What are some essential lenses to have and why?

Question

I have a canon 50d and a basic 18-55mm lenss. I'm looking into getting maybe 2 more lenses, and I'm wondering which ones would be essential to have. I was told to get an 18-135mm, but I want to see what everyone elses opinions were. I'm a student photographer, and I'm learning, however i'm only in 35mm film in college right now. I'm stepping into digital on my own right now to get familiar.

Answer 1

Hello:



When I was a professional newspaper photographer and to this day, I carry three lenses in my bag/backpack at all times:



16-35 f2.8

35-70 f2.8

70-200 f2,8



Note: notice the maximum apertures of each lens.



60-70 percent of my day-to-day work was accomplilshed with the 16-35 f2.8

15-20 percent was done with the 70-200 f2.8

10 percent or less was done with the 35-70 f2.8



If your budget allows it, a 300mm f2.8 would be a good addition to your arsenal. It can be used for sporting events and indoor events where you're far away from the stage like press events, performing arts and even fashion photography.



Ad a 1.4x or 2x tele-extender and you're covered for most shooting events a newspaper photographer or freelancer may need to cover.



Just my professional two-cents.

Answer 2

The most essential lens to have is a 300mm F2.8. It's standard for runway shooters, and it also makes a great lens for outdoor shots. The background is nicely blurred, and the shots have a very unique look to them. A bit expensive, so you'll have to wait on that one.



The other essentials for fashion and portraits are the medium telephoto primes, 85mm 1.2, 105mm F2, 135mm F2. The quality of these three lenses can't be beat. Again, some expensive glass, and best with a full frame camera.



For now, the single best lens to get would be a 50mm 1.8. A friend of mine shoots Canon, and she said the 50mm 1.4 is cheaply made, so not worth spending the extra money.



Another good lens for now would be the 18-135, like you mentioned, or get an aftermarket 18-200, Tamron makes a good one. Not sure if Canon makes an 18-200.



When you get into it more seriously, look at the 85mm 1.2 as a good step into high quality glass.

Answer 3

You don't need the 18-135, as you already have part of that focal length covered. Go for a 35mm 1.8 (NOT a 50mm, as with the crop factor of your sensor, it would equal an 80mm- not a useful focal length- the 35 is more practical). Then add a tele zoom like a 70-300 or 55-250. Image Stabilization is pretty much essential for sharp handheld shots at long focal lengths. I'd also add the excellent 500d Close-Up Lens, a screw-on attachment which turns any lens into a macro.

Answer 4

hm-mm... tight question, but all i can recommend u is not to buy the 18-135mm lens, it would eventually turn to a waste, obviously because it is quite slow, and in later years when you go to buy a much professional lens, you would find that you would have to sell it off. As for my recommendation would be, you better concentrate with the kit lens that you have right now. for fashion photography, you might consider taking on 24-70 mm f 2.8 lens, and also the 50mm f1.8 or f1.4 lens, as it is a much faster lens. If you look closely, on your camera, the 24-70mm would turn out to be 38.4 - 112 mm lens, which is the most commonly used lens for fashion photography. But then again, my recommendation is get more familiar with the kit that you have currently, and with use, you yourself can figure out what lens you exactly need. By the way, i am the same guy as of you, a student and a college photographer.

Answer 5

50mm (f1.8 or f1.4) - portraits, low light venues, VERY cheap. (140$Can for the f1.8, the 1.4 is around 400$Can)



24-70mm f2.8 L Series - everything: portraits, groups, landscapes, events ... weather resistant (1500$Can)



70-200mm f2.8 - events, sports, weather resistant (2500$Can) The 70-200 L Series is also good for physical conditioning ... it weighs a ton!



You might want to get a dedicated Macro (the 24-70 has an ok macro mode) for jewelry shots and things of that nature.

Answer 6

It all depends on what you want to photograph.



You can look into the 50mm f/1.8 lens for $100, which are just a "standard essential" in most photographer's bags.