Englert

As you've guessed from a couple of previous posts even though I been taking family and landscape (some very exceptional) pictures since I was 10 a got my Mom's black and white " Brownie" for my birthday I am really a novice about a number of things - SD cards, full manual mode shooting, interior lighting situations. I'm trying to start a new business of real estate photography and need learn a lot quickly. I was provided with equipment by a Washington State Program to assist disabled people in learning an income skill within my physical limitations. The original equipment wasn't optimal as I quickly found out. For one thing, I needed a exterior flash, better tripod (original was too short for any comfort or stability). Also the "camera kit" package has a "fisheye" type wide angle lens. I'm not complaining at all. I've been given a great opportunity and they're more than willing to help get more appropriate equipment. Here's the problem, I'd very much like to learn how to find the best lens for the work I'll be doing. Any information on where or how to get this knowledge (maybe an online source to go to explaining wide angle lenses and what the specifications terms actually mean).
A reputable camera shop recommended a 10-24 Tameron AFB023C for my Canon Rebel T5 camera. I'm sure it's a very good lens but it seems a little pricey at $500 and I'm concerned about asking for this item, so I started researching prices and brands (like I did for the other replacements) and was instantly confused by the spec. terms. I can't compare quality and price at my current level of ignorance. If anyone out there has any suggestions for me on this topic I'd really appreciate your input. Thanks for reading this request.

Plieku69 Loc: The Gopher State, south end

I picked up a Sigma 10-20 lens for a lot less than 500.00. Lot less. I would match it with the best Canon lenses.
Check it out.

TomC. Loc: Bel Air, MD

I have a Canon 10-18mm with IS. I picked it up for about $350. It's a fun lens to use and I think you would do well having it for your work. I also have a T5.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Englert, nobody builds a house from the top down. I sincerely believe that it is time for you to learn some basic photography otherwise you are not going anywhere. If you want to start a real estate business in photography you are going to need the basic knowledge not only to understand your camera and how to use it effectively but also to understand what different lenses do and how to use them.
With all due respect, I do not believe anyone here can teach you photography in 48 hours, you have to do your part.
There are bargain prices for independent lenses in the refurb and used market but before you buy you need to understand how to use a wide angle lens in your photography and wide angle lenses are not necessarily useful to photograph wide vistas.
Respectfully submitted.

Bison Bud

I understand the need for a wide angle lens for indoor real estate shots, but I doubt that just one wide angle lens is going to do everything you need to do. If you got the typical "Kit" lens with your T5, you probably have their EFS 18-55 mm already. I think you could add their EFS 10-18 mm for around $280.00 new and cover most of your needs with the combination of the two lenses. That's not to say that there aren't much better lenses for what you want to do, but these two should be a reasonable place to start without busting the bank. The biggest issue would be that the maximum aperture is only 3.5 on the 18-55 and 4.5 on the 10-18. This means that they aren't going to be all that good in low light conditions and your probably going to need some form of supplemental lighting or flash equipment to produce good indoor shots. In any case, good luck with you venture.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Regarding the Canon 10-18 mm and wide angle in general, you need to be aware that the wider the angle, the more distortion there will be at the edges (buildings or walls leaning inwards) - and how to correct that.

Check your library to see if they offer a free subscription to lynda.com. Yakima County does, and you will find that site rich with photography courses for all levels and interests, including shooting in manual mode. Best wishes!

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

If you consider $500 expensive for a lens to use in real estate photography you're going to have a problem. First, you should have an FX camera. Secondly, you should have at the least a 16-35 lens. You should have a tripod with a geared head … something like a Manfrotto 410 Junior. A good lightweight and a sturdy tripod. An off-camera flash at the minimum. You will need to develop skill in bouncing light and skill at shooting HDR. It seems, to me, that everyone with a new DSLR has a real estate agent friend or a friend of a friend has a connection and therefore, they decide they are going to shoot real estate – how hard can it be? Learn the trade first. Practice at home. Make several thousand images and compare them to the best images of quality real estate images you can find online. I retired from real estate and architectural photography and I can assure you that it isn't as easy as you might believe. Good luck.

HardwareGuy

With all due respect to your past experience, a few of your comments are definitely open to debate. An FX camera is required? I would think not. A Manfrotto geared head? High quality equipment is great, but not always required, especially when starting off. (Heck, I've been photographing for over 40 years, and I wouldn't even spend that much. ) The rest of your comments make good sense.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

If you are serious, this is the lens I recommend for you - 16mm f2 fully MANUAL - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rokinon-16mm-f-2-CS-AS-UMC-ED-Lens-For-Canon/372379281155?epid=172584898&hash=item56b388e703%3Ag%3AfQYAAOSwIOtbVngz&_sacat=625&_nkw=16mm+f2&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=m570.l1313

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Englert

Great, I'll look into that brand. Thanks

Englert

Thanks. You said picked up... did you buy it new or used? If new where did you get it? If used what would you look at to assure it's lack of any damage? It's fun to know you're using the same camera.

Englert

Thank you. I appreciate what you're saying. I took a in-depth college course but that was over 40yrs. ago and I've forgotten most of the important stuff. I've heard of the New York Professional photographers school but I don't think this program helping me will go the $600+ course. Of course if I can't do a quality job, quickly and efficiently I'll find myself without jobs and a bad taste to overcome. My first taste of a real job was my brothers house for his real estate agent friend who knows I just learning. I've had one recent Photoshop course and a quick overview/review on basic manual photography from a local camera store but I definitely need more training to do quality work that I continue to get referrals from. Still working on all this. Just hoping to be sure I have the right gear to work with also. Thanks

Englert

Awesome, you're right I do have the 18-55 mm lenses and an exterior flash is on the way. So knowing that these two lens, along with the flash of course, will be sufficient to get started with really helps me. Much appreciated.

Englert

Thanks so much, really helpful advise. Just what I needed

Englert

Thanks for your suggestions and comments. I realized that, that price isn't terribly high I just don't know how far my help will go financially and wanted to do the research to get the best bang for their dollar. I have already realized and been approved for a different tripod, exterior flash, quality monitor for my laptop (designed for photo editing specifically with IPS LED LCD etc.) and an upgraded wide angle lens. My research on tripods narrowed it down to Manfrotto Elements, Mefoto Roadtrip and I decided on a Pro master Professional Tripod XC525 (all @$149.00, a Canon 410 Speedlite Flash. It's just that when researching the wide angle and comparisions I was way out of my depth. I have a 18-55 lens already. It seems that with those two I'll be set until I can and/or want to make my own upgrades. I have shot close to 1,000 images. But like you mentioned I now need to learn bouncing light and everything involved with that aspect. I'm learning all I can online, U-tube videos and hopefully an other course from a free library suggestion here. I have had the PS course and have a subscription to PS, LR, ADOBE Cloud BR and something else. All with their own training and explainations. So that's great too. You're absolutely right, I thought "how hard can this be", but there's so much more than I ever imagined to learn to get up to speed and produce quality images that get me continual referrals as some one to go to. You mentioned (2) things I'd like to ask for clarity about. (1) what is an FX camera? (2) hat does shooting at HDR mean? Thank you so much for your help.