[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by mohang_j

tsk1979
Which is good for occasional bird photography?

Regards
Mohan.G

Actually none of these.
For bird photography you need 300 minimum. 250 will do, but barely.
Now you must be wondering why not 18-270? Well its max aperture at 270 is F6.3, and when the birds come out its usually morning or evening, not peak light. You may have focus hunting issues with this lens.
So if you are looking at birding, be prepared for atleast the 70-300 IS. If you have low budget and a tripod, the 75-300(which I have) will also do.
Alternatively 55-250 stabilized may also fair well for aquatic birding(birds come out at noon at water bodies).

[phamilyman]

sarkar,

I'd disagree on the UWA. I was at haridwar this weekend and I missed a UWA so bad its not funny. It can really take some nice shots from great angles.

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

sarkar,

I'd disagree on the UWA. I was at haridwar this weekend and I missed a UWA so bad its not funny. It can really take some nice shots from great angles.

But a UWA is not for everybody. For a street walkabout, the 10-24 will be bad, not to mention, its totally useless for potraits, unless you want to shoot for comic scripts.
An UWA is great, but its not the answer to everything, and if you are shooting architecture, you need to compose really well, otherwise distortions will really ruin your shot.

[no_sweat]

Also, are there any issues regarding the shallow DOF due to the Huge Max aprerature of the Nifty Fifty?

[tsk1979]

Well the huge aperture is what makes the nifty fifty so good. anyways, you are free to shoot at F4.0 or narrower if you so desire.

[abhijitaparadh]

A great article about how to use UWA.

How to Use Ultra-Wide Lenses

A few sample quotes

Ultrawides are not for "getting it all in." Ultrawides are for getting yourself, and therefore the viewer, right smack into the middle of something. Ultrawides are for putting next to the muzzle of Dirty Harry's revolver to put it in your face. If you can't or won't get close, leave the ultrawide at home.

Ultrawide lenses are for getting close and bringing the viewer into the photo, not for fitting a subject into a photo.

[ash_blore]

Originally Posted by k_ajay

Hi Ash,


The purchase is planned to be made between the 19th and 1st of May. If you are in a position to decide by this timeline and if you are interested, you could join us for the joint quote and maybe benefit.. Think about it..

aK

Yes definitely interested. Apologies for the late response. Was out this entire weekend and monday. Just came back to check. Please include me in your collective quote

[HellwratH]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

sarkar,

I'd disagree on the UWA. I was at haridwar this weekend and I missed a UWA so bad its not funny. It can really take some nice shots from great angles.

Somewhere (don't recall where) I read that painting is all about adding elements and photography is all about subtracting elements. Most of the time, after we load the photograph on a system do we realize what we have included in the photograph is ruining the shot. Our eyes are almost always locked on the subject and we tend to forget things around it. It only gets tougher with UWA. If you are not careful about what all is in your photograph, be ready to be surprised and also to spend a lot of time trying to clone things out in PS. That's why UWA is difficult to manage. The only person (in the recent times) that I have seen work amazingly well with UWA is TG. He has even managed to click some portraits (atleast included a human element) in his photographs at 14mm!

[k_ajay]

Members,

I am posting below the positive confirmations received regarding interest in the group purchase plan. Based on the equipment below, we'll get a final price list from Jayesh and member Unni and I will visit Jayesh on 24.04 to push for a special price/freebies/whatever combo..

Once the deal is finalised with Jayesh, we'll give him the name and equipment details to him after which you can pay and pick up your equipment from him on 24th itself [this of course, depending on when Jayesh confirms he has all/the item in stock] or on any other day suitable to you. You must be ready to pick up the equipment you've ordered at the earliest possible date from 24th, since like Shaju had mentioned, the prices fluctuate almost every day. So we cannot be held accountable if the price of equipment increases after 24th and Jayesh prefers to add the same to your price.

The confirmed list as of now that we'll go ahead with.

Hurrycane12 Canon EOS 1000D [about 22-23K]
Unni.ak Canon EOS 500D [about 38K+]
Lazy Canon EOS 550D [about 45K+]
Ajay K Canon EOS 550D [about 45K+]
Shaju CPL/UV filters 67mm & 72mm [no idea]
Shaju Sigma 17-70 f/2.8-4 OS DC HSM Macro (unsure)[about 23K]
Ash Blore Canon DSLR [between 23K to 30K]
MohanG DSLR <= 30K [about 25K to 30K]
RSimon 35mm f/1.8 AF-S Dx [4 Nikon] [no idea].

We will get the confirmed prices for these and stock availability before the 24th.

Originally Posted by Jaguar

When are you ppl planning to make the purchase? I am tempted to go for the nifty 250.

Jaguar, have you decided about this lens purchase? I noticed on Canon site that the lens which was priced at Rs.14.9K is now officially available at Rs.12.2K.. I'm expecting competitive markets price to reflect the change too, in a week..

@ others: Please kindly note at we will not be able to keep adding new equipments to the above list after tomorrow, as the timelines in dealing with Jayesh to confirm price and stock are high and it's quite a task too. Appreciate if you can understand and acknowledge the same..

Cheers
aK

[teknophobia]

Whatever lenses you later decide to buy, IMHO, if you have a Canon DSLR, the nifty fifty is a must for any beginner. These two pics should help you make up your mind

[mohang_j]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Actually none of these.
For bird photography you need 300 minimum. 250 will do, but barely.
Alternatively 55-250 stabilized may also fair well for aquatic birding.

Thanks tsk,
I have come across this issue in my recent trip to Ranganathittu, i felt even 300mm insufficient ( i had 70-300G with nikon d50). But i am on tight budget and i may not use 200+ very often, i think i will settle for 18-200 or 55-250 + 50 mm/1.8.
Mohan.G

[akaushik]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

The 18-55 IS lens is a very good lens. However, a dedicated landscape photographer may find it too narrow(28mm in 35mm speak).
So what you replace this with is entire your choice.
Want a walk around lens
Canon 18-135 or Canon 18-200 or Sigma 18-200(all stabilized) or even the Tamron 18-270 may fit your bill.
However, if you like wide angle, but do not care for ultra wide, there is the canon 15-85. Its expensive, but pretty nice for a walkaround.
Then you have the Canon 17-85 which is cheaper, but not so wide, and Sigma 17-70(OS or non OS is your pick).

So basically if you want an all purpose landscape walk around lens, with decent telephoto lens, go for the 18-XXX lenses depending upon your budget.
If you want slightly wider then the 17-XXX is good.
If you want proper landscape capability(24mm in 35mm speak), 15-85 is your only option as far as walk around lenses go.

Last but no the least is the ultra wide angle lenses (Canon 10-22, Tamron 10-24 etc.,)
Remember, UWA is a specialized lens, take it only if you are a hard core landscape guy. It will do very bad as a "walkaround or potrait" lent.

Other than that, no matter what you get, make sure you have the 50 1.8 in your bag. This is one lens everybody must have. Best VFM potrail lens ever made, with stunning IQ and great low light capability.

If my post has confused you, do not worry, DSLR lenses is a confusing thing.

Thanks tsk !! you made my day i was confused initially but after reading 2-3 times I hit the bulls eye , Now I can repeat your gyan among my friends , I have decided to go for 450D my first love! with 18-55 initially.

[navin]

Originally Posted by k_ajay

Navin, the group purcase is happening in Bangalore.

I know. I would also have a friend in Bangy help me out and then shipping to Mumbai is not a problem. We old foggies have a trick or two up our sleeves.

Can you atleast ask Jayesh what a Canon 1000D 18-55IS 55-250IS combo will cost. Then just send me Jayesh's number and I will do the rest. Thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by tsk1979

There is the canon 15-85. Its expensive, but pretty nice for a walkaround.
If you want proper landscape capability(24mm in 35mm speak), 15-85 is your only option as far as walk around lenses go.

Other than that, no matter what you get, make sure you have the 50 1.8 in your bag.

I found the 15-85 too expensive for what is does. For a bit more the 17-55/2.8 feels like more value. Also I used the 50/1.8 and it is a nice VFM lens ( but if you can strech to the 50/1.4 man that lens is a killer. Rudra-da suggested I get one and I have not regretted it.

oops just realised the 50/1.4 is 3x the price. At that difference the 50/1.8 is a beautiful option. The 1.4 is sharper though. It is one of those lenses you can count the nose hairs of the the subject (potrait) with.

Originally Posted by tsk1979

But a UWA is not for everybody.

A UWA is usually your 3rd or 4th lens. After you get a general purpose lens like the 18-55/17-55/15-85, a tele zoom 55-250/70-300/70-200 and maybe after a few primes 60/2.8 macro, 50mm, 24mm, etc..

Originally Posted by k_ajay

Once the deal is finalised with Jayesh, we'll give him the name and equipment details to him after which you can pay and pick up your equipment from him on 24th itself

@ others: Please kindly note at we will not be able to keep adding new equipments to the above list after tomorrow

Arey baba just ask Jayesh about the 1000D combo I mentioned above na. Then give me his number and let me worry about the rest. If he does not have that combo we can also look at a 450D+18-55IS_55-250IS combo instead.

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by navin

A UWA is usually your 3rd or 4th lens. After you get a general purpose lens like the 18-55/17-55/15-85, a tele zoom 55-250/70-300/70-200 and maybe after a few primes 60/2.8 macro, 50mm, 24mm, etc..

Actually, from now on 10-24 will be my primary lens. A walk around lens if you may.
Along with that I will have my 50 1.8.
Thats it, just these 2 on my 350D.
Will sell the 18-55 and 75-300 and use the moolah to get myself a P&S camera.

[Hurrycane12]

Ajay - Sorry to butt in late can you check costing of 450D also for me? Hope i am not asking for too much. PM me when and what time you are planning to go, incase if i am not travelling this weekend i too can accompany you guys.