johnblackmore Loc: Ely Cambs UK

Hi
I'm completely new to photography and need a little help.

I have just bought a Canon 550D which came with 18-55 mm standard lens kit. Also bought a Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II Lens ( unfortunately NOT IS). Not sure I can afford L type lenses at this time.

Found I had an old copy of Adobe PE 4.

The Canon has its own software. Paperport has some facility. would it be a good idea to upgrade to Elements 10 ? to buy Smart Photo editor and or Portrait Professional ( both very cheap). The full Adobe packages seem very expensive and if I don't go for L type lenses and have any real photographic skill/experience might not benefit me ?

any thoughts/help/suggestions appreciated

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I would recommend the PSE10. You can get it for about $49-$79. Try Sams or Costco. Magic Lanter makes a book that comes with a DVD on all of your specific camera controls etc. And I would recommend a good book for PSE10.

PS - you don't really need IS with that 50mm lens. They are fast and the shutter speeds should be easy to keep above 1/60th. Those lenses are used often with flash. Again you don't need flash if you sync at 1/200th. (that cameras max I believe) If you find that you have been bitten by the photography bug, you can alway get the expensive Photoshop. Most of what you learn in PSE10 will be knowledge you can use for the expensive version.

johnblackmore Loc: Ely Cambs UK

Hi jeep_dady and thanks for your reply. will get PSE10 and order the Magic Lantern book plus DVD from Amazon here in the UK.

Looking at some of the shots I took last week I have shutter speeds of 1/60th thru to 1/500 so far nothing slower than 1/60

Not sure what you mean about sync at 1/200th and flash - so much to learn. I did take a number of shots of an anti - government demonstration in Spain and found that even in the early evening it was better to turn the flash off ( stopped the people close up looking like they had been flashed).

I had thought that all L lenses were real expensive But Amazon UK have one that I could afford - Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0 L USM. It doesn't have IS but it seems to get good reviews.

The Canon EF 70-200mm F/2.8 L IS II USM Lens is however one I will have to live without.

Thanks for your help

johnr9999 Loc: Carlton, OR

JeepDaddy, can you tell me where you saw PSE 10 for $49?
I would jump on that like a frog on a june bug (where did that come from?).
John

MtnMan Loc: ID

Yes...but also buy Kelby and Kloskowski's book on Elements 10 or you will be frustrated with it.

There are plenty of good reference books on Elements 10 but Kelby and Kloskowski take a different approach that has you getting immediate results.