LeoDK

Hello Guys and Gals,

I am in a bit of confused state. I have 4 lenses that I got for a decent rate, an 18-55mm(which i do not use), an17-85mm usm, an 18-135mm and a 55-250mm stm kit lens. My dilema is that my friends that are into photography tell me I have to get a 70-300mm and a 50mm f1.8 , and that I should ditch my rebel sl1 as soon as possible. I know that I am brand new to photography but I am on a very tight budget, euros only get you so far in Greece.

Should i listen to them and upgrade already? I think I want to only shoot landscapes, and the night sky (the moon, stars, milky way since I will not have any light pollution from My village in Greece. ) From reading some of the forumns on here i do know i need a lower fstop of 2.8 or lower. I just know that it takes 4months for me to come up with 200 extra to spend.

Anyone know a good alternative, I am trying to sell the 18-55 kit lens. I plan to keep the other three,

Sorry for the long post, I am just confused since I thought I did good with my purchase and keeping myself under 600 usd for a beginner. Any opinions or comments are appreciated.

Kind regards,

Leonidas D.K.

JPL

Start with what you have, no need to rush out spending money on more glass yet. Instead of buying more glass right away you should focus on composing your pictures, learning how to use your camera, learning post processing and shoot raw. It is only when you get good at all this that lenses become a restricting factor for your photography. And all this you can practice without spending any money. Focus on this for the rest of the year, watch youtube videos to learn. Mike Browne has lot of good and short videos on youtube to help you get started.

lautenk2

You should enjoy the good equipment you already have, and discover its limitations for the work you want to do before considering upgrades. Along those lines, perhaps it's already time to consider upgrading your friends. You might be able to keep the same friends if they upgrade their advice.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Your friends are well meaning, but you do not "have to get a 70-300mm and a 50mm f1.8" right away. And you do not have to "ditch my rebel sl1 as soon as possible". You have working lenses and camera. With a tight budget, you need to save for any future changes. Learn to out shoot them with your "old" equipment. And the future lenses and bodies may end up being more to your style of shooting when you are ready to upgrade. Photography is not a race: it is learning to see and capture.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

Agree!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Tell your friends to come with you to the camera store so they can pay for any camera gear they think you should have. You only need more/different gear at the point that your current gear fails to meet your needs. Until then get your money's worth out of your gear and enjoy yourself. And the next time a friend has words of encouragement that involve spending money, turn your right palm up and point to it with your left index finger.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Nothing wrong with the SL1; it's an older model but it's capable of decent photos. Ive had one for several years; the only Rebel I own; and I also own some very expensive Canon and Nikon
DSLR'S but I use my little SL1 quite often.

Dump the 18-55 and 18-135 and get the 18-200.
That eliminates 1 lens and the 18-200 is just as good as the 18-135; I've got both.
If you don't care if the lens has IS, shop around for an old 100-300 f/5.6L zoom lens. If you can find one, even the good ones go pretty cheap. It may be an oldie but it is a good lens.
There are a lot of good used lenses out there and it doesn't matter if they are from 1987 or 2017 as long as they work.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

The 70-300mm is very close to the 55-250, and will give just a little more reach, so unless you feel this is essential to get better pics of small birds at a distance, there's no need for it. The 50 f1.8 is useful for low light shots without flash, or shots with a shallow depth of field to give a blurred effect to the background. There's nothing wrong with your SL1. A more expensive camera won't do much for your photography. As Gene said, I wouldn't listen to your friends. The only time I upgrade equipment is when I have a specific need my current equipment can't perform, that the new equipment will (eg., a macro lens, or 4K video, or a smaller sensor to get significantly more reach).

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

No. Keep what you have and go out and shoot great picutres. If you have talent, you can find that what you produce is superior to those Gear Heads who tell you you need more camera. I’ve taken incredible photographs with my iPhone that you cannot distinguish in quality from something from a entry level DSLR.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Yep. No need to upgrade until the equipment (and not your skill level) are limiting you. Working within the constraints of your equipment until those limits really stop your progress will help you become better in the long run.

repleo Loc: Boston

Some of us here on UHH could go out and buy a nice camera or lens for a days pay, but would have to save for a year (or more) for a photo trip to Greece. You have such great opportunities on your door step. Use what you have and make the most of your surroundings.
Post some pics to make us envious.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

Leo,

Your friends sound like they are trying to have you reinforce their needs for validation of their purchases by having you needlessly spend your money on the same thing they bought without regard to your needs. The fact is that you have everything you need right now. You have the full range of focal lengths from wide angle to telephoto. There is little difference between your 250mm and their 300mm lenses on the telephoto side and if you were to sell your lenses and go to just a 50mm prime and the 70-300mm lens, you would have no wide angle capability.

If you are happy with the quality of the pictures and the features of your Rebel Sl1, then there is no need to change cameras other that to make your friends happy. Save your money and stick with what you have.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Well put!

LeoDK

I plan to post pics once i figure post processing, i am using camera raw and ps cs5, its what i have when i was in college in the us, they charged me 2k back then for the suite.

Thank you all for the comments and replies. I am currenlty back in US , so i also have to get lens now before i go back, it is not easy to get deliveries where I live. And its expensive, once we paid 150 in shipping cost , same price as item we purchased. So figure easy ro buy now with 200 budget and take back with me.

But i am going to keep my gear now, and not get a new camera. Thank you for that advice.

Is there a lense for under 200 worth using for night sky shots. Astrophotography that I should consider? Not that I will buy it right away, but that i can resaerch and decide to buy before i head back in may?

Sorry for asking so many questions.

And i know my friends mean well, but i dont think they realize that I do not have a continuos income in Greece, since they told me to sign up for the Pscc and lightroomcc for a monthly fee lol.

Again. Thank you all for your input, it is much appreciated.

Kind Regards,

Leonidas

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Tell your friends that you will kindly accept their expressions of concern (in a more practical form) as your birthday and Christmas roll around.