Lens for Canon 500D

[deepakpraveen]

Hi, I am planning to pick up a DSLR – upgrading myself from a mega Zoom ( Panasonic FZ 35)

My requirements are shots of portraits , Landscape , flowers with few shots of birds. Video is of ZERO importance. Have zeored in on Canon500D

Keeping in mind my requirements a friend suggested to go for EF-S55-250mm-f-4-5-6-IS lens along with the 18-55 kit lens.

Could you pls suggest a lens that could help be shoot a wide variety of shots, I know there is no 1 size fits all in DSLR but whats the closest possible.

I usually shoot potraits ( mostly family) / nature ( flowers / waterfalls) / Birds on treetops , resting etc


[FONT=&quot]Bit tight on budget currently hence dont want to splurge too much on the purchase 500D Kit with 18-55 retails at $722 in India, and 55-250 at $267. Wanted to be sure if 55-250 + 18-55 combo would help me shoot images similar to what I have shot[/FONT]


Would really appreciate your help

Regards
Deepak

 

[Big Mike]

Yes, those two lenses will probably give you something similar to what you had with your previous camera.

 

[enzodm]

With those lenses you will cover most of your initial needs. It would be better to take the IS version of 18-55 too, because it is an overall better lens. After playing a bit, for portraits you could also buy a 50/1.8 (or 1.4, depending on budget).

 

[John Mc]

prehaps the Canon 18-200mm is? not sure on the apertures,but it covers all the ranges you would want, and if you can pick up either one of those 50mm's,you'd be laughing,i have a 50mm f1.8,its a beautiful lens for the cost!and image quality is better then the kit lens

 

[deepakpraveen]

Thanks All for your tips.

So I guess its 500D + 18-55+55-250 then....the thought of carrying around 2 lens everywhere is annoying though!!!

 

[enzodm]

Thanks All for your tips.

So I guess its 500D + 18-55+55-250 then....the thought of carrying around 2 lens everywhere is annoying though!!!

I would say 18-55IS+55-250IS.
Typically a dSLR owner carries around also more, because lens is not only focal length but also aperture and optical quality; this is the double-sided advantage of dSLR. As compact cameras are marketed with reference to zoom proportion (e.g. 20x or so), other features are not clear or relevant to their users (e.g. max aperture and bokeh).

Anyway, there is always the mentioned 18-200 and also a even longer Tamron (18-270). Having only one lens allows you to have some of the advantages of a dSLR, like better low light management and speed of shooting, but not others.
You obtain a sort of super-point&shoot (with a good lens, if 18-200, a sensor better than any other P&S, and speed of operation). I see now many people around with a dSLR used only with "creative programs", i.e., fully automatic, which is a legal use but well under dSLR possibilities. If those two advantages are not crucial for you, better to stick with compact cameras (even on the expensive range), which can be equally statisfying with less weight. This is my opinion, of course .

 

[deepakpraveen]

Hi All, I picked up the 550D with 18-55 kit lens. Would spend time with the kit lens for a few weeks and deciede on the additional lens.

Thanks for your support