7D body, 1st lens recomendation please!!

[Annaminnnie2010]

Hi there, I've decided to buy the Canon 7D body, what do you think I should get as my first lens?

I was thinking the EF 50mm f/ 1.8 as it's only about $120, or do you think I should go for the 1.4. I just don't understand the difference?

I also want to buy a fish eye, I saw the ef 15mm F/ 2.8 takes amaizing photos, but should I bother with a such an expensive lens if I don't have a full frame camera? I am new to the whole dslr world so I don't understand the full frame differnece, a friend tryed explaining but i just dont get it!?:blushing:

I will mainly be taking photos of people (make up before and afters), events (again people), night time, and creative photography again mainly people and animals.

Also what is a good general lens that is really affordable. I can borrow a friends 18 -55mm, should I get my own of the same or is 18-85mm better?

What is a good lens just for general photography? I'am going on a holiday soon and also I've got a few weddings to go to in october, and my friend asked if I would take some amateur photos for her along size with the pro photographer.

 

[usayit]

Hi there, I've decided to buy the Canon 7D body, what do you think I should get as my first lens?
<snip>
Also what is a good general lens that is really affordable.
<snip>

My recommendation is to go with a more affordable body and put the difference into a better lens. 7D with cheap lenses isn't the way to go.

 

[usayit]

For about the same price as the 7D + some crap lens, you can get a rebel T2i + EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS.

Don't get me wrong.. the 50mm f/1.8 is a good start (shoot mostly primes) but most people these days think of zooms when they think "general" lens.

 

[Dao]

What is your budget?

If you are tight in budget, you maybe better off getting a camera body that cost less and use the extra money to buy a better lens.


Light ---(entering lens)---> Bad Lens ---(bad image)---> pro DSLR camera sensor
So the pro camera is able to capture every single details of the BAD image


Light ---(entering lens)---> Good Lens ---(good image)---> consumer DSLR camera sensor
So the consumer camera is able to capture detail image of a GOOD image.


So which setup can produce a better photograph at the end?



If you just want to buy a lens and start learning, the kit lens 18-55mm IS lens is not a bad choice. If you do not want to upgrade the lens anytime soon, the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 is a good choice. (Quality lens for lower cost)

Of course, Canon have few other good lens that cost more such as EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 USM, EF 17-40mm f/4L USM and 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM are pretty good.


As for EF 50mm f/1.8 II vs EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
f/1.4 version is better because ...
- Better build quality
- Metal mount instead of plastic
- Fast autofocus (AF)
- Less AF noise
- More aperture blades => better bokeh look
- Has distance scale
- Full time manual focus and the manual focus ring is better (the one in f/1.8 II is located in the front of the lens and is tiny)

But, the f/1.8
- Cost less
- A little bit lighter (due to cheaper build)
- Smaller filter size (bigger filter cost more)


If you are planning to shoot wedding in the future, maybe choose a lens that is Canon USM. Someone mentioned it in the past that camera AF noise may draw some attentions during the wedding ceremony.


EDIT: arrhhhhh I need to type faster next time.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Im with usayit.

But if you really do want the 7D, I would get something similar to my Sigma 24-70 f/2.8. But really.. If I had the money to buy a 7D.. I would just go all out and buy a 5D mk2.

 

[robertwsimpson]

7d + canon 17-55mm f/2.8 + tokina 10-17mm fisheye

I hope you're ready to drop over $3,000...

If you are only ready to spend $1500, I'd get the 50d + tamron 17-50mm f/2.8

 

[haring]

Get the 7D + 50mm 1.8 (excellent lens and you can upgrade anytime) + 17-40mm L lens. The 50mm is good for low light. The 17-40mm will cover you in most situations. I hope it helps.

 

[haring]

and buy an underwater housing for the summer....!

 

[Munky]

7d + canon 17-55mm f/2.8 + tokina 10-17mm fisheye

I hope you're ready to drop over $3,000...

If you are only ready to spend $1500, I'd get the 50d + tamron 17-50mm f/2.8

Or you can spend only $1250 and go with Tamron 17-50 2.8 VC (which i have and reccomend) and the Tokina 10-17mm fish-to super wide lens!

 

[robertwsimpson]

7d + canon 17-55mm f/2.8 + tokina 10-17mm fisheye

I hope you're ready to drop over $3,000...

If you are only ready to spend $1500, I'd get the 50d + tamron 17-50mm f/2.8

Or you can spend only $1250 and go with Tamron 17-50 2.8 VC (which i have and reccomend) and the Tokina 10-17mm fish-to super wide lens!

that's just the cost of the lenses. He doesn't even have a body yet.

 

[Taylor510ce]

I would say buy a cheaper body. A 50D body can be had for under 800 on ebay. Then I would also recommed a 17-40L used at about 600-650. Cheaper than a 7D kit and MUCH better suited to your needs. You can always add the 50mm 1.8 and still come out ahead.

 

[Annaminnnie2010]

For about the same price as the 7D + some crap lens, you can get a rebel T2i + EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 IS.

Don't get me wrong.. the 50mm f/1.8 is a good start (shoot mostly primes) but most people these days think of zooms when they think "general" lens.

Thanks! I got the T2i / canon 550D 18-55mm kit.... Now I need to start looking at more lenses!

 

[Idahophoto]

Most useful lens for a good price. Tamron 17-50/2.8. I absolutely love that lens and use it 80% of the time. You can get it for about 400 now. They also have a newer one with VR, I wished mine had it a few times but for the most part I don't really need it so you should be just fine with the older one like I use.

 

[robertwsimpson]

I also have the tamron. It's the best bang for the buck lens I have, I think. If you want to get 2 lenses, get the 50mm f/1.8 also. You can get it for under $100, and it is very handy to have if you like shooting real low light stuff.

welcome to the canon club!

 

[Annaminnnie2010]

Thank you for the Tamron suggestion! I will look into that too. and the 50mm 1.8 (s cheap $, i can't believe it!) I was told 1.4 is better but it's so much more expensive.