Lens help

Dreamergirl · Jan 16, 2009

I just bought my first camera (Canon 10D). I plan to take shots of children & family. I'll be shooting indoor and outdoor photos. I'm on a budget and can't afford the most expensive lenses right now. I just need a good versatile lens that I can use for awhile until I can buy another. What would be a good lens to start out with?

Katier · Jan 16, 2009

I assume you got a 'kit' lens with your camera. 18-55?

That should do you for now for shorter range stuff that just leaves a zoom requirement. Now I'm not sure what the mounts are on a canon. If it was a Pentax I'd say look at a quality manual focus lens second hand. But not sure if you can do the same with Canon Digi's

Dreamergirl · Jan 16, 2009

No kit lens.

Katier · Jan 16, 2009

WOW so you just bought the bare body? Well (assuming it's doable for canon's ) I'd grab a 50mm 'prime' manual focus lens.

Really need a canon user to say what lenses will fit though - but in general I'd be looking for 2 lenses. a 50mm ( or 18-55 zoom ) and a tele ( 70-210 up to 80-300 ).

Josh66 · Jan 16, 2009

I would go with either the 50mm 1.4 or 1.8 (as budget allows)...

tirediron · Jan 16, 2009

I wouldn't suggest a prime lens as your first lens. While the 50mm is an excellent lens, it is not nearly as versatile as a mid-range zoom. The 18-55 is a decent, consumer-quality mid-range zoom, and I think you would find that much more useful as a beginning photographer than a 50mm prime. It's also inexpensive enough that when you "outgrow" it, you aren't going to be putting a lot of amount of the shelf.

Josh66 · Jan 16, 2009

The only problem I have with the kit lens is that it isn't very fast - it might not be the best lens for indoors (without flash). It probably would be a more useful lens though...

Jaszek · Jan 16, 2009

Or if you find a money tree you can but the 24-70mm 2.8

Katier · Jan 16, 2009

O|||||||O said:
The only problem I have with the kit lens is that it isn't very fast - it might not be the best lens for indoors (without flash). It probably would be a more useful lens though...

Agreed, I found that out the hard way

- It's why 50mm manual focus primes ( at least Pentax KA fit that I use ) hold their value because people find indoors a 50mm fast lens is better than a 18-55. I only use the wider portions of my 18-55 rarely - when I am working in confined spaces - it sits at 55 most of the time.

tomhooper · Jan 16, 2009

For a budget, you could get maybe a Bower flash that is dedicated to Canon and you can get 18-55 IS from Pyxis Camera on E-bay for about $125.00. This would give you some range and even though it is a rather slow lens, with the inexpensive flash you should be ok. Get a flash with a rotating head.
This is not a bad little flash for the money.
Bower | SFD35C Digital Flash for Canon EOS | SFD35C | B&H Photo

Here is the lens:
Canon 18-55mm 18-55 IS Lens New USA for Digital SLR - eBay (item 290289341160 end time Feb-13-09 12:21:21 PST)

Might give you a temporary fix.

Dreamergirl · Jan 17, 2009

tomhooper-I'm not sure if the lens you suggested will fit my camera. I'll do some research to find out though. It's too funny that I've been checking on ebay and already had that lens you suggested on my watch list. For a beginner, I guess I'm on the right track.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

tomhooper · Jan 17, 2009

I'm pretty sure it will fit. It is an EF-S. I know it will fit Rebel XT so I'm pretty sure it will work on your 10D. Found a refurbished on ebay for under $100.00.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-EF-S-18-5...4|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50

Good luck.

gsgary · Jan 17, 2009

tomhooper said:
I'm pretty sure it will fit. It is an EF-S. I know it will fit Rebel XT so I'm pretty sure it will work on your 10D. Found a refurbished on ebay for under $100.00.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Canon-EF-S-18-55-mm-f-3-5-5-6-IS-Autofocus-Lens_W0QQitemZ110337209215QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCamera_Lenses?hash=item110337209215&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

Good luck.

EF-S lenses don't fit the 10D unless you want to damage the mirror