Canon Eos D60 - Lenses & Flash questions

Chief

Hey folks,

I've done a swap for a bit of website work and will be acquiring a Canon Eos D60. It's for the body only (and some accessories like battery grip, charger, cf card etc). Basically I'm after a lens or lenses for everyday photography (pics of family trips, the odd landscape etc) but also I want to take pictures of my paintings to make poster sized digital prints out of them. I'm completely lost in the world of focal lengths etc.

In regards to the flash, the built in one is buggered so can you guys recommend a wee flash as well. I've read up quite a bit but still can't seem to figure out the lenses stuff, any pointers to sites to get me learning more?

Cheers laeds.

Oriel

For the paintings, you'll want a zoom lens 100mm-200mm and a studio
Can't help with the flash, I'm afraid.

Chief

Thanks for the info sinecurea, will the same lens do for everyday kinda stuff; Landscapes and out and about everyday photography? not really worried about a studio as I've got deadly natural light in a room here and i've been able to take half decent photos with wee digital camera in the past.

masteroftherealm

100-200mm is HUGE for paintings??
I would have said a decent 50mm 1.8 Metal Mount for the paintings and a nice 70-300 for outdoor wandering and landscape. That way you have all covered at a decent price (I take it you wanna keep the costs down)
As for flash, go with a canon model even if it means waiting a while and spending that bit extra. Makes a huge difference.

elven

I presume that the reference to a 100-200mm for the paintings was for the sake of taking pics from further away and avoiding any distortion... although something that covers 80mm I would expect to be a bit more manageable and will also be handy for random wanderings. I second the 50mm f1.8. It's cheap, nice, sharp and a basic, and great for low light or when you want a shallow DOF. The basic three lens kit seems to be a wide angle, the 50mm prime, and a tele zoom possibly 80-200mm. As for makes and models I haven't a scooby, though...

masteroftherealm

Yeah but I get the impresstion he can get up close to the paintings as they seems to be his

Chief

Hehheh, I could stick my nose on the painting if I wanted , just need recommendations, is it better to photograph at a distance? It;s just since i haven't a notion about lenses and that and I'll want to print my painting at up to A1 size, thanks for the advice lads

Oriel

Yeah, the zoom minimises any distortion. I recommend the 50mm 1.8 general and low light photography. Maybe think about a 28-100mm for landscape and general shots.

Alun

Chief wrote:

Hehheh, I could stick my nose on the painting if I wanted , just need recommendations, is it better to photograph at a distance? It;s just since i haven't a notion about lenses and that and I'll want to print my painting at up to A1 size, thanks for the advice lads

I've got a friend who's an artist who often photographs his paintings for exhibition catalogues and such like (he's rather good!). I know he uses a Canon dSLR, a 10D I think, but also uses a 35mm SLR and a 35mm film scanner when he wants really good results. I haven't a clue what his preferences are regarding lens choice or lighting, and whether it's best to be close up or far away from the subject, but I could ask him if you like? Could be a long wait for a reply though as he has an exhibition on at the moment.

masteroftherealm

For the paintings if its goin to be a long running thing of lots of them, Id reccomed getting a decent tripod and some decent flash(s) for definite itll give you a big improvement.

Chief

Thanks for the advice lads, well I've seen the EF 50 mm f/1.8II for Euro109 on komplett which seems uber reasonable. I'm assuming the 28-100mm is a wide/angle lens, correct me if I'm wrong, I've spotted 28-105mm ones on komplett from Euro195-299, are these near enough the same as 28-100mm? Someone mentioned to me about Sigma and Tokian? lenses as well so I'll look up the sticky links to places to buy...

Thanks for all the info lads, if ya's think of anything else that;d be great! Cheers!

masteroftherealm

Personaly Id be dodgy buying from Komplett but thats just personally. And check out ebay for some very good deals on new gear.