I like the effect of the warming filter, along with other effects. Do I need to get a different size filter for my 3 lenses, or would it make more sense to get my filters for only the 28-135mm lens?
Click to expand...
filters have specific uses. thom hogan has a popular article regarding the filters that would be the most useful and why they are used.

http://www.bythom.com/filters.htm

some would recommend you buy filters for your largest lens and use step-up rings to fit the larger filters onto your smaller lenses.
Click to expand...
 
stangn99 said:
Hi,

28-135mm because I don't see an 18-135mm with USM on Canon's website...unless I'm overlooking it??? Could you please confirm?

Thanks so much for the link! will start reading it shortly as it looks like a nice, informative page.

Do you think the other lenses I mentioned are okay or my needs?
Click to expand...
My advice is to slow down and spend money on only stuff you need. With that in mind, get the body and one "general lens" and start shooting. I would vote for the 18-135 as a very good start, although it is not the only place to begin.

Start taking lots of pictures, and learn to use the camera to its potential. Watch carefully to see what pictures you want to shoot that seem to create problems for your equipment. If you are always looking for more telephoto, that is what you should think about buying. If you are always using your lens wide open and your shutter speeds are too low, you may need a faster lens. If you are often indoors with almost no light, a good flash may be the best next purchase. If you can't get close enough, maybe a macro lens is the solution.

But let your photography decide what equipment you need, not some forum or sales person. Don't try to "cover all the bases" until you know what bases you need covered. It is very easy to buy stuff that will get almost no use as beginners try to get everything they think (or other people tell them) they might need.

Buy no filters until you know why you need one. Protection is not a need. Use your lens hoods for protection and to improve contrast.

--
Nothing is enough for the man to whom nothing is enough.
 
The 28-135 is an old Canon film camera lens with an early version of IS which doesn't work as well as the later versions. The IS is also slow to kick in. I had one for a while when I bought my first DSLR 8 years ago but traded it in as soon as Canon started releasing EF-S lenses for APS-C cameras. The range of the 28-135 on an APS-C camera (the Canon Rebel series is APS-C) is not very useful because there is no wide angle.

The 18-55 IS kit lens is very good value for money and IMHO definitely the best lens to get you started. Don't buy it used because you may finish up buying the old non-IS version by mistake, and that is a poor lens.

The 50mm f1.8 is very cheap but has limited use on an APS-C camera - it is really a head and shoulders portrait lens. I suggest that you wait until you have a need for it before buying. If you can find a MkI version used, snap it up although you will pay a premium. It is a better lens than the MkII.

If you really want to buy a second lens now get the 18-55 IS and the 55-250 IS twin lens kit. These are both good lenses and will cover just about all your shooting needs for the time being.

As you have already been told, don't buy any filters until you have a problem for which a polarizing or ND filter is the solution. Filters such as the warming filter that you mentioned are for film cameras and don't really have any relevance with digital because you can get the same effect in post processing.
--
Chris R
 
stangn99 said:
28-135mm because I don't see an 18-135mm with USM on Canon's website...unless I'm overlooking it??? Could you please confirm?
Click to expand...
the 18-135 does not have USM, but it is capable of wider-angle shots than the 28-135 ... generally, lenses capable of wider angles are used for landscape shots ...

the 28-135 lens is basically a standard-telephoto lens on a rebel body ... what does canon consider "wide-angle" on a rebel body? anything less than about 22mm ... this isn't to say you couldn't use the 28-135 for landscapes, just that i don't know many that would ...

you can see what focal length does for a scene at the official nikon simulator site ... 3 different scenes ... select 18mm, then select 28mm and see for yourself ...

http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/simulator/
stangn99 said:
Do you think the other lenses I mentioned are okay for my needs?
Click to expand...
you mentioned that scenery/people shots are your priority, as well as backpacking. if it were me, i would bring 1 good walk-around lens rather than lugging around 3 lenses. if you want range, one of the most well-regarded walk-around lenses for daytime shots is the 15-85 . many people on these forums argue that the 15-85 is the do-it-all daytime lens -- IS, USM, a very good wide angle AND decent telephoto ...

personally, i shoot more at night, so i have a flash and the sigma 17-50 f/2.8 as my walk-around night-time lens. the f/2.8 helps with low-light/indoor shots and the flash is used when light is just too low to get a decent shutter speed ...

so ... people, landscape, backpacking ... i would go for the 18-135 or the 15-85 for range ... or just get the 18-55 kit lens (which is very good for the price), try it out, and see what else you might need when you know more about what you have ...

whatever works for you ...
 
The 18-135mm lens is not a USM lens, but this feature is not particularly important compared to optical quality of the lens.

The USM simply refers to the type of autofocus motor that is included in the lens, but a non-USM lens will still focus more than adequately.

I recommend buying the camera with a kit lens (new and bundled) either the 18-55 or the 18-135 and learning the camera before you try (or spend money on) anything else.
stangn99 said:
28-135mm because I don't see an 18-135mm with USM on Canon's website...unless I'm overlooking it??? Could you please confirm?

Thanks so much for the link! will start reading it shortly as it looks like a nice, informative page.

Do you think the other lenses I mentioned are okay or my needs?
confyushis said:
stangn99 said:
I've decided on a Canon Rebel body.
Click to expand...
stangn99 said:
So the lenses I thought would work best would be:
28 mm - 135 mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM Lens (probably buy new)
EF 50mm f/1.8 II (probably buy used)

The standard kit lens which comes with the camera EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS (probably buy used)
Do the above lenses sounds like they would be good choices in my case?
Click to expand...
why the 28-135mm and not the 18-135mm? they are essentially the same price and the 18-135 is made specifically for aps-c cameras like the rebels ... you would then have a walk-around lens capable of some wide-angle photos for landscape use ...
stangn99 said:
I'm also wondering how filters work. I like the effect of the warming filter, along with other effects. Do I need to get a different size filter for my 3 lenses, or would it make more sense to get my filters for only the 28-135mm lens?
Click to expand...
filters have specific uses. thom hogan has a popular article regarding the filters that would be the most useful and why they are used.

http://www.bythom.com/filters.htm

some would recommend you buy filters for your largest lens and use step-up rings to fit the larger filters onto your smaller lenses.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Chris R-UK said:
If you really want to buy a second lens now get the 18-55 IS and the 55-250 IS twin lens kit. These are both good lenses and will cover just about all your shooting needs for the time being.

As you have already been told, don't buy any filters until you have a problem for which a polarizing or ND filter is the solution. Filters such as the warming filter that you mentioned are for film cameras and don't really have any relevance with digital because you can get the same effect in post processing.
Click to expand...
 
I agree here, don'y buy what you do not need or know how to use. Your best deal will be the two lens kit.

--
John Glover
WSSA #141PX
 
If that is within your budget, it would be hard to criticize. You should have a lot of photographic fun with that set up as you learn to use the camera well.

--
Nothing is enough for the man to whom nothing is enough.
 
Awesome!
Thanks all for the help and guidance.

Yes, i've been wanting to get a decent camera since my first backpacking trip to Cambodia. I missed out on a lot of nice photo opportunities, and regret not purchasing a camera earlier.

It's more than i'd like to spend, but I feel like I deserve it :) I've waited long enough (6 years) to get a camera.
 
Sorry, but I have one more question.

What is the difference between "CANON EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS MKII" and "CANON EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS"

What does the MK2 mean? Is it just a newer model number, but same thing? Marketing gimmick?
 
I think you made a good decision. Those kit lenses are a very good place to start. And when you buy them bundled with a camera, they really cost very little. Eventually, you will see how expense lenses can be, so there is no point in buying upgrade lenses unless you absolutely need them.

As far as filters go... I'd say you need a circular polarizer, especially if shooting landscapes outdoors. You can forget about all those warming, cooling, and color correction filters. Those are strictly for film cameras, before the advent of Photoshop. Today we can get all those effects in post processing, and you are better off doing that than putting more glass in front of your lens.

For more about filters... see this:
http://marty4650.blogspot.com/2012/03/two-filters-you-need-for-digital.html

Good luck with your new camera!
Have fun shooting!
--
Marty
http://www.fluidr.com/photos/marty4650/sets/72157606210120132
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marty4650/sets/72157606210120132/show/
my blog: http://marty4650.blogspot.com/
Olympus E-30
Olympus E-P1
Sony SLT-A55

 
stangn99 said:
Sorry, but I have one more question.

What is the difference between "CANON EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS MKII" and "CANON EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS"

What does the MK2 mean? Is it just a newer model number, but same thing? Marketing gimmick?
Click to expand...
Yes, it is a new, updated version. It can mean a lot of things, like improved optics, better IS, better focusing speed, etc. But in this case, the changes are superficial:

According to Canon, only very slight cosmetic changes were made for the "II" designation. "The major changes are the shape of the zoom ring rubber grip and the tapered area at the front of the lens." (Canon) These two lenses share the same manufacturer MTF charts.

I recommend getting a kit, with the 18-55 or 18-135 lens. You can save substantially that way, so much so that you can later sell the lens and recoup the money spent on it. If you ever upgrade the body, and decide to sell your old one, it should sell better with lens than as body alone.

The 28-135 is really blah for Rebel. My primary lens is a 17-50, and I tend to use the 17mm end a LOT. You will too if you shoot scenery. To that end, 15-85 is indeed a great lens, if somewhat pricy. For indoor shooting, the best investment, IMHO, is a flash: i.e. 430EX II,
 
Very good advice
Ted
 
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