I am new to photography and I would like to know what would be a good, sharp lens for me to use?

I asked about a couple of weeks ago and some of you use Canon 50mm f/1.8. What type of shots is this lens use for? I shoot mainly close-ups, inside & outside.  I also shoot indoor & outdoor sports.  I've been asked to take some family/group photos (for friends). Will this lens work for the groups too? My pictures are sometimes not quite as sharp as I would like for them to be. This is a hobby for me & I am learning how to use my settings now. I have a Canon Rebel XT with the kit lens. I also have a 75-300 5.6 (something like that) lens.

Here are a few photo that I have done. Remember, I'm not a pro! I just used natural light from the window and my camera flash. These are not my best, but some I was playing with in photoshop. Please give me any advise you can!  http://good-times.webshots.com/album/557968511RTSAwm

Thanks in advance!!!

Joy

Well, you do a pretty wide variety of shots, so 1 lens may not be ideal for all your situations.  The 50mm 1.8 is a super fast lens (requiring little light) for the money.  But it is fixed at 50mm which is not always convenient.  It does a decent job but there are certainly sharper lenses out there.  Also, whenever lenses are talked about on here the issue of how much money you want to spend come into play.  The 75-300 you have will be good for outdoor sports, it's the same lens I use.  Again, not the best lens made but it will do.  The kit lens you have is not a sharp lens and pretty slow.

I think a lens you would love would be the Canon 24-70mm f2.8L.  Nice zoom range.  Fast at 2.8 constant aperture and the "L" glass is Canon's best.  Super sharp.  It runs $1125 at B&H.  I didn't want to spend that much money so I just purchased the Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 for around $400.  I'm happy with it so far.

This will give you a couple things to think about.  If possible, try to get fast glass so light won't be as big an issue for you.  I'm sure others will have their own advice too.  Good luck in your choice.

Also, I like your pictures.  Nice creativity.  They could be sharper, as you said.  Have you sharpened them in Photoshop?  That will make a huge difference.  You can use Unsharp mask to do this.

I agrree with sportsman, you can't go wrong with faster glass.  Depending on how much your budget will allow I would also recommend the 70-200 f2.8, whether or not you go for the IS is a matter of choice.  I have both lenses, the 24-70mm f2.8 and the 70-200mm f2.8 without the "IS" and I wouldn't trade them for anything.  Also, I like you photos as well.

Larry

I read in one of the forums that the person used a Tamron 28-75 2.8 for group shots also.  Is this also a good choice?  I know alot may depend on preference or what your shooting.

The cost is a factor in my case right now.  I don't have alot that I can spend but I don't want to get something that isn't any better than what I have (kit lens).  I also wasn't sure about the other brands.  I will check out the Tamron that you suggested.

As for my photo's, I didn't sharpen them in photoshop.  I am also learning how to use it.  I have similar graphics programs that I use for scrapbooking (photo impact), but I have just started using the photoshop and reading the tutorial that I find on the internet.

Thanks for your help !!! 

Joy

 

What is the difference between the Tamron and Sigma?  I know canon is best but where do these two fall?

Thanks in advance!

Joy

Joy:

What is the difference between the Tamron and Sigma?  I know canon is best but where do these two fall?

Thanks in advance!

Joy

It isn't entirely true that "Canon is the best" unless you are comparing apples and apples.  If you need a fast 100mm lens for example and you're comparing Canon, Sigma, and Tamron.  A Canon f/4 will not be "better" then a Sigma f/2.8 simply because it's a Canon.

That said, we only buy Canon glass for our Canon cameras but that's just a personal decision on our part.

As has been said, your shooting habits are so varied that there likely is not one lens that will do everything you would like.  The EF-S 18-55 is not a bad lens to have nor is a decent 75-300 medium speed (f/4 or 5.6).  From here you will want to define some specific goals and then select the lens that meets those goals.

Your vision and composition is very good.  It seems that you like to come in close on headshots for example.  For that you might want to try something in the 80mm range.  This will let you fill the frame with a face without being "in their face".  If you get a fast lens (f/2 or faster) then you can shoot with less light and possibly eliminate the harshness of a flash.  For this example you might want to look at the EF 85mm f/1.8 or even the f/1.2L mark II.  

Another example:  for group shots you want something that will give you a medium group from a reasonable distance.  You don't want to be right up on them or you'll distort and have no depth (say a 17mm from 5 feet) but you also don't want to be 25 feet away to get them all in the picture even though this would give a pretty natural look and decent depth (say the 85mm above).  Speeding the lens (f/2 or even f/4) might cut the depth so much that you can't get everyone sharp so about f/5.6 or even f/8 might be ideal depending on the shooting scenario.  Looking at these specifications (your requirements may be different), the best lens then would give us a zoom of somewhere about 18-55 and a speed of about f/4 (sound familiar).  Since many folks don't like the sharpness of the EF 18-55, we need to look at what else is in that range in the Canon arsenal.  The EF 24-70 f/2.8L is certainly a good choice in that range but not inexpensive.  It's generally the professional wedding group shooter of choice.  The EF 24-105 f/4L will give you this range AND the 85mm range in the example before (but at a cost of speed you need on that 85mm).  The EF-S 17-55 f/2.8 isn't any cheaper than some L glass but it too will get you in that group range very well.  It has the disadvantage of being EF-S which causes an issue if you later upgrade to a dSLR that won't handle EF-S.  Most of the other wide-normal zooms in the lineup are going to perform just about like the EF-S 18-55 that you already have...

This is how we pick a new lens.  We simply look at our requirements (focal length, specs, and speed) and then pick the best lens we can afford that meets that requirement.  The reason that there are so many lens choices is that there is not one lens that does everything exceptionally well.  You will probably find though that there is one small range of focal length (mm of lens) that you tend to stay in most of the time.  If you can determine what that is, pick the very best piece of glass you can get for that range.

Happy shooting... 

I like to shoot close-ups mainly but I would like to be able to do full body or even small groups.  So for the close ups its best to use up to an 85mm  and about f/1.8 or f/2.8 and for the groups (large groups mostly outside) use 85mm and up with 5.6 or higher?

I have some group shots that I took of my family before christmas.  They were outside and I used the timer on my camera so all of us could be in it.  They turned out ok but I didn't have the sharpness that I wanted to get. I will upload them in a bit and tell me what you think of them and what should I have done different.  I will post the settings I used.  It was probably on auto since I am just now learning the settings and I know I used the kit lens. 

I also purchased the Photography Bible today. So hopefully I will understand things better soon!!!

Thanks for any input !!!!!!

Joy

Here are some of the group photos. They have been down sized and cropped but nothing else.  (With the exception of the one that says final edit)  On my monitor they look dark, but when I print them they look ok.  I have to re-adjust my monitor.  http://good-times.webshots.com/album/558469290RuQExc

This is what I need the better lens for.  I would have sent the settings but I left them at my office. Sorry! The last one is dark in the face.  What should I have done?  It was shot outside during the middle of the day.  Again, the only flash was the camera flash.  What else could I have used? I am looking at buying the 420EX.  Would that have helped?

Any help is much appreciated !!

Joy "the newbie"

 

Your groups there seem to work fine (compositionally) with what you have.

Generally, for group photography, you want a lens that is wide enough that you can get a bit away from the subjects (so that you don't flatten the depth) but still not be so far away that you're in another town.

For these, I prefer something around 30mm or a zoom with a range of about 18-55mm (which coincidentally is the Rebel kit lens).  The EF 24-70 f/2.8L is often the professional lens of choice for group shots.  It's just over $1000.

The 50mm lens is a good all-around lens for any number of things.  It's wide enough to do a small group and focuses close enough that you can come in on a headshot.  At f/1.8 or 1.4 it's also fast enough that you can shoot in low light or get creative.  It's great for full-body shots.

The range from 85mm to 105mm will give you a really nice headshot but it's not so hot for a full body -- on a 1.6 camera it will require that you back away from the subject more than a little to get a good full body shot. 

If I could only have three prime lens lengths for portrait work, I'd go with a 30mm, 50 or 55mm, and an 85mm.  and would try to stay faster than f/2.8   The EF 24-70 f/2.8L is pretty close to that spec. and that's why it's the preferred shooter of many wedding pros.

When you find that you want to be further away but bring the subject in closer on the image, the EF 70-200 f/4L is another best-buy lens.  It's slower than the f/2.8 lenses but it's also much lighter.  At about $600 for a true professional lens, it should be on everyone's list IMHO.

So, if you could invest about $1600-1800 I'd suggest, in this order:

1) EF 50mm f/1.8

2) EF 24-70 f/2.8L

3) EF 70-200 f/4L

This would take care of most of the needs of a portraitist.  If, while you're learning, you can find lenses with about the same range and speed then they should serve you well.  Fact is though - nothing beats L glass and once you shoot with it, you won't want to use anything else. 

Joy, I sent you an e-mail hopefully you will get.  I think a lot of your issues with sharpness can be helped by sharpening in Photoshop.  Thanks

Sportsman, I am trying to send you the picture but my email is acting crazy right now.  I will keep trying till it goes through.

Thanks,

Joy

Hi....  Can you tell me what you think is the best lens for doing portraits?  I typically do pix of children, etc for people....  I have EF 17-40 mm f/4L USM Ultra-Wide Zoom Lens and have found that I have really used this alot lately.  Is this a good one for doing portraits of children, etc???  I am so completely new to this.  I love photography and am trying to learn and practice as much as I can.  I've been doing a little on the side, but have soooo much to learn.  I have learned alot lately just from this forum....  Any advise that you have is greatly appreciated.

 

Katie

I would recomend the Sigma Zoom Wide Angle-Telephoto 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG ($439 at B&H).  The new generation of Sigma EX glass has been compared to L glass by some reviews, popphoto and dpchallenges.  Of course 
the difference is focus speed and a small amount of edge softness at f2.8.  I have the 18-50mm 2.8 EX DC ($419 @ Adorama) and it is awesome.  In the PopPhoto bench tests, it actually out performed the L glass counterpart at controlling chromatic aborations. 
<P>
 As you may well know, many here are Canon only supporters, but with a price of 1/ the Canon version, I can live with the 
unnoticable shortcomings in the Sigma.
<P>
The only problem, which is not that big of problem, is that better glass, Sigma, Tamron, or Canon, is much heavier than you will be used to.  With a lighter
camera like the Rebel, it will at first seem very off balance.  But you will get used to it, especially when you see improved images.   

Get the Canon 600mm... very sharp... :)

Rionoir:

Get the Canon 600mm... very sharp... :)

Yea, but kinda slow, I'd opt for 200mm f/1.8 . . .

I have a canon 30D and I use the Tamron 28-75 f2.8 exclusively for everything . .. I've got weddings, sports groups, studio, individuals, and even sports with it . . . so it's a pretty all around universal lens that works great for me for lots of different type of shooting . . . I am in the market for a longer zoom now for just pleasure shooting and I think I've decided to get the 70-200 f4 for that . .. I've also contemplated the 85mm lens in a canon or the Tamron 90mm one for portrait work both indoor or out . . .

I meant to add ... when I use the 28-75 lens for shooting sports "action" I'm able to be right next to the action so a longer zoom isn't a requirement . .. if I were wanting to do football or seomthing like that where the action is further away this lens woudln't work well for me.. . but when just doing like sports team pics and individuals it works great even using my flash as fill . . .

hi.  thanks....  i've been looking around on the web for that ...  can you tell me difference between the that and the macro.  would the macro give me more sharpness for closer shots?

I could not help but notice upon reading many of your suggestions on which lens to buy that no one mentioned the 28-135mm. The lens that you often see as the kit lens with the Cannon 40D. I still have my old Cannon AE-1 that I bought new in 1979, I have a 135mm lens and it’s by far the most versatile lens I have ever owned, it’s great as a portrait lens. It’s great for sports action because it is easily hand held, at 5.6 fast enough for outdoors and brightly lit gyms and works well with a flash unit. I have as of yet to take the plunge into digital but will soon once I narrow down what I want. I love my old film camera and will continue to use it; however I am painfully aware that my equipment is obsolete.

 

I too am looking for a good universal lens to go with the digital I plan to purchase in the next month or so. I also do wildlife and have a 400mm lens for my AE-1. The AE-1 came with the standard 50mm and all of my additional lenses are third party (Vitar) I have been very happy with the Vitar lenses so I am more inclined to shop third party when looking at lens and accessories. I would like any suggestion that you experienced digital gods could offer.

 

Tanks,

 

Tom

 

Tom,

I'm sure if you make the move to digital with good equipment you'll love it and won't use the old film camera as much as you think.  I had a decent Nikon film camera and decided I may as well sell it shortly after going digital.  As for the 28-135 lens you mentioned, I'm sure it would be a great lens.  The only thing I would see as a negative is that it's not very fast at 3.5-5.6.  Especially for me, shooting a lot of sports, fast glass is a must.  As for brands, I have a 40D with two Canon lenses, a Tamron, and a Sigma.  I've had good luck with all of them.  Hope you move to digital soon and report back to us to let us know how it's going.

Hi Tom,

Most kit lenses are average at best, You will quickly learn that the lenses for digital capture need to be the best in order to capture truely sharp and images with great color and contrast... Most of canons prime lenses are very sharp, Zooms however are a different story, the L series zooms out perform the non L hands down.

Good luck with you move to digital..It is alot of fun with a hugh learning curve if you dont already know programs like photoshop.