Require Advise on purchase of 50D & Accessories

[xxhellinvaderxx]

I've decided to get a canon 50D body and an external flash, EX580II. But is it too overkill? Any better suggestion?

However, i am a beginner on DSLR. Not sure what lense to get. I'm into Landscape and Architecture photography.

For lense i have this in mind
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Can 50D support this lense? Or I can only get EF-S lense?

I've read the reviews and it seems like it's quite a good lense. In my opinion only. Thus, I need some comments or alternatives/better lense that could be introduced to me. Price hopefully less than 1k.


Thanks in Advance. =]

[shiruikage]

10-22 ftw.

[F34r]

you could get a 430EX flash instead. from the cash that you save, aim for a EF-S 17-55mm IS USM lens.

alternatively, you can choose to get 40D instead of 50D. i chose the former over the latter.

[imvane]

What's the overkill? I think if it is your first set of equipment, I reckon it is fine. It depends firstly on your budget and type of photography. Lens make a difference, so probably focus on the lens, which brings you a longer way into the "future". If you are into landscape shots, a wider lens may be recommended if you are considering using it on a crop body. But if you have mid term plans of changing to a full frame, then you should probably look at EF lenses instead. The other thing is that 580exII will give you more throw than the 430, so that is one consideration. Basically for me, good lens and flash is the groundwork on top of practice practice practice. Cheers.

[hammie]

There is not such thing as an overkill.... its only budget budget budget

[Kit]

If you are only into landscapes and buildings, why do you need a flash?

The 28-135 is a decent lens but you might miss the wide end on a cropped body. A wider lens would probably come in more handy for what you do but that depends on how much you can spend. Leave some money for a sturdy tripod and at least a 3 way pan/tilt head.

[Kit]

Originally Posted by xxhellinvaderxx Price hopefully less than 1k.

If you can max it out to 1k, get the 17-40 f4.

[Headshotzx]

Originally Posted by Kit If you can max it out to 1k, get the 17-40 f4.

I agree. Skimp on the flash (ie get 430EXII instead of 580EXII) for shooting your everyday stuff, and get a tripod (look over at newbie thread: Yong Nuo Tripods are being recommended) and get the 17-40L.

[lennyl]

Just want to answer one of your questions : 50D can use both EF and EF-S lenses. As well as any TS-E (tilt shift) and MP-E (1x - 5x macro).

I recall Kit has some great examples of architecture photography with a TS-E and full frame body (and that would totally blow your budget to bits), and someone else has some great examples of HDB flats with a 17-40mm (can't recall which camera body though).

The 10-22mm can be a very effective landscape lens. Distortion is a little too severe for architecture at the wide end IMHO.

BTW in the US the 50D is available with the 28-135mm as a kit if you're still set on that lens - not the best choice for landscape and architecture though. It's about $100 less than getting them separately. Might want to check if that is true in Singapore (or wherever you're located).

[AdyH]

Bro u will find tonnes of different setup being suggested. I recommend stick to wat ur budget permits. Get the best or e top of e line tat u can afford n dont worry abt being overkill. There's no such a thing wen in comes to getting equipment. Trust me 2 yrs fm now, u'l b swearing y u didnt get tis particular lens/flash/body n instead bought wat u bought today.

So make up ur mind on wat u need (not want), spend as much as ur budget allows u for tat need and start snapping.

Frankly speaking 28-135 is a good lens if u dont need really wide shots n e big constant F. Good to start with. Abt e flash, do u take lotsa indoors fotos? If not, then i suggest look at e wide lens 1st then only consider the flash if u'r into landscape. 580EX is superb. My principle is buy e best of e line today(tat u can afford) so tat u dont have to keep upgrading tmrw.

[spartacus.ret]

Originally Posted by xxhellinvaderxx I'm into Landscape and Architecture photography.

you could look into the sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 it is a slow aperture lens, but it has very low distortion for the architecture that you're looking to do. plus, its wide too for the landscapes.

[spartacus.ret]

Originally Posted by AdyH Trust me 2 yrs fm now, u'l b swearing y u didnt get tis particular lens/flash/body n instead bought wat u bought today.

that is not entirely true. as the camera companies keep putting out better lenses that are sharper, more contrasty, have less distortion, you'll be wanting to change lens anyway.

two years ago, there were no such thing as the ef-s 18-55IS, 55-250IS, 18-200IS. or even 14L II, 24L II, 16-35L II.

[xxhellinvaderxx]

glad to hear replies from you guys!

Well, maybe i missed out a bit. For the flash, it's because sometimes i do take group photos and such. From previous experience on my prosumer camera, my camera permits me to take far shots but my camera flash doesn't, thus it seems like a bottleneck for me and after changing to this kit. I do not want the same thing to happen again that's why i decided to get a external flash.

My budget would be about $3k+ 10% Max. for my camera and lens only. Not inclusive of dry cabi, bag and tripod. In which i guess total would be about 3.6k. My max i could go.
Camera 50D Body - $1700 SOng Brother
CAnon 580EX II - $715 Alan Photo
Would be about $2415 currently. Therefore i am left roughly 1k to spend on lense.

Is there any zoom lense out there that can accomodate wide angle as well as zooming?

And is it a must for canon 50D to have USM motor?
IS is it a factor to consider when looking at lense?

[xtn32]

USM (Ultrasonic Motor) feature is on the lens, not in the body. . . lenses with this feature focuses faster & more silent -> http://www.canon.com/technology/cano...ation/usm.html

IS does help eliminate camera shake (specially on the long end of zoom lenses), but it also depends on your holding technique as well.

[lennyl]

Originally Posted by xxhellinvaderxx Is there any zoom lense out there that can accomodate wide angle as well as zooming? And is it a must for canon 50D to have USM motor? IS is it a factor to consider when looking at lense?

1. Do you mean a wide angle zoom? A number of them. 17-55 f/2.8 IS, 18-55 IS (kit lens), 18-55 non IS (avoid), 17-85mm IS, 18-200mm IS, Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8, Sigma... For ultrawide there's 10-22mm and a few other 3rd party lenses.

2. No. USM is nice to have. It allows full time manual focus (no need to switch between AF and MF on lens) and focuses quieter and faster. But they're expensive and cheaper lenses generally do not come with it.

3. IS - depends on you. I think it is very nice to have. If your subject is moving, IS will not give you a clear shot (though your background will be clear).

[nigel84]

Did i see "Song Brothers"?

[xtn32]

for your 3.6k budget, here's a suggestion:

50D body
EF-S 10-22mm + decent filter
480exII
tripod (recommendation -> http://jl-photo.blogspot.com/search/...t%20-%20Tripod)
bag
dry cabi

depending on your choices for the others (bag/tripod/dry cabi), it may be slightly over 3.6K

[xxhellinvaderxx]

Originally Posted by nigel84 Did i see "Song Brothers"?

yup, they seem to have the cheapest body among the rest.

[xtn32]

Originally Posted by xxhellinvaderxx yup, they seem to have the cheapest body among the rest.

that price might be before GST . . . and do check if they have stocks . . . "some shops" in simlim would undercut/slash prices to spoil the market . . . just a friendly advice

[xxhellinvaderxx]

Originally Posted by xtn32 for your 3.6k budget, here's a suggestion: 50D body EF-S 10-22mm + decent filter 480exII tripod (recommendation -> http://jl-photo.blogspot.com/search/...t%20-%20Tripod) bag dry cabi depending on your choices for the others (bag/tripod/dry cabi), it may be slightly over 3.6K

You mean 430 or 580?