Canon EOS question.

[Brahan]

Hello everyone.

I don't normally frequent this part of the site, in fact the last time I did was about a year ago. I asked for advice on what camera would best suit my budget and after your suggestions I was torn between a Nikon or a Canon. I plumped for the Canon 500d and since then it has delivered pictures that are so much better than what I could muster up from the usual compact cameras I was struggling with for years. So, thanks for the pointers

Like cycling though, I want to upgrade my gear. Does anyone have any experience with upgrades for this camera? I'm after a lens and a flash to help get better pictures. I know this is like asking, "Should I get a bike with drop handle bars or keep my manky old mountain bike?'' but I'm really keen to take the next step in terms of kit and the last time I came here there some pretty sound discussion that led to a fabulous purchase, so it's over to you.

Cheers

 

[nickprior]

Can you tell us a bit more? Like what sort of photography you like doing, and where do you show/look at your pictures eg on screen, printed, exhibited in a club etc. What lens you have now, what you like about it and what you don't.

In general and based on my history with the 350d (now have a 5d), I started spending money on good lenses that I could sensibly use on more expensive cameras. I quickly realised that I would end up with 5d so started saving and spending on L glass in the focal lengths that made sense for my type of pictures. While they were a little bit of overkill on the 350 they did work ok!

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Without knowing the lens you are using and the purposes for which you are using it makes it difficult to answer your question.

Assuming you are using the kit lens which came with the camera, your upgrade could well consist of the EF-S 15-85 3.5-5.6 IS USM. It is a compact lens which can give excellent results provided you are aware of its limitations, and is a good all round walk about lens.

Sorry I can't recommend a flash unit as I rarely use my built in version let alone a separate item.

 

[Brahan]

Thanks nickprior.
My shots are a mix of social events, nights out, parties etc and the great outdoors.

I have: the kit lens that came with the body: 18-55mm. a 55-250mm telescopic and an EFS 60mm Macro.

The only flash is the inbuilt one.

Eventually I want to print some onto canvass for presents and to stick up on our walls here too but I just don't think the quality is there yet.

I hope it's not wanting just for the sake of wanting because I can't afford to waste cash on stuff I'm not going use, but I'm using the camera more and more and am starting to feel that something else could help improve, you know what I mean??

 

[Andy_R]

I have this lens on my 30D for day to day shooting, and it's absolutely cracking. I also have this macro lens, and this wide angle lens. TBH, that's all I need, along with a selection of filters, and it suits what I do.

 

[Norm]

Some idea of your chosen subjects would help decide whether to recommend an 18mm f2.8, a 50mm f1.4 or a 500mm f4. If you are looking at quality and learning, a prime lens will help, IMO. Small and easy to use and they force you to have a think about the shot rather than just point, twist and click.

For flash guns, Canon, Nissin, Metz (Mecablitz, please!) but, again, without knowing your requirements, it's tough to choose between small and compact and a beefy unit which will light up the Albert Hall.

Edited as you added more info
I'd definitely recommend a prime lens, then. Something around 28mm to 35mm will capture a variety of indoor stuff and pull in a lot of landscapes.

Small flash, something discrete but powerful enough to bounce of nearby walls and / or ceilings.

 

[nickprior]

The zooms you already have will be fine for landscapes especially if you stop them down to f8 or so and use a low-ish ISO setting. Even better get a tripod remembering to switch off the IS if the lenses have it. This will produce pretty sharp images up to A4 and acceptable to A3 and beyond, but not much further without further manipulation. Only when you have really exhausted the possibilities should you think about upgrading to some L glass like a 17-40 (which you would still need to stop down for really great sharpness.

For the candids of people I'd be looking to get a lens that will enable you to reduce the background to a blur by using a wide f stop (f2 or so), and at the same time make it more reasonable to do away with the flash more often. A 50mm lens, either the 1.4 or the cheaper but better value 1.8, would be a good short tele on your camera but you'd need to be quite close in to make best use of it. Something like a 28mm or thereabouts, or the 80mm f1.8 depending how close you are comfortable getting to people would be good things to investigate. All these options would work fine on full frame cameras in the future so a good investment if you go that far.

As you can tell I agree with idea of a prime for candids. Zooms don't work fast enough; use your feet to frame and some would say use your feet to focus too! All things being equalk primes will produce sharper pictures than zooms.

Flash guns - this is more mechanical. Check out how far you want the light to throw and select one according to that. Just remember that a flashgun on top of the camera makes it an unwieldy thing generally. Nights out? Wouldn't be my choice unlesss taking pro shots.

Its just like cycling though. The best bang for my buck is to lose weight not splash the cash on a carbon frame. Photography likewise. Make sure you have picked up all the technique tips you can find such as exposing to the right of the histogram before splashing the cash. Don't forget to check out composition tips and photo editing tutorials (eg sharpening) techniques as well. You may be pleasantly surprised what you can do with the current set up.

Oh, and take lots and lots of pictures, and really look at them! Especially in the corners!

 

[Brahan]

Wow, loads to think about, thank you. I hadn't even considered some of the stuff that's been written here. Primes, I take it are lenses that are just in focus the whole time, rather than a shifting (timely) zoom?

So the answer it seems, is that I need to get a better understanding of what I have.

Anywhere for picture crit? I'm happy to get shot down, if it'll get better results.

 

[Fletch456]

+1 To what Nickprior said.


I used to be into photography years ago and had only prime lenses such as 50mm f1.8, 28mm 2.8, 100mm 2.8, 200mm f2.8. Well still have as I haven't got rid of them or the Canon T90 and 300TL flash. The flash is very good and in time, when you get into it it's worth investing in a very good one.

Now I've a Canon 550D and a 70-200mm f4 L series and the standard lens that came with it - which I will replace. The lenses and equipment generally have improved massively and love the 70-200 and don't necessarily see myself buying telephoto lenses.

For indoor photos and many general snaps I found the 50mm too close and liked to fit more in with the 28mm and changes to composition I could make. Found it easier to get the pictures I wanted. If you want to get fussy about faces 100mm was previously the globally recommended focal length for the best representation - for example 28mm will give a bit of distortion to faces close up every time.

It's worth noting the digital era means the focal lengths need to multiplied by 1.6 for the equivalent in old money. So 100mm in old money is equivalent now of about 60mm and 28mm is about 18mm.

 

[Fletch456]

Anywhere for picture crit? I'm happy to get shot down, if it'll get better results.

If you posted one or two on CC and asked, am sure you'd get a few gentle critiques without them being too critical for starters.

I am happy to and to pass on some advice.

 

[ttcycle]

Fletch..just a correction on your last sentence - it's not a digital issue - it's the fact that Canon cams apart from 5d upwards are not full frame. That 1.6 magnification ie a 50mm is actually closer to 90mm is down to the fact that cameras come with cropped sensors.

If you want to teach yourself to take better pictures - get in close with a wide for your events and go for the primes options as described above in portraiture.

It's hard to advise as to specific kit recommendations - I work as a pro photographer so my requirements are different to your ones - I would probably need to bolt it down and see some of your work to get and idea of what you shoot and how it's limited. Whether it is as you describe limitations of the kit or other reasons.

If you want to upgrade your cam in the future to 5d then get EOS lenses but if you want some good glass and not necessarily to get another cam then stick with the system specifically for the 500 cameras EOS S? forget what it's called

One last edit; Flashguns - power and unit type, handsfree etc this needs a discussion of it's own- what you want to light, how you want to light it, what creative effects you want etc etc...

L lenses always..usually - but that's big bucks!

 

[Fletch456]

Fletch..just a correction on your last sentence - it's not a digital issue - it's the fact that Canon cams apart from 5d upwards are not full frame. That 1.6 magnification ie a 50mm is actually closer to 90mm is down to the fact that cameras come with cropped sensors.

I was using shorthand cos of it being a cropped frame issue though, may be showing my getting back into photography ignorance here, it's not a Canon camera thing only issue is it?

 

[ttcycle]

I was using shorthand cos of it being a cropped frame issue though, may be showing my getting back into photography ignorance here, it's not a Canon camera thing only issue is it?

No - the entry level cameras for other brands have a crop sensor as well-it's not the same 1.6 size though.

 

[Norm]

I was using shorthand cos of it being a cropped frame issue though, may be showing my getting back into photography ignorance here, it's not a Canon camera thing only issue is it?

tt's right, it's a sensor thing, not a digital thing and it's not just Canon. Nikon (uh oh, Shimano vs Campag debate ahead ) D300 and lower have smaller DX sensors but the D700 and above have full size.

 

[Brahan]

Ok, so I've decided to keep what I have and just learn how to use it better. Realistically, it's cheaper and will hopefully provide better pictures in the long run. The fact is, having read up a tiny little bit, I'm now 100% confident that I have no clue about the subject of photography. Still though, it doesn't stop me from wanting to buy all the fancy gear