Canon Lense Help

Optimus Prime

Hey guys,

I have a Canon 450d (i think, bought in the US so its labeled EOS Rebel xti or something)

It came with a lense which i used for a year or so, recently i picked up another one, EF 80-200mm. Honestly, i love taking photos but i havent a clue what im at and i usually just use the automatic stuff, i keep meaning to figure out how to use it but i havent a clue where to start.

Anyways, i notice this new lense takes way better photos quality wise than the one that came with the camera, but the problem is you have to be miles away from people to take a photo with it.

Im looking to pick up a lense that takes good photos but I dont need to back up 3 miles to do it haha.. any suggestions? Im only looking to take photos of my kids, family and stuff but would like something better than the one that came with the camera.

Thanks a lot

pixbyjohn

have a look for a 50mm f1.8 lens approx. 100 euro and a super lens for portraits and low light. Another lens to look out for is something like a 24 to 105 zoom.
Seen today on adverts.ie >>>>http://www.adverts.ie/lenses/canon-24-105/3967701

Optimus Prime

That one on adverts is a bit beyond my price range at the minute haha, id love something like that eventually, but dont think there is much point at the minute considering i dont even know how to manually use the camera..

How about this one on amazon?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-EF-50-1-8-Lens/dp/B00005K47X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381955611&sr=8-1&keywords=50mm+f1.8+lens

Daveysil15

80-200 is a long focal range which is why you have to stand further back. It's ok for candid portraits outdoors, but you'll struggle in situations where there's limited space. What sort of photos are you taking? Are you doing headshots or groups of people?

I have the 50mm 1.8 myself. It's a decent sharp lens for the price but the lack of a zoom may be an issue for you. You could try the Canon 18-200 which would cover you for pretty much everything, although its about 4 times the price of the 50mm. Have a look at some of the other mid range zooms.

Optimus Prime

well i dont mind not having the zoom if it takes good clear photos of my kids and family up close, the other lens i have will do me for zooming and stuff. Im going to start trying to learn how to actually use my camera and maybe down the road i can upgrade to some of the more expensive lenses.

Daveysil15

keithgeo wrote: »

well i dont mind not having the zoom if it takes good clear photos of my kids and family up close, the other lens i have will do me for zooming and stuff. Im going to start trying to learn how to actually use my camera and maybe down the road i can upgrade to some of the more expensive lenses.

Yeah I think the 50mm would be a good place to start. The great thing about that lens is that it has a very big aperture, so its good for blurring the background and its nice and sharp.

Pete67

the 50mm 1.8 is a great lens and I'd go ahead and get one anyway just to see what it can do, but don't be too surprised if you still need to back away from subjects quite a bit, especially for group shots. If you want to a wider field of view so you can shoot without moving back consider a lens around the 24mm or 30mm mark - a bit more expensive but might suit you better on a crop sensor camera like the 450D.

Have a look at this one on adverts.ie:

Sir Gallagher

Yep the 50mm is what you're looking for, you'll have to stand back about 10-15 feet to get people in for portraits or family shots which isnt that far away, you can also get in a bit closer for mor intimate portraits. For that price you wont really get a lens near the quality of the 50mm 1.8. Here's a few shots of mine taken with the lens so you can get a better idea of what it does.


Untitled by SirGallagher, on Flickr


Untitled by SirGallagher, on Flickr


Untitled by SirGallagher, on Flickr

Optimus Prime

Great photos, id be delighted if I ended up with ones like that. I bought the lense last night anyways, so looking forward to trying it.

Here is a photo i took with the EF 80-200mm lense i have of my kid out the back, im hoping this lense will take similiar photos but without me having to be in the neighbors back garden haha

http://www.gamersireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/IMG_6172.jpg

Also is there any sites out there that will tell me how to use a canon 450d probably, like a noobs guide, i currently only use the automatic stuff.

M.J.M.C

The 50mm 1.8 is a super lens and it's going to teach you so much

Since I've to move with my feet it really makes you think, rather than just point and shoot

Sir Gallagher

keithgeo wrote: »

Great photos, id be delighted if I ended up with ones like that. I bought the lense last night anyways, so looking forward to trying it.

Here is a photo i took with the EF 80-200mm lense i have of my kid out the back, im hoping this lense will take similiar photos but without me having to be in the neighbors back garden haha

http://www.gamersireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/IMG_6172.jpg

Also is there any sites out there that will tell me how to use a canon 450d probably, like a noobs guide, i currently only use the automatic stuff.

There's a great book called Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson which will teach you everything you need to know. It comes highly recomended around these parts.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0817439390

Apart from that, there are plenty of rescources online if you have a search around. Youtube is great for tutorials. Theres a guy called Mike Browne on youtube, look him up and go from there. DigitalRev and Gavin Hoey are also a couple of names to look up on youtube. Enjoy.