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Hi, I have only recently purchased a Canon Eos 450d, after a long interest in photography i finally decided to do something about it and purchased the camera with kit lens. I was just looking at buying another lens for it and have been blown away by the different types available all of which mean very little to a novice like myself. Can anyone advise on a decent, affordable all round lens ?? Looking for something that can get decent shots of the family, the odd landscape shot and a bit of zoom for the wildlife shots. Is there such a varied lens on the market
Cheers Neil
At this point most people ask about your budget. Are you selling the kit lens to fund the new purchase?
For about £230 I upgraded my Canon kit lens to a Sigma 17-70. It has a max aperture of f/2.8 at the wide end (17mm) increasing to f/4.5 at the 70mm end, but it can focus as close as 20cm from the sensor plane across the whole zoom range, so zoomed in at the 70mm end you can focus on something just in front of the lens! A very capable "all rounder" that rarely leaves my 400D.
You'll lose the Image Stabiliser (assuming you've got the IS model 18-55mm) with the Sigma. If that's an issue, Canon do the 17-85mm model with IS built-in. Pricier than the Sigma 17-70, but both have many fans.
Might be an idea keeping your kit lens and getting the basics of your new camera before jumping in buying a new lens though.
Most of the best lenses won't fit Canon anyway. Lenses tend to be "best" or "affordable" but not both!
One range that will fit is the Zeiss prime offerings.
I tend to use a 10-24mm on a Nikon D5000 & a 70-300mm on my Nikon D200 on a days photographic trip, sometimes I just take the Nikon D5000 with just a 24-120mm although I found this lens not so good for landscapes, better as a town lens.
Neil. go back to basics:
In what way is the Kit lens not meeting your needs. Knowing this will give you an indication of the lens you need.
Quote: Looking for something that can get decent shots of the family, the odd landscape shot and a bit of zoom for the wildlife shots. Is there such a varied lens on the market
From the above description, perhaps something like and 18-200 will meet your initial needs. Generally these are great "walk-a-about" lens, and used by many as the only lens they would take travelling when they need to travel light.
Its all about comprimises Neil, 1 body and lens is great for a bit of everything and a kit lens does not really have a wide enough range for a bit of everything.
So if using only one lens is your aim - maybe the 18-270 from tamron.
But then you will gradually start to notice distortion, softness and lack of light.
So then you'll need another lens, maybe a 70-200 f2.8 for more light and sharpness.
Then another for wide angle 10-22mm,
Then another for macro.... it never really stops.
I like StephenBrighton's 50mm as it forces you to move around to get the shot you need, its bright & sharp, and with photostitching can give you landscapes.
If you have a spare grand i'd also look at the canon 24-105mm, but until then the Tamron may be a good bet.
For my 400d I got in order 17-85mm, 70-300, 10-20 sigma, 70mm Macro, 50mm F1.8, 2x TC.
Now skint i'm still hoping for a FF body, 24-105, 100-400, 85mm F1.8 etc.
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