Help me decide on this lens

LinkinReef · 11/23/2017, 07:46 AM

So I will finally be buying a DSLR for myself today or tomorrow. I'm looking into getting a Canon 80D. I'll be using it for reef photography and more for every day portrait and landscale pictures(I love hiking). Best buy has a bundle option to add a 55-250 telephoto lens for $150 when it's normally $300.

Is the lens worth it to add this lens for landscape photos for the price?

Misled · 11/23/2017, 09:52 AM

It may be ok for you when you're out hiking, but it won't work for taking pics of your tank. It is also considered a "kit" lens. Not to say it's bad, but it won't compare with higher end lenses.

billdogg · 11/23/2017, 10:20 AM

And Jesse knows!

Take a look at B&H photo and other similar sites for a better selection. If you are trying to save a little but still want a nice lens, think Sigma and/or Tamron. I have a Sigma 50mm macro that has taken some very nice pictures for me. For your tank, I would look at a 100mm.

jm.02

Kevin Guthrie · 11/23/2017, 11:59 AM

I have a Canon full frame 100mm macro. Its excellent at what it does, but stick with a zoom lens if you can, they are way easier to set up a shot with. High end lenses have more light gathering power but at those F stops the field of view is almost useless.

Misled · 11/23/2017, 12:09 PM

So I'll splain a little more since the roast is now in the crockpot. First, the other lens that comes with the original kit, (I'd imagine it comes with a 18-55 or 18 -120 or something like that), would be better for shooting your tank or shooting landscapes. For some reasons, I'll say partly because of "minimum focusing distance". The 18-55 will be somewhere in the few inch range, the 70-250 in the few feet range. Trying to get pics of a tank will want you to be as close to the glass as possible. You may be able to add "extension tubes" to get closer, but the inherent problems of having cheaper glass in a kit lens will show, (though that is one of the less expensive ways to go).

Most of us end up with "true" macro lenses for shooting the tank. Most of the close-ups you see on here are shot with these. These are prime lenses, (only two exceptions I can think of), which means they don't zoom.

Now you should know I'm speaking from the Nikon side. I can't say much about specific Canon lenses, though I do know, you get what you pay for. Bill above shoots with Canon, IIRC, but I also have an old Sigma 50mm macro in my collection. It's a wonderful lens. Photography is a lot like reefing. Sooner or later, if you stay with it, you'll buy better lenses. Visit the photography forum. We play games to help people .

Kevin Guthrie · 11/23/2017, 07:01 PM

Should have said depth of field is useless, not field of view.

Agree with @Misled. Thing is, not sure if a macro is the best choice for 2nd lens - might make more sense to find a good macro zoom to replace the kit lens.

11/23/2017, 07:46 AM	#1
LinkinReef Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 987	Help me decide on this lens So I will finally be buying a DSLR for myself today or tomorrow. I'm looking into getting a Canon 80D. I'll be using it for reef photography and more for every day portrait and landscale pictures(I love hiking). Best buy has a bundle option to add a 55-250 telephoto lens for $150 when it's normally $300. Is the lens worth it to add this lens for landscape photos for the price? __________________ 34g

11/23/2017, 09:52 AM	#2
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	It may be ok for you when you're out hiking, but it won't work for taking pics of your tank. It is also considered a "kit" lens. Not to say it's bad, but it won't compare with higher end lenses. __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

11/23/2017, 10:20 AM	#3
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	And Jesse knows! Take a look at B&H photo and other similar sites for a better selection. If you are trying to save a little but still want a nice lens, think Sigma and/or Tamron. I have a Sigma 50mm macro that has taken some very nice pictures for me. For your tank, I would look at a 100mm. jm.02 __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

11/23/2017, 12:09 PM	#5
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	So I'll splain a little more since the roast is now in the crockpot. First, the other lens that comes with the original kit, (I'd imagine it comes with a 18-55 or 18 -120 or something like that), would be better for shooting your tank or shooting landscapes. For some reasons, I'll say partly because of "minimum focusing distance". The 18-55 will be somewhere in the few inch range, the 70-250 in the few feet range. Trying to get pics of a tank will want you to be as close to the glass as possible. You may be able to add "extension tubes" to get closer, but the inherent problems of having cheaper glass in a kit lens will show, (though that is one of the less expensive ways to go). Most of us end up with "true" macro lenses for shooting the tank. Most of the close-ups you see on here are shot with these. These are prime lenses, (only two exceptions I can think of), which means they don't zoom. Now you should know I'm speaking from the Nikon side. I can't say much about specific Canon lenses, though I do know, you get what you pay for. Bill above shoots with Canon, IIRC, but I also have an old Sigma 50mm macro in my collection. It's a wonderful lens. Photography is a lot like reefing. Sooner or later, if you stay with it, you'll buy better lenses. Visit the photography forum. We play games to help people . __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

11/23/2017, 11:59 AM	#4
Kevin Guthrie Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 506	I have a Canon full frame 100mm macro. Its excellent at what it does, but stick with a zoom lens if you can, they are way easier to set up a shot with. High end lenses have more light gathering power but at those F stops the field of view is almost useless.

11/23/2017, 07:01 PM	#6
Kevin Guthrie Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 506	Should have said depth of field is useless, not field of view. Agree with @Misled. Thing is, not sure if a macro is the best choice for 2nd lens - might make more sense to find a good macro zoom to replace the kit lens.