A Budget Canon System for Newbie

[TrailsofLife]

I remembered when I first started to shoot for fun, most lao jiao gave me advice on lens and films. Those time where L lenses and pro equipments seems never mentioned to me(when I was a newbie), all those lao jiao I met use cheap consumer lens and some even make a living with cheap lens!

Nowadays, it seems like everyone have at least a L lens or Pro lens, be it newbie or lao jiao! I am thinking where have all the cheap lens gone? So I'll like to propose a list for everyone to add on of all the cheap lens that is available to us, to benefit any newbie out there who wants to buy a cheap starter system. Lenses below $300.

1)Canon 50mm f1.8 (easy one $135 )
2)Cosina 19-35mm f3.5-5.6 (about $250 :think: )
3)Sigma 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 MACRO Asp HF (about$180)

Anyone?

 

[Stoned]

Sigma 70-30/F4-5.6 AMSII (250 2nd hand counted)?

 

[TrailsofLife]

Sigma 70-30/F4-5.6 AMSII (250 2nd hand counted)?

No count that's cheating! :nono: You see, everyone is using expensive lens, no one know good cheap lens nowadays. :cry:

 

[xdivider]

I remembered when I first started to shoot for fun, most lao jiao gave me advice on lens and films. Those time where L lenses and pro equipments seems never mentioned to me(when I was a newbie), all those lao jiao I met use cheap consumer lens and some even make a living with cheap lens!

Nowadays, it seems like everyone have at least a L lens or Pro lens, be it newbie or lao jiao! I am thinking where have all the cheap lens gone? So I'll like to propose a list for everyone to add on of all the cheap lens that is available to us, to benefit any newbie out there who wants to buy a cheap starter system. Lenses below $300.

1)Canon 50mm f1.8 (easy one $135 )
2)Cosina 19-35mm f3.5-5.6 (about $250 :think: )
3)Sigma 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 MACRO Asp HF (about$180)

Anyone?

Cosina 100mm f/3.5 macro ($280)

 

[OzOn3]

Sigma 70-30/F4-5.6 AMSII (250 2nd hand counted)?

how do you get a 70-30 lens? hahaha

hmm, Canon EF 28-105 USM 3.5-4.5 counted? 280?

 

[glfar2004]

I use Olympus mount Koboron lens in my earlier years.

70-200mm $150/-
28mm f2.8 $50/-
Tokina RMC f135 f2.8 $80/-
Sigma 35-70 SZX $70/-

Bought open box from shops that have since gone out of fashion with Olympus OM body and people who have been directed towards branded goods and aggressive marketing and free gifts.

These lenses are serving me very well for my hobby. They can still be found in some parts of Singapore such as the older photo studios, smaller shops etc., and I like them for their build.

 

[TrailsofLife]

Hey dude, canon forum lah, not olympus forum. Must be existing mount not extincted mount also.

Got another one Tamron 28-80 f3.5-5.6 ($140+) not fantastic but better than canon kit lens.

 

[kweehonjin]

Canon's old 70-210 f4

Good: Pictures are sharp and constant f4

Bad: push/pull design and AF rather slow!

Used one for years for "work"!

 

[loupgarou]

what about those russian lenses manual focus types like zenitar and peleng

 

[TrailsofLife]

I'll consolidate this list. Next guy, just copy, paste and add your suggestion in your reply.

Any canon EF mount will do, do give review if possible.

1)Canon 50mm f1.8 (easy one $135 ) SHARP!
2)Cosina 19-35mm f3.5-5.6 (about $250) Sharp for its range, nice color.
3)Sigma 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 MACRO Asp HF (about$180) OK, better than kit lens.
4)Cosina 100mm f/3.5 macro ($280)
5)Canon EF 28-105 USM 3.5-4.5 (New or 2nd hand @ $280)
6)Tamron 28-80 f3.5-5.6 ($140+) better than canon kit lens.
7)Canon's old 70-210 f4 ($???) Good: Pictures are sharp and constant f4,
Bad: push/pull design and AF rather slow!

 

[Belle&Sebastain]

canon 28mm 2.8?

 

[user111]

under $300 becomes a bit too unrealistic. if we raise the bar higher then here are some not too cheap lenses..but still obtainable under $1k

EF 24-85 /3.5-4.5

EF 100-300/5.6L

EF 75-300 IS

EF 20-35/3.5-4.5

EF 28/2.8
EF 35/f2
EF 24/2.8
EF 100/f2
EF 50/1.4
EF 85/1.8
EF 28/ 1.8

 

[TrailsofLife]

under $300 becomes a bit too unrealistic. if we raise the bar higher then here are some not too cheap lenses..but still obtainable under $1k

EF 24-85 /3.5-4.5

EF 100-300/5.6L

EF 75-300 IS

EF 20-35/3.5-4.5

EF 28/2.8
EF 35/f2
EF 24/2.8
EF 100/f2
EF 50/1.4
EF 85/1.8
EF 28/ 1.8

This will defeat the purpose of this thread. Got money who dunno what to buy.

 

[denniskee]

1)Canon 50mm f1.8 (easy one $135 )
2)Cosina 19-35mm f3.5-5.6 (about $250 :think: )
3)Sigma 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 MACRO Asp HF (about$180)

Anyone?

I think tokina 19-35 going @ $199 in CP last month.

 

[TrailsofLife]

I think tokina 19-35 going @ $199 in CP last month.

What's the quality?

 

[TrailsofLife]

Prime:
Canon 50mm f1.8 (easy one $135 ) SHARP!
Cosina 100mm f/3.5 macro ($280)

Standard Zoom:
Tele Zoom:Canon's old 70-210mm f4 ($???) Good: Pictures are sharp and constant f4,
Bad: push/pull design and AF rather slow!
Canon EF 28-105 USM 3.5-4.5 (New or 2nd hand @ $280)
Tamron 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 ($140+) better than canon kit lens.
Sigma 28-80mm f3.5-5.6 MACRO Asp HF (about$180) OK, better than kit lens.

Wide Zoom:
Cosina 19-35mm f3.5-5.6 (about $250) Sharp for its range, nice color.
Tokina 19-35mm f3.5-5.6 (about $199)

Guys, the lens you suggest must be of certain quality. To proof that no need to paid alot for good lens. Also I think we need to include 2nd hand market also.

Anymore

 

[rainman]

strongly recommend 28-105 USM!
Very Fast AF and above avg optics!

 

[TrailsofLife]

strongly recommend 28-105 USM!
Very Fast AF and above avg optics!

You are from TCW izzit? They have 3 or 4 pcs of 2nd hand ones stuck in their shop. :bsmilie:

 

[singscott]

Praktica or Carl Zeiss Jena M42 screw mount lenes, CHEAP and GOOD. They are Greman like Carl Zeiss or Schenider sure sharp!!! Most of the lenes is under $250.00. The only problem must manual focus. Otherwise fit in any camera with adapters. On the canon cameras even Av mode can be use My flavourites ones are 28 F2.8 ($120.00), 35 F2.4($150.00), 50mm F1.8($80.00), 135 F3.5($180.00) and 200 F4($120.00). 35 F2.4 is very value for money, it can focus down to 20cm almost like a marco lens :bigeyes:

 

[TrailsofLife]

Hi guys, really appreciate if you can add on to the existing list if you want to suggest, so readers don't have to go thru the whole thread to see it.

Really hope this list will benefit beginners and people with low budget and let them enjoy this great hobby as well. :thumbsup: