Official Canon 550D User Thread

[Shen siung]

Hello all, I intend to get a Canon 550D (body only), but I have no idea which lens to get because I want to get something slightly better than the kit lens. Any suggestion? A colleague suggested Canon 17-40mm F4.

would be Tamron 17-50 non-VC. Won't wrong.
http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/showthread.php?t=651304

 

[pohkc15763]

Hello all, I intend to get a Canon 550D (body only), but I have no idea which lens to get because I want to get something slightly better than the kit lens. Any suggestion? A colleague suggested Canon 17-40mm F4.

Bro, depend on what you shoot If you want something slightly better, you can consider Tamron 17-55F2.8 too. For me, 95% on indoor portrait with control lighting I got the EF 17-40 F4 last week, compare to Tamron 17-50F2.8 and kit lens, the IQ, focusing speed are way better.
I did a test shoot on both of my EOS 500D and 550D with EF 17-40F4, and post on one of the thread "which to buy ? EOS500D or 550D" you can view the result . Just my opinion, 550D + 17-40F4 is a perfect match for portrait and very affortable L len..

 

[omong]

Thank you thank you.
The problem is, sometimes I travel a lot, and I don't want to change lens, or carry heavy camera/lens around.
Is 17-40 decent for landscape and buildings? I'm not asking for perfect, but a 'can-do' will be good.

 

[rickmoh]

Thank you thank you.
The problem is, sometimes I travel a lot, and I don't want to change lens, or carry heavy camera/lens around.
Is 17-40 decent for landscape and buildings? I'm not asking for perfect, but a 'can-do' will be good.

if you travel a lot, you might want to consider the tamron 17-50 f2.8, slightly longer reach compare to the 17-40. and the f2.8 is useful in low light condition.

 

[pohkc15763]

Thank you thank you.
The problem is, sometimes I travel a lot, and I don't want to change lens, or carry heavy camera/lens around.
Is 17-40 decent for landscape and buildings? I'm not asking for perfect, but a 'can-do' will be good.

Bro, can't advise you on that, I'm portrait shooter..haha. I used to carry my Sigma 18-200 or Tamron 17-55 + body only for travel/business trip. Of couse, 18-200 give you more reach than 17-40 or 17-50. Maybe you can consider canon 18-200

 

[soons]

18-55mm IS is a very good lens for its price. I don't know why u guys say this lens is CMI.
The older non-IS 18-55mm is really CMI though.

 

[alux0417]

I read that 85-135mm range is the ideal for portrait. That's why I zoom all the way out in my 15-85mm lens, step back 3-4meters away, then take the portrait shot. I get better results this way; so I'm considering to try an 85mm or 135mm lens just for this purpose.

 

[voxies09]

what is CMI ? i found taking potrait with 50MM is better than my 18-135MM, different in f

 

[rickmoh]

what is CMI ? i found taking potrait with 50MM is better than my 18-135MM, different in f

i think CMI is 'cannot make it'

 

[blueacidic]

i think CMI is 'cannot make it'

Yeah it is.

18-55mm IS is a very good lens for its price. I don't know why u guys say this lens is CMI.
The older non-IS 18-55mm is really CMI though.

Definitely good enough for a starter like me. Slowly then i'll try out other lens. Anyway got myself a 50mm f/1.8 II. Still playing around.

 

[MARK1992]

Bro, depend on what you shoot If you want something slightly better, you can consider Tamron 17-55F2.8 too.
<SNIP>
17-40F4 is a perfect match for portrait and very affortable L len..

Tamron 17-55mm f/2.8; len_?

Firstly, I don't think Tamron makes a 17-55, and secondly, its a lenS

 

[pohkc15763]

Tamron 17-55mm f/2.8; len_?

Firstly, I don't think Tamron makes a 17-55, and secondly, its a lenS

Wow, sorry about that... I always thought I get extra 5 more mm...

Yes sir, Lens

 

[MARK1992]

Wow, sorry about that... I always thought I get extra 5 more mm...

Yes sir, Lens

No worries. AFAIK, along the f/2.8 standard zoom range across major brands, there aren't 2 of them with the same focal lengths.

 

[Deloi]

hi!

i would just like to squeeze in a small question... at what level ( 1 - 7 ) do you usually set the sharpness of you 550D in the picture style menu?

 

[alux0417]

hi!

i would just like to squeeze in a small question... at what level ( 1 - 7 ) do you usually set the sharpness of you 550D in the picture style menu?

I usually set 2-3 for portraits and 5-6 otherwise. Let me also know your settings ;-)

 

[voxies09]

i am using the predefined portraits setting from it.. will try to play around with the custom settings..

 

[scruffy]

Guys, Which Flash are U using along with Ur 550D ?
Can recommend me, wireless flash that can keep built in flash off and trigger only external flash.

 

[cichlid]

Does the 550D set comes with DPP as DPreview mentioned:

"Excellent supplied software suite - DPP is one of the best bundled raw converters around"

 

[alux0417]

Does the 550D set comes with DPP as DPreview mentioned:

"Excellent supplied software suite - DPP is one of the best bundled raw converters around"

Yes. As well as EOS utility and other canon software

 

[Deloi]

i am using the predefined portraits setting from it.. will try to play around with the custom settings..

i put up a separate thread. please check it out. others put it at 7 all the way... i plan to do the same but pull it back to 3 for portraits