Lens Recommendations

[bob100]

a nice zoom like the Canon 17-55 f/2.8, or sacrifice focal range for the speed of something like the Sigma 30mm f/1.4. Which do you feel outweighs the other?
!

the Canon 17-55 2.8 would be more versatile but if I had those two I would take them both

 

[zetachi]

Any Oly owners want to chime in. My guess if I had to bring one lens would be the 11-22 or the 14-54. Choice of 2 I'd throw in the 70-300

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Hi! I never posted on the Photography board, but I thought you'd all know what I need. My mom's birthday is coming up, and she has a EOS Rebel K2, and I was thinking of getting her another lens. It looks like what she has is a EF 28-90mm. Is there something I can get her in the $50-100 range that would be good for photographing her grandkiddos?

She's not a serious photographer, she bought this camera because a former friend of hers recommended it. It's basically on auto all the time, so I'm looking for something basic.

I'm also open to other suggestions!

Thank you so much!!

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

You can get the 50mm f/1.8 for $99.

This would give her better low light performance.

But you really aren't going to find lenses for cheaper than that.

 

[bijoli666]

What about a How-to book for her camera? Hubby bought Rebel for Dummies when he got ours LOL. Camera bag? Gift certificate for a place to print her pictures, or photo paper/ink for her printer if she prints at home. A frame? Just spouting off ideas LOL. If she's on Auto most of the time now, not sure if another lense would make her branch out more, or if she would never use it, ya know?

 

[photo_chick]

A word of caution... since the Rebel K2 is a film Rebel avoid the EF-S lenses when you're looking around. Only the EF lenses will work on that camera.

A the 28-90 is one of the old Rebel kit lenses from film days. In your price range the 50mm f/1.8 would be about all you can afford that would give you more.

Also keep in mind that if she's not a serious photographer, and given that the K2 is an older camera so I'm guessing she's had it a while, she may not be interested in changing lenses. Some people are happy just to stick with the kit lens.

 

[jennifur25]

We are heading to Disneyland next week and I'm not sure what I should bring with me. I really don't want to lug all of them around with me.

I have a Nikon D90 and I have the kit lens 18-105mm, my 50mm and a 55-200mm. I don't care much about pictures on the dark rides but I would like to attempt to get some decent fireworks shots, though it seems I've never had any luck with that

 

[saturndb]

If you only want to bring one lens, I'd bring the 18-105.

 

[AlbertZeroK]

yeah, I shot fireworks with the kit lens last summer (18-105) and my only regret is not having anything wider. I had a 50mm with me and never used it. And the only time I used my old 75-300 was on an air boat.

 

[AlbertZeroK]

I would be torn between my 85 f/1.2 and my 17-55 f/2.8. But I'll likely pack different lenses for the days. For example, we're seeing woopie on Dec 10th, so 85 f/1.2 is being packed. For Animal Kingdom likely a 70-200 or my Bigma.

Personally, I would prefer a zoom over a prime for most things at disney. But the 30mm f/1.4 is tiny and easy to pack away.

 

[Experiment_626]

I'd also recommend the kit lens if you're sure you only want to take one. I've shot lots of fireworks and tons of other subjects at WDW with my 18-135, and I've found it to be a very useful focal range for the parks, and I expect your 18-105 would be similarly useful.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm afraid taking good fireworks pictures requires that you add more to your load, not less. Most cameras and lenses with the correct reach can take nice fireworks shots, but do require a tripod and shutter release cable.

I'd take the kit lens and bring a tripod to stow in a locker until night time. And get your spot early for the fireworks. I was amazed at how early it fills up in front of the castle!

 

[photo_chick]

I'd take the 18-105 lens. I'd also take a tripod if I wanted to get foreworks shots.

 

[AlbertZeroK]

I'm afraid taking good fireworks pictures requires that you add more to your load, not less. Most cameras and lenses with the correct reach can take nice fireworks shots, but do require a tripod and shutter release cable.

I'd take the kit lens and bring a tripod to stow in a locker until night time. And get your spot early for the fireworks. I was amazed at how early it fills up in front of the castle!

The d90 has an awsome timer built in, you can set it for 2 second delay and have it take up to 9 pictures in a row. So I don't know that you need a remote shutter release cable. But a remote would make it more enjoyable for you, put the camera up, sit back, hit a button and let it do it's thing while you watch with the family!

 

[jennifur25]

I have no problem bringing 2, just didn't want to bring all 3. Should have said that last night- that will teach me to post too late at night. So maybe the 18-105 and the 50? I only had the 18-105 last time we went and I remember that all the photopass photographers were oohing and aahing over it LOL.

 

[Groucho]

I'd probably be in the "normal lens" camp - the Pentax Limited 31mm F1.8 with 1.5x crop factor comes in darn close to what a normal lens is "supposed" to be (around 43mm - which is why the next-bigger Limited is a 43mm, they were made for film originally)... fast, wonderful optics, etc. That's be my choice if I was looking for "good" pictures.

Of course, I could also make an argument for the 16-50mm F2.8 (wide, weathersealed, flexible enough for snapshots and HQ enough for quality) and heck, being who I am, I might even argue for the 10-17mm fisheye - at 17mm, not too fishy and easily "correctable" to be comparable to a UWA look, and of course at 10mm you get that fishy look that I love.

 

[cinderella'smommy]

Hello---

You all were so very helpful in diagnosing my camera problem---shot autofocus motor on my lens for my D40. So, I thought I would ask some advice on a replacement lens.

I am an amateur, and really don't need the biggest and fanciest lens. I also don't really want to be changing lenses, so I need something versatile. And, of course, it needs to go with my D40. I have the true D40, not the D40x; I bought it in 2006.

I would like a longer zoom than my current lens (18mm-55mm); I was leaning towards a NIKKOR 18mm-105mm; but I guess they aren't making those anymore? Moving up to a 200mm zoom starts to get pretty expensive, and I wonder if it is worth it to use with a basic DSLR from 2006.

Basically, I am wondering if I am better off buying a new DSLR, but then I get stuck with the same 18mm-55mm lens (I won't go too much higher in price to get a better camera b/c its just a hobby for me). So, to buy a new camera, plus a better lens---then that really gets up there.

I am also thinking that I should just get another 18mm-55mm until I am ready to upgrade the whole camera.

The guy at Wolf was pushing me towards a Tamron that goes up to 200mm.

Any thoughts?

 

[Suz725]

I have a D40 also and mine came with 2 lenses..the 18-55mm and a 50-200mm I use the zoom lens more often when out since I don't want to carry around 2 lenses. (If I were going to buy a new lens it would be an 18-200.

 

[photo_chick]

The AF motor has gone out that quickly? Did you manually focus a lot without turning the AF off? I killed my first AF lens this way many years ago.

Anyway, to the point. If you're happy with the image quality from your camera, I say just get the lens. If the one you want isn't made any longer, check KEH.com and see if you can pick it up in good shape used... though I do believe Nikon still makes an 18-105.

And never let the salesmen tell you what to buy. At many places they get more incentives to sell certain equipment... Wolf and Ritz camera are notorious for this.

 

[AlbertZeroK]

The kit lens that comes with the d90 might be an option, I think it's an 18-105. Anyways, when I had my d90, it was a nice lens. And you should be able to pick them up reasonably priced used.

If you know a pro picking up a new body, ask them if they want the kit lens, I know the kit lens for my 50d was worth $250 on ebay atleast, but was only a $100 upgrade from the 50d body to 50d body + lens kit.