Canon T3i

[scullymc]

Hello I need some advise on what lenses are recommended to take to take good pictures. I have the 75-300 and the 18-55 also a 55 but looking to maybe rent some lenses what would you suggest? mostly for family pics and such

 

[photo_chick]

What lens you should use depends on what you're trying to accomplish.

The 18-55 is a solid general purpose lens good for all around shooting. It comes up short in low light but if you've got a 50mm f/1.8 that can take up the slack there. The 75-300 isn't one of Canon's best lenses but even so it's still capable of producing nice images if you know how to leverage it's strengths to your advantage.

Again, all of these can work for portraits or family pictures. You can easily spend thousands on lenses so I would suggest learning what the lenses you have can do. Figure out where they come up short technically for you, and that will tell you what lens you should go for next.

 

[bob100]

Hello I need some advise on what lenses are recommended to take to take good pictures. I have the 75-300 and the 18-55 also a 55 but looking to maybe rent some lenses what would you suggest? mostly for family pics and such

I agree with photochick, the choice of lens depends on what type of photo you want - Do you like blurred backgrounds in portraits?
maybe a longer reach? or something wider
or sharper?

The lens you currently have 18-55IS and 50mm 1.8 are very capable of taking "good pictures". The 75-300 - well, not one of the best ! so maybe you could rent a 70-200 2.8 telephoto lens and see the differences. Otherwise keep on using those lens until you decide what you want to accomplish with another lens.

 

[brivers222]

The best walk around lens for a crop sensor is the 17-55 F2.8 IS

if you don't want to drop the $$$'s on the 70-200 F2.8 IS then go for the 70-200 F4 IS lens its a LOT lighter also

 

[photo_chick]

The best walk around lens for a crop sensor is the 17-55 F2.8 IS

if you don't want to drop the $$$'s on the 70-200 F2.8 IS then go for the 70-200 F4 IS lens its a LOT lighter also

Best is really, really subjective. The 17-55 f/2.8 is an awesome lens but for someone like me it wouldn't be the best fit on a crop body. I prefer my 24-105. It all comes back to how you shoot and what you want to accomplish.

 

[havoc315]

You have the various focal lengths pretty well covered. While there are better quality lenses, they aren't necessary in many circumstances. Some lenses are more expensive because they may have built-in silent auto focus motors. While nice, it doesn't affect image quality.

There certainly are lenses with better optics that will indeed give higher image quality -- But it's often a fine difference not necessarily noticed in a quick glance. If you're simply looking at Facebook pictures, or 4X6 prints, you may not even notice the difference between a $200 lens and a $2,000 lens. If you are blowing up huge prints, if you are pixel peeping, or if you are shooting in much more challenging light, that's when you really notice the differences.

My favorite lens for portraits and family shots, is actually a 25+ year old used lens that I bought off Ebay for $90. (I don't shoot Canon).


untitled-102.jpg by Havoc315, on Flickr


untitled-88.jpg by Havoc315, on Flickr

Don't get me wrong, I have a decent amount invested in lenses. But the key to great portraits isn't always a super expensive lens.

 

[bob100]

You have the various focal lengths pretty well covered. While there are better quality lenses, they aren't necessary in many circumstances. Some lenses are more expensive because they may have built-in silent auto focus motors. While nice, it doesn't affect image quality.

There certainly are lenses with better optics that will indeed give higher image quality -- But it's often a fine difference not necessarily noticed in a quick glance. If you're simply looking at Facebook pictures, or 4X6 prints, you may not even notice the difference between a $200 lens and a $2,000 lens. If you are blowing up huge prints, if you are pixel peeping, or if you are shooting in much more challenging light, that's when you really notice the differences.

My favorite lens for portraits and family shots, is actually a 25+ year old used lens that I bought off Ebay for $90. (I don't shoot Canon).


Don't get me wrong, I have a decent amount invested in lenses. But the key to great portraits isn't always a super expensive lens.

true, portraits are all about the lighting. The lens adds quality but lighting is more important. For portraits I use the relatively cheap 30mm, 50mm and 90mm prime lens

Canon 60D, Sigma 30 using just window light

 

[havoc315]

Great article about building your kit:

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2010/07/lenses-dont-collect-the-whole-set

 

[Frantasmic]

I like the primes too.

Canon 50mm f1.4 and 85mm f1.8 are among my favorites. I've enjoyed pictures from the 70-200 f4.0. The 24-105 f4.9 was superb for landscape. Your mileage may vary.

My 85mm f1.8 is perhaps my most favorite lens. It does portraits and is great in low light situations as well.

 

[photo_chick]

Well if you want samples of portraits with specific lenses...

Canon 18-55 (the original version) on a Rebel XT

Canon 75-300 on a Rebel XT

Canon 50mm f/1.8 on a 50D

Canon 50mm f/1.4 on a 6D

Canon 24-105 f/4 on a 6D

While there are noticeable differences when viewed at large sizes between the low end and the higher end lenses, when you're viewing web size or standard print size it's not hugely noticable to most people.