Another new guy

[jesters_tools]

Hey all! I am actually fairly new to the whole photography realm. I am looking for a good entry level film cam that I can afford. There is quite a few that I am interested in. My name is Jesse and am mostly interested in outdoor/nature photography. The thing that throws me the most are the lenses. The most common slr's with lenses seem to be 28mm-80mm. Is that a good all around lense for what I am wanting to do? What else should I be looking at?Looking forward to alot of great info!
Thanks,
Jesse

 

[papagene]

Jesse - welcome to APUG from western Massachusetts USA. 28 - 80 is a common zoom lens with most SLRs. For more optimum results you may want a prime lens, a 28mm, 35mm, 50mm etc. And which one will depend on your shooting style or tastes.
Good luck.

gene

 

[JBrunner]

Hi Jesse,

Welcome to APUG.

 

[thebanana]

Hey Jesse. Welcome from the frozen Canadian prairies

 

[Jeff Kubach]

Hello from Richmond Va. I agree with papagene. You can use a good wide angle prime lens for landscape and could go for a good prime tele lens for birds etc. But it depends on what you like.

Jeff

 

[jesters_tools]

So exaclty what the 28mm-80mm lense be good for? I am trying to keep my pics from looking like snapshots if you know what I mean. I would like to get a camera like the canon rebel eos with this lense because I have come along several that I could afford but If the lense would be useless for what I am wanting to do then I may be better off justbuying the body, then the lense seperate. Whatcha think? Oh by the way I live in S.E. Missouri about 15 minutes from the mighty mississippi! I noticed I hadn't told ya'll where I am at.
Jesse

 

[papagene]

Jesse... the 28-80 zoom may well be a good starter lens to learn on. It will let you know what focal lengths suit the way you see a potential photo. It can also teach you about framing the subject and composition if you are attentive. The lens is also relatively inexpensive and fairly lightweight.
If you eventually get some good primes, the zoom can be a good family photo lens.
The best thing to do is get out there and start taking a lot of photos. I betcha there are a lot of good scenes near you to photograph!

gene

 

[jesters_tools]

Papagene,
Yeah that is what has got me so excited!
I have lived in this area all my life so the surroundings just blend in after a while. But there are endless photo ops around here! There is a refuge where bald eagles nest about 45 minutes from my house. Then there is the Mississippi. There are several places you can get down to the river. They just built a new bridge from MO. to Il. I can get pics from. Tons of old barns, school houses, downtown Cape has alot of buildings and houses 100 plus years old. And the red clay hillsides have got to be caught on film! I can't wait! I will probably start with the 28-80 lense, then I'll step up after I have a few thousand photo under my belt so I will actually know what I am wanting. I am wanting to shoot some eery b&w shots of old twisted trees and old half gone barns. The ones that kind of give you a chill when you see them. you know, Beautiful but eery. There is some swamp land with plenty of cypress not too far away! This forum is AWESOME! I have got more feedback in one night than a week of some of the others. I don't know much about photography yet, but I am just drwan to film cameras for some reason. The "other" way seems like cheating and I don't seem to feel every shot is as important and thoughtful as it is with film.
Jesse

 

[JBrunner]

Zooms are handy, but can be an impediment to thinking about composition. If your going EF I'd recommend the zoom for an all around, but grab the nice little 28mm 2.8 for around a c-note used. It's a great lens for the money. It will lend you a different perspective and encourage more thoughtful composition for landscape work while you are starting out. JMO.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Welcome from Washington DC!

 

[Bob F.]

Welcome aboard Jesse.

The 28-80 zoom will do a good job for landscape, portraits, barns, trees, etc but for shooting animals from a distance, you will want the longest lens you can afford. 300mm at a minimum - longer if at all possible.

Oh, and don't forget a tripod to stop everything wobbling about! - especially if you get a long lens.

Have fun, Bob.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Hi, Jesse. Welcome to the forum. My suggestion would be to just get a camera and go with name recognition. Nikon, Canon. And don't let a camera's age fool you. Older cameras are great as well, the aforementioned along with Minolta and Pentax. And 28-80 is a great range for starters. At least until the onset of G. A. S. Again, welcome.