Canon EOS 500D Digital SLR Camera Body

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by glsammy

Lovely to look at but very basic in operation. It's certainly not a first time macro camera. I use manual setting for all my shots with mine, including manual flash (Usually two of them!)
I'd also recommend you look at the Sigma 150mm, if you can stretch your finances to it. Everyone I know of who has one wouldn't be without it. The main advantage you get with it is the working distance from the subject, that is you can be further away making it less likely to spook any small insect.
Optically there's hardly a bad true macro lens out there so in the end you'd find it hard to make a bad choice.

Thanks Graham,
I have a lot to think about now I should have the camera in about 10 days time hopefully..

[shenk1]

Got the tamron lens for my Sony last year and its a great lens even in my hands I find the length of it allows me enough distance from what I'm shooting (normal some insect) not to scare it of but its short enough not to have to use on a tripod without getting to much of the shakes. As a novice this helps as I don't want to be trying to set a tripod up in bushes or wherever whilst trying to get a piccie of something darting about
It also means I can hold it high in bushes and use the Live View to take i.d. quality shots of those little blighters (polite word for them) that refuse to come near you no matter how still you stay.

shenk1

[wizzo]

Kayleigh, two lenses certainly worth looking at are the Tamron 11-16mm f2.8 at around £500 and the Sigma 10-17 (I think it is) f3.5 or f4 at around the £350 - £400 mark. The Tamron especiallly, is a truly fantastic lens and well made too. You really need a lens this wide for great, wacky landscapes. Lenses of around 28mm or 35mm are really not versatile enough, especially taking into account the crop factor of DX camera sensors. That's not to say, that even using a telephoto lens for landscapes, can't produce some really different shots with some interesting perspectives. Wizzo

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by wizzo

Kayleigh, two lenses certainly worth looking at are the Tamron 11-16mm f2.8 at around £500 and the Sigma 10-17 (I think it is) f3.5 or f4 at around the £350 - £400 mark. The Tamron especiallly, is a truly fantastic lens and well made too. You really need a lens this wide for great, wacky landscapes. Lenses of around 28mm or 35mm are really not versatile enough, especially taking into account the crop factor of DX camera sensors. That's not to say, that even using a telephoto lens for landscapes, can't produce some really different shots with some interesting perspectives. Wizzo

Cheers Wizzo,

As a beginner I will see how I get on with the bundle and get a macro lens I need to get used to the camera and figure out what settings I need it on ect before I can even think of fancy camera work but any tips you can offer will be taken on board..

Elaine