Official Canon 550D User Thread Part III

[Lekha]

Super newbie here ... mind is set on 550D but contemplating between the usual ...

1) Body
2) Kit 1
3) Kit 2

Would like to know more about 18-55 vs 18-135 ... hope this doesnt sound silly

Am I right to say that 18-55 is like a subset of 18-135 ?
Ie, 18-135 encompass all that 18-55 can do plus provide range from 55-135 ? Does it work this way ?

Also, I read alot of the seemingly godly figure of f2.8 which makes me swayed toward choosing option 1 and get a Tamron 17-50 f2.8 ... is this advisable for a newbie ? Or I should stick to Kit 1 and have a feel what the basic is like before venturing into fixed focal length lenses ?

 

[knave]

Super newbie here ... mind is set on 550D but contemplating between the usual ...

1) Body
2) Kit 1
3) Kit 2

Would like to know more about 18-55 vs 18-135 ... hope this doesnt sound silly

Am I right to say that 18-55 is like a subset of 18-135 ?
Ie, 18-135 encompass all that 18-55 can do plus provide range from 55-135 ? Does it work this way ?

Also, I read alot of the seemingly godly figure of f2.8 which makes me swayed toward choosing option 1 and get a Tamron 17-50 f2.8 ... is this advisable for a newbie ? Or I should stick to Kit 1 and have a feel what the basic is like before venturing into fixed focal length lenses ?

Hey, check out the pic I posted just before your post. You can see the diff between Tamron f2.8 and Canon 18-55 kit lens.

 

[Lekha]

the focus point is definitely clearer using Tamron ... hmmm ... for the surrounding ... its generally still blur ... as per what Nathaniel mentioned ... are the rest of the conditions constant for all the pics ?

 

[nathaniel]

Hey, check out the pic I posted just before your post. You can see the diff between Tamron f2.8 and Canon 18-55 kit lens.

Tamron looks sharper at 50mm... you can also try a comparison at 18mm, at f/3.5 and f/5.6.

 

[personifiedirony]

Hi all.. I'm trying to decide if I should be getting the EF-S15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, EF-S17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM or EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM.. Which one is better? My main concerns are how well it functions as a walkabout lens, as well as the image quality..

 

[maldito]

Hi all.. I'm trying to decide if I should be getting the EF-S15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, EF-S17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM or EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM.. Which one is better? My main concerns are how well it functions as a walkabout lens, as well as the image quality..

Get the 17-55 superb IQ plus you get constant f2.8 :thumbsup:
15-85 good IQ but it will look too bulky for you 550D, Its damn too heavy also (feels like its going to rip the 550d body)
24-105 is a FF lens. Mount it on a 550d and you'll start at 38mm

 

[litlefiter]

Get the 17-55 superb IQ plus you get constant f2.8 :thumbsup:
15-85 good IQ but it will look too bulky for you 550D, Its damn too heavy also (feels like its going to rip the 550d body)
24-105 is a FF lens. Mount it on a 550d and you'll start at 38mm

if the 15-85 is heavy. wont the 17-55 and 24-105 make the lens mount fall off from the camera??

jokes aside, all 3 are great lenses. if u are looking for a walkabout lens, the 15-85 and 24-105 will be better cos of the longer range, so u wont have to change lenses that often

 

[enzeru21]

Hi all.. I'm trying to decide if I should be getting the EF-S15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM, EF-S17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM or EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM.. Which one is better? My main concerns are how well it functions as a walkabout lens, as well as the image quality..

actually i think the 15-85 is the lightest of the 3 u mentioned... the 17-55 is even bulkier and heavier... not my choice of a walkabout lens..

the 24-105 is still manageable.. but still huge..

 

[Halfmoon]

if the 15-85 is heavy. wont the 17-55 and 24-105 make the lens mount fall off from the camera??

jokes aside, all 3 are great lenses. if u are looking for a walkabout lens, the 15-85 and 24-105 will be better cos of the longer range, so u wont have to change lenses that often

I think the 17-55 is worst than 15-85 and 24-105 in term of size.... Now, my cam, 400D with 17-55 is like front heavy..... Very.... I think a 60D will balance things up!!!

 

[lorenzo86]

I am a 550D newbie with a 18-135mm kit len. I am thinking of getting a tamron 17-50 f2.8 tomorrow. Can anyone advise me is it worth getting it or not?

 

[enzeru21]

I am a 550D newbie with a 18-135mm kit len. I am thinking of getting a tamron 17-50 f2.8 tomorrow. Can anyone advise me is it worth getting it or not?

once u start using such a long range zoom.. you must really ask urself if you prefer convenience... becos changing to a 17-50 may give u a constant aperture, but if you are used to having a one lens shoot all, then you will find urself complaining about the reach..

if you are comfortable and you recognise that you are rarely using the 70-135 range of ur current lens.. then go ahead.. the fixed 2.8 aperture will help teach you many new things..

don't be too worried.. just spend within ur means.. and if you need it.. don't become a collector..

 

[Far far away]

Get the 17-55 superb IQ plus you get constant f2.8 :thumbsup:
15-85 good IQ but it will look too bulky for you 550D, Its damn too heavy also (feels like its going to rip the 550d body)
24-105 is a FF lens. Mount it on a 550d and you'll start at 38mm

Actually the 17-55mm fares even worst in the weight and bulkiness category than the 15-85mm. I own the 15-85mm before and currently own the 17-55mm so I know.

The 15-85mm's IQ is definitely very good, comparable to the 17-55mm, BUT only in good daylight conditions. Once you move indoors, the 17-55mm will triumph over the other cos of the constant f/2.8. Now if you ask me, I do agree with the fact that we need the f/2.8 more than the extra reach of the 15-85mm and that I am very happy I made the switch!

once u start using such a long range zoom.. you must really ask urself if you prefer convenience... becos changing to a 17-50 may give u a constant aperture, but if you are used to having a one lens shoot all, then you will find urself complaining about the reach..

if you are comfortable and you recognise that you are rarely using the 70-135 range of ur current lens.. then go ahead.. the fixed 2.8 aperture will help teach you many new things..

don't be too worried.. just spend within ur means.. and if you need it.. don't become a collector..

Very good advise from enzeru21 as usual. I agree very much with what he said. Happy shooting!

 

[personifiedirony]

Hey guys, thanks for your comments, much appreciated. I'll be renting the lens to see for myself before confirming which one I'll be getting.

 

[enzeru21]

Very good advise from enzeru21 as usual. I agree very much with what he said. Happy shooting!

no la.. i oso noob.. learning as i'm going... haha..

been busy recently though, so quite inactive...

 

[nathaniel]

Actually the 17-55mm fares even worst in the weight and bulkiness category than the 15-85mm. I own the 15-85mm before and currently own the 17-55mm so I know.

The 15-85mm's IQ is definitely very good, comparable to the 17-55mm, BUT only in good daylight conditions. Once you move indoors, the 17-55mm will triumph over the other cos of the constant f/2.8. Now if you ask me, I do agree with the fact that we need the f/2.8 more than the extra reach of the 15-85mm and that I am very happy I made the switch!



Very good advise from enzeru21 as usual. I agree very much with what he said. Happy shooting!

i have the same preference as you... i prefer the f/2.8 of the 17-55 over the extra reach of the 15-85. i like the f/2.8 for low light (especially at the tele end of the zoom), the bokeh, and maybe better focus sensitivity (i don't like focus-hunting under dim lighting conditions). am okay with the weight of the 17-55... it's still lighter than the 24-70. I have the 18-55 II when i don't want the weight of the 17-55.

 

[Far far away]

no la.. i oso noob.. learning as i'm going... haha..

been busy recently though, so quite inactive...

Yeah me also noob... Learning on the way and it is very interesting to learn through trial and error. =] Been also very busy hence very inactive too. :sweat:

i have the same preference as you... i prefer the f/2.8 of the 17-55 over the extra reach of the 15-85. i like the f/2.8 for low light (especially at the tele end of the zoom), the bokeh, and maybe better focus sensitivity (i don't like focus-hunting under dim lighting conditions). am okay with the weight of the 17-55... it's still lighter than the 24-70. I have the 18-55 II when i don't want the weight of the 17-55.

Good to have someone who have the same thinking. However regarding the 18-55mm when you want to travel light, can you really go back to that lens after experiencing the 17-55mm's IQ? I honestly can't... Kept picking on the IQ produced by that lens and hence I sold it. Never regretted though.

 

[compgen]

Hi all,

Long time nv visit this thread. So long already.

Anyway it is hitting 50 page liaos so the new thread is here Official Canon 550D User Thread Part IV