Camera experts... What to get for first SLR??

[pearl3]

anyone heard about the lumix GF1...are they any good?

[blankets3]

best wide angel i could find is...

http://www.mikewilde.com/wp-content/...2fet-kopia.jpg

but on a serious note

dx nikon 18 - 200

[Xerox]

but on a serious note

dx nikon 18 - 200

First off, she's Canon, not Nikon.

But even if you suggested the Canon 18-200 it would be no wider than the kit lens that she has now.

[Xerox]

Wikkid feedback. Thanks everyone.

Sorry I forgot to mention that yes it did come with the 18-55mm lens.

Photography will mainly include cars (LOL); i.e. rolling shots, engine bays. Typical car shoots. I decided I want to invest in a wide angel lens so what does everyone recommend?

If you want something wider than your 18 - 55mm then you're looking for an ultra wide angle.

Here are some of your options...they're not cheap and don't forget about the 1.6 crop factor.

Canon 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5
approx. $900.00 CAD

Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8
http://www.tokinalens.com/products/t...16prodx-a.html
approx. $650 CAD

Sigma
10-20mm f/4-5.6
approx. $650.00 CAD

Tokina 12-24 f/4
http://www.tokinalens.com/products/t...4prodx2-a.html
approx. $450.00 CAD

[blankets3]

First off, she's Canon, not Nikon.

But even if you suggested the Canon 18-200 it would be no wider than the kit lens that she has now.

tushay, that was kinda a stupid comment by me ... :\

so i guess ill just go back to looking at funny pictures on the internet

[MAZDA Kitten]

Canon 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5
approx. $900.00 CAD

Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8
http://www.tokinalens.com/products/t...16prodx-a.html
approx. $650 CAD

Sigma
10-20mm f/4-5.6
approx. $650.00 CAD

Tokina 12-24 f/4
http://www.tokinalens.com/products/t...4prodx2-a.html
approx. $450.00 CAD

Ouch
Ouch
Ouch.
okay $450 not so bad

Thanks!

[KenYork]

Using an ultra-wide lens takes lots of getting use to. Not really a beginner type lens as it will stretch your lines(perspectivly). There isn't any much wider lenses than an 18mm zoom that is in a good price range. Most decent lenses start $500 upward.

The kit lens(IMO) is still the best beginner lens. Enough for decent pics, usually wide enough. focus on using the lens you have now and adapt it to your needs.

If you really want another lens get the Canon 50mm 1.8mkII (~$120). If you can walk about using only the 50mm, you're doing really well. It's hard to do caus you'll always want more flexability with the lens(more restricting than the kit lens).

Getting into using a DSLR is an expensive hobby. Especially when you want more and more.
...Tripod $200, new lens $500+, UVfilter $80, flash $300.
Almost as expensive as a modding a car, not so much in maintanence though.

[MAZDA Kitten]

So is a fisheye the same thing as a wide angle?

[Marvintpa]

A fisheye is not quite the same as a wide angle.

A fisheye is considered an ultra-wide and will have a great deal more distortion, dramaticaly curving straight lines, with more curvature towards the edges of the frame. For the types of shots you describe a fisheye is not a particularly good choice.

Those who suggested sticking with the kit lens for awhile are right on the money given what you want to shoot and how far along the learning curve you're likely to be. It's not the best lens in the world but it is capable of taking excellent photos. Only once you are intimately familiar with what that lens can and can't do would I recommend getting more glass.

[-RJ3-]

Im going to rent out the wide angle at Vistek.. Very similar to the ones xerox was posting. 36.00 per day.. gonna use it for the weekend...NAIAS at Detroit!!!!

[huyzel]

I have the 10-22...
I also hear great things about the Tokina 11-16, however, it's very difficult to find stock or even used.

[huyzel]

anyone heard about the lumix GF1...are they any good?

I've tried my friend's GF1
Awesome device. very sleek and sexy.

[bluntman]

I want a GF1, but I don't know if I can really go back to a cropped sensor.

[MAZDA Kitten]

Im going to rent out the wide angle at Vistek.. Very similar to the ones xerox was posting. 36.00 per day.. gonna use it for the weekend...NAIAS at Detroit!!!!

Oh no way! I had no idea you can rent from Vistek. Thats wikkid!

[huyzel]

I want a GF1, but I don't know if I can really go back to a cropped sensor.

a 2X crop!

[Pariah]

MK, you've probably already thought of this, look at Craigslist/Kijiji for your lenses. You take your chances with the postings, but deals can be found. Just remember to bring a good bright flashlight or something to check the lenses with.

[kid_icarus]

MK, you've probably already thought of this, look at Craigslist/Kijiji for your lenses. You take your chances with the postings, but deals can be found. Just remember to bring a good bright flashlight or something to check the lenses with.

or bring your camera with you and try the lens out
that's what one of my buyers did when i sold him a telephoto

[Pariah]

Ouch
Ouch
Ouch.
okay $450 not so bad

Thanks!

The Tokina 12-24 is a pretty good lens for the money. I have the Nikon mount version. Works well and at half the price of Nikon's. YMMV with the Canon version, but I don't see how the optics would be different.

Ditto what Ken stated, an ultra-wide takes time to learn how to use properly. They really aren't really meant to be used to get more "stuff" in the frame, they're meant more to create more dramatic perspectives and to highlight "space".... Hard for me to put into words.... I give up at this point. Someone else have better words?

[Pariah]

or bring your camera with you and try the lens out
that's what one of my buyers did when i sold him a telephoto

Excellent idea, bringing the camera, I was so intent on checking for fungus, dust, scratches and other similar things that I forgot the camera. Since you bring up the camera, maybe bringing a notebook as well to transfer the image onto so you can zoom in and look to see if there are other problems. Check EXIF info etc.

[MAZDA Kitten]

Wait... fungus? How do I check with a flashlights? I have a little led flashlight keychain.. will that 'work'

[nitsuji]

Have you looked at places in the US that ship to canada for your lenses? It may actually work out cheaper for you after customs etc...

42nd street photo
B&H

I bought my 28-135mm for almost half the retail price here, brand new. I was already in NY, so it made the deal even sweeter (customs dodge *ahem*) =P. If you're going down to the US anytime soon, I'd say wait it out.

[Xerox]

Wait... fungus? How do I check with a flashlights? I have a little led flashlight keychain.. will that 'work'

Not sure how well that would work since it may not be bright enough and the light from the LED might not be wide enough to cover the entire lens.

But are fungus and mold really an issue? It's not terribly humid here. Especially with lenses that are not that old (assuming you will get EF-S lenses). It's still something to look for as part of inspecting a used lens but I wouldn't be too concerned about it.

http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.a...no=194&pgno=11

[Xerox]

Have you looked at places in the US that ship to canada for your lenses? It may actually work out cheaper for you after customs etc...

42nd street photo
B&H
...

This is a pretty good website for photo equipment prices. Shows Canadian and US stores (including B&H). Automatically calculates shipping, taxes, exchange rate, etc.

http://www.photoprice.ca/

[ShortBus]

if anyone is interested dell is having a decent sale on the xsi with 18-55mm lense for $599, http://accessories.dell.com/sna/prod...1&sku=A2419947

[Pariah]

Not sure how well that would work since it may not be bright enough and the light from the LED might not be wide enough to cover the entire lens.

But are fungus and mold really an issue? It's not terribly humid here. Especially with lenses that are not that old (assuming you will get EF-S lenses). It's still something to look for as part of inspecting a used lens but I wouldn't be too concerned about it.

While it is true that it isn't too humid here in the GTA, a lot of times people go to the sunnier climes while on vacation. And not everyone may be as careful as Xerox in taking care of their things. I've seen examples of lenses less than a year old in the GTA that have an excellent crop of "crap" growing in them. Some folks just don't care about their gear.

A keychain LED flashlight probably won't work. One of the 2 x AA mini Maglites will do the job just fine.

YMMV