Newbie with a Canon 60D body. Is EF-S18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS e perfect lens to start?

[SkyStrike]

Haha. True true. With e batt grip most dslr will look like a pro. Paiseh. Didn't mean to offend anyone and I am also new to using any forum. Hope there is no offence taken!

Seems like 17-55 f2.8 is very awesome but think it will burst all my budget man. It's going to be a tight one between 18-200 against 17-85 or 15-85. Both within e budget and value for money.

I realised that 18-200 is pretty heavy having tried it during the IT fair yesterday. Is 17-85/15-85 like much lighter? Intending to backpack for the trip and any extra weight will be a burden I guess.

Not too much weight difference between 18-200 vs 15/17-85...(you can get the weight by searching up google.) A lens that can make your bag lighter is a 18-55 or the 50 1.8 (and some other primes). But imo 50 1.8 is not exactly nice for travelling..

That aside, I will still recommend 18-200 till you know what gene of photography you want to go into.

 

[evilorgi]

get something with a f/2.8... like a canon 17-55 or sigma/tamron 17-50 f/2.8... it would be more or less sufficient for your honeymoon... besides, if you do not know what to do with your 60D, just set it to Auto mode and let it do its work... HAHA!

 

[tecnica]

15-85, buy it.

Excellent iq plus giving you a very workable focal range.

 

[ahboy168]

Just get a $100 efs 18-55.
Light, cheap, very good image quality.
Save $ on the filter since this is cheap disposable lens. Top up another $90 for a ef 50 f1.8. That all y need now.

 

[buso1984]

get something with a f/2.8... like a canon 17-55 or sigma/tamron 17-50 f/2.8... it would be more or less sufficient for your honeymoon... besides, if you do not know what to do with your 60D, just set it to Auto mode and let it do its work... HAHA!

Haha. I have to agree with you man! But 17-55 f/2.8 is real expensive eh. Even a second hand is like 900/1k? Got cheaper lobang Bo. I will have to trim and eat bread during my honeymoon if I buy it....

 

[buso1984]

I'm very sure I will be getting a 50mm f/1.8 Liao. Quite cheap ba. Just whack.

17-85mm is quite cheap eh. Like 300+. Was thinking it should be quite worth it compared to 18-200mm at 500+ but seems like e real deal should be 15-85 instead of 17-85.

Argh! Going berserk but I want to buy a lens right now man.... That desperate. Lol

 

[Xest]

Haha. I have to agree with you man! But 17-55 f/2.8 is real expensive eh. Even a second hand is like 900/1k? Got cheaper lobang Bo. I will have to trim and eat bread during my honeymoon if I buy it....

you just miss the bundle saving, else can save a lot. I got the 18-200mm as kit and sell it off after 9 months using it and the proceed from the sales off-set my total cost is the same as if i bought the body alone - so basically using the 18-200mm for free for 9 months.

if 17-55mm f/2.8 is out of reach (yes, i find it expensive too!! but anyhow I bite the bullet and get one. ;p), maybe 15-85mm + 50mm f/1.8 is good enough at the moment.

 

[buso1984]

you just miss the bundle saving, else can save a lot. I got the 18-200mm as kit and sell it off after 9 months using it and the proceed from the sales off-set my total cost is the same as if i bought the body alone - so basically using the 18-200mm for free for 9 months.

if 17-55mm f/2.8 is out of reach (yes, i find it expensive too!! but anyhow I bite the bullet and get one. ;p), maybe 15-85mm + 50mm f/1.8 is good enough at the moment.

Omg... I'm even more depressed after seeing ur reply. Kao. I shld have just done it. But e truth is if I were to buy a lens yesterday. I might end up buying 18-55mm kit l instead. Which might make things worst? Hmm

It seems like I shld not go for 18-200 now to lessen my pain of not going for e bundle. Having said that, if a second hand 18-200 lens is about 500 bucks. It's actually 200 cheaper than what I would have paid for e kit lll yesterday.

17-85 at 300+ seems like a less risk investment than 15-85 (600+) for now....

Decision making time!

 

[tecnica]

This is the problem with people who are new to dslr. Don't see the lens is cheap, so you wanna buy it.

Go google for reviews, research and read up. Useful info is all over the Internet and can be had with just a few clicks of the mouse button.

Say you buy a cheap and low iq lens. You save money now but sooner or later, you will wanna upgrade again. Think, upgrading cost. By spending more in the initial stage, you will save in the long run. Not to mention you are looking for one lens only.

Of cause, the usual rule applies, ymmv.

 

[tecnica]

Omg... I'm even more depressed after seeing ur reply. Kao. I shld have just done it. But e truth is if I were to buy a lens yesterday. I might end up buying 18-55mm kit l instead. Which might make things worst? Hmm

It seems like I shld not go for 18-200 now to lessen my pain of not going for e bundle. Having said that, if a second hand 18-200 lens is about 500 bucks. It's actually 200 cheaper than what I would have paid for e kit lll yesterday.

17-85 at 300+ seems like a less risk investment than 15-85 (600+) for now....

Decision making time!

I will spend 2x the amount for 15-85. Why? It is the replacement for 17-85 and it supercedes the older lens in all aspects except price.

I don't own any of the 2 lenses, so my view is pretty neutral, judging from many sources from all over the Internet.

Further more the 15-85 has L-grade glass which explains the slight premium price.

 

[rhema83]

Omg... I'm even more depressed after seeing ur reply. Kao. I shld have just done it. But e truth is if I were to buy a lens yesterday. I might end up buying 18-55mm kit l instead. Which might make things worst? Hmm

It seems like I shld not go for 18-200 now to lessen my pain of not going for e bundle. Having said that, if a second hand 18-200 lens is about 500 bucks. It's actually 200 cheaper than what I would have paid for e kit lll yesterday.

17-85 at 300+ seems like a less risk investment than 15-85 (600+) for now....

Decision making time!

If you asked me, the 15-85 and 17-55 are the lowest-risk choices. They are very high quality, versatile, and easy to sell off on the second-hand market. (But why would you want to sell them unless you are changing from one to the other, or changing to another system?)

One little piece of advice: don't get too caught up with buying the "perfect" lens. There is no such thing. One man's meat is another man's poison. We already gave you the safest choices. If you don't have the time to do the thorough research, then just trust us and get one of the two. Nobody on this forum will disagree that these are the two best general-purpose (thus suitable for beginner) lenses in the EF-S range.

By the way when did 15-85 became $600+? Everyone is selling around $800+ in BnS. 17-55 also never dropped below $1k. The cheapest I see now is $1.1k.

 

[rhema83]

I'm very sure I will be getting a 50mm f/1.8 Liao. Quite cheap ba. Just whack.

17-85mm is quite cheap eh. Like 300+. Was thinking it should be quite worth it compared to 18-200mm at 500+ but seems like e real deal should be 15-85 instead of 17-85.

Argh! Going berserk but I want to buy a lens right now man.... That desperate. Lol

Actually the 50mm f/1.8 II is not that great. But it is a good introductory fixed-focal length lens.

Remember, in the camera world, you almost always get what you pay for.

 

[buso1984]

If you asked me, the 15-85 and 17-55 are the lowest-risk choices. They are very high quality, versatile, and easy to sell off on the second-hand market. (But why would you want to sell them unless you are changing from one to the other, or changing to another system?)

One little piece of advice: don't get too caught up with buying the "perfect" lens. There is no such thing. One man's meat is another man's poison. We already gave you the safest choices. If you don't have the time to do the thorough research, then just trust us and get one of the two. Nobody on this forum will disagree that these are the two best general-purpose (thus suitable for beginner) lenses in the EF-S range.

By the way when did 15-85 became $600+? Everyone is selling around $800+ in BnS. 17-55 also never dropped below $1k. The cheapest I see now is $1.1k.

Ya. Truth is I didn't spend time researching. My bad. So I'm really relying on replies from here to buy my first lens.

After doing some thinking, I will probably give up 17-85 then... Seems like I'm those kind who will regret after awhile and want to upgrade. So might as well getting something more competent.

I'm sorry to quote those prices earlier! Seems like rhema83 is definitely more updated and accurate.

Will be deciding between 18-200 n 15-85 ba. Yup. )

 

[tecnica]

I'm not recommending the 17-55 due to its somewhat limited focal range when compared to the 15-85.

Buy the 17-55 only when you know you need the f2.8 and you are ok with the focal range similar to the 90% cheaper 18-55 kit lens. You are paying 1.5k bnib, solely for the fast aperture and L grade glass, so you gotta be very clear about this.

The 15-85 will be the safest choice for now, or maybe forever, unless you long for faster glasses which will ultimately point you to primes.

 

[Mythmaker]

Go for the Tamron 18-270 PZD. Probably the best travel lens around lol. Around $950 for first hand. $750 for 2nd hand if you can find.

You don't need the fast aperture for travels. Most shots overseas are shot at f8 or higher, or else it defeats the purpose of being in the place in the first place if you are going to totally bokeh the background. Especially when you shoot landscape, it's never below f8 or even f11. Learn techniques like expose to the right or HDR (via exposure bracketing) before you go (I'm assuming you won't have the luxury of lugging a tripod wherever you go lol). Otherwise your iphone will be able to get even better pictures than your DSLR lol.

Low light use flash. Learn how to properly diffuse the light before you go. Or just get a 50mm f1.8 as well for low light shooting. It's about $70 2nd hand.

 

[driveanegg]

Get a EF-S 18-200mm or a Tamrom 18-270mm. Very usable range.
In all honesty, since its a honeymoon, do concentrate on creating the best memories and experiences together to make it memorable.
Splitting hairs over what lens to buy or which lens is better is a waste of time and energy, which ought to be directed somewhere else I would think.

My own preference
<$500 - EF-S 18-55mm (Its better than a lot a people give it credit for)
<$1k - EF-S - 15-85mm
No limit - EF-S 10-22mm, EF 24-105mm, Sigma 30mm f1.4

Cheers. Happy shopping

 

[JohnJon82]

Omg... I'm even more depressed after seeing ur reply. Kao. I shld have just done it. But e truth is if I were to buy a lens yesterday. I might end up buying 18-55mm kit l instead. Which might make things worst? Hmm

It seems like I shld not go for 18-200 now to lessen my pain of not going for e bundle. Having said that, if a second hand 18-200 lens is about 500 bucks. It's actually 200 cheaper than what I would have paid for e kit lll yesterday.

17-85 at 300+ seems like a less risk investment than 15-85 (600+) for now....

Decision making time!

lol TS I was you one year ago. I also bought my 600D body only during the March IT fair last year, only notice to buy the kit would be cheaper. Never research and not yet join clubsnap that time. I still regret for not getting the 60D that time haha.

Try look at the grey market also, meaning parallel import with only shop warranty. Some lens are cheaper some lens are more expensive, you have to really compare. It is better than 2nd Hand BNS if the price are similar, but you get a one year shop warranty.

 

[tecnica]

honestly, you can't be using flash for every low-light situation, sometimes bigger aperture is still the better choice.

i bought my 580EX II out for vacations and i hardly use it. that said, i will continue to bring the flash with me, just in case i need it.

 

[buso1984]

I'm not recommending the 17-55 due to its somewhat limited focal range when compared to the 15-85.

Buy the 17-55 only when you know you need the f2.8 and you are ok with the focal range similar to the 90% cheaper 18-55 kit lens. You are paying 1.5k bnib, solely for the fast aperture and L grade glass, so you gotta be very clear about this.

The 15-85 will be the safest choice for now, or maybe forever, unless you long for faster glasses which will ultimately point you to primes.

Ya man. 17-55 is definitely a no-go. I will not do the lens proud. Maybe in future ba. Am somewhat convinced with 15-85 for now just that it's still a bit steep in price. It's like 15-85 for premier lens. 17-85 for abit old yet cheap premier lens. 18-200 for multi purpose usage and mid range lens.

Will be going to buy 2 lens now to make it a combo. 50mm f/1.8 and another juggernaut lens haha.

 

[buso1984]

Get a EF-S 18-200mm or a Tamrom 18-270mm. Very usable range.
In all honesty, since its a honeymoon, do concentrate on creating the best memories and experiences together to make it memorable.
Splitting hairs over what lens to buy or which lens is better is a waste of time and energy, which ought to be directed somewhere else I would think.

My own preference
<$500 - EF-S 18-55mm (Its better than a lot a people give it credit for)
<$1k - EF-S - 15-85mm
No limit - EF-S 10-22mm, EF 24-105mm, Sigma 30mm f1.4

Cheers. Happy shopping

Thing is I'm not very comfortable with other brand lens. Purely cause I'm new and e inertia to venture out of the comfort zone is huge. Have to agree on all e lens categories. 10-22mm is awesome!