Lenses and more lenses..I don't know where to begin

12 years 5 months ago #183113 by Adventurer
Hey guys,

I've been doing wildlife photography ( plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1143083454677.../5627433733727966001 ) for about four years with a point and shoot and am now taking the step to a DSLR. I now know nothing about the one thing I'm good at lol. I have a Canon Rebel T2i which came with a 18-55 and a 55-250 lens. I know to get the magnification you divide the larger number by the smaller so with the 55-250 it's approximately 4.5X not including the crop factor. My question is what exactly do those measurements mean? For example a 70-300 is only 4.2X magnification yet it is longer (obviously) then the one I have. What would be the advantage of that lens vs the 55-250? Does the fact that it's longer means it actually gets a little closer and ends with a better zoom? Guess I better start reading and taking classes so I can stop asking stupid questions LOL...

Mark


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12 years 5 months ago - 12 years 5 months ago #183127 by Baydream
Welcome to PT, Mark.

The mm is the distance from the front lens to the sensor, A zoom lens allows shifts in the internal glass to focus the image closer or farther. The lens you have give you a full range from 18mm to 250mm on a film or "full frame" (35mm) sensor. The "crop factor for your camera is 1.6 so at 100 mm setting, the lens "acts" like a 160mm on film. Don't be concerned about the individual zooms mult factor - it doesn;t mena anything really (Compacts use it to advertise their zoom range) but not DSLRs.
The larger number on the zoom is the "reach" factor. A 300 mm will get you a bit closer than the 250MM but only by 50mm.
I shoot wildlife so the 300 gives me that little extra magnification over a 250. My two lenses are 18-55 and 70-300 so I have a "gap" between 55mm and 70mm (plus I have a 50mm 1.8 for lower light use). You have a complete range without a gap. You will do quite will with the 55-250 as you learn to use your new camera. Once you learn it, you will decide whether an extra 50mm in important or a "faster" lens allowing in more light and faster shutter speeds. You might decide to add a 1.4x teleconverter (your 250 will be like a 350 but you will lose an fstop of light.
Summary, use and practice with what you have (it's a NICE starter set) and learn everything you can about using it.

Shoot, learn and share. It will make you a better photographer.
fineartamerica.com/profiles/john-g-schickler.html?tab=artwork

Photo Comments
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12 years 5 months ago #183149 by KCook

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

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12 years 5 months ago #183157 by Stealthy Ninja
Hi
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12 years 5 months ago #183240 by bhowdy
First of all .... welcome to PT. Baydream offered very good advice already, not much to expand on there. I happen to take a wildlife photo or two or a couple of hundred ........ Since you have a lens with a 250mm focal length (reach) I would not recommend getting the 70-300mm lens. Just not enough additional length, in my opinion. Start saving up for a 400mm or 500mm lens. Either fixed (prime) or zoom. That will insure your wildlife photography addiction!

Bob Howdeshell

"If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera" ~ Lewis Hine

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12 years 5 months ago #183331 by The Photo Guy
You are speaking of two different lenses. 55-250 and 70-300. The 70-300 will physically be longer because it has a more zoom at the end. 250mm vs 300mm. That 50mm is a big difference. Not only that, but the aperture on lenses also can make a lens appear longer/bigger, because it was built with better glass for the reason the aperture can go so high. (low number).
As you proceed to get into bigger focal lengths, 400mm, 500mm etc.. the lenses will become longer and heavy.


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12 years 5 months ago #183376 by TheNissanMan
A part answer from this corner...

Yes the longer the lens gets closer, but, not necessarily better! The 55-250 is probably Canons best budget zoom imo, the 70-300 IS USM is a tad more expensive but also a very good zoom for the money (I have hd the fortune of owning both).

Lenghts and quality are two very different things :) If you are used to a P&S camera and achieved the photos you've displayed either would be a superb starting point.

If you want to go longer still while maintining optical quality the 100-400L is a stunning lens although slightly cheaper and with slightly worse optical quality the Sigma 120-400mm might be worth a look :)


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