are lens interchangeable between film and DSLR

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275 posts

Ultimate Geek

#529705 5-Oct-2011 17:10

The dealer I've been talking to is going to price the 600D with the 18 - 135 and the 25 - 250 lenses (either/or - he'll price both, but I'd buy only one).

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

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Disrespective

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Uber Geek

#529708 5-Oct-2011 17:18

I recommended the 600D to my 60+ year old father and he has been enjoying it immensely. It was his second digital camera but the first was an ancient Konica Minolta so that didn't really count.

I can't recall which lenses he has but I believe one is the 70-300 but he primarily uses one with <70mm zoom range.

I find my hands are too big for the grip on the Canon and I like the Nikon a lot more in that regard. The biggest reason I bought Nikon was that a friend had one and it was going to be easier for us to both learn the same system. It's worked well so far. So if I was in your position with your friend on a 60D then it would make sense for you to be on Canon too.

Camden

115 posts

Master Geek

#529797 5-Oct-2011 21:15

I am devastated that you have not gone for my suggestion of a Sony NEX7 !!!!

The Canon 600D looks like a splendid choice and it all comes down to a personal preference.You say you like the feel of the Canon and have seen the results of your friends camera so go for it and enjoy using it.

May I make one small suggestion though !! Some of the chain stores and also some specialist photo stores make up "price point" packages with say a Canon body but with an off brand lens like Sigma or Tamron etc. There is most probally nothing wrong with them but I personally would stick to Canon lens.They have always had a good reputation for quality.That comment comes from a died in the wool Pentax man.

I have just looked at the site www.dpreview.com and I see that Canon has listed a 18 to 135 and a 18 to 200 in the range you require.From my limited knowledge of lens consruction I would hazzard a guess that the shorter of the two would be the sweetest as far as performance would go.Perhaps someone like Timmmay would care to comment on that.

It would be interesting to hear in this thread what your final decission is

Regards

alasta

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#529803 5-Oct-2011 21:24

Camden: I am devastated that you have not gone for my suggestion of a Sony NEX7 !!!!

I'm sure that those mirrorless cameras are a great choice for some people, but personally I prefer the handling of something that I can wrap my hands around and have dedicated buttons for all of the main photographic controls.

I have just looked at the site www.dpreview.com and I see that Canon has listed a 18 to 135 and a 18 to 200 in the range you require.From my limited knowledge of lens consruction I would hazzard a guess that the shorter of the two would be the sweetest as far as performance would go.Perhaps someone like Timmmay would care to comment on that.

As a general rule, all other things being equal, fixed lenses tend to offer better image quality than zooms, and zooms with greater range tend to compromise on image quality. There are a lot of variables involved, though, so this is only a very general rule. There are some useful lens reviews on the site that you mentioned above, among others.

silverbirch

275 posts

Ultimate Geek

#529807 5-Oct-2011 21:46

I guess the fact that I am playing the Canon 60D tends to make me lean towards a Canon, though the 60D feels a bit heavy after a point and shoot :-) I haven't entirely made up mind yet, but I am wary of cheaper lens, as it seems from everything that I've read and heard, that compromising on lens quality is a serious mistake.

I did look at the reviews for the Nex 7, and am tempted, but of course none available to get my hands on.

Thanks all again for your input much appreciated.

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

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silverbirch

275 posts

Ultimate Geek

#530928 8-Oct-2011 16:26

In the end I bought the Canon 600D with the twin lenses (Canon), EFS 18 - 55 ISII, f/3.5 - 5.6; and EFS 55 - 250 f/ 4-5.6. So far I am rapt with the photos taken with the 18 - 55 lens, and hoping to try the zoom this afternoon, if the rain holds off!

Thanks again for all the information and help.

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

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timmmay

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#530935 8-Oct-2011 16:59

Zoom means a lens with no fixed photo length. The 18-55 is a standard zoom, the 55-250 is a telephoto zoom.

If you want to blur out the background a lot you'll want a fast prime, like a cheap 50 F1.8 ($200 or so), or the 85 F1.8, about $800. Those are the affordable options, there are heaps more that aren't so cheap.

Oh and you'll probably want a flash like the 430EX II...

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Jaxson

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#530965 8-Oct-2011 18:30

Congrats on the new purchase!

silverbirch

275 posts

Ultimate Geek

#530983 8-Oct-2011 19:47

timmmay: Zoom means a lens with no fixed photo length. The 18-55 is a standard zoom, the 55-250 is a telephoto zoom.

Oops - yes I meant the telephoto lens. It was overcast but I did use it, and am impressed at how it brings the subject in - not being used to such a large zoom.

If you want to blur out the background a lot you'll want a fast prime, like a cheap 50 F1.8 ($200 or so), or the 85 F1.8, about $800. Those are the affordable options, there are heaps more that aren't so cheap.

Oh and you'll probably want a flash like the 430EX II...

I took some photos of toadstools with the standard zoom and the background is quite blurred, but I certainly will be looking to get a lens for that purpose. Thanks for the suggestions, I'll make a note for when I can afford one.

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

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silverbirch

275 posts

Ultimate Geek

#530985 8-Oct-2011 19:47

Jaxson: Congrats on the new purchase!

Thanks - am already loving it!

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

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timmmay

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#531053 8-Oct-2011 23:11

silverbirch:
I took some photos of toadstools with the standard zoom and the background is quite blurred, but I certainly will be looking to get a lens for that purpose. Thanks for the suggestions, I'll make a note for when I can afford one.

At macro type distances (ie focusing close to the camera) the depth of field is very narrow. With portraits it won't be so much, unless the background is way behind the subject, and moreso if you use a long focal length.

There's a depth of field calculator here, if you want to have a play to see how things work

http://dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

Jaxson

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#531103 9-Oct-2011 08:57

And (if you have a Canon especially) then I'd highly recommend checking out some of the tutorials here. They are a modern quirky take on training / educating / stimulating you to get creative....

http://canon.com.au/worldofeos/learn/get-creative/

KennyM

221 posts

Master Geek

#531134 9-Oct-2011 10:37

If your running android there is a couple of Depth of Field apps.

But one I found really useful is Photograph Trainer. It costed about $5 or so, but was sooo worth it. With all the settings and being new, sometimes Id get something around the wrong way, and as ive always got my phone on me, ive found it great to just be able to pull it out and find what im supposed to be doing....Its really good and easy to use.

silverbirch

275 posts

Ultimate Geek

#531147 9-Oct-2011 12:23

Jaxson: And (if you have a Canon especially) then I'd highly recommend checking out some of the tutorials here. They are a modern quirky take on training / educating / stimulating you to get creative....

http://canon.com.au/worldofeos/learn/get-creative/

Thanks I was looking for Canon tutorials last night but didn't find any. Will check this out.

"Dance among the moonbeams, feel the magic in the air".

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Dynamike

167 posts

Master Geek

#531212 9-Oct-2011 17:49

If you find your 18-55 isn't quite wide enough for some landscapes, then I recommend photo stitching software. These programs join overlapping photos together to create a single panorama.

Microsoft Ice is free and easy to use. http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/ice/

Definitely cheaper than spending hundreds of dollars on a wide angle lens!

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