Lens Recomendations

[Agent]

Lo all

Looking for a new lens (maybe more than one) for my Canon 450D.

My sister is due a new born soon, so thinking of something for close up (ish) shots in the hospital and the days after. This has caught my eye and seems to have good reviews in general.
I'd also like to use it for just generally grabbing close pictures of people on nights out. Any thoughts on this lens?

I'm also considering an all rounder, preferably with a decent zoom. I was recommended a 'Tamron or Sigma 18-200' a few years back when considering buying a 350D. Is this still a good lens to look at?

Cheers all

[Funkstar]

I have the f1.4 50mm and it is awesome, although I do find it a bit on the 'long' side for a lot of group shots and social occations. Nice a compact lens though.

I also have a sigma 18-200 and it is a great all purpose walk about lens. Was my main lens for a while, but i've been playing about with some others now.

f1.8 or even f1.4 are fantastic for low light siuations, they let in loads of light.

[Blastuk]

The 50mm 1.8 is considered one of those lenses that everyone should at least have because it's so cheap.. though i'd prefer to have the 1.4 but it depends on your taste really.
It is probably too long for anything other than portraits though (unless ofcourse you have lots of room behind you) , you might feel it make you stand too far back to try and squeeze people into the frame.

[Bobster]

if you're going to purchase the Canon 50 1.4, do so from a local shop, there are so many duff copies coming out of canon's factory its not funny, i nearly purchased one at xmas, but it was back focusing..

the 1.8 has a tendancy to be a little hit and miss when you first use it, but with practice you will find its excellent bang for buck

[Rhyth]

You also have to be a little careful with f1.4 & f1.8 as you can easily get one eye soft in portraits. But this is an artistic license thing to some.

-Buy my Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 XR Di ll LD Aspherical (IF), great piece of mid range versatile glass for APC crop body's like that. You know your getting a good copy too


R

[Akhtar2]

For baby pictures, I would seriously consider the 50mm f/1.8, its an amazing lens for the price. Almost unbelievable for what you get. I got mine for about £70 and the quality of the pictures produced is great. You get brilliant bokeh, and a tight depth of field. Also the lens works excellently under low light.

The only negatives are that there is no zoom, and that bokeh can be harsh when stopped down. You have to zoom with your legs.

I reckon everyone should own the 50mm 1.8 prime.

An even better lens would be the 18-50mm f/2.8 Sigma (or tamron equivalent), I've got this too, its excellent. Great bokeh, great macro capability, and pictures of kids are great, good wide zoom for group shots, and you always get sharp, colourful natural images.

[this_is_gav]

An even better lens would be the 18-50mm f/2.8 Sigma (or tamron equivalent)

The Tamron 17-50 f2.8 is a fantastic piece of glass. Super sharp for a zoom. It is 4 times the price of the 50mm f1.8 though.

[Akhtar2]

The Tamron 17-50 f2.8 is a fantastic piece of glass. Super sharp for a zoom. It is 4 times the price of the 50mm f1.8 though.

Yeah I've tried the Tamron 17-50, its really good too, and its definitely worth the extra money considering you get constant f/2.8 with a great zoom range, imo.

[Saracen]

I can recommend the Tamron 17-50 too. I'm pretty fussy, and I bought one after trying it.

The Canon 50mm 1.8 is pretty good, and excellent for the money, but unless getting to 1.8 is essential, and if the budget will stretch to it, the Tamron 17-50 is more versatile and, at the focal range, hard to beat for quality and value.

[IBM]

Another recommendation for the 50mm f1.8 .... it's a great lens, regardless of the price.

I swear by the Tamron 17-50mm, and cursed the day (kinda) when I upgraded to a FF body who couldn't use it anymore. One of the best pieces of glass I've ever used, and I don't usually have a lot of time for zoom lenses. Incredible value for money.

If you've got the budget get a 35mm f2.0. All my new baby's most recent shots here were taken using it and it's an awesome lens.

[brammers]

Noone's mentioned an 85 1.8 yet, so I will:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=85%201.8%20baby&w=all

However I think I'd want a 50 1.4 for this on 1.6x, bearing in mind Bobster's advice if they can be a bit flakey.

[IBM]

he's looking at a 50mm f1.8

I was stretching things with the 35mm f2, but the 85 f1.8 is even worse.

[Blastuk]

I'm planning on the 85mm 1.8 but I thought it'd be too long for his needs, sure he can take a picture of his baby with it.. but what happens on his nights out

I see he did mention close.. how close is close? head? head to torso? waist up?

[Bobster]

50's focusing distance is 17in, so its just your feet to do the zooming
85 is 33in