I have a minor problem. I bought my camera (a Canon 400D) mainly due to my friend telling me he had a whole bunch of accessories he could send me, including the kit lens, CF card, spare battery etc....anyway, nearly 3 months on and he hasn't sent them and another friend who was kind enough to lend me a kit lens now needs it back.
I've bought myself the 50mm f1.8 lens as I'd read so many good things about it on here, but without the kit lens I'm going to be restricted.
I'm on a budget, so can't afford to spend fortunes on lenses, so my question is, would you buy another 18-55mm kit lens, or would you buy something else?
I think the 18-55 is a good all-round lens, and so I'd consider getting it as a first-off purchase. This may be a stupid question but have you tried contacting your friend who said he'd send you all the accessories? Because you don't want to buy something only to have him give it to you for a fraction of the price. But you don't want to have to wait around for him either.
The standard (non IS) 18-55 kit lens is not that great, better to avoid it, unless it's being given away.
I bought the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8 Macro lens to replace my kit lens, as it had a good range, decent macro capabilities, and at f/2.8 it's nice & fast too.
My recommendation would be that it's better to stick to the 50mm & save up for a decent lens such as the Sigma I've suggested (obv. lots of other options are out there...) than rush in & pick up a lens that's not as good just to get one sooner.
ok ermmm ..... i have no issues with my 18-55 mm kit lens and i actually love it but i have nothing to compare it to :( .... but if it helps every single shot of mine is done with 18-55
@pocketmouse I've contacted him several times, and he has now twice promised faithfully he will post them....to no avail, annoying and frustrating though this may be, it means I can't rely on him sending it now, I've been waiting since the middle of January! @sburbidge I'd love a macro lens, but they do seem expensive! @flamez I love my 50mm and mostly use that, and do use the kit lens when I need to get closer, I like the lens, which is why I asked :)
@minxymissk ~ i want a macro lens too but the price also puts me off :( think im going to invest in some of those cheap close up filters they look like they work well :)
It depends what you want to photograph, I really only use my 18-55 mm kit lens if im doing landscapes. Most of my shots are taken with my 50mm f1.4 and 2nd to that I use my 55-250mm kit lens which is quite good for a kit lens. So unless you want to take lots of landscape photo's I dont think its worth it IMO
@flamez The sigma one (which two friends have now also recommended on FB) is £300+, just can't justify that right now! @triptych_angel I do like a landscape, but I'm still learning really, I haven't found my area of expertise yet (if I ever will).
Pass on the kit lens. Its fine for what it is, but once you start using it, you'll quickly see how much "better" your 50mm is. Its faster. You just have to zoom with your feet. I say save the money, as has been mentioned, and look for something else.
If you really want a kit lens, you can pick one up off of ebay rather cheap.
Although the kit lenses do a good job in introducing you to many aspects of photography, I'd follow Steven's advice and try and save up to acquire a better performing lens for yourself. It's been my experience that kit lenses are good to begin with, but you end up getting bored of them because of some of their limits. If you just plan on using your lens for sporadic shooting, than get the kit lens. If you plan on improving your creativity in capturing images that show a better level of understanding, than save up and get a lens that will grow with you and compliment the images you've already taken. Some suggestions:
EFS 10-22
EF 24-105L
EF 100-300
If you can afford it, the 15-85mm lens is probably the best all-round canon lens along with the 17-55mm f/2.8 (that's not an 'L' lens). It's a toss-up between range or how much light your lens can let in. I use an external flash, so I went for the 15-85mm and I love it.
Thank you everyone for your advice, looks like skipping the 18-55mm is the common theme here!
I'll have a browse through your suggestions, and prepare myself for some saving :)
just keep the 50mm and use that for a while. You really don't NEED the kit lens. The 50mm is a much better lens anyway. You might have some trouble in tight spaces, but other than that, you'll be fine. Just get used to moving your feet instead of your thumbs.....meaning.....walk around, get closer, move back, it makes you think about composition more.
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I bought the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8 Macro lens to replace my kit lens, as it had a good range, decent macro capabilities, and at f/2.8 it's nice & fast too.
My recommendation would be that it's better to stick to the 50mm & save up for a decent lens such as the Sigma I've suggested (obv. lots of other options are out there...) than rush in & pick up a lens that's not as good just to get one sooner.
@sburbidge I'd love a macro lens, but they do seem expensive!
@flamez I love my 50mm and mostly use that, and do use the kit lens when I need to get closer, I like the lens, which is why I asked :)
@triptych_angel I do like a landscape, but I'm still learning really, I haven't found my area of expertise yet (if I ever will).
If you really want a kit lens, you can pick one up off of ebay rather cheap.
EFS 10-22
EF 24-105L
EF 100-300
I'll have a browse through your suggestions, and prepare myself for some saving :)