What am I missing by not using my 18-55 kit lens?
Apr 30, 2019 15:00:23 #
My Canon EOS Rebel t2i, bought in 2013, came with a kit lens EF-S18-55mm f-3.5-5.6. In 2017 I finally bought a 50mm f-1.8 lens, then last year a 55-250mm f-4-5.6 lens, both Canon.
So now I use the latter two and hardly ever the kit lens. I do mainly small landscapes around my area and vignettes around the yard. Of course, there are always the National Park pics once a year or so, too.
So what am I missing out on by not using the kit lens?
So now I use the latter two and hardly ever the kit lens. I do mainly small landscapes around my area and vignettes around the yard. Of course, there are always the National Park pics once a year or so, too.
So what am I missing out on by not using the kit lens?
Apr 30, 2019 15:07:58 #
BlueMorel wrote:
My Canon EOS Rebel t2i, bought in 2013, came with a kit lens EF-S18-55mm f-3.5-5.6. In 2017 I finally bought a 50mm f-1.8 lens, then last year a 55-250mm f-4-5.6 lens, both Canon.
So now I use the latter two and hardly ever the kit lens. I do mainly small landscapes around my area and vignettes around the yard. Of course, there are always the National Park pics once a year or so, too.
So what am I missing out on by not using the kit lens?
So now I use the latter two and hardly ever the kit lens. I do mainly small landscapes around my area and vignettes around the yard. Of course, there are always the National Park pics once a year or so, too.
So what am I missing out on by not using the kit lens?
I guess you don't like wide angle lenses. I would have trouble doing landscapes if my shortest lens was a 50mm on a crop sensor.
Apr 30, 2019 15:10:24 #
BlueMorel wrote:
My Canon EOS Rebel t2i, bought in 2013, came with a kit lens EF-S18-55mm f-3.5-5.6. In 2017 I finally bought a 50mm f-1.8 lens, then last year a 55-250mm f-4-5.6 lens, both Canon.
So now I use the latter two and hardly ever the kit lens. I do mainly small landscapes around my area and vignettes around the yard. Of course, there are always the National Park pics once a year or so, too.
So what am I missing out on by not using the kit lens?
So now I use the latter two and hardly ever the kit lens. I do mainly small landscapes around my area and vignettes around the yard. Of course, there are always the National Park pics once a year or so, too.
So what am I missing out on by not using the kit lens?
You're missing out on quality 18-55mm shots.
Apr 30, 2019 15:12:45 #
BlueMorel wrote:
My Canon EOS Rebel t2i, bought in 2013, came with a kit lens EF-S18-55mm f-3.5-5.6. In 2017 I finally bought a 50mm f-1.8 lens, then last year a 55-250mm f-4-5.6 lens, both Canon.
So now I use the latter two and hardly ever the kit lens. I do mainly small landscapes around my area and vignettes around the yard. Of course, there are always the National Park pics once a year or so, too.
So what am I missing out on by not using the kit lens?
So now I use the latter two and hardly ever the kit lens. I do mainly small landscapes around my area and vignettes around the yard. Of course, there are always the National Park pics once a year or so, too.
So what am I missing out on by not using the kit lens?
Only more wide angle.
My kit came with the 18-55 and 55-250, but I bought a Sigma 18-200 that lives on the camera. I have a 50 also for more light gathering and wider aperture for more depth of field control. I do like having the 18 capability.
Apr 30, 2019 15:14:24 #
BlueMorel wrote:
My Canon EOS Rebel t2i, bought in 2013, came with a kit lens EF-S18-55mm f-3.5-5.6. In 2017 I finally bought a 50mm f-1.8 lens, then last year a 55-250mm f-4-5.6 lens, both Canon.
So now I use the latter two and hardly ever the kit lens. I do mainly small landscapes around my area and vignettes around the yard. Of course, there are always the National Park pics once a year or so, too.
So what am I missing out on by not using the kit lens?
So now I use the latter two and hardly ever the kit lens. I do mainly small landscapes around my area and vignettes around the yard. Of course, there are always the National Park pics once a year or so, too.
So what am I missing out on by not using the kit lens?
Quite a problem you have there - at first I was shooting a Canon Xti with a quality 'nifty fifty' the I was gifted a T3i kit with the 18-55 and 50-200 - so I bought a dual camera harness so I carried both cameras and lens ready to shoot any time - recently I purchased a Tamron 18-200 w/IS so now I just shoot the T3i with the 18-200.
Apr 30, 2019 15:23:19 #
fetzler
Loc: North West PA
Considering the lenses that you have. I would consider the 18-55mm to be my most valuable lens. It is appropriate for most general photography. Architecture, Portraits, landscapes, travel would all be appropriate. For my Nikon D7200 I have an 18-55mm and a 16-80mm (as well as other lenses). The 16 -80 is a more expensive and larger lens but the 18-55mm is smaller and very useful. Frankly, I could live without your other lenses but not the 18-55mm.
I remember learning photography 5 decades ago. The instructor sent us out with a camera and a 28mm lens (the FF equivalent to your 18mm). You learn to get close to subjects. For the most part closer is better for photographs. Go make some photos with you lens fixed at 18mm.
I also think wide zooms are too much of a compromise. Companies that sold camera with an 18-55mm and 55-200mm were wise. Such lenses cover a wide range of focal lengths and can be offered inexpensively. The Nikon 55-200mm is cheap and optically rather good.
I remember learning photography 5 decades ago. The instructor sent us out with a camera and a 28mm lens (the FF equivalent to your 18mm). You learn to get close to subjects. For the most part closer is better for photographs. Go make some photos with you lens fixed at 18mm.
I also think wide zooms are too much of a compromise. Companies that sold camera with an 18-55mm and 55-200mm were wise. Such lenses cover a wide range of focal lengths and can be offered inexpensively. The Nikon 55-200mm is cheap and optically rather good.
Apr 30, 2019 15:27:56 #
If you've never been frustrated in attempts to compose the perfect shot and had to give up because you couldn't back up far enough to include all you wanted, then you're missing nothing.
If you're asking for subject ideas, I agree with previous poster: just put the lens on, leave it at 18 mm for an entire outing, and see the world differently.
21 mm on Canon T3i.
If you're asking for subject ideas, I agree with previous poster: just put the lens on, leave it at 18 mm for an entire outing, and see the world differently.
21 mm on Canon T3i.
Apr 30, 2019 15:28:36 #
Due to your APS-C crop sensor you are always shooting in telephoto, albeit the 50mm -- equivalent to 75mm in full frame -- is not much telephoto. But most landscape shooters lean toward wide angle for good reason, and you are missing a lot.
Apr 30, 2019 15:29:35 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
If you've never been frustrated in attempts to compose the perfect shot, but had to give up because you couldn't back up far enough to include all you wanted, then you're missing nothing.
If you're asking for subject ideas, I agree with previous poster: just put the lens on, leave it at 18 mm and see the world differently.
If you're asking for subject ideas, I agree with previous poster: just put the lens on, leave it at 18 mm and see the world differently.
Mine is always at 18 unless I want to zoom in on something.
Apr 30, 2019 15:34:08 #
BlueMorel wrote:
My Canon EOS Rebel t2i, bought in 2013, came with a kit lens EF-S18-55mm f-3.5-5.6. In 2017 I finally bought a 50mm f-1.8 lens, then last year a 55-250mm f-4-5.6 lens, both Canon.
So now I use the latter two and hardly ever the kit lens. I do mainly small landscapes around my area and vignettes around the yard. Of course, there are always the National Park pics once a year or so, too.
So what am I missing out on by not using the kit lens?
So now I use the latter two and hardly ever the kit lens. I do mainly small landscapes around my area and vignettes around the yard. Of course, there are always the National Park pics once a year or so, too.
So what am I missing out on by not using the kit lens?
The 18-55 covers the slr range equivalent of about 29 to 88 mm - moderate wide angle to short tele. This is the range in which most photography is done, and this class of zoom is usually fairly small and lightweight. I use mine almost exclusively because it is so useful for common situations. Maybe you ought to put it on your camera and use it, and find out how versatile it is.
Apr 30, 2019 15:49:09 #
BlueMorel wrote:
My Canon EOS Rebel t2i, bought in 2013, came with a kit lens EF-S18-55mm f-3.5-5.6. In 2017 I finally bought a 50mm f-1.8 lens, then last year a 55-250mm f-4-5.6 lens, both Canon.
So now I use the latter two and hardly ever the kit lens. I do mainly small landscapes around my area and vignettes around the yard. Of course, there are always the National Park pics once a year or so, too.
So what am I missing out on by not using the kit lens?
So now I use the latter two and hardly ever the kit lens. I do mainly small landscapes around my area and vignettes around the yard. Of course, there are always the National Park pics once a year or so, too.
So what am I missing out on by not using the kit lens?
To cover the wide angle side you should use your 18-55. When I had a t1i, I basically had the same configuration that you have , plus a 100 mm macro lens. During that time, I seldom used the 50 mm f/1.8 and eventually sold it to a women that was doing quite a few portraits. I used the kit lens for almost all my landscapes and the telephoto for most of my granddaughters’ soccer games. After upgrading to a full frame, I now have an EF 17-40 mm f/4 for wide angle, a 24-105 mm f/4 which is almost always on my camera, a 50 mm f/1.4, a 100 mm f/2.8 macro, and a 70-200 mm f/200 plus a 2x teleconverter. Most of my photography is flowers, landscapes and curling matches with some portraits thrown in.
Bud
Apr 30, 2019 15:56:43 #
Your Rebel has preset modes for portrait & landscape & action photos on your program dial that are ideally suited to the 18-55mm lens......they function best with this lens and not as much on the 55-250mm
I have almost the same rig only with Rebel 3 version and it is my backup camera now and I have moved to a FF 6DMk II with L Glass.....the little Rebel is still a good camera to me will also accommodate the L Glass on it's mount as well (only cropped) no biggie. Some of my better animal close-ups were taken with that 18-55 lens in one of those preset modes and every hair in the fur is crisp & clean so I would keep the lens or loan it to a friend who would use it if you are done with it.
I have almost the same rig only with Rebel 3 version and it is my backup camera now and I have moved to a FF 6DMk II with L Glass.....the little Rebel is still a good camera to me will also accommodate the L Glass on it's mount as well (only cropped) no biggie. Some of my better animal close-ups were taken with that 18-55 lens in one of those preset modes and every hair in the fur is crisp & clean so I would keep the lens or loan it to a friend who would use it if you are done with it.
Apr 30, 2019 16:11:24 #
The wider focal length of the 18mm setting is only a mild wide angle point of view. BUT is adds something that the longer field of view of your other lenses don't. The FOREGROUND! Just like good writing, a photograph needs a beginning, middle and end. The foreground is your viewer's introduction to your subject and story. It provides scale and distance effects for the rest of the image.
Our eyes, spectacular instruments that they are are sort of "auto zooms." We take in the whole scene in microseconds and then "zoom" into the subject (item of interest) which may be in the middle ground or the tip top of a mountain or an airplane at 7,000 feet. All the same to our Brian augmented vision.
Not so much with fancy are our most modern camera/computer combos. So either the subject is an isolated object with no cues to its size or distance or it is a spot on the horizon which can't be recognized either.
Using the wide angle point of view requires some composition adjustments. They are pretty straight forward. I suggest going to You Tube and searching "using a wide angle lens." Pick a few to watch. Then, as Linda suggests, go out for a photo walk using ONLY the 18mm focal length for a session. Get used to a low shooting position, pick out an interesting foreground element that will help tell your story and enhance your subject (that's the feature you're attracted to and probably zoom into using your other lenses).
Also search "leading lines," "rule of thirds" (as it relates to Horizons especially), and "composing for depth," AND of "course depth of field" (because that's an Optical Advantage of wide focal lengths--they keep near to far apparent focus very well).
So, yes, you probably ARE missing a lot not using your 18-55. Try it, it is,a fterall, already in your possession and costs nothing extra but maybe a little stretch of your photo making imagination. I hope you have fun with it, I love my shorter focal lengths.
C
PS: Your beginning instincts are entirely normal to want to "reach" farther with your lenses. Turns out, though, that the opposite instinct makes for more interesting photos, especially when the light is working for ya and you get down LOW!
Our eyes, spectacular instruments that they are are sort of "auto zooms." We take in the whole scene in microseconds and then "zoom" into the subject (item of interest) which may be in the middle ground or the tip top of a mountain or an airplane at 7,000 feet. All the same to our Brian augmented vision.
Not so much with fancy are our most modern camera/computer combos. So either the subject is an isolated object with no cues to its size or distance or it is a spot on the horizon which can't be recognized either.
Using the wide angle point of view requires some composition adjustments. They are pretty straight forward. I suggest going to You Tube and searching "using a wide angle lens." Pick a few to watch. Then, as Linda suggests, go out for a photo walk using ONLY the 18mm focal length for a session. Get used to a low shooting position, pick out an interesting foreground element that will help tell your story and enhance your subject (that's the feature you're attracted to and probably zoom into using your other lenses).
Also search "leading lines," "rule of thirds" (as it relates to Horizons especially), and "composing for depth," AND of "course depth of field" (because that's an Optical Advantage of wide focal lengths--they keep near to far apparent focus very well).
So, yes, you probably ARE missing a lot not using your 18-55. Try it, it is,a fterall, already in your possession and costs nothing extra but maybe a little stretch of your photo making imagination. I hope you have fun with it, I love my shorter focal lengths.
C
PS: Your beginning instincts are entirely normal to want to "reach" farther with your lenses. Turns out, though, that the opposite instinct makes for more interesting photos, especially when the light is working for ya and you get down LOW!
Apr 30, 2019 16:56:19 #
18 - 55 lens is the most likely 'kit' lens across most brands - it has a broad appeal for everyday photo's Portrait to landscape. 70 - 300 is the 'long kit lens' often bundled as again it gives you reach without shake (if done well).
Think about 'what you shoot'. And 'when you shoot'. The 1.4/8 allows more light than the 5.4/6 .. 'The nifty 50' comes from the age of film (no offence) to give you 'as your eye would see'. It was the 'standard fixed lens'
Play with the 18 end for a while and see what it does for you. Also use the nifty 50 and see how often 'you wanted to open it up a little'.
The time to change your lens is when you recognize the limits 'in your own photography' rather than taking advice 'given in general'. People shoot in often narrow fields...lots of BIF....lots of portraits....lots of wide landscapes featuring close foreground etc.... What YOU want is individual to You.. Then ask about specific lenses from those who's interests match your aspirations. otherwise you will end up carrying a hard box full of lenses 'just in case'.
have fun
Think about 'what you shoot'. And 'when you shoot'. The 1.4/8 allows more light than the 5.4/6 .. 'The nifty 50' comes from the age of film (no offence) to give you 'as your eye would see'. It was the 'standard fixed lens'
Play with the 18 end for a while and see what it does for you. Also use the nifty 50 and see how often 'you wanted to open it up a little'.
The time to change your lens is when you recognize the limits 'in your own photography' rather than taking advice 'given in general'. People shoot in often narrow fields...lots of BIF....lots of portraits....lots of wide landscapes featuring close foreground etc.... What YOU want is individual to You.. Then ask about specific lenses from those who's interests match your aspirations. otherwise you will end up carrying a hard box full of lenses 'just in case'.
have fun
Apr 30, 2019 18:25:28 #
I would consider the quality of the lenses. If they are equally sharp then the zoom opens up some creative options. If the 50 is far superior, I don't know that it is, but if, then you can shoot landscapes on a tripod with several shots covering the same angle of view and stitch them together in lightroom or other software and get similar results to a wide angle.
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