Greg Loc: Maryland

And if he hadn't added the '& stop whining' it wouldn't have been a bad comment. Getting to know your equipment is advice most new users need to realize.

bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR

I question his tack and aggressive comment not his point about reading your manual. Point well taken.

Sher Loc: Colorful Colorado

I like your response. I am glad that someone has brought to our attention that we are adults and do not have to insult or belittle each other to get a point across.

B Was Here

Well the thing is you're comparing Zooms to Primes (and a L Prime Macro Lens at that) usually Primes are better for the most part than most zooms in all areas aside of course from the lack of range. (got to zoom with your feet haha)

The nifty fifty (EF 50mm F/1.8 II) is pretty cheap and works pretty well for being so cheap of course it's got some drawbacks (eg. plastic construction, five blade aperture etc) but for the price you can't really complain.

Leopold Lysloff

The lens is the heart of the camera. Cameras change every time you blink your eyes. Lenses on the other hand don't change nearly as much. There a manufacturers marketing plan to try to attract buyers with new camera/lens models all the time. The trend for wanting and waiting for new and (maybe) better things goes way back. ( every year we wait for new car models and they get old by the time the next model is introduced)
Lenses have signatures and can be specialized in what they can provide for the photographer. The nice thing about lenses (in some cases) is that they can fit on to the continuing model changes of camera bodies and even cross brands that have the same mounts.
(Leica M mounts and SM mounts have been the same forever as have some Nikon and other brands)
One has to study and decide what lens will suit their purpose best. It is pretty obvious that the better the glass the better the image it will produce. I many cases where the demand is not as critical, there are many very fine moderately priced lenses that perform beautifully. The market is full of lenses for every taste and need. So the choices remain with the user and how much work and study he is willing to put in.
I personally prefer and use high quality vintage lenses. High end modern lenses are way out of financial reach for me so I carefully seek out and find the vintage (not always old) lenses that I like for (many times) less than a new moderate quality lens would cost for me. I have even found superb lenses and adapters that I can use on whatever camera body I want to use it on.
This is only suggestive of what can be done when it comes to building your ideal photographic set up. These are only mechanical things that will do what only you can make them do.

evandr Loc: Tooele, Utah

Cameras will come and cameras will go but good glass will serve you well for generations if taken care of. I am of the mind that getting the best and growing into it will be the most satisfying, efficient and cost effective method in the long run.

I understand that many times a person's budget does not allow for a $1400 to $2000 lens but brands like Sigma, Tameron, and others are up and coming and should be looked into. I think Nikkor is shooting itself in the foot with their competition by pricing themselves so high because it will not be long before the only real difference is the bragging rights. I'm going pro so Nikon lenses are the only ones I currently buy ($$ouch$$) but my lenses usefulness will outlast me. I have heard excellent reviews on other brands so I will not downplay them and would not hesitate to recommend that a person look seriously at them. For me if you buy cheap you will learn cheap and upgrading will require you to unlearn a few things and bad habits are hard to break.

My advice for someone not looking to go pro but wants to take excellent pictures is to first decide what you want to take pictures of the most and get a good lens for that purpose. Keep the zoom range narrow, I personally do not like lenses that cover the 18mm - 300mm range but for someone who wants a single good lens for a lifetime of general shooting this may be the lens for you (provided you bite the bullet and get the best one on the market) but I know of no working professionals who routinely use one.

The best general purpose lens out there is the 50mm f/1.4 because the human eye (loosely speaking) is a 50mm lens, there have been very well known pros before the digital age that never used anything else but a 50mm lens.

If you're serious about photography, even as a hobbyist or the family snapshooter who wants to be a cut above, save, save, save and get the best lenses, you will not regret it because they will perform well and hold their resale values far better than a cheap lens.

anotherview Loc: California

The information at these Web sites will help you decide which lens to choose.

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php

http://www.lenstip.com/Main_page

http://www.photozone.de/

B Was Here

This is true but since he's on a 600d with a 1.6x crop a 28 or a 35mm would be closer to a 50mm equivalent field of view. With a 50 mm it would be closer to 80 mm on a crop camera like the 600d.

anotherview Loc: California

Always bear in mind the skills of the photographer trump the photography gear. One technique you may wish to try: Put a lens on your camera, and walk around with it for a month or so, to learn it as you adapt to it. Learning and applying the principles of effective composition will improve the visual impact of your photographs.

Took this one with a Canon SD1200 at Bryce Canyon NP

bobmielke Loc: Portland, OR

Bryce Canyon

Leopold Lysloff

Nice shots. Makes me want to get out and see the park.

anotherview Loc: California

Leopold: Go, and you will reward yourself with a special experience. Canyon Country in Utah offers spectacular and beautiful landscapes.

Another one from BCNP using a Canon zoom lens

gessman Loc: Colorado

Ya know, I was just about to ask him to post some of those "tack sharp" shots from that lens. I'd like to see them. One other quick point about equipment - those sites that test lens and show you the graphs and curves - what you want is a side by side actual shot for shot comparison and you can get that at www.luminous-landscape.com in many, not all, instances. I am in no way associated with that site except as a fan and appreciator of the man's efforts. I wouldn't buy a piece of equipment without seeing if he'd tossed it up against its nearest competitors in a "shootout." His methodology is clear, correct, and his results are apparent and believable. "L" glass cost an arm and a leg. Get what you pay for. He tells it like it is. I keep saying this and hope I'm not becoming a nuisance about it but I can't stress it enough.

Leopold Lysloff

Thank you anotherview.
I think that bringing home images of nice places we have been to is very rewarding and worth all our efforts in having nice camera equipment (and knowing how to use it). Better lenses are definitely an important factor to consider in your camera kit. The magic is always in the glass, then a good and accurate "box" to use it with. Choices and study can make a big difference in the final result.
My greatest gifts are often unusually nice or "accidental" shots of scenes or moments from places I have been.
Thanks for sharing and great work.

gessman Loc: Colorado

Thank you sir. I've enjoyed your valuable contributions to the forum. They're very informative and useful.