Beginner on Photography

[gavintan]

Hi Guys...I've jus bought a Cannon 400d SLR... I've been scouting for some lens...wat sort of lens u guys will recommend for an amateur photographer? Pls give me advice...i'm noob...:?

[Heintje]

Do you have any lens at the moment? Do you have any particular subject of interest like landscape, or portraits or macro? Generally I would suggest either starting with a 30 or 35mm prime or something like 1x-5xmm zoom then go out and shoot. Once you find the need of having a longer or better lens, that's the time you invest on more pricey lenses.

[ShaolinTiger]

Unless we know what you already have and what you are interested in shooting, we can't really help.

If you can answer this it would really help:

What limitations do you find with your current setup?

[gavintan]

oops...4got to mention wat lens i've at the moment...erm...i've got a Canon zoom lens EFS 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6...which is the canon lens kit which i bought in together with my 400d...

[Heintje]

Give that one a try first. I think a flash like the 430ex or 580ex will be more useful to you than a new lens if you are really just starting to explore photography.

[gavintan]

o ok...i was thinking of getting a wide angle lens to start out my photography hobby...can suggest a few for a newbie...dun hav ani price limitations...:D

[Heintje]

o ok...i was thinking of getting a wide angle lens to start out my photography hobby...can suggest a few for a newbie...dun hav ani price limitations...:D


your kit lens already covers wide angle.

[gavintan]

lol...told ya i'm newbie..eh do i need anithing to keep my SLR in shape like a camera cabinet etc.?

[ND40]

how often you use ur DSLR? if you always bring it out for a walk, then you can save your bucks. Unless you going to place it in your room for months and not touching it at all.

i'm actually using a big square container which is airtight one. Inside i had put a hippo with a pack of silica gel. This might not a proper way to store them, but it is better than nothing....

[Fishhook]

i agree new guy u buy flash or tripod first better..with that two things u can shot alot of things than decide later what u prefer to shot:redface:

[gavintan]

I tink i gonna bring my DSLR frequently out for shoots...to brush up my photography..Aniway wat's a big hippo? Lol..sounds kidda cute to me...aniway wat sort of lens u start up wif when u started wif photography?:D

i got tripod already...all came wif a package..but dunno wat to start wif...:?

[ND40]

the hippo actually is some sort of dehumidifier. Choose the one you prefer the most. A medium unit can probably last for 3 months or more....very dependent..

When i first start with DSLR, i bought my camera with kit lense and also a 50mm. I'm more into portraiture and landscape, but the macro in Shutter Asia had poison me. I wanna give it a try also.....ops.... more thing to add in the wish list...

For now, i would suggest you to get a flash. If you feel that you need wider lense, don't stop your self for getting one. Another man's food might be another's poison. Different individual has different preference, thus they need different lense. For now, stick to your kit lens, use the kit lens until you feel not enough.

my 2 cents.... hope it helps..

[Fishhook]

i also using kit lens..18mm-135mm. a 50mm. thats all for now..i ahh..buildings,landscape,insects..didnt shot people much as i think cant print big n put in house..hehe. what i plan to get ahh...a micro lens..either sigma 150mm or nikkor 105mm. a wide angle 10-20mm. than a 70-200mm. than slowly add on. just not much time to shoot recently so delayed getting it. some people dont have patient to shot micro but i like. i guess u shot something after sometime u know what interest u. some people just like to shot people. hehe. some buildings..some landscape. i like abstract also. surely something got u to buy camera. hehe.

[gavintan]

ic.I feel macro lens also veri shiok..can shoot more on bugs..get to know more about their bugs life..tml i need to go photograhy shop need to get some stuffs...do some last minute shopping..cuz gtg to UK back to uni..So start photography got ani books to recommend to build up good photography skills...i've got plenty of time to spend on photography....damn free nth to do as i'm a uni student...

[Fishhook]

in malaysia i find "digital camera magazine" and also "advance images photography" interesting magazine to buy. i do learn alot from it. :)

[gavintan]

Ic..eh thx a lot for all those info...:cool:

[g88]

As for me, i started with 50mm F1.8 and now got a medium telephoto..consider walkaround lens for me...next would be flash, tripod and telephoto :redface:

[sinister]

since u didn't tell us wat is ur preference... den i recommend the following:-

a) 70-200mm f2.8
b) 17-55mm f2.8

:run_away:

[andythology]

without having to read all the replies...

what's wrong with kitlens?

[matcom]

If u want to brush ur skill, u can browse through web. There're many web teach u some skill on anything for free. Furthermore u can learn through other photographers lens by studying their output/result. Experience shooters do show their way of snapping that sometimes we never think of. And stay with this place. So many things u can learn here. Creative + good commentary and decent sifu.:cool:

[gavintan]

I just bought a EFS 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM for 2.4k rm and a flash 580 exIII for 1.7k... Is the price alright? The lady at the photography shop recommend me to buy 70-200mm tele lens which cost bout 6420rm....wat u guys tink bout it?

[Fishhook]

without having to read all the replies...

what's wrong with kitlens?

nothing wrong at all, just that when u need the speed than 1.4 or 2.8 comes in handy thats all. :P