Which digital camera?

[4fit?]

How is the 18-55mm lens? Found that cam and lens for less than $400...which looks like a steal

It is a decent lens at best by kit lens standards. If you can get the whole kit for for only a few bucks more than the body only, then I`d say go for it. But I would still pick up that 50mm 1.8 prime.

[Evenflow]

It is a decent lens at best by kit lens standards. If you can get the whole kit for for only a few bucks more than the body only, then I`d say go for it. But I would still pick up that 50mm 1.8 prime.

the kit I am looking at w/ the 18-55m is $389, while body only is $319.

[4fit?]

the kit I am looking at w/ the 18-55m is $389, while body only is $319.

To be honest, I would just stick with the body only then. That is $70 that can go towards the IS version of the 18-55 lens.

[Evenflow]

To be honest, I would just stick with the body only then. That is $70 that can go towards the IS version of the 18-55 lens.

well if i went body only id get the 50mm18 lens everyone is talking about

[4fit?]

well if i went body only id get the 50mm18 lens everyone is talking about

Oh, I agree completely. Regardless of if you bought the body only or the kit, I would still get the 1.8 prime. I just meant that you could put that $70 towards a second lens; the 18-55 IS. So, you would have a nice entry-level body, a tack-sharp 50mm 1.8 prime, and an image stabalized 18-55, which will come in handy for those landscape/nature shots you mentioned.



Oh, and get yourself a nice, sturdy tripod for even sharper images.

[Evenflow]

Oh, I agree completely. Regardless of if you bought the body only or the kit, I would still get the 1.8 prime. I just meant that you could put that $70 towards a second lens; the 18-55 IS. So, you would have a nice entry-level body, a tack-sharp 50mm 1.8 prime, and an image stabalized 18-55, which will come in handy for those landscape/nature shots you mentioned.



Oh, and get yourself a nice, sturdy tripod for even sharper images.

ya definitely want to look into getting a tripod too

[Asad_A203]

How is the 18-55mm lens? Found that cam and lens for less than $400...which looks like a steal

Here are some of my pics with the 18-55mm; not sure what they are compared to other lens but it does fine for me:













Everyone seems to really like the 50m prime lens; so I might pick that up next (they have the cheap Canon plastic body one for $80).

[Evenflow]

So what would be the major difference between that lens, and the 50mm lens?

[holland_patrick]

the F stop as you get smaller. you get less that`s in focus.



here you see the focus on the u and the rest is falls off..









Photo Description



File Name: IMG_5494.jpg Taken With: Canon Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL ...

File Size: 153 kb - 864x576 Taken On: 2006:04:09 04:48:28

Camera Make: Canon Camera Model: Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT

Date/Time: 2006:04:09 04:48:28 Resolution: 864 x 576

Flash Used: No Focal Length: 50.0mm (35mm equivalent: 81mm...

CCD Width: 22.20mm Exposure Time: 0.0003 s (1/4000)

Aperture: f/2.0 ISO Equiv.: 200

Whitebalance: Manual Light Source: Daylight

Metering Mode: matrix Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)

[drew.haynes]

Differences...



Cons of the 50mm:

It`s a prime, so one focal length - can`t drop down to 18mm like on the other lens.



Pros of the 50mm:

It`s a prime, so like most, very sharp.

It goes to a 1.8 aperture, vs the 3.X max aperture of the 18-55 IS (which would have a max aperture of only 5.6 @ 50mm!)

Great color.

F`ing cheap for a lens of it`s IQ



Another thing about IS.. it only compensates for a certain level of shake. Lots of times it`s worth about 2 stops. In other words... say you can take a shot "shake-free" at f4.5 with an IS lens in a given environment. Well a non-IS lens can shoot that same shot in the same environment "shake-free" at about f2.5. So comparing the 50mm prime with a f1.8 max aperture to an 18-55 IS (which has a max aperture of F3.5-F5.6 depending on the zoom), the f1.8 should always be as SHAKE-FREE, assuming you shoot it 2 f-stops lower. And of course the sharpness and color will be better with the 50mm. Having much larger possible apertures will frequently reduce your need for a tripod too. You`ll get much quicker shutters at say 50mm and f2.5 than you would with the IS lens shooting only f5.6 or higher at 50mm.

[Evenflow]

Great OK enough questions for now. I think I have tired all of you out with these questions haha.



Once I sell my powershot, I am going to pick up the XT and the 50mm f/1.8 EF

[holland_patrick]

don`t for get the 17-40 F4L,100-400L,200 2.8L,and the sigma 30,and soon to be 50 1.4



Oh and the 1 D mark IIN..





oh wait that`s my kit...

[4fit?]

don`t for get the 17-40 F4L,100-400L,200 2.8L,and the sigma 30,and soon to be 50 1.4



Oh and the 1 D mark IIN..





oh wait that`s my kit...

Damn!!! Nice gear!

[4fit?]

Differences...



Cons of the 50mm:

It`s a prime, so one focal length - can`t drop down to 18mm like on the other lens.



Pros of the 50mm:

It`s a prime, so like most, very sharp.

It goes to a 1.8 aperture, vs the 3.X max aperture of the 18-55 IS (which would have a max aperture of only 5.6 @ 50mm!)

Great color.

F`ing cheap for a lens of it`s IQ



Another thing about IS.. it only compensates for a certain level of shake. Lots of times it`s worth about 2 stops. In other words... say you can take a shot "shake-free" at f4.5 with an IS lens in a given environment. Well a non-IS lens can shoot that same shot in the same environment "shake-free" at about f2.5. So comparing the 50mm prime with a f1.8 max aperture to an 18-55 IS (which has a max aperture of F3.5-F5.6 depending on the zoom), the f1.8 should always be as SHAKE-FREE, assuming you shoot it 2 f-stops lower. And of course the sharpness and color will be better with the 50mm. Having much larger possible apertures will frequently reduce your need for a tripod too. You`ll get much quicker shutters at say 50mm and f2.5 than you would with the IS lens shooting only f5.6 or higher at 50mm.

Nice explanation Drew! :chuckle: