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alanrockwood

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Hi everyone!
I just bought a almost new Canon EOS Rebel T2 (called 300x here in Europe), after considering several small light AF SLRs for me. I've been shooting Olympus OM-2n and 35 RC for several years now and I wanted something like a p&s with controls. I almost bought a Nikon N75, but after much thought, I took the Canon.
I hope I made a good choice! I'm thinking about getting a 40mm 2.8 STM or a 50mm 1.8 STM, haven't decided yet. Any advices concerning the lenses?
Would you share some of your experiences with this camera, please? Metering, viewfinder, seize and weight? Do you like it?

Thanks a lot!

Lenses: One that everyone recommends is the 50mm f/1.8 "nifty fifty". The older version with the metal lens mount is considered a little more desirable than the mark II version, which has a plastic mount. There are several listed on ebay for under $100. A more recent version, designated STM has gone back to a metal mount and claims are made for "improved design".

You can get a chinese knock-off (Yongnuo brand) of the 50mm f/1.8 for about $50. It gets a lot of pretty good reviews.

The Tamron 45mm f/1.8 is good because it has image stabilization and it focuses quite close. At least some reviews rate it as sharper than the nifty fifty, though the nifty fifty is generally considered to be a sharp lens. The street price runs about $400. I have one and use it a lot.

The canon 40mm f/2.8 is a good lens, especially for travel because it is so compact. Used prices run about $100. New, about $180.

Not to be ignored, the canon 50mm f/1.4. Considered better than the 50mm f/1.8, but somewhat fragile with respect to shock... it's the focusing cam that is fragile. (Ask me how I know.)

The prizes of the "normal" focal length bunch are the Sigma Art 50mm f/1.4 and the Zeiss 50mm f/1.4. They are expensive.

For portrait lenses, the Canon 85mm f/1.8 and 100mm f/2 lenses fraternal twins are well-regarded. I wish I had one. the 85mm is more popular. Personally, I would lean toward the 100mm. Tamron, Sigma, and Yongnuo make some competing lenses at various price points.

For zooms, at the high end, Canon makes nice lenses in the 24-100 f/4 and the 24-70 f/2.8. At lower price points, the we have the 24-85, 28-105, and 28-135. They have more modest apertures than the first two, and less reputation for sharpness, but they are actually pretty good everyday shooters if your requirements are modest. The 28-135 is real popular and has image stabilization. The focal range covers most of your shooting needs. It's modest aperture is the main drawback, though image stabilization makes up for at least part of this. I have one and use it a lot. Get one.

For wide angle lenses, I have no suggestions.

For a not too expensive one-lens kit I suggest the 28-135.

For a not too expensive two-lens kit I suggest a nifty fifty (or the Yongnuo version) and the 28-135. For a step up in price and quality substitute a 24-105 or 24-70 for the 28-135, or going in the other direction, substitute a Tamron 45mm f/1.8 for the nifty fifty. If portraits are your main thing then go with the 85mm or 100mm in place of the nifty fifty.
 

neilt3

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Lenses: One that everyone recommends is the 50mm f/1.8 "nifty fifty". The older version with the metal lens mount is considered a little more desirable than the mark II version, which has a plastic mount. There are several listed on ebay for under $100. A more recent version, designated STM has gone back to a metal mount and claims are made for "improved design".

You can get a chinese knock-off (Yongnuo brand) of the 50mm f/1.8 for about $50. It gets a lot of pretty good reviews.

The Tamron 45mm f/1.8 is good because it has image stabilization and it focuses quite close. At least some reviews rate it as sharper than the nifty fifty, though the nifty fifty is generally considered to be a sharp lens. The street price runs about $400. I have one and use it a lot.

The canon 40mm f/2.8 is a good lens, especially for travel because it is so compact. Used prices run about $100. New, about $180.

Regarding a standard lens , I have the MK 2 50mm and it puts in a fair performance .
For some strange reason it's not behaving itself . Works fine with both digital cameras , a 5d and a 60d , works fine on an EOS 50E , EOS 5 and a 500n , but my Elan 7ne won't recognise it correctly . A/F is fine but aperture is blank , so no control .
The contacts are clean and all other lenses I have work fine on it .
It's a film era lens , so that's got nothing to do with it . As far as I know all Canon EF lenses are backward compatible with film cameras with the exception of some teleconverters ( the MK III's , I think )

I've looking around at replacing it .
Tried a 40mm f/2.8 and it's a very nice lens , small and sharp corner to corner .
I would have prefered a faster lens , but I will be getting it anyway soon .

I looked into the Yongnuo 50mm after seeing it .
Seemed a good buy , same optics as the Canon but with an improved aperture , 7 rounded blades rather than the 5 straight blades of the Canon IIRC .
The only thing that has made me reluctant to buy one is that I read an Amateur Photographer review ( a U.K weekly magazine ) and while they sang it's praise in use on DSLR's the reviewer tried it on one of his film SLR's and it gave inconsistent results on focussing and didn't recommend it for film cameras .

That was of course tested on just one camera FWIW , my Canon 50mm lens doesn't work right on one film body either .
 

film_man

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The current 50/1.8 STM is a very nice lens actually. The STM focus is annoying a bit but beyond that there is no comparison to the MkII.
 

Dismayed

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Feb 26, 2011
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Nikon F100. It uses AA batteries that are easy to find, and cheap. And there are superb Nikkor lenses available to meet your every need.
 

Sirius Glass

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Nikon F100. It uses AA batteries that are easy to find, and cheap. And there are superb Nikkor lenses available to meet your every need.

+1
 
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