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Author Topic: New lens or new DSLR kit  (Read 2051 times)

Kade

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New lens or new DSLR kit
« on: April 18, 2015, 05:23:26 pm »

Hello all and thank you for help in advance.

I'm a photographer by hobby and use a canon t3i with the kit lens. I like landscape photography the most and wanted to get a good set up. I'm  torn between getting the canon eggs 10-18mm f4.5-5.6 is stm lens or a new camera kit possible Nikon since  supposedly it's a better camera for landscaping my budget is around  1k but if I just need the lens I would save the rest.

Thank you.
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sdwilsonsct

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Re: New lens or new DSLR kit
« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2015, 11:55:32 pm »

New kit is a nearly-infinite treadmill, whereas a wide-angle lens will be an immediate step into new possibilities. Your current camera is probably more than good enough to keep refining your abilities.

Kade

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Re: New lens or new DSLR kit
« Reply #2 on: April 19, 2015, 01:57:41 pm »

Thank you, do you think the lens I mentioned is the best choice within 500$ price range to go with ?

EFS 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM?
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Les Sparks

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Re: New lens or new DSLR kit
« Reply #3 on: April 19, 2015, 02:26:48 pm »

Photography is a hobby for me as it is for you.
I've gone through the same quandary as you--upgrade Ti1 or new lens. I decided that I would get more image quality improvement with new lens then new camera. I replaced the kit lens with 80-200mm F4 L lens and noticed improved quality.  I've since then added a sigma 150-500mm and a couple more L class lenses.
My Ti committed suicide by falling into a creek (with me holding it) so I had to upgrade to Ti5. I don't see any real improvement in image quality from the Ti5.
I was tempted to move to Nikon when they first announced the high megapixel cameras a few years ago, but decided I had too much invested in Canon glass to make the move. I didn't think that the difference between 15 Mp and 24 MP was enough to justify the move. My own gut feeling then and now is that a move to about 32 Mp would probably make a move worthwhile.
Les
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sdwilsonsct

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Re: New lens or new DSLR kit
« Reply #4 on: April 19, 2015, 02:35:00 pm »

Thank you, do you think the lens I mentioned is the best choice within 500$ price range to go with ?

EFS 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM?

As with kit, there is a nearly-infinite range of improvements to buy.

My second DSLR lens was the older 10-22 mm. I found it very satisfying.

So I would read the reviews and decide whether it is good enough, keeping in mind that most kit is better than most photographers.  ;)

Kade

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Re: New lens or new DSLR kit
« Reply #5 on: April 19, 2015, 02:36:30 pm »

Les,

Thank you for your post. One question it looks like you have a few zoom lenses I was having hard time with my kit lens to frame landscape and did not have to much room to back up to. Are you doing more of animals or close up nature shots or it just happened to be that these are the only ones that you mentioned.

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Kade

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Re: New lens or new DSLR kit
« Reply #6 on: April 19, 2015, 02:39:40 pm »

Sdw,

Those are some great pictures!!! Is that with the 10-22 lens also the one with lake rocks is that with a filter ?
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sdwilsonsct

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Re: New lens or new DSLR kit
« Reply #7 on: April 19, 2015, 04:43:03 pm »

Thanks, Kade.

Island is from a pocket-sized Canon S100 at 24 mm equivalent. It is hand-held HDR on a very clear lake at dusk, no filter.

Taking off from Les' suggestions, Hans Kruse on this site induced me to make a 70-200 mm my third lens. This is good for pulling in distant interesting bits of landscapes, especially in the mountains.
« Last Edit: April 20, 2015, 02:10:59 pm by sdwilsonsct »
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graeme

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Re: New lens or new DSLR kit
« Reply #8 on: April 20, 2015, 05:56:15 am »

The Canon 70 - 200 f4 will get you excellent image quality for a reasonable price. It feels like a solidly built lens too.

Graeme
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spidermike

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Re: New lens or new DSLR kit
« Reply #9 on: April 20, 2015, 06:29:24 am »

The T3i is an excellent camera - Canon senors have not improved a whole lot since then and a Nikon in your price range wil not, IMO, be much better.

How often do you want a wider angle? if it is occasional than maybe panorama stitching is a way to try it out before you spend a wholeheap of cash on a new lens: even on APS-C cameras a lens in the 10-xx range is quite a specialised beast in tha tyou need to be very careful how you set it up to avoid 'samey' shots (I have spoken with a few popel who bought it and sold it for that very reason) so the mantra for ultra-wides can be very misplaced.

When I travelled for 2 years in Asia/Australasia the widest lens I had on my film camera was 28mm (24mm was an expensive luxury at that time) and even now looking at my slides I have never thought 'I wish I had gone wider'. That 28mm on film is equivalent to your current 18mm on the T3i so my advice is to take it steady. With digital now a majority of my landscapes are taken with my 70-200 f4L lens.

Do you have other equipment you need first: tripod, polariser, remote release etc?



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maddogmurph

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Re: New lens or new DSLR kit
« Reply #10 on: April 20, 2015, 01:16:52 pm »

If I had $1,000 and was starting out, I'd buy the XT1 with the 16-55.  The nice thing about buying lenses though, is generally they don't degrade much in value.  I'd suggest you move towards the lenses rather than the camera.  If you don't like the lens or want to upgrade because you've got more money, you can easily ebay lenses, and move towards your goal.  Digital camera's however tend to devalue as soon as the next new digital camera is released.

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Maddog Murph
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Les Sparks

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Re: New lens or new DSLR kit
« Reply #11 on: April 20, 2015, 01:55:14 pm »

Kade,
My lens choices are based on what I have going on a a particular time. The 70-200mm f4 L  works well for when we're kayaking
The sigma I got  take photos  for a trip we were taking to the NC coast to see wintering wild fowl.
The 24-105 mm L is a great general purpose lens. It gets most use now in trying to keep up with my grandsons.
I also have an EF-S 10-22 mm wide zoom that I've found useful. All of these lenses, except the 10-22, can be used on Canon full frame cameras if and when I decide on such an upgrade.
My photography is more or less general landscape and grandsons with occasional birds and other wildlife and my lens collection seems to meet these needs quite well. Most of these lenses cost around $1,000 or so. So they're more or less at the top of my budget and from what you've written your budget.
The sigma is the least used of my lenses and often doesn't even make the trip. But it is nice to have when we go to see wintering wild fowl.
I like taking the wide angle lens out to play with for a day every so often because it gives a unique perspective on things.
Les
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Kade

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Re: New lens or new DSLR kit
« Reply #12 on: April 20, 2015, 02:11:24 pm »

I got the new lens... Got the 10-18 get more in kit for 249€ so I'm happy if the sun is out on the weekend will get some Pictures of Munich

Thanks for all the help
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Les Sparks

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Re: New lens or new DSLR kit
« Reply #13 on: April 20, 2015, 04:26:43 pm »

Enjoy the new lens. Don't wait for the sun--get out even if it's raining.
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sdwilsonsct

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Re: New lens or new DSLR kit
« Reply #14 on: April 20, 2015, 08:54:54 pm »

Have fun. Munich! I'm jealous, so many subjects.
« Last Edit: April 20, 2015, 09:57:55 pm by sdwilsonsct »
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