Another DSLR question (choosing a lens)
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I've chosen the camera, which will be the Canon EOS 550D. The shop is offering me a deal in which I can replace the Canon 18-55 IS kit lens[^] with a Sigma 18-200 OS[^] lens at a slightly discounted price. I've been told that it is wise to invest money on lenses, but is this deal recommended? I'm saving something like INR 3000 (about 66 USD) if I take the deal now (deal bundled with new camera purchase). I'm sure that I'll take a while to outgrow the kit lens, but I eventually will. What do the in-house experts suggest? Thanks!
"Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.
I bought this[^] with mine. Well worth the money: great walking around lens though I have since bought others; which, naturally, I hardly ever use, the 17-85 being so versatile.
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me
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I've chosen the camera, which will be the Canon EOS 550D. The shop is offering me a deal in which I can replace the Canon 18-55 IS kit lens[^] with a Sigma 18-200 OS[^] lens at a slightly discounted price. I've been told that it is wise to invest money on lenses, but is this deal recommended? I'm saving something like INR 3000 (about 66 USD) if I take the deal now (deal bundled with new camera purchase). I'm sure that I'll take a while to outgrow the kit lens, but I eventually will. What do the in-house experts suggest? Thanks!
"Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.
I would say wait a little, deals come and go regularly. Learn your camera and check out what kind of photography you like and how often you'll actually use it. If it turns out to be your favourite hobby, you'll know what to buy, if you just take holiday pictures, it's not really that kind of an issue.
V.
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I've chosen the camera, which will be the Canon EOS 550D. The shop is offering me a deal in which I can replace the Canon 18-55 IS kit lens[^] with a Sigma 18-200 OS[^] lens at a slightly discounted price. I've been told that it is wise to invest money on lenses, but is this deal recommended? I'm saving something like INR 3000 (about 66 USD) if I take the deal now (deal bundled with new camera purchase). I'm sure that I'll take a while to outgrow the kit lens, but I eventually will. What do the in-house experts suggest? Thanks!
"Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.
Well, from the review it looks like the Sigma lens is crap ... and it's going to be crap for pretty much what you want to take photo of. The only good point for the sigma lens, is that it has a long zoom (from 18 to 200), meaning you can keep it on the camera all the time a be able to take most of th photos with it. I'd say, keep the kit lens for now and learn with it and in a couple of months, start looking for lenses particular to what you like taking images of (i.e. indoor portraits, "sports", macros, birds, .... )
Watched code never compiles.
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I would say wait a little, deals come and go regularly. Learn your camera and check out what kind of photography you like and how often you'll actually use it. If it turns out to be your favourite hobby, you'll know what to buy, if you just take holiday pictures, it's not really that kind of an issue.
V.
I second this from V. Deals come and go. I'd look to get a GP lens, and the 17-85 is certainly that. I'd be a little wary of the Sigma as it has a large tele range so you will sacrifice quality. As the 550D has such a tightly packed CCD you will find you see the issues with cheap lenses more than with lesser camera bodies.
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I would say wait a little, deals come and go regularly. Learn your camera and check out what kind of photography you like and how often you'll actually use it. If it turns out to be your favourite hobby, you'll know what to buy, if you just take holiday pictures, it's not really that kind of an issue.
V.
Thanks for your suggestion. I think it's then better to go with the kit lens and learn a little bit of photography first. :)
"Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.
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Well, from the review it looks like the Sigma lens is crap ... and it's going to be crap for pretty much what you want to take photo of. The only good point for the sigma lens, is that it has a long zoom (from 18 to 200), meaning you can keep it on the camera all the time a be able to take most of th photos with it. I'd say, keep the kit lens for now and learn with it and in a couple of months, start looking for lenses particular to what you like taking images of (i.e. indoor portraits, "sports", macros, birds, .... )
Watched code never compiles.
The review has given the lens a rating of 7 to 8.5 (out of 10) on various parameters, and they're actually recommending it (with some reservations). I wouldn't call that score "crap", but I'm no photography expert. So it would be of help to me if you suggest why exactly you think it's not good.
Maximilien wrote:
The only good point for the sigma lens, is that it has a long zoom (from 18 to 200), meaning you can keep it on the camera all the time a be able to take most of th photos with it.
That's exactly the reason why I took that deal into consideration. It has a pretty good zoom and optical stabilisation built in. I think I'll probably keep the kit lens.
"Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.
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Thanks for your suggestion. I think it's then better to go with the kit lens and learn a little bit of photography first. :)
"Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.
Even with my 7D I have the 18-55 and the 55-200. Someone in the shop where I bought my backpack was commenting on "crap lenzes", but I really can't complain so far and when I asked around nobody repeated the "crap lenzes" comment :-D . I use the 18-55 the most often.
V.
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I've chosen the camera, which will be the Canon EOS 550D. The shop is offering me a deal in which I can replace the Canon 18-55 IS kit lens[^] with a Sigma 18-200 OS[^] lens at a slightly discounted price. I've been told that it is wise to invest money on lenses, but is this deal recommended? I'm saving something like INR 3000 (about 66 USD) if I take the deal now (deal bundled with new camera purchase). I'm sure that I'll take a while to outgrow the kit lens, but I eventually will. What do the in-house experts suggest? Thanks!
"Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.
I don't know what the new 18-55 is lens is like, but if its anything like the old one I'm sure it'll be fine. Although one thing to be said is that they aren't as high a build quality as you would expect (but then this is only my opinion from the earlier lens). Over the years we've built up a bit of a collection (as SWMBO has her own EOS too)... We've got: EF-S 60mm 2.8F Macro EF-S 10 - 22mm Wide angled (you'd be surprised how versitle this is. EF-S 17 - 300mm IS Telephoto EF-S 18 - 55mm Lens Baby I use the 10-22 mostly both above and below water (its awesome for Wreck shots) with the 60mm Macro for the really delicate stuff, where as SWMBO uses the 60mm and the 18-55mm. Basically as has been said wait a little while and see what photography you like doing and choose the lens then. Another thing to be aware of is where you intend to go with your photography in the future, The EF-S series of lens are not suitable for Full Frame Sensors (or so I'm led to believe) and if you've spent a lot of money of some lovely glass then you may be constrained.
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I've chosen the camera, which will be the Canon EOS 550D. The shop is offering me a deal in which I can replace the Canon 18-55 IS kit lens[^] with a Sigma 18-200 OS[^] lens at a slightly discounted price. I've been told that it is wise to invest money on lenses, but is this deal recommended? I'm saving something like INR 3000 (about 66 USD) if I take the deal now (deal bundled with new camera purchase). I'm sure that I'll take a while to outgrow the kit lens, but I eventually will. What do the in-house experts suggest? Thanks!
"Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.
A lens like the 18-200 is inevitably a compromise between large zoom range, compactness, maximum aperture, quality etc. As such the Sigma is a good compromise but the end result doesn't do justice to the quality of the camera. I think you would be better to stay with the kit lens until you have learned more and can afford something else, or pay more now (as others have said) to get something like the Canon 17-85.
Phil
The opinions expressed in this post are not necessarily those of the author, especially if you find them impolite, inaccurate or inflammatory.
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I've chosen the camera, which will be the Canon EOS 550D. The shop is offering me a deal in which I can replace the Canon 18-55 IS kit lens[^] with a Sigma 18-200 OS[^] lens at a slightly discounted price. I've been told that it is wise to invest money on lenses, but is this deal recommended? I'm saving something like INR 3000 (about 66 USD) if I take the deal now (deal bundled with new camera purchase). I'm sure that I'll take a while to outgrow the kit lens, but I eventually will. What do the in-house experts suggest? Thanks!
"Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.
Personally, I would only buy Canon lenses. I've found that the shorter the range in a zoom, the better the quality. So, for me, 18mm to 200mm is a big no-no. As I like to take photos in natural light a large aperture is also important (smaller f number). I like the 50mm f/1.4. But then it all depends on how you intend to use it. My big WANT is the 100mm Macro f/2.8 :sigh:
It’s not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it’s because we do not dare that things are difficult. ~Seneca
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A lens like the 18-200 is inevitably a compromise between large zoom range, compactness, maximum aperture, quality etc. As such the Sigma is a good compromise but the end result doesn't do justice to the quality of the camera. I think you would be better to stay with the kit lens until you have learned more and can afford something else, or pay more now (as others have said) to get something like the Canon 17-85.
Phil
The opinions expressed in this post are not necessarily those of the author, especially if you find them impolite, inaccurate or inflammatory.
You gentlemen are offering very good suggestions. I think I'm simply going to stick with the kit lens and decline on the sigma lens "offer". May be I'll buy something later that will suit my needs. Thanks! :)
"Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.
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I've chosen the camera, which will be the Canon EOS 550D. The shop is offering me a deal in which I can replace the Canon 18-55 IS kit lens[^] with a Sigma 18-200 OS[^] lens at a slightly discounted price. I've been told that it is wise to invest money on lenses, but is this deal recommended? I'm saving something like INR 3000 (about 66 USD) if I take the deal now (deal bundled with new camera purchase). I'm sure that I'll take a while to outgrow the kit lens, but I eventually will. What do the in-house experts suggest? Thanks!
"Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.
70-200MM 2.8L II
Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. I also do Android Programming as I find it a refreshing break from the MS. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost
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70-200MM 2.8L II
Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. I also do Android Programming as I find it a refreshing break from the MS. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost
Thanks. I'd appreciate if you let me know of your reasoning behind your suggestion. I have no idea about DSLR cameras or lenses, so any information you provide will help me make a decision.
"Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.
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Thanks. I'd appreciate if you let me know of your reasoning behind your suggestion. I have no idea about DSLR cameras or lenses, so any information you provide will help me make a decision.
"Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.
It was an absurd suggestion, a $2500 lens for an enthusiast? More seriously though, check out dpreview.com they review most lenses and will give you the skinny on what to get.
Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. I also do Android Programming as I find it a refreshing break from the MS. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost
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I've chosen the camera, which will be the Canon EOS 550D. The shop is offering me a deal in which I can replace the Canon 18-55 IS kit lens[^] with a Sigma 18-200 OS[^] lens at a slightly discounted price. I've been told that it is wise to invest money on lenses, but is this deal recommended? I'm saving something like INR 3000 (about 66 USD) if I take the deal now (deal bundled with new camera purchase). I'm sure that I'll take a while to outgrow the kit lens, but I eventually will. What do the in-house experts suggest? Thanks!
"Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.
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70-200MM 2.8L II
Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. I also do Android Programming as I find it a refreshing break from the MS. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost
That is a fantastic lens, but it's "as expensive as L", and heavy to boot. If you're just starting out with a DSLR get the 50mm f/1.8 -- it's cheap and fast.
Matt Newby President, Matt Newby Enterprises, Inc. matt@mattnewby.com
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That is a fantastic lens, but it's "as expensive as L", and heavy to boot. If you're just starting out with a DSLR get the 50mm f/1.8 -- it's cheap and fast.
Matt Newby President, Matt Newby Enterprises, Inc. matt@mattnewby.com
I do have that lens and it is good for a lot of scenarios but, well, eh, not so much others. I use it as my primary indoor lens.
Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. I also do Android Programming as I find it a refreshing break from the MS. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost
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Sadly, you get a huge reply on camera suggestions, but nobody here has an opinion on camcorders.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson
Sadly, you're hijacking the OPs question by making a negative statement that's totally irrelevant...
Matt Newby President, Matt Newby Enterprises, Inc. matt@mattnewby.com
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Sadly, you get a huge reply on camera suggestions, but nobody here has an opinion on camcorders.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson
I countered that 1 vote, but I did laugh thinking of how frustrated you must be to say that. :laugh: I take it that you asked for camcorder suggestions and were deserted? :)
"Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.
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I countered that 1 vote, but I did laugh thinking of how frustrated you must be to say that. :laugh: I take it that you asked for camcorder suggestions and were deserted? :)
"Real men drive manual transmission" - Rajesh.