Catpiano

For price point .. 50mm F1.8 is a must hv lens . .

It is light, it is reasonable sharp, and offer great bokeh, and great low light photography.

If you are willing to spend a bit more, and not worry about FF camera, the 17-55 F2.8IS is a great all around lens, big aperture, sharp, great colour, (basically  L lens standard, but Canon is not going to call their APS lens "L") and it is very good price too, and still offer great bokeh, and very effective IS function. (Can easy to do 1/5 - 1/10 second on landscape) That is one great lens for both scenary and portrait.

If you shoot landscape, rarely need blurry backgound, however, that is personal preference, I do use F1.2 and 1.4 for scenary once a while.

Another good all in one lens, is the 17-85 IS ..  however, on the other hand, nothing is outstanding from that lens as well, but it is low price, good range, and very "fair" picture quality.

^_^

Catpiano

$150 budget ..  50mm F1.8 is the one to go la..   ( if u want less DOF, burry background )

$129 in Furture shop .. and 10% off till tomorrow.

^_^

The SMALLER number for Aperture VALUE ..  mean the BIGGER aperture it is ..

It means 1/1.4 ..   1/1.8  ..  1/2.8 ..  1/5.6   etc ..     1/1.4 mean  4 times more light you can get then 1/2.8 ...  more light you can get, faster shutter speed u can do .. and ..  u can say, more burry background, but harder to get sharp picture too. (for main object)

However, in general speaking, you pay a lots for "LIGHT"  .. ( $120 for 50mm F1.8, $450 for F1.4 .. $1700 for F1.2  .. $3K for 1.0 .. and $30K for F 0.95 .. )

It is PHOTOGRAPHY ...  all about LIGHT. ^_^

I suggest NOT to buy used lens from ebay ..  since u know to know the condition ..  in general, lens condition in Canada is not bad, especially Edmonton or Calgary or Winnipeg. (very dry)  but on 50mm lens.. when u can buy a new for ~ $120 ..  not worth to buy a used one for $100 .. small different.

Catpiano

10# 快樂牛郎


Same problem .. so so so many people .. even in kijiji .. "CLAIM" they are selling NEW item la..

How to tell? with box ? with warranty card?  if buying so call "NEW" item in ebay ..  then better buy from BH ..

However, with exchange rate now ..  ~ $1.25  not worth to buy from US ..  

Reason A. you want support ..  if got a BAD copy lens, if u buy local, u can have it exchange. ( QC is going down a lots, especially many lens are China or Thailand made )

Reason B. Warranty, as we all know, Canon or Nikon or even Pentax .. Panasonic etc .. they only OFFER warranty on ORIGINAL OWNER ..  from authoried dealer. If buying from Ebay, unless from big shop, such as henry.ca otherwise, NO warranty ...

Reason C, there are LOTS of REFURBISHED photographer gears around, and people call them BRAND NEW to sell .. or lots are RETURN ITEMS ..  ie, may be a lens with small very AF issue .. people return it .. send back to Canon/Nikon .. as they collect lots of those lens ..  and will sell to staffs etc for low price.. ( some camera can adjust AF tuning, so no big deal )  or lots of lens were used as SPONSOR, so Canon take those lens back. (like demo car) especially after many sport events.

Again, if the different is small ..  dont buy from unknown seller ..  again, $120 for 50mm ...  even can buy a BRAND NEW one from ebay ..  after shipping .. may save $5 ?

At least, if buy in shop local, even future shop etc .. have 14 days to return ( or 90 days from costco )  if you buy a lens, and dont think u like it .. just return ..


Camera gears is to use, to take picture, to capture .. if the cost different is so small ...  buy from shops with reputation.

Unless you are looking for some specialty lens, for collect etc ..  like some movie lens .. M42 ..  russian lens etc .. then go ebay is not a bad idea.

Catpiano

Siumabb, he/She wants Canon lens ar .. no 85 1.4 ..

Plus .. budget at ~ $150 ..  othewise, I will suggest 85 1.8USM .. one of the best overall lens. He also want to use the lens for scenary .. 85mm is not really the right range ..

By the way, I assume u mean the Nikon 85 1.4, which is one of the best nikon lens with great value. (since the 1.8 version from Nikon isn't that great)

^_^

Catpiano

OR the old 70-210 F4 USM !!!  Sharp, smooth, good bokeh .. ~ around $200 for a used one .. however .. it is a old lens .. and people used to IS/VR now ..

Still .. 50m F1.8 is the best choice for $$$  ^_^

Lately, I also notice the 55-250IS is a great lens..  and $350, very good buy.

Catpiano

一鏡走天涯 is never good idea ..   

I only use zoom lens when ..  I have to ..

Catpiano

thx for .. siu la lo dau !

Catpiano

Ar 9 .. that one is the JOKE for april fool day ar ..   

Even the pricey 28-300 IS L    ( $3k ? )  isnt that good in QC, not even as good as $120 50mm F1.8 .....  and it is heavy ...  ( not much different then 24-70+70-200F4 )

Which is really pointless for MOST users ..  

however, some case, when you cannot change lens .. ( ie shooting wild life, or go desert .. not allow you to change lens or carry 2-3 bodies .. )   It was also design for FILM ...  nowaday, with APS camera, those 18--200, or 18-250 .. is 1/4 the weight, 1/8 the price .. and 95% the quality .. ( easy to make APS lens, no worry for edge performance, as small lens, one reason why 4/3 lens are so damn good )

^_^

Catpiano

If u like Bokeh ..  APS size camera ( D300, D90, 50D, 450D, A350 etc )   then it is not that easy ..  ( one main weak area for APS camera .. )

Search for some sample image from 70-210 F4 la.. ( both Nikon and Canon version are good )

I just sold my 70-210 Canon one .. and I dont think I have digital example ... may be just few .. and I dont know where my wife back them up ..

Since you can still aim at 210mm, and @ F4 .. good and smooth bokeh.  again, it is not as handy as 55-250 etc ..  but great GLASS !

Catpiano

Yeah ..  BG .. u got some nice pic from the kit lens and 50mm!!  

And yes, doesn't matter using Nikon or Canon .. or even just using Sony ..  I had a Sony DSLR too .. dont mind people make joke with me ..  it takes pretty good picture too.

There is no BETTER or NOT between Nikon and Canon ..   for years .. Canon lens were a bit more expensive ..   but now ..  Nikon lens are more  in general ..    THEN Canon is going to rise their price again in May .. ( Rumor .. )

Well ..  Yen is high, and Can $ is low ..  so .. it makes sense .. however, even those made in thailand, made in china gears ..  price is up too!