Camera All newbie/starter entry level DSLR information

[ragzdiablo]

A friend wants to buy a new lens, for portraits.

Ive heard 85mm's are great for that.

What is the cheapest lens possible to do that job?

He has a 550D

PS: hows the canon 28-105 3.5-4.5 II USM?

 

[apollyon]

You get the awesome SMC Tak 85 1.9 in M42 mount, try getting that. I've seen them go for ~$300
For some reason all the 85mm mf glass is expensive, it could be cuz all of them are of excellent quality
Tak 85 1.9, Olympus Zuiko 85 2, CZ Planar 85 1.4, CZ Sonnar 85 2.8, Jupiter 9 85 2, Helios 40-2 85 1.5 etc.

 

[apollyon]

Ahhh, the Rokinon/Samyang lens. I've heard good things about this one. It's available in K-mount as well.
Know anyone who wants to sell in K?

You get the awesome SMC Tak 85 1.9 in M42 mount, try getting that. I've seen them go for ~$300
For some reason all the 85mm mf glass is expensive, it could be cuz all of them are of excellent quality
Tak 85 1.9, Olympus Zuiko 85 2, CZ Planar 85 1.4, CZ Sonnar 85 2.8, Jupiter 9 85 2, Helios 40-2 85 1.5 etc.

 

[mathi_vadhanan]

I already have the 35mm, and i'd like to have something for portraits
50mm is cheap, 85mm though desirable burns the wallet :bleh:

Don't you think 35mm and 50mm are a bit too alike?? I'm saving for the Sigma 105mm Macro, which should serve as a nice portait lens too.
You might want to have a look at it. Yeah, it doesn't auto focus on D5000, but you'd anyway manual focus for macro work.

 

[unreal_ishan]

i finally bought a Canon 50mm 1.8 today...have to buy a protective filter for it as well as for my kit 18-55mm lens...please advise as i'm a total noob in the filter department

 

[m.khurana]

i finally bought a Canon 50mm 1.8 today...have to buy a protective filter for it as well as for my kit 18-55mm lens...please advise as i'm a total noob in the filter department

I am using this with 50mm lens eBay India: HOYA 52MM UV(C) HMC (PHL) PHOTOGRAPHIC FILTER + WARR (item 230605311567 end time 04-May-2011 18:59:27 IST)

 

[_pappu_]

Don't you think 35mm and 50mm are a bit too alike?? I'm saving for the Sigma 105mm Macro, which should serve as a nice portait lens too.

You might want to have a look at it. Yeah, it doesn't auto focus on D5000, but you'd anyway manual focus for macro work.

why the sigma 105mm macro? i'd go for the tamron 90mm, it would AF too

 

[leviathan16]

guys i am confused about buying a super wide angle lens.. i dont wanna compromise on quality.. i want the sharpest and fastest lens..

someone suggested me Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 as the sharpest and fastest in wide angle field.. can anyone better this suggestion.. money is no problem.. but plz consider the cost effectiveness also...

 

[Aces170]

The Tokina 11-16 f2.8 is considered to be one of the sharpest lens around.

 

[vb86]

i have it. its awesome!

 

[sunny27]

I am an absolute n00b when it comes to cameras - although i do know how to take good pictures. I plan to buy me a DSLR for general purpose photography and to learn the finer aspects of photography. What would be the cheapest dslr with video recording capabilities for me?

 

[leviathan16]

there is a 14mm f/2.8 usm 2.. its cost is sky high.. there must be something.. wat will i be loosing if i buy tokina..

and if i wanna buy 1.2f third party lens for canon wat shud i buy??? anything that is cheap and awesome..

 

[vb86]

well, if you want the best ultrawide lens, buy the nikon 14-24 and use it with an adapter!

then again, assuming you have a camera with a crop sensor, 14mm will not be that wide as it will affectively be around 21mm. the 11mm tokina will be effectively 16.5mm which is good enough! the tokina is an amazing lens. look at some samples on flickr.

 

[Anshul]

there is a 14mm f/2.8 usm 2.. its cost is sky high.. there must be something..

It's ridiculously wide on Full Frame.

 

[prime]

I am new to DSLR world.

I recently bought a Nikon D5100 with 18-55 kit lens.

Still struggling to understand it. Can someone post few good links with easy beginner guide please?

Thanks.

 

[leviathan16]

search youtube for compositional rules.. or jus photography tutorials.. it will definitely help you..

--- Updated Post - Automerged ---

but 1st read your camera manual properly.. kno wat is wat.. only then u can understand the terms those youtube guys are saying..

 

[vb86]

The D5100 with lens and mfr warranty on ebay for Rs. 34490:

eBay India: Nikon D5100 DSLR Camera + 18-55mm VR Lens+ MFR Warranty (item 270744187200 end time 11-May-2011 08:00:00 IST)

 

[Grease Monk]

Actually, I would recommend reading tutorials before reading the camera manual. If a person goes through the various features of a camera without knowing what it is used for like AE lock, then the steps tend not to stick in one's head since there is no way to relate it to anything.

 

[FaH33m]

^ or else you can hire a free teacher like Brendon ! He teaches everything perfectly , much better the manual .

 

[ragzdiablo]

A friend wants to buy a new lens, for portraits.

Ive heard 85mm's are great for that.
What is the cheapest lens possible to do that job?

He has a 550D

PS: hows the canon 28-105 3.5-4.5 II USM?

Anyone? gurus?